Gus Travis and the Midnighters

Members

Gus Travis (Graham Bull) - vocals

Dave Carden - lead guitar

Ian McQuair - rhythm guitar

Alan Watts - piano

Bill Bingham - bass guitar

Pete Williams - drums

Brian Woods - bass guitar

John Cochrane - drums

Freddie Starr - vocals

Formed in May 1962 in Liverpool.

Freddie Starr joined in November 1962 as a second vocalist and comedy relief. Gus Travis left a few weeks later and the group changed their name to Freddie Starr and the Midnighters.

Known Gigs

17 Aug 1962 Liverpool, The Cavern Club, Mathew Street. With Freddie and the Dreamers, The Del-Renas, and Vic and the Spidermen.

5 Sep 1962 Liverpool, The Cavern Club, Mathew Street. With The Beatles, and The Dennisons.

12 Oct 1962 Wallasey, Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Cheshire. Supporting Little Richard, and The Beatles. With The Big Three, Pete Maclaine and the Dakotas, Lee Curtis and the All-Stars, Billy Kramer and the Coasters, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, The Undertakers, The Merseybeats, and The Four Jays.

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.

The Beathovens

Members

Gerry Bach - vocals

Keith Dodd - lead guitar

Graham Beasley - bass guitar

Rod Long  - rhythm guitar

Charlie Evans  - drums

Jimmy Stevens - vocals

Formed in Liverpool.

Rick E. Darne and the Toplins

Members

Formed in Chester, Cheshire as The Overlanders.

Changed their name several times, first to Richard Dee And The Dee-Fenders, then Rick E. Darne and The Dee-Fenders, and finally Rick E. Darne And The Toplins after winning 'Toplin Beat Group Contest', sponsored by the Rael-Brook shirt company, the heats and semi-final of which were held at The Cavern in Liverpool in 1964. The final was held at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Cheshire on 10th August 1964 featuring twelve groups. While the judges made their decision there was a performance by The Rolling Stones. The other finalists were Bobby and the Bachelors, The Downbeats, The Hustlers, The Jay-els, The Mark Four, The Johnny Taylor Five, The Tokens, The Top Spots, The Trakkers, The Wyverns, and Dale Young and the Seminoles.

The prize for winning was a recording contract, but they had to change the group name to The Toplins. 

UK Singles

1965 Sleigh Bells/Christmas Message                                                                                 Unicord UP 663

   (Credited to Rick E. Darn and the Toplins)

The Cordays

Members

Pete Glasby - lead guitar (Died: )

Graham Downes - rhythm guitar, vocals

Norman Bellis - bass guitar

John Hughes - saxophone, harmonica

Rich Sillitoe - drums

Formed in Huyton, Liverpool.

Norman Bellis was later in The Inbeats, The Cordelles, Them Calderstones, and The Seftons (who changed their name to The Perishers). He then moved to the USA and recorded with major American artists like The Temptations and Jr. Walker and the All-Stars. When he returned to the UK he played with Worth (The Perishers) and Rusty Harness.

Heatwave

Members

Peter Allat - lead vocals, percussion

John Fellows - bass guitar, vocals

Richard Steen - lead guitar, vocals

Terry Shea - rhythm guitar, vocals

Martin H. Samuel - drums, pyrotechnics

Formed in London in 1969.

Richard Steen was from Liverpool.

Martin H. Samuel had previously been in the German group Jigsaw Puzzle.

Played at The Cavern, Liverpool for a week in 1970.

UK Singles

1970 Sister Simon (Funny Man) / Rastus Ravel (Is A Mean Old Man)                                                       Penny Farthing PEN 738

Known Gigs

The Rebels

 

Members

Derek Brough - bass guitar

Roy Smith - rhythm guitar

Keith Hubbard - lead guitar

Chris Kenny - drums.

Kel Harrison - bass guitar

Roy David - drums

Formed in 1963.

Backed vocalist Ian Gregson, then later Ricky Gleason. Later still the Rebels backed J.J. who had been in the Hi-Lites.

Disbanded in 1967.

Keith Hubbard, Roy Smith and Chris Kenny reformed in 1970 with the addition of bass guitarist Ray Chapman, as the rock band Caliban. 

The Rebels and Caliban have bricks in the Cavern wall with Caliban performing on the Cavern's final night on 27th May 1973.

Not to be confused with The Rebels from the early 1960s with saxophone player Brian Jones.

Johnny Ringo and the Colts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members

Les Holt - lead guitar

Fred Fargher - rhythm guitar, vocals

Derek Kay - drums

? - bass guitar 

 

 

Formed in Liverpool.

 

Known Gigs

 

9 Feb 1962 Dunstable, California Ballroom. Supporting Eden Kane backed by Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers. With The Cannons, and The Diamonds. 

3 Aug 1963 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supporting The Beatles. With The Merseybeats, The Escorts, The Sapphires, Faron's Flamingos, and The Roadrunners. This was The Beatles' farewell performance at The Cavern.

12 Feb 1965 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. With The Notions, and The Road Runners.

15 Nov 1965 Liverpool, Orrell Park Ballroom. With The Mersey Gonks, and Tiffany's Thoughts.

 

 

The Toggery Five

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members

 

Bob Smith - vocals

Frank Renshaw - lead guitar (Born: 22 June 1943, Wythenshawe)

Keith Meredith - rhythm guitar

Ken Mills - bass guitar

Graham Smith - drums

 

Paul Young - vocals (Born: 17 June 1947, Wythenshawe - Died: 2000)

Alan Doyle - rhythm guitar

Mick Abrahams

Clive Bunker

Formed in 1963 in Stockport.

Mike Cohen managed the group. He also managed The Hollies. Cohen owned a clothes shop called The Toggery.

Bob Smith left in 1964 and was replaced by 16 year old Paul Young.

Competed in the national beat competition 'Ready, Steady, Win!', the final of which was shown on television and judged by Brian Epstein and several other important music industry individuals and established stars of the day. The Toggery Five would have won the first prize of a Decca recording contract had they not already signed to Parlophone. So the winners were The Bo Street Runners.

'I'm Gonna Jump' was written by Frank Renshaw. 

Their first single for Parlophone was banned by the BBC because of its supposed 'suicide' theme. Without this essential radio airplay the single flopped.

Alan Doyle replaced Keith Meredith late in 1964.

Frank Renshaw left in October 1965.

Frank Renshaw was later in Wayne Fontana And The Boys, The Opposition, The Young Brothers, and The Young and Renshaw Band.

Later line-ups included Mick Abrahams and Clive Bunker who went on to form Jethro Tull.

Disbanded in late 1966.

Paul Young was later in The Young Brothers, The Young & Renshaw Band, Sad Cafe, and Mike and the Mechanics.

UK Singles

1964 I'm Gonna Jump/Bye Bye Bird                                                                       Parlophone R 5175

   (Released on 18 September 1964. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios (EMI Recording Studios) on 22 June 1964. 'I'm Gonna Jump' was done in one take at the very end of the session.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1965 I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys/It's So Easy                                              Parlophone R 5249

   (Released 26 February 1965)

 

US Singles

 

1965 I'm Gonna Jump/Bye Bye Bird                                                                       Tower 119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known Gigs

18 Sep 1964 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Lunchtime session.

19 Sep 1964 Slough, Adelphi. With Freddie and the Dreamers, The Hollies, The Four Pennies, Tony Jackson and the Vibrations, Marianne Faithfull, and Don Dwight (compere). Two shows.

23 Sep 1964 Exeter, ABC. With Freddie and the Dreamers, The Hollies, The Four Pennies, Tony Jackson and the Vibrations, Marianne Faithfull, and Don Dwight (compere). Two shows.

1 Oct 1964 Leeds, Odeon. With Freddie and the Dreamers, The Hollies, The Four Pennies, Tony Jackson and the Vibrations, Marianne Faithfull, and Don Dwight (compere). Two shows.

5 Oct 1964 Cardiff, Top Rank Suite, Wales. With Freddie and the Dreamers, The Hollies, The Four Pennies, Tony Jackson and the Vibrations, Marianne Faithfull, and Don Dwight (compere). Two shows.

7 Nov 1964 Colwyn Bay, Dixieland Showbar, Wales. With The Four Just Men.

10 Dec 1964 Swindon, Locarno. With The Original Checkmates.

20 Dec 1964 Manchester, Top Ten Club.

24 Dec 1964 Manchester, New Century Hall, Corporation Street. Supporting Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. With Johnny Peters and the JPs.

9 Jan 1965 Stockport, Manor Lounge Club. With The Mersey Four. 

8 Aug 1965 Manchester, Twisted Wheel Club.

23 Sep 1965 Elgin, Two Red Shoes Ballroom, Scotland. With The Groundhogs.

27 Oct 1966 London, Tiles Club. With The Soft Machine. 

 

Group One

 

 

Members

 

Eric London - bass guitar

 

 

 

 

Known Gigs

 

25 Aug 1962 Birkenhead, Majestic Ballroom, Cheshire. With Billy Kramer with the Coasters, and The Swinging Bluegenes. 

27 Sep 1962 Liverpool, Litherland Town Hall. With Shane Fenton and the Fentones, and Ian and the Zodiacs.

The Klubs

 

Members

 

Paddy Breen - vocals

 

 

Lots to write here. Just need time to sort it out.

 

Known Gigs

 

27 Feb 1967 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supporting Chuck Berry. With The Canadians, The Tremas, and The Multivation.

 

The Sheffields

Members

John E Alexander - vocals, harmonica, organ

Don Allison - guitar

Brian Cooke - guitar

Dave Fawcett - bass guitar

Richard Smith - drums

Roy Ledger - guitar
Kenny Slade - drums

Formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1963.

Originally known as The Vampires, although there are reports that they were also known as 'The Knives and Forks'.

As the Vampires they won a Sheffield group contest at the City Hall on 16th September 1963 put on by Peter Stringfellow. Tony Hatch was one of the judges and they were signed to Pye Records after Hatch changed their name.

Managed by Pete Stringfellow for a short while.

Backed Little Walter and Memphis Slim on their 1964 tour of the UK.
Backed Champion Jack Dupree on his 1965 tour of the UK.
Roy Ledger was formerly in Pete Fender and the Strollers, Johnnie Silver and the Thunderbirds, and The Chevrons.
Kenny Slade replaced Richard Smith on drums in early 1965.
Kenny Slade was previously in The Dae-b-Four.

Disbanded in 1965.

Roy Ledger was later in The Cruisers, backing Dave Berry.

UK Singles

1964 It Must Be Love/Say Girl                                                                                     Pye 7N 15600
   (Released January 1964)
1964 Got My Mojo Working/Hey, Hey Lover Boy                                                        Pye 7N 15627
   (Released April 1964)

1965 Bags Groove (Skat Walking)/Plenty Of Love                                                       Pye 7N 15767
   (Released 10 February 1965)

US Singles

1965 Bags Groove (Scat Walking)/Plenty Of Love                                                       Dot 45-16722
   (Released March 1965)

Known Gigs

13 Nov 1963 Sheffield, City Hall. Supporting The Rolling Stones. With The Big Three, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Karen Young, Johnny Tempest and the Cadillacs, The Four Plus One, Vance Arnold and the Avengers, and The Vantennas.

1 Feb 1964 Manchester, Twisted Wheel Club.

1 Mar 1964 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supporting Herman's Hermits. With The Bumblies, and The Detonators.

12 Mar 1964 Elgin, Two Red Shoes Ballroom, Scotland.
9 May 1964 Bournemouth, Le Disque A Go-Go.
16 Jul 1964 London, 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, W1. With The Tridents.
5 Sep 1964 Manchester, Twisted Wheel Club. Supporting Memphis Slim. With Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames.
12 Sep 1964 Nottingham, Dungeon Club.
10 Dec 1964 London, Marquee Club. With Rod Stewart with the Soul Agents.
9 Jan 1965 Manchester, Twisted Wheel Club.

28 Jan 1965 Stafford, B. R. C. Club, Burton Manor, Staffordshire.
17 Mar 1965 London, The Bromel Club. Backing Champion Jack Dupree.
20 Mar 1965 Manchester, Twisted Wheel Club. Backing Champion Jack Dupree. With The Habit.
25 Mar 1965 Southsea, Kimbells Ballroom. Backing Champion Jack Dupree.
27 Mar 1965 London, Kingston Upon Thames, Kingston Technical College. Supported by Mike Dee and the Prophets.

Mark Peters and the Silhouettes

Members

Mark Peters (Pete Fleming) - vocals
Dave May - bass guitar
Mally Aston - rhythm guitar (later lead guitar)
Rod McClelland - lead guitar
Steve Fleming - keyboards
Brian Johnson - drums

Bob O'Hanlon - drums
Tony Sanders - drums

Formed in Liverpool.
The Silhouettes backed Mark Peters from 1963.
Previously the Silhouettes had backed Ken Dallas from the late 1950s.
Mark Peters had previously been in The Flamingos, and The Teen Tones.
Mark Peters was previously backed by The Hi-Spots and then The Cyclones.
Mark Peters and the Silhouettes line-up rarely changed thoughout their success in the Sixties.
Steve Fleming is Mark Peters' brother.
Brian Johnson had previously played with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
Bob O'Hanlon replaced Brian Johnson on drums.
Bob O'Hanlon had been in the group before when they backed Ken Dallas.
Bob O'Hanlon was later replaced by Tony Sanders.
When Rod McClelland left the group, Mally Aston switched from rhythm guitar to lead guitar.

UK Singles

1963 Fragile (Handle With Care)/Janie                                                                    Oriole CB 1836
   (Released 21 June 1963. Both sides of the single were written by Mark Peters (as P Fleming) and Steve Fleming.)

They also recorded the song 'Someday' which was featured on the LP 'This Is Merseybeat' in 1963.

The Casuals

Members

Dudley Knowles - lead guitar, vocals
Simon Hind - rhythm guitar, vocals
Mike Bankes - bass guitar, vocals
Joe Walsh - drums

Terry Lloyd

Formed in Southport in 1963.
Later became the backing group for Lee Curtis, his new 'All Stars'.

The Morockans

Members

Brian Woods - bass guitar



Formed in Hoylake, The Wirral, Cheshire.


Known Gigs

26 Mar 1966 Nantwich, The Barn, The Cheshire Cat. Nantwich Young Farmers Club.

The Rolling Stones

Members

Mick Jagger - vocals
Brian Jones - guitar, harmonica
Keith Richard(s) - guitar
Bill Wyman - bass guitar
Tony Chapman - drums
Ian Stewart - piano

Charlie Watts - drums
Mick Taylor - guitar
Ronnie Wood - guitar

Formed in London.
Tony Chapman might have been their first official drummer, although Mick Avory, later of The Kinks, had rehearsed with them at The Bricklayers Arms pub in London during late May/early June 1962 and Steve Harris had also played a few sessions with them in 1962. There are different recollections from those who were there.
Tony Chapman and Bill Wyman were previously in The Cliftons.
Tony Chapman was later in The Preachers, and The Herd, both with Peter Frampton.



Known Gigs

12 Jul 1962 London, Marquee Club.

30 Aug 1963 Manchester, Oasis Club. Supported by The Crestas. The Rolling Stones were originally supposed to play at The Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, but there was a fire at that venue and so they played at the Oasis instead.
5 Nov 1963 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supported by The Mastersounds, The Escorts, and The Roadrunners. This was The Rolling Stones' only appearance at The Cavern.
10 Nov 1963 Crewe, Town Hall. Supported by Frankenstein and the Monsters, and The Crestas.

13 Nov 1963 Sheffield, City Hall. Supported by The Big Three, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, The Sheffields, Johnny Tempest and the Cadillacs, The Four Plus One, Vance Arnold and the Avengers, Karen Young, and The Vantennas.

2 Dec 1963 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. Supported by The Three Spirits.

Lee Curtis and the All Stars

Members

 

Lee Curtis (Peter Flannery) - vocals

Frank Bowen - lead guitar (Born: 19 Dec 1943 - Died: 25 October 1967)

Tony Waddington - rhythm guitar, vocals

Wayne Bickerton - bass guitar, vocals

Bernie Rogers - drums

 

Pete Best - drums

 

Formed in Liverpool.

The lineup of the All Stars changed many times.

 

Known Gigs

 

27 Aug 1962 Birkenhead, Majestic Ballroom, Cheshire. 

3 Sep 1962 Birkenhead, Majestic Ballroom, Cheshire.

12 Oct 1962 Wallasey, Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Cheshire. Supporting Little Richard, and The Beatles. With The Big Three, Pete Maclaine and the Dakotas, The Four Jays, Billy Kramer and the Coasters, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, The Undertakers, The Merseybeats, and Gus Travis And The Midnighters.

Steve Day and the Kinsmen

Members

Steve Day (Rod Pont) - vocals




Steve Day was previously in Wump and His Werbles (as Rod Pont), and Steve Day and the Jets who became Steve Day and the Drifters.

Known Gigs

27 Nov 1965 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. With The Secrets, and The Principals.

Manfred Mann

Members

Paul Jones - vocals, harmonica
Manfred Mann - keyboards, organ
Dave Richmond - bass guitar
Mike Vickers - guitar, alto saxophone, flute
Mike Hugg - drums

Tom McGuinness - guitar
Mike D'Abo - vocals
Klaus Voorman - bass guitar

Formed in 1962 in South London as The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers.
An early lineup included Graham Bond.
Changed their name to Manfred Mann and the Manfreds for a while before shortening it to Manfred Mann at the request of their producer at HMV, John Burgess.

Known Gigs

31 Mar 1965 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supporting Gene Vincent with the Dyaks, The Kinks, and Petula Clark. With The Clayton Squares and The Tremas.
12 Apr 1966 London, The Marquee Club, Soho, W1. Supported by Bluesology.

The Alex Welsh Jazz Band

Members






Known Gigs

12 Jan 1960 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street.