Musicians Index


·Guitarists

Jeff Beck [The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group]

Ritchie Blackmore [Deep Purple, Rainbow]
Pete Budd [Gene Vincent Band]
Jim Duncombe [Jimmy & The Rackets]

Ed Hamilton [The Outlaws, Black Claw, Fast Buck]


Tony Harvey

Ernie Hayes [Sonny Childe & T'N'T]

Harvey Hinsley [The Doves, The Rebel Rousers, Black Claw, Hot Chocolate]

Mick Jones [Foreigner, Wonderwheel]


Al Kirtley


Joe Moretti


Jimmy Page [The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin]

Ged Peck

Noel Redding [Jimi Hendrix Experience, Fat Mattress]

Stuart Taylor [The Tornados]

Anthony "Top" Topham [The Yardbirds]


Dave Wendells [Tom Jones, Black Claw,Hot Chocolate]


Bass

Rod Clark [The Moody Blues]

Boots Slade


Keyboards

Freddie Fingers Lee [Charlie Woolf, Freddie Fingers Lee Band]

Nicky Hopkins [Jeff Beck Group, Silver Messengers]

Paul Nicholas ("Paul Dean")

Mike O'Neil


Bryan Pugh (aka Lou Bryan, Perry Ford)


Saxophone

Phil Kenzie [Rod Stewart Band]
Noel McManus

Ashton "Toots" Tootell [Sonny Childe & T'N'T]


Drums

Billy Adamson [The Searchers]

Ian Broad


Pete Carter (Peter Kirscher) [Status Quo]

Mick Burt [Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers]

Tornado Evans

Laurie Jay

Carlo Little [The Rollingstones, Hurricane]

Mitch Mitchell [Georgie Fame's Blue Flames , Jimi Hendrix Experience]

Mick Underwood [The Episode Six, Quatermass, Gillan]

Mickey Waller [Georgie Fame's Blue Flames , Jeff Beck Group]

Johnny Watson ("Johnny Satan") [The Echoes, The Beat Brothers]


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






The Ivy League


This vocal group, that cut 11 singles for Piccadilly records from 1964 to 1967, and that is still touring nowadays, was really the brainchild of John Carter and Ken Lewis who had been together as a singing and songwriting duo since their School days.

John "Carter" Shakespeare (born on October 20th 1942) and Kenneth "Lewis" Hawker (born on December 3rd 1942) were both from Birmingham, and came down to London with a burning self-belief in their talent in 1959.
They were offered a deal by manager Terry Kennedy (who had previously fronted his own band, The Rock’n’Rollers and had been guitarist for Terry Dene's Dene Aces) and moved with him to Southern music at 5 Denmark Street. He re-christened them "Carter & Lewis" and produced the 7 singles they cut for Piccadilly, Ember and Oriole, between 1961 and 1964.
They had developed a close harmony style similar to that adopted by the Everly Brothers.
They were soon established as a popular radio team, appearing on BBC Light Programme shows "Saturday Club" and "Easy Beat" from February 1962. They gradually began to augment their line-up with various musicians who backed them on these radio dates, at which point they evolved into Carter-Lewis & the "Southerners" after Southern music. The group became a vehicle for publishing the songs that stemmed from the Carter-Lewis partnership...
Carter-Lewis & the Southerners split in summer 1964, when both Carter and Lewis decided to concentrate on writing and doing sessions.

By July 1964, they decided to expand, becaming three part harmonies, and teamed up with another session singer and songwriter, Brian Pugh aka "Perry Ford". Pugh was from Lincoln and starded out, under the moniker "Lou Bryan", playing piano for Vince Taylor & his Playboys, Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys, and the Echoes. He cut 3 singles for Parlophone in 1959-60, all produced by George Martin and wrote hits for Adam Faith ("Someone Else's Baby"), the Fortunes (Caroline)...
He was running a studio for Reg Calvert in Denmark Street, when John Carter and Ken Lewis approached him.
He would soon play the piano part on “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks.

The trio had developed a clear liking for high-pitched vocals (falsetto), and somehow contrived to cross the Four Freshmen with the Beach Boys and the Four Seasons.

They called themselves "The Ivy League" (1), and began providing backing vocals on other artists' sessions: Sandy Shaw's “Always Something There To Remind Me”, Tom Jones “It’s Not Unusual”, The Who's “Can’t Explain”and "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"...

As a harmony trio, recording on their own, they signed to Pye's Piccadilly subsidiary.
Their debut single failed to chart, but the follow-up “Funny How Love Can Be”, which was basically written for the Rockinberries, went Top 10, prompting the need to form a backing group and go out on tour.
So Micky Keene and Dave Wintour left The Tony Colton’s Crawdaddies to join The Ivy League backing band, the Division Two (2), poaching the keyboardist of the band, Mike O'Neill (former leader of Nero & The Gladiators).
They were joined by drummer Clem Cattini, an acquaintance of Terry Kennedy's (they were together in The Rock’n’Rollers and in Terry Dene & The Dene Aces) who had definitly left the Tornados in February 1965.
“New style, new sound” sid the advert, “Hair by Phillips, Clothes by Alexandre of Oxford St.”
However, on 19 July 1965, John Carter, Perry Ford and Ken Lewis were injured in a car crash near Baldock, Hertfordshire. The original trio managed to release only a single full-length album, "This Is the Ivy League".
Preferring writing and producing to touring, John Carter and then Ken Lewis decided to pull out.
Tony Burrows (ex-Kestrels) and Neil Landon (ex-Burnetts) came in as replacements.
At this time, the band cut the best record they ever made - “My World Fell Down” - a John Carter/Geoff Stephens composition which Gary Usher and LA group Sagittarius turn into a masterpiece in 1967.
The Ivy League toured the UK and Europe unflaggingly throughout 1966 with a new backing band: The Jaybirds from Nottingham who were later successful as 'Ten Years After'.

In 1966, John Carter and Ken Lewis formed The Ministry Of Sound with the cream of Southern Music studios house team, including the former Division Two. By the summer of 1967, they recorded a song they wrote to articulate the sentiments of the flower-power movement and entitled "Let's Go To San Francisco" under the artist name 'Flowerpot Men'...
As there was no true group of this name, Carter and Lewis summarily 'rented out' the band name to Tony Burrows, who put together a tour ensemble to satisfy the popular demand generated by The single which made #4 in the UK charts in September 1967.
Burrows teamed up with Robin Shaw and Peter Nelson, who could boast Star Club experience with the 'Travellers', and the other remaining Ivy League Neil Landon. They signed with Spencer Davis Management and used Billie Davis’ band plus keyboardist Billy Parkinson as back up (3).

The follow-up, "A Walk In The Sky", didn't sell as well. The 'Flowerpot Men & Their Garden' appeared almost daily, until keyboardist Jon Lord and bass player Nick Simper departed the band in February 1968, to join 'Roundabout', the group from which 'Deep Purple' was to emerge... Their later efforts were more ordinary and even a change of name to Friends late in 1968 failed to revive their fortunes. Whilst Landon departed to Fat Mattress, the rest of the band became the White Plains...


(1) concerning their choice of name, Carter recalls Piccadilly had given it some thought:
"We took the identity from the look, the style we'd want to be if ever we had a hit record...Ivy League jackets, college boy haircuts, smart-looking, and all that": The Ivy League - a preordained image!"

(2) Division Two recorded a great instrumental beat/R&B album, "Discotheque" (Society SOC 1016) in 1965.

(3) Nick Simper from the Chapter 15 of his Biography: "Savages & Flowerpot Men"
From out of the blue, Carlo Little had a telephone call from Spencer Davis Management. It appeared that hey needed musicians to support a vocal act that they had signed, named the Flowerpot Men. A single called “Let’s Go To San Francisco” was riding high in the charts, so the logical next move was to get the act on the road, and Billie Davis’ band was in the frame for the job. Sensing a good earner, Carlo swiftly arranged a time and place to rehearse together. The only snag was that Arthur Regis and landed a gig with top soul act Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, so a keyboard player had to found quickly. I immediately thought of Billy Davidson, the amazingly gifted organist who I had met at Joan Watson’s shop. Luckily, he was free to complete the line-up, and so Bill, Ged Carlo and I assembled at a London rehearsal room, where we were introduced to the four vocalists who had been appearing on TV shows all over Europe as the Flowerpot Men. We soon learned that the hot record had resulted from one of the many studio sessions regularly carried out by my old favourites, Carter and Lewis. They had given up performing in order to concentrate on recording their many compositions, some of which were leased out to various touring bands, who then changed their names accordingly. This they had done with their own group, the Ivy League, following many chart hits, and were now doing the same thing with the name Flowerpot Men, borrowed from a 1950’s children’s television programme. John Carter himself had sung the lead vocal on the record, with harmonies provided by a great session singer names Tony Burrows. Ken Lewis had supplied keyboard and piano, with my old mate Robin Scrimshaw playing bass. John and Jen had for many years written songs in varying styles and had now been able to use their skills to capitalise on the current ‘flower power’ rage which had recently arrived here from the USA. Tony Burrows, currently in a new Ivy League line-up, together with Robin, quickly recruited two other singers. Tony brought in Neil Landon, also from the Ivy League, and Robin brought in Pete Nelson, one-time front man of my old mates the Travellers, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that I knew two of the four singers.
The rehearsal was overseen by Ken Lewis in person, and whilst I was knocked out to meet him once more, he was equally pleased to meet Carlo Little, who he greeted with the words “My, what a reputation you have got!!” Carlo blushed at this. “Have I?” was the best he could reply. The four singers than produced a list of 3 and 4 part harmony material by artists such as the Four Tops and the Four Season. They had obviously rehearsed their parts, and the whole package was sounding pretty slick after a two hour run through. Everyone seemed happy with the result, and so several more rehearsals were scheduled before taking to the road.
The next day saw us arrive at the Spencer Davis office where we were introduced to the staff, and provided with cash to buy some suitably “flowery” stage clothes. Following several more rehearsals we supplied with a truck for us and our equipment. Armed with a full gig list, we were ready to hit the road! …



Discography

Singles by The Ivy League
1. What More Do You Want/Wait A Minute (Piccadilly 7N 35200) - November 1964
2. Funny How Love Can Be/Lonely Room (Piccadilly 7N 35222) - January 1965 UK#8
3. That's Why I'm Crying/A Girl Like You (Piccadilly 7N 35228) - April 1965 UK#22
4. Tossing And Turning/Graduation Day (Piccadilly 7N 35251) - June 1965 UK#3
5. Our Love Is Slipping Away/I Could Make You Fall In Love (Piccadilly 7N 35267) - October 1965
6. Running Around In Circles/Rain, Rain Go Away (Piccadilly 7N 35294) - February 1966
7. Willow Tree/One Day (Piccadilly 7N 35326) - June 1966 UK#50
8. My World Fell Down/When You're Young (Piccadilly 7N 35348) - October 1966
9. Four And Twenty Hours/Arrivederci Baby (Piccadilly 7N 35365) - 1967
10. Suddenly Things/Tomorrow Is Another Day (Piccadilly 7N 35397) - 1967
11. Thank You For Loving Me/In The Not Too Distant Future (Piccadilly 7N 17386) - 1967

E.P.s by The Ivy League
1. Funny How Love Can Be - Funny How Love Can Be/Lonely Room/What More Do You Want?/Wait A Minute (Piccadilly NEP 34038) - March 1965
2. Tossing And TurningTossing And Turning/That's Why I'm Crying/A Girl Like You/Graduation Day (Piccadilly NEP 34042) - September 1965
3. The Holly And The Ivy League - The Holly And The Ivy/Once In Royal David's City/Good King Wenceslas/Silent Night (Piccadilly NEP 34046) - December 1965
4. Our Love Is Slipping Away - Our Love Is Slipping Away/Don't Think Twice/Don't Worry Baby/Make Love (Piccadilly NEP 34048) - April 1966

L.P.s by The Ivy League
This Is The Ivy League (Piccadilly NPL 38015, 1966): Almost Grown/That's Why I'm Crying/Floral Dance/What More Do You Want?/Lulu's Back In Town/We're Having A Party/Don't Worry Baby/Make Love/Don't Think Twice/Funny How Love Can Be/My Old Dutch/Dance To The Locomotion
Major League - The Collector's Ivy League (Sequel NEDCD 289,1998): What More Do You Want/Wait A Minute/Funny How Love Can Be/Lonely Room/That's Why I'm Crying/Girl Like You/Tossin' And Turnin'/Graduation Day/Our Love Is Slipping Away/I Could Make You Fall in Love/Running Round In Circles/Rain, Rain Go Away/Willow Tree/One Day/My World Fell Down/When You're Young/Four And Twenty Hours/Arrivederci Baby/Suddenly Things/Tomorrow Is Another Day/Thank You For Loving Me/In The Not Too Distant Future/Almost Grown/Floral Dance/Lulu's Back in Town/We're Having A Party/Don't Worry Baby/Make Love/Don't Think Twice It's All Right/My Old Dutch/Dance To The Locomotion/My Baby/Nancy (With the Laughing Face)/ Lonely City/Mr. Ford's Boogie/Friday/Busy Doing Nothing/Rock & Roll/Humpty Dumpty/Holly And The Ivy/Once In Royal David's City/Good King Wenceslas/Silent Night

The Flowerpotmen: Let's Go To San Francisco Part 1/Part 2 (Deram DM 142) - August 1967

First Class
Beach Baby/Both Sides Of The Story (UK UK 66)
Bobby Dazzler/Lavender Man (UK UKR 73)
Dreams Are Ten A Penny/Long Time Gone (UK UKR 82)

The Ivy League made vocal harmonies on
Sandy Shaw's "Always Something There To Remind Me" (10/1964)
The Who's "I Can't Explain" (01/1965)
Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" (02/1965)
Chris Farlowe's "Out Of Time" (07/1966)

John Carter Compilations
Measure For Measure: The John Carter Anthology, 1961-1977 (RPM D268)
As You Like It: The Denmark Street Demos, 1963-1967 (Westside WESM 523)


Various Line-ups of The Ivy League

The Ivy League #1 & Division Two (February - October 1965)
  • John Shakespeare (Vocals) "John Carter"
  • Ken Hawker (Vocals) "Ken Lewis"
  • Brian Pugh (Vocals) "Perry Ford"
  • Mickey Keene (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wintour (Bass)
  • Mike O'Neill (Keyboards) "Nero"
  • Clem Cattini (Drums)
  • Roger Pinner (Drums) "Solly"


The Ivy League #2 & Division Two (October 1965 - January 1966)
  • Tony Burrows (Vocals)
  • Ken Hawker (Vocals) "Ken Lewis"
  • Brian Pugh (Vocals) "Perry Ford"
  • Mickey Keene (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wintour (Bass)
  • Mike O'Neill (Keyboards) "Nero"
  • Clem Cattini (Drums)


The Ivy League #3 & The Jaybirds (June - November 1966)
  • Tony Burrows (Vocals)
  • Patrick Cahill (Vocals) "Neil Landon"
  • Brian Pugh (Vocals) "Perry Ford"
  • Alvin Lee (Lead Guitar)
  • Leo Lyons (Bass)
  • Chick Churchill (Keyboards)
  • Ric Lee (Drums)


The Ivy League #4 (1967)
  • John Shakespeare (Vocals) "John Carter"
  • Ken Hawker (Vocals/Keyboards) "Ken Lewis"
  • Tony Burrows (Vocals)
  • Patrick Cahill (Vocals) "Neil Landon"
  • Brian Pugh (Vocals) "Perry Ford"
  • Mickey Keene (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wintour (Bass)
  • Clem Cattini (Drums)


The Ivy League #5 (Late 1967 - 1970s)
  • John Shakespeare (Vocals) "Bob Carter"
  • Brian Pugh (Vocals) "Perry Ford"
  • "Schadel" (Vocals)
  • Bill Clarke (Bass)
  • Dave McDonald (Bass) "Dave Robin"
  • Roger Hall (Drums)


The Ivy League #6 (1980 - 2000)
  • Mike Brice (Guitar/Vocals)
  • Jon Brennan (Bass/Vocals)
  • Dave Buckley (Drums/Vocals)


John Carter & The Ministry Of Sound/The "Flowerpot Men" (1966 - 1971)
  • John Shakespeare (Musical Direction/Vocals) "John Carter"
  • Ken Hawker (Vocals/Keyboards) "Ken Lewis"
  • Russ Alquist (Vocals)
  • Tony Burrows (Vocals)
  • Patrick Cahill (Vocals) "Neil Landon"
  • Robin Scrimshaw (Vocals/Bass) "Robin Shaw"
  • Mickey Keene (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Wintour (Bass)
  • John Ford (Bass)
  • Clem Cattini (Drums)
  • Richard Hudson (Drums)


The Flowerpot Men & Their Garden #1 (September 1967 - Mid 1968)
  • Tony Burrows (Vocals)
  • Patrick Cahill (Vocals) "Neil Landon"
  • Peter Lipscomb (Vocals) "Peter Nelson"
  • Robin Scrimshaw (Vocals) "Robin Shaw"
  • Ged Peck (Lead Guitar)
  • Mick Stewart (Lead Guitar)
  • Nick Simper (Bass)
  • Tony Makins (Bass) "Tex Makins"
  • Gordon Haskell (Bass)
  • Billy Davidson (Keyboards)
  • Jon Lord (Keyboards)
  • Johnny Carroll (Keyboards)
  • Carlo Little (Drums)

The Flowerpot Men & Their Garden #2/White Plains (Mid 1968 - November 1969)
  • Tony Burrows (Vocals)
  • Peter Lipscomb (Vocals) "Peter Nelson"
  • Robin Scrimshaw (Vocals/Bass) "Robin Shaw"
  • Robin Box (Lead Guitar)
  • Ricky Wolff (Keyboards/Flute/Sax)
  • Tony Hall (Tenor Sax)
  • Roger Hills (Drums)


First Class (1974)
  • John Shakespeare (Vocals) "John Carter"
  • Ken Hawker (Vocals/Keyboards) "Ken Lewis"
  • Robin Scrimshaw (Vocals/Bass) "Robin Shaw"
  • "Chas" Mills (Vocals)
  • "Del" John (Vocals)
  • Spencer James (Lead Guitar/Vocals)
  • Clive Barrett (Keyboards)
  • Eddie Richards (Drums)

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The Prowlers (Birkenhead, Cheshire)


The Prowlers were a Birkenhead-based R&B/Blues group, formed in early 1964, with Alan Davies on Vocals & harmonica; Phil Norman on Lead guitar; Dave Stanton on Rhythm guitar; Ian Macdonald on Bass and Malcom "Mally" Coram on Drums. They travelled all over the country and spent 3 separate months at the Star Palast, Kiel, Germany, in January, April and July 1965.
By the summer of 1965, Dave Stanton and Alan Davies left to be replaced by Peter Wharton (ex-“The Deerstalkers”) and Phil Munro. They then ceased to be full-time musicians but kept the band going on a semi-professional basis and were managed by Max Wilson aka "Mr Trendy", an acquaintance of Wharton's, a very eccentric person.
Dougie Hughes took over from Wharton in 1967.
The Prowlers did not release any records, but made three double-sided demo records including "Cadillac" which was used by Radio Caroline on the adverts it broadcast for Liverpool Cavern Club.
Although They had a fair bit of success locally, playing the Cavern regularly and various local venues, the band was nowhere near as good as the original line-up and finally broke up in late 1967.
Here are Their complete Stories...


Their Story by Lead Guitarist Phil Norman

"The Prowlers were a five-piece, formed early in 1964 with the idea of playing Chicago style electric blues, rocked up a bit - the sort of the thing the Stones and other bands were doing in their early days. We all lived in Birkenhead and rehearsed in the cellar of the bass-player's house. We started playing around the area in the spring; youth clubs, students' and other dances, clubs like the Kraal, Cubik, Left Bank and even the River Mersey cruise ship, Royal Iris. There were ballrooms including the Tower in New Brighton and the Majestic Birkenhead. We built up a good following and late in the year got the chance to go to Germany. This was an opportunity to become full-time musicians so we went for a month to the Star Palast, Kiel in January '65.

During that month we backed black American singer, Davy Jones, for one night because his band got stuck in the snow coming from Sweden. In 1961 Davy played a gig at the Cavern and was backed by the Beatles before they became famous (see photos below). We also played alongside Goldie and the Gingerbreads who were a very classy American girl band (who later did well in the UK) and alongside Freddie Fingers Lee’s band with Ian Hunter as its bass player. Ian emerged in the 1970s as Mott the Hoople's frontman. He and Freddie got part way through writing a song for us but it didn't get finished. Ian and Freddie shared our apartment for a week or two while their van was being fixed.

When we came back after our first month away we were anxious to find out if our popularity had suffered while we had been away but we played a great show at Birkenhead Technical College Hall to an over-capacity audience (mainly screaming girls) and a lot of people had to be turned away. The local paper published an excellent article.

We had a proper manager/agent by this time and back in the UK we were sent all over the country. We went down particularly well around the Birmingham area, Scotland and Dublin. We opened for Manfred Mann on one occasion in Stirling, playing to a 2000+ audience and the Swinging Blue Jeans a couple of times. Nice guys as I remember. At a local dance we were we supported the Pete Best 4.

Back in Germany in April and July, with a steadily growing following, we were offered recording contracts by both Philips and Polydor (German divisions) but it would have meant staying in Germany long term and we were convinced we were going to become successful in the UK. We opened for Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages for one week in Kiel.

Back in the UK we still had our strong local following but weren't playing in our home area as often because we were working around the country. Unfortunately our agent was sending us to quite a lot of venues, more like cabaret clubs that weren’t really suitable for our band.

Early in 1966, Dave Stanton and our singer Alan Davies left as things weren't working out as well as we had hoped and we were back doing day jobs. We found replacements but it was never the same although we played the Cavern many times in 1966/67 including a couple of sessions on the day that the Cavern reopened after a short closure on July 23rd 1966. Solomon Burke and Rufus Thomas were on the bill. Prime Minister Harold Wilson was there along with just about everyone else. “Pirate”

Radio Caroline used to use a demo of ours (Cadillac) on the adverts it broadcast for the Cavern. We had a near-miss with Decca who told us that they liked the demo of Cadillac and were going to record us, then they had a change of heart.

I think we played our last gigs sometime in 1967 and by then there was only Ian and me left from the original line-up as Mally had got fed up travelling over from Liverpool (where he now lived) for practice sessions with Alan and Dave's replacements who, we quickly discovered, didn't really share our ambition or musical aims."

After The Prowlers

"Although extensive searches have been made we were unable to find copies of any of these demos except for our first one Lost & Alone/King Bee which was on tape. It was recorded in mono by a mobile unit in a local club and the technical quality is not good but we had it cleaned up and put onto a CD. Lost & Alone was not like our usual music - it is a pop song deliberately written to be commercial.

Alan Davies (singer) worked as a clerk then joined the British Army in the 1970s. We heard that later he had become a journalist and was living in Denmark. It is not known if he continued with his singing. We would love to get in touch with him if anyone knows his present contact details.


Phil Norman (lead guitarist) spent much of his working life in the public sector (HM Customs & Excise), although he spent some time with an interior design company (he is a trained designer - Liverpool Art College) and had his own design business for 10 years. He is now retired. He joined Ian & Mally in the late 80s/early 90s in a six-piece blues band Out of the Blues which lasted about 4 years. He has a small recording studio at home and produces records (as a hobby)with a singer/partner under the name Upturned Collar. Their recordings get played regularly on local radio.

Dave Stanton (guitarist) was originally a shop display artist and later went into the building industry specialising in joinery. He is now retired.


Ian Macdonald (bass) trained as a joiner and has had his own building firm for many years. Ian has played in numerous local bands since the 60s.

Mally Coram (drums) obtained a music degree and taught music at a Liverpool college. He played in numerous local bands. He emigrated to Australia in 2005, formed a band there and set up a recording studio but died suddenly in February 2008.

Phil, Ian and Dave live within a few miles of each other and are in regular contact."



Recordings

The Prowlers made three double-sided demo records:

Lost & Alone (written by Alan and Dave)/King Bee (Slim Harpo)
I Believe to my Soul (written by Alan and Dave)/You Don’t Own Me
Cadillac/Motor Car (written by Peter Wharton)


Line up of the Prowlers

The Prowlers #1 (Early 1964 - Late 1965)
  • Alan Davies (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Phil Norman (Lead Guitar)
  • Dave Stanton (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ian Macdonald (Bass)
  • Malcom Coram (Drums) "Mally Coram"


The Prowlers #2 (Early 1966 - Late 1967)
  • Phil Munro (Lead Vocals) "Poxy"
  • Phil Norman (Lead Guitar)
  • Peter Wharton then Dougie Hughes (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Ian Macdonald (Bass)
  • Malcom Coram (Drums) "Mally Coram"

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The Plebs



The birth of this mid 60's beat group, named after the word that signified the urban proletariat in Ancient Rome, can be traced back to another two great outfits: The Nashville Teens and The Screaming Lord Sutch's Savages.

Vocalist Terry Crowe and guitarist Michael Dunford had been in The Nashville Teens while
Danny McCulloch and Derek Sirmon were respectively bass player and drummer of The Savages.

Dunford was previously the lead guitarist for The Cruisers Rock Combo, a rock band got together in Weybridge, Surrey, in 1960 with Tony Gallagher, Kenny King and Chris Wing on vocals, John Hawken on piano, Pete Harris on bass, and Dave Maine on drums. They turned into The Nashville Teens in 1962 when they split from their singers and teamed up with Ray Phillips and Arthur Sharp.
The following year, Dunford exited to be replaced by John Allen, and Terry Crow joined during the group's extended stay in Hamburg, West Germany.

Meanwhile Derek "Degsy" Sirmon, an acquaintance of Ritchie Blackmore's, replaced Carlo Little as Savages’ drummer in October 1962,. He had previously played drums with The Conchords, whose line-up included vocalist, Ray Dorset, who was later to form Mungo Jerry, and then Mike Dee & the Jaywalkers, which were both managed by DJ Phil Jay. He brought in The Savages bass player Daniel McCulloch from Frankie Reid & the Casuals, another band managed by Jay.
This new set of Savages finally left Screaming Lord Sutch after a a two week booking at the Star Club in Hamburg in May 1963 and then toured North Germany on their own as "The Raving Savages", from Summer to Winter’ 63.
They recorded an E.P. intitled "Everybody Surf with The Surfing Savages" which was produced by Mike Smith at DECCA. They eventually broke away from their manager Mannfred Woitalla and went back to England before splitting up in late '63.

In early 1964, Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch subsequently teamed up with former Nashville Teens members vocalist Terry Crowe and guitarist Mick Dunford to form The Plebs. McCulloch recruited keyboard player Chris Dennis who had put the notice up in a local music shop.
They then went on the road, first providing back up for Joe Meek's protégé, Jess Conrad.
As Mark Wynter' backing band, they supported The Dave Clark Five on their 6-Week UK package Tour from 29 March
to 13 May 1964 along with the Hollies, the Trebletones, the Mojos, and the Kinks.
By June 1964, The Plebs began touring with guest american artists such as bluesmen Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker.
The members of the band also spent time win the Orchestra pit with an American Modern Ballet company called The Alvin Ailey Dance Troup in a theatre in London.

Touring on their own, The Plebs opened for the Roadrunners and the Notions at Liverpool Cavern Club on Sunday 21 June 1964.

The band also turned up in the film 'Be My Guest' as Jerry Lee Lewis' backing band, alongside the Nashville Teens.
They actually accompanied "the killer" on his UK tour from November 19th to December 7th 1964, doing Ready Steady Go with him on November 20th 1964.
They also backed Gene vincent, sharing the bill with The Yardbirds at London Golden Green Hippodrome on 1 December 1964 and at Birmingham Town Hall on 12 December 1964.

The Plebs made a single: a cover of a Coasters song called "Bad Blood", composed by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, and the B-side was an RnB-flavoured version of "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", a folky song they got from Joan Baez, that represented the sound of the band much better according to keyboard player Chris Dennis (1). Both sides were produced by Mark Wildey. They were first released in the UK in late 1964 on Decca, and then in the US on MGM K13320 in 1965. Their sole record has now become a minor collectable.

In January 1965, The Plebs ended up in Hamburg, playing at the Star Club on a one-month contract, which was extended for two weeks. They went there with a new drummer (who was not from the south-east, like the rest of the band).

As Chris Dennis recalls, when their contract there expired, the prospects back in England weren't particularly good and there was a vibrant music scene in Hamburg, so he decided to stay on, playing with a variety of bands such as Lee Curtis & the All Stars, Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays, and The Bad Boys. The others went home...

Dennis relocated later in Italy, playing with Dave Anthony's Moods, The Rags, I Nomadi and Modena City Ramblers.
Dunford became a key member of the second lineup of Renaissance, and Danny McCulloch worked with Eric Burdon & his New Animals.


(1) Chris Dennis In fact the Plebs were my first band. I had put a notice up in my local music shop and not a week later there was Danny McCulloch standing at my door, inviting me to an audition. This was in 1964. We made a single - a cover of a Coasters song called Bad Blood. But the B-side was a much better song, and represented the sound of the band much better. It was an RnB-flavoured version of Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, a folky song we got from Joan Baez.


Discography of The Plebs

Singles:

Bad Blood/Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You - UK (Decca F 12006) November 1964
Bad Blood/Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You - US (MGM K13320) 1965
Both sides were available on LP Compilation "Broken Dreams", Vol. 4
CD Compilations: "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" on "The R&B Scene" and "That Driving Beat"


Line Up:

The Plebs (January 1964 - January 1965)
  • Terry Crowe (Lead Vocals)
  • Mick Dunford (Lead Guitar)
  • Chris Dennis (Keyboards)
  • Danny McCulloch (Bass)
  • Derek Sirmon (Drums) "Degsy"
  • ?? ?? (Drums) Hamburg Star Club

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More on Red-E Lewis


Red-E Lewis - real name William Stubbs - was born in 1936 and was nicknamed "Red" because of his ginger hair [as his son Danny explains "over here we sometimes call ginger people red heads hence the nick name."]


Red-E Lewis is now aged 75.

His brother Mickey was in The Blue Rondos and The Syndicats in the 60's, and in a band called Home in the 70's [feat. Laurie Wisefield [Wishbone Ash] and Cliff Williams [AC/DC] and on their first album is a track called "Red E Lewis."


Danny Stubbs (Red-E Lewis' son):

"Band signed to CBS, release first lp in 1970. Titled "Pause for a hoarse horse" was named after the tour van they used which finally had to be replaced. This album features the song "Red E Lewis" with lyrics pertaining to the fact that Micky watched the band rehearsing in my nan's front room. The album was country rock style with most of the songs written about our family.

The second album titled Home,released in 1972 more rock orientated with Cliff Williams playing his bass with a bow cello style on a track called Lady of the birds.

Third album took everybody by surprise as it was a concept album called The Alchemist released in 1973.

Home toured all over Europe and had a good following and actually supported Led Zeppelin. In 1974 CBS wanted the band to go to America to support Al Stewart but my uncle at that time had a wife and small child so he didn't go this basically split the band who did go to America but on their return did split up. As I mentioned Laurie Wisefield [Lead Guitar] went to Wishbone Ash, Mick Cook [drummer] went to the Groundhogs and at some point Cliff joined AC/DC. Their were two part time members of the band Jim Anderson [piano] and Dave Skillern [writer]. Micky had a few publishing deals with various record companies with his best success having Lulu cover one of his songs. Sadly both Micks are now deceased.

All albums now available on cd through Rewind records plus a live BBC sessions cd."


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BLUES BY FIVE 1960 - 2008




"Blues By Five" sounds like a name the Rolling Stones might've chosen in less imaginative and daring circumstances noted Bruce Eder in his All Music Guide, considering that they may be descended from the "Blues By Six" band that Charlie Watts exited, for a gig with Alexis Korner, in 1961.
They were actually a seperate band from Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex.
The nucleus of Blues by Five was born under the guise of The Men of Mystery all from Belmont School in Harrow, originally put together in 1960 by Ron Faulkner (aka "McQueen") on Lead Guitar, Ken Morgan on Rhythm Guitar, Jim Whitaker on Bass Guitar and Phil Wainman on Drums (1). They were later joined by singer Len Ashley.

The Men of Mystery played around the London area at various clubs, did well working American bases for agent Jack Fallon (Cana Variety), and then Toured Scotland and the North of England.
They backed Marty Wilde and Duffy Power at The Marquee. They supported Joe Brown at The State Kilburn.
On 17 September 1963, they also opened for The Rolling Stones at their local venue South Harrow British Legion Hall where they were later seen by producer Joe Meek and offered a recording test. Singer Len Ashley was offered an opportunity to record Eddie Cochran type numbers but he turned this down to stay with the band (Heinz later took on this role and recorded "Just like Eddie").

By 1963, Ron and Len were then joined by Dick Bryce on drums, Mick Wright on Bass, Bill Blisset on Keyboards and Noel Chartres McManus on Sax (2). This was the Birth of Blues by Five. 
From spring to summer '64, they Toured Britain backing American singer Big Dee Irwin ("Swinging on a Star"), starred with The Hollies - Little & Large - Shane Fenton and Screaming Lord Sutch.
David Ozholl (aka Dave Jones) joined the band in summer 1964 on lead and rhythm guitar after Ron dropped out through illness during their tour with Big Dee Irwin.
Early gigs with the new line up included a season at the famous Blackpool north pier, working with Johnny and the Pirates, The Tornados, Heinz, Marty Wilde...
In November 1964, they took part of the Brenda Lee/Manfred Mann UK tour.
They had one single release on Decca in December 1964: the 'A' side was a powerful rendition of John Lee Hooker's R&B classic "Boom Boom", the B side was an original "I Cried" written by Rolling Stones Manager Andrew Loog Oldham and arranger Mike Leander. This is now a sought-after 45. 
David Ozholl played lead guitar on the band’s recording of "Boom Boom" [see the press cutting above] (3)
 
During 1965, they kept touring UK, supporting PJ Proby in April. 
By June 1965 they underwent a working tour of Cyprus, Malta and North Africa 
entertaining the troops, playing in their own right and backing several others
including Michael Cox,Twinkle and Little and Large.
The Band broke up after supporting The Spencer Davis Group in September
1965.

In the late 60’s / 70’s, Ron and Len formed a new band called Fascination with Terry Williams - Trumpet,Guitar,and Vocals - Ian Williams - Bass Guitar and Vocals - Steve Dunkley - Drums. It was a change in direction for them musically doing more vocal harmonies (Beach Boys etc).
Later the personnel changed bringing in Trevor Goarge - Keyboards,Vocals - Eddie Majwick - Bass Guitar they continued to do college gigs etc and were then joined by John Hamilton - Guitar - Keyboards - Vocals (Later ran EQ Studios)
They were joined briefly by Christopher Rainbow who later had hits with Give me what I cry for and Solid State Brain and also recorded Jingles for Tony Blackburn on Radio One. Later produced various bands Jon Anderson being one.
In the late 1970.s Ron and Len formed a recording band called TAN and released several singles and a Country Album on the White Dove Label. The personnel were Len Ashley - Vocals - Ron Faulkner - Guitar & Bass Guitar - John Hamilton - Keyboard & Backing Vocals - Terry Williams - Trumpet and Backing Vocals - Roger Rettig - Guitar and Pedal Steel Guitar (He was an original on Rutland Weekend TV - The Rutles and played with Fatso and various good country bands.
In 1992, Len Ashley and Ron Faulkner reformed Blues by Five with John Barry (JJ) on Lead Guitar and Vocals, John Abbot on Bass Guitar, Nigel Clegg on Drums. Blues by Five continued to play through the 1990's in Blues clubs and Pubs until they finally split with people going in different directions.
Ron and Len are still together writing and recording their own songs and Jingles when they get together.
Ron is now based in Spain and does the odd gig with local bands. Len joins him on his frequent visits.
Blues by Five Resurected are playing at The Moraira Music Festival in Spain 12th June 2011.
Original members Len Ashley Vocals / Harp and Ron Faulkner Lead Guitar Vocals

(1) Phil Wainman Later went on to join Sandie Shaw & The Paramounts, Johnny B. Great & The Quotations, and then Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System. He inspired Keith Moon, playing on stage with 2 bass drums. He subsequently went on to become a successful record producer, producing Sweet, The Boomtown Rats...
 
(2) Noel McManus left in late '64. Was he the saxophone player of the same name who 
joined Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages from February 1965 to March 1966???
(3) This record company publicity photograph, published in The Edgware Times just after 
the disc was released, shows (back row from left) Dick Brice (drums), Len Ashley (vocals 
and harmonica), Bill Blissett (keyboards), Mick Wright (bass) and in front, David Ozholl 
(guitars).


Discography
Singles:
Boom Boom (John Lee Hooker)/I Cried (Andrew Loog Oldham/Mike Leander) (Decca F 12029) December 1964

Various Line-ups of Blues By Five
The Men of Mystery (Harrow, 1960 - 1963)
  • Len Ashley (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Ron Faulkner (Lead Guitar) "Ron McQueen"
  • Ken Morgan (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Jim Whitaker (Bass)
  • Phil Wainman (Drums)

Blues By Five #1 (Late 1963 - Late 1965)
  • Len Ashley (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Ron Faulkner (Lead Guitar) "Ron McQueen" then David Ozholl
  • Mick Wright (Bass)
  • Anthony Blisset (Keyboards) "Bill Blissett"
  • Noel McManus (Tenor Sax)
  • Dick Brice (Drums)

Blues By Five #2 (1992 - 2011)
  • Len Ashley (Lead Vocals/Harmonica)
  • Ron Faulkner (Keyboards/Rhythm Guitar) "Ron McQueen"
  • John Barry (Lead Guitar/Vocals) "JJ"
  • John Abbot (Bass)
  • Nigel Clegg (Drums)

Special thanks to Len Ashley and David Ozholl
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Brian Howard & The Silhouettes

Most notable for including Jeff Beck (1) and recording with Jimmy Page, Brian Howard & The Silhouettes were an English Rock'n'Roll group from Mitcham, in Surrey, put together in late 1960 by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Phil Somerville, with red haired lead guitarist George Colbran, bassist Dave Robertson-Hollidge (2), drummer Ian Hague (later with Chris Farlowe and Nice), and a pianist whose name is long forgotten.

By 1961 Somerville moved to “Im & the Uvvers” and was replaced by John Gibb (4), who did look somewhat like Alan Caldwell of Rory Storm & the Hurricanes (Ringo Starr's old band) according to former American GI Charlie Blute (3), then stationed in Fontenet, France, where The group was booked during the summer.
They were indeed booked in the Enlisted Men's Club at Fontenet Ordnance Depot, during the months of July and August 1961. They also had a girl singer who was hired for the tour of Western France.
At the end of summer '61, they returned to England without her. In December 1961, Charlie Blute went to John Gibb's home, in Mitcham, for Christmas as a guest of his parents and they became firm friends...
So he went out to gigs with the band to clubs in Guilford and Epping.

In 1963, The new Silhouettes were Johnny Patto (ex Johnny Kidd and the Pirates) on lead guitar, Phil Childs on bass, and Barry Gilford (who lost his sight to Glaucoma) on drums. On alternative Fridays Brian Howard and the Silhouettes would play in a venue just down the street from Wimbledon Park railway Station (Central line) known as "The Rock and Twist Club" (7).

Brian Howard & The Silhouettes released a pair of singles for Columbia and one on the Fontana label.
The first, 'Somebody Help Me' b/w 'Young And Evil' was released in October '62. The follow-up, 'The Worryin' Kind' b/w 'Come To Me', issued in July 1963, featured Jimmy Page on lead (5). But they were best known for their cover of Chuck Berry's 'Back In The U.S.A.' which was released in April '64 (6).

John Gibb remembers another guitar maestro, Jeff Beck playing with them for a bit (7). Beck did fill in for them but also in the early days as he was in fact an old crony of Phil Somerville’s from his junior art school (1).

In late 1964 they changed the name to The Sneakers and released a 45 which was produced by Shel Talmy, including Ray Davies’ “I Just Can't Go To Sleep” coupled with “Bald Headed Woman.”
They supported The Who at the start of their run of Tuesday nights at the Marquee Club.
By 1965, They recorded a 12-track album at the Marquee Studios as The Frays (8). Their first release for Decca Records was “Walk On” backed with the stunning group original “Keep Me Covered”.
Unfortunately the single failed to chart, the LP remained unreleased so the band called it a day.

John Gibb later went on to live in Ontario, Canada and played in the band Battered Wives (who made some records and one of them went gold in Canada).
He is now living in Canada and owns a metal fabricating company.
His brother Chris played bass with Canadian bands the Deserters and Wanka in the 80's. He now lives in Florida.

Dave Hollidge (real name David Robertson-Hollidge) spent 6 years in the pro music business, went on to live in Spain, then moved to Wales, back to music full time for a few years in 1985. He started his own carpet business and ended up in Canton Cardiff. He started playing again a few years ago with Blues Central...



(1) "Crazy Fingers" by Annette Carson:An irregular contact was vocalist Phil Somerville, an old crony of Jeff Beck’s from his his junior art school. Somerville formed a group, Brian Howard & The Silhouette, and Beck played guitar on a few of their gigs. Later, when Somerville moved to “Im & the Uvvers”, he put the word out for Beck to stand in for their lead guitarist, who had upped and left…
 
(2) Not to be confused with bassist Dave Elvidge
(see the Crescents):
incidentally Jeff Beck's paths have crossed with 2 musicians called Dave Elridge in the same period. The bass player with Brian Howard & The Silhouettes and the drummer of the Nightshift...

Annette Carson's "Crazy Fingers":
The Nightshift started playing regurlarly at Eel Pie Island and some of London’s leading club venues like the 100 Club; Phil Somerville recalls they once headlined a bill with opening for them...

(3) Charlie Blute:
"I was stationed at Fontenet Ordnance Depot, France which was an Army Base. I was there for 2 1/2 years, from January 1960-May 1962. I was in Special Services and then assigned to CID (Criminal Investigations) as a clerical support specialist. Prior to going into the service. I did some disc jockeying for the local YMCA and did the same for the Army in France, on my free time."
"...I was a GI when I met the guys in the band. They were booked in my EM Club in Fontenet, during the summer of 1961. They stayed there for two months and then returned to England and I had no contact with any of the band until later in December when I went to John's home for Christmas as a guest of his parents... John and I became friends and I became close to his family when they came to France for vacation that year. I had some contact with John's mom for a while until I got settled back in the US.

...Incidentaly Rory Storm & the Hurricanes played the same club the next year! It was then I met Ringo [Starr]... I thought both groups had great potential to go someplace. John and Paul had come to France to see Ringo in order to hire him to join their band. I was present at that meeting. But it was a quiet chat over tea I think...."

(4) Charlie Blute: "I figured out John's old street address in Mitcham, it was Hatfield Close. John did look somewhat like Rory, but he surely did not stutter like Rory did. Gosh when he introduced a number at the club it took longer than the song to say the title. Yet he could sing like a bird. Later learned in my course of studies that stuttering can be helped by breathing like you sing."

(5) One of earliest Jimmy Page recording sessions

(6) Back In The U.S.A. and Hooked
were both included on CD Compilation Rare 60's Beat Treasures, Vol. 4, on Beat Im Star Club (Dble LP) and Beat Merchants (Dble LP).


(7) Rob Stearns
Re your question Jeff Beck playing with Brian Howard....I can personally confirm this as being true .... I saw him playing with them on several occasions. Some history here...There used to be a venue just down the street from Wimbledon Park railway Station (Central line) known as "The Rock and Twist Club"…
On alternative Fridays Brian Howard and the Silhouettes would play....Being a budding musician myself during the early 60's I stood mesmerized as I watched a very young Jeff Beck bedazzle us with his playing on an old blonde Telecaster through an old Vox AC30, at that time we'd only ever heard those lame old guitar solos by the likes of USA's Bill Haley's (and the comets) lead guitarist... then along comes this young fellow wearing an old black tee shirt and a black leather vest, blistering speed and just a blowing the doors off the place.....magical times indeed.


(8)
The Frays album “90 Wardour Street” (the address of Marquee) has been finally released by Acid Jazz Records


Discography

Singles:
Brian Howard & The Silhouettes
  • Somebody Help Me/Young And Evil (Columbia DB 4914) - October 1962
  • The Worryin' Kind/Come To Me (Columbia DB 7067) - July 1963 with Jimmy Page
  • Back In The U.S.A./Hooked (Fontana TF 464) - April 1964 with Johnny Patto

The Sneekers 
  • I Just Can't Go To Sleep/Bald Headed Woman (Columbia DB 7385) – October 1964

The Frays
  • Walk On/ Keep Me Covered (Decca) - 1965

LP
The Frays
  • 90 Wardour Street (Acid Jazz Records 2904920) – August 2012



Various Line-ups of Brian Howard & The Silhouettes

Johnny Howard & The Tremors/The Silhouettes #1 (1960 - Early 1961)
  • John Gibb (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) "Johnny Howard"
  • George Colbran (Lead Guitar) "Scott Narbloc"
  • Dave Robertson-Hollidge (Bass) "Dave Burns"
  • Ian Hague (Drums)  "Ray Clark"

Brian Howard & The Silhouettes #2 (July - August 1961)
  • John Gibb (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) "Brian Howard"
  • Valerie ?? (Lead Vocals)
  • George Colbran (Lead Guitar)
  • Lionel Davis (Piano)
  • Dave Robertson-Hollidge (Bass)
  • Ian Hague (Drums)

Brian Howard & The Silhouettes #3 (Mid 1961 - 1962)
  • John Gibb (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) "Brian Howard"
  • George Colbran (Lead Guitar) 
  • Dave Robertson-Hollidge (Bass) 
  • Ian Hague (Drums)
  • Mick Lewis (Drums)  

Brian Howard & The Silhouettes #4 (1963 - 1964)
  • John Gibb (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar) "Brian Howard"
  • Johnny Patto (Lead Guitar)
  • Phil Childs (Bass)
  • Barry Gilford (Drums)

The Sneekers/The Frays (1964 - 1965)
  • John   Gibb    (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar)  "Brian Howard"
  • Johnny Patto    (Lead Guitar) 
  • Clive   Howse   (Bass)                          
  • Barry  Gilford   (Drums)                        



Special thanks to Tim, Shirley & John Gibb (Brian Howard); Dave Robertson-Hollidge, Charlie Blute from Massachusetts, USA; Bruce Welsh from Victoria, Canada; Barry & Lynda Gilford and Rob Stearns

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