I would be interested to hear from anyone who can throw any further light on this obscure Jamaican band who cut two rare 45s in Spain in 1968-1969. Singer Carl Douglas was also a member but judging by the picture sleeve of their two releases and the credits, he only appears to have been on the second release.
Douglas told me that the rest of The Explosion comprised musicians from Argentina, Colombia, France, Spain and Morocco. I also understand that Ellis, Simmonds and Evans were originally in a band called The Links who were regulars at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Praed Street, Paddington.
London-based West Indian soul outfit, Joe E Young & The Toniks recorded a superb, ultra-rare, and highly collectable, LP called Soul Buster! for Vicki Wickham’s small Toast label during 1968 before splintering when singer Colin Young joined British chart toppers The Foundations, subsequently singing lead on the UK #2 hit, “Build Me Up A Buttercup” and UK #8 hit, “In The Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)”.
The band’s career is shrouded in mystery and very little is known about its tangled history, not to mention its origins. What we do know, however, is that Colin Young was born in Barbados on 12 September 1944 (although some sources suggest the United States) and first came to London for a holiday with his father in the mid-Sixties (possibly in late 1965).
It seems likely that the original Toniks were formed around the Stoke Newington area as that was a hotbed for musicians from the Caribbean, who had moved to London.
Colin Young formed the group with guitarist Oscar Knight; sax player Anthony Barman (aka Bauman); bass player Sam Southwell; and drummer John Seally.
However, at some point in late 1966/early 1967 Calvin ‘Fuzzy’ Samuel took over from Sam Southwell; Conrad Isidore replaced John Seally; and keyboard player Ken Cumberbatch and second sax player Denis Overton joined. Samuel and Cumberbatch knew sax player Anthony Bauman from The Blue-Ace-Unit.
Antigua-born London-raised Calvin Samuel’s first notable musical outfit appears to have been The Blue-Ace-Unit, formed around early 1965 by future Bob Marley sideman, Junior Marvin, who at the time used the name Junior Kerr. Apparently, it was Kerr who coined Samuel’s nickname ‘Fuzzy’ after the musician used a fuzz box on his bass. Samuel replaced the original bass player in The Blue-Ace-Unit around the same time that Ken Cumberbatch joined Kerr’s group on keyboards.
Blue Ace Unit gig from 31 October 1965. Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
In mid-1966, Samuel briefly joined The Rick ‘N’ Beckers before hooking up with another Antigua immigrant, guitarist Wendell Richardson, who’d grown up in Tottenham after moving to the UK at the age of 11. This may (or may not) be the same band that Richardson refers to on his website as The Four Aces, who could also have been The Blue-Ace-Unit (aka Blue Aces) after Junior Kerr joined Herbie Goins & The Night-timers.
When that group folded, Samuel reunited with Cumberbatch in the new version of The Toniks. Also on-board were Dominica-born Conrad Isidore, who had previously played with The Grenades and The Links.
Around the same time, a second sax player, Denis Overton also joined. Overton is most likely the same South African-born musician who had previously played with John O’Hara & His New Playboys during 1965-1966 and then briefly worked with Liverpool band, The Roadrunners.
Incidentally, Samuel was also close friends with The Equals and apparently Eddy Grant used Calvin ‘Fuzzy’ Samuel as a session bass player on many of The Equals’ recordings. Grant would later produce and pen material for Samuel’s post-Toniks band, The Sundae Times.
Billed as either The Toniks or The Tonicks, the sextet quickly found work gigging across the north London club scene in venues that catered for the city’s burgeoning West Indian population.
The New All-Star Club near Liverpool Street railway station became a favourite haunt. The Toniks also became regulars at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington and the Roaring 20’s in Carnaby Street, Soho.
According to Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band guitarist Pete Gage, who would work with the band in late 1967, it was Colin Young’s manager Ken Edwards, who owned the Cue Club who renamed the singer Joe E Young.
Some of the gigs below (particularly the early ones) didn’t list Joe E Young, but Colin Young was there from start to finish.
British music magazine, Melody Maker, lists the following gigs for the band (unless otherwise noted). Some of the earlier gigs from 1966 were probably by the original formation.
Selected gigs:
7 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London
11 September 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London with The Pilgrims
2 October 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
5 October 1966 – Zebra Club, W1, central London
8 October 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge Park, northwest London
9 October 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
17 November 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London
17 November 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
3 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
9 December 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
17 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
25 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
26 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London with The Sugar Simone Show
8 January 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
27 January 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with Inez and Charlie Foxx
28 January 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
28 January 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Dave Berry & The Crusiers and The Crestas (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
28 January 1967 – Chalk Farm, north London with The Vaudeville Band, The Soft Machine and The Hectic Poets (Billed as the band only)
3 February 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) (Billed as The Tonics)
4 February 1967 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London (Poster)(Billed as The Tonicks featuring Joey Young)
5 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Joey Young & The Tonicks Band)
11 February 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
11 February 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
17 February 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
17 February 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
19 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
24 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
25 February 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
25 February 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
Photo: Aldershot News. Photo may be subject to copyright
4 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
5 March 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) (Billed as The Tonics)
5 March 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
7 March 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Poster)
10 March 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) (Billed as The Tonics)
16 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
18 March 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
23 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
23 March 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
24 March 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
25 March 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
27 March 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
30 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Drifters, The Senate and Jimmy Cliff (Evening Sentinel)
31 March 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
7 April 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Les Fleur De Lys (Evening Sentinel)
Photo: Essex Chronicle. Photo may be subject to copyright
8 April 1967 – Bluesville, St Thomas’ Hall, Brentwood, Essex (Essex Chronicle)
9 April 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
9 April 1967 – Flamingo, Soho, central London
Photo: Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald. Photo may be subject to copyright
15 April 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Tribe (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
16 April 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
21 April 1967 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Billed as The Tonicks
29 April 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
14 May 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
Photo: Evening Sentinel. Photo may be subject to copyright
21 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
22 May 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)
29 May 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London with Nyla Rose
2 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
2 June 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
17 June 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Kinsmen (Cambridgeshire Times) (Billed as the band only)
17 June 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London (Billed as John Lee Hooker & The Tonicks)
24 June 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London with The Toys (Billed as the band only)
22 July 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester (Disc & Music Echo)
The Nite Owl gig may not have happened as it took place during the period that the band played at Snoopys in Palma, Majorca which was from around late June to late August 1967.
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
9 September 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
9 September 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
15 September 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
Photo: North Norfolk News. Photo may be subject to copyright
23 September 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Soul Concern (North Norfolk News)
24 September 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
28 September 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
13 October 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as The Tonicks Band)
From late October-mid-November 1967, Melody Maker reports that Joe E Young & The Toniks were resident band at the New All-Star Club but did not say if this was every night. In early November, Ruby James & The Stax were also residents.
20 October 1967 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent with The Coloured Raisins (East Kent Times & Mail)
21 October 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as The Tonicks with Joey Young)
21 October 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
Photo: Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Photo may be subject to copyright
22 October 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Lloyd Alexander Blues Band (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
27 October 1967 – Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, Harrow, northwest London
28 October 1967 – Leeds International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
31 October 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
Photo: Possibly Swindon Advertiser. Photo may be subject to copyright
4 November 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Vogues (East Kent Times & Mail)
Sometime around early-to-mid November 1967, Calvin ‘Fuzzy’ Samuel departed to form The Sundae Times with guitarist Wendell Richardson. The Sundae Times later landed a record deal with President Records thanks to their friendship with Eddy Grant. Conrad Isidore also participated but continued to play with Joe E Young & The Toniks simultaneously.
Ken Cumberbatch left around the same time and moved into session work, including working with Junior Marvin. Oscar Knight also departed at the same time.
Trinidad and Tobago-born siblings Kelvin Bullen (lead guitar) and Hugh Bullen (bass), who had started out with Reading, Berkshire band, The Soul Trinity, took Knight and Samuel’s places. Richard London came in from south London bands The Heads and The Stax for Ken Cumberbatch.
Left to right: Kelvin Bullen, Richard London, Hugh Bullen, Colin Young, Conrad Isidore (sitting), Denis Overton and Tony Bauman
Colin Young – lead vocals
Kelvin Bullen – lead guitar
Hugh Bullen – bass
Richard London – keyboards
Tony Bauman – saxophone
Denis Overton – saxophone
Conrad Isidore – drums
Sometime in November, Joe E Young & The Toniks landed a recording deal with Vicki Wickham’s Toast label. Paired with former Ram Jam Band guitarist Pete Gage as an arranger, the band started to record material for an LP with producer Tommy Scott, which appears to have been cut over several sessions, starting in late 1967 and culminating with a final session in mid-1968.
According to Gage, it was Vicki Wickham (Dusty Springfield’s manager) who approached him via Rik Gunnell to arrange and produce Joe E Young & The Toniks. Gage believes that session players, which possibly included keyboard player Tim Hinkley and guitarist Ivan Zagni, who’d previously played with Mike Patto in The Chicago Blues Line and worked with his girlfriend Elkie Brooks in early 1968, may have been employed on some tracks. He also thinks that Colin Young’s friend Jimmy Chambers and Trinidad-born singer Ebony Keyes may have contributed vocals to the sessions.
Two of the earliest tracks to be recorded were two Pete Gage songs, co-written with Ebony Keyes (aka Kenrick Pitt), “Lifetime of Lovin’” c/w “Flower In My Hand”. Paired as a single, the tracks were issued on Toast in January 1968 but did not chart. Incidentally, the single also saw a South African release on the Continental label.
Debut single promotion. Courtesy Dave Else
Selected gigs:
23 November 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
Photo: Hull Daily Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
8 December 1967 – Burton Constable Stately Home, Hull, Humberside with The Amboy Dukes, Ferris Wheel, Roger Bloom’s Hammer, Gospel Garden and The Mandrakes (Hull Daily Mail)
9 December 1967 – Enfield Technical College, Enfield, north London with Ten Years After (Poster)
9 December 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
10 December 1967 – Ram Jam Club, Brixton, south London
Photo: Hull Daily Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
11 December 1967 – Hull University Union at the Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside with The Moody Blues and The Gods (Hull Daily Mail)
Photo: North Norfolk News. Photo may be subject to copyright
16 December 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Rubber Band (North Norfolk News)
23 December 1967 – Royal Lido, Central Beach, North Wales (needs source)
Photo: Woking Herald. Photo may be subject to copyright
24 December 1967 – Sunday club, Addlestone, Surrey with Art Movement (Woking Herald)
25 December 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London with Ronnie Jones, Owen Grey, The Youth and Herbie Goins
26 December 1967 – Shelimar Club, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
30 December 1967 – Israeli Student Association, West Hampstead, north London
30 December 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London
24 February 1968 – Tinned Chicken Club, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Max Bear & The Chicago Setback (Sheffield Star)
Photo: Harrow Weekly Post. Photo may be subject to copyright
2 March 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (Harrow Weekly Post)
2 March 1968 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
8 March 1968 – Drill Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire (Stratford upon Avon Herald)
15 March 1968 – Camberwell Rag Ball, Camberwell, southeast London with George Bean & The Runners and The James Stewart Dance Band (South East London Mercury)
24 March 1968 – Downbeat Club, the Swan, Maldon, Essex (Essex Chronicle)
30 March 1968 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
31 March 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London with Count Suckle Sound System (Billed as Tonicks Band)
Photo: Ipswich Evening Star. Photo may be subject to copyright
2 April 1968 – Ready Steady Go Club, Pier Pavilion, Felixstowe, Suffolk with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Ipswich Evening Star)
Photo: Leicester Mercury. Photo may be subject to copyright
5 April 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
12 April 1968 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
Photo: Western Gazette. Photo may be subject to copyright
20 April 1968 – Princes Theatre & Ballroom, Yeovil, Somerset with Satan’s Chase and The Pandas (Western Gazette)
21 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
22-25 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London with Count Suckle Sound System
Photo: Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. Photo may be subject to copyright
25 April 1968 – James Finegan Hall, Eston, Teesside with The Engine and Chelfont Line (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
26 April 1968 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London
30 April 1968 – Falcon Hotel, Eltham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
Soon after Joe E Young & The Toniks participated in a tour supporting American soul legend Aretha Franklin. Also on the bill were Johnnie Walker, Robert Knight and Lucas with The Mike Cotton Sound. One of the highlights was a show at what later became the Hammersmith Odeon in May 1968.
4 May 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Tonicks Band)
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Photo may be subject to copyright
10 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
17 June 1968 – Barn Club, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
Photo: Cambridgeshire Times. Photo may be subject to copyright
22 June 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Soul Mates (Cambridgeshire Times)
22 June 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London
Photo: Cumberland News. Photo may be subject to copyright
6-7 July 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria (Cumberland News)
14 July 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
20 July 1968 – Club LaBamba, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Kent & Sussex Courier)
Photo: East Kent Times & Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
27 July 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Magic Roundabout (East Kent Times & Mail)
27 July 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, west London (Billed as Joey Young & The Tonicks Band)
Photo: Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Photo may be subject to copyright
18 August 1968 – Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, northwest London
Melody Maker lists some gigs under the name The New Toniks, which may or may not be the same band. The ‘new’ prefix suggests that a new formation was put together and this writer would welcome any further information.
Selected gigs (New Toniks):
22 August 1968 – White Hart, London
23-25 August 1968 – Scotland
25-26 August 1968 – Manchester
27-28 August 1968 – Recording
Colin Young joins The Foundations. Courtesy Dave Else
According to Melody Maker, Colin Young joined The Foundations in late September and made his debut at Aberdeen University on 4 October 1968. By this point, Conrad Isidore had already jumped ship to commit to The Sundae Times full-time. With the band splitting, the Bullen siblings ended up joining Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers.
With the album ready to release, Toast quickly shipped a second single in November 1968, pairing the soul classic, “Sixty Minutes of Your Love” with Lennon & McCartney’s “Good Day Sunshine”.
Around the same time, the label also belatedly issued the Soul Buster! LP, highlights of which include one of the best covers of Darrell Banks’ “Open The Door To Your Heart”. Sadly, it was all too little, too late. With few copies pressed and scant promotion, the LP slipped out unnoticed. In subsequent years, however, it became a highly prized collector’s item, not least due to the band’s personnel and individual members’ post-Toniks career.
In a final, last gasp, Toast paired “Good Day Sunshine” with the year old “Lifetime of Lovin’” for a final single, issued on 31 January 1969, but it also failed to dent the charts.
Besides Colin Young’s chart success with The Foundations, Calvin ‘Fuzzy’ Samuel and Conrad Isidore also went on to greater things.
During his time with The Sundae Times, Isidore also played and recorded with Alan Marshall’s band One, who released a rare eponymous LP for Fontana. After a stint with Manfred Mann Chapter 3 during 1970, he became a noted session player, working with the likes of Joe Cocker, Linda Lewis, Terry Reid, Vinegar Joe and Eddy Grant to name a few. He also later played with Junior Marvin in his band Hanson and with Hummingbird.
Samuel appeared on Stephen Stills’ first two solo albums, thanks to his connections with Conrad Isidore, who landed the gig after Stephen Stills caught the drummer playing at the Speakeasy in March 1970.
The bass player was hired for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, appearing on the single, “Ohio” and subsequently worked in Stephen Stills’s Manassas before also finding work as a session player, including with Graham Nash, Rita Coolidge and Taj Mahal. Samuel later wrote and recorded songs with Marianne Faithfull and Stevie Winwood and worked with The Alvin Lee Band and Tumbling Dice with Mick Taylor and Nicky Hopkins. In 1999, he self-released two CDs, This Train Still Runs and Love Don’t Taste Like Chicken.
Latter day member Kelvin Bullen went on to work with Swiss rock band, Toad, while his brother Hugh found success with the highly revered British funk band, Gonzalez after a spell in Italy with Herbie Goins. Hugh Bullen also cut an Italian solo LP, Feeling, in 1978.
Colin Young meanwhile went solo and recorded for Pye Records. He later joined UK group Mercy, Mercy who had a hit with “It Must Be Heaven” in the 1980s. Since then he has participated in various Foundations reunions.
Many thanks to Pete Gage for his recollections. I would be particularly interested to hear from anyone who can add or correct any of the information here.
A noted yet relatively obscure late 1960s rock/soul outfit formed by two former members of Joe E Young & The Toniks around late 1967/early 1968, who cut a great lone LP, Us Coloured Kids, and a handful of singles for President Records.
Born in Antigua, guitarist Wendell Richardson had moved to London at the age of 11 and grown up in Tottenham. During 1965, he befriended fellow Antiguan-born musician Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuel and later Dominica-born Conrad Isidore. In 1967, Samuel and Isidore both played with The Toniks fronted by singer Colin Young aka Joe E Young). Through the local West Indian population, the trio got to know Eddy Grant and his band The Equals and became firm friends.
Having lost interest in The Toniks, Samuel jumped ship around November 1967 shortly before the band’s debut single on Toast, “Lifetime of Lovin’” c/w “Flower In My Hand” had been released and started planning The Sundae Times with Richardson, who had worked with The Skatelites backing Edwin Starr in February 1967. Isidore, however, remained with The Toniks but agreed to help out on the pair’s next project, The Sundae Times, who landed a deal with President Records thanks to their connection with The Equals (Ed: Samuel played bass on many of their recordings).
With Eddy Grant producing and penning the trio’s first release, “Baby Don’t Cry” c/w “Aba-Aba”, The Sundae Times’ debut was issued by President on 7 June 1968 but failed to chart in the UK. In the US, the single appeared on the small Seville imprint the following month. German and Spanish releases also followed but somewhat bizarrely it was in Israel where The Sundae Times made the biggest impact. Released as the A-side, “Aba-Aba” broke into the top 10.
With The Sundae Times starting to pick up gigs and with further hits potentially in the pipeline, Conrad Isidore left The Toniks around September 1968 to commit to the project full-time. In retrospect, it was a sensible move as singer Colin Young quit The Toniks soon after to join British hit-makers, The Foundations.
With Isidore fully committed, The Sundae Times began work on an LP for President Records’ subsidiary Joy during the autumn of 1968 with Eddy Grant producing. Richardson dominated the song-writing, penning the tracks, “Angels In The Sky”, “Adam and Eve”, “Electric Tree” and “Jack Boy”, which graced the A-side of The Sundae Times’ second single, issued on President on 22 November 1968. Coupled with “I Don’t Want Nobody”, a Richardson co-write with Isidore and Samuel, the single failed to chart.
The three musicians also collaborated on three other tracks on the LP, “Take Me Back Again”, “Psychedelic Dream” and “Do You Know What Love Is”. Samuel meanwhile penned two tracks, “On The Run” and “Live Today”, which belatedly headed up The Sundae Times’ final single outing (issued on 13 March 1970), and was coupled with Eddy Grant’s “Take Me Higher Baby”.
By then, Samuel and Isidore had been snapped up by Stephen Stills for sessions for his debut solo LP. Samuel was working with PP Arnold at the time and Isidore was working with Alan Marshall’s band One, who’d cut a lone LP for Fontana during 1969. Marshall’s group were regular guests at Stills’ Elstead home in Surrey.
While Samuel subsequently landed a gig with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (replacing Greg Reeves), Richardson formed Osibisa and Isidore joined Manfred Mann Chapter 3.
The Sundae Times’ own LP, Us Coloured Kids, had slipped out on Joy Records during 1969 and has since become an extremely rare, yet highly collectable item thanks in part to the Eddy Grant connection.
Selected gigs:
7 September 1968 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, south Wales with Lyndia Lewis and The NMO (South Wales Evening Post) Lyndia Lewis was most likely Linda Lewis but was this with White Rabbit?
6 October 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, Kent (Poster)
2 November 1968 – Weymouth Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with The Firestones (Dorset Evening Echo)
13 December 1968 – Fishmongers Hall, Wood Green, Middlesex with The Action (Melody Maker)
For more on the band members’ post career, see the Joe E Young & The Toniks entry on Garage Hangover. I’d be interested if anyone can add or correct any information below.
Junior Kerr (second left) with White Rabbit in early 1968. Photo courtesy of Rod Goodway
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on 3 May 1947, Donald Hanson Marvin Kerr Richards Jr, started to learn the piano at the age of two. When he was nine years old, he moved to London to live with his mother in Stoke Newington. In mid-1965, he starred in The Beatles’ movie, Help! Kerr only appeared briefly, playing one of the policemen who chase Ringo Starr in a beach scene.
Growing up on Kyverdale Road in Stoke Newington, Kerr learnt to play guitar and also further developed his keyboard skills, inspired by Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and Booker T, among others.
During late 1964, he formed his first group, The Blue-Ace-Unit, with keyboard player Reo Dayes, a school friend from Tyssen community primary school in Cazenove. With Kerr on lead guitar and vocals, the group also included Ian McLaughlin (rhythm guitar), Errol Pennant (bass) and Alvin Campbell (drums).
The following year, Ken Cumberbatch replaced Dayes on Hammond organ. Kerr also met Calvin Samuel, who he allegedly nicknamed “Fuzzy” because the musician played his bass through a “fuzz box”. Blown away by his bass playing, Kerr invited Samuel to take over from Pennant on bass. The Blue-Ace-Unit auditioned for a gig at the Flamingo in Soho but lost out to The Gass who secured the residency. Around June 1966, the group, which had changed name to The Blue Aces, split up and Kerr began to hang out at Soho clubs, the Roaring ‘20s and later the Bag O’Nails.
Around October 1966 (some sources say as late as March 1967), he joined Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (where he later met guest singer Linda Lewis) and it was during this early period that Kerr saw Jimi Hendrix playing at the Bag O’Nails in Soho. Inspired by his incendiary guitar work, Kerr started to practise guitar in his free time.
Around September 1967, Kerr left Herbie Goins to form The Junior (Pretty Boy Kerr) Group. The Aldershot News lists the band playing at the “Big C”, a popular club on 1 Camp Road, Farnborough in Hampshire on 4 November. It’s not clear who else was involved in this band and whether it was the same line-up of musicians that became White Rabbit but Linda Lewis was featured as singer.
In July 1967, Polydor Records had issued Linda Lewis’ debut solo single, “You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet” but it had not been a chart success.
Towards the end of the year, Kerr and Lewis put together White Rabbit, which comprised lead guitarist Andy Rickell from Calne, Wiltshire groups, The Pack and J P Sunshine, and his friend (and former Pack member) drummer Terry Stannard, who’d recently been working with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound. The remaining members were rhythm guitarist/singer Brian Henderson and bass player Ralph Richardson from Lisa Strike & The Jet Set. Henderson had also worked with Nirvana.
Managed by Ian Samwell (Lewis’ manager) and Laurie O’Leary who managed the Speakeasy, the group played a month’s residency in Biarritz, the south of France, at the Canasta Club. Then, in the early months of 1968, White Rabbit toured Italy and France, but after their return (around late March), Kerr decided to leave.
Although he is rumoured to have re-joined Herbie Goins briefly (Ed. he appears on French TV on 4 April; this is more likely to have been a recording from the previous year), he in fact formed a new band that debuted in early April. 1968.
At some point in early 1968, Kerr ran into guitarist Mike Piggott in London, who had just left The System Soul Band, led by singer Ivan Sinclair.
The pair formed a new outfit, Junior’s Conquest, who landed a regular gig at the Pheasantry on the King’s Road in Chelsea.
According to the Redbridge & Ilford Recorder, the band also performed at the El Grotto in Ilford, east London on 7 April 1968, which may have been the group’s debut show.
Junior’s Conquest, late 1968. Courtesy of Mike Piggott. Pete Dobson is far left, Mike Piggott (top) and Junior Kerr. The person on the right might be John Best
It’s possible that while at the Pheasantry the group was invited to perform at a club in Stockholm, Sweden that summer called Alexandra’s, kicking off with a show on 17 May billed as Don Kerr & The Conquests.
Thanks to Mats Jarl for the clippingsAdvertised in paper on 31 May. Billed as The Conquest. Thanks to Mats Jarl for the clipping
With drummer Pete Dobson and a bass player, who was replaced by John Best, Junior’s Conquest played together for about six months, including a show at the Victoriana in Liverpool with Sinbad on 11 September 1968.
They also appeared at the Broken Wheel in Retford, Nottinghamshire on 5 October 1968 and the popular West End club, Hatchettes in Piccadilly on 22-23 November 1968.
Sometime in early 1969, however, the band split up. While he was fronting Junior’s Conquest, Kerr had also participated in the London production of Hair on Shaftsbury Avenue, which debuted on 27 September. It was here that he met singer Marsha Hunt whose band he briefly worked with in 1969.
During the early 1970s, Kerr would work with Keef Hartley and then move to the US before subsequently changing his name to Junior Marvin and finding fame with Bob Marley during the late 1970s.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further details to Kerr’s 1960s career.
White Rabbit in late 1967/early 1968. Left to right: Brian Henderson, Junior Kerr, Terry Stannard, Linda Lewis, Andy Rickell, Ralph Richardson. Photo courtesy of Rod Goodway.
A fascinating, yet short-lived band that included a number of notable musicians who went on to greater things.
The original White Rabbit line-up came together about November 1967 around singers Junior Kerr and Linda Lewis, who’d met earlier that year as members of Herbie Goins & The Night Timers.
Junior Kerr, incidentally, had started out with The Blue-Ace-Unit while Lewis had performed with John Lee Hooker in 1964 and sung with The Q-Set before they backed Maxine Brown and then Ronnie Jones.
White Rabbit was managed jointly by Ian Samwell (Lewis’ manager) and Laurie O’Leary, who managed the Speakeasy club in London.
Linda Lewis in Record Mirror. Thanks to David Else for the cutting
The band’s guitarist Andy Rickell and drummer Terry Stannard had both previously worked together in Calne, Wiltshire band, The Pack during 1966 with future White Rabbit singer Rod Goodway. The trio had also played with another, albeit short-lived, Wiltshire group, Flower of Wisdom between February-June 1967.
When Flower of Wisdom broke up, Terry Stannard moved to London where he joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, which is probably how he ran into Junior Kerr, who’d formed his own band, The Junior ‘Pretty Boy’ Kerr Group around October 1967. In fact, Stannard may well have been a member of this band after working with Freddie Mack (and possibly may have been with Herbie Goins briefly).
Meanwhile, Rickell and Goodway began working with the studio project J P Sunshine, which they kept together after Rickell joined White Rabbit (possibly also after a short stint with Herbie Goins) and Goodway was invited to replace Art Wood in the post-Artwoods band, St Valentine’s Day Massacre between January-April 1968.
The original version of White Rabbit was completed with two additional musicians, rhythm guitarist/singer Brian Henderson, who’d recently been part of Nirvana’s backing band and was previously in The Soul Mates and Liza Strike & The Jet Set, and bass player Ralph Richardson, who’d worked with Henderson in The Jet Set.
According to the Redbridge & Ilford Recorder, White Rabbit played at El Grotto in Ilford, east London on 9-10 December 1967.
After a short Italian tour, which included playing in Turin (see poster above) and billed as Junior Kerr and Linda Lewis and White Rabbit, they performed at the “Big C” club in Farnborough on 24 February 1968.
On 10 March, White Rabbit returned to play at El Grotto in Ilford, east London, according to the Redbridge & Ilford Recorder.
The band also played at the Revolution Club in central London before travelling to France to perform, which included a few weeks in Biarritz (most likely the Canasta Club).
On their return in late March, Terry Stannard departed, later working with Mirrors (with Boz Burrell and Nick Judd), Alan Marshall’s band One and Kokomo among others. Kerr remembers a Jewish drummer called Mick, who briefly filled in.
However, Junior Kerr also departed in late March and formed his own band, Junior’s Conquest who debuted in early April. (Ed. He is seen on French TV playing with Herbie Goins in April 1968 but this must be a recording from 1967.) In later years, he would change his name to Junior Marvin and work alongside Bob Marley.
Brian Henderson, who later worked with J J Jackson, and Ralph Richardson also departed.
On 6 April, the group was advertised playing on the French TV show Bouton Rouge but it’s not clear if this definitely happened. If they did appear, this would have been the broadcast date and would have been recorded in March while they were working in France.
Thanks to Bruno Ceriotti for photo
Linda Lewis and Andy Rickell meanwhile pieced together a new version of White Rabbit in late March 1968. Rickell recruited his former Pack and J P Sunshine colleague, singer Rod Goodway, who’d left St Valentine’s Day Massacre, to replace Junior Kerr.
Rod Goodway shortly after joining White Rabbit
The pair also recruited drummer Ron Berg, who interestingly had also played with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (alongside Stannard) during mid-late 1967.
To complete the new version, they added Cyprus-born bass player Pete Pavli and organist Mick Aron.
Redbridge & Ilford Recorder has them playing at the El Grotto in Ilford on 4 April. It is possible this may have been just with Linda Lewis singing before Rod Goodway joined.
White Rabbit in St Tropez. Left to right: Ron Berg, Rod Goodway, Linda Lewis and Peter Pavli. Courtesy Rod Goodway
Almost immediately, the new White Rabbit left the UK for the south of France and performed at the Papagayo Club in St Tropez for three weeks, starting in the first week of May.
The musicians were back in London for a notable gig at the Middle Earth club in Covent Garden, opening for Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band on 25 May. The group also opened for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown around August.
Around August/September 1968, however, Rod Goodway and Linda Lewis both left, the latter to embark on a successful solo career after fronting Ferris Wheel where she played alongside future Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott.
Pete Pavli also left to join High Tide while Mick Aron went on to work with Pete Brown.
Andy Rickell and Ron Berg kept the band going until around November/December of that year, bringing in a number of musicians, including Hammond organist Peter Jennings, who subsequently joined Cressida in September 1969.
Jennings says that he worked with Berg at Sidney Bron’s ‘Bron’s Orchestral Service’ in Oxford Street and then Newman Street, collecting music from publishers in the area and sending them to customers.
The Hammond organist recalls that they also had a singer, who he thinks came from Leicester and a trumpet player from Wales.
He remembers that Laurie O’Leary was still managing the group and that they rehearsed in a gym on Tottenham Court Road. Jennings recalls a gig in Ilford (most likely El Grotto; there is a guest group appearing there on 14 November 1968) one at Sybilla’s in Swallow Street, central London before splitting.
On the band’s demise, Ron Berg joined Mick Abrahams’ post-Jethro Tull group, Blodwyn Pig while Rickell later joined The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
Jennings worked with several bands before joining Cressida, including one with guitarist Ged Peck called Storm. The others were Van Dyke and Luther Morgan.
This author would be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further information. Huge thanks to Rod Goodway for photos and background information.
Orange Rainbow, lock, Uxbridge, west London, 1969. Left to right: Martin Hayles, Robin Lawrence, Geoff Foster, Rodney Barrett, Martin Bryan, Alan Ray, Dave Goodman and Terry May
Alan Ray – lead vocals
Kenny Surmon – lead guitar (replaced by Geoff Foster)
Terry May – keyboards
Dave Goodman – bass
Martin Hayles – trumpet
Robin Lawrence – tenor sax
Rodney Barrett – trombone
Tony Hampton – drums (replaced by Martin Bryan)
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George Russell – alto sax (played on and off 1969-1970)
John Barter – tenor and baritone sax (played on and off 1969-1970)
Orange Rainbow at the Railway Hotel (Iron Bridge), Southall, west London
Orange Rainbow were a west London soul band that had worked as The Bluesville Soul Band, changing name around late March 1969.
Little is known about the group and Garage Hangover would welcome any additional information.
According to tributes to the late Dave Goodman, who went on to become sound engineer for the Sex Pistols, Orange Rainbow began as seven-piece group.
Frinton Bassett Blues in Feltham in 1967. Photo from Scot and Patricia Whetton
Goodman had started out with The Frinton Bassett Blues band, who were profiled in the 22 September 1967 edition (page 2) of the Middlesex Chronicle, Hounslow Edition.
The article lists the band’s seven-piece line up as Steve Crawford (lead vocals); Alan Cook (lead guitar); Dave Goodman (bass); Denis Smithers (drums); Pete Watson (alto sax); Ray Johnson (tenor sax) and an unnamed keyboard player.
Singer Alan Ray at the Railway Hotel
According to the newspaper, The Frinton Bassett Blues Band had been formed around the spring of 1966 and added the sax players in the summer of 1967, prompting the slight name change to New Frinton Bassett Blues Band.
Goodman and Martin Hayles (who had joined later) subsequently worked with The Bluesville Soul Band, which formed the nucleus of Orange Rainbow.
Article on The Bluesville Show Band, Kingston and Malden Borough News, 12 July 1968
Alan Ray had started out with The Keyes (sometimes spelt Keys), who also included guitarist Geoff Foster and keyboard player Terry May.
However, around December 1967, Geoff Foster left to play with west Londoners The Casuals (Frankie Reid’s former group) and Terry May joined The James Royal Set and then The Huckle Buck Band.
New Frinton Bassett Group February 1968
Alan Ray put together The Bluesville Soul Band with lead guitarist Kenny Surmon; sax player Robin Lawrence; trumpet player Martin Hayles; bass player Dave Goodman; and drummer Tony Hampton. Terry May joined in July 1968. Rodney Barrett joined soon after.
Alan Ray and Kenny Surmon (plus Geoff Foster who was playing in The Army after Steve Priest left to join The Sweet) all auditioned for Tangerine Peel around this time but turned the offer to join down.
The Kingston & Malden Borough News, which profiled the band in its 12 July 1968 issue, lists the following gigs:
20 July 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, southwest London
3 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London
17 August 1968 – Apple Tree Land, Staines, Middlesex with Way In and Souvenir Badge Factory (Staines & Egham News)
27 September 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London
21 December 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, southwest London
Around March 1969, Geoff Foster took over from Kenny Surmon and Martin Bryan replaced Tony Hampton. Later this month they became Orange Rainbow.
According to Goodman’s webpages, Orange Rainbow toured the UK extensively and even worked on the continent. They also backed Ben E King, The Drifters, Nicky Thomas, The Flirtations and The Fantastics (from mid-1970 onwards after Pip Williams’ band, The House of Orange). Orange Rainbow also supported The Four Seasons and The Jackson Five on UK tours.
Left to right: Rodney Barrett, Martin Hayles and Robin Lawrence
From mid-July to early August 1969, the band was booked to perform at the Ye Ye Club in Rimini, Italy for three weeks. Geoff Foster also remembers the musicians playing at Sloopy’s Disco in Manchester, the Place in Hanley, Staffordshire and the Pavilion Ballroom in Gillingham, Kent.
Orange Rainbow played Sunday lunchtimes at the Railway Hotel in Southall, west London and were also regulars at Samantha’s in central London.
Geoff Foster’s former band mates in the Army, George Russell and John Barter worked with the band on and off throughout 1969-1970 but never officially joined as permanent members. All three left during 1970.
Orange Rainbow continued into the early Seventies during which time the group underwent many personnel changes (see comments below). Dave Rose took over from Terry May on keyboards and Graham Board replaced Martin Bryan on drums. Eventually, the group morphed into Polecat.
Left to right: Martin Bryan, Dave Goodman and Geoff Foster
Selected gigs
5 April 1969 – Hay Makers Hoedown, Lake Farm, Blechingley, Surrey (Surrey Mirror and County Post)
18 April 1969 – Addlestone Community Centre, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
26 April 1969 – Kingston College of Technology, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London with Episode Six and The Giant (Melody Maker)
10 May 1969 – Pavilion Ballroom, Gillingham, Kent
8 June 1969 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
28 June 1969 – Railway Hotel, Southall, west London
28 July 1969 – Ye Ye Scandinavian Club, Rimini, Italy with Root and Jenny Jackson (Poster)
6 August 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Sunnyside (Evening Sentinel)
7-8 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
11 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
14 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
17 August 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
26 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
29 August 1969 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands (Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle)
31 August 1969 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
10 September 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The All-Round (Evening Sentinel)
An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 26 September 1969, page 2, says the band are due to play in Denmark in November. It also says that they have played the Scotch of St James.
15 November 1969 – Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)
16 January 1970 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Photo: John Kirk’s book
1 February 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire (Retford Times/John Kirk’s book “Another Saturday Night”)
5 February 1970 – Acorn Club, RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire with The Stack (Cambridge Evening News)
14 February 1970 – Barn Dance Hall, Penzance, Cornwall (West Briton and Royal Cornwall Gazette)
21 March 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with James King (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 April 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Rare Bird (Birmingham Evening Mail)
6 May 1970 – Mackadown, Birmingham with Toyshop (Birmingham Evening Mail)
An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 8 May 1970, page 2, says the band has played gigs in Wigan, Birmingham and Wolverhampton and have just been booked to back US vocal group, The Invatations (formerly The Original Drifters).
The line up is listed as:
Alan Ray – lead vocals
Peter Wrigley – lead guitar
David Rose – keyboards/vocals
Dave Goodman – bass
Martin Hughes – trumpet/vocals
Robin Lawrence – tenor sax
Rodney Barrett – trombone
Graham Broad – drums
28 June 1970 – Up the Junction, Crewe, Cheshire (Chester Chronicle)
1 August 1970 – Starlight Room, Gliderdrome Boston, Lincolnshire with Nicky Thomas (Lincolnshire Echo)
8 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) They play next four Saturdays
15 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
22 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
29 August 1970 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
20 September 1970 – Blue Orchid, Nottingham (Guardian Journal)
December 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with The Fantastics (Retford Times/John Kirk’s book “Another Saturday Night”)
Photo: John Kirk’s book
7 February 1971 – Theatre Royal, Nottingham with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Nottingham Evening Post)
19 February 1971 – Odeon Birmingham, Birmingham with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Birmingham Evening Mail)
20 February 1971 – Odeon Hammersmith, Hammersmith, west London with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Fantastics and Mike Felix (Marylebone & Paddington Mercury)
16 May 1971 – Wallsend Rising Sun Welfare Club, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
20 May 1971 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with The Fantastics and The Incredible Station (Hull Daily Mail)
24 July 1971 – Whitchurch Civic Centre, Whitchurch, Cheshire with The Fantastics (Chester Chronicle)
11 December 1971 – Drill Hall, Lincoln, Lincolnshire with The Fantastics (Lincolnshire Echo)
1 January 1972 – Birtley Rex Social Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
An article in the Horncastle Target, dated 23 June 1972, page 22, lists the band playing at the London Palladium with The Four Seasons and The Fantastics
16 July 1972 – White Horse Inn, Cranswick, Hull with The Fantastics (Hull Daily Mail)
I would like to thank Geoff Foster for helping with the story and supplying the excellent photos.
Orange Rainbow, mid 1970s. Back, left to right: Bob Gorman, Graham Broad (drummer from Feltham), Robin Lawrence (sax from Hanworth) Dave Goodman (bass from Feltham), Derek ? Front, left to right: Martin Hayles, Mel Day and Paul Sheath. Photo from Mel Day.
The Blues Loft in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire became a notable blues venue when the UK ‘blues explosion’ took off in late 1967/early 1968. Many of the top blues-rock bands like Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown and Jethro Tull performed at the club.
I’ve started a list of acts, taken from the Bucks Free Press newspaper, which advertised gigs from 1968 onwards. Please leave comments with any memories and missing acts.
5 April 1968 – Champion Jack Dupree and Shakey Vick’s Blues Band
12 April 1968 – Savoy Brown Blues Band
19 April 1968 – Chicken Shack
26 April 1968 – Shakey Vick’s Blues Band (Chiswick group who play every Friday)
Bucks Free Press runs story on the club in its 24 April issue, page 2
24 May 1968 – Jethro Tull
31 May 1968 – Dynaflow Blues
7 June 1968 – Shakey Vick’s New Band
14 June 1968 – Doc K’s Blues Band
21 June 1968 – Black Cat Bones
28 June 1968 – Dynaflow Blues
5 July 1968 – Keef Hartley with His Good Good Band
12 July 1968 – Savoy Brown Blues Band and Wild Angels
19 July 1968 – Black Cat Bones
26 July 1968 – Doc K’s Blues Band
2 August 1968 – Bruno’s Blues Band
23 August 1968 – Pegasus
30 August 1968 – Champion Jack Dupree and Bruno’s Blues Band
6 September 1968 – Savoy Brown
13 September 1968 – Black Cat Bones
20 September 1968 – Doc K’s Blues Band
27 September 1968 – Keef Hartley
2 October 1968 – John Dummer Blues Band (Dave Kelly guest)
9 October 1968 – Ian Anderson
18 October 1968 – Steve Miller (Delivery not US band)
23 October 1968 – Doc K’s Blues Band
1 November 1968 – Duster Bennett and Smokey Rice
6 November 1968 – Pegasus (with guests)
8 November 1968 – Curtis Jones and Dynaflow Blues
15 November 1968 – Spirit of John Morgan
22 November 1968 – Bobby Parker and his band
29 November 1968 – Black Cat Bones
6 December 1968 – John Dummer Blues Band and Dave Kelly
13 December 1968 – John Lee’s Groundhogs and Tony McPhee
20 December 1968 – Duster Bennett, Killing Floor, Ian Anderson, Alexis Korner and Mike Raven
27 December 1968 – Savoy Brown
Image may be subject to copyright
17 January 1969 – Black Cat Bones
24 January 1969 – The Killing Floor
31 January 1969 – Duster Bennett and John Thomas Blues Band
7 February 1969 – Jerome Arnold Band
14 February 1969 – Shakey Vick and Al Jones
Image may be subject to copyright
21 February 1969 – Blodwyn Pig
28 February 1969 – Fish Hook
5 March 1969 – Freddie King and Steamhammer
Image may be subject to copyright
21 March 1969 – Alexis Korner Blues Band
28 March 1969 – Jerome Arnold Band
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4 April 1969 – The ‘New’ Black Cat Bones
The following gigs are from Time Out unless otherwise noted
11 April 1969 – Pegasus
18 April 1969 – Champion Jack Dupree and Shakey Vick’s Blues Band (Bucks Free Press)
23 April 1969 – Blodwyn Pig
25 April 1969 – Steamhammer (Melody Maker has McKenna Mendelson Mainline)
30 April 1969 – Mike Cooper (Bucks Free Press)
2 May 1969 – Killing Floor
7 May 1969 – Made In Sweden (Bucks Free Press
Image may be subject to copyright
9 May 1969 – McKenna Mendelson Mainline (from Canada)
14 May 1969 – Lowell Fulson and Steve Miller’s Delivery
16 May 1969 – Keef Hartley (Bucks Free Press)
21 May 1969 – Howlin’ Wolf and John Dummer Blues Band
23 May 1969 – Black Cat Bones
30 May 1969 – Shaky Vic (Bucks Free Press has New Dynaflow Band and John Thomas)
4 June 1969 – Freddie King and The Killing Floor (Bucks Free Press)
6 June 1969 – Savoy Brown
11 June 1969 – Blodwyn Pig
13 June 1969 – Jellybread
Image may be subject to copyright
18 June 1969 – John Lee Hooker and John Dummer Blues Band
25 June 1969 – Otis Span
27 June 1969 – Jo-Ann Kelly and Brett Marvin & The Thunderbolts (Bucks Free Press)
2 July 1969 – Gordon Smith and Transfusion (Bucks Free Press)
4 July 1969 – Ashkan (Bucks Free Press)
18 July 1969 – Bakerloo
25 July 1969 – Sam Apple Pie
30 July 1969 – Juniors Eyes
Image may be subject to copyright
1 August 1969 – Spirit of John Morgan
8 August 1969 – Gordon Smith and Errol Dixon’s band The Nighthawks (Bucks Free Press)
15 August 1969 – Liverpool Scene
Image may be subject to copyright
22 August 1969 – Blodwyn Pig
29 August 1969 – King Crimson
5 September 1969 – Brett Marvin
12 September 1969 – Steamhammer
19 September 1969 – Clouds
26 September 1969 – Juniors Eyes
3 October 1969 – Bakerloo
10 October 1969 – Ashkan
17 October 1969 – East of Eden
24 October 1969 – Howlin Wolf
31 October 1969 – Juke Boy Bonner & The Nighthawks
Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement, 1965. Back row, left to right: Chris Palmer, Gary Laub and Peter Vernon-Kell. Front: Fedon Tilberis
In August 1965, an obscure R&B outfit named Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement signalled its arrival on the London scene with an impressive rendition of The Velvelettes’ Motown classic “Really Saying Something” (later a sizeable UK hit for Bananarama) and then seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.
Then, almost two years later, a band calling itself Hamilton & The Movement descended on the airwaves with the infectious soul-rocker, “I’m Not the Marrying Kind”, a Bill Wyman penned and produced number, infused with punchy horn lines, funky drums and some groovy Hammond organ fills. Could this really be the same band and, if so, why such a long radio silence?
The answer to that question is both a yes and a no. While both outfits were fronted by a singer called Gary Hamilton, they were in fact two entirely different groups, albeit each with fascinating histories. To understand how these two bands became entwined, it’s important to go back to the early Sixties and the man who kick-started ‘the movement’, so to speak – Gary Hamilton.
The son of an English mother and American father, Gary Hamilton was in fact a certain Gary Laub, who grew up in London’s Marble Arch and St John’s Wood areas.
In 1962, Laub formed his first (unnamed) group with a school friend and lead guitarist named Graham who lived opposite Lords cricket ground. Soon after, they were joined by bass player Chris Palmer, rhythm guitarist Ian Hunt and (finally) drummer Fedon Tilberis, who all attended Haverstock School.
“How Chris and Ian met Gary I don’t know,” says Tilberis. “I joined a little later but Graham was still in the band and left soon after. We enlisted a replacement lead guitarist named Mike Allen and emerged as a five-piece named The Moondogs. The name was [Gary’s father] Mr Laub’s idea before we auditioned at the famous Two Is coffee bar.”
Fast forward to spring 1965 and Laub, Palmer and Tilberis had to reshuffle the pack when Allen and Hunt moved on. Through a friend of Tilberis, they were introduced to two older guitarists – Costas and Bernie – and started gigging as Cell Block 5.
“Costas was an ex-pro who had played US bases in Germany; he was a men’s tailor by trade. Bernie was from Rochdale. They were then in their late Twenties,” remembers Tilberis.
“We practised in the cellar of a scrap shop in south London that they knew. They did a three-nighter with us in a Greek Street cellar club called Les Cousins that I hustled but Bernie, not feeling very happy, left on the last night after the gig. Costas stayed on for a London suburb gig. They were only with us for about seven or eight weeks.”
Coining a new name, The Reaction, Tilberis hit the jackpot when he stumbled across Rayrik Studio owners Rick Minas and Bruce Rea, who offered up their Chalk Farm studio as a practice room. In return, the outfit would play free on any demo recording sessions when required.
“As it turned out, this was a great deal for us as we never had to record anything there other than our audition to clinch the agreement and practised for free,” continues the drummer.
Abetted by guitar legend Mick Green, The Reaction duly auditioned and Minas was bowled over by the performance.
“Chris and I had auditioned Mick at Chris’ place in Kilburn shortly before the Rayrik audition and we were both very impressed,” remembers Tilberis.
“Although Mick didn’t commit himself, he was interested in doing the Rayrik session, maybe hoping for some recording session gigs. I can’t remember what the number was that we recorded or if Gary was even there, but do remember listening to the backing take after and Mick’s comment. He said that it was a good clean recording and that you could build on it. Rick and Bruce agreed.”
Peter Vernon-Kell (front) with The Macabre outside the Ealing Club. Photo: Peter Vernon-Kell
However, when Mick Green opted to return to The Dakotas, with whom he had been playing with after leaving Johnny Kidd & The Pirates the previous year, Peter Vernon-Kell, a member of Goldhawk Social Club and Ealing Club regulars, The Macabre assumed guitar duties. Incidentally, Vernon-Kell had also been a brief member of The Detours, a forerunner of The Who.
“Both Mick Green and Peter Vernon-Kell came to us via a [Melody Maker] ad in that order. We did see other guitarists but finally settled for Peter after Mick moved on to greener pastures [excuse the pun],” explains Tilberis.
“Peter shared our new musical orientation and attitude, and as far as we were concerned, he fitted the bill. I then arranged our first practice at Rayrik.”
Prior to Vernon-Kell’s addition to the group’s ranks, Minas and Rea had introduced impresario Robert Stigwood, and the Australian subsequently offered Gary Laub a recording deal and put the band on his agency books.
Stigwood insisted that “Really Saying Something” should be the ‘A’ side while Rick Minas and his song-writing partner Mike Banwell offered up “I Won’t See You Tonight” for the flipside.
Before cutting both tracks at a demo session at Regent Sound in Denmark Street, Vernon-Kell coined a new name; The Reaction sounding too similar to The Action, The Who’s regular Tuesday night opener at the Marquee.
“He came up with The Hamilton Movement [in honour of Macabre guitarist Ed Hamilton] in the pub before the session [and] we thought it was great,” remembers Tilberis, who adds that Gary Laub, although at first not so keen, adopted ‘Hamilton’ as a stage name.
Having booked Olympic Sound (then situated in Baker Street) for the final recordings (and unbeknownst to the musicians), Stigwood augmented the band with Graham Bond on piano.
“We were aware who Graham was and were pleased to have him on board for the session,” says Tilberis.
According to the drummer, the tracks required only a few takes per playback and for the lead/backing vocals. Released in August 1965, the single entered the Radio Caroline charts at number 65 on 23 October and peaked at number 53 the following week.
However, the musicians soon realised that any talk of ‘band democracy’ was just that. Not only did the single list the outfit as Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement but Stigwood started promoting them as such.
“Only Gary was allowed to perform on Ready Steady Go using our playback, though we were allowed to attend the show,” explains Tilberis.
Interestingly, as future Hamilton Movement member Mel Wayne recalls, Stigwood insisted on the same conditions with another of his charges, The All-Nite Workers, who were backing Indian singer Simon Scott around the same time.
“Simon mimed to our backing track [on Ready Steady Go] while we had to stand on the balcony with the audience,” says the sax player. “It must have been a Stigwood thing.”
Aired on 22 October 1965, Gary Hamilton appeared on the popular British TV show alongside The Animals, The Searchers, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Rolling Stones, which may have been where the singer linked up with Bill Wyman.
By then, the group had started to pick up consistent live work, kicking off with a memorable gig at Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff on 30 August with The Who, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Easybeats (not the Australian outfit), which had been arranged by the Stigwood/Lambert-Stamp team.
“It looked like a sports hall with an enormous stage at one end. We went up the day before and slept in the van and hung about till early next afternoon to unload our gear,” says Tilberis.
“Townsend was also there early and limbering up in The Who’s dressing room. As our Pete knew him, he went to say ‘allo’ and introduce his new mates… [Townsend] asked Pete if he could borrow his Fender amp for the gig. Pete was more than wary, after all he didn’t want his amp wrecked so Townsend promised to only demolish his Marshall gear.
“Keith Moon and Tony Banks, drummer of The Merseybeats, were looning around and generally getting on everybody’s nerves, especially Entwistle’s as Moon had donned his bass and was running up and down the stage strumming it like a maniac. I thought John was going to thump him.”
More provincial gigs followed, not to mention the obligatory Mod clubs in London, including the El Partido in Lewisham where the outfit played alongside The Duke Lee Sounds on 30 October 1965.
However, in mid-late January 1966, the Stigwood/Lambert & Stamp team secured a spot for the band on a three-day, two shows a day package tour, once again opening for Vernon-Kell’s former band mates, The Who, and also featuring Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Fortunes.
“Bob [Stigwood] arranged for us to practise at the Granada TV rehearsal studios at the Oval about a week beforehand,” remembers Tilberis. “He and Lambert came to oversee the rep and offer presentation tips for our opening spot on the show.”
The tour debut duly took place at the Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park on 4 February and was followed by a gig at the Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea the next day, culminating with a final engagement on 6 February at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.
The following month, on 11-12 March, the musicians found themselves on the campus of Essex University in Colchester where a number of bands, including the up and coming Pink Floyd were entertaining the students.
Then in April, Stigwood linked up with Chris Blackwell to promote a second package tour headlined by The Who, this time with Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement joining the likes of The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and (most notably) Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System (aka New Generation) (who featured musicians that would form part of the soon-to-be Hamilton Movement).
The four-day tour, with two shows a day, kicked off at the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton on 14 April. After weaving its way on to Fairfield Halls in Croydon, then the Odeon in Watford, the tour wound up at the Regal Theatre in Edmonton.
“Gary’s mum called me on Saturday, 16 April in the afternoon asking if we would do the Watford gig that evening,” says the drummer. “Although we all had other plans I rounded up Pete and Chris and we did that gig.”
Stigwood then proposed a second single and once again engaged Graham Bond on piano. The sessions included a stab at The Who’s “A Legal Matter” as the ‘B’ side, which was cut as an instrumental track. However, the recording of the ‘A’ side did not go well, as Tilberis recalls.
“We weren’t raving about the number. Stigwood arranged a practice room and gave us a single to learn but I can’t remember what it was called. I had a trouble with the drum part on the session.
“Bob was well peeved but let us play one of our tunes that we were working on, but there was no melody line or title at that stage and he didn’t like it. The Olympic session was a blow out and Bob gave us the thumbs down, we were out and the gig flow stopped.”
As Tilberis points out, there was still no signed contract, and the singer was looking out for himself. “Gary’s dad [Harry] being a shrewd businessman and used to dealing with contracts and small print had deleted a hefty portion of the contract!”
Chris Palmer and Fedon Tilberis soon left for Jimmy & The Rackets, a British beat group with hit parade successes in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Joining long-standing frontman, Jimmy Duncombe and guitarist Mike Bell, Tilberis remained with the Swiss-based outfit until spring 1968 while Palmer stayed on for another year.
The pair appeared on a cache of European-only released singles by The Rackets, kicking off with a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “C’mon Everybody” backed by a cover version of George Harrison’s “I Want To Tell You”.
The pair ended up setting up home in Switzerland where, in 1970, The Chris Palmer Band recorded the ultra-rare solo LP Fingertips, featuring originals from all the band members.
Palmer later hit pay day in 1980 when Surface Noise topped the UK dance music chart with a cover of his song, “The Scratch”. Tilberis re-joined The Rackets and played with local bands, including Swiss Sixties specialists, The Countdowns.
Vernon-Kell meanwhile subsequently moved into production. Setting up PVK Records, he managed Peter Green and produced a string of his late 1970s and early 1980s albums. More recently, he’s become an executive producer for films and currently runs Cabana Films Ltd.
But Gary Hamilton wasn’t finished with The Hamilton Movement. In late July/early August 1966, he linked up with Jimmy Cliff’s backing band, The New Generation, renaming them The Movement.
Bass player Ron Thomas, who years later struck fame with The Heavy Metal Kids, thinks the link-up came through The New Generation’s keyboard player Mick Fletcher.
“[Mick] was always going down all the clubs around Wardour Street,” says the bass player. “He was always ducking and diving and I thought he just met him [Gary Hamilton] out there one night.”
“Me and Mickie Fletcher were great mates and frequented The Ship in Wardour Street and drank with Gary there quite a bit,” confirms sax player Mel Wayne.
“We were all a bit frustrated the way things were going with Jimmy Cliff because he didn’t have a soul or pop voice, which was the sort of music Chris Blackwell wanted him to do and engaged us for.”
New Generation members Ron Thomas and Mel Wayne, together with fellow sax player Dave Mahoney, had first come together in West London R&B outfit Mike Dee & The Prophets.
Adding Thomas’s school friend Mick Stewart on guitar in mid-1965, they split from Mike Dee and worked as Anglo-Indian singer Simon Scott’s backing group, The All-Nite Workers. Their lone single together was produced by none other than Robert Stigwood!
By late 1965, former Paramounts drummer Phil Wainman had assumed leadership, and after cutting several singles with Errol Dixon and briefly backing Freddie Mack, Mick Stewart jumped ship to join Johnny Kidd & The ‘New’ Pirates.
Having previously introduced Mick Fletcher from The Epitaph Soul Band, guitarist Tony Sinclair (aka Tony St. Clair) completed the new formation, now gigging as The Sound System.
Through a chance meeting with Chris Blackwell, the sextet supported his roster of artists – Jackie Edwards, Millie, Owen Grey and most notably Jimmy Cliff. Trumpet player John Droy joined just before the Gary Hamilton pairing.
Clockwise from front: Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher, Gary Laub, Tony Sinclair, Mel Wayne, Dave Mahoney and Phil Wainman
The expanded group began rehearsing at London’s Colony Club where Gary’s father was employed; US film star George Raft worked as its casino director and briefly financed the outfit. Mel Wayne adds that the group also rehearsed at Caesars Palace in Dunstable and Ken Collier’s London club.
When John Droy bailed after a short nationwide tour with The Walker Brothers in mid-August to join The Quotations, The Movement expanded its line-up, bringing in trumpet players – Mike Bailey, Alan Ellis and Patrick Higgs, the latter from Elton John’s group, Bluesology around December. (Ed: One of the unsuccessful musicians to audition was trumpet player Verdi Stewart, who would be instrumental in landing Mel Wayne future work with Carl Douglas.)
“We had a ten-piece band; a five-piece brass section; three trumpets. When I think of it now, we were all on a wage,” recalls Thomas.
That November, Gary Hamilton landed a recording deal with CBS and the musicians entered IBC Studios to work with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman in the producer’s chair.
“That was something that [Gary’s father] Mr Laub put together. He said, ‘We’ve got a song for you’,” remembers Phil Wainman, who adds that the group nailed both sides in a couple of takes.
“He [Bill Wyman] just let us get on with it. The band was so good. We’d rehearsed it prior to the studio and… in three hours I think we were done, recorded and mixed.”
“I’m Not The Marrying Kind” c/w “My Love Belongs To You” was duly released on 10 February 1967 and hit single written all over it.
However, despite having supported The Who at Leeds University on 21 January and then making a notable appearance at the Saville Theatre opening for Chuck Berry and Del Shannon on 19 February, the single’s commercial failure prompted the backers to drastically reduce the group’s bookings.
Phil Wainman was the first to abandon ship for The Overlanders and then Jack Hammer, author of “Great Balls of Fire”.
After co-penning The Yardbirds’ cover “Little Games” and working with The Quotations, Wainman became a top session player and then a successful producer with Sweet and Boomtown Rats, among his credits.
“As a producer I did so much better than as a musician,” says Wainman. “That’s where I did well. I probably sold about 300 million records.”
James Smith, fresh from an audition with The New Pirates, reforming after Johnny Kidd’s death, assumed the drum stool.
“I got a call from Ron Thomas,” remembers the newcomer. “He said Mick Stewart had given him my number and would I be interested in auditioning? I got the gig, though it was a hard act to follow. Phil was one of the best drummers around at the time.”
Smith remembers the band finding plenty of work on the university circuit that spring, including Keele, Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham.
In the first week of April, Melody Maker reported that the group had whittled down from a 10 piece to a seven piece. Mel Wayne left to join Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede and two other horn players also departed, most likely including Pat Higgs.
On 27 May, Hamilton & The Movement joined Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Action, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Swinging Blue Jeans to entertain the students at Oxford’s Hertford Balls.
The drummer also says that The Hamilton Movement opened for US soul act Sam and Bill several times (most notably at the Boston Gliderdrome on 15 July) before further changes ensued during August and October 1967.
Sam and Bill, Record Mirror
“The brass section dropped out and this kind of triggered a fairly rapid exodus… There were no gigs for a while so Tony, Mick and Ron found other work,” says the drummer.
While Mick Fletcher failed to reunite with Mel Wayne in Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (the job went to Rod Mayall), he next appears to have played with The Rifle (with guitarist Del Grace from Carl Douglas’ band and singer Malcolm Magaron) and then The Amboy Dukes in late 1969 for a short tour into mid-1970.
Tony Sinclair briefly played with Lace before joining Freddie Mack’s band in early 1968. The soul outfit split from the former boxer in 1969 and worked with Dave Hadfield at his studio on the Old Kent Road, providing backing tracks for various artists on Hadfield’s Revolution label.
Ron Thomas meanwhile got a job with guitarist Pip Williams’s band, The House of Orange, backing US soul act, The Fantastics.
“They were right in the middle of a tour backing Garnet Mimms,” he recalls. “They were a house band working with Roy Tempest. They just phoned me up. Their bass player had got slung out in the middle of the tour and they had a gig that night.”
With ‘The Movement’ on hold, James Smith had also started to explore other avenues and even had an offer on the table when Gary Hamilton convinced him to hang on.
“Gary came up with Mick Stewart and Tony Savva and said he wanted to change the style and format going with a three-piece backing band, so I decided to stay,” says the drummer.
Bass player Tony Savva was best known for his work with A Wild Uncertainty, the group that featured Eddie Hardin, who had replaced Stevie Winwood in The Spencer Davis Group that spring.
Savva is uncertain how the link-up with Hamilton came about but has some photos with A Wild Uncertainty drummer Gordon Barton and lead guitarist Peter Tidmarsh in them, which offers a clue.
“Gary and I were behind the camera,” he explains. “How and why I don’t know but obviously we were backing Gary as vocalist. Maybe Gordon and Peter split and Mick [Stewart] and Jimmy [Smith] came in.”
Mick Stewart, however, can throw more light on this transition period. “I believe that I played with Tony Savva for a little while because of something to do with Don Arden’s son David being a would-be-singer at the time,” says the guitarist.
“The intro to that was in a way due to Johnny Kidd. Over the years, he was in fact booked quite a bit by Don Arden’s agency and after he died, I believe that someone at Arden’s company suggested I play guitar in this back-up band. Tony was already in the line-up. At the end of the day, however, David Arden although he was a really great guy to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band with, he was not really a singer at all.”
Gary Hamilton 25 November 1967 Record Mirror
With the new version finding its feet, Gary Hamilton returned to the studios with session musicians to cut a solo single. Produced by Tony Meehan and penned by Mike D’Abo, “Let the Music Play”, backed by the self-penned “Don’t Ask”, was released by Decca on 12 November 1967 but flopped. A dramatic, big band production, “Let the Music Play” appears on Colour Me Pop, Volume Three and Fading Yellow Volume 9: The Other Side of Life.
During early November 1967, Gary Hamilton expanded the line-up by bringing in organist Terry Goldberg, who had previously played with The Mark Leeman Five and would go onto Tintern Abbey.
Melody Maker, 11 November 1967
The five-piece gigged prolifically over the next four months, even opening for Ike & Tina Turner and others at the Boston Gliderdrome on 20 April 1968. Two days later, the musicians played possibly their final show at the 100 Club on Oxford Street before the inevitable split.
During 1968, Gary Hamilton recorded a one-track acetate “Carry The Can“, which was never released. The tracks were recorded with studio musicians and not the final version of The Hamilton Movement.
Mick Stewart immediately joined James Royal and participated in a prestigious concert tour alongside Johnny Cash, June Carter and Carl Perkins. During 1969-1970, he recorded three singles with Sweet before later moving to the United States in the late 1970s, where he works in Los Angeles and Nashville as a successful record producer and also owns a music publishing company and a recording studio.
Tony Savva meanwhile subsequently worked with Lionel Bart and Samuel Prody among others and currently lives in Cyprus. James Smith, who later recorded with Aquila, played with a revamped Nashville Teens before reuniting with Ron Thomas in The House of Orange.
“[Ron] said The Fantastics were coming back to the UK for a tour and he and Pip Williams were getting a backing band together and looking for a drummer and organist. I’d seen Ron and Pip previously so I didn’t need asking twice.”
As for Gary Hamilton, he joined the London production of Hair before resuming his solo career with a lone single for CBS and gigging briefly with Cozy Powell’s band, Big Bertha. Produced by Bernard Lee, the self-penned “Easy Rider” stalled when it was released on 5 December 1969.
Undeterred, he returned to Polydor for a cover of Ed Welch’s the “Monkey Song”, produced by Peter Knight Jr and arranged by John Fiddy. Released on 20 November 1970, the single flopped and Hamilton moved into movie acting; the eagle-eyed can catch him in the cult horror flick, Tower of Evil.
Thanks to Fedon Tilberis, Peter Vernon-Kell, Chris Palmer, Ron Thomas, Phil Wainman, Mel Wayne, James Smith, Mick Stewart and Tony Savva
To add information and make corrections, email: Warchive@aol.com
A version of this article appears in Ugly Things magazine.
30 August 1965 – Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales with The Who, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Easybeats
18 September 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester
16 October 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City
30 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, south east London with The Duke Lee Sounds and The Loose Ends
13 November 1965 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks
27 November 1965 – Dungeon, Nottingham
4 December 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Profile
24 December 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Unit 4+2 and The Nite-Sect
4 January 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
1 February 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants
4 February 1966 – Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, north London with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
5 February 1966 – Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
6 February 1966 – Empire Theatre, Liverpool with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
11 February 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London with The Who and The Mike Rabin Group
18 February 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Circuit Five
19 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Ultimate
11-12 March 1966 – Essex University, Colchester, Essex with Pink Floyd and others
18 March 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham with Carl Pagan & The Heathens
19 March 1966 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with The Spectrum
11 April 1966 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Moody Blues and Dave & The Strollers
14 April 1966 – Gaumont Theatre, Southampton, Hants with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System
15 April 1966 – Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System
16 April 1966 – Odeon, Watford, Herts with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System
17 April 1966 – Regal Theatre, Edmonton, north London with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System
21 May 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hants with The Nuetrons
The original band split around June 1966 and Gary Hamilton put together a new version in late July
Gary Hamilton (vocals)
Tony Sinclair (aka St Clair) (guitar)
Ron Thomas (bass)
Mick Fletcher (keyboards)
Mel Wayne (sax)
Dave Mahoney (sax)
John Droy (trumpet)
Phil Wainman (drums)
11-13 August 1966 – Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Kinks, The Walker Brothers, The Quotations, The Creation, The Wishful Thinking, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch and The Moody Blues
14 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Anzacs
John Droy left soon after the tour to join The Quotations
26 August 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
3 September 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Mystery Men
18 September 1966 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with The Barry Lee Show
24 September 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Dave Berry & The Cruisers
29 September 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hampshire
1 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Thoughts
16 October 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Sabres (the band replaced MI5)
Three trumpets players joined around December – Mike Bailey, Alan Ellis and Pat Higgs
21 January 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Who
19 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Chuck Berry, The Canadians and Del Shannon
26 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Chuck Berry, The Candians and Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers
11 March 1967 – Birdcage, Portsmouth, Hants (cancelled)
Phil Wainman left around now and Jim Smith joined on drums
18 March 1967
18 March 1967 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey with The Easybeats
Around early April, Mel Wayne and two trumpet players left, most likely including Pat Higgs. The band carried on as a seven-piece with two horn players.
6 May 1967 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn, Wales with The Quotations and The Raynes (billed as Hamilton but assuming it is the same band)
27 May 1967 – Hereford Balls, Oxford with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Action, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Swinging Blue Jeans
10 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Collection and The Gas Company
11 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Craig King & The Midnight Train
17 June 1967 – Bal Tabarin, Downham, south east London with supporting groups
2 July 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Four Degrees West
6 July 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (billed as Hamilton & The Quotations but assuming it is the same band)
The group backed US soul singers Sam & Bill on a UK tour. The pair arrived on 12 July so it’s safe to assume the gigs listed below featured Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement
12 July 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts with Sam & Bill (most likely debut)
13 July 1967 – Sybilla’s, Swallow Street, Mayfair, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)
15 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sam & Bill, The Skatalites and The Reasons
16 July 1967 – Speakeasy, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)
21 July 1967 – Big ‘C’, Farnborough, Hants with Sam & Bill
21 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)
22 July 1967 – New All-Star Club, Liverpool Street, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)
23 July 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Sam and Bill
23 July 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London (billed as Sam & Bill)
28 July 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Sam & Bill plus One In A Million and That Feeling
29 July 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with Sam & Bill and The Trap
30 July 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Sam & Bill and The Gas Company
13 August 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (says they were Sam and Bill’s backing group)
23 August 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts
25 August 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset
Dave Mahoney and the last trumpet player departed around now
2 September 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire
Sam & Bill played Floral Hall in Southport on 9 September 1967, but it’s unlikely they were support band this time.
15 September 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire
16 September 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
23 September 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford with The Scotch of St James
30 September 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Jigsaw and Dave Jay
Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher and Tony Sinclair all left during October and the band was put on hold as Gary Hamilton recruited new players
Gary Hamilton (vocals)
Mick Stewart (guitar)
Tony Savva (bass)
Jim Smith (drums)
21 October 1967 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton
Terry Goldberg joined on keyboards
11 November 1967 – Brackley Town Hall, Brackley, Northamptonshire (possibly Goldberg’s debut)
8 December 1967 – City University, central London with The Soft Machine and Robert Hirst & The Big Taste
6 January 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Styx and Just Us
3 February 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
9 February 1968 – Tiger’s Head, Catford, south east London (billed as Hamilton’s Movements)
25 February 1968 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with Jay Jones (billed as The Gary Hamilton Movement)
26 February 1968 – Primrose Hill Working Men’s Club, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (billed as The Gary Hamilton Movement)
9 March 1968 – Clouds, Derby (says it’s an eight-piece soul band)
15 April 1968 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Koobas and Detroit Soul Sound
20 April 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincs with the Ike & Tina Turner Show, The Ikettes, The Artists and The Train Set
22 April 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (possibly the final gig)
Back row left to right: Alan Marshall, Alan White and Kenny Craddock. Front row, left to right: Peter Kirtley and Brian Rowan. Photo: Peter Kirtley
Alan Marshall – lead vocals
Peter Kirtley – lead guitar
Kenny Craddock – organ
Brian Rowan – bass
Alan White – drums
Happy Magazine was soul/R&B band that was formed during August 1967 by singer Alan Marshall and lead guitarist Peter Kirtley and was managed and produced by former Animals keyboard player/singer Alan Price.
The two musicians have previously played together in Southeast London R&B group, The Loose Ends from around July 1965 to October 1966 when Kirtley departed to join The Alan Price Set.
Alan Marshall meanwhile formed a new version of The Loose Ends, drawing on Croydon, Surrey band, The Subjects, which featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums).
After a short while, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas and bass player Colin Pullen from Kent band, Bob ‘N’ All. Not long after, Roy Manderson was succeeded by another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde.
In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the formation by adding another Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker and the group played regularly at the Playboy Club.
The Loose Ends then landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January but Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Bob ‘N’ All took his place.
During early March 1967, The Loose Ends returned to London and played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy. At one of the venues, Otis Redding spotted Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and invited them to Muscle Shoals to record, and during May/June the singers cut two tracks – “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing”, which were never released. Marshall and Saker then returned to the UK.
By this point, Peter Kirtley was ready to leave The Alan Price Set to team up with Alan Marshall and around August the pair formed Happy Magazine. Initially, Marshall’s friend Bobby Sass was going to play keyboards but he departed after initial rehearsals.
Kirtley, who was originally from Tyneside and had played with Shorty & Them during the early 1960s, introduced his old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them. He also recruited drummer Alan White, formerly a member of Tyneside outfits, The Bluechips and The Gamblers.
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Kicking off with Alan Price’s excellent “Satisfied Street”, backed with “Beautiful Land” in December 1967, featuring a horn section that may well be Amboy Dukes members Buddy Beadle and Steve Gregory (also ex-Alan Price Set), the label re-issued the track three months later coupled with the Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham soul classic “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man”. During this time, the group also became regulars at Rasputin’s club in Bond Street.
During 1968, Alan Price recruited Alan White for his backing band, and Malcolm Wolffe from West London bands, The Tribe and Dream took over. The band then cut its third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You” (again with horns), coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”. Issued on 14 February 1969, the single should have catapulted the band into the charts.
With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year.
Left to right: Peter Kirtley, Brian Rowan, Kenny Craddock, Malcolm Wolffe and Alan Marshall
Joined by lead guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); his old friend and keyboardist Bobby Sass; bass player Brent Forbes from Salford bands, The Rogues and Sunshine; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album (which featured Peter Kirtley on lead guitar) sank without a trace.
Peter Kirtley, Kenny Craddock and Alan White meanwhile brought in two friends from Newcastle – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.
Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head,” coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.
Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.
Kirtley has also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.
Having fronted new versions of One, Alan Marshall surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.
When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined. However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and pursued a solo career before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall continues to perform in London.
Alan White became a top session player, working with John Lennon and George Harrison among others and later joined Yes, with whom he continues to play.
White’s replacement Malcolm Wolffe meanwhile joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.
Notable gigs:
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2 September 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Erskine T (Birmingham Evening Mail)
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9 September 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Tremeloes (Melody Maker)
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9 September 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Winston G & Heart and Souls (Melody Maker)
13 January 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
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17 February 1968 – Nuneaton Parish Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire with Arnham Bloo (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
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24 February 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
7-9 March 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, central London (Melody Maker)
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7 April 1968 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Yarmouth Mercury)
13 April 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
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15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton with Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)
28 April 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
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8 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Tamca Band and Watson Brown Band (Wrexham Leader)
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19 July 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Easybeats and Rivers Invitation (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
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20 July 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
22 July 1968 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes with Ferris Wheel and Glass Showband (Grimsby Daily Telegraph)
1 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
8 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
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9 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
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10 August 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
7 September 1968 – Rainbow Suite Co-op, Birmingham with The Baron (Birmingham Evening Mail)
11 September 1968 – Summerhill House Hotel, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)
19 September 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
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29 September 1968 – The Tent Club, Swan Hotel, Billingham with The New Blues Revue (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
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19 October 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Earl Preston’s Reflections (Warrington Guardian)
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20 October 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
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26 October 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
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3 November 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The New Formula (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: Redcar Jazz Club/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
3 November 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury) This seems very unlikely unless it was another date
8 November 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
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9 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
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16 November 1968 – Stage Club, Oxford (Oxford Mail)
30 November 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
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22 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Animals, Grapefruit, The Paul Williams Set, Barry St John, Long John Baldy, Kim Davis & The Beginning, Noble Forde and The Tempo Set (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) Original Animals’ reunion gig/Geno Washington was billed but cancelled
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27-28 December 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
3 January 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
19 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Paul Williams Set (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub)
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25 January 1969 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
8 February 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Locomotive and Magazine (Birmingham Evening Mail)
9 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
22 February 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
1 March 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Bedlington, Northumberland (Sunday Sun)
Thanks to Alan Marshall, Peter Kirtley, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Bob Saker and Colin Pullen for helping piece the story together. Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the photos.
Today, Elton John is one of rock music’s most revered artists but during the early-mid 1960s he struggled for recognition, learning his trade as Reg Dwight with west London R&B outfit, Bluesology.
Below, I have started to piece together a timeline on this band’s history, including the period after Reg Dwight/Elton John left in March 1968 to start his solo career.
In particular, I need to credit the invaluable work carried out by Keith Hayward, who has written the excellent book, Tin Pan Alley: The Rise of Elton John, for some of this material. He has been a huge help. I have also reference below sources that I have drawn on for live dates.
I would welcome any additions and corrections in the comment box below.
Bluesology was formed in 1962 after Reg Dwight and Stu Brown had played in Pinner, Middlesex group, The Corvettes. The original line up comprised:
Stu Brown – guitar/vocals
Reg Dwight – keyboards/vocals
Geoff Dyson – bass
Mick Inkpen – drums
Image may be subject to copyright
2 April 1965 – St Alban’s Church, Northwood, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)
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20 April 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London with The Dae-b-Four (Harrow Weekly Post)
29 April 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London with The Dae-b-Four (Greenford Weekly Post)
Photo: Melody Maker, 8 May 1965. Image may be subject to copyright
Circa April/May 1965 – Reg Dwight’s ‘Come Back Baby’ recorded
6 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post)
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13 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post/Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post)
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27 May 1965 – Elms Club, Corbins Lane, South Harrow, northwest London with The CC Riders (every Thursday) (Harrow Weekly Post)
The newspaper stopped advertising after the above date
June 1965: Dyson leaves to join The Mockingbirds
+ Rex Bishop – bass
+ Terry Patterson – saxophone
Circa June 1965 – ‘Times Are Getting Tougher Than Tough’ recorded
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3 June 1965 – Elms Club, South Harrow, northwest London with The Equals (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
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15 June 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)
There is a great article on Bluesology in the Coventry Standard, dated 29 July 1965, page 20
Hillingdon Mirror, 24 August 1965, page 24. Image may be subject to copyright
4 September 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Circa November 1965:
– Terry Patterson – saxophone
+ Pat Higgs – trumpet
+ Dave Murphy – saxophone
3-20 December 1965 – Major Lance tour with Bluesology
3 December 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London and In Place, central London with The Rockhouse Band (Melody Maker) Doesn’t not mention Bluesology
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4 December 1965 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Alex Harvey Mockingbirds (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
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4 December 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Crestas (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
6 December 1965 – Gig in Rochester, Kent (Melody Maker)
7 December 1965 – Birdcage, Southsea, Hants (Melody Maker)
8 December 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
9 December 1965 – Paddington (most likely Cue Club), central London (Melody Maker)
10 December 1965 – Gig in Durham (most likely the university) (Melody Maker)
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11 December 1965 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough (Evening Gazette Middlesbrough)
14 December 1965 – Gig in Harlow, Herts (Melody Maker)
16 December 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
16 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alan Price Set (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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17 December 1965 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with Major Lance and Manchester Playboys and Jonathan Good Tweed (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
17 December 1965 – Gig in Stockport, Greater Manchester (most likely Tabernacle) (Melody Maker)
18 December 1965 – New All-Star Club, 9 Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
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19 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)
19 December 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
20 December 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Melody Maker)
5-19 January 1966 – Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles first tour with Bluesology
5 January 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
6 January 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)
8 January 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Checkpoints (Melody Maker)
9 January 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
11 January 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, West London (Melody Maker)
14 January 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9 Artillery Passage, London, E1 and Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
15 January 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Melody Maker)
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15 January 1966 – Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (according to The Star, the billing also included Fontella Bass, The Stormsville Shakers and The Just 5 x 2. Bluesology were credited as Bluesology Inc and Pattie La Belle was billed as Tattie Rebelle & Her Belles!)
16 January 1966 – Plaza, Birmingham, West Midlands (Handsworth?) (Melody Maker)
19 January 1966 – Dancing Slipper, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham Evening Post) Says Wilson Pickett’s backing group
22 January 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Pinky & The Phellows and The Triads (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
February 1966 – Reg Dwight’s ‘Mr Frantic’ c/w ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’ released
February 1966 – Doris Troy tour with Bluesology
5 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Move (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
7 February 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)
11 February 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)
11 February 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)
13 February 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)
18 February 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge, northwest London with Caribbean Show Band (Melody Maker)
According to an article in the Neath Guardian, dated 11 February 1966, Bluesology Incorporated backed Ben E King on a tour that ran from 18 February through to 6 March 1966.
18 February 1966 – Golders Green Refectory, Golders Green, north London (Melody Maker)
19 February 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, London, E1 with Captain First (Melody Maker)
20-21 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Bluesology Incorporated
22 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spencer Davis Group (London Live: Tony Bacon)
26 February 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
March 1966 – Bluesology travels to Hamburg to play Top Ten Club with Linda Laine & The Sinners
3 April 1966 – The Hive Club, Wooden Bridge Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
9 April 1966 – Trinity Hall, Coventry (Coventy Evening Telegraph)
12 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Manfred Mann (London Live: Tony Bacon)
22 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Sands (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Late April/early May 1966: Inkpen leaves
+ Paul Gale – drums
Late April/early May 1966: Bishop departs
+ Freddy Gandy (aka Freddie Wonder) – bass
3 May-circa 21 May 1966 – Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles second UK tour
3 May 1966 – Birdland, London (Melody Maker)
4 May 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
5 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
6 May 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)
7 May 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
9 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
13 May 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gass (Melody Maker)
14 May 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles and The Ram Jam Band ( http://manchestersoul.co.uk/TWheel/1966.html) Manchester Evening News & Chronicle has Alan Bown instead of Bluesology for this gig
17 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Patti La Belle & Her Belles) and The Clayton Squares (London Live: Tony Bacon) (probably with Bluesology backing Patti La Belle)
17 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
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19 May 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with Patti LaBelle & Her Belles and John Williams & Tomorrow’s People (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
21 May 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)
21 May 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire (Patti La Belle & The Bluebelles with Bluesology) and The Ultimates (The Day Before Yesterday: Steve Ingless)
3-19 June – Ink Spots tour
3 June 1966 – RAF West Ruislip, northwest London (Melody Maker)
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4 June 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Ironsides (Bucks Advertiser)
4 June 1966 – US servicemen’s club, Douglas House, Lancaster Gate, west London (Melody Maker)
4 June 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London with Admiral Ken Sound System (Melody Maker)
5 June 1966 – Plaza Ballrooms, Birmingham, West Midlands (Melody Maker)
7 June 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
10 June 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Melody Maker)
10 June 1966 – New All Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London with Admiral Ken Sound System (Melody Maker)
The Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette notes that Bluesology played at the White Hart in Southall, west London during June 1966.
Circa June 1966:
+ Neil Hubbard – guitar (joins around this time)
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25 June 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Soul Agents and introducing Ian LeRoy and His Spring Collection (Melody Maker/Sheffield Star) Backing Billy (Fat Boy) Stewart
25 June 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester with The Train (Leicester Mercury)
25 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (London Live: Tony Bacon)
3 July 1966 – Rivertboat Club, Salford, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backing Fat Boy Billy Stewart (says by public demand)
8 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The VIPs (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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9 July 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Gates of Eden (Bucks Advertiser) Backing The Orlons
10 July 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald) Backing Rufus Thomas
14 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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15 July 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band (Nottingham Evening Post) Backing Solomon Burke
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21 July 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hampshire (Portsmouth News) Replaced Summer Set
The Kent Messenger‘s 22 July 1966 (Friday) issue, page 12, lists the band appearing at Coronation Hall in Ramsgate today and refers to Freddy Gandy as Freddie Wonder on bass! It says they are off to the South of France in August
Photo: Kent Messenger, 22 July 1966. Image may be subject to copyright
23 July 1966 – Cellar Club, Latin Quarter, Leicester with The Amboy Dukes (Leicester Mercury)
30 July 1966 – The Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands with Raynor’s Secrets (Birmingham Evening Mail)
31 July 1966 – 6th National Jazz and Blues Festival, Windsor, Berkshire with Georgie Fame, The Action, Cream, Dick Morrissey, Stan Tracey, Diane and Nicky, Ernestine Anderson, Alan Brown, Ronnie Scott and Harry South Orchestra (Reading Evening Post)
6 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Agents (London Live: Tony Bacon)
11 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Mid-August-mid-September, Bluesology travels to St Tropez for a month (Papagayos).
17 September 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Broodley Hoo (Nottingham Evening Post)
18 September 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Summer Set (Nottingham Evening Post)
26 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (London Live: Tony Bacon)
7 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gary Farr & The T-Bones (London Live: Tony Bacon)
8 October 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Fix, The Connoisseurs and The Tabs (Warrington Guardian)
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15 October 1966 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Guests (Kentish Express)
20 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (London Live: Tony Bacon)
21-22 October 1966 – ISOW’s restaurant, Brewer Street, central London (Fabulous 208)
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28 October 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
29 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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29 October 1966 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis with Long John Baldry, The Action and David Bowie & The Buzz (Bognor Regis Post/Melody Maker)
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5 November 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
5 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Deadly Nightshade (billed as Long John Baldry – not sure if they have linked up with Baldry yet?) (Crawley Advertiser)
12 November 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
12 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (London Live: Tony Bacon)
Mid-November 1966:
– Neil Hubbard departs
In mid-late November – Bluesology travel to Sweden for a mini tour where they met The Zombies (see comments)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
17 November 1966 – Gyllene Cirkeln, Stockholm, Sweden with Bernt Rosengren Kvartett (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
19 November 1966 – Gyllene Cirkeln, Stockholm, Sweden Bernt Rosengren Kvartett, Carla Bley and Mike Mantler Quintet (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
20 November 1966 – Nalen, Stockholm, Sweden with Sooner or Later, Few, Crowds, Lynx (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper
21 November 1966 – Hit-House, Stockholm, Sweden with The Wizards, The Quints, Guards, Sooner or Later, Tumble Downs (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
22 November 1966 – Gyllene Cirkeln, Stockholm, Sweden (Thanks to Mats Jarl for research from Dagens Nyheter newspaper)
Late November 1966:
– Paul Gale departs while the band is in Sweden
+ Pete Gavin – drums (ex-Soul Pushers)
1 December 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire (Stafford Newsletter)
Around this time, Bluesology become Long John Baldry’s back-up band
+ Long John Baldry – vocals
+ Alan Walker – vocals (ex-Roadhogs)
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4 December 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar with The Bluecaps (Billed as Long John Baldry with Alan Walker, Stewart Brown and Bluesology) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
8 December 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hants (Portsmouth News)
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9 December 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
11 December 1966 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Little Richard and Alan Price Set (Melody Maker)
14 December 1966 – Bolton College of Arts Ball, Rivington Barn, Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester with Mike Stevens & The Big Tickle, The Chasers and The North Side Six (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) (Bolton Evening News)
18 December 1966 – Beau Brummell Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Raynes (The Chronicle)
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20 December 1966 – Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Alan Price Set (Surrey Advertiser)
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24 December 1966 – White Bicycle, Maple Ballroom, Northampton (billed as Long John Baldry Show plus Bluesology) (Northampton Chronicle)
30 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) with The Good-Goods (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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31 December 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (billed as Long John Baldry featuring Alan Walker, Stuart Brown & Bluesology) (Gloucestershire Echo/Gloucester Citizen)
1 January 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry (billed as Long John Baldry and His new group Bluesology) (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
7 January 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with Deep Line (billed as Long John Baldry and his fabulous backing group Bluesology with Alan Walker and Stewart A Brown) (Western Gazette)
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7 January 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Memphis Blues (billed as Long John Baldry with Alan Walker, Stewart Brown and Bluesology) (Derby Evening Telegraph)
8 January 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as Long John Baldry with Alan Walker, Stewart Brown and Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post)
Circa early January 1967:
– Pat Higgs and Dave Murphy both leave with Higgs joining Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement
+ Marsha Hunt – vocals
+ Elton Dean – saxophone (ex-Soul Pushers)
+ Marc Charig – saxophone (ex-Sidewinders and Sonny Childe & The TNT)
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15 January 1967 – Gyro Club, Troutbeck Hotel, IIlkley, West Yorkshire (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology) (Yorkshire Evening Post)
31 January 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Long John Baldry) (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)
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4 February 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (billed as Long John Baldry Show featuring Alan Walker, Stuart Brown and The Bluesology) (Gloucester Citizen)
10 February 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology) (Leicester Mercury)
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12 February 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (billed as Long John Baldry plus The Bluesology) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
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18 February 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Soul Concern (North Norfolk News)
19 February 1967 – Oasis, Manchester (billed as Long John Baldry and Bluesology) (Manchester Evening News)
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25 February 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with The Generation (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology featuring Alan Walker and Stuart A Brown) (Western Gazette)
26 February 1967 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (PACE magazine)
3 March 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
9 March 1967 – New Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (The Star)
12 March 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as Long John Baldry Show featuring Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker with Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post)
17 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Long John Baldry Show and Timebox (London Live: Tony Bacon)
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19 March 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar with The Panthers (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
24 March 1967 – Sinking Ship Clubland, Stockport, Greater Manchester (billed as Long John Baldry plus Bluesology) with Baron (Manchester Evening News)
25 March 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Silhouettes (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Kentish Express)
26 March 1967 – Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Stuart Brown, Alan Walker and Bluesology) (Staffordshire Newsletter)
3 April 1967 – Feathers, Ealing, Middlesex (billed as Long John Baldry & Bluesology) (Melody Maker)
7 April 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (billed as Long John Baldry and Bluesology) (Leicester Mercury)
8 April 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, North Yorkshire with The Sons of Witch (billed as Long John Baldry and Bluesology) (Hull Daily Mail)
16 April 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, West London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
21 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with Timebox (London Live: Tony Bacon)
22 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (billed as Long John Baldry featuring Alan Walker) (Gloucester Citizen)
24 April 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Express & Star)
2 May 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Long John Baldry) (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)
11 May 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Bluesology) (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms)
12 May 1967 – The Cavalier Club, Golders Green, north London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
21 May 1967 – Co-op, Warrington, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Manchester Evening Post)
1 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby ‘for Derby College Students’ Rag Week’ (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Bluesology and Pepper’s Machine) (Derby Evening Telegraph)
5 June 1967 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Waterboard, The Chymes and Wall City Jazzmen (billed as Long John Baldry with Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker and Bluesology) (Chester Chronicle)
9 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldy Show) with C-Jam Blues (London Live: Tony Bacon)
12 June 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show, Bluesology, Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker) (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
17 June 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Soul Concern (billed as The Long John Baldry Show with Alan Walker, Stuart A Brown and Bluesology) (North Norfolk News)
17 June 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology featuring Stewart A Brown and Alan Walker) (Nottingham Evening Post)
1 July 1967 – Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Th Chequers and Boston (billed as Long John Baldry) (Express & Star)
16 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
28 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with The Workshop (Melody Maker)
11 August 1967 – Bluesville ’67, Manor House, north London (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Melody Maker)
14 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions (Melody Maker)
20 August 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Birmingham Evening Mail)
26 August 1967 – New All Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and Wynder K Frog (Derby Evening Telegraph)
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2 September 1967 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)
3 September 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry, Bluesology, Stewart A Brown, Marsha Hunt and The Scorpions) (Northwich Chronicle)
10 September 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry, West Midlands (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Stuart A Brown and Marsha Hunt and Deuce Coupe) (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
12 September 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as Long John Baldry) (Melody Maker)
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15 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show with Marsha Hunt, Stuart Brown and Bluesology) (Melody Maker)
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16 September 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury (billed as Long John Baldry Show with Bluesology) (Somerset County Gazette)
27 September 1967 – Liverpool College of Building Students’ Union, Grafton Rooms, West Derby, Liverpool with The Fix, The Undertakers and Magic Lanterns (billed as Long John Baldry with Bluesology) (Liverpool Echo)
8 October 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with Life ‘N’ Soul and Harry Brown Sound with Val (The Chronicle)
19 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with Timebox (London Live: Tony Bacon)
3 November 1967 – G-Ranch Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent (billed as The Long John Baldry Show with Marsha Hunt, Stuart Brown and Bluesology) (Maidstone Gazette)
6 November 1967 – Staffordshire Yeomen, Stafford, Staffordshire (billed as Long John Baldry and Marsha Hunt) (Staffordshire Newsletter)
Early-mid November 1967:
– Stu Brown leaves around this time to record as solo artist
+ Caleb Quaye – lead guitar/vocals
23 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as The Long John Baldry Show) with The Nite People (London Live: Tony Bacon)
14 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham, West Midlands with Skip Bifferty (Express & Star)
16 December 1967 – Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire with Granny Intentions and The Ways & Means (Burnley Express & Burnley News) Does not list Bluesology
4 January 1968 – Tito’s, Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside (billed as Long John Baldry) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
17 February 1968 – Pier Pavilion, Felixstowe, Suffolk with Sheridan Eight (Ipswich Evening Star) Does not list Bluesology
23 February 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry and the Long John Baldry Show and Soul Finger) (Northwich Chronicle)
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3 March 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Just before Reg Dwight and Caleb Quaye left, Bluesology may have played at the Top Ten in Hamburg again
March/April 1968:
– Reg Dwight and Caleb Quaye leave Bluesology
+ Bernie Holland – guitar (ex-Jam)
(Source: Georgie Fame – There’s Nothing Else To Do. Life and Music: Uli Twelker)
+ Jimmy Horowitz – keyboards (ex-Five Proud Walkers and Robert Hirst & The Big Taste)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 March 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Pandora’s Box, The Sun Trolley and Tommy T & Scrubby (billed as Long John Baldry plus The Bluesology) (Leicester Mercury)
23 March 1968 – Locarno, Derby (billed as Long John Baldry Show) (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)
26 March 1968 – Mr Smith’s Club, Winsford, Cheshire (billed as Long John Baldry) with Look Twice (Northwich Chronicle)
1 April 1968 – Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derby with The Screen (billed as Long John Baldry Show: Alan Walker, Stuart Walkers (sic) and Bluesology) (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)
30 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as Long John Baldry (London Live: Tony Bacon)
In late 1968 the group backed The Paper Dolls before splintering.
Image may be subject to copyright
16 November 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Music Hath Charms and Barries Magazine (North Norfolk News) This was The Paper Dolls backed by Bluesology
Huge thanks to Keith Hayward for help with some of the narrative.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
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Babatunde Tony Ellis – lead guitar
Douglas told me that the rest of The Explosion comprised musicians from Argentina, Colombia, France, Spain and Morocco. I also understand that Ellis, Simmonds and Evans were originally in a band called The Links who were regulars at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Praed Street, Paddington.
Colin Young – lead vocals
Two of the earliest tracks to be recorded were two Pete Gage songs, co-written with Ebony Keyes (aka Kenrick Pitt), “Lifetime of Lovin’” c/w “Flower In My Hand”. Paired as a single, the tracks were issued on Toast in January 1968 but did not chart. Incidentally, the single also saw a South African release on the Continental label.
Wendell Richardson – guitar/vocals
With The Sundae Times starting to pick up gigs and with further hits potentially in the pipeline, Conrad Isidore left The Toniks around September 1968 to commit to the project full-time. In retrospect, it was a sensible move as singer Colin Young quit The Toniks soon after to join British hit-makers, The Foundations.
The three musicians also collaborated on three other tracks on the LP, “Take Me Back Again”, “Psychedelic Dream” and “Do You Know What Love Is”. Samuel meanwhile penned two tracks, “On The Run” and “Live Today”, which belatedly headed up The Sundae Times’ final single outing (issued on 13 March 1970), and was coupled with Eddy Grant’s “Take Me Higher Baby”.
In July 1967, Polydor Records had issued Linda Lewis’ debut solo single, “You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet” but it had not been a chart success.
Managed by Ian Samwell (Lewis’ manager) and Laurie O’Leary who managed the Speakeasy, the group played a month’s residency in Biarritz, the south of France, at the Canasta Club. Then, in the early months of 1968, White Rabbit toured Italy and France, but after their return (around late March), Kerr decided to leave.
The original version of White Rabbit was completed with two additional musicians, rhythm guitarist/singer Brian Henderson, who’d recently been part of Nirvana’s backing band and was previously in The Soul Mates and Liza Strike & The Jet Set, and bass player Ralph Richardson, who’d worked with Henderson in The Jet Set.
Around August/September 1968, however, Rod Goodway and Linda Lewis both left, the latter to embark on a successful solo career after fronting Ferris Wheel where she played alongside future Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott.
Geoff Foster’s former band mates in the Army, George Russell and John Barter worked with the band on and off throughout 1969-1970 but never officially joined as permanent members. All three left during 1970.
The following month, on 11-12 March, the musicians found themselves on the campus of Essex University in Colchester where a number of bands, including the up and coming Pink Floyd were entertaining the students.
However, despite having supported The Who at Leeds University on 21 January and then making a notable appearance at the Saville Theatre opening for Chuck Berry and Del Shannon on 19 February, the single’s commercial failure prompted the backers to drastically reduce the group’s bookings.
