Apart from the Star Club, the Top Ten Club on the Reeperbahn in St. Pauli was arguably the most important rock music venue in Hamburg during the 1960s.
Opened in 1960 by Peter Eckhorn and operated by Iain Hines, the Top Ten Club was where The Beatles played and also backed singer Tony Sheridan in the group’s first recording sessions during early-mid 1961.
Throughout the 1960s, the Top Ten Club played host to a huge number of British bands, some of which featured future stars such as Elton John, Ritchie Blackmore (later in Deep Purple) and Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder (later in The Moody Blues).
Initially, there was only one band each month but from the mid-1960s onwards, there would be several groups sharing the bill each month. Singer Isabella Bond was a regular fixture and saxophone player Ricky Barnes helped run the club during the mid-late 1960s.
I have started to compile a list of bands that played at the Top Ten Club during this period but would welcome any additions and corrections in the comments below.
October 1960:
The Beatles: John Lennon (rhythm guitar/lead vocals), Paul McCartney (rhythm guitar/lead vocals); George Harrison (lead guitar/lead vocals), Stuart Sutcliffe (bass/lead vocals) and Pete Best (drums).
1961?:
The Jets: Iain Hines (keyboards), Colin Meander (lead guitar), Tony Sheridan (rhythm guitar), Rick Hardy (guitar), Peter Wharton (bass) and others.
27 March-2 July 1961:
The Beatles: John Lennon (rhythm guitar/lead vocals), Paul McCartney (rhythm guitar/lead vocals); George Harrison (lead guitar/lead vocals), Stuart Sutcliffe (bass/lead vocals) and Pete Best (drums).
1 November 1961-January 1962:
Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds: Wayne Gibson (lead vocals), Mick Todman (lead guitar), Ray Rogers (bass), Pete Gillies (rhythm guitar) and Larry Cole (drums).
March 1963:
The Blackjacks: Pat Harris (lead vocals), Don Callard (lead guitar), Robbie Williams (rhythm guitar/vocals), Bob Wilkinson (bass) and Pete James (drums).
August 1964:
The Mastersounds: Mal Jefferson (lead vocals/bass), Adrian Lord (lead vocals), Tony Cockayne (lead guitar), Gerry Stewart (tenor sax), Mike Price (drums) and others.
February 1965:
The Krew, Paddy, Klaus & Gibson, London Beats (plus Isabelle Bond and Beryl Marsden)
The Krew: Robert Fielden-Nicholls (lead guitar), Howie Casey (tenor saxophone), John Bradley (bass) and Eddie Sparrow (drums).
Paddy, Klaus and Gibson: Paddy Chambers (lead guitar), Klaus Voorman (bass) and Gibson Kemp (drums).
The London Beats: Frank Bennett (rhythm guitar/lead vocals), Mick Tucker (lead guitar/lead vocals), Sam Coaffee (bass) and Jim Smith (drums)
??? 1965:
Next of Kin: Frankie Allan (lead vocals), Dai Johns (lead guitar), Mike Ashman (rhythm guitar), Robert Evans (bass) and Alan Snell (drums).
March 1966:
Frank Sheen Sound: Frank Sheen (lead vocals), T J Huggett (keyboards), John Cushen (bass), John Herridge (drums) and Jeff Condon (trumpet) plus others.
March 1966:
Bluesology and Linda Laine & The Sinners
Bluesology: Stewart Brown (lead guitar/lead vocals), Reg Dwight (aka Elton John) (keyboards/lead vocals), Rex Bishop (bass) and Mick Inkpen (drums).
Linda Laine & The Sinners: Linda Laine aka Veronica Lake (lead vocals), Del Hidden (lead guitar), Peter Bellotte (rhythm guitar), Russ Maxwell (bass) and Len Crawley (drums).
April 1967:
The Copycats: John Stewart (lead guitar), Iain Lyon (rhythm guitar/vocals), Billy Cameron (bass/vocals) and Rob Lawson (drums/vocals).
July/August 1967 (THIS IS MORE LIKELY TO BE MARCH 1968):
Bluesology and The Manchester Playboys
Bluesology: Alan Walker (lead vocals), Stewart Brown (lead guitar/vocals), Reg Dwight (aka Elton John) (keyboards/lead vocals), Caleb Quaye (guitar), Marc Charig (cornet), Fred Gandy (bass) and Pete Gavin (drums) (not sure this is the correct formation)
Manchester’s Playboys: Kerry Burke (lead vocals), Stuart Fahey (lead guitar/Trumpet), Graham Sclater (keyboards), Alan Watkinson (bass), Malcolm Tagg-Randall (saxophone) and Peter Simensky (drums).
Circa September 1967:
The Berkley Squares: Barry Wade (lead vocals), Ray Martinez (lead guitar/vocals), Dave Eldredge (keyboards/vocals), Leigh Catterall (bass/vocals) and Terry Abbs (drums).
December 1967:
Floribunda Rose: John Kongos (rhythm guitar/lead vocals), Chris Demetriou (keyboards/vocals), Pete Clifford (lead guitar/vocals), Jack Russell (bass/vocals) and Nick Dokter (drums).
March 1968:
Scrugg (possibly billed as Floribunda Rose)
Scrugg (two weeks from 1 March): John Kongos (lead guitar/lead vocals), Chris Demetriou (keyboards/vocals), Jack Russell (bass/vocals) and Henry Spinetti (drums).
The Manchester Playboys: Kerry Burke (lead vocals), Stuart Fahey (lead guitar/Trumpet), Graham Sclater (keyboards), Alan Watkinson (bass), Malcolm Tagg-Randall (saxophone) and Peter Simensky (drums).
Thanks to the following for contributing to the timeline: Mick Tucker, Jim Smith, Frank Bennett, Graham Sclater, Jack Russell, Nick Dokter, Len Crawley
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
I was out in hamburg in 1963 with my band the blackjacks in the top10club it was a wonderful experience ,I am still gigging .but I always look back and think of the time I spent out there.went on later to record the hippy hippy shake, and the hilly gully in German.
Hi Pat…GREAT to see your comment on Garage hangover….!
Contact me on…
kidlarami@gmail.com
Iain..
I am still going strong…lol…
Hi Iain
Got a great article for you.
Nick
Hi, Iain:
Are you the Iain Hines, former club manager of the Top Ten Club in Hamburg during the early 1960s? If you are just an email to say hello
from Ian Taylor, former lead guitarist of the Original Diamonds who played there latter end of 1963. We were from Aberdeen and were auditioned in Dundee by you and our agents Andy Lothian Jnr. You also
chose us to represent the club at the prestigious annual dinner and dance at the Atlantic Hotel if you recall. Do get back to me.
Jimmy Doyle was a great mate of mine…when I managed TTC in mid 60s..I formed the Top Ten All Stars..flew to Lindon and got him on drums! We made a lot of records for Top Ten Studio…and Polydor. Is he still around..I hope so!
I was out in hamberg in 1969 at the star club and top ten club with Jimmy Powell and the dimensions bob spitari on base and rythme ray spitari on lead guitar Norman shheldon on drums
December 1966 31 nights The Surfboard ,Lead Vocals Bryan Jeffrey (myself) bass Edd Dunbar lead Guitar Pongo Wareing piano Nick Partridge
drums Dave Whittaker (the line up at that time) we doubled with another band who had two girl singer\dancers , name ?? we were on and off in Germany\Switzerland for about two years very hard work at times some good and bad memories of one of many hard working Groups at that time Other clubs The Funny The Apple Big Star Palace(Kiel\ Lunerberg K25 Colne some more but running out of space (still singing on the toilet )
Hi Bryan,
Came across a YouTube video (I put the link below) with two german go go girls dancing along with a band, and then being interviewed by a Swiss television channel. Would you have any idea who the girls were, or any information about them? Anything would help, thanks!
https://youtu.be/ZsSF6x6eYfo
Oh dear
Memories faded Bryan? …It was ‘Moi’
Jim Turnbull (Drums) at the Top Ten.
How could Isabella Bond and Ricky Barnes ever be forgotten?
Many memories of the slog playing around the Reeperbahn (Saint Pauli) and many other German/Swiss locations
Please correct the spelling of Sam Coaffee’s last name. It’s Coaffee with two Fs. No wonder he changed his stage name! Thanks, A
Had to put my mistakes right the clubs where The Funny Crow and The Big Apple the Star Palace in Lunerberg (with Tony Sheraton)K52 in Colne The Drifters did a couple of nights when we were there lots more like Kiel and places i can,t spell Places in Switzerland (one was the Palace Hotel in Luzern)excuse spelling Zurick was another place where we did some nights with a Swiz band called the Sevens lots more if i can just recall them all a couple of years of hard work and of course memories
Hi Bryan
Was this 67? I think there was another English band band in Cologne at K52 club called the Trend from east London who backed The Drifters.
Great times at Top Ten…
I later formed my own band,..The Jets mark two…Icarus.
Took first garage band to Lebanon…Romania…..Iran….they loved us…lol..
I later recorded Yellow Balloon…The Devil Rides Out which was played in cinemas prior to the movie…
Then I augmented the band and did an album which is still available…The Marvel World of Icarus…writing most of tracks…one with Stan Lee…check it out on YouTube…full album.
Ask Pat Harris to email..great website BTW..☺
Where are you based Iain? Are you in London?
Jimmy Doyle was a great mate of mine…when I managed TTC in mid 60s..I formed the Top Ten All Stars..flew to Lindon and got him on drums! We made a lot of records for Top Ten Studio…and Polydor. Is he still around..I hope so!
Played in Top Ten Club with The Meteors for 6 weeks
Nov. 1963 along with The Moody Blues
We played for 1 hour and Moodies played for 1 hour
till club closed.
We also recorded a record in Polydor called
Get a load of this/Ruby Ann
I was lead guitarist and am now 74 years old.
Hello Andy, great to read about the Meteors as I’m having the record and really love it but never found any information about the Group. I still do not know where they came from and who was in it. Would you please help me ? My e-Mail is : the.vi-king@arcor.de
Would be great to hear from you. Thanks a lot and best regards – Manfred Kuhlmann
I must have come in just after you, December 63. Alan Deans Problems, did several stints 63 to 65. Great days, still in touch with Ian Heinz. I played bass. There with Isabella Bond. Still gigging backing Mike Pender, Eddie Floyd, Alvin Stardust, Wayne Fontana, on Gerrys last tour before he died.
Peter Vernon-Kell who played guitar with Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement in 1965-1966 told me that his previous band, The Macabre played at the Top Ten in Hamburg (most likely in ’64 or early-to-mid ’65).
The group also included guitarist Ed Hamilton and bass player Alan Oates.
I played in the top ten club many times in the late sixties with THE SUMMERSET it was an experiance I will never forget the Line up of the band was Les Humpries keyboards ( later with The Les Humphries singers )
Mick Jarvis lead guitar , David Brien bass player , Bernard (rocky) Browne
drums , Allen Spriggs vocals . we also played in the Star Club & the Crazy Horse Sallon , in Hamburg. We gigged all over Germany Berlin , Kiel , Kitzigan , to name a few also in Belgium , Holland , France , Spain , Italy and Denmark , Loved every minute of it and wish I could do it all over again.
Woodpeckers Show band played in the Top ten club Sept.1966 and Feb.1967, sharing with the with Summerset. Band members Gerry Mathews,Lennie Mathews,Gerry Duffy,Kevin Walker,Mike Halpin Aidan Lee and Kev Geoghegan. Rickey Barnes would Jam with us some nights on Tenor Sax and we had a great rapport with Alan, Mick, Rocky and Les from the Summerset. Very hard work but great memories. Would need 2pages of foolscap to tell all
Did you play with the Summer Set on both occasions? September 1966 and February 1967? I am updating the entry
Hi Lenny, great memories of music fun hunger girls captigons etc, completely knackered at all times but boy did we enjoy it,
wish I could go back to that time I remember you guys with a great sense of the fun every night was a feast of good music and laughter etc
best wishes mate
My uncle Gerry Duffy played in the Woodpeckers. Do you happen to have. Copy of the LP that was only released to friends and family ?
Thanks – Brendan Duffy
Pjeff@aol.com
Hi Mick
Did you play with and bands before and after the Summer Set?
Hello Ian, when your brother Fraser came to Hamburg in the 60 l was the drummer in the league of gentleman, do you remember it l was also in your band Icarus do you remember the honda motorbike great time .my name is Ray Steadman l love to hear from you
Sorry Ray…just saw your message…if course I remember, still have copy of Honda pic…
Get in touch..
Take care..
Iain
My band ‘The Quandowns’ from Sunderland played The Top Ten Club in February 1967. Ricky Barnes came to see us play at The Funny Crow in Grindelberg where we were playing the previous month. I think he had a drop out. We got the gig and played with an Irish Showband whose name I cannot remember but they were great fun and completely mad! It was during this month that Jimi Hendrix played a one nighter at The Star Club and we were lucky enough to be able to see their show. They came into the Top Ten for a drink and we joined Jimi, Mitch, Noel, Chas Chandler and Chris Barber whom they had met on The Reeperbahn. Exciting days and despite the long hours, we loved every minute.
The Decadent Streak who evolved into The Flies played during first half of 1966.
Line up:
Robin Hunt – drums and vocals
George Hayward – guitar
Chris Manders – guitar
Ian Baldwin – bass
Johnny Da Costa – organ
To add to the Decadent Streak entry looks like this was May 1966:
http://ianrichardbaldwinblog.blogspot.co.uk/2007/12/story-of-flies.html
According to Ian Baldwin’s blog from 2008, The Decadent Streak played at the Top Ten Club in May 1966 with a West Indian R&B band called Rudy Jay & The Jaymen
it was a great time I played there with the Ivys who later became the ivy league a great platform for young bands …hard work every night 4 or five sets a night good food stayed upstairs with the loft spent time wits isabelle bond who was a fantastic host
August 1970. CATS EYES. Fil Filby (Lead vocals/Rhythm guitar), Dave Busby (Lead guitar/Vocals), Roy Banks (Bass guitar/vocals) Doug Alcock (Drums/vocals), Roger Banning (Saxophone/Flute).
I found some old pictures of ten years after when they where the mansfields before the star club top ten …i spent some good times with Peter ekorn and isabelle bond at the top ten they where good years ..where is isabelle now ? she was a great girl fun to be with and a great voice ….
I was playing at the star club with Birmingham band New Street before they / we went to Berlin. In 1969 I spent several weeks at the TOP TEN with The Pieces of Mind, I was taking the keyboards over from Dave Kubinec,the band was Phil Edwards drums Vic Johnson Guitar, Bruno Sampson Bass and Adrian Williams Vocals.It was a great scene both the Star Club and Top Ten.After I finished with the Pieces in Hamburg, I travelled with New Street to Berlin (Liverpool Hoop Club ) and another long term gig, and we went on to Switzerland.
On return to UK the phone rang and it was the Pieces and I joined them for a tour in South of France.They are still playing to this date (2017) and I caught up with them in South Wales last year.They have a book on the bands history available from Amazon along with a new CD.Just like the old days of 50 years ago.
I went on to play from San Francisco to Norway and down to Australia but those days in Germany were the best
Hi, While preparing a radio show about the detah of Ray Thomas (formerly of the Moody Blues) I noticed that he states in an intervoiew that his band The Krew Cats played the Top Ten Club. This would probably have been in October or November 1963. The text goes as follows: ““We played the Top Ten Club in 1963,” says Thomas. “Hamburg was an education,” says Pinder. “But we weren’t getting paid, and at the end Ray and I were broke. We didn’t have a pot to piss in!” They ended up at the British Embassy, where they asked for enough money to get themselves home. Pinder laughs about it now. “It was just part of our musical journey.”
I remember Mike and Ray well…I had played with Mike on piano, with him on organ with Jackie Lynton a few times…they both came into Top Ten stranded, as a band they were in had split up, so I persuaded Peter Eckhorn to let them play with house band a few nights…after which they had to return to UK…lycky fir them considering their next career phase…the Moodies.
RIP Ray, and take care Mike.
Found some stuff on your band Icarus
Iam a personal friend of pat harries and Peter James of the Blackjacks having joined the band in 1965.Peter and were talking recently and wondered if Ian hines knew the whereabouts of a drummer there at the club the same time as Peter James\jimmy Doyle nicknamed Seamus and mascots guitarist named Ronny would love any information
Iam a personal friend of pat harries and Peter James of the Blackjacks having joined the band in 1965.Peter and were talking recently and wondered if Ian hines knew the whereabouts of a drummer there at the club the same time as Peter James\jimmy Doyle nicknamed Seamus and mascots guitarist named Ronny would love any information
Very interesting to read the various accounts and experiences of musicians who were lucky enough to have played the Top Ten Club in Hamburg.
I was the drummer with The Berkley Squares who played the venue in September 1967, and have many great memories of my time with the band in Germany who played Marburg, Star Pallast Luneburg/Kiel and on to the TTC.
As I recall on our last night at the club we came off stage and handed over to the Summer Set for their last set leaving us to finish the final set, so I left the club to pack my stuff at the Park Hotel ready to leave early, only to have fallen asleep sitting upright and missed the last set completely! Rocky Browne drummer with the Summer Set sat in for me and winged it as a true pro’. My thanks and best to him again. Ricky Barnes was a very understanding guy! The same night I was offered a place with the Tony Sheridan band for a tour in Vietnam entertaining U.S. Forces during the conflict, but decided against it … right decision for me as I understand it didn’t end well.
Hi Terry,
How spooky this is … I was just trawling through some memorabilia when I came across this website, and following a few more clicks of the mouse read you post! I don’t remember the night in question, but they were crazy, enjoyable times, and anything went so to speak.
We played on many occasions at the TTC and latterly also stayed at the Park Hotel, Lincolnstrasse. I remember your band very well and I believe you went on to enjoy some considerable success back in the UK?
It would be good to hook up again, if your’e up to it? I spotted a message placed by our guitarist Mick Jarvis recently who mentioned Les Humphries – the bastard – who left us high and dry in Wurzburg and skittle back to Hamburg with his hooker girlfriend ‘Goldie.’ There he hooked up with James Last and collaboratively, formed the ‘Les Humphries Singers’ which brought him much wealth for a few years.
Hi Rocky,
Just seen your reply to my post on our time at the TTC …. just incredible!
Great to hear from you,
Best wishes
Terry Abbs
Hi Terry
Just caught up with your most recent post good to know you’re still alive and kicking! It will be good to hook up with you by email? …. I don’t do Facebook for obvious reasons.
Cheers old friend
Rocky
Sorry email address:
mactavish14@googlemail.com
Hi Rocky,
Apology for the long delays in posting…. a strange and difficult year for all I guess.
Made contact with you …. check mail.
Terry
My Dad ended up going to Vietnam with Tony Sheridan, his name is Jimmy Doyle
Hi there. Did future Dire Straits drummer Pick Withers take over from you later in 67?
Hi Nick,
There is a connection but in a different order.
Ray Martinez was lead guitar with the Berkeley Squares when we played Germany and the TTC which was our last gig as band members pursude different career paths. Ray was offered a place with Mal Ryder & The Primitives in Rome, Dave ‘Pick’ Withers was their drummer. They both moved back to the UK freelance in 68′. I was with Leicester rock band ‘Spring’ in 69′ working on material for a first album at Rockfield Studios. Later that year I left the band and the lead guitar also moved on. In short, Dave ‘Pick’ Withers and Ray Martinez joined the band independently of each other …. so you are correct in part, Dave followed me into Spring on drums and Ray took the position as lead guitar and keys. Both fine and accomplished musicians who established themselves at high levels of success which is well documented.
Thanks for your interest in the Berkeley Squares….. great times experiences and great people.
Terry Abbs
Hi Terry
Thanks for this. Dave Eldredge, your organist, joined this band in late 67:
https://garagehangover.com/magic-roundabout/
Hi Terry
German researcher Rolf Hannet has done some digging into the Star Palast Kiel in Germany and the Berkeley Squares played there on the following dates:
23 March 1967
29 April 1967
27 May 1967
I formed the Top Ten Allstars and played 63 to 66….
Originally I picked up a UK band, The Carl Fenn Combo, and added Ricky Barnes on sax, Isabella Bond..myself on Organ…as members changed we had Ralph Danks, later with the Crickets, Jimmy Doyle, and other guests, and Alex Harvey plus Jackie Lynton..and made records for Polydor…Alex and myself doing arrangements for his Soul Album..I played organ..and Jackie and me put together Boots Wellington and his Rubber Band lp for Polydor..we also recorded tons of tracks at the Top Ten Studio..with Peter Eckhorn producing.
Hi Iain How did The Jets come about and how did you get the gig in Hamburg? Sheridan recalls it coming while at the 2ii’s and a German promoter wanted a band for his Cellar Club!? cheers Kingsley
Lot of wrong info given about The Jets…so here is true story. My pickuo band was The Jets..named as I loved West Side Story. Bruno wanted a band for Hamburg..I formed it in 15 minutes..but…hour later Tony came in cussing..he was going to USA bases with Wee Willie Harris,but passport not there in time…I.just as leader said…just come with us…my.son was due, so he took my place for a few weeks, and I flew over when Jets moved to Top Ten. Rest is history…He stayed with Beatles when we left after our long gig…I arranged Saints and My Bonnie..arrgd me and Jimmy Maken..Tony NICKED credits…our credit taken off when big royalties rolled in..Polydor never did pay us…Jim’s son and me really.pissed off…lol. Stay cool.
According to the Cambridgeshire Times, Alan Dean & his Problems played in March 64
Funny how your memory goes, I was bassist for the problems and don’t remember being there in 64, thought it was 65, still great times, still gigging, last few years been working with Wayne Fontayna, Mike Pender, Alvin Stardust, Eddie Floyd.
Hey Bob Pate.
Old age syndrome.
We played at top 10 in March 1964. Your old mate..Malcolm Swindon (drummer Alan Dean & the Problems.).
Keep well.
Want to revive your HAMBURG memories ? Then order my book BEATLES LOCATIONS IN HAMBURG (83 Locations).
Via : jeff_pelkmans@yahoo.com
Thanks !
Just read through all these , very interesting cool to know first hand from people that were there !!
Though I’m only 14 things like this are quite amazing just to imagine it going on !!
The Warren J Five played in late 66. John Reed on vocals; Chuck Fryers on guitar; Colin Madeley on trumpet; Jeff Prior on bass; and Terry Slade on drums
Mustard-Cheshire Rock Band – 1971.
Alan Williamson (Vocals)
Rick Shaw (Guitar & Vocals)
Alan Hopkins (Lead Guitar & Vocals)
Ken Jones (Keyboards)
Melvyn Allen (Drums)