John Thompson – lead guitar (replaced by Pete Ross late 1965)
Brian Brown – bass
Terry Marshall – tenor saxophone
Pete ?? – tenor saxophone
Paul Atkinson – drums
Formed sometime in 1964 after Terry Marshall left The Soul Messengers, the band appears to have worked at the Ealing Club on a weekly basis throughout 1965. Ray Martin is probably the same Ray Martin who had previously led Ray Martin & The Corvettes.
The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette has The Ray Martin Group appearing on a Saturday (and sometimes a Sunday) throughout the year, except in December when they switched to Fridays (see gig list below which is incomplete).
Ross, however, didn’t join until July 1965 after The Flexmen split up so the group must have had a different lead guitarist at the outset.
According to Ross, the band opened for James Brown at Tiles (circa March 1966). They also opened for Neil Christian & The Crusaders at Tiles later in July.
Thanks to Pete Ross and Terry Marshall for input
Selected gigs:
16 January 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)
23 January 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)
31 January 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
6 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Saturday)
18 April 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
25 April 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
8 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
15 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
22 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
28 May 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with The Paramounts (Southend Standard)
29 May 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
5 June 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
12 June 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
19 June 1965 – Uxbridge Blues Festival, Uxbridge, northwest London with Marianne Faithfull, The Who, Solomon Burke, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Long John Baldry, Zoot Money, The Birds, John Mayall, The Spencer Davis Group and Dave Whittling (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
31 July 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
7 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
14 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
21 August 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
11 September 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
18 September 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
30 October 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
20 November 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Saturday)
Photo: Melody Maker
10 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
Photo: Melody Maker
17 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
24 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
31 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, west London (Friday)
15 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Melody Maker)
16 December (Friday) – White Hall, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
If you can add any further information, please leave a message in the comments below.
The Mexican Hat in Worthing, West Sussex was a popular live venue during the early-to-mid 1960s. The venue wasn’t advertised regularly in the local press so I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further details of groups that performed there.
The Worthing Gazette only advertised the venue intermittently throughout 1964, so please get in touch if you can provide confirmed concert dates for this year.
Photo: Worthing Gazette
However, it looks like gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a ‘New Junior Twist Club’ may have started on 8 February 1964.
26 March 1964 – Gene Vincent & His Shouts and Lee Tracy & The Tributes (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
28 March 1964 – The Southern Sounds and The Jaguars (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 March 1964 – The Detours (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 March 1964 – Dave Storm, Jeff Spence & The Tremors (Bank Holiday Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 March 1964 – The Untamed 4 (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There is a massive gap in the Worthing Gazette until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Gazette
25 September 1964 – The Beat Merchants (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 September 1964 – The Southern Sounds and Sherlock & The Saints (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 September 1964 – Unit Four (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 September 1964 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 September 1964 – The Southbeats (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There is a massive gap in the Worthing Gazette until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Gazette
24 December 1964 – The Beat Merchants and Force Four (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 December 1964 – Jimmy Marsh & The Del Mar Trio and The J Crow Combo (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 December 1964 – Dave Storme & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 December 1964 – The Beat Merchants with supporting group (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 December 1964 – The Detours and Jimmy Marsh & The Del Mar Trio (Thursday) (Worthing Gazette)
According to the Worthing Herald, the club was run by manager Chris Vallins. The newspaper only occasionally advertised gigs at the venue throughout 1965.
Photo: Worthing Gazette
However, the Worthing Gazette was better at advertising throughout 1965, although the list below isn’t complete. This newspaper notes that gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
26 February 1965 – The Detours (Friday) (Worthing Gazette) This is interesting as The Detours had recently joined forces with Beau Brummell to become The Noblemen so perhaps a solo gig for the band?
Photo: Worthing Gazette
27 February 1965 – The Tony Grant Group and The J Crow Combo (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
28 February 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Deltas (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 March 1965 – The Tremors (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There’s a gap then until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Gazette
16 April 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 April 1965 – The Tony Grant Group and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 April 1965 – Dave Storme & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 April 1965 – The J Crow Combo (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 April 1965 – DJ Blues Show (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
There’s a gap then until the following dates
Photo: Worthing Herald
21 May 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Scaffold (Friday) (Worthing Herald) Filmed live at the club for Southern television
22 May 1965 – The Force Four and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Herald)
23 May 1965 – Dave Storm & The Tremors (Sunday) (Worthing Herald)
25 May 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Herald)
29 May 1965 – Sons of Man and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
30 May 1965 – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
1 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 June 1965 – The Giants and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
6 June 1965 – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
7 June 1965 – The Deltas (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
8 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 June 1965 – The Giants and The Heads and Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
13 June 1965 – Lulu & The Luvvers (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 June 1965 – The Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 June 1965 – The Deltas and The Giants (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
20 June 1965 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
25 June 1965 – Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 June 1965 – The Klimacks and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
27 June 1965 – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 June 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 July 1965 – The Warren J Show and The Diamonds (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
3 July 1965 – The Klimacks and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
4 July 1965 – Heinz and The Wild Boys (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
6 July 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
9 July 1965 – The Klimacks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 July 1965 – The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
11 July 1965 – The Four Pennies (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
13 July 1965 – Surprise group (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
16 July 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 July 1965 – The Diamonds and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
18 July 1965 – The Applejacks (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 July 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 July 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 July 1965 – The Web (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 July 1965 – The Sons of Man and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
3 August 1965 – Them (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
6 August 1965 – Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
7 August 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds and Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
8 August 1965 – Two groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
10 August 1965 – Unit Four Plus Two (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
13 August 1965 – The Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
14 August 1965 – The Deltas and The Sons of Man (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 August 1965 – Two groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
17 August 1965 – The In Crowd (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 August 1965 – The Just Five (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
21 August 1965 – The Deltas and Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 August 1965 – The Noblemen and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
24 August 1965 – The Herd and The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
25 August 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 August 1965 – The Klimacks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
28 August 1965 – The Deltas and The Heads & Tails (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
29 August 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 August 1965 – The Nashville Teens and The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
1 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
3 September 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
4 September 1965 – Heads & Tails and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Just Five (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
7 September 1965 – Cops ‘N’ Robbers (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
8 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 September 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
11 September 1965 – Heads & Tails and The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and surprise group (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
14 September 1965 – ‘Another Top of the Pops attraction’ (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 September 1965 – ‘One of the South’s top groups’ (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 September 1965 – Surprise groups (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Cyan Three (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
21 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 September 1965 – The Deltas (Wednesday) (Worthing Gazette)
24 September 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
25 September 1965 – Surprise groups (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
26 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Noblemen (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette) The Noblemen are just back from Norway and this is their last British appearance for six weeks
28 September 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
1 October 1965 – The Klimaks (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 October 1965 – The Diplomats (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
3 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Deltas (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
8 October 1965 – The Brian Hugg Fraternity (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
9 October 1965 – Surprise attraction (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Cherokees (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 October 1965 – The New Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
15 October 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
16 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Orioles (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 October 1965 – The New Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
22 October 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
23 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
24 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Orioles (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
29 October 1965 – The Five of One (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
30 October 1965 – The Alex Laine Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 October 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Alex Laine Group (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 November 1965 – The Beat Merchants (Tuesday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 November 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
6 November 1965 – The Five of One (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
7 November 1965 – The Profile with support (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
12 November 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
13 November 1965 – The Five of One (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
14 November 1965 – Force Four and The Profile (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
19 November 1965 – Mair Davis & The Rockets (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
20 November 1965 – The Palmer James Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
21 November 1965 – The Cherokees and The Beat Merchants (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 November 1965 – The Sons of Man (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
27 November 1965 – Top local group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
28 November 1965 – Two top groups (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
The newspaper says The Profile and top group plays this week
3 December 1965 – The Deltas (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
4 December 1965 – Alex Lane (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
5 December 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
10 December 1965 – Force Four (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
11 December 1965 – The Sons of Man (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
12 December 1965 – The Noblemen and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
17 December 1965 – The Look (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
18 December 1965 – The Palmer James Group (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
19 December 1965 – The Profile and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
24 December 1965 – The Look and The Diplomats (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
26 December 1965 – The Beat Merchants and The Mike Stuart Span (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
27 December 1965 – The Don Williams Combo (Monday) (Worthing Gazette)
31 December 1965 – Chris Boyle & The Look and Sack of Woe (Friday) (Worthing Gazette)
Photo: Worthing Gazette
1 January 1966 – The Deltas (Saturday) (Worthing Gazette)
2 January 1966 – The Cherokees and The Look (Sunday) (Worthing Gazette)
According to the Worthing Gazette, the Mexican Hat was closed for a short period for alterations. However, the newspaper did not advertise the venue again in 1966
We’d welcome any additions below in the comments section with dates if possible
The (Fantastic Soul Messengers) were formed in November 1963 by former Flintstones members Terry Marshall (who had been in The Flee-rekkers in the interim) and Rod Freeman.
Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell, who started out with The Crescents had previously worked with Frankie Reid & The Casuals (late 1961-mid 1962), Pete Nelson & The Travellers and Johnny Harris & The Shades.
According to Marshall, another band had been booked to play at the famous Ealing Club on a Sunday and let down the club’s owner by failing to turn up.
As he recalls, “There were musicians in the club so I brought together Rod Freeman who I went pro with in 1960 when he was 16, Ken Rankine on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. We went down so well that Feri who ran the club gave us a residency there on the spot for Sundays.”
Regulars at the Ealing Club, the Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette has the band playing every Sunday in December 1963.
In 1964, they are also listed for 2 February, 5 April, 18 April and 11 May but played at the club much more than these advertised dates.
Soon after, Terry Marshall, who joined The Ray Martin Group, was replaced by American Gary Bell.
Photo: Nick Simper. The Soul Messengers, circa July 1964. Left to right: Gary Bell, Rod Freeman (back), Mitch Mitchell and Ken Rankine
However, around July 1964, Mitch Mitchell, who joined The Riot Squad that December, departed and the band changed name to The Next 5.
The new-line up comprised:
Rod Freeman – guitar/vocals
Ken Rankine – bass
Gary Bell – tenor saxophone (from the United States)
Photo: Boyfriend magazine, August 1964. The five-piece Next Five
The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette lists The Next 5 at the Ealing Club playing a number of Thursdays throughout October and into November 1964 (see gigs below).
According to music writer David Else, they were also resident band at Tottenham Royal Ballroom.
Thanks to Terry Marshall and David Else for their help
Selected gigs:
The following are all from Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette unless otherwise noted
Billed as The Fantastic Soul Messengers:
23 November 1963 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with Johnny Five & The Ramblers (Evening Argus) Billed as Soul Messengers
1 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (billed as every Sunday)
8 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
15 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
22 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
29 December 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
Sonny (aka Tony Smith) (tenor saxophone/baritone saxophone)
Doug Collins (bass)
Dave Golding (drums)
The Flintstones were formed in 1961 from the ashes of The Blue Men who included Collins, Freeman and Golding. Slater had previously been a member of The Cadillacs.
Marshall was the son of Jim Marshall, who ran the famous music shop in Hanwell, west London that became a meeting point for many notable Sixties musicians.
Tony Ross, who was called Rupert by the musicians, took over from Collins in early 1962 after playing in Peter Nelson & The Travellers.
According to Marshall, the band’s first recording was done with the legendary Joe Meek, who insisted that they record under the name The Stonehenge Men.
That summer singer Pete Fleerekker asked Terry Marshall to join his group, The Flee-rekkers and Tony Holley joined on tenor sax/vocals.
According to music writer David Else, Puddy left in November 1962 and formed The Night Sounds (featuring guitarist Albert Lee) and Ricky Marsh took over baritone saxophone.
Else says that The Flintstones backed Little Richard on a British tour in September 1963. By this point, Ernie Cox had succeeded Dave Golding and Dave Green had replaced either Tony Holley or Tony Smith on tenor saxophone.
Photo: Walthamstow Guardian
After a second Little Richard tour in October-November 1963, Freeman left to form The Soul Messengers with Terry Marshall.
Not long afterwards, Tony Ross departed to join Carter Lewis & The Southerners.
Photo: Boyfriend Magazine, July 1964
In July 1964, Terry Slater revamped the band with the following musicians:
Terry Slater (lead guitar/vocals)
Mickey Fitzpatrick (bass) (ex-Pete Chester and Chris Ravel Ravers)
Dave Green (tenor saxophone)
Ray Taylor (tenor saxophone)
Ernie Cox (drums)
Not long afterwards, however, Cox and Green joined The John Barry Seven and the band split up.
According to David Else, Fitzpatrick subsequently worked with future Ferris Wheel member Mike Liston in Simon’s Triangle.
Terry Slater moved to the US and became part of The Everly Brothers Band.
Thanks to Terry Marshall and David Else for their help.
If you can add anything more to the band’s story, please get in contact via the comments section below.
Fat Daughter, late 1969. Left to right: Ian Miller, Phil Hearn, Mike Reed (obscured), Pete Hicks and Dennis Lascelles. Photo: Ian Miller
Ray Edwards (lead vocals)
Ian Miller (lead guitar)
Dennis Lascelles (Hammond organ)
Steve Fields (bass)
Del Coverley (drums)
+
Pete Hicks (lead vocals)
Phil Hearn (bass/vocals)
Mike Reed (drums)
Formed around March/April 1969, this group from the Bexleyheath area of southeast London included some notable individuals in its ranks during its short tenure together.
Del Coverley had started out with school band The Millionaires in 1963 and then progressed on to The Scimitars before joining The Big Wheel in late 1965. After working in Switzerland with The Big Wheel, Coverley joined Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede in October 1966 but left in late July 1967 to join the final incarnation of The Fenmen, who gigged as Kindness (reuniting with keyboard player/singer Andy Clark from The Big Wheel).
When Kindness split in late 1967, Coverley reformed The Big Wheel with original members, Del Grace (guitar), Barry Nicholls (bass) and Mike Manners (keyboards) plus new singer Pete Hicks.
Photo: Melody Maker, December 1968
In late 1968, Coverley left The Big Wheel to reunite with Andy Clark and his new collaborator guitarist Mick Hutchinson (both ex-Sam Gopal Dream and Vamp) in the short-lived Dogs Blues. Barry Nicholls who’d recently worked briefly with Pete Hicks in Promise joined the outfit but in January 1969 he was replaced by American Jerome Arnold (ex-Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band) and guest tabla player Sam Gopal.
Photo: South East London Mercury. Dogs Blues, January 1969Dogs Blues featured in South East London Mercury, 28 January 1969
However, the group split in early February when Arnold formed his own group and Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson decided to continue as a duo and record their debut LP.
Coverley then joined a reformed version of The Royalists with guitarist Ian Miller, keyboard player Dennis Lascelles (who had briefly played with Del Grace in The Rifle) and bass player Steve Fields, who had previously worked with local bands The Kinetics and The Abstracts. The band’s singer was Lascelles’ cousin Ray Edwards.
Herbie & The Royalists. Left to right: Ian Miller, Steve Fields, Herbie Hunte and Brian Cooper. Photo: Ian Miller
As Miller explains, The Royalists had started out as a soul band around 1966 with singer Herbie Hunte from Barbados. Originally known as Herbie & The Royalists, the group also included Dennis Lascelles, Steve Fields and drummer Brian Cooper. The band’s equipment was supplied by South Eastern Entertainments in Catford.
Herbie & The Royalists gig (1968). Photo: Ian Miller
Herbie & The Royalists released a rare LP Soul Of The Matter on Saga Records in 1968, which Miller says was recorded on four-track over two Sundays in a studio in Finchley. However, by the time the LP was released, Lascelles and Miller were pushing for a more progressive rock sound and so Herbie Hunte departed around December 1968. Lascelles brought in his cousin Ray Edwards as a replacement but by February 1969 Brian Cooper had also departed.
The reformed Royalists, circa March 1969. Left to right: Del Coverley, Ray Edwards, Steve Fields, Dennis Lascelles and Ian Miller. Photo: Ian MillerThe reformed Royalists gig (1969) shortly before becoming Fat Daughter. Photo: Ian Miller
With Del Coverley taking Cooper’s place, the band gigged as The Royalists before adopting the name Fat Daughter. However, not long after the band’s singer departed.
In Ray Edwards’s place, Del Coverley brought in singer Pete Hicks who had started out in 1965 fronting The Down & Outs. In 1966, he joined The South East London Blues Band who played a few times at Happening 44 in central London.
When that group split in 1968, Hicks worked with Coverley in Big Wheel (bringing in Alan Fuller from The Down and Outs to replace Mike Manners during the year) and then joined the band Promise.
During this period Miller remembers the band playing alongside Jon Hiseman’s Colosseum at Erith Polytechnic.
Promise with Pete Hicks (centre) and Barry Nicholls (far right)
Around early June 1969, Del Coverley and Steve Fields departed Fat Daughter and subsequently joined forces with Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson in Clark-Hutchinson after they had cut their debut LP.
Before he hooked up with Clark-Hutchinson, Coverley briefly worked with Rust who had just recorded an LP in Germany called Come With Me. The only surviving member from the LP was John Thomas and other new members were guitarist Eric Lindsey and bass player Alex Alexander.
Miller remembers Coverley leaving Fat Daughter to help Carl Douglas on a tour, so this would have been his first job before playing with Rust.
Fields, who changed his name to Stephen Amazing, also spent a brief time with The Skatalites, which may have been just before Clark-Hutchinson. Amazing played in Upp (who featured Jeff Beck as guest guitarist on their LPs) in the Seventies but later died.
Bass player Phil Hearn, who had worked with Coverley in his early 1960s bands The Millionaires and The Scimitars, and drummer Mike Reed both joined at this point and their first gig was opening for Fleetwood Mac.
Photo: Melody Maker, 1969
Later that year, the group opened for Alexis Korner (at Eel Pie Island) and Free (most likely Dartford Grammar School) among others.
Fat Daughter are uncredited for this support gig in late 1969. Photo: Melody MakerPhoto: Melody Maker, 1969
Miller says the band played at Eel Pie Island a few times. He also remembers gigs at the Scotch of St James in Mayfair, the Marquee on Wardour Street, central London and the Black Prince Hotel in Bexley.
Fat Daughter gig (1969). Photo: Ian Miller
He also recalls playing at Mildenhall USAF Airforce base with Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Avery Hill Teachers Training College with The Peddlers and Bromley College of Technology with Pink Floyd (most likely 26 April) where Syd Barrett joined his former band.
Fat Daughter, Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, late 1969. Left to right: Ian Miller, Phil Hearn, Mike Reed (obscured) and Pete Hicks. Photo: Ian Miller
Fat Daughter late 1969. Left to right: Ian Miller, Phil Hearn, Mike Reed and Pete Hicks. Photo: Ian MillerDennis Lascelles, late 1969. Photo: Ian Miller
When Hicks and Lascelles departed in early 1970, Hearn brought in a singer called John and a Hammond organist called Alan from his previous group Isis.
However, the new band didn’t last long and Phil Hearn and Mike Reed reunited with Pete Hicks in a new version of southeast London band Justin Thyme alongside guitarist Tony Pearman and organist Geoff Hurrell. That band’s original drummer Dave Neal went on to join Suzie Quatro.
Phil Hearn, who later moved to guitar, remained with Justin Thyme throughout the Seventies. He then became a sound engineer and worked with The Who, Aerosmith, Captain Beefheart, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Michael Jackson among many others.
Original keyboard player Dennis Lascelles later became a noted artist and lives in Brighton. Mike Reed later ran his own entertainment agency named Mike Reed Promotions.
Thanks to Phil Hearn, Pete Hicks, Ian Miller and Del Coverley for information
When The Scimitars split in late 1965, Phil Hearn was invited to join another Bexleyheath area group, The James Set with the above line-up.
During 1966, Ian Mingham replaced the original drummer and keyboard player Derek Johnson succeeded Richard Holdaway. The band shortened their name to The James and played regularly in the local area with some gigs further afield.
Sometime around 1968, Phil Hearn left to form a group called Isis and later played with Fat Daughter.
Hailing from the Bexleyheath area in southeast London, Phil Hearn and Del Coverley had started out in 1963 with school band, The Millionaires alongside guitarists Ron Cochrane and Stuart Robinson.
One of Hearn’s friends, Mike Inkster was looking for a bass player and drummer to replace outgoing members and invited Hearn and Coverley to join.
According to Hearn, the group mainly played youth clubs and social gatherings in Bexleyheath and the surrounding areas. However, they did play the famous 2 I’s coffee bar in Compton Street, Soho before they split up in late 1965.
Brian Balcombe (lead guitar) replaced by Brian Brockie
Steve Stills (bass)
Geoff Rich (keyboards)
Jim Caley (alto sax)
Keith Fidge (tenor sax)
Mick Henley (baritone sax)
John Wilkins (drums)
The Honey Band began life in 1965 as Lo Limit, a successful semi-pro band based in Northfleet in Kent, fronted by singer Norman Warren from Aveley in Essex.
Some band members wanted to break free from the constraints of local pub work and drafted in some like-minded personnel to achieve their ambition.
In early 1967, the renegade section of Lo Limit comprising Geoff Rich (keys), Steve Stills (bass), Keith Fidge (tenor) and Brian Balcombe (guitar) and led by the aforementioned ‘Whizzy’ Warren recruited drummer John Wilkins from Peckham; female vocalist Maggie Yorke from Newcastle; and the multi-talented Mick Henley, who, at that time, had just completed his degree at the Army’s music academy, Kneller Hall, Twickenham.
The newly created Honey Band recorded a couple of unreleased singles, but it was their live performances that were attracting attention with great reviews. However, they were still seeking a bigger live sound and this goal was accomplished when alto sax player Jim Caley was ‘poached’ from local competitors Beathoven’s Soul Band.
A short time later, lead guitarist Brian Balcombe decided that a full-time music career was not for him and Brian Brockie, also a Beathoven’s Soul band man, was invited to replace him.
Following a series of intensive rehearsals in the ballroom of the now demolished Darenth Park Hospital, the band hit the road to play a hectic schedule of gigs between June ‘67 and February ‘68 across the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Holland.
Part of the Scottish tour, June-July 1967
After a tour of northern Scotland, the band began to make occasional appearances at renowned London venues, including the Flamingo in Soho, the Ram Jam in Brixton and Billy Walker’s Uppercut in Forest Gate.
Much of this work was due to the influence of the band’s American manager Bill Berry, an ex-Radio England DJ, who also arranged for the musicians to support headline chart acts, including The Nice, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, as well as US soul star Madeline Bell; the group performed as her backing band on two theatre shows after just one hastily arranged rehearsal. Madeline went on to form chart toppers Blue Mink.
Following a successful audition at Kennington Granada in September ’67, the band were selected to become the live backing band for Pye recording artiste David Garrick whose previous supporting band had been the Iveys (later Badfinger). Garrick had a huge following in Europe, and in 2021 his 1966 hit “Mrs Applebee” weighed in at No 48 in the top 2,500 records in Holland between 1966 and 2000.
As a result, Maggie Yorke and Norman Warren quit and singer Gary Williams from east London stepped in.
However, the band was unable to sustain the level of work required to keep an ‘eight piece’ outfit fed and watered. Despite having forward scheduled gigs into the spring, after a succession of financial and logistical problems, the band split in March 1968.
Only guitarist Brian Brockie continued in the music industry professionally and joined The Button Hole Band (see their page on this site). He went on to play in a succession of bands and continues to do so at the start of 2022.
Thanks to Brian Brockie for providing all of the photos and the text for this article.
L to R: Top, Colin Pierce, Dave Shaw (on the stool), Colin Fox, Ray Harper. Left sitting down, Paul Dunn and Rod Pittam
Dave Shaw (lead vocals)
Colin Pierce (guitar)
Colin Fox (vocals, guitar)
Ray Harper (bass)
Rod Pittam (keyboards)
Paul Dunn (drums)
As Colin Fox recalls, “The formation of St John’s Wood started when two local Eastbourne groups, Spooks and 4-Bidden got together.
“I was in Spooks, and in 1966, the drummer, John Atkins, decided to join the RAF; the bass player Chris Putland decided to move to London and eventually became an accountant; and the guitarist, John Brooker, emigrated to New Zealand. That left singer Dave Shaw and me.
“4-Bidden were a four piece band whose lead guitarist wanted to leave, so they asked me to join. I said I would if Dave could also join as singer and they agreed.”
Fox adds that the band brought in a keyboard player and decided to change their name because there were now six musicians in the group.
“About that time there was a band called The Scots of St James, a nightclub in London by the same name. So, we thought, ‘What other parts of London are there?’ We came up with St John’s Wood.”
The guitarist notes that 1969 marked the 50th anniversary of the first flight across the Atlantic by Alcock and Brown and the band was approached by a guy who asked if they would be interested in recording a song called “Alcock and Brown”, which was written by Blakely and Howard.
“As they had had many top ten hits, we of course said yes,” says Fox. “We went into the studio and recorded the song. The first Saturday in May 1969, Simon Dee had a special programme commemorating the 50th year anniversary of the first flight. Blakely and Howard were there and wanted us to change our name to Balloon Busters. I found the whole thing embarrassing, the song and the name, but we went ahead and appeared on the Simon Dee show.”
After leaving the studio, the band reverted to the name St John’s Wood and on the Monday left for a three-week tour of Denmark.
The band’s first gig was at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. During August, the band held down a month-residency at the Carousel Club in Copenhagen, supporting by local Danish bands.
“The agent who sent us there told us there would be plenty of bookings waiting for us when we got back but unfortunately they never materialised and I left the band a couple of months afterwards.”
Fox says that he was approached by lead singer Tony Kenward from another local Eastbourne band called Road.
Road. Photo: Colin Fox
“I knew that Ray Harper was also dissatisfied with St John’s Wood having no work so I agreed if he could join as well.
“Over the next few years we changed our name to Lyzander and finally Performance. We became quite popular on the circuit for our four/five-part harmonies. In the following years, I did go out in a duo, a trio and also a band with four members. I retired to Spain in 2004, and played some bars and clubs in a duo, but that’s another story.”
Thanks to Colin Fox for information and photos about the band
The Motion 1966. Left to right: Greg Peck, Martin Jarvis, Alex Macpherson and Kerry Watson
Martin Jarvis (lead vocals, guitar)
Greg Peck (vocals, guitar)
Kerry Watson (bass)
Alex Macpherson (drums)
This north London group started in 1964 as The Henchmen with Bernie Holloway on bass. Bernie was from Liverpool and had played with some well-known Liverpool groups pre The Beatles. He was replaced in early ‘65 by Kerry Watson and the same line up lasted until late 1967.
After the band split Kerry Watson went on to tour Germany with Jackie Edwards who wrote the hits ‘Keep on Running’ and ‘Somebody Help Me’ for The Spencer Davis Group. Kerry failed an audition for Cupids Inspiration but the manager of both these groups, who auditioned him, gave him the job with Jackie Edwards. Kerry died in 2014.
Martin Jarvis is still in the business as the UK’s foremost Tom Jones Tribute act. He worked in various bands over the years and did session work for a couple of record labels. He went to Las Vegas with Anthony Newley’s show. At Newley’s suggestion he started doing Tom Jones songs (Tom was the big hit in Vegas at the time). Martin has been doing them ever since.
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.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
