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.

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.

Derri Ryan and the Incas

Members

Derri Ryan - vocals
Arthur Ray - guitar, vocals
Doug Walker - bass guitar
Malcolm 'Mac' Poole - drums, vocals

Formed in Wolverhampton.
Also know as The Incas.
Mac Poole was later in The Seed, Young Blood, The Dangerfield Band, Big Bertha, Warhorse and many other bands.
Arthur Ray was later in many bands and a duo with his wife, SHeila, called Bi-Set Duo.