Buddy Britten & The Regents

“Buddy Britton”, “Britten” or “Britain” was a very fickle artist: first performing as a Buddy Holly tribute like Keith Kelly, then reinventing himself as “Simon Raven Cult” in the mid 60’s. He started fronting his own Rock’n’Roll trio then was backed by a London-based R & B group called the Regents. Like The Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages and The Neil Christian’s Crusaders, his groups were a real breeding ground for many great young musicians such as bass players Johnny Vance (Vince Taylor) and Nick Simper of Deep Purple.
From 1962 to 1966, Gloverwright and his various backing bands released ten singles but none of them made a mark in Britain.

Buddy Britten was born Geoffrey Gloverwright in Liverpool, circa 1943 and actually started out as musician for rocker Vince Taylor who worked for the Calverts, in Southampton, during the second part of 1959. He was lead guitarist in Taylor’s band, The Playboys alongside guitarist Brian Marshall, bass player John Cobb aka “Johnny Vance”, and drummer Johnny Watson from mid 1959 to early 1960.
The other members of the Playboys started backing him in late 1959 and then formed The first incarnation of The “Buddy Britton Trio” that opened the teenage package show headlining Vince Taylor throughout South England.
He wore the same pair of glasses as Buddy Holly, he imitated his voice and his guitar style.

In January 1960, Brian Marshall, Johnny Vance and Johnny Watson moved to London with Vince Taylor, leaving “Buddy Britton” to carry on working for Reg Calvert with a new backing band, The Southampton-based Strollers featuring Colin Willsher on double bass and Tony Burnette on drums. Willsher and Burnette eventually defected to Dave DaCosta, and Gloverwright then recruited a new edition of the band that became the first version of his Regents: with bass player Peter Mist and Barney Peacock. They were then managed by Dorothy Calvert, Reg Calvert’s wife.
Geoff Gloverwright started recording as “Buddy Britten” for Piccadilly records he then switched to Decca.
In 1963, “Buddy Britten & The Regents” released their versions of 2 R&B numbers, “If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody” and Barrett-Strong’s “Money” on Oriole label. The Beatles used to cover these 2 songs on stage at the Cavern Club and Gloverwright was in the audience. Their releases coincided with the versions by Freddie & The Dreamers in Summer’ 63 and Bern Elliot and The Fenmen at the end of the year.
2 years later the same thing happened with She's About A Mover, a US hit for Sir Douglas Quintet and they lost out to James Royal and The Hawks.
When “Buddy Britten” worked for the Calverts at Clifton Hall from 1962 to 1964, his Regents included bass player Peter Clarke and drummer Brian Hire. Keith Moon was brought in as a replacement for Hire but finally defected to The Who in May 1964. Drummers Carlo Little, Roger Pinah then Paul Tait, bass players John Lawson and Nick Simper passed through their ranks during the second part of 1964. By this time, the band became a quartet by adding Tony Lost then Ray Soaper on keyboards. They were now managed by the Malcolm Rose agency, in central London, but gigs were not as plentiful as before and they eventually parted company in early 1965.
Gloverwright reassembled the Regents in April 1965 for a Jersey Season. The name change to “Simon Raven Cult”, after the best selling author, came during Summer’ 65. They only recorded one single, covering the Marty Wilde’s hit “Sea Of Love” coupled with “I Wonder If She Remembers Me” for Piccadilly. Nick Simper left in late ’65 to be replaced by a player called Brad.
Simper and Pinah were brought in the last incarnation of The Johnny Kidd’s Pirates by organist Ray Soaper from May to October 1966. Meanwhile Geoff Gloverwright relocated back to Jersey till the end of the following decade, although the name has been changed slightly to Simon Raverne…


Brian Marshall
About mid 1959, I was singing and playing with THE STROLLERS in Portsmouth, and we were contacted by Reg Calvert and asked if we would like to back Vince as his band had just split.
Myself and Dave Cobb (Johnny Vance) agreed so we moved to Southampton and met with Johnny Watson , BuddyBritton and Vince and that was the new PLAYBOYS line up. We played mostly one nighters around England as a TEENAGE PACKAGE SHOW. Buddy opened the show as The Buddy Britton Trio, with Johnny Vance and Johnny Watson, I came on as “Tony Trent” and then Vince Taylor would close the show with us all playing with Buddy on lead guitar.
After 5 months Vince wanted to move back to London so we went with him leaving Buddy
to carry on working for Reg.

Colin Willsher
In the early years, Buddy Britten used to go out as the Buddy Britten Trio, a Buddy Holly like tribute and when he was working for the "Calverts". I used to double on bass for him on many concerts with Tony Burnette on drums to make up the trio. That’s what you got to do on a Calvert package show!
We worked together until about 1960 and then went on to different bands,I went with Dave DaCosta on bass to France ,firstly working the US army bases…

Carlo Little about a gig at The Rink Ballroom, Swaddlingcoat.
"After the gig, we didn't have anywhere to stay so the promoter said we could sleep in the ballroom for the night. He locked us in and we tried to get comfy on the floor. It was so uncomfortable that someone got up, found a bingo machine and we had a great laugh playing bingo at three in the morning!”

Nick Simper
"...we had a long chat with Keith Moon, who it transpired had passed an audition for the Regents, but received an offer from the Who just two days after accepting the job with Buddy...

By late 1964, I received a telephone call from Jim Marshall's son, Terry. He asked if I was interested in a professional gig...with Buddy Britten and the Regents.
The following evening, I witnessed the Regents' show at the Grosvenor Ballroom in the centre of Aylesbury.
Roger Pinah had blossomed into one of the most visual and exciting drummers that I had ever seen, with Buddy Britten playing raw guitar behind his rocking vocals, Tony Richards pumping the electric piano, and about-to-leave bassist John Lawson providing the bottom end. After the show I met Buddy. Tall, charming and well-spoken, he made me welcome and showed me the set-list, mostly songs which I knew...

Buddy welcomed me to the office (of the Malcolm Rose agency, which managed his career), where he presented me with a stack of his single record releases, which I was instructed to learn for my debut gig at the weekend.
Saturday night arrived, and together with Buddy, Roger and Tony Richards on piano, I made my professional debut at the Whitehall, East Grinstead in Sussex.
Tony Richards dropped out as he had a demanding daytime job, and Roger scoured the music press adverts for likely candidates. Our first port of call was Putney, where we found a really talented pianist called Ray Soaper...

Buddy liked to vary the set by including the odd folk ballad, and as we lurched through a shaky rendition of “Jailer Bring Me Water”, a bunch of hairy biker types near the front began to hurl abuse...
As 1965 dawned, so the cracks began to appear.
I suspect that Buddy was also having management problems, as gigs were not as plentiful as before, meaning a loss of income! Roger and Ray immediately solved this problem by joining a local R&B outfit called ‘Cyrano and The Bergeracs’, who had a pretty full worksheet.
With just myself left with Buddy, I began to find myself picking up different drummers for gigs, who were called in to deputise. Where possible I would suggest my old Delta 5 drummer, Paul Tait, so that the rhythm section at least had some rapport...

…However, before Solly even got to rehearse with the Ivy League, our old boss Buddy Britten re-appeared with an offer that neither of us could resist. Early April 1965 saw Solly an myself caught the ferry to Jersey.
Reunited with pianist Tony Richards and Buddy's brother Nigel on tambourine, we swiftly recorded the four songs for Pye records with producer John Schroeder in charge.
After the Jersey trip was over, the name Buddy Britten and the Regents would be no more, he solemnly informed us. He was to become Simon Raven (also the name of a best selling author) and the band members would also have new identities. Solly was to be called Roger Truth, Tony Richards would be christened Richard Honour, and I was to be known as Kid Freedom! Collectively we would be known as the Simon Raven Cult.
The suits were to be dispensed with, dress would be pop art style and the music would be louder and more aggressive.
We also knew that six months of playing together nightly had melded us into a useful rhythm section, ready to take on the world! I was swiftly replaced by an excellent player called Brad, who played on the 'B' side of the new single, a pretty good cover of the old Marty Wilde hit, "Sea of Love".
Geoff continued to play at the Van Gogh for a few years... I played with him once more, deputising for his regular bassist on July 8th 1967, just before he relocated back to Jersey…"

Alan James "I played bass for the Simon Raverne Trio 1968-1969.
We toured Europe doing us bases ect. and was resident band at Les Arches in Jersey.
I have very fond menories of that time.
Simon showed me how to be not only a musician but how to be a showman. He's influence still
helps me run a good show. And i thank him for the lessons he gave me...

It would be nice to hear from Simon (Geoff or Eddie Thorpe) or anybody else who knew us or played in the band before or after me"

Martin Samuel "I knew and played drums with Geoffrey Glover-Wright for 3 years when he was Simon Raverne in Jersey, CI and Dubai, UAE.
We stayed at Les Arches Hotel, Gorey where we rehearsed and played each winter... During the summers, we played at The Cabin in The Watersplash on Five Mile Road, St. Ouen's...
We were contracted to play for 6 months at The Sahara, Dubai, but after 3 months, Geoff quit to manage The Safari club.
Simon Raverne's material consisted of old rock 'n' roll (Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley), Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Between gigs with Geoff (as Simon Raverne's band), Richard, Taffy and I played as 'Cigarette and Burning Boots' at The Deep, St. Helier...
We had to wear black suits and bow-ties and would open the show as a trio. Taffy would sing whatever were current hits (Eagles).
One night, just for the fun of it, Taffy and I were dressed in 'drag' by our girlfriends and went on stage without telling Geoff.
Normally, he would not look at us ~ just step up on stage and start playing but when he finally noticed us, he said nothing at all."

Discography

Singles by Buddy Britten & The Regents:
1. My Pride, My Joy/ Long Gone Baby Piccadilly 7N35075 1962
2. Don't Spread It Around/ The Beat Of My Heart Decca F11435 1962
3. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody/ Money Oriole CB1827 1963
4. Hey There/ I'll Cry No More Oriole CB1839 1963
5. My Resistance Is Low/ When I See You Smile Oriole CB1859 1963
6. Money/ Sorrow Tomorrow Oriole CB1889 1963
7. I Guess I'm In The Way/ Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Oriole CB1911 1964
8. She's About A Mover/ Since You've Gone Piccadilly 7N35421 1965
9. Right Now/ Jailer Bring Me Water Piccadilly 7N35257 1965


Single by Simon Raven Cult:
· I Wonder If She Remembers Me/Sea Of Love (Piccadilly 7N 35301) 1966

Single by The Regents:
· Bye Bye Johnny/Come Along 1964 (Belgium, Show Records SH 1077, 1964)


Compilation
If you Gotta make a Fool of Somebody and I'll Cry No More feature in “Group Beat” (1963)


Various Line-ups of The Buddy Britten’s Bands

Vince Taylor & The Playboys #8 (Oct - Dec 1959)
· Vince Taylor (Lead Vocals)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Guitar) "Buddy Britton"
· Brian Marshall (Rhythm Guitar)
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Johnny Watson (Drums)


The Buddy Britton Trio #1 (5 Months, October 1959 - February 1960)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britton"
· Johnny Vance (Bass)
· Johnny Watson (Drums)


The Buddy Britton Trio #2 (February 1960)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britton"
· Brian Marshall (Rhythm Guitar)
· Colin Wilsher (Bass)
· Tony Burnette (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Two Tones  (1961 - 1962)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Howard Masters (Bass)
· Stan Jelen (Drums)

Buddy Britten & The Regents #1 (October 1960 - 1963)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Tony Mist (Bass)
· Barney Peacock (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #2 (1963 - July 1964)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Peter Clarke (Bass)
· Brian Hire (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #3 (August - October 1964)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· John Lawson (Bass)
· Carlo Little (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #4 (October 1964)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· John Lawson (Bass)
· Tony Lost (Keyboards)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #5 (November - December 1964)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Tony Lost (Keyboards)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #6 (Late 1964 - Early 1965)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Ray Soper (Keyboards)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #7 (Early 1965)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Paul Tait (Drums)


Buddy Britten & The Regents #8 (Jersey Season, April - August 1965)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Buddy Britten"
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Tony Lost (Keyboards)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)


Simon Raven Cult #1 (September - Late 1965)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Simon Raven"
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Tony Lost (Keyboards)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)


Simon Raven Cult #2 (Late 1965 - April 1966)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Simon Raven"
· Brad ?? (Bass)
· Tony Lost (Keyboards)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)

Simon Raverne #1 (1967 - 1968)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Simon Raverne"
· Brad ?? (Bass)
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)

Simon Raverne #2 (1968 - 1969)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Guitar) "Simon Raverne"
· Alan James (Bass) "Rowell"
· Eddie Thorpe (Drums)

Simon Raverne #3 (1970s)
· Geoffrey Glover-Wright (Lead Vocals/Keyboards) "Simon Raverne" 
· Richard Melhuish (Lead Guitar/Vocals)
· Taffy Edwards (Bass/Vocals)
· Roger Pinah (Drums)
· Martin H. Samuel (Drums)

More on Geoffrey Glover-Wright aka Simon Raverne

Thanks to Alan James, Howard Masters, Martin Samuel and Stephan Koenig for providing completing info

Check out

Nick Simper's site

at http://www.nicksimper.com/

Martin Samuel's site

at http://www.myspace.com/martinhsamuel

If you have any further information and want to contribute to this site, please email us at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps

Red-E-Lewis And The Redcaps were a semi-professional rock 'n' roll band from North London, moulded on American Gene Vincent And The Blue Caps. Fronted by singer William Stubbs aka “Reddy Lewis”, they were formed in mid 1958 and their first line-up consisted of  guitarist Bobby Oats and drummer Jimmy Rook. The Redcaps were "discovered" at the same Wandsworth Town Hall once frequented by Frederick Heath & his Combo who later emerged as Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.

They had played a few gigs at the Ebisham Hall in Epsom and Jimmy Page would chat to the musicians and using Bobby’s guitar played a few licks and riffs and some Chuck Berry solos.
In early 1959, John “Jumbo” Spicer joined the band on rhythm guitar.When Oates announced that he was going to leave them to go to drama school in Easter 1959,The Redcaps’ manager, Chris Tidmarsh, contacted Jimmy Page and invited him down to Shoreditch, where the band rehearsed in a room above a pub with a view to auditioning for the vacancy.Jimmy Page became their new lead guitarist and Jumbo Spicer switched to bass. In spring 1960, Chris Tidmarsh replaced Lewis on vocals and the band took part of the coffee morning parties in London given by Ray Mackender, who was an advisor to Cliff Richard's father and eventually discovered and became the manager of Mark Wynter. Mackender introduced them to the Beat poet Royston Ellis who was searching for a band to back him on his poetry readings called “rocketry”, as a replacement for The Shadows who became so much in demand after the success of their single “Apache”.
Royston Ellis eventually did performances of rocketry just with Jimmy Page on guitar, from Late 1960 to July 1961, giving Page his first stage and TV shows. It was around this time that Royston Ellis learned about the benzedrine nose inhaler trick from Don Wood, the road manager of the Red Cats. It was a useful aid to staying awake in their all-night lives as musicians. He eventually showed (not fab’) four young lads from Liverpool how to use the nasal inhaler. They were musicians in an unknown outfit that backed Ellis when he performed his rock and roll poetry in Liverpool and finally took his advice on modifying the spelling of their band name…
Now with Chris Tidmarsh as new vocalist, they reinvented themselve as “Neil Christian And The Crusaders”.

Reddy Lewis recruited a new backing group comprising Johnny Patto on guitar, Johnny Spence on bass, Frank Farley on drums. Spence and Farley were previously with the Wayfaring Strangers and The Ramrods alongside guitarist Mick Green, 2 skiffle groups from Wimbledon.
The Redcaps, supplemented by Vic Cooper on Keyboards, provided backing services for Cuddly Dudley, the UK's first black rock 'n' roller who was managed by Guy Robinson, replacing the all-black combo “The Embraceable Four”. Dudley had just left HMV and signed to Ember Records. Cuddly Dudley only recorded one single with The Redcaps, "Sitting in A Train" coupled with "One That I Like", released in 1961, but it failed.
They were joined on stage by Reddy Lewis during some gigs at Tamworth Assembly Rooms (Teen Beat), in May 1961.
In Summer 1961, Johnny Patto, Johnny Spence and Frank Farley splintered away and teamed up with Johnny Kidd who was also managed by Guy Robinson, to become the core of his “New Pirates”. In fact, when Kidd was left high and dry by his then Pirates, the "power trio" - Alan Caddy on guitar, Brian Gregg on bass, Clem Cattini on drums - his mates Nero & the Gladiators recommended the Redcaps who were great fan of his: when he played at Kingston Granada, some months earlier, Green, Spence and Farley plus Jimmy Page sneaked in for free to watch him. Patto quickly left, to be replaced by ex-Ramrod Mick Green in early 1962. Keyboardist Vic Cooper later joined them for the "Lost Album sessions” in Spring 1964.

The Walsall-based Redcaps, fronted by singer Dave Walker, were a seperate band who had recorded some R’n’B and Blue Beat numbers for Decca records on which Jimmy Page also played between 1963 and 1965.


John Spicer aka "Jumbo Spicer"“In early 1959, I joined a North London combo called Red-E-Lewis And The Redcats. I played rhythm guitar, and another guitar player called Bobby Oats took care of lead. In Easter 1959, Oates announced that he was going to leave the band to go to drama school, and so the band turned their attention to finding someone else.
It was during the ensuing conversations about a replacement that I first heard the name Jimmy (the kid from Epsom) first mentioned. In the months before I joined, The Redcats had played a few gigs at the Ebisham Hall in Epsom. After these gigs, Jimmy would chat to the band and using Bobby'’s guitar played a few licks and riffs and some Chuck Berry solos.”

Royston Ellis
“He [Jimmy Page] had just started playing in the group managed by Chris Tidmarsh (Neil Christian).
I met Jimmy through Chris who was at one of the coffee morning parties in London given by Ray Mackender, who was an advisor to Cliff Richard's father and eventually discovered and became the manager of Mark Wynter.”

“… in the issue of the English music weekly, Record & Show Mirror, dated 16 July 1960, there is a letter from me referring to the London group I was using for backing when I performed my poetry as "The Red Cats".

“I learned about the benzedrine nose inhaler trick from the road manager (Don Wood) of the Red Cats then managed by Chris Tidmarsh. Jimmy was the guitarist with the group.”

Discography

Cuddly Duddly & The Redcaps
"Sitting in A Train" / "One That I Like" (Ember S136)


Various Line-ups of The Redcaps

Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps #1 (1958 - Early 1959)
· William Stubbs (Lead Vocals) "Reddy Lewis"
· Bobby Oats (Lead Guitar)
· Jimmy Rook (Drums)

Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps #2 (Early - Easter 1959)
· William Stubbs (Lead Vocals) "Reddy Lewis"
· Bobby Oats (Lead Guitar)
· Jumbo Spicer (Rhythm Guitar)
· Jimmy Rook (Drums)


Red E. Lewis & The Red Caps #3 (Easter - Summer 1959)
· William Stubbs (Lead Vocals) "Reddy Lewis"
· Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
· Jumbo Spicer (Bass)
· Jimmy Rook then Jim "Tornado" Evans (Drums)

Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps #4 (Summer 1959 - Mid 1961)
· William Stubbs (Lead Vocals) "Reddy Lewis"
· Johnny Patto (Lead Guitar)
· Mick Green (Rhythm Guitar)
· Johnny Spence (Bass)
· Frank Farley (Drums)

Cuddly Duddly With Red E. Lewis & The Redcaps #5 (May - July 1961)
· Cuddly Duddly (Lead Vocals)
· William Stubbs (Vocals) "Reddy Lewis"
· Johnny Patto (Lead Guitar)
· Mick Green (Rhythm Guitar)
· Johnny Spence (Bass)
· Vic Cooper (Keyboards)
· Frank Farley (Drums)

More on Red-E Lewis

For more on Red E. Lewis Band, see Royston Ellis with Jimmy Page

If you have any further information and want to contribute to this site, please email us at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com

Neil Christian & The Crusaders

Born Christopher Tidmarsh, on 4 February 1943 in Hoxton, Neil Christian fronted his backing group the Crusaders from 1960 to 1967, before starting a solo career in Germany.
His group was a breeding ground for many great young musicians and included, at various times, among others guitarists Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Paul Brett (Arthur Brown), Albert Lee (Chris Farlowe), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple) and Mick Abrahams (Jethro Tull); bass players, Alex Dmchowski, Tony Dangerfield and Rick Brown; pianist Nicky Hopkins (Jeff Beck Group), and drummer Carlo Little (Rollingstones).
He had recorded Merseybeat-ish numbers, British R&B, and bloated MOR pop, but none of his 8 singles made a mark at home, except of "That's Nice" that reached #14 in 1966.

The Crusaders evolved out of a North London-based outfit called The Red-E-Lewis And The Red Cats who was managed by Chris Tidmarsh.
The previous Red-E Lewis’ backing group, The Red Caps, left him to team up with black rocker Cuddy Duddley then later emerged as the new edition of Johnny Kidd’s Pirates from July 1961 to early 1962, featuring lead guitarist Johnny Patto, bass player Johnny Spence and drummer Frank Farley.

In late 1958, Red-E Lewis recruited a new backing group called the Red “Cats” comprising guitarist Bobby Oats and drummer Jim Evans. They had played a few gigs at the Ebisham Hall in Epsom, supporting acts such as the Frederick Heath Combo who later emerged as Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. Jimmy Page was only 15 and was part of the Epsom Ballroom Support Band when Tidmarsh spotted him. At the end of the show, the young kid would come on stage and chat to the musicians and then using Bobby’s guitar played a few licks and riffs and some Chuck Berry solos.
In early 1959, John Spicer joined the band on rhythm guitar. When Oates announced that he was going to leave them to go to drama school in Easter 1959,Tidmarsh contacted Jimmy Page and invited him down to Shoreditch, where the band rehearsed in a room above a pub with a view to auditioning for the vacancy.Jimmy Page became their new lead guitarist and Spicer switched to bass. In spring 1960, Chris Tidmarsh replaced Lewis on vocals and the band took part of the coffee morning parties in London given by Ray Mackender, who was an advisor to Cliff Richard's father. Mackender introduced them to the Beat poet Royston Ellis who was searching for a band to back him on his poetry readings called “rocketry”, as a replacement for The Shadows who became so much in demand after the success of their single “Apache”.
Royston Ellis eventually did performances of rocketry just with Jimmy Page on guitar, from Late 1960 to July 1961, giving Page his first stage and TV shows. It was around this time that Royston Ellis learned about the benzedrine nose inhaler trick from Don Wood, the road manager of the Red Cats. It was a useful aid to staying awake in their all-night lives as musicians.
Now with Chris Tidmarsh as new vocalist, they reinvented themselve as “Neil Christian And The Crusaders”.
Tidmarsh changed the names of his musicians: Jimmy Page was known as “Nelson Storm” after the 18th century admiral, John Spicer as “Jumbo” and drummer Jim was nicknamed “Tornado”. The band used to cover Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley’s stuffs on stage but, in late 1960, they started recording novelties such as "The Road to Love" and "The Big Beat Drum", that were produced by the legendary Joe Meek and released on Columbia label 2 years later. Jimmy Page earned £20 per week.
Page toured with them for two years until he was forced to quit due to illness (suffering from glandular fever) and then attended Sutton Art College. Although he would later still record with Christian in the studio until 1964 ("Get a Load of This", a Merseybeat-style recording released in July ’63; instrumental “Crusading”; "I Like It", a R&B-rock).
Page's replacement was Paul Brett from the Impacs who was himself brieftly replaced by Albert Lee who also left them whilst on turn in Germany. Bassist Jumbo Spicer eventually left to be replaced by Arvid Andersen.
The Crusaders were augmented by pianist Tony Marsh who had previously been in a Wembley-based combo called the Escort alongside drummer Keith Moon and then left to join the Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages in January 1964. Marsh introduced guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to Neil Christian, who teamed up with Andersen and Evans for a brief spell in early 1965.
In March ‘65, Blackmore rolled his mates into The Savages for 2 months. They actuallyhad defected to Screaming Lord Sutch who provided better fees than Neil Christian.So Christian pulled in an entirely new line-up, taking over a Luton group called The Hustlers featuring Mick Abrahams on guitar. By June 1965, Christian formed a new line up of The Crusaders with Mick Abrahams, drummer Carlo Little, keyboardist Graham Waller and bassist Alex Dmchowski.
While he was guitarist with the Crusaders, Mick Abrahams stood in for Screaming Lord Sutch who did exactly the same set as Neil Christian. He went on to join a band called the Goodtimers with, amongst others, bass player Dave Cakebread, keyboardist Graham Waller and saxophonist Bernie Etherington who then became the new set of Neil Christian's Crusaders for five months before joining The Toggery Five from Manchester in late 1965.
Christian disbanded the Crusaders soon after and decided to pursue on the live circuit without band.His fortunes went on the upswing after he hooked up with songwriter and producer Miki Dallon and began recording for the U.K. indie Strike Records.
He landed just one U.K. hit, the vaudevillian "That's Nice", written by Dallon, which made number 14 in mid 1966.
To promote “That’s Nice”, Neil Christian reassembled former Crusaders: Richie Blackmore, Tornado Evans, Avid Andersen and Tony Mash who returned to the fold. They took part of the Radio England’s Swingin’ 66 UK Tour in August then the “Ready Steady Foseco Beat 66” alongwith Brian Poole & The Tremeloes at the end of the year.
They toured throughout Europe, particurlarly, Germany. They had a residency in Munich where Christian recorded some tracks on Metronome label. “Two At A Time”, released in late ’66, was a big hit for Christian only in Germany where he developed a big following and went on to release material which never made it onto vinyl in the UK.

Neil Christian went back to England and recruited new musicians who formed the final incarnation of the Crusaders: Matt Smith on piano and three members of Lord Caesar Sutch & The Roman Empire, Richie Blackmore, Carlo Little and bassist Tony Dangerfield.
They were booked for a one month tour of Germany, on the back of Christian’s big German hit “Two At A Time”.
The Crusaders split up after an argument in a restaurant.
Christian released his final British 45 “You're All Things Bright And Beautiful” for Pye in 1967. He moved to Vogue for whom he recorded “My Baby's Left Me / Yakity Yak” with Richie Blackmore on guitar, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Rick Brown on bass and Carlo Little on drums, although it was not released until the following year.

Tony Dangerfield and Carlo Little went back to London while Richie Blackmore stayed in Germany and formed Mandrake Roots with Matt Smith prior to joining Deep Purple.
In summer 1967, he began a solo career though he still released records as “Neil Christian & The Crusaders.” He released some additional tracks in Germany, in the late '60s where he did better. Sadly Chris aka “Neil Christian” is deceased on 4 January 2010.

Neil Christian:“first time I saw him [Blackmore] he was playing with the Outlaws… I was introduced to him by a piano player called Tony Marsh who used to work in The Savages. Ritchie only work for people if he thought they stood a chance of success… and I said, “If you can’t make your mind up come on the gig with us have a blow, see what you think”… he said “I know a Big Star in the making when I see One”… after that I got on great with him and he joined the band. ”

Arvid Andersen
“Ritchie not only knew our repertoire but also all the instrumentals… We went on stage that night without rehearsal, in a church hall in the East End... Christian would slide on stage for a few numbers and let me carry on with a Little Richard song list plus a few stand-bys like “Skinnie Minnie”... Christian’s little side deals kept the band afloat but we did spend a good 3 months together as The Crusaders”

Mick Abrahams:“David Sutch did exactly the same set as Neil Christian hence it was easy to do it without extensive reheardsal !”
"We had to dress up in orange shirts, tight black trousers and white boots and wiggle our asses. If you saw how fat I was then you'd know why I didn't fancy it"

Neil Christian:“I just got them together to do this short tour with me. I had a record out in Germany… and we were doing all this promotional gear. We were doing some shows in Germany and live TV in Berlin… We opened a club in Berlin for teenagers - that was live TV. Did one in Hamburg… we were in this restaurant to watch it on TV… Carlo and Tony were arguing over a slice of bread…”


Discography

45s:

1. The Road To Love/The Big Beat Drum (Columbia DB 4938) Late 1962
2. A Little Bit Of Someone Else/Get A Load Of This (Columbia DB 7075) July 1963
3. Honey Hush/One For The Money (Columbia DB 7829) May 1964
4. That's Nice/She's Got The Action (Strike JH 301) Late 1965
5. Oops/She Said Yeah (Strike JH 313) 1966
6. Two At A Time/Wanna (Strike JH 319) 1966
7. You're All Things Bright And Beautiful/ I'm Gonna Love You Baby (Pye 7N 17372) 1967
8. My Baby's Left Me / Yakity Yak (Vogue DV14744) 1968

EPs:Little Bit Of Something Else (Columbia SEG 8492) 1966
You're All Things Bright and Beautiful (Pye) 1967




Various Line-ups of Neil Christian & The Crusaders

Red E. Lewis & The Red Cats #3 (Easter 1959 - Spring 1960)
· William Stubbs (Lead Vocals) "Reddy Lewis"
· Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
· Jumbo Spicer (Bass)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Manager)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #1 (Early 1960 - October 1962)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
· Jumbo Spicer (Bass)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)
· Iain Hines (Keyboards)

Neil Christian & The Crusaders #2 (Early - June 1963)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Paul Brett (Lead Guitar)
· Jumbo Spicer (Bass)
· Matt Smith (Keyboards)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #3 (June - October 1963)
 · Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Albert Lee (Lead Guitar)
· Avid Andersen (Bass)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #4 (October 1963 - January 1964)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Phil McPill (Lead Guitar)
· Avid Andersen (Bass)
· Tony Marsh (Keyboards)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #5 (January - May 1964)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Phil McPill (Lead Guitar)
· Avid Andersen (Bass)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #6 (January - February 1965)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Avid Andersen (Bass)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #7 (March - May 1965)· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Mick Abrahams (Lead Guitar)
· Dave Cakebread (Bass)
· Stan Thomas (Baritone Sax)
· Graham Hill (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #8 (June - October 1965)· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Mick Abrahams (Lead Guitar)
· Alex Dmchowski (Bass)
· Graham Waller (Keyboards)
· Bernie Hetherington (Baritone Sax)
· Carlo Little (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #9 (Early - April 1966)
· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Dangerfield (Bass)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #10 (April - September 1966)· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Avid Andersen (Bass)
· Tony Marsh (Keyboards)
· Tornado Evans (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #11 (April - May 1967)· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Dangerfield (Bass)
· Matt Smith (Keyboards)
· Carlo Little (Drums)


Neil Christian & The Crusaders #12 (Last Single Sessions, May 1967)· Chris Tidmarsh (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Blackmore (Lead Guitar)
· Rick Brown (Bass)
· Nicky Hopkins (Keyboards)
· Carlo Little (Drums)



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