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 King and the Majestics

Members

Danny King - vocals

Formed in Birmingham in 1963.

Danny King had previously been in Danny King and the Royals.

Known Gigs

21 Dec 1963 Birmingham, West Midlands. With Carl Wayne and the Vikings, Steve Brett and the Mavericks, and The Sherwoods.

Vince Martin and the Vampires

 

 

Members

 

Vince Martin (Vince Holliday) - vocals

Jon Washington

Phil Packham

Allan Palmer - drums

 

Formed in Coventry in 1959.

Phil Packham was later in The Sorrows.

 

Known Gigs

 

6 Jan 1963 Coventry, The Hawthorn Tree, Tile Hill.

 

Christine Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Name: Christine Campbell
Born: 1940 (estimated) Birmingham, West Midlands, England.
Groups: The Merry Macs, Solo

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.

The Sorrows

Members

 

Don Fardon - vocals

Pip (Philip) Whitcher - lead guitar, vocals

Terry Jukes - rhythm guitar 

Phil Packham - bass guitar
Bruce Finley - drums

 

Wes Price - rhythm guitar, bass guitar

Roger Lomas - lead guitar

 

 

Members of Reunion Line-Ups

 

Chuck Fryers - guitar, vocals

Chris Smith - keyboards

Mick Bradley - drums

Brian Wilkinson - rhythm guitar, harmonica

Marcus Webb - lead guitar

Nigel Lomas - drums

Formed in Coventry in 1963.

Managed by David Owen.

Their agent in London was Maurice King.

Pip Whitcher was previously in The Atlantics. 

Phil Packham was previously in The Vampires and The Atlantics.

Terry Jukes left after the release of their first single and was replaced by Wes Price.

Wes Price was previously in The Autocrats.

Phil Packham and Don Fardon left in 1966.

Wes Price switched to bass guitar after the departure of Phil Packham.

Roger Lomas joined on lead guitar in 1966 so that Pip Whitcher could concentrate more on lead vocals.

Disbanded in the early 1970s.

Roger Lomas became a record producer for such artists as The Specials, The Selecter, Bad Manners and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Wes Price was later in Indian Summer.

Pip Whitcher and Roger Lomas were later in The Eggy with Roger's brother Nigel.

Known Gigs

8 Oct 1965 Dunstable, California Ballroom. With Lulu and the Luvvers.
31 Dec 1965 Ramsgate, Coronation Ballroom. Supported by The Ying Tongs and The Cygnets.

Steve Brett and the Mavericks

Members

Steve Brett (Davies) - vocals, guitar
Robert Nelson (Lightwood) - lead guitar
Rick Dene - bass guitar
Gary James (Huntbatch) - drums

Dave "Toffee" Holland - bass guitar
Pete Bickley - bass guitar, vocals
Phil Burnell - guitar, vocals
Neville 'Noddy' Holder - lead guitar, vocals
Gerry Kibble - drums
Terry Taylor - saxophone
Peter Bryan - saxophone
Steve Green - drums
Graham Franklin - bass guitar


Formed in Wolverhampton, West Midlands in the early 1960s.
Steve Brett had been singing around the West Midlands since the late 1950s.
Won the 'Big Beat' contest held at the Gaumont Cinema, Wolverhampton in 1962.
Appeared several times on local television's 'For Teenagers Only'.
Played in Hamburg, Germany in 1963.
The original Mavericks disbanded by the end of 1964 and Steve Brett enlisted another group, Walsall-based The Memphis Cut-Outs to be his new backing band and called them The Mavericks.
Dave Holland later played bass for many jazz artists, including Miles Davis.
Played in Germany in 1965.
Noddy Holder, Pete Bickley and Gerry Kibble left in 1965 not long after returning from Germany.
Peter Bryan, Steve Green and Graham Franklin joined in 1965.

Noddy Holder formed Ambrose Slade who became Slade and were major recording stars in the 1970s.

Known Gigs

14 Dec 1963 Nantwich, Town Hall, Cheshire. With Janice Nicholls, Miar Davies, Brian Gulliver and the Travellers.

21 Dec 1963 Birmingham, West Midlands. With Carl Wayne and the Vikings, The Sherwoods, and Danny King and the Majestics.
19 Jan 1964 Burton upon Trent, 76 Club, High Street. With Miar Davies.
1 Mar 1965 Stafford, The Staffordshire Yeoman, West Way. With Gerry Byrnes and the Invaders.
27 Mar 1966 Nantwich, Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Middlewich Road. Supporting The Fourmost.

The Memphis Cut-Outs

Members

Neville 'Noddy' Holder - lead guitar, vocals
Phil Burnell - rhythm guitar
Pete Bickley - bass guitar
Gerry Kibble - drums

Terry Taylor - saxophone

Formed in Walsall, West Midlands.
Formerly known as The Phantoms.
Later became Steve Brett's new version of The Mavericks in late 1964.
Recorded several singles as Steve Brett and the Mavericks.
Noddy Holder was later to find fame in Slade.

The Phantoms

Members

Neville 'Noddy' Holder - lead guitar, vocals
Phil Burnell - rhythm guitar
Kenny Holland - bass guitar
Mick Aulton - drums

Pete Bickley - bass guitar
Gerry Kibble - drums

Formed in Walsall, West Midlands in the early 1960s.
A school group.
Later changed their name to The Memphis Cut-Outs and turned professional.
Noddy Holder was later in Steve Brett and the Mavericks, and Slade.

The Shouts

Members





Formed in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
Formerly known as The Mark Allen Group.
Changed their name to The Shouts in September 1963.


Known Gigs

12 Nov 1963 Liverpool, The Cavern, Mathew Street. With The Beatcombers, The Shondells, and The Tempos.
23 Oct 1964 Blackpool, Opera House. With The Honeycombs, Millie, The Applejacks, Daryl Quist, The Beat Merchants, Gene Vincent, Lulu and the Luvvers, and The Puppets.
28 Oct 1964 Cardiff, Capitol Cinema. With The Honeycombs, Millie, The Applejacks, Daryl Quist, The Beat Merchants, Gene Vincent, Lulu and the Luvvers, The Puppets, and Freddie Earle.
12 Nov 1964 Southend-on-Sea, Odeon. With The Honeycombs, Millie, The Applejacks, Daryl Quist, The Beat Merchants, Gene Vincent, Lulu and the Luvvers, and The Puppets.

Johnny King and the Diamonds

Members





Known Gigs

21 Dec 1963 Aldridge, McKechnie Sports and Social Club, Middlemore Lane, West Midlands.

The Jaguars

Members

Tony Hawkins - rhythm guitar, vocals
Eric Thacker - lead guitar
Dennis Shaw - bass guitar
Keith Nolan - drums (Died: ?)

Sue Carr - vocals

Formed in Bloxwich, Walsall while still at T. P. Riley Comprehensive School in 1963.
Managed by Mr. R. Hawkins, Tony Hawkins father.
Appeared on the local television show 'Up and Doing' in 1963 with their vocalist Sue Carr.
Sue Carr was the vocalist for the group for a few months in 1963.
Made a private record of an original song 'Teenage Prayer' at Hollick and Taylor Studios in Handsworth, Birmingham.
Disbanded in 1966.

Known Gigs

26 Oct 1963 Walsall, Blakenall Congregational Church Hall, Chantry Avenue West.
23 Nov 1963 Bloxwich, Bloxwich Baths Assembly Hall. With Johnny West and the Sunsets.
27 Dec 1963 Walsall, The Mount School, Glebe Street.
29 Feb 1964 Bloxwich, Bloxwich Baths. With The Berries.
10 Apr 1964 Walsall, The Mount School, Glebe Street.
13 Apr 1964 Walsall, St. Paul's Hall, Hatherton Road.
17 Oct 1964 Bloxwich, Bloxwich Baths Assenbly Hall. Supporting Vince Eager and the Hi-Fi's.
29 Jan 1965 Walsall, Town Hall. With The Len Jeffs Orchestra. The Starlight Ball.

Pat Wayne and the Beachcombers

Members

 

Pat Wayne (Patrick Curley) - lead vocal

Geoff Roberts - lead guitar

Dario Capaldi - saxophone

Brian 'Monk' Finch - saxophone (Died: 1990s)

Mel Edwards - bass guitar

Brian Sharpe - drums

 

Tony Carter - lead guitar

Trevor Langham - keyboards

Eric Ashcroft - lead guitar

John Bonham - drums

Mike Kellie - drums

 

Formed in Birmingham.

Recorded the title song for the 1963 film 'Strictly for the Birds'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known Gigs

 

6 Jan 1964 Bloxwich, Baths Hall.

1 Mar 1964 Burton Upon Trent, 76 Club, High Street, Staffordshire.

4 Jul 1964 Crewe, Majestic Ballroom. With Dene Wayne and the Exiles, and Gary B Goode and the Hotrods.

Nicky James Movement

Members

Nicky James - vocals
John Bonham - drums

Formed in Birmingham, West Midlands in 1965.
Nicky James had previously been in Denny and the Diplomats.
John Bonham was later in Led Zeppelin.


UK Singles

1965 Stagger Lee/I'm Hurtin' Inside                                                                          Columbia DB 7747

The Strangers

Members





Formed in Dudley, West Midlands.

Known Gigs

16 Mar 1963 Old Hill, Plaza Ballroom, Halesowen Road, West Midlands. Supporting Marty Wilde's Wildcats. With The Dennis Brown Group, The Cyclones, and The Plazents.

Mark Raymond and the Crowd

Members

Mark Raymond (Ken Hoban) - vocals
Roger 'Chalky' Marsh - guitar
Bernard Robinson - rhythm guitar
Phil Riches - bass guitar
Pete Dawson - drums

Formerly known as Mark Raymond and the Cyclones.
Changed their name when they recorded their one and only single for Columbia.

UK Singles

1964 Girls/Remember Me To Julie                                                                        Columbia DB 7308
   (Released 26 June 1964)

Mark Raymond and the Cyclones

Members

Mark Raymond (Ken Hoban) - vocals
Roger 'Chalky' Marsh - guitar
Bernard Robinson - rhythm guitar
Phil Riches - bass guitar
Pete Dawson - drums

Formed in Birmingham as The Cyclones in the early 1960s.
Mark Raymond joined in 1963.
Mark Raymond was previously in The Wildcats (as Ken Hoban), and Mark Raymond and the Rayvons.
Auditioned in 1964 at The Crown pub in Birmingham for Bob Barratt of Columbia Records and were offered a contract. They then went to Abbey Road Studios (then called EMI Studios) in London and recorded several tracks. The song 'Girls', written by Mark Raymond and Roger Marsh was selected as the A-side, with a track written by Bob Barratt on the flip side.
Mark Raymond and the Cyclones became Mark Raymond and the Crowd after recording their only single for Columbia reportedly because of an American band already being called The Cyclones.

UK Singles

1964 Girls/Remember Me To Julie                                                                        Columbia DB 7308
   (Released 26 June 1964. Credited to Mark Raymond and the Crowd)

Known Gigs

25 May 1963 Crewe, Town Hall. With Johnny Deen and the Crestas.
28 Feb 1964 Foleshill, Heath Hotel, West Midlands.
8 Mar 1964 Coventry, Coventry Flying and Country Club, Baginton. With Johnny B Great and the Goodman, and The Easibeats.
17 Apr 1964 Coventry, Coventry Flying and Country Club, Baginton.With The Comancheros.

The Wildcats

Members

Ken Hoban - vocals



Formed in Selly Oak, Birmingham, West Midlands.
Ken Hoban, under the pseudonym 'Mark Raymond' was later in Mark Raymond and the Rayvons, and Mark Raymond and the Cyclones, who changed their name to Mark Raymond and the Crowd.

Mark Raymond and the Rayvons

Members

 

Mark Raymond (Ken Hoban) - vocals

Ray Humphries - guitar, vocals

Bob Bradley - lead guitar

Malcolm Gamble - rhythm guitar

Malcolm Hamilton - bass guitar

Colin Fortnam - drums

 

Mick Biddle - saxophone

 

Formed in Birmingham, West Midlands.

Previously known as Danny Ray and the Rave ons, with Ray Humphries on vocals as 'Danny Ray'. 

Mark Raymond joined the group in 1961. 

Mark Raymond left in 1963.

Mark Raymond was later in Mark Raymond and the Cyclones who changed their name to Mark Raymond and the Crowd when they released a single on Columbia.

Known Gigs

1 Sep 1962 Birkenhead, Majestic Ballroom, Cheshire. With Billy Kramer with the Coasters, and The Flintstones.

22 Feb 1963 Stafford, Borough Hall, Staffordshire. Supporting Julie Grant. With The Mark Allen Group.