In August 1967, British promoter Roy Tempest had brought New York vocal quartet The Velours over to England for a tour and billed them as The Fabulous Temptations, which caused a great deal of confusion (and anger) as club owners mistakenly thought they were getting Motown superstars The Temptations.
Later that year, Tempest tried a similar ploy by promoting New York-based soul trio The Flirtations as Motown act, The Marvelettes, billing them as The Fabulous Marvelettes.
Originally formed as The Gypsies with three sisters – Betty, Ernestine and Shirley Pearce plus their friend Viola Billups, The Flirtations were reduced to a trio (minus Betty) by the time Tempest brought them to England.
For this first tour, they were backed by Dagenham, east London outfit, The Trend. The band’s guitarist Norman Cummins kept a diary and the following gigs are from the tour that The Trend provided backing for The Marvelettes. Where newspapers are listed confirming dates, I’ve only listed the papers, even though the dates are all listed in Cummins’ diary.
At the time, The Trend comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Pete Cole (bass/vocals); Bob Mather (sax); Cliff Reuter (keyboards); and Frankie Morgan (drums).
Tour dates:
8 December 1967 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Norman Cummins’ diary) Start of tour with The Trend backing
9 December 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with Gerards Own (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend
9 December 1967 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Lancashire (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
10 December 1967 – Georgian Club, Salford, Greater Manchester with The Trend (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend
10 December 1967 – Vaudeville Club, Manchester (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
11 December 1967 – Top Rank Ballroom, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
12 December 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
14 December 1967 – Falmer House, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
15 December 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
15 December 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
16 December 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester with The Factotums (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend
16 December 1967 – Cavern Club, Liverpool (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
17 December 1967 – USAF base, Alconbury, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
18 December 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
19 December 1967 – Flintshire Tech College (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
21 December 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
22 December 1967 – Corn Exchange, Hertford, Hertfordshire (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
23 December 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
23 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
24 December 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
24 December 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
24 December 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
25 December 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Norman Cummins’ diary) Backed by The Trend
26 December 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with The Big City Soul Band (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend
26 December 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with The Big City Soul Band (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend
When the trio returned from the States for a second tour in spring 1968, they reverted to their former name, The Flirtations, and based themselves in England where they recorded.
Thanks to Pete Cole and Norman Cummings for the tour information (see original documents below).
Grand Union, circa 1966. Left to right: Paul Thorpe, Tom Maudlin, Dick Winters and Robert Thorpe. Photo: Tom Maudlin
Rick Thorpe – lead guitar/vocals
Tom Maudlin – Bass/vocals
Dick Winters – Hammond organ/vocals
Paul Thorpe – Drums/lead vocals
This British band was formed around 1966/1967 and toured extensively before being chosen as the backing group for US soul artist Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon in late 1968 for their debut British tour.
Thanks to bass player Tom Maudlin for providing some more information about the group, the photo of the band and the posters below.
Gig on 19 May 1967
Before joining forces with The Bandwagon, they opened for Manfred Mann, Robert Plant & Band of Joy and Pink Floyd among many others.
1968 gig with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy1968 gig with Pink Floyd
Significantly, they also signed to CBS in 1968 and recorded a lone 45 “Slowly but Surely”.
Dick Winters and Tom Maudlin left around August 1969. Former Magic Roundabout bass player/singer Roger Flavell and keyboard player Les Lambert replaced them.
The Thorpe brothers later played in the bands Moonstone, Life and Enough’s Enough together. Maudlin moved to Ontario and currently lives in Brampton.
We’d welcome any further information below in the comments about this group
For Major Lance’s first British tour, promoter Roy Tempest arranged for northwest London group Bluesology, who featured a very young Elton John (known as Reg Dwight at the time), to back the singer.
It’s not clear whether Bluesology backed Major Lance on all the gigs, so we’d welcome any further information on this in the comments section below.
At the time, Bluesology comprised Stu Brown (guitar/vocals); Reg Dwight (keyboards/vocals); Rex Bishop (bass); Pat Higgs (trumpet); Dave Murphy (sax); and Mick Inkpen (drums)
Melody Maker, 4 December 1965, page 4
The following tour gigs are incomplete
Tour dates:
3 December 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (two sessions including an all-nighter) with The Rockhouse Band (Melody Maker)
3 December 1965 – In Place, Baker Street, central London (Melody Maker)
4 December 1965 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Alex Harvey and The Mockingbirds (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
4 December 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Crestas (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
5 December 1965 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Blues Incorporated (most likely Bluesology) (Melody Maker/Nottingham Evening Post)
6 December 1965 – Gig in Rochester, Kent (Melody Maker)
7 December 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Melody Maker)
8 December 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, southeast London (Melody Maker)
9 December 1965 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)
10 December 1965 – Durham University, Durham (Melody Maker)
11 December 1965 – Mr McCoy’s, Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
12 December 1965 – Lennoxbank House Hotel, Balloch, Scotland with The Five Interns (Clydebank Press)
15 December 1965 – TWW’s TV Discs A Gogo (Melody Maker)
16 December 1965 – Cromwellian, south Kensington, west London with Bluesology (Melody Maker) This was originally planned for 15 December.
16 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Price Set (London Live book: Tony Bacon)
17 December 1965 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester and then Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with Bluesology Incorporated, The Manchester Playboys and Jonathan Goon Tweed (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
17 December 1965 – Stockport, Greater Manchester (Melody Maker) Unless this is above gig
18 December 1965 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
19 December 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (afternoon) (Melody Maker)
19 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)
20 December 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Melody Maker)
Having brought Lee Dorsey over to Britain for three tours during 1966, promoter Roy Tempest set up another British tour in spring 1967.
For this tour, it appears that London-based Scottish band, The Scots of St James may have backed Lee Dorsey on all dates, although we’d be interested in anyone who can provide more information. I’ve listed below the gigs where they definitely did provide backing.
Stuart Francis, the drummer with The Scots of St James, confirms they backed Lee Dorsey on a tour in March 1967.
The group’s personnel had changed since the previous tour in October 1966 (during which they had played a few gigs with Dorsey) and now comprised: Jimmy Oakley (vocals); Norrie MacLean (lead guitar); Graham Maitland (keyboards); Alan Gorrie (bass/vocals); and Stuart Francis (drums)
These tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
4 March 1967 – Faculty of Technology Union, Manchester with The Meads (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
4 March 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
5 March 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with The Move (Melody Maker)
6 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Marmalade and Barmby Barry (Evening Sentinel) Backed by The Scots of St James
11 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with The Montanas (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Scots of St James
11 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Bystanders, The Equals and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard) Backed by The Scots of St James
12 March 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
16 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
18 March 1967 – Wem Town Hall, Wem, Shropshire with support group (Shropshire Journal)
Following two successful British tours earlier in 1966, the first with The Krew as backing band and the second with The League of Gentlemen, promoter Roy Tempest brought Lee Dorsey back for a final tour that autumn.
According to Disc & Music Echo, the tour kicked off on 14 October and the main backing group was The Garden of Eden.
Hailing from Watford, Hertfordshire, they comprised Dave Rodwell (vocals); Dicer Sarney (aka Roger Matthews) (lead guitar); Barry Rich (bass); Tom Hill (organ); Chunky Mo (drums). When The Garden of Eden started working with Dorsey, they had literally just come off another tour backing The Mad Lads.
However, they weren’t the only outfit to provide backing on this tour. Stuart Francis, drummer with Glaswegian outfit, The Scots of St James, says they backed Lee Dorsey on some gigs in late 1966. The line-up at this time comprised James Oakley (lead vocals); Hugh Nicholson (lead guitar); Ian Murray (bass); James Mylchreest (keyboards); and Stuart Francis (drums).
Chris Rodger, sax/trumpet player with London-based group The Noblemen, which became (The) Motivation in late October/early November 1966, says they also did some dates with Lee Dorsey. This is also confirmed by the band’s keyboard player Mick Ketley and bass player Bryan Stevens.
In addition, Martin Barre, the band’s guitarist, mentions backing Dorsey during this time in his recent book about his career, including with Jethro Tull, A Trick of Memory. At the time, the remaining two members of the band were Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals) and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums).
Finally, there is an advert in the Brighton Evening Argus, in its 16 December 1966 issue, that mentions The Groove and says they are just back from touring in the USA. It also says that they are backing group for Lee Dorsey. We’d welcome any clarity on this.
This is an incomplete gig list
Tour dates:
14 October 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London (Melody Maker/NME)
14 October 1966 – Location, Woolwich, southeast London with The Scots of St James (Melody Maker) Backed by The Scots of St James
Ian Murray says The Scots of St James backed Lee Dorsey at the Scotch of St James through their manager Stan Beadabeck and this date looks the most likely following the Woolwich gig.
15 October 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker/NME) Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald also lists this date but looks like Dorsey was replaced by Guy Darrell Syndicate so it didn’t happen. On this date Garden of Eden played with The Mad Lads at the Dungeon in Nottingham
15 October 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
16 October 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Wheels (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
16 October 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Hideways, The Dark Ages, The Times, Georgies Germs, The Insite and The Gates of Eden (Liverpool Echo) Mick Ketley, keyboard player with The Noblemen, says they backed Lee Dorsey here, although The Gates of Eden are on the bill unless they were advertised but substituted at the last minute
17 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gates of Eden and The Sovereigns (Melody Maker) Chris Rodger, sax player with The Noblemen, and Mick Ketley say they did back Lee Dorsey on this gig. Again, The Gates of Eden are listed but may have been substituted at the last minute. The Sovereigns were also one of the groups that Roy Tempest used to back visiting US soul acts
19 October 1966 – Saddle Room, Park Lane, Mayfair, central London (NME) Mick Ketley confirmsThe Noblemen backed Dorsey here
20 October 1966 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton (Melody Maker)
Melody Maker article, 22 Oct 1966, page 4
21 October 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary’s Cray, Kent (Melody Maker)
22 October 1966 – Locomotive Club, Paris, France (Melody Maker/Disc & Music Echo)
23 October 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, northwest London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by Scots of St James
24 October 1966 – Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Gates of Eden and The Trekkers (Welwyn & Hatfield Times) Backed by The Gates of Eden
25 October 1966 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with The Ivy League, The Jaybirds, Our Young, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Nottingham Evening Post) Melody Maker says Nottingham University
26 October 1966 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts (Melody Maker/NME)
27 October 1966 – Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (NME)
28 October 1966 – Golden Star Club, Westbourne Park, west London with The Dynacords (Melody Maker)
28 October 1966 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire (Widnes Weekly News)
29 October 1966 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Black Velvets (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle/Disc & Music Echo) Possibly with Scots of St James
30 October 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Ebonites (Birmingham Evening Mail) Possibly backed by The Ebonites
30 October 1966 – Leofric, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
31 October 1966 – Queen’s Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (NME)
1 November 1966 – Palais de Danse, Leicester with The Gates of Eden (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Gates of Eden
3 November 1966 – Locarno, Streatham, southwest London (Melody Maker)
3 November 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
4 November 1966 – Bull’s Head, Syston, Leicestershire with The Gates of Eden, The Pilgrims and Sister Jill & The Brethren (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Gates of Eden
5 November 1966 – Midnight City, Birmingham with Listen and The Ray King Soul Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)
5 November 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Gates of Eden and The Cortinas (Herts and Essex Observer) Backed by The Gates of Eden
6 November 1966 – Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham with Jerry Lee Lewis and Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Birmingham Evening News)
7 November 1966 – Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon, southwest London (Melody Maker)
8 November 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
9 November 1966 – Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (Disc & Music Echo)
10 November 1966 – Ashton Palais, Ashton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle/Disc & Music Echo) Possibly backed by Motivation but they were touring with The Coasters at the time and potentially backed Ben E King today at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester (unless this was 12 November). An advert for Motivation playing Cardiff on 16 December says they are Lee Dorsey’s backing band
11 November 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Doncaster, South Yorkshire with three supporting groups (Retford, Gainsborough and Worksop Times)
11 November 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby with supporting groups (Grimsby Evening Telegraph/Disc & Music Echo)
12 November 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Melody Maker/NME)
14 November 1966 – Atalanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey with The Gates of Eden plus supporting group (Aldershot News) Backed by The Gates of Eden
17 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol with The Gates of Eden (Bristol Evening Post) Backed by The Gates of Eden
Judging by the article below, it looks like Lee Dorsey played at the Conservative Club in Bedford on this date backed by The Garden of Eden.
19 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Gates of Eden and The Ray King Soul Band (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Gates of Eden
19 November 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with Ben E King plus top line groups (Nottingham Evening Post)
19 November 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Melody Maker/NME)
20 November 1966 – Dereham Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Johnny Lofty Soul Band and The Gates of Eden (Thetford & Watton Times) Backed by The Gates of Eden and final gig on his tour
Article on the tour mentioning The Garden of Eden, 22 Nov 1966
4 December 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Disc & Music Echo) This did not happen as he’d already returned to the US
We’d welcome any further information below in the comments
The Four Kents at the Piper Club, Viareggio, Italy. Image from Nevil Cameron
According to this website, Indianapolis native George Chandler was serving in the US military in northern Italy when he formed this soul quartet with fellow expatriate servicemen Rudy Rollins, Charles Cannon and Stanley Evans.
The Four Kents formed a backing group called The Submarines in mid-1968 to support them live, which comprised a mix of British, Italian and Lebanese musicians.
Thanks to baritone sax player Roger Warwick who provided further information about this group, The Submarines also included Georges Dersey (trumpet); Carl Viola (tenor sax); Bill Mayer (bass); Tony Ollard (lead guitar); and Mauro Paolucci (drums).
Dersey and Warwick had both come from The Patrick Sansom Set. Warwick had joined this outfit in December 1966 after singer Patrick Sansom approached him to join the group in Italy while playing with Freddie Mack.
Warwick knew Tony Ollard from the north London scene. Ollard had previously played with The Robb Storme Group, The Creation and The Warren Davis Monday Band.
In June 1968, The Four Kents and The Submarines toured Britain for a short tour.
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
16 June 1968 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland with The Submarines, The Falcons and The Shadettes (https://www.kinemagigz.com/1968.htm)
17 June 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
23 June 1968 – Riverside Club, Chertsey, Surrey (Woking Herald)
29 June 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Submarines (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
During January 1966, promoter Roy Tempest brought Lee Dorsey over for a British tour on which he was backed by The Krew (https://garagehangover.com/lee-dorseys-january-1966-british-tour/). The response was so positive that Tempest lined-up another tour that kicked off three months later.
According to a review in the Derby Evening Telegraph in its 30 April issue, page 7, Lee Dorsey was backed on this tour by The League of Gentlemen.
At this time, the band comprised Jonathan Kent (lead vocals); Ron Cleave (lead guitar/vocals); Rob Thomas (rhythm guitar); Jeff Bentley (bass); Joel James (sax); and Ray Steadman (drums)
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
15 April 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
15 April 1966 – Flamingo, two sessions, including an all-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen and The Gass (Melody Maker)
16 April 1966 – Floral Hall, Morecambe, Lancashire with The League of Gentlemen, Farriers Blues and The Clansmen (Morecambe Visitor)
17 April 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Cymerons (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
20 April 1966 – Mecca Ballroom Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants with The League of Gentlemen (Southern Daily Echo)
21 April 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Peter B’s (Melody Maker)
21 April 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
23 April 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
25 April 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with supporting groups (Melody Maker)
26 April 1966 – Locarno, Derby with The League of Gentlemen (Derby Evening Telegraph)
28 April 1966 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with Deep Feeling (Birmingham Evening Mail)
30 April 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The BirdHerd (Sheffield Star)
30 April 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
1 May 1966 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester and then Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with The League of Gentlemen (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
3 May 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
3 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Disc & Music Echo)
4 May 1966 – Town Hall, Farnborough, Hants plus supporting group (Aldershot News)
6 May 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary) Backed by The Statesides on this gig
7 May 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
8 May 1966 – Leofric, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
We’d love to hear from anyone who can provide any further details about this tour in the comments section below
Photo: Michael Claxton. The Trend backing The Soul Sisters at Tiles on 21 April 1967
The Soul Sisters were an American soul duet consisting of Thresia Cleveland-Fitch and Ann Gissendanner, who recorded for Sue Records. They first toured Britain in 1964 and then returned in 1965 followed by three tours between late 1966 and late 1967.
Record Retailer and Music Industry News’ 3 September 1964 issue reports that Sue recording artistes The Soul Sisters will visit Britain on 10 November for a week of TV, radio and club dates. The music paper says the duo toured with Manfred Mann from 17-23 November and were backed by The Spencer Davis Group.
Melody Maker, 10 April 1965, page 4
Melody Maker reports that The Soul Sisters arrived in Britain on 28 May 1965 for their second tour and were backed on all dates by The Brian Auger Trinity (there is a CD of recordings).
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
28 May 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (two sessions, including an all-nighter) (Melody Maker)
2 June 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, southeast London (Melody Maker)
5 June 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
5 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (two sessions including an all-nighter) (Melody Maker)
16 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Says last London appearance
In late 1966, The Soul Sisters returned to Britain for their third tour, booked by promoter Roy Tempest.
It looks like Tempest used a number of bands to support the duo, including the Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia outfit, The Canadians who at the time comprised: Bobby Faulds (vocals); David Foster (keyboards/vocals); Mike Stymest (bass); Wes Chambers (sax); Rich England (sax); Billy Stewart (trumpet/trombone); and Barry Casson (drums).
During December, The Canadians backed The Original Drifters on a tour, so it’s not clear whether they would have been available for the first three London gigs and the Manchester show below.
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
30 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
30 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Broodly Hoo (Melody Maker)
30 December 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)
31 December 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with The Alan Bown Set and Cock a Hoops (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
31 December 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Prowlers, The Beechwoods, The Tatters, The States, The Klubs, The Kids, The Signs, The Times, The Hideaways, The Shades and The Canadians (Liverpool Echo) Most likely backed by The Canadians
1 January 1967 – Oasis, Manchester with Steve Aldo & The Fix (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Fix
1 January 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Chester Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Canadians
6 January 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Statesiders (not the west London group)
6 January 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Statesiders
7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Lincolnshire Echo) Possibly backed by The Canadians
8 January 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Backed by The Canadians
11 January 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Canadians
12 January 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with Erskine The T (Birmingham Evening Mail) Possibly backed by The Statesiders
13 January 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester with The Puppets (Leicester Mercury) Possibly backed by The Statesiders
14 January 1967 – Plebians, Cheapside, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Halifax Evening Courier & Guardian)
14 January 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (all-nighter) (www.kingmojostory.com)
15 January 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Melody Maker)
The Newham & Stratford Express newspaper’s 28 April 1967 issue notes that The Trend are backing The Soul Sisters on a two-week tour (their fourth British tour), arranged by Roy Tempest. It’s most likely they provided backing on most of the tour although they did leave for West Germany before the tour ended.
At this point, The Trend comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Michael Claxton (keyboards/vocals); Phil Duke (bass); and Frankie Morgan (drums).
It’s possible that west London group, The Sovereigns completed the tour after The Trend left Britain. An advert in the Nottingham Evening Post for The Sovereigns’ gig at the Dungeon in Nottingham on 16 July lists them as Soul Sisters’ backing group.
Originally from Hillingdon, The Sovereigns comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Mick Tomich (bass); Brian Johnston (keyboards); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
30 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) This date seems unlikely considering the gap between it and the second show
14 April 1967 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey (Aldershot News/Reading Evening Post) Most likely backed by The Trend
15 April 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Symbols, Root and Jenny Jackson, The Hightimers and The Caribbean Steel Band (Nottingham Evening Post/Spalding Guardian) Most likely backed by The Trend
18 April 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with supporting group (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely backed by The Trend
21 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Love Affair (Newham & Stratford Express) Definitely backed by The Trend/confirmed by Michael Claxton’s picture of the band with the two singers at the club
22 April 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire with The Bizarre (David Allen Research) Allen confirms The Trend were backing band but originally The Senate were billed
Original advert in Portsmouth News showing The SenateRevised advert showing The Trend
22 April 1967 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London (Newham & Stratford Express) Backed by The Trend
26 April 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Newham & Stratford Express) Backed by The Trend
27 April 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Toggery and The Canadians (Evening Sentinel) Final gig backed by The Trend who drive to West Berlin after the show, according to Michael Claxton
28 April 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Barry Noble & The Sapphires (Melody Maker/http://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
29 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Worcester News) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
29 April 1967 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
30 April 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with American backing band and Harry Brown Sound (Chester Chronicle/Crewe Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
For The Soul Sisters’ fifth British tour, it looks like The Clockwork Oranges, who’d previously backed The Fabulous Temptations (aka The Fantastics) and Garnet Mimms did most of the backing. However, The Trend did play some shows.
Pip Williams, guitarist with The Clockwork Oranges (previously The Sovereigns) confirms they backed The Soul Sisters.
By this point, The Clockwork Oranges comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Ron Thomas (bass); Brian Johnston (keyboards); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums)
At this stage, The Trend had also undergone some personnel changes. The line-up now comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Cliff Reuter (keyboards); Pete Cole (bass/vocals); and Frankie Morgan (drums). It’s also possible that Bob Mather (sax) from The Senate may have joined by this point or during the tour.
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
5 October 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside with Clockwork Orange, Duane Eddy, Bobby & The Rebels, Garnet Mimms and The Senate (Hull Daily Mail) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
6 October 1967 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Lancashire with Earl Preston’s Reflections and The Millers (Liverpool Echo)
7 October 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales with The Raynes (Chester Chronicle)
7 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Manchester with The Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
8 October 1967 – Vaudeville & Georgian, Salford, Greater Manchester with backing group (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) The Clockwork Oranges backed Garnet Mimms in Barnsley on this date
10 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Silverstone Set (Evening Sentinel)
11 October 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Clockwork Orange (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
12 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Pip Williams confirms that The Clockwork Oranges backed the singers at this show
14 October 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Tages, The Amboy Dukes and The Clockwork Oranges (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
The John Peel Wiki page notes that The Soul Sisters backed by The Clockwork Orange(s) recorded a Peel session on 16 October, which was first broadcast on 22 October. The Clockwork Orange(s) cut two tracks separately: “Three Time Loser” and “Bring Me Home Love”. Five other tracks were cut with The Soul Sisters – “You Got ‘em Beat Baby”, “Hold On”, “Blueberry Hill”, “Soulful Dress” and “I Can’t Stand It”.
17 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
20 October 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with The Trend, The Isley Brothers and Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend unless they backed Isley Brothers
20 October 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with The Trend, The Isley Brothers and Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend unless they backed Isley Brothers
21 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Ben E King (Melody Maker) Backed by The Trend unless The Clockwork Oranges backed both Ben E King and The Soul Sisters
22 October 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Pitiful Souls (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Backed by The House of Orange (aka The Clockwork Oranges)
22 October 1967 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Backed by The House of Orange (aka The Clockwork Oranges)
We’d welcome any further information that readers can provide in the comments below
Very little is known about this mid-1960s British band who recorded a lone 45 for Pye Records – Peter Chester and Roger Kipling’s “Money Will Not Mean a Thing” c/w group composition “Girl Downtown”.
This article in Record Retailer from 12 August 1965, page 7 (see above), notes that the band backed singer Billie Davis and comprised the following musicians:
David Cripps – lead vocals
Ian Green – organ
Peter Bryant – bass
George Hall – flute/sax
Ken McClomb – tenor sax
Eddie Page – drums
Some sources list this outfit as a Reading, Berkshire band. Record Retailer reports that Platform Six were offered work at the Star Club in Hamburg.
It is quite possible that Ian Green is the same musician who subsequently led his own band, Ian Green’s Revelation and married former Orlons singer Rosetta Hightower.
Garage Hangover would welcome any further information below on this obscure group, particularly what its members did afterwards.
The Links, as advertised in the Rhyl and Prestatyn Gazette, 28 January 1966, page 13
Very little is known about this Jamaican soul outfit that moved to London around 1964/1965 and worked as the house band at Count Suckle’s Cue Club on Praed Street in Paddington.
According to the Rhyl & Prestatyn Gazette’s 28 January 1966 issue, page 13, which features a picture of the seven-piece, The Links backed American soul legend Wilson Pickett on his debut British tour in November 1965.
29 January 1966 gig at Royal Lido, Prestatyn
Judging by adverts in Melody Maker and regional newspapers, the band was still working on the London club circuit (and surrounding counties) in the spring of 1968 (see below) .
Melody Maker gig from March 1967Luton gig, April 1968
Dominica-born drummer Conrad Isidore who was a member of The Grenades, Joe E Young & The Tonicks and The Sundae Times in the 1960s told me he played with The Links but he is not featured in this picture.
Isidore told me he met John Maxwell who used to work for Ken Edwards, the owner of the New All-Star Club near Liverpool Street, while playing a gig in Kilburn with The Links. Maxwell, who was friends with The Links, recommended Isidore for The Tonicks, who he joined in late 1966. This would suggest he was with The Links during 1966.
It does look like the photo shows lead guitarist Tony Ellis (b. Tony Cornel Lloyd Ellis, 28 March 1950, Kingston, Jamaica), who currently works as Babatunde Tony Ellis in Stockholm, Sweden, together with bass player Ronald Simmonds and drummer Danny Evans. These three subsequently moved to Spain where they recorded two singles as The Explosion, one of which featured Carl Douglas on lead vocals.
Garage Hangover would welcome any further information on this band in the comments section below, including its history, personnel and any recordings.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
