Pat Cresswell & The Crescents


Notable as having great guitarists in their ranks such as Jeff Beck, Harvey Hinsley and Dave Wendells, The Crescents were one of the top bands in the London area from 1957 to 1963.

In 1957, Pat Cresswell was working at Hadfields Paint Company in Western Road, Mitcham, Surrey, when he put together a Skiffle group with Colin Johnson on string bass and Ian Robinson on Drums. They were first known as “The Blue Hounds” and won a Skiffle competition at the Baths Hall in Mitcham, covering Carl Perkins' "Honey Dont". After that Cresswell decided to play only Rock'n'Roll instead of Skiffle and reorganized the band. He then hired lead guitarist Peter Budd who worked at Hadfields as an interior designer, and used to play guitar in a South London-based outfit called the Blue Suedes. Budd convinced Cresswell to let his friend from this band Geoffrey Fraser play rhythm guitar.
Fraser however left shortly thereafter and was replaced by Brian Maidment. The name was changed to “Pat Cresswell & The Crescents”, after Pat's surname (1). At the time, they were playing mostly Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran material.
At the beginning, they had an old Hudson American car that they all took to many gigs, but none of them had driving licenses (2).

About that time (late 1957 or late 1958), while they were supporting Bert Weedon at a Saturday morning show at the Hammersmith Odeon Cinema, the Crescents were asked to back a new singer who had the same clothes that Pat Cresswell had: a Light Gray jacket, black shirt and black pants... (3)

Pat Cresswell & the Crescents later recorded some demos that were never released for sales, and included "What I'd Say", "Whole lotta Of Shaking Going On", "Brand new Cadillac", "I want You To Know", "Dreaming", "Living Doll", "Never Mind", and "Cresta Run" (an instrumental written by Peter Budd).

By then they became very well known in the West London area - playing residencies at large ballrooms such as the Boat house at Kew Bridge, the Airport Bowl at Heathrow - playing five nights a week. Therefore they attracted the attention of future local luminaries such as Jeff Beck and Harvey Hinsley, who impressed a lot Budd with his self-made guitar and tremolo arm and would eventually step into his shoes (6).
By mid-59, Peter Budd walked out and formed his own band, the Crestas, with Sydney Hayden on Rhythm Guitar and John Aldrich on Drums, both from Davy & the Cats, plus Dave Strugnall on Bass guitar (4).
Thus Pat Cresswell recruited the remaining Cats, bass player Ray Halsey and guitarist Harvey Hinsley (7).
He later threw Ian Robinson out and brought John Aldridge in on drums. They were also augmented by saxophone player Neville Hounslow. But this was a fairly short-lived line-up as Cresswell finally left in turn at the end of 1960 and reunited with Peter Budd, fronting briefly the Crestas.

Shortly thereafter Budd moved to Rodney Ward & the Hi Fi's, replacing a young Jeff Beck (5), who then joined The Deltones (as a replacement for Jim Duncombe).

Meanwhile, Maidment, Hinsley, Halsey and Aldrich shortened their name to the “Crescents” and got various singers including Alan Rose before becoming an instrumental band and covering the Shadows hits.

In the summer 1961, singer Derek Burchall aka "Johnny Del" became the new frontman of The Crescents. Their manager Paddy Jones actually stole him from the Deltones, their main rivals (8).

Shortly after, Dave Wendells from Johnny Harris & The Shades (9) took over from the original guitar player Brian Maidment. At the time, the band had various drummers including Terry Searley (ex-Rebel Rousers and Terry Dene's Aces), Mickey Waller, Mick Burt (later of the Rebel Rousers) and Mitch Mitchell (Georgie Fame, Jimi Hendrix ect.) (10).

The Crescents became the resident band at the Boat House, Kew, where they supported twice Screaming Lord Sutch & his Savages in September and October 1961. Dave Sutch asked Harvey Hinsley to join his Savages, but Hinsley was apprenticed at his engineering firm, and turned it down.

About that time, Johnny Dell & The Crescents recorded a demo in R.G. Jones studio, in Morden (11), which included “Wedding Bells” (one of the The Deltones’ best loved songs) and Duane Eddy's Morgan. These songs were recorded with Harvey Hinsley on lead and not Jeff Beck as some erroneously quoted (15-D). They also went up to Joe Meek's studio, on Holloway Road, and played a couple of covers instead of the song he'd written for them to work on.

However Burchall, who preferred the likes of Frank Sinatra, left the band for the 1st time at the end of the year. He actually re-joined and left them several times until spring '63. He was replaced by Ivan Love.

In late 1961, while The Crescents were resident at Kew Boat House, 2 new members joined up: Mike Ledger aka "Mike Allen" on vocals and Mick Underwood on drums, both from Mike Allen & The Sidekicks, whose lead guitarist was Vic Briggs (12). By this time, they had two singers, but Love was no longer around, so Ed Hamilton, from Lee Corvett & the Lyrics, took over from him (13). They also had a 14-year-old girl called Sue Green who did Brenda Lee and Wanda Jackson songs for a while.

In May 1962, Dave Wendells left The Crescents to replace Bernie Watson temporarily in the Savages, as Ritchie Blackmore had to fulfill his commitments with Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers and recommended him to fill in (14). Incidentally Wendells would replace Watson in The Rebel Rousers, 7 months later. They would play at blues venues like the Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, and the 100 Club with Ed Hamilton on lead vocals after Derek Burchall (Johnny Dell) had rejoined the band then left again.

By July 1962, Ray Halsey quit and Mick Underwood moved to Jet Harris new band, The Jetblacks. So Hamilton brought his mates from Lee Corvett & the Lyrics, drummer Dave Elridge and bass player Fred Morris.

The following year, Harvey Hinsley left in turn, and Ed Hamilton took over lead guitar. Thus they carried on as a three piece.

By spring 1963, Ed Hamilton wanted to concentrate on a bluesier type of material in line with what was happening at the time, but Paddy Jones (the manager) didn't agree. So the other two wanted to carry on earning the money and opted to stay with Jones who got Derek Burchall in to replace Hamilton. Burchall brought his mate Jeff Beck in the band who made his debut in Turnbridge Wells with them (15).

As Burchall didn't want to do blues and left again, a guy Beck knew through Ian Stewart (the Rolling Stones roadie) called Brian Wiles was brought in on vocals. After a couple of months they changed their name to The Nightshift (16).

Fred Morris left soon afterwards and was replaced by Hugh McGaw.

Apart from playing regurlarly at Eel Pie Island and the 100 Club, The Nightshift often performed at the Ivy Leaf Club, in West Drayton. They also took part of the 3rd National Jazz & Blues Festivals, at the Richmond Athletic Grounds, Richmond, Surrey, on August 10-11th 1963, alongside the Rolling Stones (17-A).

They played several times at the Marquee Club between August and December 1964, supporting The Mike Cotton Sound, The Moody Blues, The T-Bones, The Yardbirds and Long John Baldry & the Hoochie Coochie Men. Jeff Beck brought his mate bass player George Clarke in the Nightshift for the 4th Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival, on August 7th 1964 (17-B).

When Jeff Beck left to join the Tridents in October 1964, Ed Hamilton replaced him (18).
The last gig Ed Hamilton played with them was at the Marquee on Christmas Eve 1964, which they had to do as a three piece because Hugh McGaw, who had fallen out with Brian Wiles, didn't turn up. Hamilton then moved to The Macabre and was replaced by Tony Finch from The Presidents, another acquaintance of Ian Stewart's (19). Colin Golding, the bass player of The Presidents who deputised for the Rolling Stones several times from 23rd November 1962 to 18th January 1963 at Sutton Red Lion Pub, also played with them on one occasion. As well as their own bookings, The Nightshift also backed other artists, in particular Rod Stewart, and supported The Who at The Marquee.

They released a couple of singles for the Piccadilly label in 1965, including a rendition of “Corrina, Corrina”. The band lasted for a couple of years before becoming disillusioned and called it a day.

Upon the demise of The Nightshift, Keith McGregor briefly reunited with Ed Hamilton in The Second Hand, teaming up with Norman Evans (Keyboards) and Harvey Hinsley.
Peter Budd kept playing guitar with Rory Blackwell, Earl Sheridan & the House Shakers, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent amongst others.
Mick Underwood later played with The Outlaws, The Herd, The Doves (also known as The Clockwork Oranges), The James Royal Set, The Episode Six, Quatermass, Gillan ect.
Harvey Hinsley also played with The Outlaws and
The Doves, and then joined the Rebel Rousers (which became Black Claw), before gaining charts success with the group Hot Chocolate in the 70s.
Dave Wendells went on to play with Jackie Lynton & The Jury, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Lulu & The Luvvers, Tom Jones & The Squires, The Krew, Jo Jo Gunne, The Roy Young Band, Hurricane and Love Affair to name but a few...
Ed Hamilton also joined The Outlaws and Black Claw like Hinsley. He later toured with The Young & Moody Band, Fast Buck, and the Bonnie Tyler Band ect.

Brian Whyles sadly died in 2003.

Unfortunately The Crescents hadn't released any material apart from the 2 aforementionned demos. Basically they were mainly a rock band doing some of the hits of the day (20) prior to concentrating on blues and eventually recording it as the Nightshift.

They are not to be confused with Phil Ryan & The Crescents from Crewe who released "Mary Don't You Weep" b/w "Yes I Will" on Columbia in 1964 (21).

Patrick V. aka "Paddivy"


(1) Pat Cresswell
"The Crescents started from Mitcham, Surrey, just after the skiffle era: Pat Cresswell led the band, with Pete Budd lead guitar, Collin Johnson bass guitar, Brian Maidment rhythm guitar and Ian Robinson drums.... After the skiffle went out of style, we started "The Blue Hounds" group. It was when Pete Budd and Brian Maidment joined that the name was changed to the Crescents because of my name Cresswell. It was thought that the Crescents sounded better for the group."

(2) Peter Budd
"We had an old Hudson American car that we all took to many gigs. None of us had driving licenses. One day as we went around a busy street in London, the driver lost control and it went through a shop window! We all ran away with our instruments, and came back a few minutes later to see what had happened? They never found us and the police towed the car away."

(3-A) Peter Budd
"we were playing at a Saturday morning show at the Hammersmith Odeon Cinema... When my guitar solo came for What I'd Say, I stepped forward with all the lights shining on me and the chord came out of my guitar. It was too late to plug it back in so I faked the solo with no sound. My mum and Dad and Brother Roy Budd said after wards. You looked good, but we couldn't hear you.
The same show we were asked to back a new singer up. His name was Harry Webb, and Pat got mad because Harry had the same cloths that Pat had. This singer really sounded pretty good!"


(3-B) Pat Cresswell
"On that gig at the Hammersmith Odeon Cinema, the singer was "Vince Taylor".... We did a song he had recorded... We were on the same bill as Vince Taylor at the Sheperds Bush"

(3-C) It's unclear who was the mysterious singer and when the event really took place:
Cliff Richard or Vince Taylor? late 1957 or late 1958? Peter Budd and Pat Cresswell obviously disagree about that. Vince Taylor supported Cliff Richard who was headlining at Hammersmith Comodore Theatre in early 1959.

(4) Peter Budd
"There was quite a bit of infighting with the Crescents. I wanted to play more gigs, and the others - as they had full-time jobs - didn’t want to commit very much time to the band thing. I had a feeling that a major move for me would soon be in the works - and it was!..."

(5) Peter Budd
"When I first practiced with Rodney Ward there was a reel to reel tape recorder sitting there and I asked Rodney who is belonged to? He said the last guitar player. It had an extra head to get an echo sound so I used it for the rehearsal. Suddenly the door opened and in walks this young kid and swore at me as it belonged to him. He took it away and his name was Jeff Beck...
Jeff and I went to the same school. Elmwood Park high School in Beddington South London. He was a couple of years younger..."


(6) Peter Budd
"Harvey was a friend of mine, and he had made his own guitar and tremolo arm, which actually worked - which was an engineering feat at that period of time; most tremolo arms immediately de-tuned a guitar. When he eventually bought a Fender Stratocaster, I bought the tremolo arm off of him."

(7) Harvey Hinsley
"I was in a band called Davy & the Cats in 1959... Pat Creswell wanted our bass player Ray Halsey, and when Pete Budd left, I joined the Crescents along with Ray Halsey... Pat threw Ian Robinson out & we brought John Aldridge in on drums. this was late 1959"

(8) Harvey Hinsley
"Alan Rose was replaced by Johnny Dell, as our manager Paddy Jones liked Johnny Dell and stole him from the Deltones. This would be late '61 or early'62."

(9) Johnny Harris & the Shades also included Mitch Mitchell on Drums

(10) Harvey Hinsley
"we also had various drummers including Terry Searly, Mick Underwood, Mitch Mitchell, Mick Burt and Mick Waller. These guys were never permanent and only helped out after John Aldrich left... Mitch Mitchell helped out and was experimenting with us and lost time a lot!! [He told me once to change my strat for a Burns Black Bison[??] I told him to stick to his drums!"

(11) R.G. Jones Studios
were recording studios run by Sound engineer Ronald Godfrey Jones Jr. in Morden, Surrey.
The Deltones recorded their rendition of "Cherry Pink Apple Blossom" there, as well as The Rollingstones a demo including "It's All Right Babe" and "Pretty Thing I".

(12) Vic Briggs aka "Antion Meredith"
"Mike Allen and Mick Underwood left us for a very remunerative but soul destroying gig with a band called The Crescents who were resident at Kew Boat House."

(13) Ed Hamilton
"I was in a band called Lee Corvette and the Lyrics... My band broke up and I auditioned for the Crescents and got the job as
vocalist in late 1961."


(14) Dave Wendells
"I left The Crescents when Ritchie was going to replace Bernie in the Savages but, as I recall, couldn't be there for a while because of a previous commitment, so he recommended me since we were friends."

(15-A) Harvey Hinsley
"I left The Crescents in about' 63... The Crescents later became The Nightshift and Jeff Beck replaced Ed Hamilton. Ed thinks Jeff played with the band when it was still the Crescents but Jeff denies this...."
"I went round Jeff's house about 3 years ago with John Owen. We were talking about the old days & Jeff said "I wasn't in the Crescents" "

(15-B) Ed Hamilton
"They got Jeff Beck in to replace me on lead guitar and Johnny Dell rejoined the band again, but didn't want to do blues as he preferred Frank Sinatra so he left AGAIN!"

(15-C) Beat Merchants by Alan Clayson p.51
Jeff Beck made a debut at Turnbridge Wells with The Crescents...
...Tired of imitating Hank Marvin in The Crescents , Jeff Beck had moved on to Him And The Others...


(15-D) Crazy Fingers by Annette Carson p.27
The Crescents operated around the West London area… and for a while Beck was persuaded to play Shadows-style guitar again.
His first professional appearance may have referred to his debut in Turnbridge Wells. While playing with The Crescents, Jeff cut his first record “Wedding Bells”

(16) Ed Hamilton
"A guy Jeff knew through Ian Stewart (the Stones roadie) called Brian Wiles was brought in on vocals to replace me on vocal.
After a couple of months they changed their name to The Nightshift."

(16-B) Crazy Fingers by Annette Carson p.28
Nightshift seems to have been formed in 1962 or early 1963 - by which time he’d fallen in with Stu Stewart of the Rollingstones… Around the same time he also came under the spell of Patricia Brown. They would married in July 1963... Nightshift was his first regular R&B group...
The Nightshift started playing regurlarly at Eel Pie Island and some of London’s leading club venues like the 100 Club. Phil Somerville recalls they once headlined a bill with opening for them... Jeff was approached to join the Roosters but said no, the job was taken by Clapton.

(17-A) Some sources quote they had taken part of the 3rd National Jazz & Blues Festivals on August 10-11th 1963, alongside the Rolling Stones. however, it might be a confusion with the following edition as Dave Elridge can't remember this.

(17-B) Richmond Jazz Festival - Friday, 7th August 1964
The Nightshift were scheduled at the Richmond Athletic Grounds from 7.55 pm to 8.20 pm, after The Grebbels, and before The Authentics, The T-Bones, and The Rolling Stones.

(17-C) George Clarke
"After returning from Germany I resumed playing with Jeff Beck and the band must have been the Nightshift because I recall that we had obtained a major booking at the Richmond Jazz Festival. I had been looking forward to this gig, as there were a few big names appearing... The date was Friday, 7th August 1964, which is imprinted in my mind due to the fact that on that morning, at 7.30 am I was on my way to work on my Triumph T100 when a lorry came out of a side turning and hit me, throwing me accross the road in the path of another lorry coming the other way... My first thought was "S...t, I'm going to miss the gig at Richmond".

(18-A) Some sources quote that Jeff Beck left the Nightshift to join the Tridents in late 1963 (Crazy Fingers, Annette Carson p.29) or February 1964 (The Guiness Book of Rock Stars, Dafydd Rees & Luke Crampton), and rejoined for the 4th Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival in August 1964. Beck probably played in both bands at the same time during 1964, sessioning secretly with the Tridents.

(18-B) Crazy Fingers - Annette Carson p.30
Beck joined the Tridents, from Chiswick, around late Summer/autumn of 1963 and stayed with them a year and a half, although oddly enough during this time he was photographed playing with the Nightshift again when the group appeared at the 4th Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond, in August 1964 - "perhaps" filling in for this one gig...

(19-A) Tony Finch
"After leaving The Presidents I joined a group called The Night Shift. As well as our own bookings we also backed other artists, in particular Rod Stewart, and supported The Who at The Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London. We made a couple of records, one called “Corrina, Corrina”. I played with them for a couple of years before becoming disillusioned and I haven't really played since."

(19-B) Robin Mayhew
"Tony Finch played rhythm guitar for us till just after we had release our only single Candy Man in '64. He went to play rhythm for The Nightshift for some time. We, at that time, were so busy with South London gigs that we had decided to play our regular Friday night Club at the Red Lion in Sutton once a fortnight and had invited our good friend Ian Stewart to put his band, The Rolling Stones, on when we weren't doing it. The Nightshift filled the gap when the Stones went to Eel Pie Island and started to break. I clearly remember Tony playing with Jeff Beck on one Friday that The presidents had off..."
"Colin Golding, our bassist, did play with them on one occasion... I do know that Brian Whyles who I believe formed the band, singing and playing harmonica, sadly died a couple of years ago."

(20-A) Harvey Hinsley
"The Crescents basically played whatever was popular and when we did Poetry in Motion 3 or 4 times, I wanted to pack up!...
I played some Shadows stuff, but I prefered Cliff Gallup stuff..."


(20-B) Dave Wendells
"The material for The Crescents was early Elvis, Gene Vincent, Ricky Nelson, Cliff & the Shadows....etc..."

(20-C) Ed Hamilton
"The Crescents used to do thing like Orange Blossom Special, Sleep Walk and All Night Diner because
Harvey also the odd Shadows tune (Because Harvey played steel guitar too). They were mainly a rock band doing some of the hits of the day."


(21-A) Crazy Fingers - Annette Carson p.37
Beck did a session with his old pals The Crescents, now backing singer Phil Ryan, on the songs "Mary Don't You Weep"/"Yes I Will"

(21-B) Phil Ryan & The Crescents were a Beat/folky/soul band from Crewe, formed in 1962 with Phil Ryan (vocals), Bernard Hibbert (lead guitar), Roger Keay (bass), and Dave Birkenhead (drums).
They released a couple of singles for Columbia: Mary Don't You Weep/Yes I Will (Columbia DB 7406 - Dec 1964) and Gypsy Woman/Be Honest With Yourself (Columbia DB 7574 - May 1965).

(21-C) Dave Birkenhead, drummer with Phil Ryan & The Crescents
"As a member of Phil Ryan and the Crescents I decided to see what I could dig up about my old group on the Internet. I was amazed to find a claim that Jeff was a member of said group and recorded on both their records. Whilst I find this extremely flattering it is also untrue unless I was asleep on those days when we recorded. I was equally amazed to find that quite a few sites ran this same inaccuracy... Did Norrie Paramor use Jeff without telling us?"




Discography

Demo Single:
The Crescents: “Wedding Bells” b/w “Morgan”

The Nightshift:
“Corrine Corrina” b/w “Lavender Tree” (Piccadilly 7N 35243, 1965)
“Stormy Monday Blues” b/w “That's My Story” (Piccadilly 7N 35264, 1965)

Demo LP (The Crescents): "What I'd Say", "Whole lotta Of Shaking Going On", "Brand new Cadillac", "I want You To Know", "Dreaming", "Living Doll", "Never Mind", "Cresta Run"...


Various Line-ups of The Crescents, The Crestas & The Nightshift

Pat Cresswell & The Crescents #1 (1957 - Mid 1959)
  • Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
  • Peter Budd (Lead Guitar)
  • Geoffrey Fraser then Brian Maidment (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Collin Johnson (Bass)
  • Ian Robinson (Drums)

Pat Cresswell & The Crescents #2 (Mid 1959 - Late 1960)
  • Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Brian Maidment (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Neville Hounslow (Tenor Sax)
  • Ian Robinson then John Aldrich (Drums)

Pat Cresswell & The Crestas (Early 1961 - 1962)
  • Pat Creswell (Lead Vocals)
  • Peter Budd (Lead Guitar)
  • Sydney Haydon (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Dave Strugnall (Bass)
  • John Aldrich (Drums)

The Crescents #3 (Early - Summer 1961)
  • Alan Rose (Lead Vocals)
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Brian Maidment (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Neville Hounslow (Tenor Sax)
  • Terry Searly (Drums)

The Crescents #4 (September - December 1961)
  • Derek Burchall (Lead Vocals) "Johnny Dell"
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wendells (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Neville Hounslow (Tenor Sax)
  • Terry Searly (Drums)
  • Mickey Waller (Drums)

The Crescents #5 (November 1961)
  • Ivan Love (Lead Vocals)
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wendells (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Neville Hounslow (Tenor Sax)
  • Mick Burt (Drums)

The Crescents #6 (December 1961)
  • Mike Ledger (Lead Vocals) "Mike Allen"
  • Ivan Love (Lead Vocals)
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wendells (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Mick Underwood (Drums)

The Crescents #7 (December 1961 - May 1962)
  • Mike Ledger (Lead Vocals) "Mike Allen"
  • Ed Hamilton (Lead Vocals)
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wendells (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Mick Underwood (Drums)
  • Mickey Waller (Drums)
  • Mitch Mitchell (Drums)
  • Dave Elridge (Drums)

The Crescents #8 (May - July 1962)
  • Sue Green (Lead Vocals)
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Ed Hamilton (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals)
  • Ray Halsey (Bass)
  • Mick Underwood (Drums)

The Crescents #9 (July 1962 - February 1963)
  • Derek Burchall (Lead Vocals) "Johnny Dell"
  • Harvey Hinsley (Lead Guitar)
  • Ed Hamilton (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals)
  • Fred Morris (Bass)
  • Dave Elridge (Drums)

The Crescents #10 (February - May 1963)
  • Ed Hamilton (Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar)
  • Fred Morris (Bass)
  • Dave Elridge (Drums)

The Crescents #11 (May - June 1963)
  • Derek Burchall (Lead Vocals) "Johnny Dell"
  • Jeff Beck (Lead Guitar)
  • Fred Morris (Bass)
  • Dave Elridge (Drums)

The Crescents #12 (June - July 1963)
  • Brian Wiles (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Jeff Beck (Lead Guitar)
  • Fred Morris (Bass)
  • Dave Elridge (Drums)


The Nightshift #1 (July
1963 - October 1964)
  • Brian Wiles (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Jeff Beck (Lead Guitar)
  • Fred Morris then Hugh McGaw (Bass)
  • George Clarke (Bass)*
  • Dave Elridge (Drums)

The Nightshift #2 (October - December 1964)
  • Brian Wiles (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Ed Hamilton (Lead Guitar)
  • Hugh McGaw (Bass)
  • Dave Elridge then Keith McGregor (Drums)

The Nightshift #3 (December 1964 - Late 1966)
  • Brian Wiles (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Tony Finch (Lead Guitar)
  • George Clarke (Bass)
  • Colin Golding (Bass)
  • Keith McGregor (Drums)

*George Clarke first joined for the 4th Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival, on Friday, 7th August 1964


Special thanks to Pat Creswell, Peter Budd, Harvey Hinsley, Dave Wendells, Ed Hamilton, John Aldrich, Sydney Haydon, George Clarke, Vic Briggs, Tony Finch, Robin Mayhew and many others


If you can improve this article by providing further info or corrections ect.
Please contact us: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

7 comments:

  1. great reading,but a lot of the facts are wrong.
    the crescents started from mitcham surrey,just after the skiffle era--pat cresswell led the band,with pete budd lead guitar,collin johnson bass guitar,brian maidment rhythm guitar and ian robinson drums.icould go on to add more,but
    the line up when pat cresswell left was--harvey hinsley--jonny aldrich drums ray hosley bass and brian maidmant rhythm guitar---
    anyway good luck to all----
    pat cresswell

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  2. Great story, as I am involved with The Joe Meek Society, I would be interested in hearing more about your time with Joe, for possible inclusion in a future issue of our magazine

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  3. I was working as an interior designer at Hadfields. Pate Cresswell was working in the the factory area when I met him.
    He had one of the greatest rock Voices.
    Peter C. Budd

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  4. Alan Rose is my mate he has got a big poster of Alan Rose and the crescents

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  5. Just played stormy monday blues and thats my story - brings back memories of Eel Pie Island etc - Cant find Carina Carina - its here somewhere I hung about a bit with the band and lugged the gear over the bridge. Jeff Becks little Vox amp wasn't too heavy. What happened to Brian Wiles - spent many happy weekends with Brian in Dorset - Bridport Arms. West Bay before it became civilised. Last I heard he was in Bridgewater

    Stuart Gurney

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  6. This is a work in progress on the Tridents but thought it might be of interest:

    www.garagehangover.com/the-tridents

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  7. Jeff Beck left end of August 64 to join The Tridents: http://thestrangebrew.co.uk/articles/the-tridents

    ReplyDelete