The Wild Kingdom: John Etheridge (drums), Glen (Robbie) Robertson (bass), Bruce West (vocals), and Mike Johnstone (guitar) Many is the time I’ve had a lead on a band that is obscure to me, which then gets forgotten in the avalanche of emails and comments I received from this site over time. I apologize for not following up in a timely manner.
Steven S. wrote to me a long time ago, 2008, about the Wild Kingdom, and though I corresponded with him, I neglected to post about the band, probably because they didn’t have any records to their name. Only recently have I noticed the connections to other bands such as the Mustangs and the Back Door, so I’ll add the photo and info he sent to me so long ago.
The Wild Kingdom were from the Peninsula (Hampton, Newport News) and used to play on the Southside at all the usual teen clubs.
The Swinging Machine and the Wild Wild Kingdom, at Hullabaloo, Newport News Daily Press, June 1968The band personnel were: John Etheridge (drums), Glen (Robbie) Robertson (bass), Bruce West (vocals), and Mike Johnstone (guitar). Johnstone was an extremely gifted player who enjoyed considerable acclaim among area musicians. Etheridge and Robertson wove a tightly solid sound, more like an R&B rhythm section than one might have expected from a hippie band in those days. West was a versatile singer and quite the showman.
At one point, they hooked up with Keith (of “98.6” fame) and toured as his backup band for awhile. They later morphed into “The Back Door” and continued playing at local clubs until they scattered to join various other local groups. They were the great unknowns in those days, being somewhat eclipsed by Swingin’ Machine. However, they were outstanding players and didn’t pay lip service at all to the “blue-eyed soul” genre that ruled the area back then. Their manager, Jim Tatum, also handled Bill Deal & the Rhondells – go figure!
Wild Kingdom and Back Door were a huge influence on many of us Southside garage punks. We ranked them above Swingin’ Machine, partly because they didn’t cover any radio hits, but mostly because they were the better band.
I don’t remember Wild Kingdom/Back Door surviving beyond 1969. At that time, Bruce West injured his leg in a motorcycle mishap and “retired” from the music scene. Robbie Robertson likewise dropped off the radar about then. Mike Johnstone & John Etheridge continued performing with various other area groups until at least the mid 1970’s. Some of the bands I recall were “Headstone Circus”, “Rooth”, “The Dubonettes”, and “Hot Cakes”.
To my knowledge, there are no recordings of the Wild Kingdom.
Jerry Harden published a brief memoir about Barnie’s in Buckroe Beach, VA that mentioned some of the bands I’ve covered, including Adrian & the Sinsations and Danny and the Delnotes. About the Wild Kingdom, he lists an additional member, Ray Witham, and writes that Robby Robinson [sic]: “was arrested on stage for wearing a sword as part of his costume”!
Steve Monaco and Bob Schlagel of the Back Door, 1967
Tina Monaco sent in these photos of the Rogues and the Back Door, two Hampton Virginia bands that didn’t make records but would have at least two members who would go on to Headstone Circus: Mike Johnstone on guitar and Bob Schlagal on bass.
The Rogues 1965-66, Hampton VA, from left: Tommy Clark, Bob Schlagal, Jimmy ?, Jerry ?, and Steve Monaco.
The Rogues ran during 1965 and 1966, and included:
Jerry ? – lead vocals Tommy Clark – lead guitar Jimmy ? – rhythm guitar Bob Schlagal – bass Steve Monaco – drums
The Back Door existed circa 1967 and included:
Bruce West Mike Johnstone – guitar Robbie Robertson Bob Schlagal – bass Steve Monaco – drums
Bruce West, Mike Johnstone and Robbie Robertson were also in the Wild Kingdom in 1968.
Tina wrote to me in 2025:
I am Tina Monaco, sister of Steve Monaco. He was a drummer for an incarnation of several bands from the 60s. The bands would practice in our garage at our residence on Big Bethel Road.
We were kids of a career Air Force father and our family retired in 1968 in Miami, Florida. Steve went on from there to marry his Lakenheath American High School sweetheart from our earlier days 1963-1965 in England. He became a commercial airline pilot for major airlines. He and Nancy are retired living in Arizona. I am retired as well, living in Lake Worth Beach Fl.
The Back Door, 1967 from left: Bruce West, Bob Schlagal (at top), Mike Johnstone, unidentified in white shirt, and Robbie Robertson at far right. Steve Monaco drummer not pictured.
The Powers of Darkness from left: unidentified, Dave Moreno, Anthony Anchundo, Dave Perry and unidentified. Photo taken at Southland Mall in HaywardEric Burdon of the Animals with Dave Moreno of Powers of Darkness
The Powers of Darkness came from Union City, CA though in at least one contemporary news notice they’re listed as from Hayward.
Members included:
Dave Moreno – bass and vocals Dave Perry – drums Tony Anchundo – rhythm guitar and vocals
It’s possible Sal Saccardo from the Just VI replaced Dave Perry on drums at some point. Candelario ‘Candy’ Moreno managed the group.
The Powers of Darkness played shows in Newark, Fremont and Hayward at the roller rink on Mission Blvd, and a senior prom at Gonzales Union High School in the Salinas Valley.
Their most well-publicized show was the Spotlight ’66 concert on November 25, 1966 at Logan High School in Union City with Mel Carter, the Just VI and the New Chessmen, M.C.’d by Johnny Holliday of KYA.
The group took part in a televised event in Modesto, but that seems to be lost. Unfortunately, the band did not make it into a recording studio.
Dave Moreno’s son Aaron recalls his father meeting Eric Burdon and the Animals when they were touring in the Bay Area and Eric accepting an invitation for dinner at my grandparents home in Union City.
Most famous for writing and recording the original version of “Harlem Shuffle”, Los Angeles soul duo Bob & Earl toured Britain in the spring of 1969.
Guitarist Ged Peck, who previously played with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound among many others, says his group Storm backed the duo on this British tour, although they are not listed on the dates below.
Formed around November 1968, Storm comprised Ged Peck (lead guitar); Tony Dangerfield (bass); Peter Jennings (keyboards); and Pete Phillips (drums).
Photo: Ged Peck. Left to right: Pete Phillips, Ged Peck, Tony Dangerfield and Peter Jennings
This is not a complete gig list
Bob and Earl tour dates Record Retailer, 21 May 1969, page 11
The Rebellers in the 1968 Milby High Valentines Varieties show, from that year’s yearbook. From left (please correct if these IDs are wrong): John Manlove, David Rodriguez, James Manlove and Jeff Gray
The Rebellers came from the Houston, Texas metro area, recording James Manlove’s original song “The New Generation” for Orbit Records 1114 in the summer of 1967.
Members included:
James Manlove – lead vocals, rhythm guitar John Manlove – keyboards and vocals Jeff Gray – bass guitar and vocals David Rodriguez – drums
The flip, “The Common People” was written as “Love of the Common People” by the prolific songwriting team, John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins.
Early versions of the Cicadelic compilation Three O’Clock Merrian Webster Time included “The New Generation” mistakenly attributed to the Nomads but with the correct writing credit. This has led some website to include James Manlove as a member of the Nomads, which I believe is incorrect.
The Rebellers featured in the Houston Post nowsounds calendar, November 19, 1967
The November 19, 1967 Houston Post nowsounds calendar ran a photo of the Rebellers.
From a photo in the 1968 Milby High School Yearbook, the Rebellers played Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show that year.
According to his Discogs profile, David Rodriguez was a member of the group, but a commentator on youtube listed the drummer as “Pete”.
Gig list compiled from the Houston Post nowsounds calendar and other news items:
September 20, 1966: there’s a notice of the Rebellers at a benefit with Jack Jones, Garry Mann, the Bachelors and Tommy Graham at the Gulfgate Cellar Club, but that may be a little early for this band, whose frequent gig listings start in May, 1967.
Friday, May 19, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go, 12826 Beaumont Highway 90 Friday, May 26 and Saturday May 27, 1967: at Lions Club Hall, Friendswood, Highway 518 Saturday, June 3, 1967: at Grand Prix, Bay City Tuesday, June 13, 1967: at Conroe Ballroom, Gladstell West off 45 Friday, June 16, 1967: at the Dungeon in Spring Saturday, June 17, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Dance in Galveston Tuesday, June 20, 1967: at Love Street Light Circus Wednesday, June 21, 1967: at Hullabaloo Tuesday, June 27, 1967: at Conroe Ball Room Saturday, July 1, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go Saturday, July 15, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Club, Galveston Saturday, July 22, 1967: at Buddy McGregor Saturday Show, Foley’s Town Hall Wednesday, July 26, 1967: at Fun Corral, 9801 Airline Saturday, July 29, 1967: with the Entire Thing at Sea Isle, Galveston Friday, August 18, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena Saturday, August 19, 1967: at Deer Park Civic Center Wednesday, August 23, 1967: at Carousel Skating Rink, 9190 Old Katy Road Thursday, August 24, 1967: at KNUZ back-to-school festival at Sharpstown Center Friday, August 25, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan TX Saturday, August 26, 1967: at Ken Grant Show, Sharpstown Shopping Center 2 PM, and Insight Au Go Go, Beaumont Highway Friday, October 6, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan Friday, October 20, 1967: at Lodge Pokrok, 15th and Beall Saturday, November 4, 1967: at Lions Club, Pearland Saturday, November 11, 1967: at Kerwin High School, Galveston Friday, November 17, 1967: with Lemon Fog, Soul Searchers, Duke & the Kingsmen, and the Inquisitions at San Jacinto High School Soul Spectacular Saturday, November 18, 1967: with Audio Manifesto at Mount Carmel High Wednesday, November 22, 1967: at Brenham Hanger Club Friday, December 15, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena Saturday, December 2, 1967: at Taylor Hall, Pasadena Saturday, December 23, 1967: at Nottingham Forest Country Club Friday, January 12, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok Saturday, January 27, 1968: at Milby High School Saturday, February 10, 1968: at Love Street Light Circus February ?, 1968: Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show Friday, March 22, 1968: at the Vault, Pasadena Friday, April 19, 1968: at Teen Hall, Dickinson Saturday, May 4, 1968: with Ninth Street Bridge, Lemon Fog, Apollos at Taylor Hall, Pasadena Saturday, June 8, 1968: Jamaica Beach, Galveston Friday, June 21, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok Saturday, June 29, 1968: at Sea Isle, Galveston Saturday, July 20, 1968: at DERA Hall, Orange Friday, August 2, 1968: at the New Vault, Pasadena
This group of Misfits came out of Dallas and North Texas State University in nearby Denton. They cut a fine original folk-rock song, “No One Else” backed with a good version of “Route 66” on Repent 520 in August, 1966.
This was not the same Misfits who became the Lost and Found. The Misfits who became Lost & Found were from Houston, and, according to an old interview with Jim Frost, never played in Dallas, and never recorded as the Misfits.
This news clipping shows all the members’ names are different than any in the Lost & Found.
The Dallas News ran a photo of Joe Daughtery, the writer of “No One Else” performing with the Misfits and a short article on the group:
If you drive around the shore of White Rock Lake on almost any Sunday afternoon, you’ll come to a brown-rock picnic building where a controlled riot seems to be getting out of control.
But ask any of the mob of teen-agers standing and jumping around and you’ll be assured it’s really just a Sunday concert in the park.
The picnic building has grown in the last few years into a kind of proving ground for the detonations of ambitious and un-shy teen-age combos.
Sunday a sign in front of the band said: “The Misfits. Open for engagements. Call FL2-4046.”
But when the Misfits began blasting something called “Dirty Water,” the sign disappeared in a flood of weaving and bobbing couples.
…
“We get a lot of engagements this way,” said Joe Daugherty, the 21-year-old guitarists and singer who runs the Misfits. “A fellow from a fraternity just asked us to play a party.”
Daugherty and two other Misfits – drummer Rick Price, 22, and bass guitarist Mark McLane, 20 – are North Texas State University business students. Lead guitarist Jim Adkins, 23, works in a Dallas bank.
“We cut a record of a couple of my songs but nothing much happened,” said Daugherty.
Hundreds of kids sometimes mob the picnic building. Nobody seems to be in charge or worried about the noisy blowout. Policemen stop and watch a bit then move on …
Like any musician, Daugherty observed, “The acoustics are pretty bad in that building. Sometimes it gets kind of deafening.”
The Bitter Ende. Joe Daugherty holding guitar at left. Other members unknown – can anyone help with IDs?
The Bitter Ende to play at TCU Tech Stop, November 1967. Same group?Joe Daugherty formed another group called the Bitter Ende, but I don’t have any info on the membership of that group.
Thank you to Patrick Daugherty for contacting me about his father’s band, and sending in the news clipping and photo of the Bitter Ende.
Members of the Grapes of Wrath group play music worthy of putting on a record. The SPHS students are (left to right) Brian Magnan, Bill Lichty, Ralph Sias, Danny Morrow and William Doheny., San Pedro News-Pilot, May 17, 1967.
The Grapes of Wrath cut one 45, “For Every Year” / “Cause it Was Her”, both written by Ralph Sias.
The group came from San Pedro, California, in the South Bay of Los Angeles.
Members were:
Brian Magnan – lead vocals Bill Lichty – drums Ralph Sias – guitar Danny Morrow – bass William Doheny – keyboards
H. Eugene MacDonald produced their record, released on Vita Records V-005/V-006 with an address of 301 S. Western Ave, San Pedro, CA.
The San Pedro News-Pilot profiled the group twice, first on May 17, 1967 with an article written by the group’s bassist!
Grapes of Wrath band makes recording noise
By Danny Morrow
“This is it, boys. What’s it going to be next year.- trucks or Cadillacs?” With these words of encouragement from producer, Mr. Roth, and “unknown” teenage band called, hauntedly … “The Grapes of Wrath,” began its first recording session at American Recording Studios in Studio City.
The band is made up of five “crazy” individuals named Ralph Sias, Brian Magnan, Bill Lichty, William Doheney and myself, Danny Morrow.
Ralph writes the songs, plays lead guitar and gets nervous. Brian sings lead vocal and smiles at girls. Bill plays organ and wears leather boots. Williams plays drums and loves drums. I play bass and get in and out of trouble.
At the session, two songs written and arranged by Ralph, were taped in a stretch of nervous sweaty work that lasted five hours. The two songs, “For Every Year,” and “Cause It Was Here,” can presently be heard on the local rock station with a little patience and luck.
With the number of teenage bands easily numbering in the tens of hundreds in California alone, how did this group … manage to talk the Sunburst Record Company into backing a recording session?
First, a few months before the session a rough “demo” (45 RPM recording on a six-inch disk) was recorded at a small recording studio, and the manager, U.L. McDonald took the demo to different recording stations.
The vice-president of Sunburst, Mr. Roth [sic – Adam Ross], was impressed both with the band and the recording …
The next step is up to the “hippies” who buy the records.
The record did not come out on Sunburst, the label that released the E-Types “She Moves Me” and the Zoo’s LP The Zoo Presents Chocolate Moose, as well as a number of pop singles produced by Ed Cobb, but instead saw a release financed by the band under the auspices of H. Eugene MacDonald (the U.L McDonald cited in the article, presumably).
The second article came on September 4, 1967:
Folk-rock group wins popularity
By Rita Pedersen
A San Pedro rock ’n’ roll band has proved long hair and unconventional clothing are not necessary to become popular.
The band, the Grapes of Wrath, is a “short hair” outfit, and wears burgundy-cherry dinner jackets.
Despite their neat appearance, the group leaves Saturday for a week-long tour of Northern California.
The five-member band will appear on a Fresno television show and play in Redding, Red Bluff and North Sacramento Valley.
Members of the band are Ralph Sias, Bill Doheney, Danny Morrow, Brian Mangan and William Lichty, all of San Pedro. They are all San Pedro High School graduates, except for Lichty who will graduate next year.
The tour was arranged when a recording by the band, “Cause It Was Her,” became popular in the Redding area.
Doheney, an amateur radio operator, began talking to a Redding disc jockey Ian Evans, and he offered to play the group’s recording for a trial period.
Listener reaction was good, according to Doheney, and the band was signed for personal appearances.
The group was organized last summer when the youths were on the high school gymnastics team. Only Lichty was not on the team.
Doheney described their style as folk-rock and said Sias and Mangan write many of their songs, including “Cause It Was Her.”
There was a great profile of the band and interview with Bill Doheney, that didn’t include these news clippings, at www.westcoastfog.com/the-grapes-of-wrath/index.html, but unfortunately that site is now defunct. A version of that article was also in print in Ugly Things issue #39.
I see that Achille Brunet has just added a profile of the band at his site, Strange Lights, with more info than I have here. I’m sorry for the duplication, Achille, but glad to see someone else working the ’60s garage beat! It’s been quiet for a long time.
This American vocal soul group originated in Rochester, New York, and were originally billed as The Bandwagons (and subsequently The Bandwagon).
Led by lead singer Johnny Johnson, they also comprised singers Bill Bradley; Artie Fullilove; and Terry Lewis.
In March 1968, they recorded “Breakin’ Down the Walls of Heartache”, which reached number 4 on the British charts in October of that year.
This resulted in their first British tour before the year was out. Melody Maker’s 26 October 1968 issue lists the tour dates from 27 November to 22 December on page 23. The same magazine’s 23 November 1968 issue confirms the above line-up on page 14.
Although billed initially as The Bandwagon, a Melody Maker advert (possibly the 30 November issue) notes that the group is called Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon.
Photo: Tom Maudlin. Left to right: Dick Winters, Paul Thorpe, Tom Maudlin and Richie Thorpe
It also says the soul quartet will be backed by two groups – Enfield, north London soul band Grand Union and a Reading, Berkshire outfit called Oedipus Complex. I’ve not been able to find out much about the latter but Grand Union comprised Richie Thorpe (guitar/vocals), Dick Winters (keyboards/vocals), Tom Maudlin (bass/vocals) and Paul Thorpe (drums/vocals).
When I met Tom Maudlin in Toronto in May this year, he confirmed that, despite Melody Maker listing the gigs the two bands played below, Grand Union, in fact, did the entire tour.
Melody Maker suggested that Grand Union backed Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon on the following dates.
Tour dates:
28 November 1968 – Revolution Club, Bruton Place, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
29 November 1968 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford, Herefordshire (Melody Maker)
30 November 1968 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset and Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire (Melody Maker)
1 December 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Oval, south London and Blaises, Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
2 December 1968 – Pavilion, Bath (Melody Maker)
3 December 1968 – Down Broadway, Sheffield, South Yorkshire and Attic Club, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Melody Maker)
4 December 1968 – Whittingdon Hotel, Pinner, northwest London (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 – Gig in Cheam, Surrey (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
6 December 1968 – Avery Hill College, Eltham, southeast London (Melody Maker)
The band featured in the Kettering Leader, 6 December 1968, page 8
7 December 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire, Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire and Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Melody Maker)
8 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
10 December 1968 – Guildhall, Southampton, Hants with The Pyramids (Southern Evening Echo)
11 December 1968 – Bligh Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent and Samantha’s, central London (Melody Maker)
12 December 1968 – Kursaal, Southend-on-Sea, Essex and Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)
13 December 1968 – White Lion, Edgware, north London and Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)
14 December 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham and Clouds, Derby (Melody Maker)
15 December 1968 – Toby Jug, Tolworth, Surrey (Melody Maker)
16 December 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire and Cedar Club, Birmingham (Melody Maker)
17 December 1968 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks and Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
18 December 1968 – Majestic, Wellington, Shropshire (Melody Maker)
19 December 1968 – Guildhall, Plymouth, Devon and 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Melody Maker)
Melody Maker suggested these dates were with Oedipus Complex but Tom Maudlin confirms that Grand Union did the entire tour.
Tour dates:
20 December 1968 – George Inn, Kettering, Northamptonshire and Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker)
21 December 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Melody Maker)
22 December 1968 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester and Beau Brummell Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (Melody Maker) Record Retailer only lists the Beau Brummell Club in Nantwich on this date
23 December 1968 – Loyola Hall, Stamford Hill, north London with Pure Medicine (Melody Maker)
24 December 1968 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk (Melody Maker)
25 December 1968 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (Melody Maker) Record Retailer lists Lypla in Stamford possibly as a second gig on this date
26 December 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts (Melody Maker)
27 December 1968 – Victorianna and Mardi Gras, Liverpool (Melody Maker)
28 December 1968 – New Astoria, Rawtenstall and Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Melody Maker)
29 December 1968 – Locarno, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Melody Maker)
31 December 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester and Nevada Ballroom, Bolton, Lancashire (Melody Maker)
1 January 1969 – Top Rank, Preston, Lancashire (Melody Maker)
2 January 1969 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex (Melody Maker)
3 January 1969 – Tofts, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker)
4 January 1969 – Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Melody Maker)
5 January 1969 – Crystal Palace Hotel, south London and Jewish Youth Club, Fillebrook, Leyton, east London (Melody Maker)
6 January 1969 – St Matthew’s Bath, Ipswich, Suffolk (Melody Maker)
Melody Maker notes in early January that Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon’s British tour was extended.
The music magazine reports that from 7-11 January they played in Ireland and then did cabaret at the Fiesta in Stockton and the Showboat in Middlesbrough from 12-18 January. They then toured Scotland from 22-26 January.
Tour dates:
30 January 1969 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull (Melody Maker)
31 January 1969 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Melody Maker)
1 February 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Melody Maker)
2 February 1969 – Bellevue, Manchester (Melody Maker)
3 February 1969 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Melody Maker)
4 February 1969 – Majestic, Wellington, Shropshire (Record Retailer)
6 February 1969 – Old Time Barn, Abergavenny, Wales (Record Retailer)
7 February 1969 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester and Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Record Retailer)
8 February 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Record Retailer)
13 February 1969 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Record Retailer)
14 February 1969 – Royal, Tottenham, north London (Record Retailer)
15 February 1969 – Elms Court, Oxford (Record Retailer)
Melody Maker reports that they returned to Ireland from 13-17 February but this needs confirmation.
17 February 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
After returning to the United States, Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon returned to Britain for a second tour in spring 1969. Grand Union were once again used as the backing band. Due to their success in Britain, the soul group relocated here and based themselves in London.
Before the second tour starts, Les Lambert, who used to be the group’s amp repair expert, takes over from Dick Winters on keyboards
These dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
1 April 1969 – Gaumont Theatre, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and guest star Marv Johnson (Poster)
2 April 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey with Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
30 August 1969 – Royal Lancashire Showground, Blackpool, Lancashire with Amen Corner, The Casuals, Vanity Fayre and many others (Melody Maker)
20 September 1969 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, west London with Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)
Around this time, Tom Maudlin leaves and relocates to Toronto in October 1969. He is replaced by bass player/singer Roger Flavell from west London group, The Magic Roundabout.
These dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
10 October 1969 – Starlite Ballroom, Sudbury, northwest London with Sir Coxsone (Melody Maker)
25 October 1969 – Formby Hall, Atherton, Lancashire with Phoenix City Smash (Bolton News)
31 October 1969 – Oakengates Town Hall, Oakengates, Shropshire with Grand Union and Jigsaw (North Shropshire Journal)
16 November 1969 – Garrick Theatre Club, Leigh, Greater Manchester with The Johnny Martin Sound, Ralph Turner, The Delights, Mandy Williams and Vic Lezal (Widnes Weekly News)
Melody Maker reports that another British tour (with Grand Union) commences on 16 January 1970.
These dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
10 January 1970 – Central Hall, Chatham, Kent with Desmond Dekker & The Aces and The Pyramids (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham Evening Post)
7 March 1970 – Wem Town Hall, Wem, Shropshire with Grand Union and Street (North Shropshire Journal)
When the band broke up in early 1971, the Thorpe brothers played in the bands Moonstone and Life. Roger Flavell briefly joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and then played with The Tommy Hunt Band among others.
Thanks to Tom Maudlin and Roger Flavell for information about the band. Thanks to Tom for the posters.
This west London band was formed in April 1961 and were originally called Mike Forde & The HiFi’s but were renamed the following year as Mike Forde & The Fortunes.
Over the next few years, the group played many well-known venues in west London and Middlesex, including Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, Botwell Hall in Hayes, the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote and the Ealing Club.
Photo from Lindsay Bex. With Frankie Vaughan
On 27 October 1962, they backed singer Frankie Vaughan at Southbourne School in Eastcote.
Photo from Lindsay Bex
Forde also remembers that the group was due to play in the interval for The Beatles at a show at Botwell House in February 1963 but the show was cancelled at short notice. Despite the setback, they were rebooked about three weeks later at the venue to support Gerry & The Pacemakers.
Sometime in the latter half of 1963, an interested party named Gordon Eddie showed an interest in managing the band. However, Forde and Eddie couldn’t agree on how to take the group forward and Forde announced that he was leaving.
Auditions for a new singer were held and three singers turned up for an audition session held at John Hassell Studios in Nassau Road, southwest London, which usually specialised in recording classical music. A four-track acetate was cut at the session.
The identity of two of the singers (on the tracks “Little Queenie”, and “Ain’t Necessarily So”,) is not known but apart from Mike Forde who sang on one track, “Sweet Little Rhythm & Blues”, the final recording (“Send Me Some Loving”) featured Roger Peacock. Forde’s recording was later featured on Rev-Ola’s Fab Gear compilation.
After Peacock got the job, the group continued until the end of the year and Bex recalls that one of the final shows took place in Southend on a bill that also featured singer Paul Raven (aka Gary Glitter).
When the group split up, Peacock subsequently fronted The Cheynes, The Mark Leeman Five and Dave Antony’s Moods among others.
Bex joined The Tridents (before Jeff Beck joined but played some gigs with him), a group that Chinnery managed. He then worked in Germany with The Redcaps and The Kathy Sampson Set before Chinnery asked him to replace the drummer in The Dave Martin Group (the latest group he was managing) who morphed into The Magic Roundabout.
Hailing from Los Angeles, US soul vocal group The Vibrations comprised Jimmy Johnson (lead); Carl Fisher (lead and tenor); Dave Govan (lead and baritone); Ricky Owens (lead and tenor); and Don Bradley (bass).
In spring 1966 promoter Roy Tempest brought them over to Britain for the first of two nationwide tours that year.
Often Tempest deployed one group that was signed to his agency as the main backing band but, if they were supporting another soul artist that he had brought over on a particular night, he might call on other groups signed to his agency to the duties on that occasion.
It isn’t clear who backed The Vibrations on the first tour in April so we’d like hear from anyone who can provide more information.
This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour
Tour dates
8 April 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
8 April 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Don Covay (Melody Maker)
9 April 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
11 April 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
14 April 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Peter B’s (Melody Maker)
19 April 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
20 April 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
23 April 1966 – King Mojo All-nighter, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Jackie Williams & The Excitements (Sheffield Star)
For this second British tour in September 1966, Tempest used a Bognor-Regis based band that he had signed to his agency at the start of that month. The line-up comprised Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals); Martin Barre (lead guitar/saxophone), Mick Ketley (keyboards); Chris Rodger (saxophone/trumpet); Bryan Stevens (bass); and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums).
Poster from Chris Rodger
Rodger believes they did the entire tour backing The Vibrations and has provided a Roy Tempest Agency poster to show they were advertised as so. His recollections have been backed by other group members. However, Ketley says they never played at the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street, so it is possible other Tempest-signed bands did the odd show here and there with The Vibrations.
10 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Little People and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Noblemen
10 September 1966 – King Mojo all-nighter, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Johnny O’Hara & The Playboys (Sheffield Star) Says second British appearance and most likely with The Noblemen given they did the earlier show in Boston
11 September 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
13 September 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
15 September 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Senate but could be The Noblemen
15 September 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Senate
16 September 1966 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with seven more acts (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
16 September 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with seven more acts (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
Advert lists The Senate but The Noblemen were backing band
17 September 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The Senate (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Senate according to paper (although there is a photo with The Noblemen)
17 September 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Noblemen, Jimmy James & Vagabonds, The Hideaways, The Dark Ages, The Wild, Wild Klubs, The Tremas, Sooner or Later, Intent & Purpose and Signs & Times (Liverpool Echo) Backed by The Noblemen
18 September 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
Circa 18 or 19 September 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London with The Noblemen (Group recollections) Backed by The Noblemen. Chris Rodger recalls that Otis Redding and Mick Jagger both turn up
19 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Objects (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
20 September 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
21 September 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
21 September 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
22 September 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
22 September 1966 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
22 September 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
23 September 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent with The Noblemen (Melody Maker) Backed by The Noblemen
24 September 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
The Sheffield Star lists the London Ravers who were probably The Noblemen for this 24 September gig which never happened
24 September 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The London Ravers and Amboy Dukes Big Band (Sheffield Star) Most likely backed by The Noblemen billed as The London Ravers. However, the following week, the newspaper printed that The Vibrations did not appear
Sheffield Star notes with Robert Parker’s show that The Vibrations didn’t appear
25 September 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, northwest London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
As there is one gig listed below for spring 1967, it is probably safe to assume this tour didn’t happen.
27 April 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
In late 1967, The Vibrations did return for another British tour. It’s not clear who the backing band(s) were on this third tour, so we’d welcome any further information.
This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour
Tour dates
12 December 1967 – Blaises, Queensgate, Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
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I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
