Gerry de Ville and the City Kings

Members

Gerry de Ville (Gerry Hale) - vocals

Dave Blackmore - lead guitar

Dave Passey - guitar

Sid Edwards - bass guitar

Richie Galvin - drums

Gerry de Ville was a later a teacher and a supporting actor for television.

Jeannie and the Big Guys

Members

Jeannie (Rita Hughes) - vocals

Dave Jones - lead guitar

Phil Blackman - keyboards

Owen Ricketts - bass guitar

Terry Lynch - drums (Died: 2023)

Peter Johnson - lead guitar

John Pickett - bass guitar

George Roberts - drums

Formed in Chester, Cheshire.

Previously known as The Pacemakers and then Four Hits and a Miss.

Disbanded in early 1964.

Jeannie (Rita Hughes) later toured Germany with a Chester group called The Fugitives.

Rita Hughes was later backed by Earl Royce and the Olympics and recorded as Cindy Cole.

The Zephyrs

Members

Ray Malcolm - vocals

Geoff Taggart - lead guitar

Les Stocks - guitar

Johnny Olive - bass guitar

Gordon Marsh - drums

Formed in St. Helens, Merseyside.

Vince Earl and the Zeros

Members

Vince Earl - vocals

Barry Ezra - lead guitar

Ray Whitehead - bass guitar

Brian Hilton - rhythm guitar

Mike Oldam - drums

Formed in Birkenhead, Wirral, Cheshire.

Barry Ezra was later in The Rainchecks, who backed Gus Travis.

Vince Earl was later an actor and appeared in 'Boys from the Blackstuff' and 'Brookside'.

Known Gigs

17 May 1962 Wallasey, New Brighton, Tower Ballroom. Supporting Jerry Lee Lewis. With The Echoes, The Big Three, The Undertakers, Lee Castle and the Barons, The Pressmen, Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes, The Strangers, Billy Kramer and the Coasters, Steve Day and the Drifters, and Rip Van Winkle and the Rip It Ups.

The Zeros

Members

Barry Ezra - lead guitar

Ray Whitehead - bass guitar

Brian Hilton - rhythm guitar

Mike Oldam - drums

Formed in Birkenhead, Wirral, Cheshire.

Later backed Vince Earl and changed their name to Vince Earl and the Zeros.

Known Gigs

10 Feb 1962 St. Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall, North Road. With The Beatles.

The Zephyrs

Members

Sheila Baker - vocals

Les Beresford - vocals (Died: 2024?)

Norman Hoskins - guitar

Eric Snowball - lead guitar (Died: ?)

Allan Flood - bass

Maurice Reynolds - drums

Formed in Maidstone, Kent in 1957 as The Sharp's Creamy Skiffle Group.

The Zephyrs

Members

Rett Allen (Alan Harrison) - vocals

Alan Coverdale - guitar

Barrie Miller - bass guitar, vocals

Tommy Harbron - lead guitar, vocals

Dennis Coleman - drums

Tony Martin - vocals

Formed in Stockton-on-Tees.

Later changed their name to the Zephrons.

The Wanderers

Members

Roy Taylor - lead guitar

Geoff Hudson - piano

Colin Perry - rhythm guitar

Michael Thorpe - bass guitar

Terry Edwards - second lead guitar

Gerry Prince - drums

Formed in Kingsbury, Warwickshire in 1963.

Known Gigs

30 May 1964 Tamworth, Polesworth Memorial Hall. With Rocking Rendezvous, and The Three Spirits.

The Zephyrs

Members

Geoff Husson - lead guitar

Peter Gage - rhythm guitar, vocals

Johnny Hind - bass guitar

John Carpenter - drums, vocals

Guy Saville - vocals

Jerry Donahue - guitar

Geoff Pullum - keyboards

Mike Lease - keyboards

John Peeby - guitar

Formed in London in September 1961 as the Clee-Shays.

Guy Saville and Jerry Donahue left in 1963.

Geoff Husson left in 1964.

Geoff Pullum joined in 1964.

Peter Gage and Geoff Pullum left in 1965 and are replaced by John Peeby and Mike Lease respectively.

Disbanded in 1966.

UK Singles

1963 What's All That About/Oriental Dream                                                                           Decca F 11647

   (Released 10 May 1963.)

1964 I Can Tell/Sweet Little Baby                                                                                    Columbia DB 7199

1964 A Little Bit Of Soap/No Message                                                                            Columbia DB 7324

1964 Wonder What I'm Gonna Do/Let Me Love You Baby                                             Columbia DB 7410

1965 She's Lost You/There's Something About You                                                         Columbia DB 7481

1965 I Just Can't Take It/She Laughed                                                                             Columbia DB 7571

Known Gigs

30 Mar 1964 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. With The Three Spirits, The Defenders, and Jumping Jacks.

The Cobras

Members

Barry Dunn - vocals

Mel Brookes - guitar, vocals

Mick Brookes - lead guitar, vocals

Nick Cox - bass guitar (Died: 2025?)

Terry Rhodes - drums

Graham Williams - vocals

Formed in Bilston, Wolverhampton in early 1964.

Graham Williams was the original lead vocalist but was soon replaced by Barry Dunn.

Terry Rhodes was previously in The Jokers.

Mick Brookes was previously in The Rocking Rustlers.

Disbanded in 1966.

Nick Cox later played with Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions.

Mick Brookes later played with The Californians.

Terry Rhodes later became a manager to his wife, comedienne 'Our Trace'.

Known Gigs

Oct 1964 Wolverhampton, Morris Springs Social Club, Ettingshall.

Herbie's People

Members

Danny Robinson - vocals (Died: 23 April 2024)

Mike Taylor - rhythm guitar

Len Beddow - lead guitar

Pete Walton - bass guitar

Alan Lacey - drums

Pete Stevens - rhythm guitar (later bass guitar)

Brian Powney - keyboards

Formerly known as Danny Cannon and the Ramrods.

Managed by Bill Bates.

Later changed their name to Just William and later still to The Bullring.

UK Singles

1965 You Thrill Me To Pieces/Sweet And Tender Romance                                          CBS 202005

   (Released 12 November 1965. A-side written by Bill Bates.)

1966 One Little Smile/You Never Know                                                                        CBS 202058

   (Released April 1966)

1967 Humming Bird/Residential Area                                                                            CBS 202584

   (Released 24 February 1967)

Rave magazine - January 1966.

US Singles

1966 Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. Jones/Residential Area                                           OKeh 4-7265

   (Released November 1966)

Danny Cannon and the Ramrods

Members

Danny Robinson - vocals (Died: 23 April 2024)

Ken Hooper - rhythm guitar

Len Beddow - lead guitar

Pete Walton - bass guitar

Alan Lacey - drums

Mike Taylor - rhythm guitar

Brendan Guest - bass guitar

Formed in Bilston, Wolverhampton in 1959.

In 1964, Ken Hooper left and was replaced by Mike Taylor.

Pete Walton temporarily left and was replaced by Brendan Guest.

In May 1964 they reached the finals of 'New Sound of '64' Beat Contest, coming equal first.

Managed by Bill Bates from around 1964. Bill Bates was a songwriter who also worked as a health inspector. It was with Bill's influence, and with the return of Pete Walton that the group changed their name to Herbie's People.

Danny Cannon and the Ramrods at The Cavern in Liverpool during the finals of 'New Sound of '64' Beat Contest.

They reformed several times to play charity concerts, the last one being in April 2017 at The Robin 2 in Bilston.

Known Gigs

Sep 1963 Wednesbury, Youth Centre, West Midlands. 

15 Oct 1963 Wednesbury, Youth Centre, West Midlands. Supporting The Mersey Beats.

The Riot Squad

This was the short-lived original line-up with Mike Martin in the sunglasses.

Members

Ron Ryan - lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Mike Martin - bass guitar, vocals

Bob Evans - tenor sax, flute, vocals

Mark Stevens - organ, vocals

Graham Bonney - lead guitar, vocals

Mitch Mitchell - drums

Brian Davies - bass guitar, vocals

Nero Gladman - vocals

Terry Clifford - guitar

Butch Davis - Hammond organ

Rodger Crisp - bass guitar

Del Roll - drums 

Rod 'Rook' Davies - lead guitar

Brian 'Croak' Prebble - bass guitar, (later lead vocals)

Pete 'Punch' Allen - six-string Fender bass

John Lee - trombone

David Jones (aka David Bowie) - vocals

Formed in London.

I am not adding too much detail to this post because there is an excellent and very detailed chronicle of The Riot Squad that was researched and published by Bruno Ceriotti, which can be viewed here. Go and look at it and donate a quid if you can.

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 Rainchecks

Members

Tony Ritchie (Richardson) - guitar, vocals

Geoff Grimes - keyboards

Del Spence - bass

Steve Webb - drums

Alan ? - rhythm guitar

Formed in Enfield, London. 

Also known as The Society (according to many sources).

UK Singles

1965 How Are You Boy/Bye Bye Baby                                                                              R & B MRB 5002

   (Both sides written by Tony Richardson)

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.

Johnny Fox and the Hunters

Members

Jon Fox - lead vocals, guitar

John Franks - lead guitar

Tony Hancocks - rhythm guitar

Roy Lewis - bass guitar, vocals

Ted Powell - drums, vocals

Geoff Roberts

Ian 'Sludge' Lees

Terry Ward

Formed in Birmingham in 1963.

The Hunters were a group before Jon Fox joined them in 1963.

Also known as Jon Fox and the Hunters.

Appeared on television on ATV's ' For Teenagers Only'.

Known Gigs

17 May 1963 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. With The Three Spirits, Gerry Levene and the Avengers, and Gus Travis and the Rainchecks.

20 May 1963 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. Supporting Gene Vincent. With The Three Spirits.

23 Aug 1963 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. Supporting The Rockin' Berries. With The Three Spirits.

13 Dec 1963 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. With Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders, The Three Spirits, and The Emperors.

Gus and the Thundercaps

Members

Gus Travis (Graham Bull) - vocals
Dave Carden - lead guitar

Ian McQuair - rhythm guitar

Alan Watts - piano

Clive Watkins - bass guitar

Ian Douglas- drums

Bill Bingham - bass guitar

Pete Williams - drums


Formed in West Kirby, Wirral, Cheshire in 1959.

Changed their name to Gus Travis and the Midnighters in May 1962.

Known Gigs

24 Jun 1961 Liverpool, L.J.'s, Temple Street. With The Delacardos, Dee Fenton and the Silhouettes, and Steve Day and the Jets.
9 Feb 1962 Wallasey, New Brighton, Tower Ballroom. With Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Billy Kramer and the Coasters.

Gus Travis and the Rainchecks

Members

Gus Travis (Graham Bull) - vocals

Derek Bond - bass guitar

Barry Ezra - lead guitar, vocals

Neil 'Spike' Sherratt - rhythm guitar

Phil Duggan - drums

Formed in Liverpool.

See also The Rainchecks.

Gus Travis had formerly been in The Rockin' Six, Gus and the Thundercaps, Gus Travis and the Midnighters, and Gus Travis and the Dymonds.

Derek Bond was formerly in Johnny Rocco and the Jets, Steve Day and the Jets, and Steve Day and the Drifters.

Barry Ezra was formerly in The Firecrests, Vince Earl and the Zeros, and Steve Day and the Drifters.

Spike Sherratt was formerly in Johnny Rocco and the Jets, Steve Day and the Jets, and Steve Day and the Drifters.

Phil Duggan  was formerly in Johnny Rocco and the Jets, Steve Day and the Jets, and Steve Day and the Drifters.

Known Gigs

17 May 1963 Tamworth, Assembly Rooms. With The Three Spirits, Gerry Levene and the Avengers, and Johnny Fox and the Hunters.

17 Aug 1963 Prestatyn, Royal Lido, Wales. With Johnny Sandon and the Remo Four, and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

 

The Missfits

Members

Andrea Hine - guitar, vocals

Carola Daish - rhythm guitar

Liz Hall - lead guitar (Born: Belfast)

Pauline Moran - bass guitar (Born: 1947, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK)

Janet Baily - drums, vocals

Pat Allsopp - bass guitar

Carol Chapman - rhythm guitar

Formed in Blackpool in late 1963 as a trio with Janet Baily on drums, Pauline Moran on bass and Andrea Hine on guitar.

Liz Hall joined in 1964.

Carola Daish joined in 1964 after answering a local newspaper ad.

Recorded three songs during a recording test at Decca. A recording contract did not materialise.

In 1965 Pauline Moran left the group followed soon after by Carola Daish.

Pat Allsopp joined on bass guitar. Pat had been a founding member of the all-girl Blackpool group The Lucky Charms.

Carol Chapman joined on rhythm guitar.

Andrea Hine left in 1965.

The Missfits disbanded in December 1965.

The final line-up in 1965. L-R: Pat, Liz, Janet and Carol.

Pauline Moran joined She Trinity in 1965/6.

Janet Baily also joined She-Trinity a few months after Pauline.

Pauline later studied at RADA and became a stage and television actress.

Pat Allsopp was later in The Pebbles.

Known Gigs

Aug 1965 Preston, The Ex Servicemen’s Club.