The Attack

Members

Richard Shirman - vocals (Died: 26 July 2017)
David O'List - lead guitar
Bob Hodges - piano, organ
Gerry Henderson - bass guitar
Alan Whitehead - drums


John Du Cann - guitar, vocal
Barney Barnfield - drums
Kevin Flanagan - drums
Plug Davis

Brian Davison
Chris Allen - drums
David O'List
Geoff Richardson - guitar
George Watt - keyboards
Gerry Henderson
Glen LeFleur
Jim Avery
John Du Cann
Keith Hodge
Kenny Harold
Len Tuckey
Micky Jones
Richard Shirman
Steve Waller
Bob Taylor
Dennis Hooker

Formed in London in 1966.

David O'List later joined The Nice.

Alan Whitehead later joined Marmalade.

 

Chris Wayne and the Cruisers

Members

Chris Wayne - vocals

Chris Wayne was previously backed by The Echoes as Chris Wayne and the Echoes.
The Cruisers were probably the group that backed Dave Berry.

Known Gigs

11 Aug 1962 Hastings, The Pier Ballroom. With Antony Strudwick and His Music.

Chris Wayne and the Echoes

Members

Chris Wayne - vocals
Dave Burns - lead guitar
Tony Oakman - rhythm guitar
George Staff - rhythm guitar
Peter Oakman - bass
Bert Crome - drums

Laurie Jay - drums
Tony Collins - guitar
Les Smith - piano
Douggie Reece - bass guitar
Big Jim Sullivan - lead guitar

Formed in late 1959 as a necessity for a tour of the UK.

Tony Oakman, George Staff, Peter Oakman, Bert Crome were originally in The Spacemen Skiffle Group, with Joe Brown, and were only backing Chris Wayne whilst Brown was contracted to appear on television in 'Boy Meets Girls'. They later rejoined Joe Brown as his backing group The Bruvvers.

Peter Oakman would later play bass for Lonnie Donegan until Donegan's death in 2002.

Dave Burns would briefly work with Wee Willie Harris in Italy before returning to rejoin The Echoes.

A second tour of the UK, this time supporting Gene Vincent, would require a new version of The Echoes. The Echoes, without Chris Wayne, would also be needed to back Gene Vincent on stage. Laurie Jay was available to play drums and the other members were drafted in from a band called The Dynamos who had previously backed Sonny Stewart.

During the tour Tony Collins had a car accident and was replaced by Big Jim Sullivan.

The Echoes, without Chris Wayne, were very much a group in their own right and regularly played live and backed other musicians on stage. They would later record for the Fontana label and appeared on sessions for many solo artists. The lineup of the group changed many times over the years.

The Echoes disbanded in 1971.

Chris Wayne continued to perform as a solo artist, backed by various groups including The Cruisers.

Laurie Jay later went into artist management, becoming the manager for Billy Ocean and Shirley Bassey.

UK Singles

1960 Lonely/Counting Girls                                                        Decca                        F 11231
   (Released in April 1960. The label spells the group name as 'The Echos')

Known Gigs

10 Apr 1960 Southend-on-Sea, Odeon. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
11 Apr 1960 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
12 Apr 1960 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
13 Apr 1960 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
14 Apr 1960 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
15 Apr 1960 Slough, Adelphi. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
16 Apr 1960 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
18 Apr 1960 Leeds, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Lindy Sisters and Don Arden.
19 Apr 1960 Leeds, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Lindy Sisters and Don Arden.
20 Apr 1960 Leeds, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Lindy Sisters and Don Arden.
21 Apr 1960 Leeds, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Lindy Sisters and Don Arden.
22 Apr 1960 Leeds, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Lindy Sisters and Don Arden.
23 Apr 1960 Leeds, Empire Theatre. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Lindy Sisters and Don Arden.
25 Apr 1960 London, Finsbury Park Empire. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
26 Apr 1960 London, Finsbury Park Empire. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
27 Apr 1960 London, Finsbury Park Empire. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
28 Apr 1960 London, Finsbury Park Empire. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
29 Apr 1960 London, Finsbury Park Empire. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
30 Apr 1960 London, Finsbury Park Empire. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
1 May 1960 Chelmsford, Odeon. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
2 May 1960 Brighton, Essoldo. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
3 May 1960 Tunbridge Wells, Essoldo. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
4 May 1960. London, Sutton Granada. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
5 May 1960 Scunthorpe, Pavilion. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
6 May 1960 Barrow in Furness, Coliseum Cinema. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
7 May 1960 Burnley, Palace. Supporting Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The 4 Jays and Don Arden.
8 May 1960 York, Rialto. Supporting Conway Twitty, Johnny Preston and Craig Douglas. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, and Don Arden.
9 May 1960 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Echoes, The Lindy Sisters, and Don Arden.
10 May 1960 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Echoes, The Lindy Sisters, and Don Arden.
11 May 1960 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Echoes, The Lindy Sisters, and Don Arden.
12 May 1960 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Echoes, The Lindy Sisters, and Don Arden.
13 May 1960 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Echoes, The Lindy Sisters, and Don Arden.
14 May 1960 Manchester, Palace Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Echoes, The Lindy Sisters, and Don Arden.

With Johnny Preston, Conway Twitty and Freddy Cannon.

15 May 1960 Newcastle upon Tyne, City Hall. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
16 May 1960 Birmingham, Odeon. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
17 May 1960 Portsmouth, Guildhall. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
18 May 1960 Derby, Gaumont. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
19 May 1960 Stockton-on-Tees, The Globe. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
20 May 1960 Bradford, Gaumont. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
21 May 1960 Edinburgh, Usher Hall. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
22 May 1960 Liverpool, Empire Theatre. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
23 May 1960 Hull, Cecil. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
24 May 1960 Doncaster, Gaumont. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
25 May 1960 Leicester, De Montford Hall. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
26 May 1960 Swansea, Plaza. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
27 May 1960 Sheffield, City Hall. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
28 May 1960 Coventry, Gaumont. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
29 May 1960 Bristol, Colston Hall. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
31 May 1960 Cardiff, Gaumont. Supporting Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon and Johnny Preston. With Wee Willie Harris, Tony Crombie and The Rockets, The Cannonballs, The Echoes, and Don Arden.
5 Feb 1961 Bradford, Gaumont. Supporting Gene Vincent. With The Echoes (Billed as The Echos).

25 Feb 1961 Malvern, Winter Gardens. Supporting Gene Vincent. With Dennis Wheeler and His Orchestra.
26 Feb 1961 Plymouth, Odeon. Supporting Gene Vincent. With Matt Monro, Bert Weedon, Ricky Valance, Dickie Pride, Linda Doll, Peter Chester and the Consulates, Ian Samwell, and Julie Rayne.
3 Mar 1961 London, Sutton Granada. Supporting Gene Vincent. With Terry Dene, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Johnny Duncan and the Bluegrass Boys, Michael Cox, Screaming Lord Sutch, and Mike and Bernie WInters.
23 Dec 1961 Malvern, Winter Gardens. With Bert Weedon, and Vince Eager.
2 Nov 1962 Torquay, Town Hall. With B. Bumble and the Stingers, The Tornados, Joe Brown and the Bruvvers, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Vince Eager, and Bobby Shafto.

The Spacemen Skiffle Group

Members

Joe Brown - lead guitar, vocals
Tony Oakman - rhythm guitar
George Staff - rhythm guitar
Peter Oakman - upright bass, bass guitar
Gary Gleed - double bass
Sid Rodwell - washboard

Bert Crome - drums

Formed in 1956 by Tony and Peter Oakman.
In 1957 Joe Brown joined the group as lead guitarist.
In 1959 the group became a backing band for impresario Larry Parnes, who was putting together rock 'n' roll package tours. The artistes on the first tour were The Viscounts, Vince Eager, Sally Kelly, Marty Wilde and Gerry Dorsey, later to become Englebert Humperdinck.

Joe Brown went on to a successful solo career backed by Tony Oakman, George Staff, Peter Oakman and Bert Crome of The Spaceman Skiffle Group, but renamed as The Bruvvers.

In 1959/60 Tony Oakman, George Staff, Peter Oakman and Bert Crome formed a group called The Echoes, while Joe Brown was away fulfilling a television contract. Chris Wayne was brought in as vocalist and Dave Burns as lead guitarist. They went on tour as Chris Wayne and the Echoes (sometimes billed as 'The Echos').
Peter Oakman later worked with Lonnie Donegan, playing bass guitar for him until Lonnie's death in 2002.

The Washington D.C.'s

Members

Barry Fitzgerald - vocals, guitar
Patrick Curley - lead guitar, vocals (left in 1966)
Roger Creed - bass guitar, vocals
Glen Duke - drums

Roger Saunders - guitar, keyboards, vocals (died: 2000)
Bernie Trott - bass guitar
Gary Illingworth - keyboards, violin, vocals (joined around 1966 or 1967)
Walter Monaghan - bass guitar
Brian Hillman - drums

Walter Monaghan was later in Freedom.
Roger Saunders was later in Freedom and then Medicine Head.

Formed in Romford, Essex in 1959.
Became The Washington D. C.'s in 1963.


UK Singles

1964 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Where Did You Go?                                   Ember        EMB S 190
   (Patrick Curley sand lead vocals on both of these tracks)

1966 32nd Floor/A Whole Lot More                                                            CBS               202226
   (Released July 1966)
1966 Seek and Find/I Love Gerald Chevin the Great                                 CBS               202464

1966 I've Done It All Wrong/Any Time                                                     Domain          D 9
   (Released December 1968)

US Singles

1964 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Where Did You Go?                            Flip                     363
1966 Thirty-Second Floor/A Whole Lot More                                          Date                    2-1537
   (Released December 1966)

Canada Singles

1964 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Where Did You Go?                            Dominion              75

Italy Singles

1964 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Where Did You Go?                            Vedette            VRN 34063

Turkey Singles

1964 Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Where Did You Go?                             Odeon            LA 4163
   (No.1 in the Turkish pop charts)

Known Gigs

5 Oct 1963 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. With The Beatcombers, Group One, and The Easybeats.
14 Aug 1964 Dunstable, California Ballroom. Supporting The Undertakers. With The Homelanders.
27 Nov 1964 Dunstable, California Ballroom. Supporting The Fortunes. With G. T. Phillips And The Stormsville Shakers.