The Anteeeks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members

 

Frank Knapp - vocals

Billy Gray - guitar

Jim Condron - bass guitar

Malcolm McNally - keyboards

George Butler - drums

 

Formed in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Moved to London in 1965 for better prospects.

Managed by Billy Smith.

Bill Gray was later in The Buzz with David Bowie.

George Butler was later in Giant Moth with Alex Harvey, then in Eggs Over Easy, and The Lightning Raiders.

 

UK Singles

 

1966 I Don't Want You/Ball and Chain                                                                            Philips BF 1471

   (Released 4th March 1966)

UK TV Appearances

1966 A Whole Scene Going

Known Gigs

8 Jan 1966 London, The Jazz Cellar, Kingston Upon Thames.

19 Feb 1966 St. Leonards, Witch Doctor, East Sussex. With The Cellmates.

11 Mar 1966 St. Leonards, Witch Doctor, East Sussex.

26 Mar 1966 St. Leonards, Witch Doctor, East Sussex. With The Sonics.

Lorne Lesley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Name: Irene Spetti

Born: 30 October 1938, Tiger Bay, Cardiff, South Wales, UK

Groups: Lorne Lesley and Her Boyfriends, Solo

 

Lorne Lesley was a singer, actress and model.

She is married to television presenter and antiques expert David Dickinson.

Lorne released records on Parlophone, Polydor and Philips labels. 

UK TV Appearances

1964 Top of the Pops

1964 Sunday Night at the London Palladium (standing in for Cilla Black, who was ill)

1965 Thank Your Lucky Stars

 

 

Dave Lacey and the Corvettes

Members

Dave Lacey - vocals

Formed in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

Won a beat group contest sponsored by the Birmingham Evening Despatch newspaper.

UK Singles

1965 That's What They All Say/I've Had Enough                                                             Philips BF 1419

   (Released 25 June 1965. Both sides written by Dave Lacey with J. Sheppard co-writing the B-side.)

Known Gigs

21 Dec 1966 Birmingham, Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill. With The Gravy Train, The Capitol System, and The Indigo Set.

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.

Nicky James

Born: Tipton, Staffordshire (now Tipton, West Midlands)
Real name: Michael Clifford Nicholls
A member of Denny and the Diplomats before going solo in 1963.
Made singles for Pye, Columbia, Philips, and Threshold labels.
Died: October 2007, complications from a brain tumour.


UK Singles

1963 My Colour Is Blue/Take Me Back                                                                          Pye 7N 15560
   (Released 10 September 1963)

The Dakotas

Members

Robin MacDonald - rhythm guitar, later bass guitar
Bryn Jones - lead guitar
Tony Mansfield (Tony Bookbinder) - drums
Ian Fraser - bass guitar

Ray Jones - bass guitar
Mike Maxfield - lead guitar
Mick Green- lead guitar
Frank Farley - drums

Formed in Manchester.
A mainly instrumental group.
Backed Pete Maclaine from February 1962 to January 1963.
Ray Jones replaced Ian Fraser on bass guitar in 1961/62.
Mike Maxfield joined in February 1962.
Mike Maxfield was previously in The Coasters.
Backed Billy J. Kramer from 1963 and were managed by Brian Epstein at this time.
Ray Jones left in July 1964. Robin MacDonald moved to bass guitar.
Mick Green joined in July 1964.
Mick Green had previously played with Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.
Mike Maxfield left in 1965 to concentrate on songwriting.
For a while The Dakotas played as a trio.
Frank Farley replaced Tony Mansfield on drums in 1966.
When Billy J. Kramer broke the partnership with The Dakotas in September 1967 the band's career went into decline and they disbanded in 1968.
Robin MacDonald, Mick Green and Frank Farley joined Cliff Bennett's backing band.
The Dakotas reformed in the late 1980s with Tony Mansfield, Mike Maxfield, and new members Eddie Mooney on vocals and Toni Baker. Later Mansfield and Maxfield left the group and no original members were left, but the Dakotas carried on using the name.
Mike Maxfield was still involved with the Dakotas behind the scenes as late as 2020.

UK Singles

1963 The Cruel Sea/The Millionaire                                                                     Parlophone R 5044
   (Released 5 July 1963. A-side and B-side written by Mike Maxfield. Reached No. 18 in the UK charts.)
1963 Magic Carpet/Humdinger                                                                             Parlophone R 5064
   (Released 27 Sep 1963. A-side written by George Martin. B-side written by Maxfield and MacDonald)
1964 Oyeh/Hallo Josephine (Also called My Girl Josephine on stock copies)     Parlophone R 5203
   (Released October 1964. A-side written by MacDonald, Maxfield, Mansfield, Green)
1967 I'm 'N 'Ardworkin' Barrow Boy/Seven Pounds Of Potatoes                         Page One POF 018
   (Released 10 March 1967. A-side written by Farley and Green. B-side written by Green and MacDonald.)
1968 I Can't Break The News To Myself/The Spider And The Fly                       Philips BF 1645
   (Released 1 March 1968. B-side written by Green and MacDonald.)

Known Gigs

For Pete Maclaine and the Dakotas and Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas gigs see their respective entries.

5 Nov 1961 Manchester, Oasis Club. Supporting Michael Cox.

7 Nov 1961 Manchester, Oasis Club.

14 Nov 1961 Manchester, Oasis Club.

31 Dec 1961 Manchester, Oasis Club. Backing Nelson Keene and Vince Eager.
25 Jul 1962 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. Supporting The Beatles. With Ian and the Zodiacs, and The Dennisons.
10 Aug 1962 Liverpool, The Royal Iris Ferry. Supporting Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. With The Beatles.