The Rockin' Vickers

Members

Harry 'Reverend Black' Feeney - vocals

Cyril 'Ciggy' Shaw - drums

Ken Hardacre - guitar

Alex Hamilton - guitar

Peter Moorhouse - bass guitar

Nicholas Gribbon - guitar

Ian Holbrook - guitar, harmonica (joined in 1965)

Stephen 'Mogsy' Morris - bass guitar

Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister - guitar

Garry Chamberlain - guitar

Formed in Blackpool in 1963.

Also known as Rev Black and the Rockin' Vicars or just The Rockin' Vicars.

The group became known for their intense live shows and outlandish stage costumes, dressing as vicars, amongst other things, and they would use stage props like coffins. They built a solid reputation in Blackpool and nearby cities like Manchester and Liverpool. This led to tours of mainland Europe during which they became popular in Finland where they released a single. They were one of the first groups to play behind the 'Iron Curtain' when they played in Yugoslavia.

The Rockin' Vickers were given a recording contract with Decca.

Their most successful period appears to be as a four-piece, recording their two singles for producer Shel Talmy's production company on the CBS label and supporting some of his other acts like The Kinks or The Who.

Disbanded in 1967.

Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister was later in Hawkwind from 1971 to 1975 before forming Motorhead.

UK Singles

1964 I Go Ape/Someone Like You                                                                                       Decca F 11993

1966 It's Alright/Stay By Me                                                                                                  CBS 202051

1966 Dandy/I Don't Need Your Kind                                                                                     CBS 202241

US Singles

1966 Dandy/I Don't Need Your Kind                                                                              Columbia 4-43818

Finland Singles

1965 Stella/Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart                                                                 Decca SD 5662

Known Gigs

31 Mar 1964 Manchester, Oasis Club. With The Chasers.

5 Jun 1964 Bradford, Dungeon, Westgate. Billed as Rev Black & The Rocking Vicars.

30 Jun 1964 Bradford, Coffin, Ivegate. Billed as Rev Black & The Rocking Vicars.

16 Jan 1965 Manchester, Oasis Club. Billed as The Reverend Black and the Rocking Vickers.

25 Apr 1965 Manchester, Oasis Club. Billed as The Reverend Black and the Rocking Vickers.

19 Jun 1965 Manchester, Oasis Club. With The Stylos, and Davy Morgan.

24 Sep 1965 Manchester, Oasis Club. With Kris Ryan and the Questions.

9 Oct 1965 Manchester, Oasis Club. With The Stylos.

28 Nov 1965 Helsinki, Natsa, Finland. With The Friends. Billed as Rev. Black And The Rocking Vickers.

17 Dec 1965 Manchester, Oasis Club. With The Alan Bown Set.

28 May 1966 Blackpool, South Pier Theatre, Lancashire. Supporting The Who. With The Birds, and Oscar.

25 Jun 1966 Manchester, Oasis Club. Supporting Los Bravos.

10 Sep 1966 Liverpool, The Cavern Club, Mathew Street. With Eddie Cave and the Fix, The Mack Sound, The Kop, The Hideaways, and The Seftons. All Night Rave. Billed as The Rockin' Vicars. 

8 Oct 1966 Manchester, Oasis Club. With The Measles.

18 Oct 1966 Manchester, Oasis Club.

16 Dec 1966 Manchester, Oasis Club.

20 Jan 1967 Dundee, Dundee University, Scotland.

6 Feb 1967 Chester, Quaintways, Cheshire. Supporting Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. With The Conda Group, and Wall City Jazzmen.

14 Feb 1967 Barrow in Furness, Barrow Public Hall. Billed as Reverend Black and the Rockin' Vicars.