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BANDS
Crispian St.Peters and Old Crow, Mirkwood, Jack Castle, Mick Morris and Keith Harwood CD's and Downloads now available

Marshmallow Tree (Tree)

were an Alternative Rock Band created from the remains of URF circa1968 - 1969

Bob Hodgeman Bass - Chris Ashman Vocals - Pete Sewell Drums -Cliff Homewood Lead Guitar - Eddie Maitland Keyboards - Nick Ashman Rhythm Guitar.

The band was renamed as Tree when Pete left to move to Oxford, then didn't go. He was replaced by Les Sampson. He temporarily joined 1981 then Tristram Shandy. . Strangely both of them ended up in Nottingham as the drummer for Tristram Shandy. Pete had left to join the The Mike Miller Big Band.

Tree continued until October 1969 when Cliff left , to eventually join Raw Material ( on "Time Is" Album called he is called Cliff Harewood) and Les to join Stray Dog

Click on Picture for MT Gigs, Stories Reunion & Pics

Discology - Demo Acetate - MT Blues /Hear me Cry. - - It still makes me cry ...Ed

URF

were Probably the first Alternative "Rock" band (sic) in the area, as at the time most of the local bands were playing Soul and Rock Steady and Old style Blues. URF was created from the remains of Infinity and The Concords in 1968. To the right, the URF Group business cards
Photo l-r
Bob Hodgeman Bass - Ellis Pelham Glasby Lead Guitar - Pete Sewell Drums - Nick Ashman Rhythm Guitar - Rock (mascot ) - Chris Ashman Vocals.

Went on to form Marshmallow Tree

Gigs at Bridge Country Club, The Hole in the Wall, Dover Rd, Coach & Horses, Canterbury - Willy Brian W Wilson (roady) - To be continued

URF Reunion 2001

Left to Right - Ellis, Nick, Pete, Chris

Infinity was a small pop group formed in 1967/68 by Pete Sewell Drums and Nick Ashman Guitar to their number they added Bob Hodgeman Bass - Chris Ashman Vocals, Keith Adams and Mick Hinton Guitar - Ellis Pelham Glasby Keyboards & guitar joined later when Keith and Mick left - URF was formed

Gigs at the Odeon Bar

On that first get together at the Woodward Hall to rehearse a friend, Willy,(Brian Wison) was going to be the vocalist but didn't quite have the hang of it, Chris, the new roady was cajoled into having a go and took the job. Willy became a fine roady, he lived at Ducky Petes on Bouverie Rd East, above Bob's mum's flat - To be continued

Lonnie Donegan Junior
(son of the great man himself who was a former Kent resident in Margate)

is doing some shows featuring updated versions of his Dad's classic songs

.The band has advertised its first show ( Herne Bay Kings Hall Theatre) - on Kent Gig Guide -

But a local paper down in this part of Kent inadverantly published an incorrect picture of a 60's band instead of Lonnie Senior ......

.. question is - Who is the band ? Nobody seems to know - The bassplayer looks like Chas Chandler but after that - its anyones guess

see bigger image here

The Killer Rabbits
The Crazy World of The Killer Rabbits all started in 1983 when two musicians called Roger decided that their four piece rock combo, Rich and Famous, was too sensible. With Famous names, Captain Abnormal on guitar and Morgan Rabbit (The sensitive tag was to be added much later) on drums the crazy two formed a four (and occasionally three) piece called, firstly The Frantic Five and then briefly Six of One and Half a Dozen of the Other before settling on the name The Killer Rabbits. Morgan and Roger (1) had met when Roger (1) had guested in Morgan's mock-punk outfit Ted Turd and the Toolsheds. Soon Ted Turd's talented axeman, Johnny Sequins, joined, Captain Abnormal left, Nick "Seaside" Rabbit (who lived at the seaside) joined and The Killer Rabbits began to attract a huge following in several small villages and hamlets around Kent and London.

Killer Rabbits 1986? Back: Rog, Nick, Rog; Front: Morgan, Geoff the Point

The first record...With Geoff "the Point" on bass the band recorded their first single in 1984. "Captain Marvellous" was recorded in Canterbury and written by Sequins and Morgan, as was the B-side "Bill the Magic Bunny". The band had begun to "write" a number of "songs" at this stage, and all members of the band contributed in their own pathetic way. The above two songs continued to be featured in the band's live set for over ten years, until the demise of the band in fact.

Jeff left and now plays in "Stormy Monday" a Faversham outfit. Blind Lemon Riley joined to play bass and harmonica and sing and I'm pretty sure that Steve Crisp was there sometime too. It's all rather lost in the mists of time. Anyway Nick left after a while to live in London and the band continued with the line-up of Sequins, Morgan, Roger (1), Roger (2) and Blind Lemon Riley. This line-up played mainly Kent venues, pubs, colleges and others. The Nag's Head in Rochester and Audrey's Wine Bar in Canterbury were regular gigs during this time, and the band also played the University of Kent fresher's week gigs. There also exists a recording of the band interviewed on Radio Kent and Invicta radio on successive nights. Heads have rolled at both stations since.

The video and the "new boys" The band were captured (but unfortunately not imprisoned) on video by Chelsea College of Art in 1993, performing at "the Hand and Flower" in Chelsea to an ecstatic and inebriated audience.

Sequins and Blind Lemon left to write more serious music and soon joined Kent rockers "The Brothers Grimm" fronted by Gary Miller who had curiously once auditioned for the "Toolsheds" mentioned above. The new boys now joining were Deaf Lemon Bradford - leaving the Maidstone band "The Hurlimann Brothers" to play bass, and Anthea Ridgepole a.k.a. James from London on guitar. This line up of Roger (1), Roger (2), Morgan, Anthea and Deaf were to continue for the next eight years or so, the latter two always being known as "the new boys".

The Classic Album The band's classic album was recorded in 1988. Dodgy Derek's Desert Drive-in Dunk-a-Doughnut Stand was to become a watershed, a benchmark for all aspiring bands and an inspiration to the new crop of Britpop stars, who were just about beginning to start school and listen to music for the first time. Heady days.

Cult Status The band's appeal continued to grow and by the early nineties had reached cult status. They guested with such names as John Otway and John Cooper Clarke and for many years the World Wildlife Fund threatened to book the band for a huge blockbuster gig in outer Hertfordshire. Eventually the World Wrestling Federation admitted that there was some confusion over initials but the band, being weeds and cowards, wouldn't talk to them.

Roger Rabbit and the Mickey Mouse organisation The release of the film "Roger Rabbit" was a great boost to Roger (2)'s career with many requests for press interviews, but he never received a penny from Bob Hoskins, despite their uncanny resemblance. The band played on and there were many memorable memories to remember such as the clearing of a whole shelf of glasses by Roger (1) whilst flying from the bar at a pub in Woolwich, and the same Roger also inadvertently exposing himself at Wembley in front of some very impressionable old ladies.

Eric Clapton Eventually, the pressures of touring and playing four, sometimes five gigs a year became too much, and The Rabbit's heavy work load and endless touring began to take its toll. The "new boys" were often found playing in a loud Maidstone band, Pyromaniacs from Hell, featuring one Raymond on vocals and the two Rogers (1 and 2) could also be found performing illegally in a duo known as "The Wrong Brothers", stealing much of the Rabbit's act, or at least the bits which they had written themselves! Eventually the band decided to split. The band's widely publicised last gig was at the Old Ash Tree at Gillingham, in May 1995, and included guest appearances from Blind Lemon Riley and Steve Crisp (who hasn't been mentioned up until now but was in the band briefly in the very early days. Eric Clapton, who was in the audience that night, could be seen visibly weeping as the band played their last number, a definitive version of Layla. The following night, the band played at a club near Biggin Hill.

Like seeds blown by the wind...Roger "Grandad" Rabbit (referred to above as Roger 2) formed "The Lawnmowers" and several other bands. Morgan and the two Rogers performed in "Les Anoraks Bleu", and Morgan the drummist now takes his kit to gigs by a soul band called "Loose Change". Roger Radio (referred to above as Roger 1) moved to Nottingham and joined a Deep Purple tribute band. Then moved to Sussex where he now lives Deaf Lemon Bradford now plays in Maidstone's very own "Shaven Haven" with Johnny Sequins and Raymond. (Whatever happened to baby James?)

Reunions The Killer Rabbits played their first reunion gig at the Rainham Oast one year after they split. Everybody hoped that this would be the last one, but in October 1998, Radio, Deaf and Morgan joined for a brief appearance in the Faversham area. Then, in May 1999, came two further final farewell gigs in Maidstone and Medway. Followed quickly by another couple of final farewell gigs in March 2001.

Text Burrowed from the wabbits wonderfully witch website where we can weed the west of the story - Great pictures and teatowel design

The Concords

A early photo of the first Concords taken in 1962.
Formed at Lydd
from the front
Mike (tinker) Tordoff bass
Les Freathy rhythm and vocals
Barry (chas) Viles lead guitar and
Bob Piper drums.

Photo: Thanks to Les Freathy

Others - Ellis Pelham - Glasby lead guitar & keyboards
Roger Harrison lead guitar
Steve Elliott drums
John Barnes on Bass.

Photo 1. the very first photo taken of the concords, a local girl painted the skin on Bobs drum

photo2 after around 3 years i left the group to try my luck in London and enjoyed playing on many of the circuits in the south but after a year decided to come home and after a few months a few local musicians got together and reformd the Concords the previous concords carried on for a while then joined Noel Reading for a tour of the north as the Burnettes. The second photo shows the four members of the reformed Concords Lto R Roger Harrison lead guitar Les Freathy rhythm and vocals Steve Elliott drums and John Barnes on Bass.

photo3 after 12 months we decided a keyboard player was required as the type of music we were playing had changed hence the inclusion of Ellis (madcap) Pelham Glasby my word he had long arms.

photo 4 just to prove we were all mad cap heres a photo taken before a gig in Whitstable

cheers

Les

Canterbury Tales

Hi Chris,

In 1969-1971 I played with a band named Canterbury Tales.

Canterbury Tales consisted of myself Mark Dean Ellen on drums, Bernie Hagley on Bass and Sax , Nigel Gilchrist on Hammond organ & bass, John Wheels Guitar. Later when Bernie left to go to the States with "Tranquility" we recruited a new Bass player. He was Trevor Horne who went on to form Buggles and made a couple of hits with gender bending bands.(Frankie Came >From Liverpool).But he never touched me, as far as I can remember.He did give me some some funny blue pills as I recall one time, which made me have fantastic pornographic dreams which I can still recall vividly.

We were resident Fri. & Sat. St. Mildreds Hotel, Westgate (now flattened).and Sunday nights the Queen's Hotel Cliftonville. (also flattened) We played the Coach & Horses Canterbury Wednesdays, That was if we could beat contenders Mickey Finn to the gig, no probs. we had a Transit & they had an old Commer.
1969-1971' which is also now flattened, during the week we did what musos did in the 60,s, Whatever that was, I cannot remember.. Neros in Ramsgate was another venue. A gig in Folkestone was good for nubile groupies.(Forgot the name of that one). Good times they tell me.

Bernie & I are now in Vanity Fare, Nigel is running a music hire company in L.A. John is running a Taxi Company in Perth W.Australia & I am having fantastic pornographic flashbacks.

Please use this in your where are they now thingy. If you need more details I can supply, but keep it clean.

Daniel - Cliff Homewood (Lead Guitar) - Dave Shackle - Dave Butler
Rehearsals - Aurora Hotel North Kent

Chicory Tip - Maidstone
Chicory Tip reached No.1 on 29th January 1972 with‘Son Of My Father’ The record spent thirteen weeks in the UK charts, and was a hit across Europe.
More info goto. their website

The Mavericks

Mick Colley - David Colley - Stephen Colley
Ray Stroud
Bob Stammers (singer)
Reg Haynes (singer)
Owen Wheatley (bass guitar and singer)
Duncan Spencer (bass guitar and singer)
Steve Dalton (bass guitar)
Eddie Justin (steel guitarist)
Owen Wheatley (bass guitar and singer)

The Mavericks were a Kent band based in Gravesend. The band was formed in the early 70s when Mick asked his younger twin brothers, David and Stephen and friends Ray Stroud and Bob Stammers to join him in a country band. His ambition was to get the band to Wembley as a tribute to his late father who died at the age of 45 when Mick was 19 years old and David and Stephen only 5 years of age. His dad was very well known as a singer guitarist who played with the likes of Big Bill Campbell at the end of the war. During the war, Dad, Leslie Colley sang on the radio broadcast from Henleys Factory, on a programme called "Workers Playtime". Mick's older brother Brian Colley was also musically minded and he and Mick were on stage as children with Dad Leslie, forming a trio. Mick and Brian went on to form a very successful skiffle band "The Thames Valley Ramblers" who were runners up in the All England Skiffle Competition.

The Mavericks were very successful with a large following from all over the country. They were renowned for their comedy on stage, their harmonies and their song writing ability. Their songs are often requested to this day. One of Mick's songs is still played by Steve Williams of Rough Justice, namely "The Fisherman and the Bullfrog". Mick has a new version of this song now, aimed at children and has signed a contract for it in the USA along with other songs he has written.

Over the years the band changed members, namely Bob Stammers, (singer), Reg Haynes (singer), Duncan Spencer (bass guitar and singer), Steve Dalton (bass guitar). As the band progressed and settled they were joined by Eddie Justin (steel guitarist) and finally Owen Wheatley (bass guitar and singer) who were all on The Mavericks album, "Country Dream". Owen became a solid friend and member of the brothers as did Bob Stammers and Eddie Justin who have now both sadly passed away.

The Mavericks went on to be runners up in the Kent and England country Music festival at Wembley and they were regular visitors to Maida Vale Studios in London where they recorded songs for Radio Two Country Club with compare Mr Dave Allen. They later became the backing band for the late great Tex Withers and backed him on the Wembley Stage at the Country Music Festival.
So the dream was complete.

Mick is now a singer songwriter and composer with some success. He has just had an instrumental accepted to be recorded on CD and will be making a demo for TV, Radio, Films etc, along with other artists from all over the world. Mick is now living in Cornwall and enjoying retirement and his music. Since moving to Cornwall, Mick has played with some of the big local names.

So to all Mavericks fans, Mick and the boys would like to thank you all for the good times and your support.

Thanks again from Mick Colley (The Old Bullfrog!!)

No Future

Great Sex Pistol Tribute act with musicians from Dover area
No Future

Kev (jones) Guitar - Gym (Rotten) Vocals - Bomber(Vicious) Bass - Chris (Cook) Drums
A most unusual act.
BBC Kent described them by saying they were almost as bad as the originals. Praise indeed.
Gently courted by the media on Homes Under The Hammer and still waiting for a slot on Britains Got Talent. The act played many gigs in London, Kent, France, have been on the radio in UK, Germany and Singapore played a few festivals and supported famous bands.

www.myspace.com/nofuture4u

The Fyrebirds

Formed in the early sixties, this was a five-piece outfit whose members were Ellis Pelham – Glasby (lead guitar, 12-string guitar & organ), John Atkins (rhythm guitar), Bob “Fumblefingers” Luckhurst (bass), Norman Swan (drums), and Richard “Dick” Paul (vocals).
Their first “gig” was the culmination of no less than two years (!) of rehearsal, during which time a considerable repertoire was built up comprising both vocal and instrumental numbers.

Pic. L-R; John Atkins - Rhythm, Dick Paul - Vocals, Norman Swan - Drums, Bob Luckhurst - Bass, Ellis Pelham - Glasby - Lead Guitar, 12-string Guitar & Organ.

Unsurprisingly, the band underwent some personnel changes during its lifetime, the first being the departure of Richard Paul, being replaced by Robin Hatcher who remained as vocalist until the band’s eventual demise. Also at about this time, Norman Swan took his leave of the line-up to be replaced on drums by Ricky Sharp, who had to leave after a few weeks due to circumstances beyond the band’s control, and he was replaced in turn by Phil “Twilly” Stokes who also remained until the band split up.
Shortly after Ricky joined, a matter of mere days, the band took part in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Counties Beat Contest at Maidstone. Supported by two coach-loads of nearly 100 of their supporters, they took first place with a score of 46½ points out of a possible 50. This was in July of 1965. In February of that year, an article about the band appeared in the Kentish Express, in which Bob Luckhurst was quoted as saying that they wrote some of their own material, and that Ellis wrote the lyrics: “He sings them and we all fall on the floor laughing. . .” This was completely erroneous, as Ellis has never attempted to write a song in his life! He also said that Ellis’ favourite group were The Hunters, and that Ellis said; “They’re fabulous and have a sound which is better than The Shadows”.; When asked about this, Ellis replied; “This is totally untrue! I never said that! It’s a complete fabrication. After all, it certainly wasn’t me who came up with the immortal line; “Baby, go put on your dome” . . . ! I’ve waited nearly forty years to put the record straight, and now’s my chance!”.

The band on stage at the Odeon cinema (Saturday Morning pictures!) back in 1966.

The Mixed Feelings

January 21st 1967

Ellis Pelham - Glasby (keyboards) - Mick Cork - (bass) - Bill Regan (drums) - Dave Pain (vocals)
Pete Hourahane (lead guitar) who replaced Ian Milton

Playing Motown and Soul The Mixed Feelings became regulars at both Tofts Club (Grace Hill) and the Leas Cliff Hall, backing Unit Four Plus Two, the Four Pennies, the Yardbirds (with Jimmy Paige) and others.
At Tofts, they also supported the likes of Spencer Davis, The Who, and The Cream (Clapton/Jack Bruce/Ginger Baker)
It is thought they had to pack up when Dave Pain moved away with his work.

1981 - Ellis Pelham - Glasby - John Barnes (Bass) - ? - ?

Arthur Kays Originals

Arthur Kay's Original Gigging band The Originals comprised of
Pic L-R - Eddie Maitland Keyboards - Arthur Kay Bass and vocals - Terry Cutting Drums - Paul Mylnarz Sax - Perry White Keyboards - Bob Coltart Guitar & vocals.

For the background of Arthur Kay's Originals see Arthurs potted history

Skavalon Records

On the 5th December2001 a new record label was created by Arthur Kay the ska star, it is called Skavalon Records, The label's 1st release was issued early in 2002. I t is called 'Arthur Kay & Tthe Originals' but includes some previously unreleased tracks.

Arthur and his band are one of the remaining 70's 80's ska bands to still be actively gigging albeit with personnel changes. Arthurs first single 'Ska Wars' (Red Admiral Records) with its rare sought out Scooter cover, has been on dozens of compilations throughout the world. The name "Ska Wars" also being chosen for a muti-CD package presenting the best of the Ska Bands. Expect to find a track on the new CD by legend - Judge Dread who sadly passed away on stage in Canterbury's Old Penny Theatre. Athur Kays Originals were one of the Judges favourite backing bands and were working with him that night.Arthur has been assisted by Brian Gould with re-mastering and Steve Wise the graphics, both are old friends from even Arthurs pre-ska days.

Chris Ashman of Red Admiral Records and Lol of MoonSka Europe have been consulted and after a sticky start, wish Arthur well with the project.
For updates See Skavalon web site

Billy & The Heroes
Live at Grena Pavillion, Grena, Denmark 1980.

Line up
John 'Billy' Philpott Lead vocals;
Steve Foster guitar & vocals;
Chris Cox piano, gtr & vocals,
Pete Ashton Bass & vocals;
Tosh Marshall drums.

The Checkers

THE CHECKERS, one of the latest teenage raves in Folkestone, Deal and Dover.
1963

Say "checkers" to an American and he thinks of the game we call darts;( do they mean draughts...Ed) say the same thing to a country dweller and they will probably relate it to a hostelry. But say "checkers" to teenagers in Dover and Folkestone and Deal and there is a near-scream from the girls as they jump, for The Checkers, is one of Folkestone's most popular beat groups,
The Checkers are unusual amongst amateur and semi - professional groups. They have no plans to turn professional for some years. Each member wants to complete his craft apprenticeship - and therefore have prospects of a steady job, before they try to make a living on the stony path of pop music.

Lead guitarist is still at Morehall Secondary School, Folkestone. Bobby Evans, who, lives In Harbour Way, Folkestone, is only 15 years old. Dave Caswell, an 18 year old G.P.O. Engineer of Wood Avenue is rhythm guitarist and bass guitar is played by 15-year old and just out of school Terry Sexton, an apprentice carpenter, who lives in Church Rd Folkestone. Drummer Derek Goodwin is about one of the youngest drummers to beat it out pop dances. He's only 14 and still studying at Morehall Secondary School. He lives in Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone. The Checkers' vocalist is Peter Godden, a 20-year old glazier, of Broadmead Road, Folkestone. Peter, with Bobby Evans, has written an original number, titled "Lonely Heart," which is fast becoming a rave at teen dances and youth clubs.
Original Bass player Martin Vincent was replaced by Terry Sexton who bought his first guitar from Terry Hughes
Manager - Stan Howard
Click for more pictures and posters of The Checkers Also a litle information about the new band Ron’s Shed formed by Derek and Bob

The Feel
(1984-1986) Paul Sindell on keyboards/vocals and James Holdstock on bass/vocals

Paul ran a 24 track studio in Kingsdown Kent called The Farm between 1990 and 1992 but now lives I live in France and works as a web designer and composes music for radio film & tv... He also played in Father Luke and Back Van Nasty

Pat Barry & The Travellers - Ashford - Pat Barry (vocals) - an Spratt (drums) - Lawrence ? (bass) - Ken Evans Left-handed (lead) - rhythm?

Once backed Cliff Richard with his "Roxy" television commercial. Lead guitarist Ken Evans was once asked to back Billy Fury on a Radio Luxembourg show, he turned down ths offer saying he did not want to break with the rest of the group. But early 62 the band split because he left to go to London.

The Travellers - Dover -

"The Travellrs" were once again reforming towards the end of 1962. The new line-up being: Pat Barry - singer, Tony Waters - rhythm guitar, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Ian Spratt - drums and John"Andy" Andrews (Bass) guitar from the now defunct "Lonely Ones".

Dave Penfold and the Escorts were formed about 1960. The line-up was Dave Penfold - singer, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Tony Waters - rhythm guitar, Laurence Grice - bass guitar and Ian Spratt - drums.

Pat And The Cheeetahs
"Pat and the Cheetahs" were formed in 1961, the original line-up being: Pat Cahill - singer, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Mick Startup rhythm guitar - Geoff Playford - bass guitar, Buster Osmond - drums. The band played all over Kent as a semi-pro band with the odd gig in London and beyond.

Neil Landon and the Burnettes The photo on the page linked from Mick Allen s page was taken by the well known photographer "Dezo Hoffman". It was an attempt at copying what is now one of the most famous album sleeve photo's, "With The Beatles". The photo was taken in January 1964 just before their first trip to Germany the following month.
The line-up from L/R is: Neil Landon (Pat Cahill) - singer, Kevin Lang - bass guitar, Pete Kircher - drums, Mel Simpson - organ, Mick Allen - guitar.
In Autumn 1964 Noel Redding joined the band and Summer 1965 Jim Leverton replaced Kevin.

An excellent review of Neil Landon & The Burnettes can be found at http://www.forgottenbands.blogspot.com/

The Shades Of Black
"The Shades of Black" started life as "The 4 Shades of Black" in 1965. Within a very short time they became a popular band around the Ashford area as well as further afield.
Original line-up Mick Startup - bass, Dick Presley - drums, Roger Perry - rhythm guitar and singer, Mick Allen - lead guitar.

The Islanders

Thanet - Tony Suckling

The Purple Pennants (KANZA KONA SOUND)
The eventual line-up of the band which was to leave for Germany about the end of April 1969 was: Graham Johns - singer, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Paul Ovenden - rhythm guitar, Mick Fallon (from York) - bass guitar, Ray Gardiner - drums.

The Four Just Men
The line-up for this band was: Frank Lineker - singer and rhythm guitar, Robin Reynolds - singer and bass guitar, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Ray Gardiner - drums

Festival
"Festival" was formed about 1971 and the line-up was: John"Andy" Andrews - singer, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Mick Startup - bass guitar, Steve Elliot - drums.

Deep South
"Deep South" was a Country Music band that we formed sometime around 1972. The line-up being: Tony ? - singer, Mick Allen - lead guitar, Mick Startup - bass guitar, Steve Elliot - drums.

White Lightning
"White Lightning" was formed from the remnants of another band "The Huntsmen" who had recently broken up after making quite a name for themselves over several years playing in the Kent area. They had been a bit old fashioned in their music as well as their dress. They all wore bright red Jackets.
There were 3 guys from the Huntsmen in this new band: Paul Young on drums, Alan Smith on bass, ? ? on rhythm guitar and they were joined by John (Jock) Russell singing and Mick Allen on lead guitar.

The Same Size
All members of this band came from Lydd, excepting Mick Allen who joined about 1978, they had been playing together for some time when.
The line-up was: Les Freathy - singer and rhythm guitar, Mike (Tinker) Tordoff - bass and some vocals, Keith Pope - rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Pete Wisley - drums, and Mick Allen - lead guitar.

Five Stars Skiffle Band Folkestone - 1950/ 58 - Fomed by Brian "Boz" Leggett & Martin Jones
In 1950, Boz Legatt a 14 year old one chord guitarist heard of another lad down the road in Sidney Street who had a guitar. So he found ths boy called Martin Jones and discovered that he could play 3 chords, so he invited him to join his band. Martin said "Who's in it". Boz replied " You and I". This was the beginning of a life long friendship ending only through of Martin's death in 2002. See The Travellers - Satan and the The Zombies - The Sundowners

The Travellers - Folkestone

Martin Jones and Boz Leggett joined Rock'n'Roll group The Travellers with Neville Takes on bass and drummer Roger Ames. They also acquired manager Dennis Pimlott. Roger Ames soon left for New Zealand and was replaced by Mick Goodey.

L-R: Roger Ames, Bozz Leggett, Martin Jones & Neville Takes

L-R: Martin Jones, Bozz Leggett, Roger Ames & Neville Takes

During their first year The Travellers were resident band at the Empress Ballroom for 31 weeks. Due to the public confusion between themselves and "Pat Barry and the Travellers" of Ashford, the band was asked to change their name. For a short period the band called themselves
"Satan and the Zombies"
but got re-named "The Sundowners" by the Empress Sunday club fans.

The Sundowners

Formed from Folkestone band The Travellers

The Sundowners were one of Folkestone's most influential bands of the 60's through to the mid 90's.

.The Sundowners were probably the most known and loved band Folkestone ever had. In their 2nd year they replaced Pat Barry and The Travellers as resident band at Tofts Jazz Club in the Pleasure Gardens on Bouverie Road West . until around Christmas 1963. This club attracted attendances of 1500 dancers, 3 nights a week. Amazingly performing at Tofts 110 times that year the band also found time to appear at many of the other dance clubs, public and private functions throughout Kent.

In summer 1963 the big break came when the chief engineer of Dover's Southern Television Studios recorded the band and sent the tape to London. Roger returning from New Zealand re-joined the band. Almost immediately The Sundowners had a 3-year contract with agency the George Cooper Organisation and a 5-year recording contract with Pye. Their test recording was mastered straight to disc and released September 24th on the Pye/Piccadilly label. - (Baby Baby / House Of The Rising Sun (Piccadilly 7N 35142) 1963 ) Martin's own composition "Baby Baby" was chosen as the "A" side with an old folk number "House of The Rising Sun" on the "B" side. The Sundowners were the first British band to record this song; they had no idea at this time that "The Animals" would follow their lead so successfully. At the time, reviewers called House of the Rising Sun "a ditty" and not as commercial as the "A" side. Bet they wished they'd kept their mouths shut. The Sundowners agents refused to name the songs on their second single until it was released, maybe to prevent it happening again?

Turning professional meant a new life for the boys. During the next year they performed in the best venues touring the UK with stars; Joe Brown, Dee Dee Sharp, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Heinz, Manfred Mann, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Crystals, Dusty Springfield, The Tornados and others. Their transport was an old converted ambulance purchased for £90, they travelled over 40,000 miles and slept in bunks. Martin being the smallest got the crib at the front of the van where his nose would touch the roof if not careful. The roadmanager, Dennis Pimlott slept in the cab.

TV appearances in 1963 included "Thank Your Lucky Stars", "Ready Steady Go" and "Juke Box Jury", "Scene at 6.30", "Dad You're a Square", "Saturday Club" & "Day by Day".

Folkestone Herald
24/08/1963 Folkestone Herald - Pic of - Sundowners Martin Jones (guitar) Bozz Leggett (Rhythm) Roger Ames (drums) Neville Takes.

09/11/1963 The Sundowners Back the Great Dee Dee Sharp
The Sundowners' popularity may have disintegrated chart wise, but they still claim great deal of support in personal appearances.
Fifty of their fans fron Folkestone and Dymchurch hired a coach and travelled to Hastings to see them in their newly acquired professional status.
The Sundowners appeared at the Pier Ballroom, backing the dynamic American singer Dee Dee Sharp
This little coloured girl with the big, big voice Is a a marvellous singer, but she did not quite fit in with the instrumental arrangement which had made The Sundowners what they are.Even so, the tour has been extremely successful and the evening proved most entertaining.

Second Single - Come On In / Shot Of Rhythm And Blues (Piccadilly 7N 35162) 1964
Distrib/Label - Jamie 1271 SUNDOWNERS, THE Come On In / A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues 2/8/64

Third Single - The "A" side Where Am I, was written by Peter Lee Stirling later known as Singer/songwriter Daniel Boone ("Beautiful Sunday").
Where Am I / Gonna Make The Future Bright (Parlophone R 5243) 1965

On compilation appearances have included:
A Shot Of Rhythm and Blues on Pop Inside The Sixties Vol. 3 (CD)
The R&B Era, Vol. 1 (LP & CD);
Baby Baby on Rare 60's Beat Treasures, Vol. 5 (CD).

Two further singles and no massive chart success The Sundowners eventually returned home. They continued their local residencies including "The Neptune" and "The Leas Club".

New Musical Express Articles - 3 January Issue No. 886 1964 by Alldis, Barry Ifield's Oldies [Searchers, Dean and Jean, Shirley Bassey, Kris Jensen, Ginny Arnell, Little Eva, Peggy Lee, The Sundowners, Martha and the Vandellas] 4

At a later date Martin and his friend and partner Peter Hickey opened the "Sundowner Club" on the 2nd floor of the Empress Ballroom site, which later had to move to the bottom of Dover Road due to town and road restructuring. The club gave opportunity to new bands to start their own careers in the music business, an ideal still required today.

Other members of the band through the years included John Stiling (Bass) - Snowy White (drums) - John Berry (bass)

The Band stopped playing about 1995

Counts - Deal - Freddie Wells (lead), ? Wells (brother) - drums?

Les Fender and The Rousers
Popular Canterbury band in 1962

The Seekers

November 1961

The Seekers rock group is making a name for itself at the the new Saturday Jive Club held at Kent House Bouverie Road West, Folkestone as House Band - They are l-r - Vocalist Jim Williams, Trevor Wright, Mick O'Neill and Jeff Ratcliffe
Mick & Jeff were both printers a FJ Parson (Kent Newspapers)

At one time in '62 they had a female vocalist - Marion Taylor and were resident band at the Folkestone Teenagers Club - Juction of Bouverie Rd W. and Grimston Gardens

Take 5
Dave English (lead vocals) 1967-70, Mick Morris (guitar & vocals) 1967-70, Pete Inwood (bass & vocals)1967-68, (guitar & vocals) 1969, Mick Tracey (bass )1968-70, Jack Castle (guitar & vocals) 1967 and 1969-70, Mike Lord (drums)1967, Howard Oliver (drums)1968 Bernie Shaw (drums)1968-69, Tony Lister (drums) 1970.

1967 – 1970

Take 5, formed early in 1967 out of the ashes of The Playboys, was first and foremost a vocal harmony group. Dave English who had left The Playboys the previous year agreed to rejoin Mick Morris and Pete Inwood in the new group. The addition of Jack Castle gave Take 5 not only the fourth voice they wanted but also a second lead guitarist. The group's first line up was completed by Mike Lord on drums. Take 5 specialised in covers of ‘big’ vocal sounds - Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Four Seasons etc.

Mike Lord left after a year and was replaced by Howard Oliver who had just finished a spell on the road with Them fronted by a young Van Morrison. When Jack Castle moved away from the area, Pete Inwood took over his role on guitar and a new bass player, Mick Tracey, joined. Later, Howard Oliver left and was replaced by Bernie Shaw. Pete Inwood who was a carpenter by trade lost his shore-based day job and had to take work as a ship’s carpenter sadly forcing him to leave the group. Luckily, by this time however Jack had returned to live in the area and rejoined to restore the line up. When Bernie left his place was taken by Tony Lister who played with the group throughout 1970, but by the end of the year things had run their course and the group folded.

Take 5 recorded just one single in 1968 (‘In The Meantime’, co-written by Mick Morris and Jack Castle) b/w ‘Ride My See-Saw’, a Moody Blues number) but was never released.

Rolling Stones (The Original) Dover/Folkestone 1956 - 1961
Rolling Stones - August 1957 Pic: August 1957

The band was formed in the summer of 1956 by Kitson 'Kit' Keen (vocals & guitar) who recruited fellow Dover Grammar School pupils Brian Scotcher (drums) and Bob Hopkins (guitar) to join him as its first members. They were soon joined by Pete Piddock (guitar) and Ronnie Hambrook (bass). Initially a skiffle & blues band, the Rolling Stones rapidly made the transition from skiffle to rock 'n' roll, becoming one of the first groups in the south of England to abandon the improvised instruments of skiffle for electric guitar, bass and drums.

When Pete Piddock left to go to univeristy in 1959, he was replaced by Johnny Smith who shared guitar duties with Bob Hopkins.

Pic: Hastingleigh Village Hall, 1960

Rolling Stones - Hastingleigh Village Hall, 1960 The following year (1960), the band's founder Kit Keen also left the band, going to live and work in London. Pat Cahill (later Neil Landon) joined on vocals and guitar, bass player Ronnie Hambrook took over as lead vocalist and Bob Hopkins changed to playing bass. When Pat Cahill departed at the end of the year to join the Cheetahs, Mick Morris joined as lead guitarist. Johnny Smith left in the summer of 1961 and Pete Inwood joined to play rhythm guitar.

With the line up now once again settled, 1961 was a busy year for the Dover-based band. They played more than sixty gigs, mostly in the Dover, Deal and Ashford areas and their popularity was such that the band had to lay on special buses to transport their fans to and from 'out of town' gigs.
STV studios 1961

They also recorded two TV appearances and a single, (‘When My Little Girl Is Smiling’ b/w ‘Summertime’), produced by popular TV guitarist Wout Steenhuis and began to play as support to visiting name artistes including Joe Brown, Sounds Incorporated, The Barron Knights, Screaming Lord Sutch and Shane Fenton (later Alvin Stardust). When they opened for the 'Spotniks' at the Strand Palais, Deal and played 'Orange Blossom Special' (because the Spotniks themselves couldn't play their own hit live!), the Swedish groups's manager wanted to sign them there and then saying they would be 'huge in Sweden'. The band also played alongside Cliff Bennett at the Garrison Theatre, Canterbury - Cliff's manager wanted to book them into the Hamburg clubs - but the band turned down both offers. That year also the band started the popular friday night 'Teen Beat' dances at Dover's Town Hall which were a massive success and continued for several years. An approach from a Folkestone-based group suggesting a series of 'exchange gigs' led to the Rolling Stones appearing regularly at Folkestone venues including the Empress Ballroom and Tofts Jazz Club. The band also took part in the final of a national rock group competition at St. Pancras town hall, London where Tom Jones and his group the Esquires were also finalists.

Nov 25th 1961 Folkestone Herald - Visiting Folkestone Teenage Club tomorrow in place of resident band 'Sundowners' This is the 3rd time they have appeared at Folkestone. A semi-pro group who spend time touring Kentish teenage clubs and play regularly at Dover Town Hall.
Dec 2nd 1961 - The Rolling Stones were such a success at Folkestone Teenage Club when they played there a fortnight ago that the organisers have decided to ask them back again tomorrow. Nearly 300 teenagers turned out to see them at The Empress Ballroom, Grace Hill the last time they performed. On Christmas Eve, res. band The Sundowners will feature with The Doltons and The Lonely Ones.

Dec 30th 1961 - Were seen and heard on Southern Television Talent Contest "Home Grown" on Thurs. last week. The were not placed. Song was called "Sway

"Pic March 1962 Were supporting group to Joe Brown and The Bruvvers at The Empress Ballroom Easter Monday.

(John Atkins says the band appear to be using Burns Duosonic and a Fenton Weill)

Shortly after this, the existence of a newly-formed, London-based band using the same name was brought to their attention. According to lead guitarist Mick Morris, “ …. (I remember that) there was some brief discussion among us as to whether we should object or not. It was well documented that we'd been playing under the name for years and if we had acted quickly they might well have had to find another name, but to be honest we were beginning to think it was time for a change anyway, so we didn't bother and the rest is history. But I must admit I have often wondered what would have happened if we had!”

Around the same time in the summer of 1962, Ronnie Hambrook decided to leave the band and singer Dave English was brought in to replace him. Bob Hopkins and Brian Scotcher were now the only remaining members of the original Rolling Stones. After six years as one of the busiest and most popular groups in the South East, the Rolling Stones decided to change their name and became the Playboys.

Mirkwood - Dover 1971 - 1975 & 1985

Initial line-up of Derek Bowley (lead vocals)
Mick Morris - Jack Castle (both guitar and vocals)
Steve Smith (drums) - Andy Broadbent (bass).
In early 1972 D Evans was brought in to replace Andy Broadbent, who had moved away from the Dover area.

Artistes on Album in 1973 - Now available on CD
Jack Castle (Guitar Vocals) - Mick Morris (Guitar Vocals) - Derek Bowley 1971(Lead Vocals) - Steve Smith( Drums) - D. Evans 1972(Bass)

Mant other musicians played with this band at other times including
drummers - Nick 'Topper' Headon ( later in The Clash) - Terry Prior - Dave Blakey

Originally formed by schoolfriends Jack Castle and Mick Morris. Reformed briefly in 1978 and 1985 ......................
Click Here for Full History

Recordings:
MIRKWOOD ( Local Label Flams Ltd PR 1067) 1973, 99 copies. A very rare and valued issue on heavy vynal - Copies of this album have been seen for sale at over £600. Recorded and produced by Ron Nunn, who also produced the brilliant cover. The record was kindly issued on his family label by John Scott Cree another popular Dover musician and frequent inhabitant of the Louis Armstrong Public House (Formerly "The Grapes") in Dover
Reissued (Tenth Planet TP 003) 1993, 500 copies only.
Credit is due to David Wells who discovered this album again, traced a reasonable copy and licenced it to produce 500 albums. The problem with rare and expensive albums is that they don't get played and are locked away form those who would like to hear them. His promotion has enabled the world to get a chance to hear this great album again, but are still in short supply. Better contact him to ensure you get your copy.
Re-Release 2004 Label: Amber Soundroom (Germany)This fine Album has been remastered and re-released in Gemany. We do not know who the UK distributors will be yet, but you can buy "The Mirwood Album " in the UK From Us.
2008 - Mirwood Album now on CD from www.redadmiralrecords.com

Sprinter -

Dover 1976 – 1978
Derek Bowley (vocals, rhythm guitar & flute), Mick Morris (lead guitar, piano & vocals), D. Evans (bass), Dave Blakey (drums) and Mick Murray (tenor and alto saxes).- Derek Bowley ( Lead Vocals) - D Evans1972 (Bass) - Dave Blakey (Drums)

The group came into being when Mirkwood ended in mid-1976. Mick Morris had been playing a lot of jazz in between Mirkwood gigs over the last two or three years and Jack Castle had decided to join a dance band playing functions.

After five years of playing their own compositions, everybody it seems felt the need to do something different and for a while Sprinter was part of the answer.

Sprinter played a lot of Steely Dan but their repertoire also included material from sources as diverse as Glen Campbell and Duke Ellington! The group lasted until 1978.

Whirligig Dover 1977 – 1979

Whirligig was formed by a group of Dover-based jazz musicians.

Its original line up comprised
Bill Barnacle (cornet & flugelhorn),
George Sketcher (tenor & soprano saxophones),
Robin Basford (keyboards),
Mick Morris (guitar),
Neil Basford (bass) and
Mike Marsh (drums).
Walter Thatcher (tenor saxophone) also became a core member.

Whirligig played for around two years from 1977-1979 and recorded one eponymous album on the CMS label comprising mostly original jazz compositions

Icebreaker - Dover 1987 - 1996

The original line up from 1987
Mick Morris (Guitar Vocals) - Jack Castle till '87( Guitar Vocals) - Derek Bowley ( Lead Vocals) - D Evans (Bass) - Max Hoad, (bass & vocals), Matt Hoad (keyboards) and Bob Brown (drums).

(l to r) Mick Morris, Max Hoad, Derek Bowley, Jay McCluskey and Matt Hoad
Since Mick Morris and Jack Castle had both left Easy Action, they had continued to talk on and off about getting together again and forming a new band. In late 1985, they got back together with former Mirkwood singer Derek Bowley. Max Hoad joined them on bass and vocals. Mick and Jack had known Max for some time and had tried to get him to join Mirkwood some years earlier, but Max had been in demand in jazz circles and also played on and off with Vanity Fayre so it hadn't worked out then. The drum seat was taken by Fred DeGrussa, another former member of Easy Action. Due to other commitments however Fred was unable to continue and his place was taken by the excellent and now sadly departed Bob Brown. The line up was completed when Max' son Matt joined on keyboards.

Strangely, the new group didn't really have a name for some time! At the beginning this didn't matter much as it was more of a fun project in that they were playing together mostly for their own enjoyment and were content just to play occasionally. Matt's contribution quickly proved to be a cornerstone of the sound - so much so that when in 1987 Jack left the area to move to Wales, the band decided that Matt's expansive keyboard sounds would enable them to cope without looking for another guitarist. Incidentally Matt also provided the band with a much needed name - ‘Icebreaker’ was the name on the label of his padded jacket!

The newly named group started to play more venues becoming very successful and continuing until the end of 1996. By then they'd had a good run but during the mid 90’s started to feel that what they wanted to play didn’t correspond with what some of their audiences wanted to hear.

Mick Morris has said that from a guitarist’s perspective, he remembers thinking that,
“ ….. whilst on the one hand I was pleased that Brit-pop was making guitar-based groups fashionable again, it wasn’t what we wanted to play. Although we took some liberties with the music, Icebreaker was essentially a covers band featuring the cream of material from great bands like Toto, Van Halen, Journey, Queen, Bon Jovi etc. and we’d been spoiled by having had nearly ten years of indulging ourselves - playing superb music that featured challenging instrumental and vocal parts for all of us. Whatever, the new stuff just didn’t do it for me!”

Inevitably there were changes of personnel over the years but the group maintained its popularity throughout. Among the other musicians who made valuable contributions to the sound of Icebreaker between 1990 and 1996 were Ken West, Paul Cuffley, Tony Lister and Jason McCluskey (drums), Tony Holt (guitar, keyboards, vocals) & Sean Flynn (bass).

Playboys 1962 – 1966

The Playboys were a continuation of Dover's original Rolling Stones. The original line-up was Dave English (lead vocals), Mick Morris (lead guitar & vocals), Bob Hopkins (bass guitar & vocals), Pete Inwood (rhythm guitar & vocals) and Brian Scotcher (drums).
During 1963 Bob Hopkins left to go to university. Pete Inwood took over on bass and his place was taken by Brian ‘Jake’ Aitken (rhythm guitar & piano) who left Dover band The Big Beats to join the Playboys.

The Playboys appeared regularly at just about all the most popular venues in the South East including Dover Town Hall, The Strand Palais and Astor Theatre in Deal, Empress Ballroom and Tofts, Folkestone, Corn Exchange and Tofts club, Ashford, Garrison Theatre and Prince of Wales Youth Club, Canterbury and many others.

In 1964 The Playboys were offerered the residency at what was then the 'new' Tofts club, Folkestone and after some discussion accepted. As 'house band' they appeared at Tofts several hundred times over the next three years, playing as many as five or six nights a week during the summers and supporting more than a hundred visiting artistes during that period including John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (the Clapton/Green/Taylor period), Ike & Tina Turner, Georgie Fame, Geno Washington, Alan Price etc.`Jake' Aitken left in 1965 and was replaced on rhythm guitar by Ron Watson. In early 1966, the last remaining original member of the Rolling Stones, drummer Brian Scotcher decided to retire from playing and was replaced by Roland Langley(Deceased). A few months later lead vocalist Dave English also left the band. Ron Watson took over most of the lead vocals and Keith Adams from Folkestone band The Thunderbeats joined on rhythm guitar & organ.

By the end of 1966, The Playboys had completed almost three years as the house band at Tofts and decided they needed to do something different. They played their last gig at Tofts just after Christmas 1966.

Easy Action Dover 1979 – 1986

Julian Stowell (Keyboards) - Fred De Grussa (drums) D Evans (Bass) - Didi Bassford (vocals) - Mick Morris (Guitar Vocals) Jack Castle (Guitar Vocals)

In late 1979, Jack Castle and former Mirkwood bassist D. Evans, had formed Easy Action. Andy Schilling, one of its two singers, had left and they had gigs to fulfil. Jack asked Mick Morris to help out. Spectrum, a function band specialising in disco style music Mick had been playing with since the demise of Sprinter, was coming to an end so he accepted the offer. The line up from early 1980 became:

Jack Castle (guitar & vocals), Paula Clitheroe (vocals), Mick Morris (vocals & guitar), D. Evans (bass), Julian Stowell (keyboards) and Fred DeGrussa (drums).

Easy Action had a Fleetwood Mac influenced sound and was a very popular outfit. The line up remained unchanged until Paula left and was replaced in turn by Gail and then Didi. Although mainly a covers band, Easy Action’s repertoire also included a number of original songs written by Jack.

Fred Degrussa left in 1983 shortly followed by Mick Morris who was replaced by Steve Foster. Founder Jack Castle himself left in 1985 and the band finally folded the following year.n 1982 Easy Action recorded an extended EP of songs 'One weekend in Chelmsford', which combined covers and original material.

Daltons Folkestone -

Sept 1961/62 Dave Mitchell (lead) - John Berry (bass) - Bob Hiscox (rhythm) - Geoff Hillion (vocals ) - Mick Wibley (drums )

Pic Dec 1961

In Nov 1963 members were Dave Mitchell (lead) - John Berry (bass) - Melvyn Horn (vocals) - Colin (Buster) Osmond (bass) - Bob Hiscox (rhythm) - Roger Jenkinson (road manager) - P. Berry (business manager)

Thanks to lynnegeoff@hotmail.com.

Beau Kent and the Loosends

Wrotham Heath based group called Beau Kent and the Loosends, which featured in the second edition of Kent Beat 1965 .
Beau Kent was lead singer
Vince McGee lead guitar,
Wally King on bass,
Robin Gough on drums,
Mick Slomanon rhythm guitar The group was resident at The Wheasheaf pub on the junction of Sutton Road and Loose Road in Maidstone and other gigs around Maidstone and the surrounding area.

2+2
Nirvana
Kent - 1974-1976

The band started out called 2+ 2 with Alan Huggett (keys), Ian McIlwraith (Bass), John Adamson (Lead) and Mike Wadham on drums... the band eventually went pro in 1976 with an additional guitarist called Andy Jones and changed their name to Nirvana (yes, really - The name Nirvana was unusual at the time and they were often called Nevada on posters.... and confused for being a C&W outfit.)... they played various gigs around Kent then went to Germany to play at the American Embassy Club in Bonn for 2 months over christmas 1975 and until end of Feb. They returned to Kent to play at Pontins Camber Sands and Pontins Selsey for a summer season in that hot dry summer of 1976.

We used to have two voluntary roadies.... one, (Terry)... used to be confined to the back of the transit behind all the gear due to lack of space and his fetish for consuming large quantities of baked beans... one night heading to the south coast with music blaring loud from an eight track player we were unaware the doors at the back of the van had flipped open and Terry was hanging out, only his feet hooked under some speaker cabs had saved him.... he was hanging like for that for some while watching the white lines on the road flick by a few inches from his nose... the driver eventually saw a door flapping in his wing mirror and we rectified the situation..... ah fond memories! ......Mike Wadham email

The band passed an audition for Opportunity Knocks and had an allocation number, but before they could get a slot on the show they broke up at the end of 1976.

Current known whereabouts of band members...
Alan - still living in Kent but believed to be musically retired.
Ian - still playing with local band.
Mike still playing with Kent band called Little Fish Big Pond
John - passed away
Andy - whereabouts unknown

Children of the Dammed (Deal)

Formed from the split up of The Peasants
comprised of;
Dave Cole - Walmer - Lead Guitar
Jeff Lenham - Walmer -Bass Guitar
Howard Oliver - Dover -Drums
Christopher (Tony) Rose - Deal - Vocals

Played R'n'b / rock / soul around Kent,Essex & London in the mid sixties. Played all of the above gig's and worked regularly for the Radio London Nights but split up when the Marine Offences Act came into being.

These days Dave runs a printing concern in the West Country - Jeff is landlord of a public house in Deal - Chris helps run a communications company in Ramsgate and any information regarding the whereabouts of Howard would be most welcome. (Last heard of gigging with a seventies revival band) Chris Rose email Chris Rose

The Runarounds from Canterbury

Avengers (Medway)
Trevor Brice (Vocals) - Tony Jarrett ( bass & vocals) - Tony Goulden (guitar) - ? (drums)

Formed in the Medway Towns, Kent in the mid 60s the band were picked up manager Roger Easterby. With a name change hey became a household name when in 1968 as VanityFare , their hit ' I Live For The Sun' suddenly got airplay and became a top twenty hit. One week they were playing Strood working men's club, the next week Top of the Pops and a nationwide tour.
More info....

Dave Champion and the Strangers (Medway)

Erkey Grant and the Tonettes (Medway)

Played the Empress Ballroom Sunday nights - Brilliant Band......DS

Recorded 'Girls' - Coasters number under the name of Erkey Grant and the Earwigs. - Later became the Candy Choir.
Erkey Grant and The Earwigs - I Can't Get Enough Of You/I'm A Hog For You (Pye 7N 15521) 1963

The Electrons

Ricky Robinson and the Downbeats

Bobby Knox

Joe Fagin

Robb and Dean Douglass

The Swinging Secrets - Dave Legge (Lee)

The Others - Dave Legge (Lee)

Chaucers Tales - Dave Legge (Lee)

The Ways & Means

Canterbury

l/r - Tony Allison. Les Stankovich, Roy Delo, - Dave Legge (Lee)

Picture was taken for the promotion of their first single "Sea of Faces". c/w "Make the radio a little louder". Yes I've got it - Ed............
Pye 7N.17217 1966 "Sea of Faces".(Fowley/Parker) Apollo c/w "Make the radio a little louder" (Linde/Bloom) Robert Mellin.

Anyone who knew them will tell you they were, by far, the best band around, bar none......Mick Janisch.

The band especially former member Terry Silk, were responsible for introducing myself to Bob Levy, which resulted in "The Koalas"....Mick Janisch.

Press Cutting

The Koalas

Margate
Mick Janisch (vocals) / George Gurden (drums) / Chris Martin (bass guitar) / Bob Levy (lead guitar).
Played in the Thanet area from around late 1966 to 1968
Pink Floyd played the Canterbury Techncial College on 19/11/66 Margate based local band called 'The Koalas' supported
Pic. left taken by the old "sunbeam man". remember him ?
Pic. right taken a couple of weeks before they supported "Pink Floyd", at the Canterbury College.
l-r Chris Martin - George Gurden - Mick Janisch - Bob Levy.

Just Four

Ray Fairbrass - great singer/bass player
I would like to know what he`s up to these days. Mick Janisch. ( Koalas).

Spectre Quin

Herne Bay
Band members unknown.
Pink Floyd played the Canterbury Techncial College on 11/3/67 Herne Bay band called - (Spectra Quin / Spectre Quin / Spectre Quinn / Spectre Quin????) Team supported

John Browns Body

Medway jazz rock band - first line-up in 1974.
Mick Rogers( Vocals) - Ray King ( Drums) - Tony Parsons (Guitar) - Dicky Frost (Guitar/flute/sax) and various interchangeable bass players,

1969 - 1972
Mick Rogers also sang with Gravend Bands

Heart

Blitz

Performing Ferrets
Thirty years to get a record deal
The Performing Ferrets, originally from Maidstone have recently been re-discovered by American independent label Hyped2Death. The result has been a 28 CD released a July 2008 .
The band formed in 1978 and played their first gig in Coxheath. The band members are all from the Maidstone area and include Chris Fenner and Paul Skilbeck (Coxheath), Cathy Brooks (Barming), Steve Maguire (Maidstone), Nigel Chatfield (Sutton Valence) and Mary Caney (Larkfield). 2008 is therefore the thirtieth anniversary of the band.
The Ferrets have been featured in the Kent Messenger before, getting regular mentions in John Nurden’s column in 1979 – 1982. They released two records, a self financed single on Maidstone’s Dead Hippy label (1980) and an album on their own Pig Productions label (1981).
The press release from the record company is shown below.
Press release from Hyped2Death
28 songs from one of D.I.Y.'s iconic bands, 1978-82, including most of their astonishingly scarce LP, which music-historian / journo / D.I.Y.-enthusiast Johan Kugelberg described as "the most seminal LP to come out of DIY... Fantastic over-enthusiastic juvenilia of an almost supernatural beauty."
The Ferrets started out in Maidstone, Kent, in 1978 but they soon settled in Manchester while parlaying academic careers in Manchester, Portsmouth, Nottingham and Preston into appearances all over the U.K.: John Peel once lamented that every gig he deejayed there seemed to be a Ferret there "clutching a demo tape in its sweaty paw". There's a touch of The Fall and the TV Personalities, a little garage and Beat, hints of the rhythm-propelled sounds of the Monochromes, Feelies, Beefheart, Gang of 4 / Delta 5 or Diagram Brothers, and a dry wit that had more to do with the Ferrets' favorite authors and comedians than anyone from the class of '77, but the Ferrets' response to D.I.Y. was all their own.
No one told us collects 28 tracks from 1980-82, including their lone Peel-championed 45. They also released two cassettes (perhaps 200 each) and 300-odd copies of their
self-titled LP. After two years in Manchester the Ferrets wound down when two of them ended up in Miaow with Cath Carroll, another took over the editorship of Manchester's legendary City Fun, and a fourth got a doctorate in immunology. The complete saga's in the 12-page booklet, along with photos, artifacts, and almost 80 minutes of the Ferrets' finest on the CD.
Further information from:-
www.performingferrets.co.uk
www.hyped2death.com
Email: nigelchatfield@msn.com

Band Seven

Paul Rodriguez - Wilf Byrne - Peter Jansen - Jock Law (later replaced by Graham Penny) - Peter Marriott - Dave Webber.
Band Seven sprang up in Maidstone in the early sixties, formed by Peter Jansen, who already had started two other previous
groups, The Travellers and The Jazz Gentleman Ragtime Players. He took some of the members of these two groups to start Band Seven. They played in many venues, one of which was the Royal Star Hotel, known as the Star Ballroom.

Between 61 and 64 they made a demo disc which included their signature tune 'The Huckelbuck' quoted in the Kent Messenger newspaper as the "Saxiest Group in Kent". Some time later they disbanded and Dave Webber joined The Zephyrs, playing tenor sax tamborine and vocals.

It would be interesting to know if any of the members of Band Seven are in fact still around and does anyone have a copy of that famous demo disc?
SueTreder.

Dave and Sue Webber now live in Spain and would be pleased if any of the band would like to get in touch .

The Zephyrs

Zephyrs 1964 Photo Kent Messenger BAND members who drove to gigs in an eye-catching yellow ambulance have been recalling the part they played in the County Town's swinging nightlife of yesteryear.
Maidstone-based band The Zephyrs were among bands mentioned in an article in The Way We Were, when Maidstone man Mike Loft was recalling just a few of the bands who played to hundreds of young revellers in the town centre in the 60s.

The Zephyrs formed in 1957 as the Sharp's Creamy Skiffle Group, according to one founding member, Maurice Reynolds, who still lives in Maidstone. He said the band was formed after the co-owner of Sharp's Toffees, Edward Sharp, needed a group to play at a dance. In the coming months The Zephyrs moved closer to playing rock 'n' roll and in 1959 became what Mr Reynolds describes as a "multi purpose group".

The line-up was:
Maurice Reynolds, the drummer; Norman Hoskins, guitarist; Allan Flood, the bass guitarist; Eric Snowball, lead guitarist, Sheila Baker and Les Beresford - singers
Others: Tim Hughes Rhythm, Alan Sweet Lead. Dave Webber Tenor Sax Tamborine and Vocals

The band played in villages and at venues from The Royal Star Hotel in Maidstone, to Chiesmans in Pudding Lane, Maidstone, and alongside such groups as Manfred Mann and the Swinging Blue Jeans.

Needing a vehicle to get their equipment to the various venues, they bought an old ambulance and painted it yellow, with all the members' names on.
Mr Reynolds said: "It was an area of quite a few venues. We were always very, very smart; we all went on with blue and silver suits. There were about three or four very good groups in the Maidstone area, of which we considered ourselves to be the best."

In the early days, they would take home around £10 a night, to be shared among the band, but that rose to as much as £100 a night by 1966. "We were very successful," he said. "The Big Weekend has been a big reminder of when we played at the Maidstone Carnival - it was absolutely superb."

Of the swinging nightlife in Maidstone, he said: "Maidstone was a lot livelier. The only difference from then compared with now was that everything finished at midnight." He added: "They were superb times. I think I speak for all the rest when I say that we'd never wish for anything else .W e really enjoyed it. I was really pleased when I read the article that people remember us."

Mr Hoskins, now of Aylesford, said: "I was a member of that local group and it was so nice to read that people remember us after so many years. The group played at the Kent Candy Ball in March 1962 and it was indeed a very memorable evening."
.....................by Angela Cole

A BAND on the brink of stardom and another whose fame is still remembered 40 years on came together to compare notes on the music business.

The Zephyrs, a band with a massive following around Maidstone in the 1960s, and Billy Wears Dresses, who have just released their first single, were brought together as a result of an article in The Way We Were.

Ian Snowball, drummer with Billy Wears Dresses, was delighted to see his uncle, Zephyrs' lead guitarist Eric Snowball, in action in photographs featured in the Kent Messenger last month, playing in the Royal Star Hotel, Maidstone.

Costumes
Eric and guitarist Norman Hoskins were reunited at ESE music shop, Upper Fant Road, Maidstone, which Eric runs, with the full line-up of Billy Wears Dresses: Ian, guitarist and lead singer Nick Spink, guitarist and vocalist Martin Loft and bass player Paul Moss.

Two other members of The Zephyrs were unable to be present - guitarist Allan Flood and drummer Maurice Reynolds.

Costumes were just one of the many talking points. The Zephyrs all wore smart, shiny green, and later blue, suits on stage, while Billy Wears Dresses wear a variety of clothes, the highlight being a fluffy blue top singer Nick got his sister to make for him when he was 16, in homage to his hero Captain Sensible, the founder of The Damned.

Names too, proved ice breakers. It was Eric who thought up the name The Zephyrs. He said: "I just used to work on them and thought it was a good name. Then I found something with logos with Zs on and put them on our stuff."

Billy Wears Dresses' memorable logo of a man in fishnets, boots and with a can of lager, was dreamt up by Nick to show, not a man in drag, but a man who looks like he's wearing a dress for a dare.

Venues, however, prove more elusive for bands today, according to Paul. "There aren't the venues like there were and people don't go out as much."But reaching an audience these days is easier, thanks to one invention not even dreamt of when The Zephyrs were playing to packed halls - the internet.

Nick said: "It is different these days. The music industry is getting used to a new way of working. If a young person gets a CD they say now "you've wasted your money". It's all about downloads." The group have their own website, kept by Mark Lawrence and Chris Harvey, in charge of their PR, while The Zephyrs' main publicity machine was their very own yellow ambulance - an eyecatching band bus they travelled around in. But neither were in it for the money.

Eric said: "I have never been out of the music business since then. We had some good times. We didn't do it for the money. We played at every village hall there was," adding: "I got hit on the head with a bottle once, but I survived."
Norman said: "There used to be the odd skirmish. We weren't so much a recording band; we were a good live band. We were good with the crowd, that's how we built up a following."

Billy Wears Dresses' burgeoning following include the Billyettes, who try to get to most gigs, and the Billywatchers, but fans can also see them online. They have filmed a video, to support their single, Derek Don't Deliver, with help from media arts students at Canterbury University.

Remembered
The band hope that they could follow in the footsteps of The Zephyrs and also be remembered in 40 years' time.

Nick said: "I think we aim to write songs that are remembered. If we play something that people enjoy, then that's great."
Band-mate Martin added: "If we're having a good time then other people do. If you're happy then that comes across in the music; it's infectious."

Nick said: "Paul said the other day that we're too old to write about how our girlfriends have dumped us and to complain about the music industry. We just like writing songs about things that have happened to us."

Ian, who bought his first drum kit from Eric with wages he got from delivering the KM Extra, added: "There's nothing better than doing something you enjoy."
Another member of the Snowball family, Ian's father Alan, was also connected to The Zephyrs, playing drums when drummer Maurice broke his arm.
.....................by Angela Cole

Dave and Sue Webber now live in Spain and would be pleased if any of the band would like to get in touch .

Cortinas

The Cortinas were one of Medway's popular semi-professional bands in the early sixties and had a classy image with their musical skills and line-up of distinctive matching white Fenders which was pretty unusual in those times.

The line-up as seen in the photograph from left to right is
Tim Hamilton (rythm guitar), John Flux (lead guitar), Jon Pearce (bass guitar) and Mick White (drums).

Tim and Jon went on to form part of Bern Elliot's band The Klan and Jon later moved on to the Plus Four with Erky Grant, which eventually became Candy Choir.

John Flux moved on to broadcasting and Jon Pearce after leaving Candy Choir in 1967, joined Kent Police and retired in 1998 as a Detective Chief Inspector.

Photo thanks to Jon Pearce

The Cortinas(1)

Maidstone and Frindsbury

Tim Hughes Rythym
Norman Lead
Roger Cable Drums
Tony Storme Vocals
Alan (Rocky) Lane Bass

The Cortinas (2)

Bern Elliott Vocal
Tim Hughes Rhythm/Vocal
Alan (Rocky) Lane Bass (replaced)
Mick White Drums/Vocal
John (Flux) White Lead/Vocal*
John Silby Pearce Bass/Vocal/Lead
*Beau Kent ex Butlins Redcoat

Terry Lucas Road Manager

Plus Four

The original Plus Four line-up All four were vocalists providing a 'before their time' harmony quality.

Pic. left to right
<<<<Jim Hatt (bass), Eddie Wheeler (lead guitar), Danny Beckett (drums), Brian Hatt (rhythm guitar)

1965' left to right Jon Pearce, Danny Beckett, Eddie Wheeler, Brian Hatt>>>>

CandyChoir
S London/Medway
Pic. left to right
Brian Hatt(rhythm guitar), Eddie Wheeler(guitar & vocals) , Danny Beckett(drums), Jon Pearce(bass)

The Candy Choir was the renamed group known as Plus Four and the change of name came about in the mid-sixties when their music became predominantly 'west coast'. Much of the group's repertoire included Beach Boys, Jan & Dean and Four Seasons material. The original Plus Four line-up was Eddie Wheeler (lead guitar), Brian Hatt (rhythm guitar), Jim Hatt (bass) and Danny Beckett (drums). All four were vocalists providing a 'before their time' harmony quality.

In 1965 Jim Hatt decided to pursue other interests and he was replaced by Jon Pearce, formerly of the Cortinas and Bern Elliot's band The Klan.

Candy Choir were a recording session band as well as live performers and backed artists including Crispian St Peters, Johnny Kidd and Barry Ryan.
Candy Choir toured the world working as Crispian St. Peters and Barry Ryan's backing band.
Eddie Wheeler joined Vanity Fare

Alkatrazz
The Band:
Bob Jenner - Guitars
Criag Pinkney (aka Craig Stevens) - Vocals - (currently a member of highly regarded folk band "Pink and White Bridge" in Australia)
Nick Parsons - Joined The Rainkings after Alkatrazz (The Rainkings played their final gig at the Beacon Court back in February 2005,)
Gary Bevan - Bass (currently works in Bali )

Bio: Formed in 1980 and based in Maidstone, the band recorded two albums for RCA records,
Youngblood-1981 and Radio 5-1982, part of the British New Wave of Heavy Metal.
A 30 date UK tour began in 198In 1981 we played Maidstone College and attracted an audience of 700, with subsequent support slots with Magnum and The Tygers Of Pangtang, playing Hammersmith Odeon and all the major venues across the UK. We also did a radio session for the late great Tommy Vance on the Friday Rock show. We also headlined The Marquee twice and supported Budgie at The Hammersmith Odeon upon release of Radio 5 in 1982. Then we toured with Samson whom RCA had just signed, so they were our label mates.

Albums:
Youngblood - RCA Records RCA LP 5023 -1981
Radio 5 - RCA Records RCA LP 3066 -1982

Singles:
Rocking High
You And The Night
Think It Over

You can hear Alkatrazz by going to http://retrospectrecords.com/Band/Alkatrazz.htm

Hi Chris
Since we last communicated I have met up with Phil Butler, a member of "Just Us "quite by accident and he told me that they changed their name to " Fingles Cave" some time ago. They have reformed with all the original members and we went to see them at Goudhurst Ex Servicemens Club in the Autumn.They were very good indeed and Jaffa played " Hey Joe " just for me, as he saw Jimi Hendrix on Hastings Pier at the same time as I did.If you need any other information please contact me. Jimi Hendrix and The Experience signatures are attached.I just hope they are genuine! Also attached my Group Card from The Late 60's.

Regards Peter Horton

Bern Elliott and the Fenmen (North Kent)

1961 with Decca April 1963 - Split May 1964

Bern Elliott - Vocal
Alan Judge - Lead/Vocal
John Povey - Drums/Vocal
Wally Allan (Alan Wally Waller) - Vocal/Guitar b. 9.4.1944, in Barnehurst, Kent
Eric Willmer - bass guitar

Bern Elliott & The Fenmen formed in Erith Kent in 1961. 61 -63 local touring and Hamburg. Signed to Decca in 1963.
They were the only group to reach the charts with "Money" inDecember 1963 a song performed by many groups of the day. Although not from Liverpool, the group played in a similar style to the "Merseybeat" bands and Elliott himself possessed a good R&B influenced voice. The band split in 1964 due to ego any money differences. Bern Elliott Created a new group The Klan, while the Fenmen continued until 1968. John Povey and Wally Allen both joined a later line-up of The Pretty Things.
Singles
Nov '63 - Money/Nobody But Me (Decca) F 11779 UK#14
See NME Nov 22 1963 P.9 Richard Green - New to the charts: Bern Elliott and the Fenmen ["Do you love me?"]
Mar '64 - New Orleans/Everybody Needs A Little Love (Decca F 11852 UK#24
E.P's
64 - Bern Elliott & The Fenmen - Shake Sherry Shake/Please Mr. Postman/Shop Around/Mashed Potato Chills/I Can Tell (Decca) DFE 8561
Compilation with Mersey bands
64 - Live At The Cavern (Decca LK 4597) 1964 Reissued on LP See For Miles( SEE 58) 1985 with extra tracks, and later on CD(SEE CD 223) Sixties Explosion, Vol. 1
Beat Years, The - Bern Elliott & The Fenmen Released: Oct 1993
1. Money
2. Everybody needs a little love
3. Shop around
4. Little Egypt
5. Good times
6. What do you want with my baby
7. Guess who
8. Make it easy on yourself
9. Forget her
10. Voodoo woman
11. Lipstick traces
12. Nobody but me
13. Be my girl
14. Rag doll
15. I've got everything you need babe
16. Every little day now
17. New Orleans
18. Chills
19. I can tell
20. Do the mashed potato
21. Please Mr Postman
22. Shake sherry shake
23. Talking about you

Bern Elliott solo Singles
65 - Guess Who/Make It Easy On Yourself (Decca) F 12051
65 - Lipstick Traces/Voodoo Woman (Decca) F 12171
Fenmen Singles
64 - Be My Girl/Rag Doll (Decca) F 11955
65 - I've Got Everything You Need Babe/Every Little Day Now (Decca) F 12269
66 - California Dreamin'/Is This Your Way (CBS) 202075
66 - Rejected/Girl Don't Bring Me Down (CBS) 202236

Bern Elliott and theThe Klan

Line-up: 3 guitars + organ + drums + vocal harmony all adds up to the sound of th"Klan"
May 1964 - Feb 1965
Bern Elliott Vocal - Dave (Tox) Cameron Lead - Tim Hughes Rhythm/Vocal - PJ Mason Organ - John Silby Pearce Bass - Pete Shelton (Uncle Martin) Bass - Pete Adams Drums

Singles
Sep '64 Good Times/What Do You Want With Me (Decca) F 11970

Fan Club Press release

Big Dave Cameron, lead guitar, hails from Ealing. Has been guitar man with the fleerekkers, the Giants, and recently on the Cliff Richard tour. Has a hard and biting guitar sound.

Tim Hamilton, rhythm jumbo guitar/vocal. Formerly of "The Cortinas" - Tim is 19 years of age and the "Klan" will be his first professional group, nevertheless Tim has a wealth of semi-pro experience on lead. Spent most of his life in the States, but now comes from Medway Towns in Kent.

Jon Silby-Pearce, bass guitar/vocal. Formerly of "The Cortinas" - Long haired baby of the "Klan", but is determined to produce a big bass sound, Jon sings a great raucous-type vocal, and is very proud to be making his professional debut with Berns "Klan", Jon is a townmate of Tim Hamilton.

Pete Adam, drums/Vocal. Pete comes from old London Town and is proud of it. He has a happy atmosphere about his drumming, and has been around in pro groups for the past 4 years, taking in long spells in Germany. He recently turned down the Tony Orland drums chair in favour of joining Bern Elliott's "Klan".

P.J.Mason, organ. Brilliant 18 year old; trained on piano from the age of six. Experience includes every type of keyboard; featured on cinema organ and plays occasionally at local church festivals at Rochester Cathedral. He has been in several different semi-pro groups, but the "Klan" is his first pro job.
Fan Club:- Bern Elliott and his "Klan"
c/o Georgina
52 Wentworth Drive,
Dartford,Kent

See article Chatham Standard 24th April 1964
Fri Sept 4th 1964 - Ready Steady Go
Sat Sept 28th 1964 - Joe Loss Pop Show - Saturday Club
Five o'clock Club
Beat Room

PPB (Private Parts Band)

I was in PPB from 1980 to 1982 when we played every Sunday night at the Who'd a Thought It in Grafty Green. We also did other gigs around Kent.
PPB (Private Parts Band) had a number of line ups before I joined because it grew out of an informal session, possibly at The Harrow, but I'd like to think that the period I was in the band was the height of it's popularity!
The line up was Richard Wight - lead vocal and guitar, Pete Hayward - bass, Pete (Mitch) Mitchell - drums and vocal, and myself Alan Cork lf on lead guitar and vocal. Jez Wyatt was on keyboards when I joined but left after a while. Prior to me joining, Eric Snowball of ESE music was the regular pedal steel player and Dave Bloss did a couple of gigs.

Others included John Bray who writes below

Thanks to Alan for the PPB entry. It may help for me to provide some information about the Band.

Richard Studholme was the founder member and for a time lived close to Grafty Green. He invited Richard Whyte to join him and shortly after started playing regularly at the Harrow pub, the new Landlord of the "Who'd have Thought it" liked what he heard and invited them to play regularly at his pub on a Sunday evening when music took precedence over the normal restaurant business he had been building.
The two Richards developed an atmosphere of quality, semi acoustic/electric presentations that quickly built the name of the venue and subsequently its popular friendly and star-studded atmosphere. I am sure there are many who remember the musical variety and fun.
Richard Studholme's love of blues music and his carefully researched sound and playing style was leading him to greater things. Opportunities beckoned and he moved to New York to play with a range of highly considered New York musicians at quality venues. A dream come true. In preparation of his moving he contacted John Bray a guitarist and singer
from Maidstone who was well known to them both. John had started playing at school and co-formed the band Phase Five, later the Web Foundation band.

John worked well with Richard Whyte and the duo format continued. Encouragement was given to others to come up and play or sing and at this time Richard Whyte suggested the Private Parts Band name. Guest players became more of a formal process and lead to the creation of a larger group of regular musicians. The venue became very popular with people queuing to get inside on some occasions.

An outside concert in aid of the Trinity Trust was packed and the band comprising of Richard Whyte, John Bray, Eric Snowball, Pete Haywood and a Flutist and a drummer whose names escape me. (I have photos) I left the PPB shortly after Pete become a full time member and it is no doubt the time that Alan has referred.

I have some photos and a Kent Messenger article which I will send for inclusion at some point.
Richard still lives in Kent and I have just moved back after 25 years away. After a successful career in design,
Pete is now a successful dance DJ and producer.
I think Mitch is still around. I believe Jez moved to the USA.
I’ll update this as time goes on and my memory comes back!
I moved to London in 1982 and played on the circuit in South East London for many years including stints with Steve Waller at the Half Moon Herne Hill on Sunday lunchtimes.

Other Kent bands I was in were Orpheus, Scapa Flow, Pipedream and Skintight Jackson (and the Do-Rons). Details of these to follow but my friend John Buckingham has a good website for Orpheus and Pipedream at www.lusyd.co.uk
.....................John Bray

The Pretty Things
Mine heroes from The Dartford Delta!

Someone on your message board was asking about drummer Viv Prince - he is on the Algarve, breeding alsations, growing oranges, fishing...and still drinking like the maniac he always was.

Brian Pendleton died a few years back, the pooor fella was on the bones of his aerse and the back catalogue money didn't materialise in time for him.

Wally Allen born Allan Edward Waller, 9.4.1944, in Barnehurst, Kent

Phil is in London, Dick's on the I.O.W., John Stax emigrated to Oz many many years ago.

I could put together a PTs item for your website, if that would be of any interest?
Peter

Sounds Incorporated
Fomed 1961 N Kent

See The boys live with Little Richard - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbaH2sXRi6g

Barrie Cameron (b.Baz Elmes) organist/pianist/baritone saxophonist
Trevor White replaced Barrie Cameron and became the band's first vocalist
John St. John (b. John Gillard) guitarist
Wes Hunter (b, Dick Thomas), bassist
Tony Newman (b. Richard Anthony Newman) Drums
Terry Fogg replaced Richard Newman
Alan Holmes (Boots) saxophonists/woodwind
David Glyde (Griff West) saxophonists/woodwind
John Gillard ("Major"John St.John)

'Sounds Incorporated ('Sounds Inc" 1967) comprised some great North Kent Musicians except Tony Newman who came from N W London.
Their instrumental popularity led to them to back Gene Vincent on his UK tour of 1961.and other American artistsincl. Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Sam Cooke and a deals with
Parlophone.
(Parlophone R4815 1961 Mogambo/ Emily)
Decca
Decca F11540 1962 Sounds Like Locomotion/ Taboo
Decca F11590 1963 Stop/ Go
Decca F11723 1963 Order Of The Keys/ Keep Moving
Columbia
Columbia DB7239 1964 The Spartans/ Detroit #30
Columbia DB7321 1964 Spanish Harlem/ Rinky Dink #35
Columbia DB77404 1964 William Tell/ Bullets
Columbia DB7545 1965 Time For You/ Hall Of The Mountain King (Hit)
Columbia DB7676 1965 My Little Red Book/ Justice Neddi
Columbia DB7737 1965 On The Brink/ I'm Comin' Thru
Polydor 56209 1967 How Do You Feel/ Dead As You Go

Their reputation at live performances, including those in the USA brought them to the notice of the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, who offered to act as their agent. Through this association they soon found themselves signed by Epstein, toured backing stars like LuLu and The Beatles. They opened for the Beatles World tour incl. the legendary show at New York's Shea Stadium. The Baatles invited Cameron, Holmes, and West to be the saxophone section on their Sgt. Pepper track "Good Morning, Good Morning." from the 'Sergeant Pepper' album.

'Sounds Incorporated's own UK success with singles was very modest in comparison to their reputation as live musicians, but they managed two minor hits while still with Epstein. Their greatest success was actually in Australia where their 'William Tell' went all the way to the #1 spot- despite passing almost unnoticed at home!

As the 1960s progressed the group began to disintegrate.
First off, 1966 Tony Newman joined Jeff Beck's group and later went on to work with David Bowie. He was replaced by Trevor White the band's first vocalist.
He was followed by Barrie Cameron who wanted to be in A&R, an arranger and manager, replaced by Terry Fogg
The rest of the group soldiered on, mainly playing in Australia, until 1971 when they finally broke up to each pursue new musical careers.
Bazz is now working for Sir Andrw Lyodd Webber
Tony was drumming for the Everly Brothers!

Lynx 4

Lynx 4 were playing in Kent in the 60's and are still rockin'.

Mick, Martin, Roger and Ron at the ABC, Eltham Palace Cinema.

Formed in the mid sixties, Lynx 4 established themselves in South East London . They were a star attraction at the Avery Hill Teacher Training College in Eltham, London SE9 whilst the outskirts of London including Dulwich was a haven for live bands at Saturday night "hops" after the match. The College, Rugby, Cricket and Football Club circuit became regular venues.
Lynx 4 supported such acts as The Kinks and The Mojos at prestigious venues. Having won several "Battle of the Bands" competitions at London various venues such as Wimbledon Palais and the 2 i's in Soho, they recorded in the famous Abbey Road Studios (with a young Tim Rice at the recording desk).

You can still catch the band live - check out their website at http://www.lynx4.com

Winkle Bill

1971 line up.
Malcolm Barnard ( vocals,sax)

Barry Archer (guitar)

Chris Godden (organ,guitar)

Paul Adam (bass)

Harry Hancock (drums)

Hi Chris
I was just perusing your web site Ah the nostalgia of it all.I played in a band called Winkle Bill for many years and if I do say so myself we were pretty successful. We had several line ups but always went down well. The original band are getting back together again. How would one get a place on your web site???
regards Barry

The Trespassers (circa 1962)
clockwise, from left - Richard Thompson (rhyhtm/harmony vocals), Ian Taylor (lead) who replaced Ian Hall , Tim Grover(drums) , Dave Pain (vocals), Mick Cork (bass)

The pic was taken at Harvey Grammar when we did a PTA do. Legendary maths teachers Spider Beck asked: "Do you do any Freddie and the Dreamers? We like Freddie and the Dreamers in our house!" You had to know him, and to be there. Thankfully he bopped along as we belted out If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody, complete with that silly Freddie Garrity dance! - Yep I knew him, that must have been a sight.....Ed

Original Trespassers
Dave Pain (vocals), Ian Hall (lead),Richard Thompson (rhyhtm/harmony vocals), Tim Grover (drums), Mick Cork (bass)

Formed originally by HGS school pals Dave, Richard and Ian who asked Mick Cork to join on bass at some time in the very early 60s.
I'm not totally sure when and where Tim came along, but it was probably just as well as he was the only one old enough to drive at the time!
After months of practising we were ready for our first gig, a barbecue at Hythe Cricket Club (The Grove) one night in the summer.
Then........
Doing what was no more than a spot of glorified work experience at a factory on Bowles Well Gardens, Richard - a really intense guy - but excellent musician - from Dover chopped the top of his thumb off only a matter of days before our public debut! Tommy was in tears, but we pulled ourselves together and got Dave Caswell to stand in. It all went well, though not as well as it might have, and because Painey didn't rate Twist and Shout we got legendary Folkestone fast bowlers Cliff Stephens out of the crowd to give the punters what they were shouting for!
All very well, but we'd not worked out to end the b-song!
Painey gave in and learned it and, on our next date at the Hythe Albion sung it SIX times, by request, and duly lost his voice!
Dave was an excellent singer, if a bit country (he'd grown up in Canada). Our repertoire then included stuff like In Dreams (Orbison) and standards like Scarlet Ribbons and The Party's Over to show off his voice.
Ian (Hall) suddenly left with his family who emigrated to Australia, it seemed, at very short notice, and for a booking on the Friday at the East Cliff Pavilion (for a Seeboard social) we had no lead player. Then Tim remembered that the Mirror had run a story about a lad from his road (Surrenden Road, Cheriton) about this guitar mad kid who'd runaway to London/Liverpool to try to get into a band.
We tracked him - Ian Taylor - down, persuaded him to come home; practised one night and played the next!
Ian Taylor was inexperienced but an excellent musician who went on to replace Noel Redding in the Ones (yes he was that good) before becoming a doctor of music and all kind of other clever things, connected with various universities and music schools.
We had some very good times at places like the All Welcome Hut - Brenzett - memorable only cos I can still recall the smell of the toilet! - plus a whole variety of other places.
We packed up when Richard went off to uni and Dave moved away because of his job.
Good times. And, if I have to say it myself, cos no-one else will, we were not bad! ....Mick Cork

The Mystics
Formed from The Trespassers

The Mystics, with Dave Pain (singer), Ian Milton (guitar), Bill Regan (drums), Phil Kirk (keyboards), Mick Cork (bass) played all kinds of stuff (Animals, etc), making use of the addition of a keyboard player in Phil, who was pretty good, though Ian Milton left at some stage and was replaced towards the end by an old friend , Trevor Wright. Before that, though, they had become fairly well established in east Kent under the management of Roger West.

Bill had come out of Henry (which also featured Johnny Etchells) and was reputed to be on of the best drummers in Folkestone for quite some time.

Although they had plenty of laughs, Mick fell out with the rest, over - guess what - a girlfriend who was getting the way and was chucked out!!! Disgraceful. They got local legend Johnny Berry in on bass, but didn't last too much longer.

Played locally at places like the Hillside Club, formerly Pfizers where Bill once jammed with Noel and Hendrix late at night. One of the happier times.

Tarquin

Hi Chris,I have often seen Tofts club mentioned on your site, we played there regularly between 1968 and 1971 as TARQUIN supporting many great bands.
I remember one weekend playing with EDGAR BROUGHTON on the saturday night and FORMERLY FAT HARRY with BRUCE BARTHOL of COUNTRY JOE AND THE FISH on the
sunday.
I have sent a picture of the band in 1969 we were very proud of our hair as was every self respecting rock musician at the time!
The line was
MALCOLM BARNARD/VOCALS/SAX .
PETE HANCOCK/GUITAR.
CHRIS GODDEN/ORGAN/GUITAR.
DAVE KIRBY/BASS.
EDDIE ANDREWS/DRUMS.
Another band we played with regularly at Tofts was THE DREAM POLICE with a certain Hamish who went on to form THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND and later play with SIR PAUL. I will send more info soon and look forward to seeing our ugly mugs on your excellent site.

Captain Black

Captain Black - at Pfizers Club (about 1975)
L-R - Andy Reynolds, Richie Bilous, Bill Regan, Mick Cork

Other members - Keith Harwood - Steve "Doris" Read

Originally Mick Cork joined Keith Harwood (then known by his real name, Keith Uren) and Andy Reynolds, a couple of local folk singers. Gradually Billy Regan got involved and Captain Black was formed.
Captain Black was named after some wierd pipe that Keith Harwood owned. On one practice night Keith was asked "What the hell's that you've got in yer gob?" . "It's a Captain Black" said the great one. They built up a fairly big following, especially at the sadly no longer Neptune (in Dymchurch) where the local football club adopted us as their own.
Next they managed to get hold of an outstanding talent in Richie Bilous, who had grown up in Cardiff with Andy Fairweather-Low (Amen Corner), and who had played with Tom Jones in his very, very early days. Richie had been in a duo with a lad called Jim.

Captain Black, with Andy, Bill, Richie, Mick Cork, and roadie Steve "Doris" Read on bongos/conga drum, did very well. Again they had a big following at the Neptune, in a later guise, as well as the Golden Arrow (now Jester) plus all kinds of either venues, near and far.

For whatever reason, the two singers Richie and Andy Reynolds, decided to leave after finding they could earn good money as a duo (The Reyn Brothers) Richie later performed solo as Richard Reyn and also as guitarist/vocalist with the City Blues Band

Keith Harwood later decided to go solo, and enjoyed a truly wonderful career on his own until in 1998 he collapsed on stage at Seasalter, near Whitstable at the age of just 48.

Henry

Bill Regan (drums) - John Etchells

The Runaways

Runaways 2004 The Runaways were formed in 1982 with Gary Bryant on lead guitar, Tim Adams on rhythm guitar and vocals, Kevin Clark on bass guitar and vocals, and Ivan Thurlow on drums and vocals. Both Kevin and Ivan have had time away from The Runaways playing with other bands (e.g. Omega and Shadoogie) but the line up in their 24th year is that of 1982.

Gary and Tim had been best friends from an early age and took up guitar together. They loved nothing better than playing their favourite music from the Rock 'N' Roll era. Tim had a flair for imitating the singers while Gary was ably reproducing the guitar sounds. Since forming The Runaways the band members have been committed to producing a quality performance and are particularly renowned for their authentic representation of music from The Shadows, including the choreography!

The Runaways have worked alongside famous names in the world of entertainment and as the backing band to original singing stars of the fifties and sixties. They have also been special guests on BBC radio and have made appearances on London Weekend Television and Sky TV.

After receiving excellent reviews in various magazines, The Runaways signed a record deal with Polydor to release a CD in Japan. They have since recorded albums for Sweden and Europe and their music is distributed to other countries. The Runaways' album "Into The Vortex" is now available (April 2006) and is being sold at gigs and online.

The Runaways are constantly striving to produce the highest quality sound and still rehearse routinely to perfect regular numbers and learn new ones to extend their already extensive repertoire. They also pay attention to the visual aspects of their performances and are always immaculate in their suits and memorable for their striking bright red guitars!

Audiences are constantly amazed by the range of sounds The Runaways produce using their guitar synths and find it hard to believe that performances are completely live without the use of backing tracks. The band members switch effortlessly from the sound of the clarinet for Stranger On The Shore, through the pan pipes for Fields Of Gold, to the piano for Nut Rocker, for example.

Despite having worked with members of The Shadows and being renowned for the authenticity of their production of Shadows' numbers, The Runaways are far more than a Shadows tribute band. With the vast experience and individual talents of each member and their extensive repertoire of vocal and instrumental numbers, The Runaways produce a performance tailored to each venue/event and often receive standing ovations and unending demands for encores!
................................Sue Wright
More at www.the-runawaysuk.com

The Runaways have also backed many fine artists including Crispian St. Peters

Runarounds - Canterbury - ????the singer was Derek Delo.

State Organisation
Became Tristram Shandy

Les Peel vocals - Bill Regan - Tony Gardener deceased

Tristram Shandy

Folkestone
Were State Organisation -

L-R Dave Bowley guitar - Arthur (Roly) Sparkes bass - Pete Sewell drums - Andy Kealey guitar.

Others: Manager Barry Musk who introduced RCA - Dave Shackle who replaced Bill Regan Tony Scott (Scotty) - Tony Gardener(deceased) - Les Sampson - Mike Farris (Lyricist and Roady)

The band went through many personel changes before settling with Arthur (Roly), Andy, Dave & Pete who wished to go professional and signed to Mecca which took them out of the area to Leicester, Newcastle then Nottingham where they stayed for 4 or 5 years. Andy Arthur & Dave still reside in Nottingham. Andy and Dave still playing Athur retired. Pete after travelling the world as a musician has now returned to Folkestone, plays in a successful band and also operates a drum tuition school.

Discology:
Hunky Funky Woman/Don't be too Hard On Me. Released worldwide except Britain ( RCA CPKS1438) 1973
Sacharine Sandy Fingers and Thumbs/ MisterBlue Released World wide including Britain (Tiffany Records 6121 505) 1974

Nottingham Evening Post wrote

GROUP HOPES FOR HIT
Colwick could well find itself on the pop map if all goes well for a group called Tristram Shandy.
For the group release their first British record on Friday and the composer of the song they hope will be a hit is David Bowley.
David who plays piano & guitar in the group has lived in Colwick for a year, while the group have been resident at the Palais De Danse in Nottingham. The village already has one famous son in Paper Lace drummer and singer Phil Wright, and David is hoping that his song Sacharine Sandy Fingers & Thumbs will prove as big a success as Paper Lace's two records have been.
David is joined in the group by Peter Sewell Andy Kealey and Arthur Sparkes all of who live at The Park, Nottingham.
The Four originate from Kent and have been together as a group for about 3 years.
ON CONTINENT
They describe themselves as a pop harmony group and before becoming resident at the Palais they were resident in Leicester and Newcastle,
before that they played all over England as well as on the Continent.
Although their new record is their first one available in Britain they did make a record some time ago.
Which was released in just about every country but Britain
They have also recorded an LP which has not yet been released. ( And still hasn't been released........Ed )
All the songs recorded by the group are penned by David and many of them are incorporated, into their act.
With David on piano or guitar, the line-up is completed with Pete on drums: Arthur on Bass guitar and Andy playing lead guitar.
REQUESTED
They can be heard on four nights a week at the Palais and are finding at the moment that Mecca, to whom they are contracted are also finding work for them on their three nights off.
Although Sacharine Sandy has only just been released the group have been playing it for a year and David stated "It goes down well everywhere we go. It is one of the most requested numbers in our reportoire. It is a number that appeals to all age groups,
As the boys wait to see if their record will be a hit they have I plenty to think about with the possibility of television appearances and
Radio interviews in the near future.

Trunk

Trunk were based in Rye around the early 70's. The band consisted of Kevin Williams (vocals), Graham Willams (vocals), Steve Blattman ( lead guitar), Gerv Seymour (lead guitar), Kev Miller ( bass, not in the picture) & Simon Hill (drums).

The band were billed as a Rock Harmony group and played all sorts from the Who to the Eagles and trod the boards around the Kent and East Sussex border.

The band split in 1977 after Kevin Williams joined Die Laughing and went off to tour Germany, he now fronts his own soul band Rye & The Quarter Boys once based in London but now only appearing at special venues. Gerv Seymour left the area but was involved in the music in Norfolk running a music pub. Simon Hill played with various folk bands after the demise of Trunk, not known what he is doing today

Kev Miller gave up playing after the split. Graham Williams lives in New Zealand and although had a short career with Last Orders, a rock band with Phil Allchin and Steve Blattman in the late 70's, is no longer involved in performing.
Steve Blattman spent the last 30 years playing in local bands including Galaxy Tramp, Last Orders, Red House, Hippo Band and most recently the Rhythm Doctors who are currently doing the pub circuit in Kent & Sussex.

Last Orders

Late 70's Phil Allchin - Steve Blattman - Kev Miller

Couriers

Steve Marriott (Lead Vocals) - Gary Swinard - Les Sampson (drums) - Dave 'Wiggy' Trott (Bass) - Andy? ginger bloke good guitarist quote Dave Shackle

Steve & 'Wiggy' Trott, from Ashford both worked at the Railway Works as Apprentices with Martin Young. Steve is now with Live'n'Kickin - as for Wiggy tragically he died of cancer in the early 80', a loss to us all. The guy was an absolute NUTTER!

Sharpees
Bill Mead (bass guitar and lead vocals) - Pete Goody (lead/rythm guitars and vocals) - John Smith (drummer and vocals)

Website www.sharpees.com

A North kent based band made up of three ex-members of Rebel played at most of the Kent venues in the early Eighties then started to record all original material at Graham Q Jones' Oakwood Studios in Herne Bay. The recordings were sent to various management companies and the band were offered a contract with Fischer Z Management in London and European tour as support to FischerZ plus a singles deal with A&M records.
Everything was in the right place including an albums worth of material ready to go but the band unfortuanately split up on the eve of signing all contracts.
In 2003 the album as recorded at Grahams has been remastered on CD The Sharpees Album has now been licenced to Red Admiral Records through the services of Cringe Music (publishers) via One Kent
Details: 11 track CD called" Strangers" - Red Admiral Records - REDAD CDA545 - The Sharpees

Rebel
Chris,
Just to let you know that our old band REBEL are to reform with a new line up ,and will now be looking to start gigging within the next 4 weeks. the sound are very Tom Pettyish with a few of the original numbers including Rocka Shocka from our time with the well known East London label Bridgehouse Records.
If any of your website readers remembers Rebel from playing places such as Bowlers Arms Margate, Ship Gabriels Hill Maidstone, Marquee , Hope and Anchor , Greyhound London and quite a lot of the old London rock pub circuit they might have bought the single which is now selling for £85 in England and $93 in the States so if there are any floating around hang on to them.
I will let you know of the gig list in a few weeks time.
thanks Bill Mead

Scandal
Kent based rock group that emerged from the ashes of two other great bands"Hope n Glory" "Miami".
Scandal, formed in mid 1990, during the days of big hair, tight jeans and cowboy boots. The band came together quickly, with the first gig at 'The Archer' in Whitfield, in Kent.

Martin Writes - Original members were, Clive Wisbey....lead guitar - Tik Brown......lead guitar - Roy Pratt.....drums - Martin Wisbey.....bass guitar & vocals.
Roy only lasted two or three gigs, as outside pressure made it increasingly hard for him to meet the busy schedule. Chris Jones (ex Hope n Glory) was drafted in as his replacement. The heavy artillery was now complete. Off went Scandal, bouncing around the South East of England, on a mad quest to have fun.

Look at that line up. Pic Left L-R. Chris, Mart, Tik & Clive.

Scandal quickly developed a following. Who could ever forget 'Smashie & Nicey' from Gillingham would seemed to go everywhere.

Over the 7 years of gigging, there were more than one or two line-up changes. Mainly drummers (in keeping with the Spinal Tap way of working). Although we were joined by ex Torme & TNT vocalist, Gary Owen for a short time. Gary had asked to come and do a few gigs with us, so he could get back into it. We jumped at it. It took some of the pressure off me. Chris left to pursue a career with ex Gillian & Ozzy guitarist, Bernie Torme. He was replaced by, (would you believe) Freddie Starr's drummer. The completely un-intelligible Glaswegian Andy Rankin. Andy helped us out for a few months in between touring with Freddie. He was replaced by Barry Adams. Barry resurfaced recently with the excellent Deal based 'The Passion'. After Barry came ex Roadhouse and Tenpole Tudor's Nigel Millichamp. He 'had drum solo-will travel!!!' Top bloke, great drummer. Personal reasons dictated his departure. After Nigel came Fred Degrusser. The most technically able drummer we used up until now. It was with Fred that we played with Geoff Whitehorn on a Marshall amps demonstration evening. It was just so cool. Somewhere there is a great video. (actually its in my video machine. I still watch it now. We were so young).

When Fred left we recruited Ray Whisker from local band 'Born 2 B'. On we went, along with Smashie & Nicey. Finally after Ray, our longest serving drummer, we re-recruited Chris Jones for another stint. This lasted till the end. The best ever line-up, of the best ever local band.

We still do the odd gig. We are still pretty good. My Current info is here - Martin

Kilroy
Folkestone 1968

Pic. L - R

Ed Parry (guitar vocals)
Melvin Watts (guitar vocals & later Bass)
Bob Lind (drums)
Jackie Small (lead vocals) joined and left

Click for their story and more photos

Square One

Chris Southern (vocals) - Stuart Fennell (organ) - Pete Dugdale (bass) - Bob Dominy (drums)
- Steve Taylor (lead guitar)?

... More and Pictures

Jasmine Childe

Nick Unsworth - Guitar and Vocals Paul Creed - Guitar and Vocals Sean Flynn - Bass Guitar Clive Munns - Drums

JASMINE CHILDE was formed by school friends Nick Unsworth and Clive Munns around 1972. The were joined by guitarist Paul Creed in 1973 and after much searching for a good bassist they managed to secure the services of Sean Flynn a year later.
The band played their original mix of pop and prog rock songs every Friday and Saturday at The Elephant pub with the occasional show at Medway Art college and Canterbury Uni before basing themselves in The Hague, Holland for 6 months.
Having played on the European rock scene they returned to the UK with the idea of securing a deal with a major record label. Unfortunately, during their time away Punk had taken the country by storm and the band broke up in 1977. They reformed in 1986 to play two concerts raising money for Live Aid and recently got together again to celebrate their 50th birthdays!
In 2008 they plan to begin re-recording some of the songs with a view to making them available for free download.

Axis

L - R Stewart Beaumont - Ian Crump - Billy Redding - Andy Wenham - Hugh Drury - Keith Parry

Axis was formed in a hurry – no one can be certain quite why, in Ashford Kent, in about 1967, rehearsed in a garage and played wherever a hall could be hired, broken into or an audience bribed. It is suspected that the founder was Billy Redding, who was born in London at the age of two, which was a surprise to his mother, as she was on holiday in Margate at the time. The band is proud of its innovation and artistic integrity and that it never played in the same shed or worked for the same promoter twice. The owners of the sheds and the promoters were equally proud of their record on that.The band never sought a recording contract, being far ahead of their time and unappreciated. As a proto-Punk Blues band with its roots in Soul, (and branches in a High street near you), they found that this genre never gained general acceptance west of Willesborough Hospital.

Although at least two members were too stoned to notice, the band folded after about 18 months, as it was becoming too expensive to hire halls and play to the floorboards – Axis had unwittingly become the initiator of an art-form known as the ‘rehearsal-performance’. This dispensed with the need for an audience on the night, leaving the band free to improvise at will. (Or - at Will, as he often turned up looking for free booze and loose women – or was it the other way around?).

The Bootleg Years Included on this album (one tape only issued) are loose approximations of some of the chord sequences of the following numbers:
Dock of the Bay
Albatross (God knows why!)
Down in the Valley
Green Onions (the symphonic version with a 25 minute drum solo)
Mojo?
Many of the correct notes can be heard, but in the words of Eric Morecambe - ‘not necessarily in the right order’ Other unidentified but vaguely familiar noises are to be heard, including – if you listen to ‘Nuts’ version of Albatross carefully - a passing seagull - Jonathon Livingstone, I presume. We especially appreciated Stuart’s bassline which was cunningly pitched out half a semitone throughout.

The Band
Lead Guitar – Billy "Cheesecutter" Redding - Went to work in a mental hospital after hearing this tape.
Vocals??, Harmonica, Saxophone and defector to Mother Earth - Andy "Gutbucket" Wenham - Moved on to become a pillar of the Financial world (at least I think they said something that sounded like pillar)
Rhythm Guitar and overdue library books – Keith "Nuts" Parry - Rumoured to have become a taxidermist…or was it a Librarian?
Bass Guitar and bread rolls– Stewart Beaumont - Now working for the Government…… now there’s a good laugh!
Drums and other items not usually available on prescription - Hugh Drury - Last heard of in a Gypsy caravan in Southern Ireland looking for a roll-up
Saxophone and transport manager – Iain Crump - Still waiting for a proper job and the time to learn how to use more than 3 of the keys and remember two of the tunes
Guest Vocalist and deputy transport manager, (trading as Cliff Richard) – Graham Soar - An accountant for the second time …..but who’s counting
Entourage – Will Ward….. well, he turned up at a couple of gigs Alive and well and making picture frames, despite appearing on Top of the Pops (Didn’t we have a lovely day the day we went to Bangor………etc) holding a bassoon which never got blown.
Electronics and Pyrotechnics - Keith ‘Thirty Speakers’ Hammond - Probably became Brain of Britain or went into therapy
Promoter, for a fortnight or so - John ‘Gombo’ Webb - Still ‘on the nest‘ no doubt
Sound System – courtesy of the back of a Rediffusion van and Keith’s mother’s knitting machine
Vox AC30 - courtesy of John Brind (why? and who was he?)

Quotes across the years:
‘Why do you call it Axes?’ (Stewart’s mum)
‘Like a fine wine, Axis is a band whose music should be laid down …….and then set fire to!’ (Music correspondent of the Kentish Express)
‘Axis has a background of learning, but sadly not about music’ (Ashford Advertiser)
‘Thanks for making us look professional’ (Gary Swinard)
‘I can’t come down I’m on the nest!…do you need 2 GoGo dancers? – her sister’s available ’ – (‘Anon’).
‘What the hell was that noise and what were they doing using our kit????’ (Long John Baldry – Bridge Country Club 1968)
‘Are all those guys with leather coats and shaven heads really bald hippies?’ (John Mayall, Tofts Club, Folkestone 1969 )
(We didn’t think so either – we did a runner! (Ed.))

June 1969 Copyright ©MMIXXD UP
Submitted by Ian Crump

Mother Earth

Played at the Leas Cliff Hall a number of times - Andy Wenham was the Tenor Sax / Trumpet / Vocals / Harmonica. Probably an Ashford based Band

Mark 7

28 January 1967

Renaissance Faire
Folkestone 1975
Originally - The End

Spud Taylor(bass)
Dave Pain (Vocals)
Norman Swan (drums)
Cyril Sutton (guitar)
Phil Marriott (keyboards & guitar)

Road Runners
Gary Swinard

Badge
Bob Coltart - I think that Ron Jeffery was singer at one point.....bc

Citris

Chriss Hollinrake - Paul Davey - Vic Hollinrake- John Green
Recordings: One of the first bands to record at Europa Sound Studios Folkestone on 2 Track and Tooting Music Centre London on 8 Track.
Producer Chris Ashman spent days hauling the tapes around the record companies but the band split before a deal was secured.

Chriss Hollinrake writes from Australia

G'day Chris,
I remember that trip to the studio in London....particularly the four of us singing into a bucket. CITRIS was good fun...and you put in a lot....but things just would not happen... remember how we almost landed a 49 gig european trip supporting Mott the Hoople...I think it was all the excitement about that...and then the disappointment when the Hoople broke up...that finally broke us up...it's a long time ago...but fond memories all the same...... I remember...Bob Hodgeman was also in the Occasional One Band...Remember when I passed out in your drum booth in Harvey Street? Ha!!! I was sick for a week. No Worries it often happened to drummers in that booth, it was either the effects of working with me, alcohol or Carbon Monoxide coming in from the road above.... Chris Ashman

Vic teaches teaches classical guitar these days....John Green (bass) works in Ashford.
I'm still gigging here in Australia....though I play guitar and sing these days ...and loving it.

I remember your studio so well even though it's such a long time ago...33 years...phew...things have changed since then....I now have a digital multi-track capability....but not much time to use it...I teach multimedia at a local college here...that keeps me too busy....and I also do a bit of graphic design.

BTW....Bob Blyth came to live in OZ where he did a bit of playing...unfortunately he died in 2002...RIP

The Suspects - Folkestone 1963/4

Line up
Rod Jones (lead guitarist and vocalist), Cyril Gasson (guitar), Paul Brazier (bass guitar/vocals), Bill Regan (drums), Fritz Mulchay (vocals)
The Suspects were formed by guitarists Rod Jones & Cyril Gasson in February 1963. Bass guitarist Paul Brazier joined in March 1963. Drummer William Regan joined in early August 1963, with vocalist Fritz Mulchay completing the line later in August 1963. NOTE: William Regan was replaced by left Peter Scott (Pete Scott) after a period of time around early 1964. When Pete left Twilly (Phillip "Twilly" Stokes) came in on drums.

Suspects at the "Young Peoples Club" at the Woodward Hall, The Bayle, Folkestone in 1963 & 1964
More Suspects pictures

The Wild Sect - Formed in 1964.
left to right Rod Jones (guitar/vocals), Colin Dowsett Bass/vocals)
& Williiam Whitewood (drummer)

Line up - Rod Jones (guitarist and vocalist). Colin Dowsett (Bass guitar/Vocals). William Whitewood (drums). Les Peel (Vocals). Dave ?? (Keyboards).

Above pic. shows the group appearing at the Assembly Halls in Whitstable, Kent in 1964

Left - left to right new member guitar player Steve Taylor brother of Ian Taylor (from Cheriton)
Rod Jones (guitar/vocals)
William Whitewood (drummer)
with Colin Dowsett (Bass/vocals) (just seen at the very bottom of the picture)?

The End

Folkestone - Formed in 1964
slogan BE THERE AT THE BEGINING TO SEE THE END

THE END: The founder members were Cyril Sutton (lead guitar & vocals), Terry Hughes (rhythm guitar) Richard "Dick" Paul (vocalist ) Norman Swan (drums) and Pete "Spud" Taylor (bass & vocals) was then invited to join. Terry left the band in May 1966 so John Atkins played rhythm guitar briefly who was replaced by Rod Jones (guitar and vocals) .

1966 - Line up - Rod Jones (guitar and vocals), Cyril Sutton (original lead guitar & vocals), Pete "Spud" Taylor (bass & vocals) , Norman Swan (drums), Richard "Dick" Paul (original vocalist )
Others Later - Phil Marriot (vocals), Danny Clarkson (roady) - Willy (Brian W Wilson roady)

The End rehearsing at The Chichester Hall, Sandgate, Kent in 1966.

Line up from left to right is Peter Taylor (bass guitar/vocals), Richard Paul (vocals), Norman Swan (drums), Cyril Sutton (guitar) & Rod Jones (guitar/vocals).

The End were the resident group at Tofts in Folkestone in the mid sixties supporting many of the well known artistes of the day such as The Alexis Corner Band, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac etc.

The End also appeared at all the major venues in Kent to include The Dreamland Ballroom , Margate, The Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, The Beat club in Ashford, The Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone, The Corn Exchange in maidstone, etc to name but a few.

The Circuit
The Circuit was formed in Folkestone 1966

left to right,
Roger Bowden (keyboards)
Michael Wilkins (bass/vocals)
Les Peel original vocals replaced by Dick Paul
Dave Shackle (original drummer) later replaced by Brian Coleman
Rod Jones (Guitar & Vocals)

For pictures and full details of the band Click Here

Sons Of Chopin

Formerly The Circuit

Poster showing the Sons of Chopin with addition of keyboard player (name forgotten)

From left to right - Rod Jones (guitar/vocals), ???? ???? (keyboards), Michael Wilkins (bass/vocals), Dick Paul (vocals) & Brian Coleman (drums)
The Sons of Chopin signed to the Del Taylor agency & Management and toured as artistes in their own right. They also were used as a backing musicians for recording artistes The Lamb Brothers

Right - Promo sheet from the Del Taylor Management & Agency relating to The Sons of Chopin.

Lamb Brothers

Lamb Brothers (vocals) Rod Jones (guitar/vocals), ???? ???? (keyboards), Michael Wilkins (bass/vocals), & Brian Coleman (drums)

Pure Gold

Line up -
Rod Jones guitar/vocals), Brian Coleman (drums), Alan Ward (hammond organ/vocals)), Roger Morris (bass/vocals) & Peter Bull (vocals).

Press uttings relating to Pure Gold from the New Musical Express.

Pure Gold were signed to President Records part of the Edward Kassner Music Company.

Press cutting from The New Musical Express showing details of Pure Gold's record release on President Records.

Regulus

The Occasional One Band

Reg Laws Alibi

Rogue

Pictures

Inhibitions Prologue
Dave Shackle drums - Pete Dugdale organ & vocals - Chris Southern vocals - Steve Taylor lead guitar

... More and Pictures

Vogue
Kevin Bowyer Bass - Steve Bennett Guitar - Chris Daughters Drums

Valley Forge
Kevin Bowyer Bass - Steve Bennett Guitar - Chris Daughters Drums - Peter Ball guitar.
Peter left in 1975 after a gig at the East Cliff Pavilion.

Barry Catt also did a couple of gigs with them in place of Pete in 1975,
1) Whitegates old peoples home and The Deck Bar

Staires

Bob Coltart guitar & vocals - Ian Cheswright drums & vocals - Ray Perrin, Bass

Maroondogs

Bob Coltart guitar & vocals - Kevin Bowyer Bass & vocals - Ian Cheswright drums & vocals

The Maroondogs built a massive following over their 20 year as Kents most popular function band, and deservedly so. The dogs were a very tight and versatile unit, never short of work or repertoire. Over the years the band spent weeks in the studios in Kent either recording their own material for personal use or for one of the many records, tapes and CD's produced for their fans. Some of the jingles produced for local radio stations will live forever.
Use the links above to find out more about the individuals.

Ian left the band in early 2001 to persue a "real job" after complications with his hearing due to all that skin bashing over 1000's of gigs.
Bob sadly passed away in 2001.

The Maroondogs name will carry on with a new line up and an excellent band they are but it will never be the same.

Life'n'Soul

Kent based comedy showband LIFE 'N' SOUL spent many years gigging within the UK and abroad. A great comedy band. They have great website of their own, written by Paul Mylnarz so go there

Two's Company

Les Freathy
Gareth Jones

Ont he circiut in the South East for 20 years deserves a mention. They split to go rtheir own ways in ?????

Gareth now lives in Spain and is performing solo

Les Started playing in 1962 and after the split with Gareth was performing solo under the name of Cmpany untill Aug2005 when he was involved in a nasty road crash, broken leg, head injuries etc
In 2006 has only just started again on a limited basis.
More Later.......

Polaris

Dusty Miller started the band with very good friend Norman Long, later joined by Pete Hadlow (left handed guitar) and Brian Sharp ((of Hythe Printers fame) drummer)
Dusty (Melvin) Miller later joined the Rockin' Edwardians with Lenny Elliott

Pic.

Left to righ: Norman Long (Lead Singer) - Dusty Miller (Guitar) -- Peter Hadlow (Lead Guitar) and on Drums Brian Sharpe probably about 1970

Southern Four / Five - Ron Price- bass - Ray Vardon guitar & vocals - Alan Carolan - Billy Veal guitar Others: Gary Price, Geoff

Hi Chris,
Greetings from Chicago, USA. I've seen your web site and the references to The Southern Four and The Vostoks - very interesting... brings back many special memories.
Attached are two photos of The Southern Four (Ray Vardon, Ron Price, Alan Carolan and myself). I remember the recording sessions we had in your studio way back when.
Hope you're doing well.
All the best-
Billy Veal

Alcool Dapres

Pete Diffley guitar; synth - Paul Georgeson bass; vocals - Andy Race drums - Veronica Yarlett vocals; flute; percussion

Finished in top 6 at Ramsgate Battle of the Bands

Echo - Echo II

The original ECHO band consisted of Gary Dean, Bob Featherbee (bass), and Chris Daughters (Drums). Darrell Woodward (guitar), Barry Catt replaced Darrell on guitar in mid 1976 and remained there until early 1979. During that time Mick Betts replaced Chris on drums.

Pic L- R: Chris, Barry, Gary, Bob. July 8th, 1977

ECHO II

John Reagan - Kevin Bowyer - Gary Dean

Two's Company
Gareth Jones - Bass.

Rockin' Edwardians
The Rocking Edwardians were a Rock & Roll outfit - four to seven piece , depending on venue requirements and member availability

1n 1976, lead guitarist was Lenny Elliott, drummer was Jim (Mulcahy, or similar), bass guitarist was Dusty (Melvin) Miller, baritone sax played by John ?, alto courtesy of Ralph. Eammon Keyboards - Barry Catt played piano for a short time in 1976 while Eamonn was unavailable. There was also another guitarist, (could be Brian) and Ralph Thompson of Ramsgate on tenor sax and brothel creepers.

Golden Arrow poster

Brian ?

Another Language
New Romney
1982-1984
Member included - Andrew Mackay lead guitar; vocals - Paul Barnes flute; keyboards; backing vocals - John Norton drums (left to join 'Total Strangers) - John Reynolds Sax - Andrew Brandish drums - Trevor Marsh bass/bass synth - Kevin Bull keyboard.

Best Gig - Central Hall London with audience of 5,000 - Recordings - 2 demotapes one in London & one in Canterbury

Gargoyles Kiss - Folkestone - Glam Rock

Whispering Wind
Folkestone

Cyril Sutton
Danny Clarkson (drums)
Ian Milton (Drums)
Bob Coltart (Lead Guitar & Vocals) + +

Silent Movies

Vernon Woodward Piano,Lead Vocals - Darrell Woodward Bass & Vocals - Tim Neilson Drums & Vocals

Discology: (Cassette Only) E.P. PREMIERE Living in a Bedsit / Girl / I Can't Find a Job / Gonna Let her - Red Admiral Records - (Reel 1) 1981

Alley Kat From New Romney

Marin Young writes...
The band was based at New Romney and was led by the lead guitarist / vocallist Peter Abbot. Peter has to be one of the best guitarists I have worked with. He had been trained on Classical guitar which he used to advantage when playing rock leads whilst keeping a melody line going as well! Brilliant. The drummer / vocallist was Roger Jeffery from Lydd and the bass player / vocallist was Brian Fuggle from New Romney, both true masters of their instruments. Brian's two sons played in local bands, and it was with Peter, also a bass player; that Tick Brown, Mick Dunford and I formed 'Enry'.

Alley Kats had a Saturday night residency at The Grasshopper Restaurant in New Romney. The restaurant was run by Mary and Alan Sharp , a popular couple who attracted a good clientelle, so the place was always packed on a Saturday night. Peter, Roger and Brian would start the evening off with soft jazz/classic style music whilst the guests ate, and then after 10pm I would join them for the pop and rock session through to the early hours of Sunday.

During the summer months we entertained the holiday makers at The New Beach and Goldens Sands holiday camps.

Enry

Tick (fingers) Brown (Lead guitar) - Mick Dunford (Drums) - Martin Young (Frontman and Sax player) - Jon Bryant (Bass) who replaced Pete Fuggle(Bass)

Hi - I'm Martin Young Frontman and Sax player with 'Enry'. Yes, I remember you coming down The Gate at Hythe and taking that picture. Do you remember the article that appeared in the Folkestone Herald? It sort of back fired on us! band was formed in 1979 when I lived in St Margarets at Cliffe. Band members were:
First Line-up, including me
Tick 'Quick Lick' Brown Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals
Mike 'Steamhammer' Dunford Drums
Pete Fuggle Bass & Backing Vocals

The name 'ENRY' came about because Henry was the middle name of Pete and myself - we mucked about talking like 'Enry Cooper' and it stuck. Our band logo was based on a Don Martin cartoon character named Carbuncle that apperaed in 'MAD' magazine.

Second Line -up Jon 'Juggernaught' Bryant replaced Pete Fuggle on Bass.

We were the first Band to play at the Red Lion Inn at St. Margarets at Cliffe when Mick and Penny O'Dwyer ran the place, then following our lead Silent Movies and many other local bands followed in our footsteps there.
Recordings - a complete gig was recorded on an ordinary cassette recorder at the Red Lion Inn St Margaret's - Still going

The Band played all the usual pub venues in East Kent, but one of our favourites was 'The Rose' at Kennington, Ashford.

We split up in December 1981, when due to 'Maggie and her Hoods' the Railway Works at Ashford where I worked was closed, and I had to make the choice to move elsewhere (Derby) Strange to say, we've always kept in touch as friends and even resurrected ENRY in 1996 for a few months - 'hitting the road once at The Swingate'.

'Enry' recorded at The Red Lion. St. Margaret's at Cliffe (circa 1980), Barnacle - recorded at The W. Steinhouse Studios, Broadstairs (1973).
Concerning other bands that I was in:
The James Brothers. From Ramsgate. We changed the name to 'Styx' then an unknown band from the USA by the same name hit the charts! I was with them circa 1978. I will do a proper write up for you and supply photos.

The Alley Kats. From New Romney. I joined the band in June 1979 and worked with them until December 1980 when I left to form 'Enry' (heavy rock was calling again)
I also played Sax in Life 'n' Soul for a while - but I don't expect the band would like that mentioned on their website.

As to the history of 'Enry'. The 'legend' continues. We reformed all to briefly back in 1995. Did a couple of gigs, then I buzzed off to work abroad. Again - I will do a write up for you!

The Breakaways

Alan Bunclark (deceased)- Mick Brett - Pete Giles - Andy Young - Mike Smith - group van.

Discology: (Cassette Only) E.P. ONE FOUR Nobody / Breaker One-Four / What Do I Do Without Your Loving / More Than Meets The Eye - Red Admiral Records One-Four 1981

Unreleased - Monte Carlo guest Carlos The Singing Milkman

Alan Binclark RIP - - Feb 2006
We are sad to hear of the death of our old friend Alan Bunclark this week. Alan drummed for many of Kent's popular bands from the 80's onwards including

the Breakaways, Winston and The Churchills and the Rhythm Of Blues

Winston & The Churchills

Left - Alan Bunclark (deceased) - Cyndi Jackson (guest) as she was before her famous plastic surgery - Winston(Pete) - Andy Young - Mick Brett - Eddie Maitland.

Pictured here at BBC Radio (Medway) Kent Studios in Chatham for the Mike (Brillo) Brill "Kent Rocks" Christmas show.

Andy Young used to teach music at the North School in Ashford in the early 90's.

Mick moved to to the Isle of Eigg for a time and was replaced by Brian Tilsley left Andy & Brian

The band re-formed later without Winston and Eddie as Rhythm Of Blues. They later changed again with the addition of a new Keyboard player and Drummer due to the illness and later death of Alan Bunclark.
2006 still touring UK and Europe.

Some of Winston and The Churchills best recordings can be heard on their Myspace site.

Backfire

Dover 1980's

Lee Letchford Lead vocals / Rhythm guitar, Peter Goss (deceased) Vocals /Lead guitar, Keith TraylorVocals /Bass guitar, Albert Ulmoven Drums.

Discology:
FIRE-ONE E.P...Who Do You THink You Are / Don't Run Me Down / Just a Dreamer / Step By Step - Red Admiral Records - (Fire-One) 1982

Beat the Jeep - Wayne Bridle (guitar, vocs) - Ian Allcock ( Drums) - Tim Allen (Bass) - later Liam Humberstone

Castaways

Hi Chris,

Found your site when, on a whim, I decided to try and use the power of the net to see if there was any record of the Dover based band I played with.

The band's name was The Castaways. I played on drums. I joined circa summer of '62, and played with the band for about a year, after which I sold my drum kit to raise money for a hitch-hiking holiday through France and Spain, lol.

We had played innumerable halls in Dover and surrounding villages, also a well-known music cafe in Folkestone, and I think we once played at Toft's. We were also booked to play at some big venue in Deal or Margate on the same bill as Screaming Lord Sutch, but what happened to that I don't know, cos I didn't play that gig.

The music we played was mainly Shadows covers (definitely going out of fashion by '63). Thing is, I can't remember a single name of anyone in the band. I do know that the lead guitarist, who was pretty good, died in '65.

I went to school with Mike Lord, and it was he that taught me to play the drums. He was a really good drummer, very profficient, and could play any Gene Krupa or Buddy Rich track as well as the original. He was really a jazz drummer by nature and inclination. Mike's name is the only one I recognise on your page - you have him down as drummer with Take That. I believe he lived in Spain (after he left Take That) for decades, but must have come back to Dover, because I bumped into him here last year, and had a little chat.

Everyone in The Castaways lived in Dover, as I recall.

I really enjoyed my time with them, had some great gigs, but I was a crap drummer, lol.

Best,
John Dixon.

Sharkie
Dover

Band members included: Barry Goss Lead Vocal and rhythm guitar - Ian Bottle bass; vocals - Peter Goss (deceased) Lead guitar; vocals - Lee Letchford Keyboards; guitar; vocals - John Hornsey rhythm guitar - Nigel Borden drums - Cameron Jerdan drums - Paul Mold drums

Sharkie performed 50's & 60's music in pubs and clubs throughout the South East. Support work forThe Searchers, Merseybeats, Marmalade, Vanity Fare, Love Affair, The Casuals, Pinkertons Assorted Colours.
Agent David Draper

Click Here For the Sharkie story and Pictures

The Strangers

Noel Redding (Lead guitar) - John"Andy" Andrews (Bass) -

The Loving Kind
Folkestone - 1966

L - R
Pete Carter(Kircher) Drums - Jim Leverton Bass - Noel Redding Guitar - Derek Knight Vocals -

Discography: Accidental Love/Nothing Can Change This Love (Piccadilly 7N 35299) - I Love The Things You Do/Treat Me Nice (Piccadilly 7N 35318) - Ain't That Peculiar/With Rhyme And Reason (Piccadilly 7N 35342)

Follow up Article, Folkestone Herald 02/07/1966

The Lonely Ones

Nov 1961 Formed from soul band The Strangers. The name for the band The Lonely Ones was derived when Edmund suggested the the name after reading the notes on a 45EP by Duane Eddy that he had bought.

Pic l-r - Noel Redding ( Lead guitar) - Edmund Ashman( Vocals ) - Mick Wibley (Drums) - John Andrews ( Bass) ) - Bob Hiscocks ( Rhythm guitar)

The photo (Left) shows the band taken at a gig in the Co-op building in Folkestone.

Edmund was vocalist in 1961 up until Jan 1962 when he left to join the R.A.F Pete Kircher had gigged with the band a few times and took over vocals when Edmund left. Whilst serving in the RAF in Germany Edmund I vocalised with a group called The Stomps. When he finally came back to England he had no further contact with the music scene.

1962 - Colin "Buster" Osmonds replaces Mick Wibley on drums who joins The Daltons

Pic: (Right) L- R 1962 - Buster - Noel - John - Bob - Pic kindly supplied by Barrie Botley

Lonely Ones made (45 EP vinyl, private record) at the Hayton Manor Studio in Stanford Kent in 1963.
Derek Knight on vocals, Trevor Sutton on Drums?, Noel Redding on Lead Guitar and John Andrews on Bass .
Tracks: Some Other Guy - Money - Talking About You - Anna...
Regards Colin Hughes

News clip curtesy.......Rod Jones

Mr Mouzourou puts it on his Juke Box at the Caprice Expresso Bar, Grace Hill.

Noel Redding informs the press that they have been auditioned by Ronald Golding Manager of popular singing star Vince Taylor (Nutter and inspiration for Ziggy Stardust) who said "they were pretty good"
Noel temporarily join Neil Landon and the Burnettes

1963 - The Lonely Ones break up. John "Andy" Andrews forms The Travellers. Buster Joins The Daltons

1964 - Reformed - John Andrews (Bass) - Noel Redding (Guitar) - Derek Knight ( Vocals) - Laurie Whiting( Drums)
Noel Redding leaves The Lonely Ones in 1964 to re-join The Burnettes he is replaced by Ray Flacke
Noel Redding leaves the Burnettes in 1965 and joins the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

1965 -- Laurie (Nu Nu) Whiting (Drums) - John"Andy" Andrews ( Bass & lead vocals) - Ian Taylor( Guitar and harp) - Tony Walter(Organ)

Laurie (Nu Nu) Whiting)Laurie became Hendrix's road manager when Noel joined them and worked in the industry for many years with bands like Yes and Gravy Train
See Also The Loving Kind
1966 - John "Andy" Andrews ( bass/vocals) - Trevor Williams ( guitar/vocals) - Keith Bailey (drums) - Rick Davies (Supertramp) (keyboards/vocals) - Phil Ingham (Road manager)

October - The Lonely Ones plays English ballroom club circuit - John Andrews and the Lonely Ones release "A Rose Growing In the Ruins"/"It's Just Love" (Parlophone R-5455) Contrary to popular belief, Rick Davies does not play on the above mentioned record

December 31st 1966 - Jimi Hendrix jammed in Folkestone on an impromptu visit to the Hillside Club, which was one building further up Dover Rd. than the Empress Ballroom .
People there included; Dave Shackle,Dave Ewer, Roy Pratt, Rod Jones, Mick Wilkins, Dusty Miller and many others but if we believed everybody who said they were there there would have been a queue to Sandgate. The band hired for the celebration that night was believed to be 'The Circuit'.

Lef t- Poster left for an un-official Experience gig in Folkestone captured from The Circuit's van window 1968 believed to be held at the Co-Op club half way up Tontine Street. It was not unusual for bands at this time to play the odd unofficial gig outside of contract. If you read Noel's book, you will notice that they did not get paid regularly.

Hi Chris
I think you’ll find that Hendrix played at the Flamenco Club in Tontine Street – not the co-op club. One of the great music experiences of the time.
Does anyone remember Hippocampo in Thanet? ...............Pat Catt (nee Sellers)

We are looking for positive confirmation of these events please contact chris@kentgigs.com 01303 893472

1967 - make their first trip to Europe to play in Geneva (Griffin's Club) and Dijon, During this period Pete Burgess joins and leaves the band and is replaced by Tony Catchpole on guitar, Martin Vinson joins ( Bass ) Andy Andrews now lead vocalist,

May 1967 - Tour to Rome for two week engagement and Geneva, Switzerland.They are picked up by film writer David Llywelyn and director and composer George Moorse to record the sound track to their movie "What's Happening" directed by Guido Franko. including: 1. The International (The Russian National Anthem) 2. The Car Chase 3. Elephant Story

Other members of The Lonely Ones: - Trevor Sutton (drums in '63)

The Lonely Ones were re-named in July 1967 THE JOINT they play the Etonnoir in Geneva then to Munich, Germany to record the soundtrack to the Llywelyn/Moorse movie, "Der Griller" (The Griller)

Martin Vinson leaves

1968 The Joint plays clubs in Munich and in Switzerland and record music for the films "Jet Generation" & "Lieber und so Weiter" (directed by Roger Fritz. Music by Geroge Moorse)

Steve Brass (Black Souls) joins

Stanley August Miesegaes "SAM" meets the Joint in Geneva. He becomes financial backer and manager who has a strong commitment to the music of Rick Davies. The band moves into Sam's villa, Aganippe, in Versoix, Switzerland, and begins rehearsals. Sam eventually adds recording equipment to the basement rehearsal room for demos.

January 1969 - THE JOINT record a 5 song demo in Munich
"Chariots" (Andrews) "Runman Gunman" ( Moorse, Williams, Andrews) "Black Magic" ( Lylwelyn, Moorse)"Ardy Williams" ( K. Bailey) "1953" (Moorse, Williams, Andrews)

February THE JOINT signed to the Robert Stigwood Organization John (Andy) Andrews leaves the band in dispute with R.S.O

March-April - Bookings are set-up in England. The group is now living in the National Hotel on Bedford Way in London

May 13 THE JOINT appears on Swiss TV in Geneva then at the Marquee Club in London their backer(SAM) is bitterly disappointed at what he sees. He tells the band he wants out of his financial responsibility. THE JOINT breaks up soon after.

Rick Davies goes on to form Supertramp

Some Information extracted from Roger Hodgesons Supertramp Timeline

Harmony The Folk from Romney Marsh Country

Nick and Sue Double are a lovely couple from the Wilds of Romney Marsh and were very active on the Country Scene. Their own songs have always figured highly in their repertoire and why not?, they're great. Nick and Sue have a cosy family life. We will call it 'just Restin'.
When they come out to play again I'll give them back the other half of their Marracas - Ed.

Nick & Sue also worked with Jed Stacey (drums) (the Vampires and Where's Brian?) in the early 90's.

Discography: not complete
HARMONY WITH FRIENDS. Cassette L.P..Harmony / Breezy / Don't Let Me Down / No Matter If / If I Walk Away / I'll Buy The Wine / Come Home (And Love Me) / Jambalaya / Little Green Apples / Crying Time / Snowbird / Make The World Go Away. - Red Admiral Records - (Double 1) 1983

Hi Chris - Just thought I’d let you know we’re on the net at last. Thinking about doing a gig for ol-time-sakes in the summer(2003). It will probably be at The Broadacre Hotel New Romney. Then perhaps we’ll get the other maraca back!
Nick & Sue

Glasshouse

The Haunters

The Haunters were a Folkestone 4-piece, teenage band, greatly influenced by 'Johnny Kidd and The Pirates' and top instrumental outfit 'The Hunters' from Cheshunt (who once backed Cliff Richard on The London Palladium when 'The Shadows' were indisposed).

Photo L- R: John Scotchmer - John Bowley - Bill Whitewood - John Atkins. In Action at the Folkestone Corporation Social Club event above teh Jubilee Inn at Folkestone Harbour April 10th 1964

The Haunters formed in late 1963 consisted of the "3 J's" from Dolphins Road, Folkestone - John Scotchmer on vocals (later to become D.J Johnny Scott); John Atkins (rhythm/lead guitar) and John Bowley (bass guitar). Drummer was Bill Whitewood from the Durlocks. (What band was that? - Ed.)

After experience on the halls, clubs and pubs circuit during April, May and June, 1964 , the haunting sound of the band (reputed to sear through one's cranium like an 'electric ghost') was thickened by the addition of 14-year old Mick Hinton bought in on second guitar and additional vocals. The band continued until John Atkins was invited to join The Fyrebirds in early Autumn of '64. It was, in fact, Atkins who was the fanatical 'Hunters' fan and not guitar maestro E.P. Glasby - as erroneously quoted in a newspaper report of the day (see "The Fyrebirds" entry).

Denigh
1979-1985 - Ian Devlin Guitar and Keyboards - John Everett Bass & Vocals - Phil Allchin Lead Guitar - Chris Daughters & John Reagan Drums

Dover and Folkestone
A first class heavy rock band that should have made it into the higher echelons of great British Heavy Metal.
Either supporting top acts or on their own, they had and still have a large loyal group of followers who continue to remember the dynamic performance and great songs written by the band.

Due to popular demand but lack of finances, in 1984 their cassette album "Fire From The Sky" was released on Red Admiral Records. Many attempts to create the vinyl album to break through failed until eventually the band split in 1985.

DENIGH was created in 1978, and quickly became contender as top favorite regional Heavy Rock band. The Original line-up of writers Jon Everett, Ian Devlin and Phil Allchin and their original drummer John Reagan By 1979, they had replaced most of the usual cover songs with their own material and pulling respectable sized crowds.
Their first demo cassette featuring "Bed Of Nails", "Burn The Sky" and "Falling Snow", sold well to their fans and spread their name even further.
By 1980, Denigh were riding the crest of a wave, and they decided to capitalise on their newfound popularity by releasing their own single. At that stage, the musicians had no particular intentions of waiting for a major deal to materialise, and their previous experience of marketing their own cassette product led them to believe (quite rightly, as it, turned out) that they were be capable of financing and selling their own vinyl without getting involved with big business. The single recorded at Oakwood Studios in Kent was released on the Canterbury Ace label as a double A-side "Running" and "No Way", a pair of excellent, heavy numbers which have been compared to Demolition, Virgin Star& Angel Witch. Fast sales in local shops and some national distribution got the record into the "Top 100" giving the band an audience all over the UK Local radio appearances followed, with the group contributing a few interviews and sessions to the popular BBC 'Kent Rocks' show, hosted by Mike Brill.

Handicapped by lack of cashflow and lack of management they found it difficult to make their presence known to the bigger promoters. Eventually, however, they were invited to support top touring bands Budgie, Girlschool, Rage,, Saxon and Sampson, but it was to be a long, hard struggle 'over the following two years. Towards the end of 1981 after a dispute over future direction Ian Devlin left the band. He was quickly replaced by Martyn Harris and scuttled off on a an ambitious tour of France. For much of the future Denigh would operate as a three piece still plugging away in the regional pubs and clubs, although it's fair to say that they never really achieved the level of success they deserved. During the years Chris Daughter was also employed as replacement drummer.

A further official demo was circulated in 1983, this being another generous eight-tracker entitled "Lean On 'Em Hard". The tape featured mostly newer numbers penned by Jon and Phil, such as "Call Me Angel", "Savage", "Roulette" an'd "Ironclad". Again, local sales turned out to be highly impressive, and the band continued their quest for fame and fortune.

The following year, the lads recorded a full album's worth of original material at Europa Sound Studios in Folkestone initially hoping that someone would stump up the necessary cash to get the thing pressed on vinyl. With no takers and no money, a deal was struck with Red Admiral Records the studio's house label and the album "Fire form the Sky" (Red Admiral DEN 1) including such numbers as "Synthetic Seduction", "Put My Neck On The Line" and "Sentinel" had to be yet another cassette-only release. Only a few hundred copies made it into circulation, as the group was beginning to lose heart by this time. Nevertheless, they still proceeded to complete a successful show supporting BERNIE TORME, and managed to create a live recording at one of their concerts for future release in one form or another. The live tape still exists today and hopefully will be able to be restored for a future release. This live tape shows what a contending force Denigh were, no wonder the top heavy rock acts wanted them on their support roster.

DENIGH officially called it a day at some point in 1985 (there were, in fact, one or two low-key get-togethers and club appearances in later years), although the central characters always believed that they could have gone considerably further with a modicum of luck, money and guidance.

A renewed level of interest in the '90s (fuelled primarily by a rapidly-escalating asking price for their one-off single) prompted a spate of frenzied activity on the DENIGH front. A couple of hastily-arranged reformation gigs took place at small local venues, and erstwhile colleagues Jon Everett and Ian Devlin subsequently contacted the studio owner who along with the lads began digging in their respective tape collections to see whether any old material could be salvaged for future release.

The result of this search is now presented on CD in the form of "Fire From The Sky" plus 2 extra tracks on the Iron Pages Label. IPR002
Contact details.: I.P. Verlag, Jeske/Mader GbR, DGZ-Ring 7, D-13086 Berlin, Germany Iron Pages Records in Germany
Tel. 0049 / 30 / 47 02 15 21, Fax 0049 / 30 / 47 02 15 22 - Email mailto:pages@ip-verlag.de

Or in the UK: Kent & E Sussex Gig Guide www.kentgigs.com - buy "Fire From The Sky" in Uk from us - Buy Album

Other compilations
"No Way" on N.W.O.B.H.M. Metal Rarities Vo\.3" CD British Steel 1997
"Running" on N.W.O.B.H.M. Metal Rarities Vo\.3" CD British Steel 1997

Denigh's Own website

Tomahawk1979

Nick Milton Drums - Rick Rossiter Bass - Dave Fanti Rhythm Guitar - Ch ris Stace Lead Guitar
Others - Jeff Gooch Vocals

Dave Writes

Songwriters; everyone, but primarily Chris and I.

A lot of original material, which had a redskin bent (and beat). One or two covers including "D rider" by Hawkwind; I remember we made the synth "wind" sound by breathing heavily into the microphones!

Tomahawk At THe White Lion Cheriton We mostly played the Folkestone area - Main venues the White Lion and The Golden Arrow. Cut a demo at Europa studios, played the Leas once and were down to play again, but the infamous cancellation event happened (where a heavy metal gig was cancelled the week following skinhead trouble at a Ska gig? Those skinheads must have had a good laugh). Probably best known for the "Drum Battle" in which Nick and his brother Mick played a twenty-odd minute solo on two kits, sparring with each other. Also probably well remembered for excessive and dangerous use of Pyro. I left in '81 and the band carried on for a few months with a guy called Jeff Gooch on vocals.

"The Day we went to Camber"

So we get this gig at Camber. God knows how.

Nobody knows any bugger in Camber and its 30 miles away from where we usually gig. We took a lot of persuading, but the guy who organised it (someone's uncle I think) said it was a big venue - the top floor of a big pub turned into a hall, and the Landlord was a go-ahead guy who would advertise the event heavily. We'd get 50% of the door money,

Now it's not immediately obvious nowadays, but travelling was a problem for the amateur band back then - you really had a straight choice between being able to afford to drive or buying and getting into musical instruments. This led to a lot of good bands never gigging outside their hometown or being ruined by having someone in the band that couldn't play but owned a van. Our band had no drivers (except for motorbikes). We got around this by giving everyone who ever drove us anywhere an official roadie T-shirt. This led to a convoy of Ford Anglia's turning up at every gig to dispense gear and musicians; but at least it meant we had a fair starting audience.

No one who usually drove us really wanted to go to Camber, but our drummer who was about five years younger than the rest of us said -"Lucy will drive us - she's got a big van" "Who's Lucy?" we asked. "She's… Lucy" he said (drummer see). "She lives in my street. Her dads got this big old ambulance we can borrow, but only she's allowed to drive it apart from him" The older band members nodded sagely; problem solved.

On the day of the gig, we were congregated with our gear, a couple of girlfriends and about seven roadies who'd come to see us off - biker rocker types. At least we didn't have to worry about transporting P.A. almost nobody owned a PA in those days, everybody hired - we'd arranged for a nice guy called Steve to meet us there, It would cost us £25 to hire but we knew we'd make plenty of gate money

The van and Lucy arrived. I remember thinking the van looked like a bread van to me, but within a second it could have been a space rocket, I paid it no further attention, because Lucy got out of the van.
Trust me guys, if your daughters turn out ANYTHING like Lucy NEVER introduce them to a rock band. I can see her getting out of the drivers seat now. It felt like the day turned slow-mo. Long blonde hair, white T-shirt and pale green shorts, light pink - slightly moist lips, peaches and cream skin that needed no make-up topped off with deep sapphire blue eyes. She moved the hair away from her face with a lightly tanned arm that shimmered with a dozen silver bracelets. I dragged my gaze away and cast a look at the other band members. Their mouths were open and the floor appeared to be covered with drool. I thought "We're going to need an extra van for the erections".

Then she spoke and God help us she was posh - it felt a bit like being introduced to Lady Di but not being able to take your eyes off her tits. "Hello everyone, I'm Lucy. I'm afraid there's a teensy problem" The "Teensy-ness" was that her father has started to renovate the ambulance. And had removed half the floorboards - yes it was that old - it had floorboards. Nobody was going to tell Lucy this was a problem though (except perhaps the highly disgruntled girlfriends and no-one was listening to them). "We'll stand over the gaps," we said like the hard men we were (all too true) "and prop the gear up".

The van was already a bit crowded and now, for some not so difficult to fathom reason, all the guys who'd come to see us off had decided to tag along for the ride. We all jammed into the van, girls in front, and set off. I was stood in the open doorway, feet spread over two missing floorboards with my arse jammed against a four by twelve cabinet that had been constructed by our Teutonic bass player, apparently out of steel, concrete and razor-wire. There was nothing to do but watch the tarmac, which would soon be the place of my death, zooming by inches below my feet as the van lurched towards Camber by the tortuous coast road.

What seemed like three hours later, we arrived. It would have been uncool to kiss the ground as I stepped out, but that was sure what I wanted to do! Watching us get off the van was P.A. Steve. It may be that he viewed every band he worked with, with the same ironic humour, but I couldn't help feeling he got a big kick out of us; he'd been present at most of our debacles and we seemed to have more than most. Anyway, when he'd dried his eyes from laughing at our transport he told me the P.A. was set up and gave me a hand in with my amp; I was mightily grateful for this as my knees were still knocking.

At first the pub looked promising. It was the stated size and layout and quite near a holiday camp. Prospects of a big crowd seemed "Set fair". By midnight we'd be quid's in. Two young lads were stood outside. "Oi Mister, is there a band on here tonight then?" Hmmm… high illiteracy rate in Camber? Or failure of huge advertising campaign as promised? We were soon answered. Inside we saw the only two posters the landlord had put up they were seven feet up two pillars in the public bar, A6 sized and done in black felt tip on dark green paper;

"Wednesday, rock music, here"

Needless to say, we played to the people we'd brought with us, all of who loyally paid and about seven locals, mostly kids, at £1.50 a time. Takings of roughly £25 to split between the pub and us. The hall was the size of a large school dinner hall - could have held at least 250. The audience would rattle around like peas in a barrel, but the show must go on.

True to form the band still enjoyed themselves, and a small beer-lake was consumed. Halfway through the second set I took off my guitar for a song I didn't play on- and propped it against a P.A. speaker (couldn't afford a guitar stand). As I was singing it fell over shearing off the "D" machine head. I had to play the rest of the gig with only five strings; it would later cost me £30 for repairs.

We sent Lucy to pay P.A. Steve with the £25, a hard luck story and her big blue eyes - he would only take £20 - we were drunk, not stupid. Almost everyone had a try for Lucy, including me - I was probably the drunkest by this time. But it became clear she was only really interested in our young drummer who didn't even seem to know she existed.

Thanks to "beer anaesthesia", we felt no pain or fear on the return trip. I distinctly remember one idiot putting his feet through the floorboards and causing the blakey's on his boot-heels to strike sparks as we went along. We all thought his hilarious, despite the fact that the sparks were undoubtedly spraying over the oily underneath of ancient floorboards and possibly a petrol tank. Still, we reached town safely enough and said our goodbyes. I was particularly charming to Lucy I felt. Only fair as she was going to spend tomorrow washing my slobber out of her hair.

"At least we got home safely, Darling", I slurred to my girlfriend. "Don't you 'Darling' me after you've spent the entire night drooling all over that jailbait" she replied. Oops.

"You're sleeping on the sofa tonight". She stomped off. It was going to be a long cold night except for my heels, which for some reason were red-hot.

Dave Fanti
------------------------

“Smoke Signals”

About six months before I left Tomahawk we were booked for a birthday party in a barn at Ringmer, an old Oasthouse. For some reason we had a smattering of brighter sixth-formers following us, and the party was for one of these, a girl (I think). No doubt I was kept away from her for my own good (remember Camber).

By now my girlfriend had forgiven me, and she and another of the girls had worked out that the band was born under Saturn and had devised a band logo based around the astrological sign. Looked like a “T” with a tail on to me. Something like this…

“You see?” they said “T, like in Tomahawk”. Significant looks all round. “Yeah” I thought “and like in ‘tripe’, ‘tosh’ and ‘twaddle’”. A nice logo though.

It’s the middle of a hot summer, and as everyone is now friendly again we’re going to sleep out under the stars or in the back of a van after this one – people have got sleeping bags etc … eat ‘yer heart out Glastonbury.

I’m not really one for roughing it – for instance I was going to Reading once and my mate and I had booked a B&B – we never went in the end, but you get the idea. The last time I camped out I was in the cubs, dib-dib-dib, but I made no complaint; I expected to be too drunk to notice, because, get this, the beer was free! People regularly made this mistake with Tomahawk, booking them to play and paying them in beer – can’t believe it ever really worked out cheaper and usually made a mockery of our second set. But who am I to say?

Now it was around this time that the band acquired a reputation for using Pyro, which people loved in the 80’s. Our mates Pete and Geoff had built a system of flash pans that were ignited by switching on a battery charger. It would turn my hair white now if I was in a pub and someone used it, but it did seem to work. We’d bought a tin of flash powder and some flash charges for this, but these really strained the band’s limited budget – we needed a cheaper option. Someone had a mate who worked on the boats and he said that the flares they needed for the life-rafts often got condemned after a certain date and were thrown away even though they were still usable; no risks taken with safety. He could get hold of some – cool! Those babies would do us. Red smoke? Ace!!

We arrived on a bright, sunny day and soon had the gear set up; bales of hay making a great backdrop and good for amp stands. We strapped a couple of flares to the main post in the barn to be set off for maximum dramatic effect – sorted! Three hours to kill until gig time; time to sample some of that free beer.

Needless to say we were nicely lubricated by the time we hit the stage, but this was nothing unusual and the first couple of songs went well – a good sized crowd getting into the vibe. Midway through the next song, I suddenly couldn’t hear any lead guitar – we struggled to the end of the song and I asked what was up?

“Is it a bad lead?” I asked all beery good humour.

“’Bad lead? you Dick!”, responded our less-than-amused lead guitar “There’s F*cking smoke coming out of the F*cking back of the amp you F*ckwit!” I was led quietly away – it seemed I may have been antagonising the situation.

Well, OK, low points for my observation skills – but high points for bravery to the guys who dove in and dragged the smouldering amp out from amid the hay bales!

After some investigation it was divined that the amp was not immediately salvageable so for the rest of the gig lead guitar would use my amp. I was worried that the overall sound would miss my rhythm guitar work but, curiously, no-one else seemed worried about that, an attitude common in many of the bands I’ve worked in since.

So we got going again and played a pretty good set. Coming up to the finale, the two flares were struck – billowing red smoke everywhere of course but also a worrying spray of sparks falling on the straw strewn floor and amid the stacked bales. Our PA guys, soberer than the rest of us, were leaping about like a Hillbilly hoedown stamping out straw fires, but one bale went up. Fortunately, this was quickly put out with sprays of beer before it could really take hold. The flares were thrown outside by one of the PA guys, all the while shaking his head at us like we were just-released mental patients.

Throughout all this, to quote a well-used song-line, “the band played on”. We reached the end of our set and got a good ovation (probably people applauding being alive as much as anything).

Opening another beer I sat down on the grass outside amid the crew and band members, who were sprawled around like Battle of Britain pilots, just returned from a particularly gruelling sortie.

“Good gig“, I offered genially to anyone who wanted to listen. Well from my point of view it was, I’d hit most of my notes, and, hey, Free Beer!!?

Not a universally shared opinion – dark looks were sent my way by many and it was decided we wouldn’t stay overnight in case I woke up there the next morning, strangled with my own guitar strap.

Dave Fanti..

Zenith

Richard Ashbee in “Zenith” (RAZenith) Rich Ashbee, Lead Guitar - Left
Grant Matcham, Keyboards
Dave Woolgar, Bass
Mick Milton, Drums
Dave Fanti Vocals = Writes

Songwriters; Rich and I.

A fair amount of original material, some of which was progressive rock-ish.

Mmostly played the Folkestone area - main venues the Springfield Hotel and The Golden Arrow. Also cut a demo at Europa studios. This band suffered from the fact that almost all the personnel were marking time until another project took off. We had a lot of laughs and probably incurred a lot of liver damage! A notable memory is that we once moved the entire band (including a P.A. with reflex bass cabs) using just Dave's Austin Maxi.

Lazy Toad

Rich Ashbee, Lead Guitar
Trevor Hussey, Drums
Dave Fanti Lead vocals & Bass - Writes

Songwriters; Rich and I.

We did a fair amount of original material of a Blues-rock orientation.

Very short-lived - only three or four gigs, two of which were at the Seahorse and the East Cliff Pavilion. Spent a long time rehearsing for little result. Rich wanted to do something different and left - that was the end of that.

Rough Diamond

Tony Hulse, Lead Guitar
Dave Woolgar, Rhythm Guitar
Trevor Hussey, Drums
Dave Fanti Lead vovals & Bass Guitar - Writes

Songwriters; Tony and I - each did our own compositions, no co-writing.

We did a fair amount of original material, once again of a Blues-rock orientation.

A promising outfit. We gigged for about a year, mostly at the Seahorse, Greatstone, the Swan, Deal and the Red Lion, St Margarets. I was thrown out for being too critical of the drummer - Looking back, I probably was being unfair; he had a lot on his plate at that time. As I was the main organiser (IE the mug who went out and got the gigs) it soon collapsed after I went.

Davey Payne and The Medium Wave see- Dave Pain

The Medium Wave see- Dave Pain

Medium Wave Band

Dave Fanti Bass Guitar & vocals - Writes
Gwen Woolgar (then Gwen Scutt I think), Lead Vocals
Dave Woolgar, Keyboard, Guitar
Mike ??, Drums

Purely covers, gigged for a while but as I was only in it for the money and we were hardly making anything, I left.
They improved dramatically without me and gigged for several more years at clubs and doing functions. I was now doing shift work. Thought that was about it for the music scene and me.

Pump Action
Dave Fanti Bass Guitar & vocals
Rich Ashbee, Lead Guitar
Paul Wealend, Bass
John Reagan, Drums

Songwriters, everyone to some extent, but mostly Rich and Dave.

Pump Action did a fair amount of original material and a lot of heavy rock covers, but it was all in our own style - IE no slavish copying. Rich wanted to "Do it again before we die", so we formed up a power outfit and gave it a go. We played the Leas three times, which was great. We mostly gigged in Dover and Ashford, various venues. Recorded six original songs for a CD called "Whitefire" which was well received - managed to sell a fair amount of copies of that (and not all to my Mum. It was a blast, and we rocked a lot of people, but the venues looking for that style of loud, heavy, rock dried up so we called it a day in 2005.
Website Pump Action

The Record Players

The band formed in 1976 and released 2 EPs 1 single and various tracks on compilations, including the very first release on Cherry Red.
These records now appear to be very collectable in Japan and US.

Line-up
Gordon Larner [drums].....died sometime aronund 1990.
Martin Horne [bass].......died sometime around 2000/1
Mark Addison {vocal,guitar,bass,songwriting}...moved to Italy, sighted in Margate 2001
Philip Martin [vocal,guitar,songwriting]...

Now plays under the name Drohne, as a full-time musician and gigging throughout UK and Europe and has made 4CD's as well as film,television and radio [2005 Andy Kershaw session BBC Radio 3].

For the past 15 years Phil's main instruments have been hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes.
In order that he can continue with the creative stuff Phil still performs at Medieval weddings, Victorian fetes, barn dances etc

Treacle line
Keith Pearson's Right Hand Band.
Keith lives in Cambridge{UK} and twice a year goes out to Australia to tour with Treacle Line where their brand of bluegrass music can be a better earner in Australia, even after travel expenses a sad testament to the UK live scene.
Paul Cresswell - In the 70s played with Treacle line - lives, and to latest knowledge still plays, in Australia with his brothers Dave and Brett.

Spirits of Sound
Margate based band. Circa 1965/66
Members:
Les Mighall on drums ( formerly with David Bowie in The Lower Third)
Reg Golden on lead guitar
Paul Craswell on bass
?.....lead singer

Played: The Oval , Cliftonville

Mickey and The Milkshakes
1982

Atlantis Rising

Dave Radford (vocals, ex-Gizmo)
Grant Matcham (keyboards, ex-Zenith)
Nick Milton (drums, ex-Tomahawk)
Chris Stace ex-Tomahawk

released a self-financed 7" in 1983.

Freespirit
A five piece rock band from Biggin Hill, mainly playing heavy metal covers, with a few originals thrown in for good measure.

Did gigs with other bands like Jazz Fish, Sober as a Judge and countless others, biggest gigs played were the Crystal Palace Bowl, and Queens Gardens in Bromley, Old Tigers Head Lewisham

The band split in 1987 used to play gigs on the South East Musciains Union circuit.

Members:
Darryl Turnbull, vocals
Pete Murray, lead guitar
Andy Stark, bass guitar
Neil Athron, drums
Graham Smith, lead guitar, by all accounts a very successful session musician

Gabriels Ratchetts

Snooker

Satans - Great little four piece after the departure of singer (Tommy Savage) - Ray Fairbrass --Bruce Winters, Johnny ? and Dick? They were joined later by Les Stankovitch. Go Here

Shades of Black - Micky Christmas (vocals) Died of cancer

Pastel Shades -

Patterns Folkestone

The Band 'Patterns' playing at the Golden Arrow pub, Folkestone, one Sunday night in the mid seventies.

The band members were:
Reg Mercer..bass guitar and vocals.
Roger Craddock..rythmn guitar and vocals.
Denis Huntley..drums and vocals.
Rob Harris.. lead guitarist and fantastic singer..who could do all the Roy Orbison songs. He also played hawaian guitar beautifully.
and Jacquie Mogg ..their girl singer, who joined them later, also played keyboards and had a lovely voice.

'Patterns' was an all round, very tight, professional working band which could do everything from waltzes to the latest chart numbers. Gigs were anything from three to five times a week. They never had to advertise as every gig brought more bookings. The harmonies were amazing, as they all sang. The Guys did comedy stuff as well..with fantastic audience involvement. Jacquie's best number was Suzie Quatro's 'Devil Gate Drive, but her slow haunting number 'Floating,'a Jacquie/Patterns' original, was something special.

The band, who practiced at Saltwood Castle, played pubs like 'Five Bells Braebourne' and clubs like the 'Sundowners Club Folkestone' and big stages such as the Leas Cliff Hall.

Alias Smith and Jones - Two man group calledfrom the early eighties.
They were:
Paul Mogg, singer, Keyboards, (Roland JX3P) Rythmn and lead guitar
Mark Steeple, singer and bass guitarist.
They had a great comedy act and very versatile musical setup which filled the pubs.
recreating the latest chart songs and music. One of their classics was 'Ghost Busters'
The White Lion in Cheriton was filled to overflowing whenever they were playing there.

Rare Bird - Dave Ewer was the keyboard player. His father was Doctor Ewer who had a practice in Downs Road.

Wild Colour - Ashford

Les Sampson ( Drums ) - Mick Warner (?) - Mick Startup (Bass) - Agent/Manager - Bob Steptoe

The Avengers
Folkestone
The Avengers were formed in October 1961 by Dave Hammond (Sunburst Gibson - rhythm) and Trevor Williams ( lead - white telecaster) who were students at Brockhill Secondary School. They made their first guitars and amplifiers and soon two other pupils namely Terry Hughes and Ewart Pinch (drums) joined.
Played a number of local gigs & like most bands of that time they were very Shadows orientated!. Terry left to form his own band "The Cossacks" & was replaced by Martin Vinson (Fender Bass). In June '63 a vocalist joined, Dave Bolitho from Cornwall. Stage name Dave Lewis. He introduced a Vox Continental organ by 63'. The band were very popular throughout East Kent playing at venues such as Morellis and Accropolis coffee bars, Leas Cliff Hall & Pfizers Social Club Folkestone, Dymchurch Holiday Camp and the Grand Hotel Littlestone.
Dave's dad, Ron, became the manager and in his Mk 1 Cortina estate and an Austil J4 the band were fully mobile. When the Sundowners went professional they asked The Avengers to to deputise for them at the Sundowners Club at Dynchurch, and at the Pfizer Social Club when they were not able to play there.

In 1964 The Avengers changed their name to The Dukes of Earl and were now playing rhythm & blues in a similar style to Manfred Mann. During that year the band entered The Kent Messenger Beat Competition which they duly won. at the final at The Star Ballroom Maidstone. This resulted in a recording contract with Northern Songs followed by the singleon the C.B.S. label "At Times Like This". By this time (1965) Dave Lewis had left and been replaced by Derek Knight (Ex The Lonely Ones) and new organist Phil Kirk ( still playing Medway Towns area for a band called "Beats Working")
The Nothings

The record, which could be heard on Radio Luxembourg & Radio London, had very good reviews in the national press but due to a poor cantractural agreementdid not receive the publicity it deserved & sadly failed. Perhaps it was due to the name given to the band by Tito Burns (Agent!?) "The Nothings".

- In those days a band had very little say in its own destiny! The band continued for another 18 months when members left to go their separate days.- Dave Hammond

Notes - The band also entered two other band competitions, one at Chichester Hall Sandgate and the other at Folkestone's Old Town Hall put on by Bill Fulford. Equipment was also built, supplied and maintained by local firm Lee & Doughty of Sandgate. - Terry Hughes

Roadrunners Ashford About 1968/9 - Gary Swinard

Porcelain Frog (Frogg)
Martin Judd (Bass) - Nigel Blow (Keyboards) - Bob Brown (Drums) - Mick Curd (Guitar) - John Cheeseman (Vocals)

Martin and Nigel were at school together.
The band used to rehearse at at Longbridge, they later got the opportunity to tour abroad via Folkestone agent Dave Watkins and spent 1 year in Italy and a year in Germany. During this period they were left stranded by their agents and had strike up new associations to live and keep working. The stress increased when a member of the band ran off with their money. Agent Arno Lintner came up with work for 2 months in Zurich (Switzerland). They did some television through Renzo Menin.

I remember a lot of the bands listed especially Porcelain Frogg as I was a sort of part time assistant roadie for my mate (Will went on to work with many great bands and artistes) in their early days, The original organist as far as I can recall was called Peter Robinson, who also drove the orange van they used. A group of us travelled to the Bath fest in it - another life changer. I remember going to the dole office with them on the day they went "pro" all ready to set off on tour. As we went into the building we met the guys from Soft Machine who were just coming out after signing on at the end of a tour, The night before we had watched them on tv at the Proms (still the only "rock" band to do so)
Frogg's original drummer was Colin White
I think Bob Brown now runs a coach hire company, I last saw him when he took a buss load up to a Bob Dylan Concert in Earls Court (Lots of stories about Bob as we grew up in the same village. Not saying a word as he might turn the tables.....Molly.

Gary & The Moondogs - Folkestone
Gary Dean (guitar & vocals) - Bob Coltart(guitar & vocals) - Ian Cheswright (drums)

Danny - Danny Clarkson - Roy Adams - Spud Taylor - Brian Glanfield

Mother Sun
Mother Sun circa 1972

Pic.- left to right
John Hawkins (keys & vocals)
Steve Tozer (bass & vocals)
Mark Hewins (guitar & vocals
Dave Bell (lead vocals)
Vic Coleman (drums)

Picture taken outside a Brixton church .

Tricks
Tricks circa. 1976

Pic. - left to right
Brian Glanfield (lead guitar & vocals)
Clive..........?(rythm & vocals)
Steve Tozer(bass & vocals)
Danny Clarkson (drum& vocals)

Picture at the Sundowners Club

GSD band Steve Tozer - Danny Clarkson - Gary Dean.
and later as
Miami - Steve Tozer - Danny Clarkson - Gary Dean - Tick Brown
Fury - See SteveTozer
Steve Tracy - Steve Tozer - Solo

Stevidan - Folkestone
Steve Tozer - Danny Clarkson

Duo lat lasted lasted almost 10 years until Nov 91 when Steve emigrated to Canada.
Stevidan also performed as a four or three piece band adding Roy Adams - Keith Adams

Pic. - Stevidan Band live at the Derby cica 1987 or 88. It was a pub outing Dover Road pub opposite St John St. Folkestone Don't recall the name .
Danny on bass & vocals; Roy on drums; Steve on guitar & vocals.
A Tale from Steve
A notable gig for several reasons :------ Roy took a punch in the gob from the landlord (who wouldn't stop beating on his son) that would have felled an ox and he shook it off and warned him that was the only free one he would get. So he left. Then we got shut down by the mounted police as some moron kept dropping his pants.
I took a day off sick from the busses and got informed the next day "that if I'm going to call in sick to next time try and avoid appearing on the nine o'clock news!"

Gizmo- Thanet
Brian Gould (Keyboards) - Steve Wise (Percussion) - Trevor Rogansky ( ) - Dave Radford( Vocals) - Maurice Memmot ( Fiddle)

Hi I lived in Kent from 1977- 78.

I moved from Liverpool to Kent when I joined a band called 'Gizmo'.

I have numerous pictures and newspaper cuttings from the time I was down there.

I would be happy to send copies to you, but if anybody knows the whereabouts of any of the other members of the band I'd be extremely grateful for any info.

If you weren't around at the time (you may be too young) we were an extremely popular band, we used to do regular gigs around the area especially at a club
called the Van Gogh.

Trevor Rogansky

Caravan - Canterbury

Caravan, the classic Canterbury band was originally formed in early 1968 from the ashes of the Wilde Flowers, Caravan has been host to a plethora of fine musicians and spawned some other fine bands like - Hatfield And The North and Camel.

David Sinclair, Pye Hastings, Richard Sinclair, Richard Coughlan, Lol Coxhill, Phil Miller, Geoff Richardson, Derek Austin, Stuart Evans, John G. Perry, Jimmy Hastings, Jim Leverton.

Their story is well told by 2 good sites on these Canterbury bands Calyx and Musart

I got to know the boys from Caravan. Oddly I sat in on a lot of rehearsals, but had to wait until 1977 before seeing them from the front. They are headlining at the Rockinbeerfest this year (ticket is ordered, hurry as ti is their only uk gig this year 2004). Simply the best "progressive rock" band in the world and you could probably delete the "progressive rock"......Molly

City Blues Band

Too many members to remember 30+ but here are some to be getting on with.

Alan Clark ( Harmonica)- Bob Fridd ( Vocals/Guitar) - Richard Reyn (guitar) - Arthur Kay (bass) - Liam Humberstone (guitar) - Mac ( (Martin McVie) Guitar) - Neil Francis-Wise (Bass) - Steve Wise ( Drums) - Vince Clarke (Drums) - Robin Elinore (Bass) - John Tracy (Bass)

Present line-up:
Bob Fridd - Vocals
Glen Kill - Guitar and Vocals
Alan Clark - Harmonica
Arthur Kay - Bass
Bill Johnson - Drums

To be continued

Bill Barnacle Jazz Band
Bill Barnacle the great Flugle Horn, Trumpet Player and Band Leader appears to have been around for ever. He said he had retired some 6 years ago but he is still to be found on many Sunday nights playing at The Louis Armstrong. I am sure he will allow me to call him the "Dover Godfather of Jazz." The number of musicians that have played in his bands are going to to take a long time to compile. He is also the father of some talented musician sons - To be continued ......The Ed.

John Scott Cree Writes
From 1971 to the beginning of 1973, clarinettist Bruce Roberts and I joined trumpeter Bill Barnacle and his 14 year-old son Steve on bass, in the Bill Barnacle Quartet,

Playing every Thursday at Dover's music pub The Grapes. Bruce sometimes doubled on alto and tenor sax, and Bill played some electric piano. We improvised on anything except pop and had other musicians to sit in, including Mick Fox on harmonica, Jack Castle and Mick Morris from Mirkwood on guitars, trumpeter Ian Shawcross, and Steve's brother Gary on sax. Steve's younger brother, the talented 12-year-old Pete was too young to play drums in The Grapes, but was always around. The Barnacles' friend Nick Headon played drums with us on our first gig and Dick Lonergan and Chico played drums a couple of times, but apart from those 3 occasions we made a point of playing without a drummer, to make Steve and me work enjoyably harder. Some of these musicians went on to perform with The Clash, Tina Turner, Ian Gillan, Rick Wakeman, Queen and Basil Brush among others.

Barnacle - Dover 1971-5

Line-up for first gig, in 1971, under the name 'Money For Old Dope', was:

Gary Barnacle, flute, tenor and harmonica
Steve Barnacle, bass
Tony D, guitar
Tick Brown, guitar and vocals
Kevin Young, drums.

In late 1971, Martin Young joined as singer and Bill Barnacle joined on Trumpet, flugel and Wurlitzer. Name was changed to Barnacle.

Shortly after that, Tony left as guitarist, leaving just Tick. Tony 'roadied' for a short time but moved to London in 1973 (and only moved back in 1999).

In about 1972, Kevin Young was replaced as drummer by Pete Barnacle. Martin Young (Lead Vocals) Replaced by Roger Betts (Guitar vocals) - Kevin Young (drums) - Tony D (Lead Guitarist) replaced by Tick Brown (Lead Guitar), Tony then became Roadie.

I took the photos on your site (I think there are more and I still have the negatives) in summer 1973, just before I moved away, at the Queens Hotel (I think it was called) in Margate. The band look a bit scruffier than usual because they had assembled at the Barnacle's house for a rehearsal on a very hot evening, when I got a call to ask if the band could do a last-minute gig at the Queen's... The drummer in the pics is Pete Barnacle, later of The Ian Gillan Band, Ingwie Malmsteen, Sonja Kristina's Escape, Broken Home (with Dicken) , etc.

The recordings at Wout Steenhuis' Studio in Broadstairs were made in 1973, and I had until recently what might be the only remaining original tape. Now Gary Barnacle has it...... Tony

19 July 1975 Supported Stray at Leas Cliff Hall + others including Thin Lizzie, Electric Light Orchestra, Robin Trower on his first UK Tour.
(the bastard bought his own support band!)
For pics Click

BOD BOWLES JAZZ BAND

Chris Barber unveils the Louis Armstrong, Dover, England with Bod Bowles and Pete Mercer (banjo), 1972 &copy John Scott Cree Volume 1 - the players

Bod Bowles, trombone
Bill Barnacle, trumpet
Ian Turner, clarinet
Dave Fairfoul, bass
Pete Stevens, drums
Paul Sherman, vocals
John Scott Cree, guitar (depping for Pete Mercer, banjo)
Review of Album -

Recorded at: The Louis Armstrong, Dover 1972 by Ron Nunn

Bod and Jackie Bowles took over the Dover pub The Grapes in September 1962. On Sundays Bod led his traditional jazz band on trombone.
In 1971/72 the pub was refurbished and renamed The Louis Armstrong. Chris Barber came to unveil the new sign and join the Jazz Jams Session on a Wednesday night. Not unusual as many of the world Jazz greats have played "The Louis" in Dover. During that year The recording above was made by Ron Nunn. Bod continued to play with his Jazz guests until ilness prevented it. Bod died in October 2000

The Countdowns Canterbury

The King Pins Canterbury

Earl Gutheridge ExplosionCanterbury

Soft Machine Canterbury

Caravan Canterbury

Wilde Flowers Canterbury

The Pathfinders - Sittingbourne

The Syndicate- Sittingbourne

Killer Rabbits - Sittingbourne/Medway/London based

Just Us

Since we last communicated I have met up with Phil Butler, a member of "Just Us "quite by accident and he told me that they changed their name to " Fingles Cave" some time ago. They have reformed with all the original members and we went to see them at Goudhurst Ex Servicemens Club in the Autumn.They were very good indeed and Jaffa played " Hey Joe " just for me, as he saw Jimi Hendrix on Hastings Pier at the same time as I did.If you need any other information please contact me. Jimi Hendrix and The Experience signatures are attached.I just hope they are genuine! Also attached my Group Card from The Late 60's.

Regards Peter.....

Masterstroke - Dover
Neil Bassford (Bass)
Recordings Prisoner of Love 1982?

The Vikings
Pete Hourahane (lead guitar) - Geoff Lambert (rhythm guitar) - - John Challis (vocals, a very tall bloke who wore Cuban heels )- Tony Wilkins (bass) - Chris Nowak (pronounced Novak)(drums), now in Exeter with his own recording studio. He was replaced by Jim Davidson who eventually played for Herman's Hermits.

The Big Beats
DOVER 1961-1965

Les Godley (guitar), Brian `Jake Aitken (vocals/piano), Clive Bowley (guitar), Jim Leverton (bass), Roland Langley (drums).
(Clive is the cousin of Derek Bowley of Mirkwood).
Brian `Jake' Aitken left in 1963 to join The Playboys.
During 1965 Jim Leverton and Roland Langley both left.
Jim Leverton replaced Kevin Lang in The Burnettes and Roland Langley to work with Ray Doble then replaced Brian Scotcher in The Playboys and The Big Beats folded.

Played Big Beat Day at Dymchurch?
Photo of Bert Weedon pointing to the bands van giving the thumbs up.

Nomads
Originally instrumental band.
Replaced The Seekers as house band at Kent House in April 1962

Photo May 1962

Pic. l-r - Dave Sheppard (Bass) - George Martin (vocals) - Keith Adams (lead) - Dave Caswell (rhythm)

- Trevor Sutton (drums)

Solar System - 1970's Folkestone
Les Peel (vocals), Steve Luxton (Guitar), Colin Smith (keyboard) and Ian Cheswright was drummer for a while as was Chris Daughters we think. They seemed to get through a few drummers!!

Desperate Measures
David Whitehead writes.............

We did a few gigs together around East Kent Also had an ace bass player called Alan, a really good bloke. He'a another one who easily could have made it pro. All about right time, right place, I guess.

Spectrum

1978 – 1981

'Spectrum' was a very successful Dover based Rock/Pop Function Band. Formed by George Sketcher and Robin Basford, both regular players at the Louis Armstrong. The group came together in 1978 and was a commercial offshoot of jazz-funk outfit Whirligig.

The original line up comprised George Sketcher (tenor & soprano saxes), Robin Basford (keyboards), Mick Morris (guitar), Neil Basford (bass), Mike Marsh (drums), Neil Basford (bass) and featured vocalist Elaine Ashman.

The band’s strategy, to play the discos at their own game by being essentially a ‘live disco’, was immediately successful. With material drawn from the likes of The Jacksons, Blondie, Bee Gees etc. Spectrum was a very busy outfit until eventually the members’ interest waned. One by one the original members returned to playing jazz and by 1980 Robin Basford was the only remaining founder member.

The photo was taken at The Winter Gardens, Margate, where Spectrum were appearing on the ROY CASTLE show.
The photo shows (l to r), Elaine Ashman, George Sketcher, Roy Castle, Mike Marsh and Mick Morris.

At the time of the band's demise in June 1981, the line up was Robin Basford (keyboards), Suze Waghorne (vocals), Martin Young (alto sax), Jon Bryant (bass), Tick Brown (guitar) and Mick Dunford (drums).

More info and pictures Click

Galaxy Tramp Steve Blattman (guitar)

Rivals

1978-1981

Mark Edwards (guitar/vocals) with Paul Leinster, and Marc Hebden.
Punk/power pop band THE RIVALS was one of John Peels loved bands and promoted their music
THE RIVALS had two singles" Future Rights" and in 1980 called " Here Comes The Night" which was record of the week in Record Mirror and also Mike Reeds record of the week on radio BBC1.

Mark Edwards went on to do a single with Bruce Foxton of the JAM, .who was then playing for STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. Mark also played for NAUGHTY THOUGHTS, THE GEMS, THE LAST RESORT, THE HEAVY METAL OUTLAWS, THE ONE AND ONLY.and THE ANTI NOWHERE LEAGUE.

Naughty Thoughts

1981-1984.

Mark Edwards (guitar/vocals) - Chris Walters (lead vocals/guitar) - Jim Peel( bass guitar) - Jenx (keyboards) - Marc Hebden (drums)

Initially signed to Teldec for Germany,Austria and Switzerland, For the Album and Singles they used Gary Barnicle on Sax, and then brought in George Sketcher for the live work, When the Thoughts broke up Jenx contacted Rory Wilson (ex Broken Home) and another Dover boy and The Gems were born..
The Naughty Thoughts had three singles released "All or nothing" - "Wait along time for you" and "Ecstacy".
The band was touring all over Britain.and had a number one hit in Germany, with Wait along time for you, was released in 1983
The band did Top of the Pops in Munich TV studios, then six dates in Munich and Frankfurt.

Manager: Andrew MacPherson
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Thought i'd add a bit more info on The Thoughts, We signed to Teldec for Germany,Austria and Switzerland, For the Album and Singles we used Gary Barnicle on Sax, and we then bought in George Sketcher for the live work, When the Thoughts broke up i contacted Rory Wilson (ex Broken Home) and another Dover boy and The Gems were born..

Rory Wilson Guitar (Broken Home)

Jenx Keyboards (Thoughts)

Mark Edwards Guitar (thoughts)

Steve Morley Drums

Tony Newman Bass

The band signed to silent records (RCA) had 3 singles and toured on the 1986 Gary Glitter xmas tour , playing a home gig at the leas in December,
hope this adds to your story it really is a good read, and brings back a lot of good memories of the"Springfield, Windsurfer,Chatsworth hotel (Hastings),Tofts,Pipers,Red Lion, Alberrys Wine Bar etc etc...
Hi there

Recently discovered the site, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it all - great stories !

Wondered if you could help ? I lived in Thanet from 78-82, and there was a great band at the time called "Naughty Thoughts". They had such talent, I'm amazed they didn't make it. They had a great lead singer called Chris (Waters ?), another guy called Chris Edwards, and a really fantastic showman called "Jenks" who use to leap about and play a bit of keyboard.

They used to do a lot of Police-style white reggae, and very melodic power-pop stuff. They had some excellent original material.

Do you have any idea what became of them ? I still have a copy of their single "All Or Nothing", which I think was Record Of The Week on Radio 1.

Love to hear any news, reminiscences.

Cheers, thanks for the site

David Whitehead
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Dear Chris,
Just found your site and what a good read it is as well !!!

My name is Jenx, use to play keyboards etc in Naughty Thoughts/The Thoughts, i saw the write up on us by Dave Whithead and if your interested i could send you in a update on the band there's a good story there to tell, a number 1 single in germany but we never saw a penny, a manager who disapeared with our royalties....same old story, BLAH,BLAH,BLAH.
Keep the good work going, be a great night to do a reunion bill at the Leas with some of these bands.... Jenx
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hello mate. just a bit about naughty thoughts'1981-1984.had three singles released.all or nothing. wait along time for you. and .ecstacy. the band was touring all over Britain.and had a number one hit in Germany, with Wait along time for you.did ,Top of the pops in munich TV studios.then six dates in Munich and Frankfurt. Mark Edwards who played guitar and was song writer . was from the punk/power pop band THE RIVALS. who was one of John Peels loved bands and promoted their music THE RIVALS had a single out in 1980 called HERE COMES THE NIGHT. which was record of the week in record mirror.also Mike Reeds record of the week radio BBC one. Mark Edwards went on to do a single with Bruce Foxton of the JAM.who was then playing for STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. also played for THE GEMS. THE LAST RESORT. HEAVY METAL OUTLAWS.and THE ANTI NOWHERE LEAGUE. All the best. Mark Edwards.

The Gems

Rory Wilson - Guitar (Ex Broken Home)
Jenx - Keyboards (Ex NaughtyThoughts)
Mark Edwards - Guitar (Ex NaughtyThoughts)
Steve Morley - Drums
Tony Newman - Bass

The Gems signed to silent records (RCA) had 3 singles and toured on the 1986 Gary Glitter xmas tour, playing a home gig at the Leas Cliff Hall leas in December,

Hope this adds to your story it really is a good read, and brings back a lot of good memories of the Springfield Hotel(Folkestone), Windsurfer(Sandgate), Chatsworth hotel (Hastings),Tofts (Folkestone), Pipers(Folkestone), Red Lion(St MArgarets), Alberrys Wine Bar (Canterbury) etc etc...Jenx
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Hi Chris

I have just stumbled upon your website, and just wanted to mention a bit of extra information about 'The Gems'. -
My father-in-law to be used to sing with the Gems who were then known as 'Terry Wayne and The Gem's'.
Anyway I know its not much, but thought you may like to know!!!!

Regards
Zoe Tandy

Vostoks

Vostoks ('61 - '62)

Keith Adams (lead),- Dave Caswell (rhythm), Dave Sheppard (bass and vocals), Trevor Sutton (drums).

Various singers, Billy Veal, Jackie Godden, George Martin, Martin ?

Dave Sheppard writes

We practiced in Trevor Suttons bedroom at the top of the house in Gladstone Road. These are terraced houses so the noise for the neighbours must have been pretty awful, and for those that still remember I apologise.
We played many various venues, 'The Ship' Dymchurch, 'Co-Op Hall' (Tontine Street, Cheriton), Folkestone Town Hall, Hersden, Medway School of Art.

Whilst playing the Chichester Hall Sandgate, we were playing 'The Can Can' when a member of the Snooker Club below came up and asked us not to jump up and down on stage as the plaster from the ceiling was falling on the snooker tables and in the beer!

Hythe Institute was another venue. Anyone remember the five band balls? Also a guy called Ted from 'The Bastille' Coffee Bar ran dances there.

We had a number of singers, Martin ?, George Martin, Billy Veal who lived next door to Dave Caswell. Billy is my wife's cousin a great Elvis fan and soundalike. Also a very good guitarist. He's played with 'Sugar Ray Robinson's' band in the 50's at the Leas where they were very popular. He used to practice in the back of 'The Fluer de Lys' Pub in Sandgate. As my wife lived in Sandgate and was younger it made her popular with other girls. Billy played with various other bands including 'The Southern Four'. He now lives in America.

Eventually we broke-up. Dave Caswell went onto other groups. Trevor Sutton played a while with 'The Lonely Ones' before pursuing a career as a professional photographer.

I set about forming another band. Trying various combinations including Peter Ridley (lead) Hythe, Chris Daws (drums) Dymchurch. I then teamed up with Keith Adams again, Geoff Hillion (vocals and rhythm) and Mick Wibley (drums). See Thunderbeats

Thunderbeats

Folkestone - ('62 -'65)
Keith Adams (lead guitar) - Dave Sheppard (bass and vocals) - Geoff Hillion (vocals and rhythm) - Mick Wibley (drums)
R&B band with a bit of Blue Beat

Photo by - Trevor Sutton

Dave Sheppard writes - Geoff knew Alan Andrews and brought him in as manager, he had a phone!

We practiced at St John's Hall in St John's Street and Newington Village Hall.

Slowly we built a following and bookings until we were playing 4 - 6 nights a week. Sometimes at two venues a night. Average £5 a night. Sometimes £8 - 10! These included Empress Ballroom, Pfizers Club, Aldington and Herdsen Village Halls, Kings Hall (Herne Bay), We had a residency at Tofts (Pleasure Gardens, Grace Hill and Ashford Bank Street). We took part in a competition at the Regal Cinema in Deal (now a Bingo Hall) which we won (the cup's in my loft). We played regularly at 'The Greyhound' Aylsham. Vic Hood was the landlord. At the end of the evening there was as much beer on the floor as in the crowd. We played several Xmas, Boxing Day and New Year Eve's there. Great.

Other venues included Ashford Drill Hall. A hall at the back of Ashford High Street. Several private functions around Ashford including Westwell Manor, halls in Dover and Tilmingston, East Cliff Pavillion and the Leas Cliff Hall at dances and supporting the FleRekkers and Tony Rivers and the Castaways. He incidentally went on to making a very good living as a session singer making the 'Top of the Pops' albums in the 70s then touring and recording with Cliff Richard.

Another small venue was in Sandwich at, I think it was 'The Phoenix' coffee bar a haunt of bikers. I remember playing there one bank holiday following clashes between Mods and Rockers, so we were a little apprehensive but every thing was fine despite me being dressed as a Mod, not the wisest thing to do.

We had a big following from the Ashford mods. Geoff's girlfriend's brother was one, which helped. We made a demo E.P. at Hayton Manor, Sellindge 'Roll over Beethoven', 'Reeling and Rockin', 'Popeye Twist' (instrumental) and 'You'd better move on'. I actually played it whilst I was home. Alan Andrews took it around the agents in London. They were willing to sign us if we got a new singer. So we carried on playing locally. Mick decided he may go to London to work. I decided to pack up, although I had several offers from other bands. I got married and pursued my career.
Geoff lynnegeoff@hotmail.com eventually married and moved to Canada, Keith - He's still playing.

Kriptkickers
1962

Martin Vinson (bass) - Ian Milton (guitar) - Bob Evans (Lead Guitarist) and Derek Goodwin (Drums)

Just for the record, I noticed that you have included a band called the Writkickers ?? in your list. You may be interested to know that the band was actually called the Kriptkickers and that I (Bob Evans) was the Lead Guitarist and Derek Goodwin was the Drummer.
Ian Milton wrote in (I think to the Folkestone Herald) asking if we could play at the Folkestone Town Hall as an additional band with the Burnettes, the Vostoks and the Avengers (the year was 1962). At the time we did not have a name for the band, so Ian used the 'Kriptkickers'. I think the recipient of Ian's letter could not read his handwriting and the name became mistaken for the 'Writkickers'. The name only lasted the one night! The Checkers evolved sometime later.

Quik Lik
26 July 1975 Supported Marc Bolan & T Rex at Leas Cliff Hall - Tickets £1.30

The Charlesworth - Young Band - Dover 1972 - 1975.
Played The Leas and the East Kent circuit.
Line up: Martin Young (Front Man & Sax) - Nick Charlesworth (Lead / Rythmn Guitar & Vocals) - Pete Grilli (Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals) - Steve Morris (Lead Guitar) - Perry Mercer (Drums)

Other Drummers: Phil Medgett - Tosh Marshall - Barry Potts
Roger Marsden (Roadie)
For pics Click

Tickled Pink

Folkestone/Dover
Bob Blythe Guitar & Vocals

Appeared at Kent for Africa and Live Aid Kent concerts

Ted Haisell Trio
1975 - Resident at the East Cliff Pavillion, Folkestone. Tickets 25p

Nicolson Pipe Band
In 1975 You could watch them at the Leas Bandstand complete with your deckchair hire for 13p

Kayne Lynton & The Cossacks
Folkestone

L to R - Pete (Spud) Taylor (bass) Roy (Pratt) Adams (drums) Robin Hatcher (aka Kane Lynton - vocals) Gordon Clough (rhythm) Terry Hughes (lead guitar).
John Scannell was the original singer for about 2 months then - Roger Bowden (Rhythm) replaced by Gordon Clough. Robin brought an organ and introduced a girl singer who also played keyboards her name was Ann Lord from Gordon Road Cheriton

Practice Hall Crete Rd Youth Club & Equitable Hall, Foord Rd.

The band had some local success over a couple of years. Gigs included - Smugglers Bar, Grand Hotel Littlestone - Maritime Hall, Dover ( for Brian Robb) - Greyhound, Aylesham - Leas Cliff Hall & Dreamland Ballroom Margate, supporting the Spencer Davis Group and the Pretty Things.

Kane Lynton and The Cossacks recorded at Hayton Manor, a number written by Terry Hughes and Spud Taylor called "Baby you dont Know It". The B side was "Its Only Make Believe" the old Billy Fury number. it was on the juke box in G's coffee bar for ages.

Spud & Terry combined with TheSecond Grade Undergraduates to re-form The End

Alchemy

Formed in 1986 around the Tonbridge area the band initially ran under the rather naff name of "The Fax" with first demo recordings (All covers) taking place in 1987 when the band consisted of Lisa Beer (Vocals), Paul Whitehorn (Guitar/Vocals), Alan Ribchester (Drums/vocals), Tim Bridges (Bass) and Nick Wickens (Guitar). Gigs took place around the Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells area with several also taking place in South London Pubs as well. The band changed name to "Shadowfax" and finally to to Alchemy in about 1988 and with the core membership remaining around Alan, Tim and Nick (now also handling vocals and Harp) the musical direction drifted towards Rock and Blues covers. Keyboards were added for some time by Marcus Branson and with Gary Martin taking lead guitar duties until about 1992, the band entered a golden period of being a great time for band and audiences alike. Other musicans came and went in the meantime with names such as Helen Roberts, Sonia ???, Mike Herman and gigs took place in Pubs, Working mens clubs, Barns, Tents, Fields and even a Charity event in a field near Hampton Court when the casts of Eastenders and the Bill nicked all of the after event sarnies !.

The Band finally split in 1998 after marriages and births took their normal toll on the Rock and Roll lifestyle with the final line up being Nick Wickens (Guitar/vocals/harp), Alan Ribchester (Vocals/drums), Toby Widdecombe (Bass) and Andy Harle (Vocals/Guitar). Andy and Alan continue to this day however (2003) in the band "Wasted".

Webpage - http://www.nickwickens.co.uk/alchemy/alchemy.htm

Phantoms - John Funnel (bass) - Phil Waters (drums)

Dukes of Earl
Derek Knight(vocals) -

Traf Blues Band

Birts Boogie Band

No Surrender

L-R Mick Dunford drums - Bob Blythe guitar; vocals - Geoff Howarth bass - Tick (fingers) Brown lead guitar

NEVER SAY DIE

NO SURRENDER are a band that likes to Boogie and if they can get the audience to Boogie along with them then they feel they've lived up to their name.
No Surrender evolved from the merging of 'The Bob Blythe Band' and 'Cry Wolf' a well known East Kent pubrock band. The band is not yet 1 year old, but has been voted No. I in the Dover and Folkestone area and played The Leas Cliff Hall. "So what!" I hear you say, but if you consider the vocalist broke his neck and lost his voice for weeks, a keyboard and harmonica player have come and gone, it's quite an achievement to not to have given up altogether.

No Surrender play a brand of American rock. they say influenced by Clapton, J J Cale, Steve Miller and Chuck Berry. If this is your thing then you can hear them on:Tuesday. l9 June, at Strides in Dover; Wednesday, - 18 July, at The .White Lion in Cheriton and Saturday.21 July, at The Golden Arrow in Cheriton.

Extracted from Adscene 1984

L'espace au Loin

Avant Garde band from early 80's

Jeremy Mount
Perry White

Known discologogy unreleased
Gig recorded at The Springfield Hotel on a Sunday lunchtime - 25th October 1981.
Tracks:
Rising from the well
Splinter
Sounds like jelly
Ten years
Growing pains
Welcome stranger
Bricks
Bouncing
Funny kind of blues
Waiting
Poison
Another doughnut
Fat Town
Blue shoes and bad news
Open House
Miles (from anywhere)
Holy Moses

Cry Wolf

Vanity Fare

VANITY FARE HAVE PERFORMED TOGETHER FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES

23 weeks in the charts and 2 gold discs

Their warmth and cultured stage presence and their excellent vocal range and harmonies, which had established their sound, now brought them the opportunity to become a top class cabaret act. They became an ideal variety act for popular TV shows in Britain, (including TOTP) Europe, Australia, New Zealand and indeed the United States. Recently being asked to perform live on Portugal's Lottery show. Some top venues Vanity Fare have played. Marco Polo Hotel Miami Beach, & Florida, The Chequers Club Sidney, The Paris Olympia, The Royal Albert and Festival Halls, The QE2 and indeed The London Palladium. They have tour extensively in Eastern Europe of late and are a must at 60's/70's festivals all over Europe. For more info goto Vanity Fare Website

Members of the band do many things in the music business when not touring e.g
No Comebacks, 2 of Vanity Fare + PJ Proby celebrating the end of their highly successsful Oh Boy non stop 60s' tour in Cornwall in 2008.

SLR Dover
Roger Knight (Drums) - Vince (Vocals) - Dave Martin

I've just been browsing your site and noticed that SLR are missing, I'm sure Vince will get all puffed up if he found out. You can get hold of Roger Knight at RK Graphics Ltd in Dover. I was a member of this band near the end of its life and its 2nd incarnation Firestorm. I'm sure that Vinces' vocal 'screams' are unforgetable to anyone who has heard them, especially through the stage monitors!

I also played in Hell for Leather and Bluespell in the years following.

Hope you can bring your site up to date I know they recorded at least one demo at Europa.
Cheers Dave

The Standard Five - Canterbury
Alan Clark (Harmonica) - Bob Fridd (Vocals/Guitar) - Robin Elinore (Bass) - Bill Johnson ( Drums) - Liam Humberstone ( Guitar)

Firestorm - Dave Martin

Hell For Leather - Dave Martin

Bluespell - Dave Martin

Apache and Apache Showband

Apache became regular performers on the Kent Pub and Club circuit between 1983 and 1987 where they built up a following which remains as strong and loyal today.

In 1990 the lads turned professional and signed a contract with a leading agent and went on to secure a cruise contract which later introduced them to bigger promoters.

In 1992 Apache signed a personal management contract with one of the country’s top entertainments directors who introduced the lads to the international market which saw Apache headlining functions from England to Ireland and Germany to Poland.

Between 1999 and 2001 Apache became the most popular act on the holiday circuit where they were regular visitors at all the major Butlins and Pontins sites.

In 1998 Apache became officially recognized by The Stage Newspaper as “The finest 50s showgroup in Europe”.

In 2000 Apache embarked on a nationwide tour which has been recorded as one of the busiest of any working musician......covering a mammoth 60,000 miles and 200 towns in just six months.....!

In 2002 following a colourful career which exposed the lads to a worldwide audience, the boys decided to retire from the professional scene to spend more time with their families, and to return to the local network of Kent pubs and clubs. much more info at www.apacheshowband.org

Gypsy

Suffragette

P.P.B. (Private Parts Band) saw these on Sundays at The Who'd a Thought It in Grafty Green

Isengard (I think they were from Margate)

Tony Johnson...Vocals, Keyboards
Chris Gausden...Electric and 12 string guitars
Peter Diffley...Lead Guitar
Paul Georgeson...Bass guitar
Andy Race...Drums

They produced a single in 1983 on their own label
Ref AUD 1004
A side Please Put Me on the Radio and
B side Love you Love Me
Writers: Johnson - Difley - Gaulsden

This band was the best and most professional local band I have ever seen and it's a shame they were not discovered, the worlds a lesser place for not hearing the full potential of this band......Sally

TNT
L to R:
Nick Williams, Mark 'Nobby' Brett (Drums), Mark Smith (Vocals), Gary Stevenson, and Colin French.
Smith replaced Gaz Owen.

The pic is from their 1984 single, 'Back On The Road Again', released on NEAT Records, with the B Side, 'Rockin' The Night'.
Regards,
Jez Anderson

VIGILANTE

morris and the minors / The Fastbreeders (1978 - 1980)
Laurence Arnold (drums)
Kevin Ottuwell (bass)
Bill Reading (guitar)
Pete Gazey (guitar)
Mick Sumbling (vocals)
Paul Nesbitt-Larking (tenor sax)

The minors was my first real band. Based in Kent (The Garden of England), we played in pubs and clubs all around the county in the late seventies and early eighties. Some called it pub rock and others power pop. We played versions of songs by Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, The Cars, Joe Jackson, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Chuck Berry, Thin Lizzy and our own stuff.

I'd been playing since around 1976 with Pete and Laurence in an earlier band known as Cheetah (Some of us thought it had something to do with Tarzan's mate) playing mostly cover versions (loin-girdling!). But I think I had four or five of my songs in the set when the other singer/guirarist/songwriter (Chris Ufton) and bass guitarist (Melvyn Armot) left the band in 1977.

Most of the minor's original songs were mine: "Home is where the heart is" and "Nine To Five" were from the Cheetah period. Both were recorded at a studio in Whistable, Kent in 1977 with the first line-up (Paul joined up some six months later, after we ditched the chimp). Other original songs included: “No Emotion” "Saturday Girl", "Wallflower" (all recorded at Oakwood studios in 1979 along with Paul’s “Reds”). There are recordings made at gigs of "Maintenance Man", "Poor Little Misunderstood", "The Right Thing", "Night Shift", "Forget Her" and "Anyone Else But You". "No Emotion" was also recorded live using the Manor Mobile Studio at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, in 1980 for the First Offenders compilation album of Canterbury bands on the Criminal Records label - as The Fastbreeders), But the most memorable original song we ever did was written and sung by Paul Nesbitt-Larking and called "(We Are) The Reds Under Your Beds"

The chorus was:

We are the reds under your beds
Don't worry comrade though it may seem incredible
We are the reds under your bed
It must be true it’s what the papers said

And the last verse ran:

We’re going to occupy your front garden
We’re going to spit at you and not say pardon
We’re going to picket your bathroom and spoil it
We’re going to stop you going to the TOILET!

In the early days I drove to gigs in my ex-Post Office Morris Minor. Later, as we grew, Bob Lopez joined the band as sound engineer, publicist and general factotum. We acquired cabs and bass bins and needed a bigger van. It was a green Ford Transit and Pete Kelly became our driver and roadie.

In the Spring of 1980, now as The Fastbreeders, the band played at The Marquee Club (then, as now, at 1 Leicester Square, London) in the regional finals of “Melody Maker Battle of The Bands”.
The band played its last gig in July of 1980, and shortly after that I left to live and work in Spain. I’ve kept in touch with Pete Gazey and Bill Reading. We usually meet up at least once every couple of years. Both are still inspiring guitarists. Next time we meet up I hope to play some gypsy jazz with them. In the summer of 2004, most of us, all except Laurence, Bob and Pete Kelly (all of whom we tried to trace) did manage to meet up at Bill and Jenny’s in Chartham, Kent. Maybe I’ll post some photos. The next reunion gig should be in July 2006 in Barcelona.

www.micksumbling.com

Moral Set

The Ghouls - Folkestone 1961

Le Amatuers

Orbit Four

A four piece group from Thanet, operating from 1962 - 1964. The line-up from October 1962 to the band's demise in October 1964 was Lenny Barratt, lead guitar/vocals, Alan Crisp rhythm guitar/vocals, Frank Lazarus bass guitar/vocals, Gary Hyde drums.

The band played most venues around East Kent including a long residency at Cliftonville's "El Chico Club" as well as working around the midlands from time to time. In 1964 the band did a couple of months in Germany, returning in mid summer. It continued until October 1964 and then split.

The band based its material mainly on the Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, The Beatles etc

For the bands fuller history and photo Click Here

The Orbit Four were the first Rock'n'Roll band I ever saw (In Ash Village Hall) when I was 13. It changed my life so thanks guys. .....Molly

Thanks for the nice comments on the Orbit Four section in the history site. It is really great to know that someone remembers us after forty years.

I have just read Dave Lee's comments regarding Arthur Seaton's Music Shop in Ashford - what a brilliant music shop that was.

I bought my first expensive drum kit in there, a Premier Marine Blue Pearl kit, and Arthur Seaton took my old Olympic kit in part exchange. As it was in the days of calf drum heads he would frequently lap new heads on my snare drum and what a great job he did. Always a pleasant person to deal with, Dave's mention of the shop brings back many happy memories.

Gary Hyde
Drums
Orbit Four

The Clovas 1972-3
Kelvin Phillips - drums, Grums, Kevin Simpson - bass, Barry Catt - guitar.

Probably, later changed to Revival and Doubletime 1990-present.
Trevor Hills - kbds(until 1998)
Jon Bryant - bass (from 1998)
Barry Catt - guitar.

Touchwood 1992-4
Steve Giles - guitar, Nigel Reed - drums, Jon Bryant - bass, Barry Catt - guitar.

Tripletime 1995-present
Chris Clark - drums, Jon Bryant - bass, Barry Catt - guitar.

The Lower Third

Formed in Margate, Kent in 1963

Originally known as 'Oliver Twist And The Lower Third'. The original line-up consisted of Denis Taylor (lead guitar), Les Mighall (drums) and Graham Rivens (bass guitar).

David Jones (David Bowie) then resident of Bromley joined the band in April 1965 and the new line up became: Davie Jones (vocals, tenor & alto saxophone), Denis 'Tea-Cup' Taylor (lead guitar), Graham Rivens (bass guitar), Les Mighall (drums) along with Neil Anderson who performed occasional vocals). Two months later Phil Lancaster replaced Les on drums in July.

(Les Mighall now reported as deceased March 2008 aged 65)
Thom Morris Reported - Les was a popular figure and regular helper at Broadstairs Folk Week. In the 60s he played drums in a band called The Lower Third which formed in 1963. When three members split in 1965, the band fleetingly recruited future Small Faces singer Steve Marriott, who left the line-up almost immediately, and David Bowie, who was called Davie Jones then.

Burnt Ash School First Eleven.

Spot David Bowie !

photo owned by Max Batten
http://www.thebattens.me.uk/indextoo.html

Dave & the Downbeats - Chatham 1966 - Len Lock,

Hi Chris
At last managed to source a photo of Len Lock's ( Vampires ) former group ' Dave & The Downbeats '...taken early 60s.
Also can now add...
Lead Guitar - Len Lock - see Vampires
Rhythm Guitar - David (chubby ) Harris
Bass - David ( Paz ) Parrick
Drums -' Weeze' Smith
Vocals - Dave ? ( unsure of surname )

Based in Medway Towns
Style Played: Beatles, Shadows, D. Clark 5, Searchers, Kinks, Who.

ps. I have not seen the site for a while - it has grown a lot and looks Fab !
pps. Anyone there know about / have contacts for either Jason Crest or Krishna Kudu ( both local 60s outfits.
Many thanks JJ. ( John Jeffery )

Krishna Kudu

The group was started by, Graham Dack (Chas)-Lead singer, Alan Piper-Bass guitar, Jack Mosely-organ and Normann ?? - drums.

Graham had been playing with a Bearsted /Maidstone group called "The Spasms" together with a very good guitarist named Chris (Richardson)?
Peter had been playing with a Bearsted /Maidstone group called "The Rimshots" together with a guy called Lou Brockway - lead guitar, Keith Handel - Drums and Allan ? - bass.

The line-up next became

Graham Dack - Lead singer - who was usually known as Chas
Pete Dack - lead guitar.
Dave Perrins on rhythm guitar .
Alan Piper on bass guitar
Norman ?- drummer .
Dick Budnikas writes
Chas left home and came to lodge with my parents in Maidstone.
Their manager Ted Barham lived in Bearsted'
At that time in the mid sixties they were mainly playing soul music, Otis Redding, etc and used to play in and around Maidstone.
At this time I wasabout 14 years old and I was invited to go out with the band and learn the ropes carrying and setting up gear and operating the light show. After about two years the drummer, Norman, left the band and was replaced by Brian Shearer who eventually joined Chicory Tip.

left to right - Steve Warner, Brian Shearer,(sitting), Dave Perrins, Kevin Whitehead, (sitting), Dick Budnikas and Peter Dack, (sitting)

Alan Piper left the band to go to university and was replaced by Kevin Whitehead.
Pete Dack left to work in Denmark (36 years ago in 2006)and was replaced by Mick Lee.
Chas left the band to get married and was replaced by me Dick Budnikas.
The only singing experience I'd had at that time was singing along to the Strange Days album by the Doors. This in Ted Barhams front room!

The band's music went through a few changes and became a "progressive Rock" band. At this time we were playing in Kent ,Sussex and London three or four times a week.This was probably the most stable period in the bands history and .workingg through Peter Johnson entertainments and driving around in a very colourfully painted Ford Transit.
Eventually Brian left to join Chicory tip and was replaced by Steve Thornycroft
Dave Perrins left and was replaced by Brian Hudson.
At around this time we changed the name of the band to
Catylist.
After a year or so I changed jobs and started shift work soleftvthe band having been with them for about six years.
Steve Thornycroft left and was replaced by Nick Tomlinson and I was replaced by Dave Rose.
The band changed its name to
Buster and carried on for a couple more years.

We also had organists in the band.
The first one was called Jack and lived on the main road in Bearsted. The second and longest serving was Steve Warner. The third one was called Graham

Peter Dack Writes
Hi Chris

Just sitting in my home in Denmark surfing on the Internet when I suddenly got the bright idea of writing "Krishna Kudu" on Google just to see if
anyone had ever put anything about my old band on the internet.

To my surprise a guy called John Jeffry popped up on www.kentgigs.com asking for information about Jason Crest and Krishna Kudu.

Shortly after I had left for Denmark Dave Perrins, the rhythm guitarist sent me a picture of the lads calling themselves "Gasrat".

For those who can remember me, or the band I can inform you that after moving to Denmark I very soon formed a band again, (Buttercups), and we played a lot of gigs in Denmark throughout the 70's. After marrying a Danish girl, I went solo, which made the planning of my music calender a lot easier!!.

I've now been playing at pubs, clubs and social do's throughout Denmark, as a solo musician, with my "Ovation" guitar for some 27 years and I still love it. In the mid-80's I appeared on various Danish TV and radio programmes and I did some recording, both in Danish and English.About three years ago I ran into some other "old" musicians and we decided to start a band again, so now we are doing a few gigs in the east of Denmark and Copenhagen area, playing mainly 60's songs. We call ourselves "The Roadrunners" and we have a website called www.theroadrunners.dk

One of the former members of Krishna Kudu, my brother, Graham Dack is also still playing in a duo at pubs, clubs etc. he lives in Cambridgeshire.

Even though it's 36 years since I left England, I still correspond with our old rhythm guitarist Dave Perrins.

left you can just see Kevin Whitehead, Dick Budnikas, Brian Shearer and Peter Dack. - right you can see, Peter Dack and Dave Perrins.

Peter Dack

Vampires Formed in 1962, Based in Hawkhurst the band played mainly cover versions of chart material of the day.

Original line up was;
Dave Chapman - Lead Guitar
George Cramp- Bass
Dudley Moore- Rhythm Guitar
John Playford- Drums

Others: Len Lock (Organ) - Monty Lawrence (Vocals) - Nigel 'nash' Dance (Lead Guitar) - Jed Stacey (Drums)
Gordon Reed (Drums) - Peter Wells (Sax & Manager) - Tim Stacey (Manager(short while))
Click Here For the Vampires Story and Pictures

Father Luke
Early seventies, in the era of other bands like 'Barnacle' Dead Dogs Don't Lie' and 'Back Van Nasty'.
Recording - cassette tape of half a dozen songs recorded in 1979 soon after their Melody Maker competition win at around that time.

The Band (at that time)
Steve Sutton - Vocals/Flute
Greg Radcliffe - Guitars
Paul Sindell - Keyboards/Vocals
Nigel Walkling - Bass
Mick Dunford - Drums

The Watch
Barry Weeks - vocals
Ian Devlin - Guitars/keyboards
Rod Staples - Rythm Guitar
Nigel Walkling - Bass
Ron Judd - Drums

Studio diaries date for the 'Watch' in November '83 (the name came from the manfred Mann album of the same name). It was for a cable T.V. programe in the West Country.

Mood Reaction
Are an an excellent local reggae band from the Maidstone area
They were the first white reggae band to be signed to a Jamaican record label in the 60's. The record company and money went walkabouts

Apart from one member the original band is still performing to packed venues regularly - They had their 40th Anniversary in 2009

2010 article - Thanks to John Nurden and The Canterbury Times

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