The Valkyries

Members

Billy May - rhythm guitar, vocals (Died: 2019)
Tony Conway - saxophone
Allen Burton - bass guitar, vocals
Ian Hunter - lead guitar, vocals (not to be confused with the Mott the Hoople frontman) (Born: November 1944 - Died 2018)
John Adams - drums

Terry McCusker - drums

 
















Formed in Birkenhead.
Managed by Adrian Campbell-Kelly.
The Valkyries played the American Air Bases in France.
Billy May temporarily left The Valkyries to play with The Pathfinders in February 1963. Although he returned, he left again at the beginning of 1964 to become a permanent member of The Pathfinders.

Auditioned in front of Henry Henroid at the Rialto Ballroom, Liverpool in December 1963, to be considered for playing at The Star Club in Hamburg.
Made a single on Parlophone after Billy May left the group.
Tony Conway left in 1964 to go to university.
John Adams left in 1964 and was replaced by Terry McCusker who had previously been in The Dymonds and also Rip Van Winkle and the Rip-It-Ups.
Ramiro Arango became the manager in 1966.
The Valkyries toured Italy, Japan, Taiwan and Persia.
Allen Burton was later in The Nashpool (Four).
Terry McCusker played with Colonel Bagshot in the 1970s.
Ian Hunter played with The Pathfinders in the late 1980s and the 1990s and later with Karl Terry and the Cruisers.

UK Singles

1964 What's Your Name/Rip It Up                                                   Parlophone R 5123
   (Released in April 1964)

'What's Your Name' was written by lead guitarist Ian Hunter. According to the band, some time between the recording session and the final single, the recording was speeded up much to the discontent of the group.

Known Gigs 

 

28 Jul 1963 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. With The Dennisons, The Merseybeats, and Red River Jazzmen.

3 Dec 1963 Liverpool, The Mardi Gras Club, Mount Pleasant. With The Panthers. 

26 Feb 1964 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supporting Sonny Boy Williamson who was backed by The Yardbirds, The Road Runners, and The Mersey Bluebeats.

3 Apr 1964 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Lunchtime session. With The Escorts, The Green Beats, The Chants, and The Harlems.

12 Apr 1964 Liverpool, The Peppermint Lounge, Fraser Street. With The Karacters, and The Buffaloes.

24 Apr 1964 Liverpool, The Iron Door, 13 Temple Street. With Tony D and the Shakeouts, Lee Paul and the Boys.

25 Apr 1964 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Evening session. With Bobby Sansom and the Giants, and The Soundsmen.

23 May 1964 Birkenhead, The Arts Ball, Beechcroft Hall, Whetstone Lane, Cheshire. With The Druids, The Prowlers, and The Abstracts.

11 Jul 1964 Liverpool, The Peppermint Lounge, Fraser Street.

12 Aug 1967 Italy, Capannina Arsego. Billed as Ian Hunter and his Valkyries.