Mike Longhurst-Pickworth aka “Mike Hurst”, born in 1943, joined The Springfields in February 1962, as a replacement for Tim Field on guitar and vocals. Meanwhile Dusty Springfield began a successful solo singing career with “I Only Wanna Be With You”, he released his first single “The Banjo Song”/“Any Chance For Me” on Philips Records in November 1963, some weeks after The Springfields played their farewell show at the London Palladium.
Mike Hurst recruited guitar player Jimmy Page, bass player Ray Styles and keyboardist Tony Ashton, both from The John Barry Seven, to become his backing group,The Method, in early 1964. He toured with this 'country rock' band alongwith Gene Pitney who offered him a number of his, “Carol Anne” that became their second release. That was the only one cover they recorded. The other songs, in the beat and folk mould, were all written by Hurst.
Albert Lee brietly took over Jimmy Page to be himself replaced by Ray Smith when he went on to join Chris Farlowe. In Summer 1964, Ashton left to join The Remo Four while Smith and drummer Nigel Menday joined Tony Colton & The Crawdaddies. Mike Hurst then became the host of “Teenscene”, the first teenage radio chat show on BBC Light Programme,interviewing all the stars of the swinging 60’s from top models to the first ever live interview in the UK with Bob Dylan.
Hurst went on to become a well-known producer/songwriter: working with Manfred Mann, Marc Bolan Cat Stevens Spencer Davies, the Four Top Showaddywaddy and Shakin’ Stevens among others.
.
Mike Hurst
“I recorded as a solo artist for Philips Records for two years. I also formed my own group The Methods with Jimmy Page, then Albert Lee on guitar and Tony Ashton on keyboards. We were playing country rock”
Albert Lee
… for some strange reason I quit Neil and went back to Germany to play in Mike Warner's band again, which turned out to be a foolish move - he dumped us and it took me ages to scrape up my fare home. Then I was hanging around town again until I got a gig with Mike Hurst [replacing Jimmy Page] and went on a package tour with Gene Pitney and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas."
Discography
Singles:
1. The Banjo Song/Any Chance For Me (Philips BF 1295) 11/1963
2. Carol Anne/Anytime That You Want Me (Philips BF 1319) 04/1964
3. Half Heaven Half Heartache/Look In Your Eyes (Philips BF 1353) 06/1964
4. Last Time You'll Walk Out On Me/Something Told Me (Philips BF 1389) 1965
5. Show Me Around/I'm Running Away (Philips BF 1424) 1965
Line-ups
Mike Hurst & The Method #1 (January 1964)
· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· ?? ?? (Drums)
Mike Hurst & The Method #2 (February - May 1964)
· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Albert Lee (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· Nigel Menday (Drums)
Mike Hurst & The Method #3 (May - Summer 1964)
· Mike Hurst (Lead Vocals)
· Ray Smith (Lead Guitar)
· Ray Styles (Bass)
· Tony Ashton (Organ)
· Nigel Menday (Drums)
Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds (Epsom)
Photo of 'Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds' courtesy Tony BussonLeft to right: Jimmy Page, Tony Busson, Stuart Cockett and Malcolm Austin.
An obscure Rock’n’Roll band from Epsom, Surrey, featuring founder member of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page who was just 16 and attended Epsom Art College, in 1960. The band consisted of Malcolm Austin on vocals, Stuart Cockett on rhythm guitar, Tony Busson on bass and a guy called Tom on drums.
In those days local budding musicians would all meet up for a 'jam' session, trying to copy the guitarists and groups of the time. They only actually played a couple of local gigs in Epsom.
Jimmy, who used a Futurama Grazioso guitar, was always in demand from other musicians, despite his tender years, moving on to backing Neil Christian, Eden Kane, prior to becoming a prolific session man.
Tony Busson later joined 'The Presidents' where he took over the bass player who depped for the Rollingstones in the second part of 62, Colin Golding.
Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds (Epsom, Early 1960)
Tony Busson
“The photo of me with Jimmy Page was taken around 1960 in Epsom, Surrey. We were both teenagers at the time and met through school friends. Jimmy was attending Epsom Art College and I was at a private school in Ashtead, Surrey.In those days local budding musicians would all meet up for a 'jam' session, trying to copy the guitarists and groups of the time.As I recall we only actually played a couple of local gigs. Jimmy was always in demand from other musicians, despite his tender years, moving on to backing Neil Christian, Eden Kane…
In the photo is Jimmy, me (glasses and sweater), Stuart Cockett on de-tuned Hofner guitar - to achieve a sound something like a bass guitar! and Malcolm Austin ,who did the main vocals. The drummer at the time was 'Tom'. We appeared as 'Malcolm Austin and The Whirlwinds'.”
In those days local budding musicians would all meet up for a 'jam' session, trying to copy the guitarists and groups of the time. They only actually played a couple of local gigs in Epsom.
Jimmy, who used a Futurama Grazioso guitar, was always in demand from other musicians, despite his tender years, moving on to backing Neil Christian, Eden Kane, prior to becoming a prolific session man.
Tony Busson later joined 'The Presidents' where he took over the bass player who depped for the Rollingstones in the second part of 62, Colin Golding.
Malcolm Austin & The Whirlwinds (Epsom, Early 1960)
- Malcolm Austin (Lead Vocals)
- Jimmy Page (Lead Guitar)
- Stuart Cockett (Rhythm Guitar)
- Tony Busson (Bass)
- Tom ?? (Drums)
Tony Busson
“The photo of me with Jimmy Page was taken around 1960 in Epsom, Surrey. We were both teenagers at the time and met through school friends. Jimmy was attending Epsom Art College and I was at a private school in Ashtead, Surrey.In those days local budding musicians would all meet up for a 'jam' session, trying to copy the guitarists and groups of the time.As I recall we only actually played a couple of local gigs. Jimmy was always in demand from other musicians, despite his tender years, moving on to backing Neil Christian, Eden Kane…
In the photo is Jimmy, me (glasses and sweater), Stuart Cockett on de-tuned Hofner guitar - to achieve a sound something like a bass guitar! and Malcolm Austin ,who did the main vocals. The drummer at the time was 'Tom'. We appeared as 'Malcolm Austin and The Whirlwinds'.”
Special Thanks to Tony Busson. Please visit the excellent site run by Robin Mayhew about The Presidents at: www.the-presidents.org.uk
If you have any further information and want to contribute to this site, please email us at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com
If you have any further information and want to contribute to this site, please email us at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com
Robbie Hood & His Merry Men
Mike West aka “Robbie Hood” started with an audition with John Kennedy, Tommy Steele's manager, at the Two I's Coffee Bar when they were looking for a new Tommy Steele. Then he formed his own band, the Mike West Group, that became the resident band at Wandworth Town Hall in 1958. Their new manager, Guy Robinson introduced singer Fred Heath to them. He guest-performed "If You Were The Only Girl In The World", after which he joined the group full-time and roped in John “Fruit” Gordon as the full-time bassist. They called them “The Fred, Mike and Tom Show”, and all three singers shared the limelight before West and Brown stepped aside to provide backing vocals to Heath, to allow him, the better vocalist take centre-stage.
By the way Mike West had a terrible squint and he often hid it with an eye-patch. Heath would Later fully exploit the prop.
Saturday 18th April was their first recording session at the Abbey Road studios in north-west London.They decided to work on a number entitled "Please Don't Touch". As they entered, they were given a piece of paper with the name “Johnny Kidd & the Pirates” recording session and Fred Heath had suddenly a new recording name that became his stage name until his death.
On June 6th 1959, they appeared on BBC Radio Saturday Club #36.
There was hardly time for nerves as the rest of the band were mercilessly taking the mickey out of Mike West - he turned up wearing an eye patch due to a nasty stye, and Brian Matthews even asks him about it on air.
In late 1959, Mike West left Johnny Kidd & the Pirates and formed his own group first with former Pirates Tony Doherty (lead guitar), John “Fruit” Gordon (bass) Tony McKay (drums) adding two musicians who stood-ins for them earlier, Pete Newman (tenor sax) and Vic Clark (rhythm Guitar). They first called themselve “The Federals” after the Federal Road where Clark lived, then “Mike West & The Silhouettes”. Both Newman and Clark left to join a north London outfit called Johnny Dark & The Midnighters that eventually went on to become the new Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages during a big part of 1960. Meanwhile Mike West teamed up with new musicians: Micky Cottle (drums) and Carl Hasden (bass) who owned the first five-string bass in the UK, custom-made by Johnny "Fruit" Gordon. The band gradually had a complete change of personnel and went on to record some records for EMI. Their debut single was with a Heath original, "Tell Me When".
Mike West went on to become Robbie Hood and was managed by Reg Calvert, with some success.
Reg paid for him to see an eye surgeon and he had an operation to correct his squint. Mike didn’t stay long at Clifton Hall, because he wouldn’t work within the rules there.
His backing group - The Merrie Men, later became the main part of the Fortunes with another singer - Glen Dale.
They made several hits, with 'Caroline' 'You've Got your Troubles, I've got mine', 'Look Homeward Angel' etc.
Another outfit from Birmingham took over them for 6 months at the height of the Beatlemania: The Sundowners who went on to become The Chads later featuring Jeff Lynne of ELO.
Robbie Hood's stage show involved the gimmick of appearing on stage dressed as the famous outlaw "Robin Hood" which included not only a hat but a full costume of Lincoln green consisting of tunic, boots, and tights.
Line ups
The Mike West Group #1 (1958 - January 1959)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
The Fred, Mike & Tom Show (January - April 1959)
· Fred Heath (Lead Vocals)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates #1 (April - Late 1959)
· Fred Heath (Lead Vocals)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· Vic Clark (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
· Don Toy (Drums)
· Brian ?? (Drums)
The Mike West Group #2 (Late 1959)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Doherty (Lead Guitar)
· Vic Clark (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
· Tony McKay (Drums)
The Federals (Late 1960)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Vic Clark (Lead Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
· Carlo Little (Drums)
Mike West & The Silhouettes (Late 1960 - June 1961)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Doherty (Lead Guitar)
· Carl Hasden (Bass)
· Micky Cottle (Drums)
Robbie Hood & His Merry Men #1 (September 1961 - March 1963)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Barry Pritchard (Lead Guitar)
· Rod Allen (Bass)
· Gary ?? (Drums)
Robbie Hood & The Lawmen (April 1963)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Mike Clifford (Lead Guitar)
· ?? ?? (Bass)
· Andy Brown (Drums)
Robbie Hood & His Merry Men #3 (June - Late 1963)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Mick Adkins (Lead Guitar)
· Keith Warrender (Rhythm Guitar)
· Joe Parsons (Bass)
· Keith Harrison (Drums)
By the way Mike West had a terrible squint and he often hid it with an eye-patch. Heath would Later fully exploit the prop.
Saturday 18th April was their first recording session at the Abbey Road studios in north-west London.They decided to work on a number entitled "Please Don't Touch". As they entered, they were given a piece of paper with the name “Johnny Kidd & the Pirates” recording session and Fred Heath had suddenly a new recording name that became his stage name until his death.
On June 6th 1959, they appeared on BBC Radio Saturday Club #36.
There was hardly time for nerves as the rest of the band were mercilessly taking the mickey out of Mike West - he turned up wearing an eye patch due to a nasty stye, and Brian Matthews even asks him about it on air.
In late 1959, Mike West left Johnny Kidd & the Pirates and formed his own group first with former Pirates Tony Doherty (lead guitar), John “Fruit” Gordon (bass) Tony McKay (drums) adding two musicians who stood-ins for them earlier, Pete Newman (tenor sax) and Vic Clark (rhythm Guitar). They first called themselve “The Federals” after the Federal Road where Clark lived, then “Mike West & The Silhouettes”. Both Newman and Clark left to join a north London outfit called Johnny Dark & The Midnighters that eventually went on to become the new Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages during a big part of 1960. Meanwhile Mike West teamed up with new musicians: Micky Cottle (drums) and Carl Hasden (bass) who owned the first five-string bass in the UK, custom-made by Johnny "Fruit" Gordon. The band gradually had a complete change of personnel and went on to record some records for EMI. Their debut single was with a Heath original, "Tell Me When".
Mike West went on to become Robbie Hood and was managed by Reg Calvert, with some success.
Reg paid for him to see an eye surgeon and he had an operation to correct his squint. Mike didn’t stay long at Clifton Hall, because he wouldn’t work within the rules there.
His backing group - The Merrie Men, later became the main part of the Fortunes with another singer - Glen Dale.
They made several hits, with 'Caroline' 'You've Got your Troubles, I've got mine', 'Look Homeward Angel' etc.
Another outfit from Birmingham took over them for 6 months at the height of the Beatlemania: The Sundowners who went on to become The Chads later featuring Jeff Lynne of ELO.
Robbie Hood's stage show involved the gimmick of appearing on stage dressed as the famous outlaw "Robin Hood" which included not only a hat but a full costume of Lincoln green consisting of tunic, boots, and tights.
Line ups
The Mike West Group #1 (1958 - January 1959)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
The Fred, Mike & Tom Show (January - April 1959)
· Fred Heath (Lead Vocals)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates #1 (April - Late 1959)
· Fred Heath (Lead Vocals)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tom Brown (Backing Vocals)
· Alan Caddy (Lead Guitar)
· Tony Doherty (Rhythm Guitar)
· Vic Clark (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Ken McKay (Drums)
· Don Toy (Drums)
· Brian ?? (Drums)
The Mike West Group #2 (Late 1959)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Doherty (Lead Guitar)
· Vic Clark (Rhythm Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
· Tony McKay (Drums)
The Federals (Late 1960)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Vic Clark (Lead Guitar)
· John Gordon (Bass)
· Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
· Carlo Little (Drums)
Mike West & The Silhouettes (Late 1960 - June 1961)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals)
· Tony Doherty (Lead Guitar)
· Carl Hasden (Bass)
· Micky Cottle (Drums)
Robbie Hood & His Merry Men #1 (September 1961 - March 1963)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Barry Pritchard (Lead Guitar)
· Rod Allen (Bass)
· Gary ?? (Drums)
Robbie Hood & The Lawmen (April 1963)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Mike Clifford (Lead Guitar)
· ?? ?? (Bass)
· Andy Brown (Drums)
Robbie Hood & His Merry Men #3 (June - Late 1963)
· Mike West (Lead Vocals) "Robbie Hood"
· Mick Adkins (Lead Guitar)
· Keith Warrender (Rhythm Guitar)
· Joe Parsons (Bass)
· Keith Harrison (Drums)
Chris Lamb & The Universals
Chris Lamb & The Universals were a 7-piece Showband fronted by trumpeter Chris Lamb, playing US bases and Irish clubs around Kilburn from 1963 to 1968.
Although they were basically known as an Irish Showband, the only true Irish members in the band were bandleader Chris Lamb and the saxophonist Mort O'Sullivan from County Cork. Trombone player Brian O'Shea aka "Brian Keith" and drummer Albert Rossi were both from Scotland, the rest of the band all from England except an American female vocalist, Edie Andrews who had worked for Alan Williams at the Blue Angel, Liverpool.
They were supporting American singer Jim Reeves on his tour of American military bases in Britain and Ireland in May and June 1963. Reeves was permitted to perform in Ireland by the Irish Federation of Musicians on the condition that he share the bill with Irish show bands, becoming popular by 1963. The British Federation of Musicians would not permit him to perform there because no agreement existed for British show bands to travel to America in exchange for his band, the Blue Boys, playing in Great Britain.
However, Jim Reeves compromised by doing a tour of the American bases from June 10 to June 15, which was allowed because it was then considered that he wasn't performing on British soil and he appeared on British radio and TV programs. The Universals’ guitarist Peter Jay used to sing Jim Reeves songs to close the shows.
During 1964/5, they played many times at the Hammersmith Oden for Top Rank.
The only known record by Chris Lamb & The Universals is “Mysterious Land” / “If You Ask Me” on Decca records released in June 1965. However they also covered some Beatles songs with Edie Andrews singing lead on. Andrews eventually went back to the States at the end of the year. The Universals backed Scottish singer Gidian on his third single “Feeling” / “Dont Be Sentimental” released on Columbia records in October 1966.
At this time, the band featured new musicians: Carlo Little on drums, Paul Raymond on keyboards and Bill Parkinson on guitar. They toured the south of England and backed several stars like Stevie Wonder between November 1965 and June 1966. They played everything from the top 20 to themes like “Laurence of Arabia” or “Tijuana Brass”, and of course an array of Irish music.
By July 1966, Carlo Little rolled his mates of The Universals into Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages. This crew spent half their time backing Sutch, but also worked as The Circles, recording on their own with Chris Blackwell (Island records). As The Savages, they played at the Olympia in Paris, and recorded such gems as Saturday Club with Brian Matthews.
By 1967, The Universals signed to Page One then evolved into Plastic Penny.
Many of the personnel went on to greater things. Carlo Little joined The Flowerpotmen; Bill Parkinson worked for Tom Jones; Grabham formed Cochise and then joined Procol Harum; Tony Murray joined The Troggs; Paul Raymond was with Chicken Shack and then Savoy Brown; Nigel Olsson was with the Spencer Davis Group and later became the drummer in Elton John's backing group and Brian Keith headed Congregation...
Chris Lamb led a number of bands until his decease some years ago. His brother Robert 'Bobby' Lambe is an internationally renowned composer/arranger, who as a trombone player worked with Frank Sinatra, Woody Herman and many other top names and spent most of his musical career in the US.
Bill Parkinson After I left P.J.Proby I auditioned with 30 other guitarists and got the with job with top Irish show band Chris Lamb and The Universals, this was a very good tight band with excellent musicians, On drums was Carlo Little, ex Rolling Stones, on vocals and Trombone was Brian Keith lead singer with Plastic Penny, on keyboards was Paul Raymond who played with many bands and on Bass, John Lawson. The sax player was Mort Sullivan, the leader Chris Lamb played trumpet, We played everything from the top 20 to themes like Laurence of Arabia and Tijuana Brass, and of course an array of Irish music. We backed several stars like Stevie Wonder and played on several records… One day Carlo Little asked me and a couple of the other musicians if we would join the Savages and back Screaming Lord Sutch.
Mick Grabham about “Everything I Am”: “Our only hit! No I didn't play on that actually. I was living in Sunderland at the time and the rest of the Plastic Penny was formed out of a group that was a showband called Chris Lamb and the Universals. Three or four of them had made a record apart from the rest of the group, which was produced by Larry Page of Troggs tape fame, and they were playing as Chris Lamb and the Universals in this night club in Sunderland. They were looking for a guitarist and they saw this friend of mine with frizzy hair and asked him if he was a guitarist – they didn't want to get a face from London into the band. He said 'No I'm not, but I know somebody who is'. At the time, this guy was sharing up [sic] house with me, so he brought them back and they asked me if I wanted to go down to London and give it a try. They said that they needed a drummer and like Nigel Olsson was a real good friend of mine, so I got him to come down as well and we both ended up getting the job. When I think of it now, somebody coming up to me in Sunderland, saying 'do you want to come down and join this band', it's mad!”
Discography
Singles:
Various Line-ups of Chris Lamb & The Universals
Chris Lamb & The Universals Allstars #1 (April 1963 - Late 1964)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #2 (Late 1964 - June 1965)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #3 (June - November 1965)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #4 (November 1965 - July 1966)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #5 / The Circles (July 1966 - September 1966)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #6 (Late 1966 - December 1967)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #7 (December 1967)
Although they were basically known as an Irish Showband, the only true Irish members in the band were bandleader Chris Lamb and the saxophonist Mort O'Sullivan from County Cork. Trombone player Brian O'Shea aka "Brian Keith" and drummer Albert Rossi were both from Scotland, the rest of the band all from England except an American female vocalist, Edie Andrews who had worked for Alan Williams at the Blue Angel, Liverpool.
They were supporting American singer Jim Reeves on his tour of American military bases in Britain and Ireland in May and June 1963. Reeves was permitted to perform in Ireland by the Irish Federation of Musicians on the condition that he share the bill with Irish show bands, becoming popular by 1963. The British Federation of Musicians would not permit him to perform there because no agreement existed for British show bands to travel to America in exchange for his band, the Blue Boys, playing in Great Britain.
However, Jim Reeves compromised by doing a tour of the American bases from June 10 to June 15, which was allowed because it was then considered that he wasn't performing on British soil and he appeared on British radio and TV programs. The Universals’ guitarist Peter Jay used to sing Jim Reeves songs to close the shows.
During 1964/5, they played many times at the Hammersmith Oden for Top Rank.
The only known record by Chris Lamb & The Universals is “Mysterious Land” / “If You Ask Me” on Decca records released in June 1965. However they also covered some Beatles songs with Edie Andrews singing lead on. Andrews eventually went back to the States at the end of the year. The Universals backed Scottish singer Gidian on his third single “Feeling” / “Dont Be Sentimental” released on Columbia records in October 1966.
At this time, the band featured new musicians: Carlo Little on drums, Paul Raymond on keyboards and Bill Parkinson on guitar. They toured the south of England and backed several stars like Stevie Wonder between November 1965 and June 1966. They played everything from the top 20 to themes like “Laurence of Arabia” or “Tijuana Brass”, and of course an array of Irish music.
By July 1966, Carlo Little rolled his mates of The Universals into Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages. This crew spent half their time backing Sutch, but also worked as The Circles, recording on their own with Chris Blackwell (Island records). As The Savages, they played at the Olympia in Paris, and recorded such gems as Saturday Club with Brian Matthews.
By 1967, The Universals signed to Page One then evolved into Plastic Penny.
Many of the personnel went on to greater things. Carlo Little joined The Flowerpotmen; Bill Parkinson worked for Tom Jones; Grabham formed Cochise and then joined Procol Harum; Tony Murray joined The Troggs; Paul Raymond was with Chicken Shack and then Savoy Brown; Nigel Olsson was with the Spencer Davis Group and later became the drummer in Elton John's backing group and Brian Keith headed Congregation...
Chris Lamb led a number of bands until his decease some years ago. His brother Robert 'Bobby' Lambe is an internationally renowned composer/arranger, who as a trombone player worked with Frank Sinatra, Woody Herman and many other top names and spent most of his musical career in the US.
Bill Parkinson After I left P.J.Proby I auditioned with 30 other guitarists and got the with job with top Irish show band Chris Lamb and The Universals, this was a very good tight band with excellent musicians, On drums was Carlo Little, ex Rolling Stones, on vocals and Trombone was Brian Keith lead singer with Plastic Penny, on keyboards was Paul Raymond who played with many bands and on Bass, John Lawson. The sax player was Mort Sullivan, the leader Chris Lamb played trumpet, We played everything from the top 20 to themes like Laurence of Arabia and Tijuana Brass, and of course an array of Irish music. We backed several stars like Stevie Wonder and played on several records… One day Carlo Little asked me and a couple of the other musicians if we would join the Savages and back Screaming Lord Sutch.
Mick Grabham about “Everything I Am”: “Our only hit! No I didn't play on that actually. I was living in Sunderland at the time and the rest of the Plastic Penny was formed out of a group that was a showband called Chris Lamb and the Universals. Three or four of them had made a record apart from the rest of the group, which was produced by Larry Page of Troggs tape fame, and they were playing as Chris Lamb and the Universals in this night club in Sunderland. They were looking for a guitarist and they saw this friend of mine with frizzy hair and asked him if he was a guitarist – they didn't want to get a face from London into the band. He said 'No I'm not, but I know somebody who is'. At the time, this guy was sharing up [sic] house with me, so he brought them back and they asked me if I wanted to go down to London and give it a try. They said that they needed a drummer and like Nigel Olsson was a real good friend of mine, so I got him to come down as well and we both ended up getting the job. When I think of it now, somebody coming up to me in Sunderland, saying 'do you want to come down and join this band', it's mad!”
Discography
Singles:
- Mysterious Land / If You Ask Me (Decca F 12176) 11/06/1965 as Chris Lamb & The Universals
- Take Your Time/Don't You Love Me No More (Island WI 279) 07/1966 as The Circles
- Feeling / Dont Be Sentimental (Columbia DB 8041) 10/1966 as Gidian & The Universals
- I Can't Find You/Hey You (Page One POF 032) 07/1967 as The Universals
- Green Veined Orchid/While The Cat's Away (Page One POF 049) 11/1967 as The Universals
Various Line-ups of Chris Lamb & The Universals
Chris Lamb & The Universals Allstars #1 (April 1963 - Late 1964)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Peter Jay (Lead Guitar)
- Alan McCiver (Bass)
- ?? (Keyboards)
- Albert Rossi (Drums)
- Judy Ward (Lead Vocals)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #2 (Late 1964 - June 1965)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Foggy Little (Lead Guitar)
- Peter Jay (Rhythm Guitar)
- Alan McCiver (Bass)
- P.J. Kelly (Keyboards)
- Dave ?? (Drums)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #3 (June - November 1965)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Foggy Little (Lead Guitar)
- Peter Jay (Rhythm Guitar)
- Alan McCiver (Bass)
- P.J. Kelly (Keyboards)
- Dave ?? then Carlo Little (Drums)
- Edie Andrews (Vocals)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #4 (November 1965 - July 1966)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Bill Parkinson (Lead Guitar)
- Ged Peck (Lead Guitar)
- John Lawson (Bass)
- Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
- Carlo Little (Drums)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #5 / The Circles (July 1966 - September 1966)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Bill Parkinson (Lead Guitar)
- Tony Dangerfield (Bass)
- Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
- Carlo Little (Drums)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #6 (Late 1966 - December 1967)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Foggy Little (Lead Guitar)
- Tony Murray (Bass)
- Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
- Eddie Thorpe (Drums)
- Terry Parsons (Drums)
Chris Lamb & The Universals #7 (December 1967)
- Chris Lamb (Trumpet)
- Mort Sullivan (Tenor Sax)
- Brian Keith (Vocals/Trombone)
- Mick Grabham (Lead Guitar)
- Tony Murray (Bass)
- Paul Raymond (Keyboards)
- Nigel Olsson (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & Many Others
Derry Wilkie was born in Liverpool on 10 January 1941.
Some rumours abound that he was an halfbreed singer and that his real name was Derek Davis.
In fact both of his his parents came from a small town outside of Warri, Nigeria and "Derry" is actually a misspelling of the Nigerian name "Deri."
In his infant years, he lived in Upper Parliament Street, Berkley Street then Kent Gardens, Liverpool.
Some rumours abound that he was an halfbreed singer and that his real name was Derek Davis.
In fact both of his his parents came from a small town outside of Warri, Nigeria and "Derry" is actually a misspelling of the Nigerian name "Deri."
In his infant years, he lived in Upper Parliament Street, Berkley Street then Kent Gardens, Liverpool.
Compere Bob Wooler introduced him to a local group called The Hy-Tones at Holyoake Hall, near Penny Lane, in late 1959. He then became their lead vocalist although they already had two singers because he was by far out-sang the other two.
At that time he often had to face racism: there was the story that a group of thugs were after him and came to the Iron Door club with hatchets, banging on the door to get in. Wilkie escaped by finding a small way out to the rear.
The name change to Derry Wilkie & The Seniors came in early 1960, and they appeared regularly at all the major Liverpool venues including the Jacaranda. The owner of this club, Allan Williams, booked them for the Liverpool Stadium Show with American rock 'n' roller Gene Vincent on Tuesday May 3 1960. Their performance was witnessed by London impresario Larry Parnes who was impressed and asked Williams to arrange an audition as he was seeking bands to back his stables of artists, such as Billy Fury and Johnny Gentle, both from Liverpool. The audition took place at the Wyvern Social Club on May 10, along with Cliff Roberts & the Rockers, Cass & the Cassanovas, Gerry & the Pacemakers and the Silver Beetles. As a result the Seniors were booked by Parnes to back Duffy Power for a season in Blackpool. But Power fell ill and the season was cancelled, so Casey confronted Williams who promised to take the group to London and find work for them. Williams took them to the 2 I's coffee bar where he met up with Bruno Koschmider who was seeking bands for his Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg as the previous English band he had booked, The Jets had switched to the rival club. They took up a residency there from late July to early October 1960 but they ran out of money and had to be repatriated. About one of the liverpuldian bands that took over them in Germany, Wilkie said: “a such bum group would spoil the scene for everyone else.” Less than 3 years before the Beatlemania!
On their return to Liverpool they lost all their equipment when the building they were storing it in burned down. They suffered so many financial difficulties and first disbanded in December 1960.
They re-grouped in January 1961 with Frank Wibberley replacing Wallington on drums and the addition of a second vocalist, Freddie Fowell, later knowns as “Freddie Starr”, and secured a recording contract with Fontana. This was the first Mersey Beat group to make records. By 1962, their bass player Frank Bowen left to be briefly replaced by Lou Walters from Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. Despite releasing three singles and an album, they rarely ventured outside the north-west of England.
The Seniors finally disbanded for good in June 1962. Sax player Howie Casey joined Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes. Lead guitarist Brian Griffiths joined the Big Three, drummer Frank Wibberley joined the Lee Eddie Five, Freddie Fowell formed Freddie Starr & the Midnighters, while Derry Wilkie fronted the Pressmen from Wallasey.
The Pressmen were basically a rock n roll group playing Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Buddy Holly, Little Richard type set. When saxophonist Phil Kenzie joined they changed their style and started playing early soul covers. Bob Wooler now Cavern club DJ suggested them to took on Derry Wilkie as frontman. In May 1963, Derry Wilkie & the Pressmen were winners in the Beat Group competition winning a Decca recording contract but Decca reckoned they didn't give them it because, Wilkie wouldn't stand still in front of a microphone, plus they didn't write their own songs. However, their recordings weren’t commercial enough: they were rhythm and blues.They had only one song on “THIS IS MERSEYBEAT” album, issued in July 1963, on Oriole: " Hallelujah I love her so". The song was recorded by Oriole's leading A&R man John Schroeder, aided by recording engineer Geoff Frost, at the Rialto Ballroom, Liverpool. The sound and earthiness of Derry's voice has been captured.
At that time he often had to face racism: there was the story that a group of thugs were after him and came to the Iron Door club with hatchets, banging on the door to get in. Wilkie escaped by finding a small way out to the rear.
The name change to Derry Wilkie & The Seniors came in early 1960, and they appeared regularly at all the major Liverpool venues including the Jacaranda. The owner of this club, Allan Williams, booked them for the Liverpool Stadium Show with American rock 'n' roller Gene Vincent on Tuesday May 3 1960. Their performance was witnessed by London impresario Larry Parnes who was impressed and asked Williams to arrange an audition as he was seeking bands to back his stables of artists, such as Billy Fury and Johnny Gentle, both from Liverpool. The audition took place at the Wyvern Social Club on May 10, along with Cliff Roberts & the Rockers, Cass & the Cassanovas, Gerry & the Pacemakers and the Silver Beetles. As a result the Seniors were booked by Parnes to back Duffy Power for a season in Blackpool. But Power fell ill and the season was cancelled, so Casey confronted Williams who promised to take the group to London and find work for them. Williams took them to the 2 I's coffee bar where he met up with Bruno Koschmider who was seeking bands for his Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg as the previous English band he had booked, The Jets had switched to the rival club. They took up a residency there from late July to early October 1960 but they ran out of money and had to be repatriated. About one of the liverpuldian bands that took over them in Germany, Wilkie said: “a such bum group would spoil the scene for everyone else.” Less than 3 years before the Beatlemania!
On their return to Liverpool they lost all their equipment when the building they were storing it in burned down. They suffered so many financial difficulties and first disbanded in December 1960.
They re-grouped in January 1961 with Frank Wibberley replacing Wallington on drums and the addition of a second vocalist, Freddie Fowell, later knowns as “Freddie Starr”, and secured a recording contract with Fontana. This was the first Mersey Beat group to make records. By 1962, their bass player Frank Bowen left to be briefly replaced by Lou Walters from Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. Despite releasing three singles and an album, they rarely ventured outside the north-west of England.
The Seniors finally disbanded for good in June 1962. Sax player Howie Casey joined Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes. Lead guitarist Brian Griffiths joined the Big Three, drummer Frank Wibberley joined the Lee Eddie Five, Freddie Fowell formed Freddie Starr & the Midnighters, while Derry Wilkie fronted the Pressmen from Wallasey.
The Pressmen were basically a rock n roll group playing Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Buddy Holly, Little Richard type set. When saxophonist Phil Kenzie joined they changed their style and started playing early soul covers. Bob Wooler now Cavern club DJ suggested them to took on Derry Wilkie as frontman. In May 1963, Derry Wilkie & the Pressmen were winners in the Beat Group competition winning a Decca recording contract but Decca reckoned they didn't give them it because, Wilkie wouldn't stand still in front of a microphone, plus they didn't write their own songs. However, their recordings weren’t commercial enough: they were rhythm and blues.They had only one song on “THIS IS MERSEYBEAT” album, issued in July 1963, on Oriole: " Hallelujah I love her so". The song was recorded by Oriole's leading A&R man John Schroeder, aided by recording engineer Geoff Frost, at the Rialto Ballroom, Liverpool. The sound and earthiness of Derry's voice has been captured.
Aynsley Dunbar joined them in August 1963 when the drummer Tommy Bennett left to get married.
Ritchie Prescott the guitar player also left because he didn't want to go professional and was replaced with Dave Carden from "The Midnighters".In late 1963, Carden got talking with Freddy Starr who said he needed a band to go to Germany with him, and the rhythm section left Wilkie and Kenzie flat without warning to go to Hamburg. Dave Carden, Dave Roberts, Bob Pears and Ainsley Dunbar carried on as The Flamingos backing Freddy Starr till the end of the following year. Derry Wilkie and Phil Kenzie were left with no choice but to form another band with Willie Van Geffen on guitar, Howard Morris on bass and Tommy Bennett on drums.
Ritchie Prescott the guitar player also left because he didn't want to go professional and was replaced with Dave Carden from "The Midnighters".In late 1963, Carden got talking with Freddy Starr who said he needed a band to go to Germany with him, and the rhythm section left Wilkie and Kenzie flat without warning to go to Hamburg. Dave Carden, Dave Roberts, Bob Pears and Ainsley Dunbar carried on as The Flamingos backing Freddy Starr till the end of the following year. Derry Wilkie and Phil Kenzie were left with no choice but to form another band with Willie Van Geffen on guitar, Howard Morris on bass and Tommy Bennett on drums.
In late 1963, Carden got talking with Freddy Starr who needed a band to go to Germany with him, and the rhythm section left Wilkie and Kenzie flat without warning to go to Hamburg. Dave Carden, Dave Roberts, Bob Pears and Ainsley Dunbar carried on as "The New Midnighters" backing Freddy Starr till the end of the following year (1). Derry Wilkie and Phil Kenzie were left with no choice but to form another band with Ernie Hayes on guitar, Derek Bond from The Rainchecks on bass, and Mike Holmes from The Four Dees on drums (2).
In December 1963, The new set of Pressmen had come to London and played with Georgie Flame & The Blue Flames while Derry Wilkie sang with The Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. The band decided to turn professional and then reinvented itself as "The Others". Meanwhile Tommy Bennett teamed up with bassist Howard Morris and guitarist Adrian Flowerday to form a trio as "The New Pressmen".
Derry Wilkie & The Others toured the U.K. and Germany but never released a record during the two years they spent together.
They played at the same bill as Freddie Starr & The Flamingos at The Queens Hall, Widnes, in May 1964 (3). They were also a regular attraction at The Kraal club in New Brighton where they impressed the audience with their One Note Samba especially the virtuosity of the guitar and tenor saxophone in unison on the bridge. People tell that Derry Wilkie was phenomenal - ripping his shirt to shreds, climbing up the curtains, wailing like Little Richard...
In Summer '64, The Animals topped British then American charts with their bluesy version of the folk song "House of The Rising Sun" and had a residency at The A-gogo club in Newcastle which their manager Mike Jeffries owned. Derry & The Others played there and were spotted by Eric Burdon and his lads, who loved the Liverpool band and convinced Jeffries to sign them to his agency as Phil Kenzie recalls (later after their visit to America they also made him sign Jimi Hendrix and Goldie & the Gingerbreads) (4).
As 1964 drew to close, Derry Wilkie & The Others followed Freddy Starr and his outfit to Germany even ending up playing in the same clubs: in either Kiel or Flensburg.
During the first part of 1965, they took up a residency at the Star Club, Cologne, where they were spotted by other British acts such as Screaming Lord Sutch or Neil Landon & The Burnettes whose lead guitarist was Noel Redding later of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Redding remembered that bands like Derry Wilkie played even later hours than The Burnettes, giving them somewhere to hang out. He described Derry as a black Liverpuldian with the biggest hands he'd ever seen in his life... Wilkie & The Others were for a while out of work there and worked separately with two different bands before being repatriated by the Mike Jefferies Management.
After the group returned from Germany, Mike Holmes who didn't want to stay in London, was replaced by a Scottish drummer named Billy Adamson formerly with The Blues Council alongside saxophonist Bill Patrick and guitarist Leslie Harvey (Alex Harvey's young brother).
Derry Wilkie and his group even used the old name of The Pressmen when they supported The Alan Price Set at The Marquee Club, London, in November 1965.
When guitarist Richie Blackmore, bass player Andy Anderson and drummer Jim Evans left the Savages to back Jerry Lee Lewis on his tour of Europe in late 1965, Screaming Lord Sutch needed a new band. He went to see Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen in a South London Club. Phil Kenzie remembers him talking and laughing with Derry Wilkie and then The Pressmen were at his house in North London rehearsing - with the two remaining members of the Four Saxes, Noel McManus and Ashton Tootell - to be the new Savages.
The members of the Pressmen worked for Screaming Lord Sutch for a considerable time, playing a lot of dates with him in England and Scotland.
They were the set of Savages that recorded "One Eyed Flying Purple People Eater" (5) - with Nicky Hopkins on piano - and played 6 concerts over a week end in early 1966, starting at the Astoria Finsbury Park and promoted by Robert Stigwood, alongside The Who, The Fortunes and The Merseybeats.
Sutch made Derry Wilkie dress up as a woman for one part of the act so he could chase him around the club with an axe. Derry did it as a good sport for a while but he didn't really enjoy having to but the pay was good and they all needed the money.
Soon after the departure of Noel McManus, the Savages were approached by heavy-weight boxer Freddy Mac to form a larger "Soul" stage show which included American vocalists Cleo Sylvester (who previously worked with The Rollingstones in '64) and Ronald Bertram Greaves aka "Sonny Child" (Sam Cooke's nephew).
As a result, the whole band - Derry Wilkie, Phil Kenzie, Derek Bond, Ernie Hayes, Billy Adamson, Ashton Tootell and roadie Bazz Ward - ended up involved with this project and left Dave Sutch.
The group called "This 'n' That" was in fact two groups which merged to form one large soul band with three singers and debuted at the Ram Jam Club in Brixton in April 1966. It was short lived and Derry Wilkie, who felt he was not getting the same attention as Sonny Childe, was opted out.
By mid '66, the group finally left Freddy Mac because they felt they could do better as a smaller unit.
They became Sonny Childe and TNT and recorded for Polydor until mid '67 (6).
Meanwhile Derry Wilkie went solo then went back to singing with Freddy Mac and his new group now call " The Mack Sound" from September 1966 to June 1967.
Wilkie then returned to Liverpool before moving to London and eventually living in Italy for some time.
Saxophonist Phil Kenzie joined Psychedelic band Tuesday’s Children and later became a sought-after session musician (e.g. The Beatles "Let It Be" LP, John and Yoko's Plastic Ono Band, George Harrison "All Things Must Pass", Paul McCartney & The Wings "Band On The Run" album "Jet", Al Stewart "Year of The Cat", Rod Stewart "Blondes Have More Fun", The Eagles "The Long Run" album ect.).
Saxophonist Phil Kenzie joined Psychedelic band Tuesday’s Children and later became a sought-after session musician (e.g. The Beatles "Let It Be" LP, John and Yoko's Plastic Ono Band, George Harrison "All Things Must Pass", Paul McCartney & The Wings "Band On The Run" album "Jet", Al Stewart "Year of The Cat", Rod Stewart "Blondes Have More Fun", The Eagles "The Long Run" album ect.).
Drummer Billy Adamson later worked with Lulu, Emile Ford, Jet Harris then the Searchers for 30 years.
Derry Wilkie sadly died on 22 December 2001 and was buried in Toxteth Cemetery on Smithdown Road, Liverpool.
Notes:
(1) According to Pete Frame ("The Beatles & Some Other Guys - Rock Family Trees of the Early 60s", on p.11),
in May 1964, The Pressmen let manager Les Ackerley persuade them to capitalise on the name of Faron's popular, defunct group. Played the Tanz Club in Hamburg... Read also articles by Bill Arty Davies and from British Beat
(2) According to Tommy Bennett, he was the original drummer of The Others but left them when they decided to turn professional. He then join the Pathfinders and was replaced with Mike Holmes.
(3) See Tickets Memorablio
(4) In an issue of Mersey Beat - July 23 1964, Derry Wilkie said: "And now I've got a new group, the fabulous (that's so true) THE OTHERS, and at long last we've found someone who'll be honest with us and will be signing with him in the near future."
(5) One Eyed Flying Purple People Eater / You Don't Care (Hep House HS04) was released only in Germany in 1966
in May 1964, The Pressmen let manager Les Ackerley persuade them to capitalise on the name of Faron's popular, defunct group. Played the Tanz Club in Hamburg... Read also articles by Bill Arty Davies and from British Beat
(2) According to Tommy Bennett, he was the original drummer of The Others but left them when they decided to turn professional. He then join the Pathfinders and was replaced with Mike Holmes.
(3) See Tickets Memorablio
(4) In an issue of Mersey Beat - July 23 1964, Derry Wilkie said: "And now I've got a new group, the fabulous (that's so true) THE OTHERS, and at long last we've found someone who'll be honest with us and will be signing with him in the near future."
(5) One Eyed Flying Purple People Eater / You Don't Care (Hep House HS04) was released only in Germany in 1966
(6) Earnie Hayes: "Sonny left and moved to USA...
Mike Vaughn-Jones, Billy Adamson, and myself joined Jet Harris from the Shadows with Pete Gage singing...
Late 1967 I had a call from Andrew Oldham asking if I could put TNT together to be a backing band for P.P.Arnold. I could only get Billy Adamson, Mike Vaughn-Jones, Phil Kenzie, Myself and we had Eddie Phillips from "Creation" on bass. "
Derry Wilkie & The Seniors
Singles
· Double Twist/True Fine Mama (Fontana H 364) - February 1962
· I Ain't Mad At You/Twist At The Top (Fontana H 381) - 1962
· The Boll Weevil SOng/Bony Maronie (Fontana TF 403) - 1963
· Double Twist/True Fine Mama (Fontana H 364) - February 1962
· I Ain't Mad At You/Twist At The Top (Fontana H 381) - 1962
· The Boll Weevil SOng/Bony Maronie (Fontana TF 403) - 1963
Album
Twist At The Top (Fontana TFL 5108) - February 1962
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen
Twist At The Top (Fontana TFL 5108) - February 1962
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen
Album
“THIS IS MERSEYBEAT” (Oriole PS 40047) - July 5 1963: “Hallelujah I love her So”
The Freddy Mack Show/This'N'That
Single
“Get Down With It”/ “I Care About You” (Strike JH 310), May 1966
Album
“THE FANTASTIC FREDDY MACK SHOW” (Rayrik TPLMP 142/143)
Line-ups of Derry Wilkie Bands
The Hy-Tones #2 (Late 1959 - Early 1960)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Billy Hughes (Lead Guitar)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Stan Johnson (Rhythm Guitar)
· Jimmy O’Connor (Bass/Vocals)
· Stan Foster (Piano)
· Derek Gill (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Seniors #1 (December 1959 - January 1961)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Billy Hughes (Rhythm Guitar)
· Paul Whitehead (Bass)
· Stan Foster (Piano)
· Jeff Wallington (Drums)
Howie Casey & The Seniors #2 (January 1961 - Early 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Paul Whitehead (Bass)
· Frank Wibberley (Drums)
Howie Casey & The Seniors #3 (Early 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Lu Walters (Bass)
· Frank Bowen (Bass)
· Frank Wibberley (Drums)
Howie Casey & The Seniors #4 (Early - June 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· John O'Hara (Bass)
· Kenny Hardin (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #1 (April - August 1963)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Prescott (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Pears (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Dave Roberts (Baritone Sax)
· Tommy Bennett (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #2 (August - October 1963)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Dave Carden (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Pears (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Dave Roberts (Baritone Sax)
· Aynsley Dunbar (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #3 (Late 1963 - Early 1964)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ad Flowerday (Lead Guitar)
· Wille Van Geffen (Lead Guitar)
· Howard Morris (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Tommy Bennett (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Others (January 1964 - Mid 1965)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Montgomery then Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Tommy Bennett then Mike Holmes (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #4 (Mid 1965 - Early 1966)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Mike Holmes (Drums)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages #11 (Mid 1965 - Mid 1966)
· Dave Sutch (Lead Vocals)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals/Sport)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Noel McManus (Tenor Sax)
· Ashton Tootell (Barytone Sax)
· Mike Holmes then Billy Adamson (Drums)
The Freddie Mack Show/This'N'That (Mid 1966)
· Freddie Mack (MC)
· Cleo Sylvester (Vocals)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· RB Greaves (Vocals) aka "Sonny Childe"
· Jo Baker (Vocals)
· Jeff Krivet (Guitar)
· Ernie Hayes (Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· "Nobby" Clarke (Tenor Sax)
· Ashton Tootell (Barytone Sax)
· Mark Charrig (Trumpet)
· Mike Vaughn-Jones (Hammond Organ)
· Billy Adamson (Drums)
· Eddie Lincoln (Percussion)
The Freddie Mack Sound (Late 1966 - Mid 1967)
· Freddie Mack (MC) "Mr Superbad"
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Kookie Etan (Vocals)
· "Honey" (Vocals)
· Richard "US Flatop" (Vocals)
· Alan ?? (Trumpet)
· Eddie Thorton (Trumpet) "Tan Tan"
· Clarence Jackson (Trombone) "JJ"
· Roger Warwick (Baritone Sax)
· Bernie Wehrman (Tenor Sax)
· Dick Morrissey (Tenor Sax)
· Chris Burdett (Alto Sax)
· Bill Davidson (Keyboards)
· Ged Peck (Lead Guitar)
· Alan Cartwright (Bass)
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Ray Lewis (Bass)
· Barry J. Wilson (Drums)
· Roger Pinner (Drums) "Roger Truth"
· Tony Gomez (Conga)
“THIS IS MERSEYBEAT” (Oriole PS 40047) - July 5 1963: “Hallelujah I love her So”
The Freddy Mack Show/This'N'That
Single
“Get Down With It”/ “I Care About You” (Strike JH 310), May 1966
Album
“THE FANTASTIC FREDDY MACK SHOW” (Rayrik TPLMP 142/143)
Line-ups of Derry Wilkie Bands
The Hy-Tones #2 (Late 1959 - Early 1960)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Billy Hughes (Lead Guitar)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Stan Johnson (Rhythm Guitar)
· Jimmy O’Connor (Bass/Vocals)
· Stan Foster (Piano)
· Derek Gill (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Seniors #1 (December 1959 - January 1961)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Billy Hughes (Rhythm Guitar)
· Paul Whitehead (Bass)
· Stan Foster (Piano)
· Jeff Wallington (Drums)
Howie Casey & The Seniors #2 (January 1961 - Early 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Paul Whitehead (Bass)
· Frank Wibberley (Drums)
Howie Casey & The Seniors #3 (Early 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· Lu Walters (Bass)
· Frank Bowen (Bass)
· Frank Wibberley (Drums)
Howie Casey & The Seniors #4 (Early - June 1962)
· Howie Casey (Tenor Sax)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Freddie Starr (Vocals)
· Brian Griffiths (Lead Guitar)
· John O'Hara (Bass)
· Kenny Hardin (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #1 (April - August 1963)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ritchie Prescott (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Pears (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Dave Roberts (Baritone Sax)
· Tommy Bennett (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #2 (August - October 1963)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Dave Carden (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Pears (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Dave Roberts (Baritone Sax)
· Aynsley Dunbar (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #3 (Late 1963 - Early 1964)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ad Flowerday (Lead Guitar)
· Wille Van Geffen (Lead Guitar)
· Howard Morris (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Tommy Bennett (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Others (January 1964 - Mid 1965)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Bob Montgomery then Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Tommy Bennett then Mike Holmes (Drums)
Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen #4 (Mid 1965 - Early 1966)
· Derry Wilkie (Lead Vocals)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Mike Holmes (Drums)
Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages #11 (Mid 1965 - Mid 1966)
· Dave Sutch (Lead Vocals)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals/Sport)
· Ernie Hayes (Lead Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· Noel McManus (Tenor Sax)
· Ashton Tootell (Barytone Sax)
· Mike Holmes then Billy Adamson (Drums)
The Freddie Mack Show/This'N'That (Mid 1966)
· Freddie Mack (MC)
· Cleo Sylvester (Vocals)
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· RB Greaves (Vocals) aka "Sonny Childe"
· Jo Baker (Vocals)
· Jeff Krivet (Guitar)
· Ernie Hayes (Guitar)
· Derek Bond (Bass)
· Phil Kenzie (Tenor Sax)
· "Nobby" Clarke (Tenor Sax)
· Ashton Tootell (Barytone Sax)
· Mark Charrig (Trumpet)
· Mike Vaughn-Jones (Hammond Organ)
· Billy Adamson (Drums)
· Eddie Lincoln (Percussion)
The Freddie Mack Sound (Late 1966 - Mid 1967)
· Freddie Mack (MC) "Mr Superbad"
· Derry Wilkie (Vocals)
· Kookie Etan (Vocals)
· "Honey" (Vocals)
· Richard "US Flatop" (Vocals)
· Alan ?? (Trumpet)
· Eddie Thorton (Trumpet) "Tan Tan"
· Clarence Jackson (Trombone) "JJ"
· Roger Warwick (Baritone Sax)
· Bernie Wehrman (Tenor Sax)
· Dick Morrissey (Tenor Sax)
· Chris Burdett (Alto Sax)
· Bill Davidson (Keyboards)
· Ged Peck (Lead Guitar)
· Alan Cartwright (Bass)
· Nick Simper (Bass)
· Ray Lewis (Bass)
· Barry J. Wilson (Drums)
· Roger Pinner (Drums) "Roger Truth"
· Tony Gomez (Conga)
Does anybody know about Derry Wilkie’s career after 1967? Please contact us: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com
A tribute to Derry Wilkie by Michael Wynne
"I played as a teenage lead guitarist with Derry in the early '90s in North London. In those days he wouldn't stray much from his 'manor', the Haverstock Hill area and the gigs used to be monthly residencies at the Sir Richard Steeles and the Load of Hay. At any time the band could have Tony Ashton (Ashton, Gardner and Dyke) or Ron Magness (of Flashdance fame) on keyboards (sometimes both if Derry was feeling plush), Archie Legget (Gerry Rafferty, Dr John, Spooky Tooth) on bass as well as me on axe duties. There was never a shortage of musicians wanting to play for Derry then and we all seemed to live on or just off the 'Hill. Typical numbers were Derry's 60's faves "Twist'n'Shout", "La Bamba", "Gimme Some Lovin'", "Whiter Shade of Pale."
We never rehearsed, just "kept the vibe goin,' lah'' as Derry always requested. Both coming from Liverpool as we did, we always had a special banter. Derry always gave his all in performance and the audience gave it back in shedloads.
We lost touch when he stopped performing and I moved away, but I always have great memories.
RIP Derry, play one for me at that Great Gig in the Sky." Mickey Wynne
Thanks to Mickey Wynne, Gaz Gaskell, John Wardburg, Wes Wilkie, Phil Kenzie, Earnie Hayes and Bazz Ward for providing corrections
Paul Dean & The Dreamers
Paul Nicholas is better known for his acting career, playing the leading roles in major productions, including, Barnum, the Pirates of Penzance but also appearing in the rock-related movies 'Grease', 'Stardust', 'Tommy' and 'Lisztomania'.
Nicholas, whose proper name was Paul Beuselinck, began his career as a singer at age 15, fronting a North London based outfit called Paul & the Venoms which also included Bob Gray on guitar, Al Jarman on bass and Mike Wells on drums. They used to play Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Eddy Cochran, Conway Twitty and Cliff Richard's numbers such as "Move it", "20 flight Rock", "Heartbreak hotel", "I'ts only make believe"... Paul sang with the Venoms for about six months, and then replaced Gene White as new frontman of another local band called The Phantoms in mid-1960 (1).
At this stage, the line up of The Phantoms featured drummer Pete Phillipps and 2 future Tornados, bass player Ray Randall and lead guitarist Stuart Taylor.
The name change to Paul Dean & The Dreamers came at the end of the year. They thus were augmented by another guitar player Paul Hughes and Saxophonist Ashton "Toots" Tootell whose father had played with Johnny Kidd in the mid 50s. They were managed first by George Dark and later by Dave Oddie who secured them their better wages (2).
On June 25, 1962, Paul Dean & The Dreamers supported Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages at Wembley Town Hall. That night a young Keith Moon was among several hundred who attended the show.
In fact, it was so crowded that many of the girls stood on the bench seats around the hall perimeters to see the bands properly and promptly punctured the leather with their stiletto heels, causing a mile furore that made the local papers... The Dreamers disbanded at the end of the year.
Early 1963, Paul Nicholas was brought in The Premiers to replace Ronnie Harwood who had left to front “The New Premiers”, a brand new band whose bass player was Ray Randall. Randall was later head hunted to replace Brian Gregg in the Tornados of "Telstar" worldwide fame. Nicholas and Phillipps joined briefly Jackie Lynton & The Jury.
By May 1963, "Toots" Tootell was brought into the Savages who took up a residency in Hamburg Star Club, backing Screaming Lord Sutch and and then toured North Germany on their own as "The Raving Savages" from Summer to Winter’ 63. Ronnie Harwood brought in by Tootell as a replacement for Freddie ‘Fingers’ Lee in late 1963.
Meanwhile, Screaming Lord Sutch recruited Paul Nicholas as pianist, Stuart Taylor and Pete Phillipps to become his new set of Savages until the end of the year, when Ray Randall poached Stuart Taylor in the Tornados.
So Nicholas and Phillips teamed up with Ronnie Harwood, and ex-Savages’ guitarist “Pussy” Mew to become Michael Black’s backing group. When Screaming Lord Sutch lost his crew of Savages featuring Tony Dangerfield on bass, Carlo Little and Tony Marsh on piano, after Joe Meek had signed Dangerfield as a solo artist, he would ask the members of the Michael Black’s band to take over them. They helped him out to launch his own pirate radio station "Radio Sutch" in May 1964 (3) and toured with him until early 1965, when Paul Nicholas decided to give up playing full-time in favor of studying drama and developing his acting skills and then took the opportunity to begin a career as a solo act.
In February 1965, Paul Dean & The Soul Savages comprising ex-Dreamers, Stuart Taylor and "Toots" Tootell, who had both just been elbowed from the Tornados, and drummer Pete Phillips, supported but also backed American acts Del Shannon and the Shangri Las on their UK tour. They also recorded a rendition of “You Don't Own Me” as The Thoughts (not to confuse with the Liverpool band of the same name which recorded “All Night Stand” in 1966). Nicholas reinvented himself as “Oscar”, recording novelties produced by Robert Stigwood such as “Over The Wall We Go”.
Stuart Taylor and "Toots" Tootell reunited with Paul Nicholas in The London Cast of Production Hair from 1968 to 1970, after a brief spell in the Echoes (backing Dusty Springfield).
(1) Meanwhile the Venoms replaced him by Barry Younger before becoming Dave Martin & the Martells and then Cliff Adams & the Twilights.
(2) Paul Nicholas from "Me and my money" - 6 February 2008: "When I was 15, I was in a group called Paul Dean And The Dreamers - I was Paul Dean, of course. We did three or four gigs a week, earning about £60 between us."
(3) A photo of the event was taken when Sutch's party boarded the London Tower Bridge. Paul Nicholas fell into the Thames, on that day. In fact, he was pushed in the drink by Colin Dale, one of the disc jockeys on Radio Sutch.
Colin Dale: "The photo that most newspapers use is one of the cornucopia with us all on it, Paul Nicholas stood in front of me you can just see my head, but I got him back later when I pushed him in the drink..."
Geoff Mew:
"I always believed that Paul already had an interest in acting and developing his stage craft. His Father was a famous show business Lawyer and Paul was exposed to show business at a very early age."
Line-ups of Paul Nicholas earliest bands
Paul & The Venoms #1 (1960)
Paul Nicholas (Lead Vocals)
Bob Gray (Lead Guitar)
Dave Tenenbaum (Rhythm Guitar)
Al Jarman (Bass)
Mike Wells (Drums)
Paul Dean & The Dreamers #1 (1960 - 1961)
Paul Dean (Lead Vocals)
Stuart Taylor (Lead Guitar)
Ray Moxley (Rhythm Guitar)
Ray Randall (Bass)
Pete Phillipps (Drums)
Paul Dean & The Dreamers #2 (1962)
Paul Dean (Lead Vocals)
Stuart Taylor (Lead Guitar)
Paul Hughes (Rhythm Guitar)
Ray Randall (Bass)
Ashton Tootell (Tenor Sax)
Pete Phillipps (Drums)
Special thanks to Colin Dale, Ronnie Harwood, Mike Wells, Val and Pete Phillipps for providing corrections and additional info
Dave Anthony & The Ravers
Tony Head "Dave Anthony" joined a Bournemouth-based outfit called The Furies, replacing their singer Les Fisher, in 1960. The group consisted of Al Kirtley on lead guitar (who had previously been in a band called The Stormers with Zoot Money on vocals and Andy Summers, later of the Police), John "Jet" Berryman on bass and Howard "Eddie" Parsons on drums.
Thus began Tony & the Ramrods, shortly to be renamed Dave Anthony & the Ravers. For an instrumental trio plus vocals it delivered a big, professional sound, backed up by stage movements, copied from The Shadows, with a bit of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates’ high kicking thrown in.
Reg Calvert became their new manager and put them on the road throughout Southwest England (Devon and Dorset) backing Screaming Lord Sutch as he wouldn't pay for The Savages to tour. They set sail to Exmouth after having practised a week at “The Calverts’ School of Rock’n’Roll” in Clifton Hall, near Rugby.
Al Kirtley, Guitarist of The Ravers in 1961 (later with Zoot Money):
“Reg Calvert and his wife, Dorothy, liked our band (the Ravers), and gave us progressively more work. We began occasionally backing "major" acts, such as Screaming Lord Sutch...
We did a few gigs backing "Screaming Lord" Sutch, but the only venue I can remember was the Small Sydney Hall in Weymouth, Dorset, on the south coast of England. I remember him as being a complete lunatic, but good fun and he knew more obscure facts about Chuck Berry than anyone I'd ever met.
At the time he was on a mini-tour of the South of England, and it may be that the promoter, Reg Calvert wouldn't pay for The Savages to tour, instead letting other bands on the same bill, like us, do the backing. For our set we had Tony Head (aka "Dave Anthony") on vocals and I remember Lord Sutch doing his best to disrupt Tony's singing. He was very funny.”
Dave Anthony & The Ravers were finally rewarded by Reg offering us a week’s tour of the Midlands.
In the summer of 1961, they took up residency at Bournemouth’s first cellar club, The Downstairs Club. The "Ravers" became the "Rebels" after Jet and Eddie moved away, and were replaced by Mike and Pete Giles. As 1961 dawned, Al Kirtley was approached to join a new band, this time as pianist, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band.
The Ravers finally broke up shortly afterwards.
After Dave Anthony & The Ravers
Dave Anthony met up again the following year with Kirtley in another band called the Sands Combo. Incidentally Zoot Money supplemented Dave as second vocalist of the band. The Sands Combo split up due to a dispute over pay some months later.
By 1964, Dave Anthony replaced vocalist Reg Matthews aka "Tony Matthews" in a band called The League of Gentlemen, whose lead guitarist was Robert Fripp and who had a residency at the Majestic Hotel in Bournemouth. Robert Fripp eventually left to be replaced by Terry Squires. Fripp would later become successful with King Crimson alongside Mike and Pete Giles.
In mid 1965, Dave Anthony put a band together called Dave Antony’s Moods with the members of a group called The Trackmarks (featuring drummer Lee Kerslake): Tim Large on guitar, Bill Jacobs on bass, Bob Michaels on keyboards, supplemented by Pete Sweet on tenor sax, Graham Livemore on trombone, Andy Kirk on trumpet and John Devekey on drums. Saxplayer Pete Sweet was later replaced by Bob Downes who was formerly with The John Barry Seven and Julian Covey & The Machine. They backed female singer Goldie (from The Gingerbreads) at The Marquee in early 1966 then eventually relocated to Italy in 1967 where they cut singles for Joker records including a cover of the Procol Harum classic “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.”
By 1968, Dave Anthony started a solo career and released “Race With The Wind” on Mercury.
Tony Head sadly passed away for an heart attack on October 1, 2006
Thus began Tony & the Ramrods, shortly to be renamed Dave Anthony & the Ravers. For an instrumental trio plus vocals it delivered a big, professional sound, backed up by stage movements, copied from The Shadows, with a bit of Johnny Kidd & the Pirates’ high kicking thrown in.
Reg Calvert became their new manager and put them on the road throughout Southwest England (Devon and Dorset) backing Screaming Lord Sutch as he wouldn't pay for The Savages to tour. They set sail to Exmouth after having practised a week at “The Calverts’ School of Rock’n’Roll” in Clifton Hall, near Rugby.
Al Kirtley, Guitarist of The Ravers in 1961 (later with Zoot Money):
“Reg Calvert and his wife, Dorothy, liked our band (the Ravers), and gave us progressively more work. We began occasionally backing "major" acts, such as Screaming Lord Sutch...
We did a few gigs backing "Screaming Lord" Sutch, but the only venue I can remember was the Small Sydney Hall in Weymouth, Dorset, on the south coast of England. I remember him as being a complete lunatic, but good fun and he knew more obscure facts about Chuck Berry than anyone I'd ever met.
At the time he was on a mini-tour of the South of England, and it may be that the promoter, Reg Calvert wouldn't pay for The Savages to tour, instead letting other bands on the same bill, like us, do the backing. For our set we had Tony Head (aka "Dave Anthony") on vocals and I remember Lord Sutch doing his best to disrupt Tony's singing. He was very funny.”
Dave Anthony & The Ravers were finally rewarded by Reg offering us a week’s tour of the Midlands.
In the summer of 1961, they took up residency at Bournemouth’s first cellar club, The Downstairs Club. The "Ravers" became the "Rebels" after Jet and Eddie moved away, and were replaced by Mike and Pete Giles. As 1961 dawned, Al Kirtley was approached to join a new band, this time as pianist, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band.
The Ravers finally broke up shortly afterwards.
After Dave Anthony & The Ravers
Dave Anthony met up again the following year with Kirtley in another band called the Sands Combo. Incidentally Zoot Money supplemented Dave as second vocalist of the band. The Sands Combo split up due to a dispute over pay some months later.
By 1964, Dave Anthony replaced vocalist Reg Matthews aka "Tony Matthews" in a band called The League of Gentlemen, whose lead guitarist was Robert Fripp and who had a residency at the Majestic Hotel in Bournemouth. Robert Fripp eventually left to be replaced by Terry Squires. Fripp would later become successful with King Crimson alongside Mike and Pete Giles.
In mid 1965, Dave Anthony put a band together called Dave Antony’s Moods with the members of a group called The Trackmarks (featuring drummer Lee Kerslake): Tim Large on guitar, Bill Jacobs on bass, Bob Michaels on keyboards, supplemented by Pete Sweet on tenor sax, Graham Livemore on trombone, Andy Kirk on trumpet and John Devekey on drums. Saxplayer Pete Sweet was later replaced by Bob Downes who was formerly with The John Barry Seven and Julian Covey & The Machine. They backed female singer Goldie (from The Gingerbreads) at The Marquee in early 1966 then eventually relocated to Italy in 1967 where they cut singles for Joker records including a cover of the Procol Harum classic “A Whiter Shade Of Pale.”
By 1968, Dave Anthony started a solo career and released “Race With The Wind” on Mercury.
Tony Head sadly passed away for an heart attack on October 1, 2006
Discography
Dave Anthony's Moods
UK Singles
· New Directions/Give It A Chance (Parlophone R 5438) 1966
Italian Singles
· My Baby/Fading Away (Joker M 7000) 1967
· A Whiter Shade Of Pale/Talking To The Rain (Joker M 7001) 1967
Dave Anthony
· Race With The Wind/Hide And Seek (Mercury MF 1031) 1968
Various Line-ups of Dave Anthony’s Bands
The Furies (1960)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Al Kirtley (Lead Guitar)
· Jet Berryman (Bass)
· Eddie Parsons (Drums)
Dave Anthony & The Ravers (1960 - Summer 1961)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Al Kirtley (Lead Guitar)
· Jet Berryman (Bass)
· Eddie Parsons (Drums)
Screaming Lord Sutch With Dave Anthony & The Ravers (Early 1961)
· Dave Sutch (Lead Vocals)
· Dave Anthony (Vocals)
· Al Kirtley (Lead Guitar)
· Jet Berryman (Bass)
· Eddie Parsons (Drums)
Dave Anthony & The Rebels #1 (Summer - Late 1961)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Al Kirtley (Lead Guitar)
· Mike Giles (Bass)
· Pete Giles (Drums)
The Sands Combo #1 (August 1962 - 1963)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Graham Douglas (Lead Guitar)
· Roger Bone (Bass)
· Al Kirtley (Piano)
· Nigel Street (Sax)
· Pat Sheehan (Drums)
The Sands Combo #2 (1963)
· Dave Anthony (Lead Vocals)
· Zoot Money (Organ/Vocals)
· Graham Douglas (Lead Guitar)
· Roger Bone (Bass)
· Al Kirtley (Piano)
· Nigel Street (Sax)
· Pat Sheehan (Drums)
The League of Gentlemen #2 (1965)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Terry Squires (Lead Guitar)
· Tino Licinio (Rhythm Guitar)
· Gordon Haskell(Bass)
· Stan Levy (Drums)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Terry Squires (Lead Guitar)
· Tino Licinio (Rhythm Guitar)
· Gordon Haskell(Bass)
· Stan Levy (Drums)
The League of Gentlemen #2 (1965)
Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
Terry Squires (Lead Guitar)
Tino Licinio (Rhythm Guitar)
Gordon Haskell (Bass)
Stan Levy (Drums)
Dave Anthony's Moods #1 (1965 - 1966)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Tim Large (Lead Guitar)
· Bill Jacobs (Bass)
· Bob Michaels (Keyboards) "Ken Macmaels"
· Pete Sweet (Sax)
· Graham Livemore (Trombone)
· Andy Kirk (Trumpet)
· John Devekey (Drums)
Dave Anthony's Moods #2 (1966 - 1969)
· Tony Head (Lead Vocals) "Dave Anthony"
· Roger Peacok (Vocals)
· Tim Large (Lead Guitar)
· Chris Dennis (Bass)
· Bob Michaels (Keyboards) "Ken Macmaels"
· Bob Downes (Sax)
· Graham Livemore (Trumpet)
· Andy Kirk (Trumpet)
· John Devekey (Drums)
Many thanks to Philip Norman and Luca Mathmos of italian revue “Revolver” (see http://www.retrophobic.com/images/revolver/revolver11.pdf) for providing new info
Does anybody know the complete line-up of The League of Gentlemen and what did become Pete Sweet after leaving Dave Anthony's Moods?
Please contact us: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com
A message from Andy Sweet about his brother Pete
After being on the R&B scene with Dave Anthonys Moods he returned to freelance work, becoming highly regarded on the modern jazz scene around the Bournemouth area. He stopped playing due to ill health in 1990 and died in 2001.
Johnny Dark & The Midnighters
This band was based in Muswell Hill, North London, and featured three musicians who had worked with Johnny Kidd: Tenor saxophone player Pete Newman, baritone saxophonist Jeff Wickens, and guitarist Vic Clark.
Indeed they had played in the Mike West Group and did stand-ins for Johnny Kidd & the Pirates for whom Mike was a back-up singer until late 1959 ("Please Don't Touch" and "Feelin").
Pete Newman and Jeff Wickens first met at a local school called Dudden Hill, in Willesden, North London. They formed their very first band there with Ray Edmunds (aka "Ray Taylor") on drums, John Welsh on clarinet, and Terence "Jet" Harris... also on clarinet, in the early 50s (1). Harris later switched to upright double bass and went on to do many great things as bass player of The Shadows.
Newman and Wickens both joined up The Fabulous Freddie Heath Band in September 1957, before moving to the Mike West Group which were rechristened "Johnny Kidd & the Pirates" while recording at abbey road studios (2).
When Johnny Kidd decided to work with a power trio, in late 1959, Pete Newman and Jeff Wickens teamed up with Vic Clark, who stood-in several times for Pirates' guitarist Alan Caddy, to form the Midnighters.
The rest of the band consisted of Charles "Charly" Parker on piano (not related to the Black American pianist) and the late Brian Norman on drums.
Basically, they were an instrumental band just covering American records such as Johnny & the Hurricanes hits. Then they added singer Johnny Dark whose father owned a pub called The Black Bull in Whetstone, North London, and that allowed them to have free rehearsals and then a residency there.
They used to cover songs of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard and even early Johnny Kidd's numbers, and some instrumentals: "Johnnie B Goode" (Chuck Berry); "Sweet Little Sixteen" (Chuck Berry); "That'll Be The Day" (Buddy Holly); "Peggy Sue" (Buddy Holly); "Move It" (Cliff Richard); "Please Don't Touch" (Johnny Kidd); "Red River Rock" (Johnny & the Hurricanes); "Beatnik Fly" (Johnny & the Hurricanes); "Wild Child" ect. But they also played numbers of their own such as "The Werewolf" which inspired Johnny Kidd's "Feelin" (2).
Unfortunately, as Vic Clark recalls, their material was never released because they had a sound unlike anything in England at that time and The record companies considered them un-commercial (3).
Between June 1960 and early 1961, they used to back Screaming Lord Sutch as his new Savages.
In fact, according to Vic Clark, Dave Sutch, an old crony of Pete Newman’s from his 2I's Coffee Bar time, approached them one night, while they had a residency at The Black Bull (4). He introduced himself and said he had this fantastic Act inspired from the American performer Screaming Jay Hawkins but he needed a band. So the members of the Midnighters invited him to their next rehearsal at The Black Bull.
According to Vic Clark, Screaming Lord Sutch did his first live gig ever with them the following Saturday at 'The Athenium' at Muswell Hill, North London, the place where Emil Ford had been discovered and where they were playing once a month.
Once They became The Savages, Johnny Dark went, then Pete Newman and Vic Clark took over the vocals With Dave Sutch finishing off the shows.
By late 1960, their association with Dave Sutch broke off because The manager of the 2I's Coffee Bar Tom Littlewood wanted to save on cost and booked Vince Taylor's backing band, the Playboys, instead of them.
Pete Newman went on to join local Harrow based semipro group Douggie Dee & The Strangers, and then worked with Joe Meek as session musician, recording on Screaming Lord Sutch's debut single "Till the Following Night", and subsequently touring with the Tornados for a while before they backed Billy Fury who replaced the brass section by an organ.
He still worked with Screaming Lord Sutch in the late 1980's, backing him with the band he formed with his son Paul and that became known as "Some Like It Hot."
Vic Clark also worked with Joe Meek, at first with Chris Dors & the Del Fi's, who recorded at RGM studio and Phillips from june 1961 and had a couple of releases on the Fontana Label, then with the Sack'o'Woes who supported
The Rollingstones and Jerry Lee Lewis in Brighton Hippodrome in late 1964. Then Vic teamed up with Pete again in a band called The Beat Society who evolved into Felders Orioles.
Vic Clark now lives in Australia since 1966. He's actually the father of Malcom Clark, drummer of Aussie band Sleepy Jackson. Pete Newman still play saxophone for various acts. Brian Norman, who went to live in Africa, passed away a few years ago.
(1) Pete Newman:
"I had a very old sax given to me by a school friend and was told that the sax I learned to play on once belonged to a very famous English sax player called Freddie Gardner."
(2) Pete Newman and Jeff Wickens wrote an instrumental called "The Werewolf" which inspired Freddie Heath to write the B side of the his debut release, "Feelin". Mike West and Pete Newman did the backing vocals on both sides of that record - "Please Dont Touch" as well as "Feelin" - which was made at abbey road studios and became the first Johnny Kidd's hit single.
(3) Vic Clark about their sound: "We had a sound unlike anything in England at that time. We were probably ahead of our time. The record companies considered us un-commercial. I guess the best way to describe our sound was the same genre as George Thorogood, but remember we were more than 20 years ahead of him! So the Midnighters sound became the Screaming Lord Sutch sound."
(4) Pete Newman knew Dave Sutch since late 1957, thanks to his sister Pat who had met him at Cricklewood Rollin Skating Rink, in North london, and brought him back to their house in Cobbold road, Willesden, because at that time he had just started playing with Freddie Heath & his Rock & Roll Combo... Therefore Dave became Pat's boyfriend, and Pete occassionally backed him at the Two Eyes between jobs with Johnny Kidd...
Johnny Dark & The Midnighters (Late 1959 - Early 1960)
More on the line-up of The Midnighters that became The Savages in 1960 here
Special thanks to Vic Clark and Pete Newman for providing recollections and photos
Indeed they had played in the Mike West Group and did stand-ins for Johnny Kidd & the Pirates for whom Mike was a back-up singer until late 1959 ("Please Don't Touch" and "Feelin").
Pete Newman and Jeff Wickens first met at a local school called Dudden Hill, in Willesden, North London. They formed their very first band there with Ray Edmunds (aka "Ray Taylor") on drums, John Welsh on clarinet, and Terence "Jet" Harris... also on clarinet, in the early 50s (1). Harris later switched to upright double bass and went on to do many great things as bass player of The Shadows.
Newman and Wickens both joined up The Fabulous Freddie Heath Band in September 1957, before moving to the Mike West Group which were rechristened "Johnny Kidd & the Pirates" while recording at abbey road studios (2).
When Johnny Kidd decided to work with a power trio, in late 1959, Pete Newman and Jeff Wickens teamed up with Vic Clark, who stood-in several times for Pirates' guitarist Alan Caddy, to form the Midnighters.
The rest of the band consisted of Charles "Charly" Parker on piano (not related to the Black American pianist) and the late Brian Norman on drums.
Basically, they were an instrumental band just covering American records such as Johnny & the Hurricanes hits. Then they added singer Johnny Dark whose father owned a pub called The Black Bull in Whetstone, North London, and that allowed them to have free rehearsals and then a residency there.
They used to cover songs of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard and even early Johnny Kidd's numbers, and some instrumentals: "Johnnie B Goode" (Chuck Berry); "Sweet Little Sixteen" (Chuck Berry); "That'll Be The Day" (Buddy Holly); "Peggy Sue" (Buddy Holly); "Move It" (Cliff Richard); "Please Don't Touch" (Johnny Kidd); "Red River Rock" (Johnny & the Hurricanes); "Beatnik Fly" (Johnny & the Hurricanes); "Wild Child" ect. But they also played numbers of their own such as "The Werewolf" which inspired Johnny Kidd's "Feelin" (2).
Unfortunately, as Vic Clark recalls, their material was never released because they had a sound unlike anything in England at that time and The record companies considered them un-commercial (3).
Between June 1960 and early 1961, they used to back Screaming Lord Sutch as his new Savages.
In fact, according to Vic Clark, Dave Sutch, an old crony of Pete Newman’s from his 2I's Coffee Bar time, approached them one night, while they had a residency at The Black Bull (4). He introduced himself and said he had this fantastic Act inspired from the American performer Screaming Jay Hawkins but he needed a band. So the members of the Midnighters invited him to their next rehearsal at The Black Bull.
According to Vic Clark, Screaming Lord Sutch did his first live gig ever with them the following Saturday at 'The Athenium' at Muswell Hill, North London, the place where Emil Ford had been discovered and where they were playing once a month.
Once They became The Savages, Johnny Dark went, then Pete Newman and Vic Clark took over the vocals With Dave Sutch finishing off the shows.
By late 1960, their association with Dave Sutch broke off because The manager of the 2I's Coffee Bar Tom Littlewood wanted to save on cost and booked Vince Taylor's backing band, the Playboys, instead of them.
Pete Newman went on to join local Harrow based semipro group Douggie Dee & The Strangers, and then worked with Joe Meek as session musician, recording on Screaming Lord Sutch's debut single "Till the Following Night", and subsequently touring with the Tornados for a while before they backed Billy Fury who replaced the brass section by an organ.
He still worked with Screaming Lord Sutch in the late 1980's, backing him with the band he formed with his son Paul and that became known as "Some Like It Hot."
Vic Clark also worked with Joe Meek, at first with Chris Dors & the Del Fi's, who recorded at RGM studio and Phillips from june 1961 and had a couple of releases on the Fontana Label, then with the Sack'o'Woes who supported
The Rollingstones and Jerry Lee Lewis in Brighton Hippodrome in late 1964. Then Vic teamed up with Pete again in a band called The Beat Society who evolved into Felders Orioles.
Vic Clark now lives in Australia since 1966. He's actually the father of Malcom Clark, drummer of Aussie band Sleepy Jackson. Pete Newman still play saxophone for various acts. Brian Norman, who went to live in Africa, passed away a few years ago.
(1) Pete Newman:
"I had a very old sax given to me by a school friend and was told that the sax I learned to play on once belonged to a very famous English sax player called Freddie Gardner."
(2) Pete Newman and Jeff Wickens wrote an instrumental called "The Werewolf" which inspired Freddie Heath to write the B side of the his debut release, "Feelin". Mike West and Pete Newman did the backing vocals on both sides of that record - "Please Dont Touch" as well as "Feelin" - which was made at abbey road studios and became the first Johnny Kidd's hit single.
(3) Vic Clark about their sound: "We had a sound unlike anything in England at that time. We were probably ahead of our time. The record companies considered us un-commercial. I guess the best way to describe our sound was the same genre as George Thorogood, but remember we were more than 20 years ahead of him! So the Midnighters sound became the Screaming Lord Sutch sound."
(4) Pete Newman knew Dave Sutch since late 1957, thanks to his sister Pat who had met him at Cricklewood Rollin Skating Rink, in North london, and brought him back to their house in Cobbold road, Willesden, because at that time he had just started playing with Freddie Heath & his Rock & Roll Combo... Therefore Dave became Pat's boyfriend, and Pete occassionally backed him at the Two Eyes between jobs with Johnny Kidd...
Johnny Dark & The Midnighters (Late 1959 - Early 1960)
- Peter ?? (Lead Vocals) aka "Johnny Dark"
- Vic Clark (Lead Guitar)
- Charlie Parker (Keyboards)
- Pete Newman (Tenor Sax)
- Jeff Wickens (Barytone Sax)
- Brian Norman (Drums)
More on the line-up of The Midnighters that became The Savages in 1960 here
Special thanks to Vic Clark and Pete Newman for providing recollections and photos
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