General Natter
Tea wagons and the Snooker Hall at Highbury Corner
Tony Bernie
Anyone remember the tea wagon at Highbury Corner? It was to the right on the 'roundabout'. Barclays to the left.
Paul Lomas
I remember the tea wagon at Highbury Corner very well Tony, plus Mr. Gingham's wagon on Holloway Road.
Does anyone also remember from Barnsbury Eden Grove there was a guy not far away from the school who sold sweets, drinks by the cup like Tizer, fags etc., up an alleyway from a small opening who I think had a horse or donkey at one point as I can still remember the smell from the stable.
Roger Osborne
Tea wagon was next to Andrews. Did anyone use snooker hall next to tube station at Highbury Corner? Served best rat pies in London.
Barry Page
The Temperance Snooker Hall had quite the reputation, as a few of us will know and may tell some of their adventures dodging the Teds, etc.
Mickey Simmonds
I had some memories from the snooker hall. Great pies, also frequented by a few local villains. My only regret in the hall was seeing one of our mates coming back into the hall covered in blood having been stabbed. He later died of his wounds. His name was David Winder. This happened in 1964, so good memories and bad.
Mickey Isaacs
Was he the same bloke who was in my class along with James?
Mickey Simmonds
No, Michael. [Micky is thinking of Ronnie Winder-Ed] Reggie Dudley also ran a club which was above the snooker hall. Just one thing which is relevant is that Reggie & Bob never did this murder and were cleared many years later. The head was local villain Bobby Moseley and was found in the toilets in Richmond Avenue.
Bertie Wooster
This hall became an illegal gambling den. Las Vegas. It was run by Reg Dudley who got a life sentence for murder "the head in the box case". No body was ever found. Reg's co-defendant also got life, Bob Maynard. The pair were dubbed Legal and General by the plod? Bit of criminal history.
Paul Kenealy
‘Tanner a Mug’
You will recall the tea stall on the left up Holloway Road from the station to Camden Road. I never went there myself as I’d always just had my breakfast, but I knew it was there.
I was in the School Band under the tutorship of that doyen of the Trumpet Voluntary; Mr McHugh. We had full band practice in the hall on a Friday evening, after last lesson, sometimes if it was coming up to a concert we could skip last lesson; double maths for example; and start practice after break. As well as that we had evening lessons in the medical room for different groups, trumpets one night, horns another etc. It was on one of these evenings when I was in the medical room with one or two trumpet players blowing our brains out.
McHugh, as any who remember him was a brash Northerner; I could never make out from which side of the Pennines he came, but you felt sure he originally had a cloth cap and a whippet. He would come into the room with his sandwiches, roll ups and a thermos flask. On the particular evening in question he had obviously drained his flask and needed another shot. As I was probably the closest or most easily intimidated he handed me the flask and then produced a two bob coin and ordered me to "Go down t’ b’lls in ‘Olloway Road and get me a flask of tea." I duly did as I was told.
Not more than about ten minutes later I arrived back with a flask of piping hot fresh tea. Thinking quite pleased with myself and looking forward to not being ridiculed by McHugh in his normal way – "Don’t play t’ bloody cornet like Kenealy, y’ soun’ like t’bloody Sally Army." But my happy feeling was short lived: he demanded the change. "There is no change sir – you gave me two shillings sir and the cost was three cups at 8 pence each." "Where did you bloody go?" "Beales sir – where you told me – in Holloway Road." "I told you to go to bloody BILLS, by the station. He fills my flask with two mugs of tea at a tanner a mug."
He never asked me again.
Happy Days.
Johnny Pearce
The coffee stall on Highbury was run by a big fat woman who was my fat friend, Peter Potter's, aunt. Never went into the pubs in Liverpool Road especially near Lewis Buildings as they were a bit rough.
Tam Joseph
The venue seems to have gone through many changes in order to survive. I recall going there when it became a 'Black’ Club at one time. The other 'Black’ Club was Club 77 (Seven’s) further down the Holloway Road right opposite the Northern Polytechnic, which operated at nights and reinforced the impression by Oliver Letwin’s supporters that Black men were only interested in ‘Discos, poncing and drug pushing’.
Paul Kenealy
Back in the good ol’ days, 1965 to be more precise, I was playing three or four nights a week in a band in the West End. The other members all lived in Notting Hill and Bayswater. I was coming home from a gig, possibly The Scene or The Flamingo, anyway too late to catch the tube, no all night buses, but I did manage to get a 30 I think to Highbury Corner. My girlfriend Susan (later to be my wife) was with me. We stopped for a cup of tea and a sausage sandwich at the tea stall at Highbury Place and then had to walk the rest of the way home to Finsbury Park.
We walked up Highbury Place to the end of the road and then through the dark passageway between the Fields and the Church. I was holding my ‘pride and joy’ (Susan) in my left hand and my Fender Precision Bass in my right, although Susan always maintained that The Fender was my pride and joy. Anyway we walked along looking forward to getting home in the warm.
All of a sudden a group of lads jumped us from behind one of the big horse chestnut trees, presumably to rough us up and nick either my guitar or worse steal my girlfriend. I was about to defend her honour and my still on HP guitar, when one of the lads said, "Leave him boys, he's one of Micky Doolan’s mates". It’s true I had been in Micky’s class and sometimes talked to him in the playground in Camden Road, but I wasn’t in his circle of friends. But hey, just being associated with him in a small way saved me from a good hiding.
There are 100,000 stories in the Naked City – This has been one of them.
Happy Days.
Embarrassing Stories
Paul Lomas
Another good thread would be what chat up lines we would all use and did they work? Glenda, my wife, approached me after I played a gig in London, so it was easy to ask her to come to a party that we were organising the following week. Our keyboard player Alan was also after her but I moved quicker than him and the rest is history as this August it's 43 years of a great marriage.
Alan French
I know what you mean, as I met my wife at a Dr Marigold's gig. The story I always tell is that she was a first rate groupie. We first met in 1971 and I still remember what she was wearing on that evening. Meant to be! Good news!
Tony Alger
Mine first encounter with my wife-to-be was memorable for all the wrong reasons …overhanging the balcony at the Ilford Palais in 1970 pissed out of our heads, my best friend and I were scouring the dance floor from above for a ‘a slow dance and a face to nosh.’ He says there’s two… I’ll have the one with the dark hair and you go for the one with the big tits …the rest is history :-)
Barry Page
" … My social contacts were improving and, although not dating seriously, I did pursue some casual relationships with a number of young ladies that I met dancing. However, there was one amusing incident that happened when my neighbour, Geoff Bratt, and I decided to invite two girls back to our flats. We had convinced the couple to ‘see our etchings’ of sorts and drove them back to the flats – Geoff having secured the least attractive of the two as his companion. On arrival at the high rise, the couples each went up to the 14th floor in a separate lift and dispersed to the relevant apartments.
My young lady companion was suitably impressed with the two reproduction Rembrandts on the wall. The bed-sit was cosy with low lights and the flickering flames of the electric fire – very romantic, in fact. The cocktail cabinet was opened, but a drink was declined, and conversation started to flag a little. Seduction was making little headway and the end result was a disappointing drive back to her house.
The next morning, I met Geoff and asked how he fared with his ‘plain Jane’ girl. He appeared tired, but enthusiastically reported that he had made a 100% conquest. He even started to date ‘plain Jane’ regularly as he was assured of ‘sowing his wild oats.’ I then philosophically considered that when it came to a choice of two girls, always pick the ugly one! … "
Paul Lomas
As my mate would say the ugly ones are much more grateful, my mate said that and not little old me.
In my teens while on holiday in Cornwall with a fellow band member, we picked up a couple of girls in a nightclub so we bragged about us both being in a band and we also had our acoustic guitars with us in the boot of his car. The girls, who were friends, were camping nearby so they invited us back to their tent to play them some sweet music after midnight, and we were both hoping to stay the night as we were on a low budget and sleeping in his car on airbeds. So we went to their campsite. After about 40 minutes of serenading them all of a sudden the tent zip went up and a deep voice said, "Can you pack that racket up, and don't forget June and Allison, we are only next door." June forgot to mention that her parents were camping next door. We apologised to June's father and left quickly. Could you imagine what the scene would have been like 10-20 minutes later with all of us sitting around drinking hot chocolate :) A true story.
Paul Lomas
Yes its very uncomfortable to sleep in a car. Once there were four of us sleeping in my Triumph Herald in a car park at Southend. It was OK when we first got to sleep, but by the early morning I ended up with my head down by the foot pedals with no idea of how I got that way around. My worst experience was when I came home in the early hours of the morning and my parents had locked me out and, to teach me a lesson, would not let me back in. Rather than walk the streets, I remembered that my dad's builder's van had a dodgy back lock and was parked nearby, so I managed to open the back door and got inside, but it was really dark but I found a tarpaulin which being so tired and drunk just got under and to this day I can still remember the smell of that old builder's tarpaulin. My eyes started to adjust to the dark and, to my horror, I saw a figure sitting in the corner under another tarpaulin and I just froze as it must have been a tramp sheltering from the cold. I thought that if I woke him he might have had a drink and become aggressive and if I tried to get out he would wake and hear me, so I decided to just hide under the tarpaulin and did not sleep at all, but at least I was shielded from the wind and cold. Hours later daylight started to come up and would you believe it, the tramp had not moved all night long? Well, it turned out to be a cement mixer under the tarpaulin that I later found out my dad had borrowed from a friend for a job he had on. It's amazing how one's imagination plays tricks on you. I made my way down to my nan's flat who gave me a good warm breakfast. Lesson learnt to come home when your parents tell you to come home as there were no mobiles in those days and we did not have a phone.
Barry Page
Fear not, my friend. I have been there AND in a Triumph Herald (mine). As you can see attached, the first night's stop was in a farmer's field lane way. My mate, Dave Cross, and I had started late on our travels from Coventry to the New Forest, so had to find somewhere en route to have a kip overnight before continuing to our destination. The scratch meal cooked on a GAZ stove wasn't too bad, but trying to sleep wasn't funny. I was the driver and started sleeping in the front (bucket) seats, but just couldn't find a comfortable position. In the end and out of desperation, I turfed Dave out of the rear (bench) seat and, finding it more forgiving, secured a modicum of shuteye.
Loved your story. I remember being locked out of Monica's parents' house after we arrived back very late from a date. Monica's Dad had bolted and barred the front door out of habit, so we couldn't get in. After throwing small stones at the parents' bedroom window we were able to arouse them and gain entry. Red faces all round, but a funny incident to recall.
Paul Lomas
My group never played at Potters Holiday Camp, but we did have a residency in the early 70s at 'The Spurs' pub in Tottenham and could not preform one Saturday night as we had a big booking in London so the manager of the pub knew a band that played at Potters who we were later told were excellent and filled our Saturday night slot so I should imagine that you had to be good to play at Potters.
Again I will try and locate some photos of that great holiday in Cornwall, we also found a cave and what a sound we got playing our acoustic guitars in that cave, we also had a good following of other teenagers listening to our guitar playing on the beach, happy days.
Another story is the one where me and my mates went to Piccadilly Circus. A jazz trio was found for Solomon King and were hanging around just by the Eros statue. We spotted four girls who turned out to be Swedish. As a laugh and as they could only speak very little English we started to make some suggestive comments and the more they did not understand the more we carried on thinking that it was such a laugh. That was until one of the girls stopped us in our tracks and spoke to us in English. The girls were staying with her family as students, we were so shocked. I then spotted a guy playing a guitar and busking under Eros and I asked him if I could have a go which he agreed and I started to play 'Light my Fire'. A drunken women appeared with big clunky high heels shoes on and started to dance so I followed up with 'Won't you come home Bill Bailey', which got the crowd that had now formed clapping and she was dancing in her big high heels shoes trying to tap dance and, being drunk, was going all over the place. The crowd got bigger and bigger and they started to throw coins at her feet which she was dancing and trying to pick them up and falling over. Until I looked up and saw the police arrive to find out what was going on and to disperse the large crowd that was now spilling out into the road. So I quickly gave the guitar back to the busker and two police officers came over grabbed his guitar and took him away. So me and my mates including Tony my brother (a GoBB) all scarpered quickly, that was my only experience of busking in London and a night to remember.
Barry Page
Nice one, Paul (aka Watson, the Busker). I wish I still had the photo, but alas it is no more, as it was the only time I recall being fingered by the Fuzz. Like Paul's escapade, this episode was up West - Trafalgar Square to be precise. Me and my mates, Phil Davies and Mike Stewart, were on our usual pub crawl through the West End. So after reeling along Charing Cross Road, we started mingling with the crowd under Nelson's Column. As a laugh, we had brought along a 'prop' consisting of an aerosol can of women's hair lacquer spray with a custom-designed product label attached to it. The label advertised a 'product' called "POOF" and, armed with my Kodak Instamatic, I positioned myself in front of Phil and Mike as they suggestively cuddled each other holding the can of "POOF" in front of them, I then took the shot.
Next thing was – "'Allo, 'allo, 'allo. Wot's going on 'ere then." Or words to that effect. Behind me was a six-foot copper observing our activities. It took a bit of explaining that – "Sorry, officer, it's just a joke photo, that's all." Let off with a caution we meekly absconded from the square, probably to find another boozer to calm ourselves.
Alan French
We were due to provide the backing for singing star Solomon King (She Wears My Ring) at the Pavilion Bournemouth for a Sunday concert. These Sunday concerts were made famous by big time promoter Arthur Howes, whose office was in Piccadilly, by the circus. We were sitting in the office and one of the main bookers was asking for a band that could read music. Our hands went up straight away. Another feather in our caps, perhaps? This was in the late 60s. Now, I am a fluent reader but the others would probably be able to busk their way through, so on balance, we had a good chance to do this gig.
We were on stage at the Pavilion doing a sound check when the American Star appeared through a curtain at the back stalls area. First impression was, very tall and imposing. It was a long walk from the back stalls to the stage. Mr. King was accompanied by another guy who was pushing what looked like a steel coffin on four wheels. When they reached the stage my worst fears were realised as in this coffin lookalike were the singer's musical scores. We were expecting just sheet music. There was worse to come, these were full orchestral scores! We were in checkmate. It was the most embarrassing time for me. We didn't even have a run through as the scores were written for so many instruments. I couldn't even find the piano line, they might as well have given us Egyptian hieroglyphic tablets! We didn't lose the gig though, we played a set of our own to open the show and backed the compere (can't remember his name) who was a radio presenter. His music sheets were more straight forward, but embarrassment reared its head again as our drummer was speeding up (a common illness in drummers) we almost ruined his act. He kept turning around to instruct us to slow down, often missing his timing. Oh Dear! We were never offered a Sunday concert again. A jazz trio was found for Solomon King.
Guitar Jamming
Alan French
One of the first times I heard "Shakin All Over" was whilst walking home along St Paul's Road towards Highbury Corner. I stood outside what is now called the Harecourt United Reformed Church and a group were rehearsing the song in what I think was the church hall. It sounded great. The echo that building produced was outstanding.
I'm not sure the tab system was in use in the old days? We learned some chords and relied on the sheet music (massive sales back then). When I was having piano lessons the only way was to read. Anyone can have a lesson now via YouTube. Keep working at it Tam. Singing and dancing at the same time must be difficult too?
Tam Joseph
Tough Indeed, but I have the support of a good House band at the Open Mic sessions at the The Moors Bar in Crouch End and most of the jammers are good so when I do fluff those chord changes it doesn’t sound bad except to me.
I saw the great Johnny Kid and the Pirates on a ‘POP music type show’ while I was still at Barnsbury. That was way back in the days of exciting performers like John Leyton and Frank Ifield.
Paul Kenealy
I don’t know if you realise that you are following in the footsteps of one of our greatest trend setters.
I’m a couple of years older than you and Alan, so I saw JK and the Pirates at the Chez Don in Dalston. Sadly Johnny died in 1966, but ‘the Pirates’ carried on till just a couple of years ago when Mick Green died.
I saw 'the Pirates' a few times. The line up changed, but Mick Green was always there. The last time I saw them they had Ian Dury’s bass play Ian Watt Roy and Mick Green’s son on drums. For a three piece they were magnificent. I took my (40 year old) son who also plays drums to see them at the Half Moon. At the way home he said to me ‘I think I’ve heard a couple of those songs before’.
He hadn’t realised they were a 50 year old band and that they had hits in the sixties, and that JK died before he was born.
Mick Green ‘invented’ that style of guitar playing, playing rhythm on the bass strings and licks on the top, just listen to the solo on "I’ll Never Get Over You." Pete Townsend said he copied Mick Green. Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood) said he copied Townsend, and Wilko said he copied Mick Green. I think it’s fair to say they copied each other. Anyway, if you can play like Mick Green, you can join our band any time.
Keep pluckin’.
Sad that you don’t appreciate John Leyton, one of Joe Meek’s finest, I wonder where he is today.
Mickey Simmonds
Went to see John Leyton last year in a sixties show. Believe me Paul he was awful. Cannot sing a note now. Even I could have done better. What's so sad is some of these guys carry on for too long, unlike PJ Proby who still has a magnificent voice. Seen him twice recently.
Bill Pitt-Jones
Frank Ifield??? You've just blown your Street Cred.
I've been waiting to hear Paul K's reminisces about "Shaking All Over." Its the song we probably all cut our guitar teeth on. Mostly 2 minor chords, Em & Am with a B7 thrown in. The famous intro is half of what we grew up to discover is called The Minor Pentatonic Scale. The equivalent of Doe, Ray, Me, to all the old blues players. The pizzicato backing to the singing is the bottom half of the same scale. And we thought WE were inventing it. (Bit like film makers today with the sex scenes). But hey, didn't we think we were something standing in front of the mirror giving it the 'Marty Wilde' with our cheap 2-bob acoustic guitars. But we all had to cheat when playing the solo. Mainly because our fingers were too small to span across 4 frets. So we simply slid from the 4th fret to the 5th on the B string to hit the 'open' E string. Except of course Steve Howe, who had fingers the size of pencils. Does finger length have any correlations like feet size are supposed to?? - No wonder I've only got a little one.
On the same theme (Pun?), the intro to Buddy Holly's "That'll be the Day" uses another well used blues riff. But being played in the key of A it means barring on the 5th fret and again spanning 4 frets. I could never make it sound authentic. Only recently with the advent of Utube and for the first time actually seeing Buddy Holly perform the song, realised he simply placed a 'Capo' over the 5th fret and ran ONE finger down the G string. (That phrase grabbed Sandy's attention). Guitar Players know what I'm talking about.
Good luck with it Tam.
Tam Joseph
1966 was the year I began Art School, Mick Green was a great guitarist but as for John ‘Johnnnnneeee remembeeeeer meeeeee...Leyton, I will say no more on the subject.
Ahhhhhh… Thanks Mickey, a kindred spirit. Leyton was a waxwork dummy who was much loved by Gor Blimey! ladies. You guys really know your stuff. I started messin’ with my guitar around 25 years old, but made little progress until I started jamming about 3 years ago with guys who were good and it’s been picking slowly ever since.
Bill Pitt-Jones
Me again. Mick Green never played on "Shaking all Over." I'm not sure if he was in the 'group' at the time or just didn't make it to the studio. It was in fact played by session player, the late JOE MORETTI, along with old colleagues Allen Caddy and Clem Cattini before they left to join the Tornados (and Joe Meek).
But give Mick his due. he never SAYS he played on the recording. And did you know Mick was the lead guitar for Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas and had a major hit with the instrumental, "The Cruel Sea?"
Paul Kenealy
I fear Tam’s and my irony is lost on you. We all know the Blue Rondos were Joe Meek’s finest. By the way Bill, I have always admired your small feet, it must be wonderful to buy children’s shoes and save the VAT.
I’ve been cheating with a ‘capo’ for years. I’ve got one that only covers five strings so you can play ‘open E’ using the D shape chord, exactly like James Taylor on "Country Road" (not the John Denver song).
My singer Marion loves to do stuff by Dusty, Carol King, KT Tunstall etc. It’s easy to get the right key sig by moving the capo up the neck, however she wanted to do "Winding Road" by Sheryl Crowe. I listened to the record and they played it in Db, impossible in open tuning; till I looked on Youtube and realised the band had changed guitars to ones tuned down half a tone. All this stuff was lost on us boys brought up with upright pianos, hard to tune acoustic guitars etc. Even Paul Jones admitted on the radio the other day that his harmonicas were specially made for him tuned slightly lower because his voice has changed over the years. Is nothing as it seems?
Paul Lomas
Great emails today. A number of years ago I was having lunch with a film producer at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. As we were discussing his new film project about the late Princess Diana, his phone rang and he started to chat. After the short conversation he informed me that it was the one and only John Leyton looking for a role in any of his film projects. As you know John Leyton did appear in a number of films. He informed me that John was a good friend of his and had been for a number of years, but was always phoning him up for a part.
John Leyton: Johnny Remember Meeeeeee... Frank Ifield: I remember yoooooooooou.
This is great Tam, shall I arrange to get it forwarded to John. As far as I remember he does have a good sense of humour and will just love this. I think he now lives on the coast at Frinton-by-Sea and he must now be in his 80s? I am down that way in the summer to visit a friend and his wife who retired there.
You are right Mick. Some of these guys singing should just call it a day. When you saw PJ Proby, do you know was he backed by a band called 'Shades of Midnight'? Which is my old singer Clive's new band and are doing really well with the late 50s early 60s sound and are performing at a number of 60s shows this year. Do say hello to Clive if you do see them perform.
All you guitar anoraks out there. How many of you tried to play your guitar behind your back? I did and think that I could still do this now. What was that all about? And who was the first to do this? Was it our Hank? Answers on a postcard.
Tam Joseph
I think that T-Bone Walker was the first one to try it from his back. Jimi Hendrix there first with his teeth and Johnny Guitar Watson allegedly came sliding down a rope with one hand while playing the guitar with the other, all those guys are now dead.
Mickey Simmonds
It was a sixties show backed by "The Pacemakers", but they were a young group. None of the originals, but he was fantastic. Saw him also as a guest of Van Morrison.
Alan French
Paul et tout,
A good example of comebacks many years later is Billy J. Kramer. He came to the UK last year presenting himself as top of the bill on a Solid Silver 60s tour. Now I didn't go, as I want to remember these stars as they were back in time: at their best. This was a warning for those guys who are still on the road in their 60s and and getting paid. Billy J. got some terrible reviews about his singing (out of tune), his body shape and his general performance. In one review from Manchester, he started with the line "Hello Liverpool". I'll be surprised if he ever returns. I do understand it takes a few shows to give their best, so perhaps things did improve for him. I hope so. I did meet him in 1967/8 at Lakenheath American Air Base. He had the Dakotas with him and of course Mick Green was there. This was in the officers mess and the audience was thin on the ground. They stuck him in a dark corner (didn't have the lighting we have nowadays). Bill P-J! Thanks for the guitar lesson, I knew I took up the wrong instrument! The birds never chased piano players!
Mickey Simmonds
Another one I saw. Seen him twice in the past 20 years. First time in 1992 and he was bad. Saw he again last year even worse. He was overweight and out of tune. Certain guys should never make a return, but also seen loads of 60s acts who are still very good.
Mickey Isaacs
As far as I remember Billy J. ALWAYS sang out of tune.
Alan French
I'm laughing!!! I suppose a lot of pop singers did. I'm sure most didn't have perfect pitch. I do know that Billy Fury sang sharp which was unusual, as most were flat.
James Sanderson
Not wrong there, Micky. Eppy probably fancied him. John Leyton. My dear old mum bought his big hit, although her favourite was 'her' Frankie (Vaughan). "Green Door" got played to death in our home. Re JL's acting career, it was told that he got very friendly with the wife of a man who you would never cross. And paid the price.
Bill Pitt-Jones
I was such a good 6 string guitar player that I had to switch to Bass player to get into a band. Talking of which I am now the official keyboard player of the band (a very loose title) in the local pub a) because I'm the only one with a keyboard and b) I impressed them with rendition of the half of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" I'd taken 6 months to learn off of a Utube video. (As you know is played only on the white notes - hence WHITER shade of pale, but they don't). Now I'm scrambling around trying to learn chord shapes on the keyboard. Tell you what. The transposers on these electronic gismos are a godsend. How you can play using the black notes as well seems amazing to me.
Paul Kenealy
I saw Chuck Berry play with the guitar behind his neck at the Club Noriek in about 1964. Bill and Griff were there too, but I think Chuck nicked the idea from T-Bone Walker, along with his riffs and licks. Only ever seen T-Bone on TV or now Youtube ‘cos he never came over here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAG7euUMGXI picture with guitar behind his neck.
Terry Woodbridge
After reading all your trips down memory lane had to put on the vinyl and am playing old favourites; one being Python Lee Jackson with "In A Broken Dream" (Rod Stewart). Photo not shown of Terry's jukebox.
James Sanderson
The porthole window (or so it seems)? Are you moored somewhere? Love the juke box. What's the sound like?
Terry Woodbridge
It's the only way to play vinyl: great sound. "Heard it through the Grapevine" sounds fantastic. Bought it fully restored 25 years ago and have never had a problem with it.
The porthole window I put in during the renovations as we are now on the seafront.
Paul Lomas
Another GoBB done well. Jukebox, pinball machine, (have you still got it or was it the glass covers?), lovely wife and daughters and lives in a penthouse on the sea front. What more could you want? Good on you mate :)
Your old 'The Decoys' group mate.
Bill Pitt-Jones
I remember Joe Brown playing Shazam with the guitar behind his neck on the "Oh Boy" show. Dressed in black leather biker's gear with white trims, leather winklepicker cowboy boots and wearing a blond 'crew cut' (with Boston). Ohhh, did I want to be Joe Brown!!!
I used to press the headstock of my guitar against the bottom of our tin bath to make it sound like an electric guitar.
Does anybody remember a pre Shads American band called Johnny & the Hurricanes? The 'young kids' in the pub won't let me play any of their numbers!!!
Mickey Simmonds
"Red River Rock", "Rocking Goose". Great numbers. Remember listing to them in the Gaumont on Saturday mornings. Great memories.
Tam Joseph
Johnny & the Hurricanes. The name does ring a distant bell, but back in the day bands had ‘exciting' names like that.
Michael Stewart
I love "In a Broken Dream"; it works wonders on my internal organs. Another great Rod Stewart song is, in my view, "Rollin' and Tumblin'", an old blues number. On YouTube you can see him perform both in succession when he gave a concert in Hyde Park recently.
Paul Kenealy
We saw Chuck at a late night gig after midnight kick off. Chuck often did this. He would pay a local band for weeks work, then get them to do two a night. For no extra money. I never played there but did play a couple of times at The Flamingo as ‘warm up’ band. That was another place that had two shows a night,. You’d get thrown out at 11.00 then have to pay again to get back in to see the headline act. We ‘supported’ Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds with the legendary Albert Lee on guitar and Carl Palmer (later ELP) on drums. We also ‘warmed up’ for John Mayall with the classic lineup of Eric, John McVie and Hughie Flint. Two absolutely fantastic bands, no wonder we gave up.
Bill, - Johnny and the Hurricanes – "Walk don’t Run." We played it all wrong not realising the run down was A Minor. Pillocks but hey – we were only young.
I was in Florida with a mate last November, he said we should go for breakfast at a local Diner (don’t remember the name). We walked in in our English clothes, accents and politeness and the place went hushed, just like in the opening scene of ‘pulp Fiction’. The music playing on the sound system was ‘Sleepwalk’ by Santo and Johnny. "We’ve arrived", I said to my mate Ed, but he didn’t get it, he’s not a muso – I was in heaven.
Keep the memories coming boys, when you’re our age memories are the best.
Mickey Simmonds
Another great song Paul, "Walk don't Run" by the Ventures and Santo & Johnny, great.
I have Bill, but in a nice way. Didn't want to upset such a nice guy. I listen to you guys, Paul K., Paul L., Paul T., Alan F. & Bill P-J. So good to hear from such educated guys on music. Went to see the show close to you, Burt Bacharach music. The young guys & gals were great, so talented. Off to see Ramsey Lewis on Saturday.
Terry Hayford
In the 60s I lived opposite Joe Meek's Studio in the Holloway Road which was above a leather shop. All the stars of the day hung out there, including Heinz Burt of the Tornados where they recorded "Telstar." Joe Meek ended up killing his landlady from the leather shop then killed himself. The end of a very talented pooffy record producer.
Alan French
Talking about Joe Brown, we had a perfect lookalike to Joe at Barnsbury. I wonder if anyone remembers Jimmy Grier (or Greer). Same year as myself. He had the very same haircut as J/B, stood out from the crowd and I think he played guitar too. Sorry to be boring, but I did meet J/B late 60s. He was looking for a band (where 'The Bruvvers' were I don't know) and we were recommended. The meet up was at his mansion in Chigwell. First impression; big wide entry hall with grand piano, lots of children running around playing, happy atmosphere. We were invited into his studio which was a small barn and just generally chatting (chit chat). At this time we were with Billy Fury (on and off), he had loads of bands during his career. Now, Billy was Joe's good friend and after a while Joe said he didn't want to cross Billy, by taking one of his bands. That was that. I did get to play the grand piano. Bill P-J! When it comes to the black notes, I just close my eyes and imagine they are white! Tell you what though! You can't play the blues without the black notes!
Tony Bernie
Anyone remember the tea wagon at Highbury Corner? It was to the right on the 'roundabout'. Barclays to the left.
Paul Lomas
I remember the tea wagon at Highbury Corner very well Tony, plus Mr. Gingham's wagon on Holloway Road.
Does anyone also remember from Barnsbury Eden Grove there was a guy not far away from the school who sold sweets, drinks by the cup like Tizer, fags etc., up an alleyway from a small opening who I think had a horse or donkey at one point as I can still remember the smell from the stable.
Roger Osborne
Tea wagon was next to Andrews. Did anyone use snooker hall next to tube station at Highbury Corner? Served best rat pies in London.
Barry Page
The Temperance Snooker Hall had quite the reputation, as a few of us will know and may tell some of their adventures dodging the Teds, etc.
Mickey Simmonds
I had some memories from the snooker hall. Great pies, also frequented by a few local villains. My only regret in the hall was seeing one of our mates coming back into the hall covered in blood having been stabbed. He later died of his wounds. His name was David Winder. This happened in 1964, so good memories and bad.
Mickey Isaacs
Was he the same bloke who was in my class along with James?
Mickey Simmonds
No, Michael. [Micky is thinking of Ronnie Winder-Ed] Reggie Dudley also ran a club which was above the snooker hall. Just one thing which is relevant is that Reggie & Bob never did this murder and were cleared many years later. The head was local villain Bobby Moseley and was found in the toilets in Richmond Avenue.
Bertie Wooster
This hall became an illegal gambling den. Las Vegas. It was run by Reg Dudley who got a life sentence for murder "the head in the box case". No body was ever found. Reg's co-defendant also got life, Bob Maynard. The pair were dubbed Legal and General by the plod? Bit of criminal history.
Paul Kenealy
‘Tanner a Mug’
You will recall the tea stall on the left up Holloway Road from the station to Camden Road. I never went there myself as I’d always just had my breakfast, but I knew it was there.
I was in the School Band under the tutorship of that doyen of the Trumpet Voluntary; Mr McHugh. We had full band practice in the hall on a Friday evening, after last lesson, sometimes if it was coming up to a concert we could skip last lesson; double maths for example; and start practice after break. As well as that we had evening lessons in the medical room for different groups, trumpets one night, horns another etc. It was on one of these evenings when I was in the medical room with one or two trumpet players blowing our brains out.
McHugh, as any who remember him was a brash Northerner; I could never make out from which side of the Pennines he came, but you felt sure he originally had a cloth cap and a whippet. He would come into the room with his sandwiches, roll ups and a thermos flask. On the particular evening in question he had obviously drained his flask and needed another shot. As I was probably the closest or most easily intimidated he handed me the flask and then produced a two bob coin and ordered me to "Go down t’ b’lls in ‘Olloway Road and get me a flask of tea." I duly did as I was told.
Not more than about ten minutes later I arrived back with a flask of piping hot fresh tea. Thinking quite pleased with myself and looking forward to not being ridiculed by McHugh in his normal way – "Don’t play t’ bloody cornet like Kenealy, y’ soun’ like t’bloody Sally Army." But my happy feeling was short lived: he demanded the change. "There is no change sir – you gave me two shillings sir and the cost was three cups at 8 pence each." "Where did you bloody go?" "Beales sir – where you told me – in Holloway Road." "I told you to go to bloody BILLS, by the station. He fills my flask with two mugs of tea at a tanner a mug."
He never asked me again.
Happy Days.
Johnny Pearce
The coffee stall on Highbury was run by a big fat woman who was my fat friend, Peter Potter's, aunt. Never went into the pubs in Liverpool Road especially near Lewis Buildings as they were a bit rough.
Tam Joseph
The venue seems to have gone through many changes in order to survive. I recall going there when it became a 'Black’ Club at one time. The other 'Black’ Club was Club 77 (Seven’s) further down the Holloway Road right opposite the Northern Polytechnic, which operated at nights and reinforced the impression by Oliver Letwin’s supporters that Black men were only interested in ‘Discos, poncing and drug pushing’.
Paul Kenealy
Back in the good ol’ days, 1965 to be more precise, I was playing three or four nights a week in a band in the West End. The other members all lived in Notting Hill and Bayswater. I was coming home from a gig, possibly The Scene or The Flamingo, anyway too late to catch the tube, no all night buses, but I did manage to get a 30 I think to Highbury Corner. My girlfriend Susan (later to be my wife) was with me. We stopped for a cup of tea and a sausage sandwich at the tea stall at Highbury Place and then had to walk the rest of the way home to Finsbury Park.
We walked up Highbury Place to the end of the road and then through the dark passageway between the Fields and the Church. I was holding my ‘pride and joy’ (Susan) in my left hand and my Fender Precision Bass in my right, although Susan always maintained that The Fender was my pride and joy. Anyway we walked along looking forward to getting home in the warm.
All of a sudden a group of lads jumped us from behind one of the big horse chestnut trees, presumably to rough us up and nick either my guitar or worse steal my girlfriend. I was about to defend her honour and my still on HP guitar, when one of the lads said, "Leave him boys, he's one of Micky Doolan’s mates". It’s true I had been in Micky’s class and sometimes talked to him in the playground in Camden Road, but I wasn’t in his circle of friends. But hey, just being associated with him in a small way saved me from a good hiding.
There are 100,000 stories in the Naked City – This has been one of them.
Happy Days.
Embarrassing Stories
Paul Lomas
Another good thread would be what chat up lines we would all use and did they work? Glenda, my wife, approached me after I played a gig in London, so it was easy to ask her to come to a party that we were organising the following week. Our keyboard player Alan was also after her but I moved quicker than him and the rest is history as this August it's 43 years of a great marriage.
Alan French
I know what you mean, as I met my wife at a Dr Marigold's gig. The story I always tell is that she was a first rate groupie. We first met in 1971 and I still remember what she was wearing on that evening. Meant to be! Good news!
Tony Alger
Mine first encounter with my wife-to-be was memorable for all the wrong reasons …overhanging the balcony at the Ilford Palais in 1970 pissed out of our heads, my best friend and I were scouring the dance floor from above for a ‘a slow dance and a face to nosh.’ He says there’s two… I’ll have the one with the dark hair and you go for the one with the big tits …the rest is history :-)
Barry Page
" … My social contacts were improving and, although not dating seriously, I did pursue some casual relationships with a number of young ladies that I met dancing. However, there was one amusing incident that happened when my neighbour, Geoff Bratt, and I decided to invite two girls back to our flats. We had convinced the couple to ‘see our etchings’ of sorts and drove them back to the flats – Geoff having secured the least attractive of the two as his companion. On arrival at the high rise, the couples each went up to the 14th floor in a separate lift and dispersed to the relevant apartments.
My young lady companion was suitably impressed with the two reproduction Rembrandts on the wall. The bed-sit was cosy with low lights and the flickering flames of the electric fire – very romantic, in fact. The cocktail cabinet was opened, but a drink was declined, and conversation started to flag a little. Seduction was making little headway and the end result was a disappointing drive back to her house.
The next morning, I met Geoff and asked how he fared with his ‘plain Jane’ girl. He appeared tired, but enthusiastically reported that he had made a 100% conquest. He even started to date ‘plain Jane’ regularly as he was assured of ‘sowing his wild oats.’ I then philosophically considered that when it came to a choice of two girls, always pick the ugly one! … "
Paul Lomas
As my mate would say the ugly ones are much more grateful, my mate said that and not little old me.
In my teens while on holiday in Cornwall with a fellow band member, we picked up a couple of girls in a nightclub so we bragged about us both being in a band and we also had our acoustic guitars with us in the boot of his car. The girls, who were friends, were camping nearby so they invited us back to their tent to play them some sweet music after midnight, and we were both hoping to stay the night as we were on a low budget and sleeping in his car on airbeds. So we went to their campsite. After about 40 minutes of serenading them all of a sudden the tent zip went up and a deep voice said, "Can you pack that racket up, and don't forget June and Allison, we are only next door." June forgot to mention that her parents were camping next door. We apologised to June's father and left quickly. Could you imagine what the scene would have been like 10-20 minutes later with all of us sitting around drinking hot chocolate :) A true story.
Paul Lomas
Yes its very uncomfortable to sleep in a car. Once there were four of us sleeping in my Triumph Herald in a car park at Southend. It was OK when we first got to sleep, but by the early morning I ended up with my head down by the foot pedals with no idea of how I got that way around. My worst experience was when I came home in the early hours of the morning and my parents had locked me out and, to teach me a lesson, would not let me back in. Rather than walk the streets, I remembered that my dad's builder's van had a dodgy back lock and was parked nearby, so I managed to open the back door and got inside, but it was really dark but I found a tarpaulin which being so tired and drunk just got under and to this day I can still remember the smell of that old builder's tarpaulin. My eyes started to adjust to the dark and, to my horror, I saw a figure sitting in the corner under another tarpaulin and I just froze as it must have been a tramp sheltering from the cold. I thought that if I woke him he might have had a drink and become aggressive and if I tried to get out he would wake and hear me, so I decided to just hide under the tarpaulin and did not sleep at all, but at least I was shielded from the wind and cold. Hours later daylight started to come up and would you believe it, the tramp had not moved all night long? Well, it turned out to be a cement mixer under the tarpaulin that I later found out my dad had borrowed from a friend for a job he had on. It's amazing how one's imagination plays tricks on you. I made my way down to my nan's flat who gave me a good warm breakfast. Lesson learnt to come home when your parents tell you to come home as there were no mobiles in those days and we did not have a phone.
Barry Page
Fear not, my friend. I have been there AND in a Triumph Herald (mine). As you can see attached, the first night's stop was in a farmer's field lane way. My mate, Dave Cross, and I had started late on our travels from Coventry to the New Forest, so had to find somewhere en route to have a kip overnight before continuing to our destination. The scratch meal cooked on a GAZ stove wasn't too bad, but trying to sleep wasn't funny. I was the driver and started sleeping in the front (bucket) seats, but just couldn't find a comfortable position. In the end and out of desperation, I turfed Dave out of the rear (bench) seat and, finding it more forgiving, secured a modicum of shuteye.
Loved your story. I remember being locked out of Monica's parents' house after we arrived back very late from a date. Monica's Dad had bolted and barred the front door out of habit, so we couldn't get in. After throwing small stones at the parents' bedroom window we were able to arouse them and gain entry. Red faces all round, but a funny incident to recall.
Paul Lomas
My group never played at Potters Holiday Camp, but we did have a residency in the early 70s at 'The Spurs' pub in Tottenham and could not preform one Saturday night as we had a big booking in London so the manager of the pub knew a band that played at Potters who we were later told were excellent and filled our Saturday night slot so I should imagine that you had to be good to play at Potters.
Again I will try and locate some photos of that great holiday in Cornwall, we also found a cave and what a sound we got playing our acoustic guitars in that cave, we also had a good following of other teenagers listening to our guitar playing on the beach, happy days.
Another story is the one where me and my mates went to Piccadilly Circus. A jazz trio was found for Solomon King and were hanging around just by the Eros statue. We spotted four girls who turned out to be Swedish. As a laugh and as they could only speak very little English we started to make some suggestive comments and the more they did not understand the more we carried on thinking that it was such a laugh. That was until one of the girls stopped us in our tracks and spoke to us in English. The girls were staying with her family as students, we were so shocked. I then spotted a guy playing a guitar and busking under Eros and I asked him if I could have a go which he agreed and I started to play 'Light my Fire'. A drunken women appeared with big clunky high heels shoes on and started to dance so I followed up with 'Won't you come home Bill Bailey', which got the crowd that had now formed clapping and she was dancing in her big high heels shoes trying to tap dance and, being drunk, was going all over the place. The crowd got bigger and bigger and they started to throw coins at her feet which she was dancing and trying to pick them up and falling over. Until I looked up and saw the police arrive to find out what was going on and to disperse the large crowd that was now spilling out into the road. So I quickly gave the guitar back to the busker and two police officers came over grabbed his guitar and took him away. So me and my mates including Tony my brother (a GoBB) all scarpered quickly, that was my only experience of busking in London and a night to remember.
Barry Page
Nice one, Paul (aka Watson, the Busker). I wish I still had the photo, but alas it is no more, as it was the only time I recall being fingered by the Fuzz. Like Paul's escapade, this episode was up West - Trafalgar Square to be precise. Me and my mates, Phil Davies and Mike Stewart, were on our usual pub crawl through the West End. So after reeling along Charing Cross Road, we started mingling with the crowd under Nelson's Column. As a laugh, we had brought along a 'prop' consisting of an aerosol can of women's hair lacquer spray with a custom-designed product label attached to it. The label advertised a 'product' called "POOF" and, armed with my Kodak Instamatic, I positioned myself in front of Phil and Mike as they suggestively cuddled each other holding the can of "POOF" in front of them, I then took the shot.
Next thing was – "'Allo, 'allo, 'allo. Wot's going on 'ere then." Or words to that effect. Behind me was a six-foot copper observing our activities. It took a bit of explaining that – "Sorry, officer, it's just a joke photo, that's all." Let off with a caution we meekly absconded from the square, probably to find another boozer to calm ourselves.
Alan French
We were due to provide the backing for singing star Solomon King (She Wears My Ring) at the Pavilion Bournemouth for a Sunday concert. These Sunday concerts were made famous by big time promoter Arthur Howes, whose office was in Piccadilly, by the circus. We were sitting in the office and one of the main bookers was asking for a band that could read music. Our hands went up straight away. Another feather in our caps, perhaps? This was in the late 60s. Now, I am a fluent reader but the others would probably be able to busk their way through, so on balance, we had a good chance to do this gig.
We were on stage at the Pavilion doing a sound check when the American Star appeared through a curtain at the back stalls area. First impression was, very tall and imposing. It was a long walk from the back stalls to the stage. Mr. King was accompanied by another guy who was pushing what looked like a steel coffin on four wheels. When they reached the stage my worst fears were realised as in this coffin lookalike were the singer's musical scores. We were expecting just sheet music. There was worse to come, these were full orchestral scores! We were in checkmate. It was the most embarrassing time for me. We didn't even have a run through as the scores were written for so many instruments. I couldn't even find the piano line, they might as well have given us Egyptian hieroglyphic tablets! We didn't lose the gig though, we played a set of our own to open the show and backed the compere (can't remember his name) who was a radio presenter. His music sheets were more straight forward, but embarrassment reared its head again as our drummer was speeding up (a common illness in drummers) we almost ruined his act. He kept turning around to instruct us to slow down, often missing his timing. Oh Dear! We were never offered a Sunday concert again. A jazz trio was found for Solomon King.
Guitar Jamming
Alan French
One of the first times I heard "Shakin All Over" was whilst walking home along St Paul's Road towards Highbury Corner. I stood outside what is now called the Harecourt United Reformed Church and a group were rehearsing the song in what I think was the church hall. It sounded great. The echo that building produced was outstanding.
I'm not sure the tab system was in use in the old days? We learned some chords and relied on the sheet music (massive sales back then). When I was having piano lessons the only way was to read. Anyone can have a lesson now via YouTube. Keep working at it Tam. Singing and dancing at the same time must be difficult too?
Tam Joseph
Tough Indeed, but I have the support of a good House band at the Open Mic sessions at the The Moors Bar in Crouch End and most of the jammers are good so when I do fluff those chord changes it doesn’t sound bad except to me.
I saw the great Johnny Kid and the Pirates on a ‘POP music type show’ while I was still at Barnsbury. That was way back in the days of exciting performers like John Leyton and Frank Ifield.
Paul Kenealy
I don’t know if you realise that you are following in the footsteps of one of our greatest trend setters.
I’m a couple of years older than you and Alan, so I saw JK and the Pirates at the Chez Don in Dalston. Sadly Johnny died in 1966, but ‘the Pirates’ carried on till just a couple of years ago when Mick Green died.
I saw 'the Pirates' a few times. The line up changed, but Mick Green was always there. The last time I saw them they had Ian Dury’s bass play Ian Watt Roy and Mick Green’s son on drums. For a three piece they were magnificent. I took my (40 year old) son who also plays drums to see them at the Half Moon. At the way home he said to me ‘I think I’ve heard a couple of those songs before’.
He hadn’t realised they were a 50 year old band and that they had hits in the sixties, and that JK died before he was born.
Mick Green ‘invented’ that style of guitar playing, playing rhythm on the bass strings and licks on the top, just listen to the solo on "I’ll Never Get Over You." Pete Townsend said he copied Mick Green. Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood) said he copied Townsend, and Wilko said he copied Mick Green. I think it’s fair to say they copied each other. Anyway, if you can play like Mick Green, you can join our band any time.
Keep pluckin’.
Sad that you don’t appreciate John Leyton, one of Joe Meek’s finest, I wonder where he is today.
Mickey Simmonds
Went to see John Leyton last year in a sixties show. Believe me Paul he was awful. Cannot sing a note now. Even I could have done better. What's so sad is some of these guys carry on for too long, unlike PJ Proby who still has a magnificent voice. Seen him twice recently.
Bill Pitt-Jones
Frank Ifield??? You've just blown your Street Cred.
I've been waiting to hear Paul K's reminisces about "Shaking All Over." Its the song we probably all cut our guitar teeth on. Mostly 2 minor chords, Em & Am with a B7 thrown in. The famous intro is half of what we grew up to discover is called The Minor Pentatonic Scale. The equivalent of Doe, Ray, Me, to all the old blues players. The pizzicato backing to the singing is the bottom half of the same scale. And we thought WE were inventing it. (Bit like film makers today with the sex scenes). But hey, didn't we think we were something standing in front of the mirror giving it the 'Marty Wilde' with our cheap 2-bob acoustic guitars. But we all had to cheat when playing the solo. Mainly because our fingers were too small to span across 4 frets. So we simply slid from the 4th fret to the 5th on the B string to hit the 'open' E string. Except of course Steve Howe, who had fingers the size of pencils. Does finger length have any correlations like feet size are supposed to?? - No wonder I've only got a little one.
On the same theme (Pun?), the intro to Buddy Holly's "That'll be the Day" uses another well used blues riff. But being played in the key of A it means barring on the 5th fret and again spanning 4 frets. I could never make it sound authentic. Only recently with the advent of Utube and for the first time actually seeing Buddy Holly perform the song, realised he simply placed a 'Capo' over the 5th fret and ran ONE finger down the G string. (That phrase grabbed Sandy's attention). Guitar Players know what I'm talking about.
Good luck with it Tam.
Tam Joseph
1966 was the year I began Art School, Mick Green was a great guitarist but as for John ‘Johnnnnneeee remembeeeeer meeeeee...Leyton, I will say no more on the subject.
Ahhhhhh… Thanks Mickey, a kindred spirit. Leyton was a waxwork dummy who was much loved by Gor Blimey! ladies. You guys really know your stuff. I started messin’ with my guitar around 25 years old, but made little progress until I started jamming about 3 years ago with guys who were good and it’s been picking slowly ever since.
Bill Pitt-Jones
Me again. Mick Green never played on "Shaking all Over." I'm not sure if he was in the 'group' at the time or just didn't make it to the studio. It was in fact played by session player, the late JOE MORETTI, along with old colleagues Allen Caddy and Clem Cattini before they left to join the Tornados (and Joe Meek).
But give Mick his due. he never SAYS he played on the recording. And did you know Mick was the lead guitar for Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas and had a major hit with the instrumental, "The Cruel Sea?"
Paul Kenealy
I fear Tam’s and my irony is lost on you. We all know the Blue Rondos were Joe Meek’s finest. By the way Bill, I have always admired your small feet, it must be wonderful to buy children’s shoes and save the VAT.
I’ve been cheating with a ‘capo’ for years. I’ve got one that only covers five strings so you can play ‘open E’ using the D shape chord, exactly like James Taylor on "Country Road" (not the John Denver song).
My singer Marion loves to do stuff by Dusty, Carol King, KT Tunstall etc. It’s easy to get the right key sig by moving the capo up the neck, however she wanted to do "Winding Road" by Sheryl Crowe. I listened to the record and they played it in Db, impossible in open tuning; till I looked on Youtube and realised the band had changed guitars to ones tuned down half a tone. All this stuff was lost on us boys brought up with upright pianos, hard to tune acoustic guitars etc. Even Paul Jones admitted on the radio the other day that his harmonicas were specially made for him tuned slightly lower because his voice has changed over the years. Is nothing as it seems?
Paul Lomas
Great emails today. A number of years ago I was having lunch with a film producer at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. As we were discussing his new film project about the late Princess Diana, his phone rang and he started to chat. After the short conversation he informed me that it was the one and only John Leyton looking for a role in any of his film projects. As you know John Leyton did appear in a number of films. He informed me that John was a good friend of his and had been for a number of years, but was always phoning him up for a part.
John Leyton: Johnny Remember Meeeeeee... Frank Ifield: I remember yoooooooooou.
This is great Tam, shall I arrange to get it forwarded to John. As far as I remember he does have a good sense of humour and will just love this. I think he now lives on the coast at Frinton-by-Sea and he must now be in his 80s? I am down that way in the summer to visit a friend and his wife who retired there.
You are right Mick. Some of these guys singing should just call it a day. When you saw PJ Proby, do you know was he backed by a band called 'Shades of Midnight'? Which is my old singer Clive's new band and are doing really well with the late 50s early 60s sound and are performing at a number of 60s shows this year. Do say hello to Clive if you do see them perform.
All you guitar anoraks out there. How many of you tried to play your guitar behind your back? I did and think that I could still do this now. What was that all about? And who was the first to do this? Was it our Hank? Answers on a postcard.
Tam Joseph
I think that T-Bone Walker was the first one to try it from his back. Jimi Hendrix there first with his teeth and Johnny Guitar Watson allegedly came sliding down a rope with one hand while playing the guitar with the other, all those guys are now dead.
Mickey Simmonds
It was a sixties show backed by "The Pacemakers", but they were a young group. None of the originals, but he was fantastic. Saw him also as a guest of Van Morrison.
Alan French
Paul et tout,
A good example of comebacks many years later is Billy J. Kramer. He came to the UK last year presenting himself as top of the bill on a Solid Silver 60s tour. Now I didn't go, as I want to remember these stars as they were back in time: at their best. This was a warning for those guys who are still on the road in their 60s and and getting paid. Billy J. got some terrible reviews about his singing (out of tune), his body shape and his general performance. In one review from Manchester, he started with the line "Hello Liverpool". I'll be surprised if he ever returns. I do understand it takes a few shows to give their best, so perhaps things did improve for him. I hope so. I did meet him in 1967/8 at Lakenheath American Air Base. He had the Dakotas with him and of course Mick Green was there. This was in the officers mess and the audience was thin on the ground. They stuck him in a dark corner (didn't have the lighting we have nowadays). Bill P-J! Thanks for the guitar lesson, I knew I took up the wrong instrument! The birds never chased piano players!
Mickey Simmonds
Another one I saw. Seen him twice in the past 20 years. First time in 1992 and he was bad. Saw he again last year even worse. He was overweight and out of tune. Certain guys should never make a return, but also seen loads of 60s acts who are still very good.
Mickey Isaacs
As far as I remember Billy J. ALWAYS sang out of tune.
Alan French
I'm laughing!!! I suppose a lot of pop singers did. I'm sure most didn't have perfect pitch. I do know that Billy Fury sang sharp which was unusual, as most were flat.
James Sanderson
Not wrong there, Micky. Eppy probably fancied him. John Leyton. My dear old mum bought his big hit, although her favourite was 'her' Frankie (Vaughan). "Green Door" got played to death in our home. Re JL's acting career, it was told that he got very friendly with the wife of a man who you would never cross. And paid the price.
Bill Pitt-Jones
I was such a good 6 string guitar player that I had to switch to Bass player to get into a band. Talking of which I am now the official keyboard player of the band (a very loose title) in the local pub a) because I'm the only one with a keyboard and b) I impressed them with rendition of the half of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" I'd taken 6 months to learn off of a Utube video. (As you know is played only on the white notes - hence WHITER shade of pale, but they don't). Now I'm scrambling around trying to learn chord shapes on the keyboard. Tell you what. The transposers on these electronic gismos are a godsend. How you can play using the black notes as well seems amazing to me.
Paul Kenealy
I saw Chuck Berry play with the guitar behind his neck at the Club Noriek in about 1964. Bill and Griff were there too, but I think Chuck nicked the idea from T-Bone Walker, along with his riffs and licks. Only ever seen T-Bone on TV or now Youtube ‘cos he never came over here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAG7euUMGXI picture with guitar behind his neck.
Terry Woodbridge
After reading all your trips down memory lane had to put on the vinyl and am playing old favourites; one being Python Lee Jackson with "In A Broken Dream" (Rod Stewart). Photo not shown of Terry's jukebox.
James Sanderson
The porthole window (or so it seems)? Are you moored somewhere? Love the juke box. What's the sound like?
Terry Woodbridge
It's the only way to play vinyl: great sound. "Heard it through the Grapevine" sounds fantastic. Bought it fully restored 25 years ago and have never had a problem with it.
The porthole window I put in during the renovations as we are now on the seafront.
Paul Lomas
Another GoBB done well. Jukebox, pinball machine, (have you still got it or was it the glass covers?), lovely wife and daughters and lives in a penthouse on the sea front. What more could you want? Good on you mate :)
Your old 'The Decoys' group mate.
Bill Pitt-Jones
I remember Joe Brown playing Shazam with the guitar behind his neck on the "Oh Boy" show. Dressed in black leather biker's gear with white trims, leather winklepicker cowboy boots and wearing a blond 'crew cut' (with Boston). Ohhh, did I want to be Joe Brown!!!
I used to press the headstock of my guitar against the bottom of our tin bath to make it sound like an electric guitar.
Does anybody remember a pre Shads American band called Johnny & the Hurricanes? The 'young kids' in the pub won't let me play any of their numbers!!!
Mickey Simmonds
"Red River Rock", "Rocking Goose". Great numbers. Remember listing to them in the Gaumont on Saturday mornings. Great memories.
Tam Joseph
Johnny & the Hurricanes. The name does ring a distant bell, but back in the day bands had ‘exciting' names like that.
Michael Stewart
I love "In a Broken Dream"; it works wonders on my internal organs. Another great Rod Stewart song is, in my view, "Rollin' and Tumblin'", an old blues number. On YouTube you can see him perform both in succession when he gave a concert in Hyde Park recently.
Paul Kenealy
We saw Chuck at a late night gig after midnight kick off. Chuck often did this. He would pay a local band for weeks work, then get them to do two a night. For no extra money. I never played there but did play a couple of times at The Flamingo as ‘warm up’ band. That was another place that had two shows a night,. You’d get thrown out at 11.00 then have to pay again to get back in to see the headline act. We ‘supported’ Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds with the legendary Albert Lee on guitar and Carl Palmer (later ELP) on drums. We also ‘warmed up’ for John Mayall with the classic lineup of Eric, John McVie and Hughie Flint. Two absolutely fantastic bands, no wonder we gave up.
Bill, - Johnny and the Hurricanes – "Walk don’t Run." We played it all wrong not realising the run down was A Minor. Pillocks but hey – we were only young.
I was in Florida with a mate last November, he said we should go for breakfast at a local Diner (don’t remember the name). We walked in in our English clothes, accents and politeness and the place went hushed, just like in the opening scene of ‘pulp Fiction’. The music playing on the sound system was ‘Sleepwalk’ by Santo and Johnny. "We’ve arrived", I said to my mate Ed, but he didn’t get it, he’s not a muso – I was in heaven.
Keep the memories coming boys, when you’re our age memories are the best.
Mickey Simmonds
Another great song Paul, "Walk don't Run" by the Ventures and Santo & Johnny, great.
I have Bill, but in a nice way. Didn't want to upset such a nice guy. I listen to you guys, Paul K., Paul L., Paul T., Alan F. & Bill P-J. So good to hear from such educated guys on music. Went to see the show close to you, Burt Bacharach music. The young guys & gals were great, so talented. Off to see Ramsey Lewis on Saturday.
Terry Hayford
In the 60s I lived opposite Joe Meek's Studio in the Holloway Road which was above a leather shop. All the stars of the day hung out there, including Heinz Burt of the Tornados where they recorded "Telstar." Joe Meek ended up killing his landlady from the leather shop then killed himself. The end of a very talented pooffy record producer.
Alan French
Talking about Joe Brown, we had a perfect lookalike to Joe at Barnsbury. I wonder if anyone remembers Jimmy Grier (or Greer). Same year as myself. He had the very same haircut as J/B, stood out from the crowd and I think he played guitar too. Sorry to be boring, but I did meet J/B late 60s. He was looking for a band (where 'The Bruvvers' were I don't know) and we were recommended. The meet up was at his mansion in Chigwell. First impression; big wide entry hall with grand piano, lots of children running around playing, happy atmosphere. We were invited into his studio which was a small barn and just generally chatting (chit chat). At this time we were with Billy Fury (on and off), he had loads of bands during his career. Now, Billy was Joe's good friend and after a while Joe said he didn't want to cross Billy, by taking one of his bands. That was that. I did get to play the grand piano. Bill P-J! When it comes to the black notes, I just close my eyes and imagine they are white! Tell you what though! You can't play the blues without the black notes!
April 2015 Reunion at Compton Arms, Islington
Paul Lomas
The only photo of the reunion I had was taken by the barman, James. Where was Photoshop Chris when you need him to help out with the photography. [see photo on reunion page - ed]
We were all in the same band while at Barnsbury and we were called 'The Decoys' Terry [Woodbridge] played the drums and we even featured in the local Islington Gazette and many years later on TV on the 'Surprise Surprise' 'Cilla Black' TV show which I worked on and was trying to locate 'Terry' as we had lost contact with him after we all left Barnsbury, he was so shocked when he saw himself on TV and he was only living about 5 miles away from me, I have not seen 'Terry' for 21 years until Friday evening at the reunion :)
You are looking well [James] and I love the new look, hope to catch up with you again soon. I have still not received a reply from our Stech and hope that he is ok, please do let me know if you hear any news.
PS I don't know about you but what with my deaf ear I was really struggling to have conversations.
Tony Manni
Hi all,
It was my first reunion and it was a great great night. A big thanks to our organiser Mickey.
Harry and Tam great to catch up with you.
See you all soon at our next meeting.
Terry Woodbridge
Hi All
Thanks Mick for organising.
Paul Lomas has been trying to get me along for years. Made it this time and really enjoyed meeting Paul and Tony again also the rest of you. Enjoyed it that much we were thrown out at 12.
Attempted to finish the buffet we did our best!!
Didn't start at Barnsbury till 1963. I was in the green house and the best thing about being a prefect was not letting anyone in the hall when it was tipping down. My reign as a prefect was curtailed. Seemed fun at the time!!
Tony Alger
This was my second reunion and it was great to meet everyone old and new, especially good old George Kent who looked after me with the buffet. George I owe you a pie n’ mash dinner mate.
Good to meet the boys from Nash Court with whom I shared stories of our bomb site antics around Bingfield Street and the Cally baths. Love the story of nicking the lead from the old roofs, melting it down and making tin soldiers. Also calling out the fire brigade out to the many bonfires that raged there and then chucking what was left of the molten lead into the top of their boots … good times!!
Terry it was good to meet you along with Paul’s brother Tony and hope you can both make it along to the next mini reunion which I think we agreed was to be Menzies Pie and Mash in Tower Bridge Road …..let’s get a date in the diary!!.
Thanks again to Mickey for organising a great night
Paul Kenealy
Great evening Micky, once again you proved to be the most popular organiser, well done mate.
I met some new GOBB’s and some old ones and all had plenty to say. Glad you managed to hoover up the buffet Paul L, sorry I didn’t realise I was talking to your Brother, obviously the better looking one of the family. Nice to see you all again. Here’s to the next one.
Paul Lomas
Nice one Paul K, my brother will love just you :) I could not resist those nice roast potatoes, what a nice pub if only I could hear what people were saying being deaf in one ear and at one point there was so much laughter that all I could see was mouths going up & down so I just kept nodding & had no idea if I was being verbally abused or not :) the joys of being partially deaf, mind you I was warned by my doctor years ago to keep away from any loud music but after playing in bands since the age of 10 it's my own fault.
I can't wait for the next reunion & hope to see you in between for another jam with Paul T and Vince.
November 2014
Paul Kenealy
I was in Court house. When I told my mum that I needed a yellow sports shirt she must've got the wrong idea cos she got me a gold shirt with black piping, so I had to ditch the Arsenal and become a Wolves supporter.
Dear ol Mum. Happy days.
John Landon
I was in in Gerard House!
I used to play Rugby for the school (no wonder we didn’t do well at sports)! Perhaps some of the chaps did so also? We also didn’t have the luxury of the football sports fields, but dear old Hackney Marshes if I remember correctly!
No matter what house we represented, we were always Barnsbury at heart!!!!
Barry Page
Thanks for your loyalty to the school! Here's a snippet from the Summer, 1960, edition of "The Barnsburian" that may be of interest to you.
G. Lewis showed determination and a: keenness to develop the finer points of wing play. P. Tully at scrum half had a fairly long pass from the base of the scrum and made several good breaks on his own. The forwards had quite a good" shove" in the tight scrums, but, in the loose, there was, once again, a tendency to stand and watch developments instead of keeping up with the play. T. Pratt was pack leader and gave his forwards a good example with his jumping in the line-outs and through vigorous activities in the loose. D. Robson, a prop-forward, was top points scorer, mainly because of his place-kicking abilities. Despite his weight he, together with R. Kirkwood, showed well in the loose play with some speedy running; the latter player took over as hooker half-way through the season and hooked well. Altogether the season was a successful one in that the team gained experience of the game, had some enjoyable matches, and began to settle down to play together.
The following boys played for the team during the 1959-60 season:
Full-back: A. Leadbetter.
Three-quarters: A. Canter, J. Goodwin, G. Lewis, A. McCarthy, C. Wheatley.
Half-backs: P. Tully, I. Watson.
Forwards:. B. Castle, C. Dobbins, M. Dudley, R. Kirkwood, J. Landon, P. L. Lygo, S. MichaeIides, K. Nock, T. Pierce, T. Pratt, D. Robson, C. Spicer, G. Sutton, A. Thomas, T. Thompson.
Captain: C. Wheatley (until injury), P. Tully.
Vice-Captain: T. Pratt.
Tam Joseph
Yeah...
I used to play Rugby at Hackney Marshes, I recall that it only just bearable in Spring and extremely hostile to people who sensitive to cold wind and hard cold mud. Mr. Hamlyn was the Ref:
John Thomas
I seem to remember another model shop on the Holloway Road too, between Jones Bros and Holloway Road tube station. It think is was called Rip Max. There was a terrific window display and I remember many a happy time admiring the window display on my way home from Eden Grove. If I am correct they had another shop in Camden Town about half way up Parkway.
Barry Page
I think the shop John is referring to was Nicholl's. The attached image shows the shop frontages in Holloway Road, and I believe the model shop (which I always frequented and bought my AIRFIX kits there) was located next to the bank. Any other GOBB memories of model building?
Link to obituary of Henry Nicholls.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1353685/Henry-Nicholls.html
John Thomas
You are absolutely right, it was Nicholl’s. Is it still there? I left London in '69 and haven’t been back to Holloway since. Is it still there?
Chris Zindilis
Yes, Beresfords was indeed an Aladdin’s Cave for young model makers.
I remember back to the early 70's, buying all my model kits from there. Memories of countless hours spent on building my line controlled planes and taking them over to Scratch Woods and flying them there.
Those were the days!!
Alan French
One of our Barnsbury Boys lived over that model shop. He was Richard Hill. Good actor and appeared in some school plays, maybe he is named in The Barnsburian.
Barry Page
Here's a photo of Richard Hill in 2011, plus some other BBS lads skulking around Theberton Street.
Paul Lomas
The only photo of the reunion I had was taken by the barman, James. Where was Photoshop Chris when you need him to help out with the photography. [see photo on reunion page - ed]
We were all in the same band while at Barnsbury and we were called 'The Decoys' Terry [Woodbridge] played the drums and we even featured in the local Islington Gazette and many years later on TV on the 'Surprise Surprise' 'Cilla Black' TV show which I worked on and was trying to locate 'Terry' as we had lost contact with him after we all left Barnsbury, he was so shocked when he saw himself on TV and he was only living about 5 miles away from me, I have not seen 'Terry' for 21 years until Friday evening at the reunion :)
You are looking well [James] and I love the new look, hope to catch up with you again soon. I have still not received a reply from our Stech and hope that he is ok, please do let me know if you hear any news.
PS I don't know about you but what with my deaf ear I was really struggling to have conversations.
Tony Manni
Hi all,
It was my first reunion and it was a great great night. A big thanks to our organiser Mickey.
Harry and Tam great to catch up with you.
See you all soon at our next meeting.
Terry Woodbridge
Hi All
Thanks Mick for organising.
Paul Lomas has been trying to get me along for years. Made it this time and really enjoyed meeting Paul and Tony again also the rest of you. Enjoyed it that much we were thrown out at 12.
Attempted to finish the buffet we did our best!!
Didn't start at Barnsbury till 1963. I was in the green house and the best thing about being a prefect was not letting anyone in the hall when it was tipping down. My reign as a prefect was curtailed. Seemed fun at the time!!
Tony Alger
This was my second reunion and it was great to meet everyone old and new, especially good old George Kent who looked after me with the buffet. George I owe you a pie n’ mash dinner mate.
Good to meet the boys from Nash Court with whom I shared stories of our bomb site antics around Bingfield Street and the Cally baths. Love the story of nicking the lead from the old roofs, melting it down and making tin soldiers. Also calling out the fire brigade out to the many bonfires that raged there and then chucking what was left of the molten lead into the top of their boots … good times!!
Terry it was good to meet you along with Paul’s brother Tony and hope you can both make it along to the next mini reunion which I think we agreed was to be Menzies Pie and Mash in Tower Bridge Road …..let’s get a date in the diary!!.
Thanks again to Mickey for organising a great night
Paul Kenealy
Great evening Micky, once again you proved to be the most popular organiser, well done mate.
I met some new GOBB’s and some old ones and all had plenty to say. Glad you managed to hoover up the buffet Paul L, sorry I didn’t realise I was talking to your Brother, obviously the better looking one of the family. Nice to see you all again. Here’s to the next one.
Paul Lomas
Nice one Paul K, my brother will love just you :) I could not resist those nice roast potatoes, what a nice pub if only I could hear what people were saying being deaf in one ear and at one point there was so much laughter that all I could see was mouths going up & down so I just kept nodding & had no idea if I was being verbally abused or not :) the joys of being partially deaf, mind you I was warned by my doctor years ago to keep away from any loud music but after playing in bands since the age of 10 it's my own fault.
I can't wait for the next reunion & hope to see you in between for another jam with Paul T and Vince.
November 2014
Paul Kenealy
I was in Court house. When I told my mum that I needed a yellow sports shirt she must've got the wrong idea cos she got me a gold shirt with black piping, so I had to ditch the Arsenal and become a Wolves supporter.
Dear ol Mum. Happy days.
John Landon
I was in in Gerard House!
I used to play Rugby for the school (no wonder we didn’t do well at sports)! Perhaps some of the chaps did so also? We also didn’t have the luxury of the football sports fields, but dear old Hackney Marshes if I remember correctly!
No matter what house we represented, we were always Barnsbury at heart!!!!
Barry Page
Thanks for your loyalty to the school! Here's a snippet from the Summer, 1960, edition of "The Barnsburian" that may be of interest to you.
G. Lewis showed determination and a: keenness to develop the finer points of wing play. P. Tully at scrum half had a fairly long pass from the base of the scrum and made several good breaks on his own. The forwards had quite a good" shove" in the tight scrums, but, in the loose, there was, once again, a tendency to stand and watch developments instead of keeping up with the play. T. Pratt was pack leader and gave his forwards a good example with his jumping in the line-outs and through vigorous activities in the loose. D. Robson, a prop-forward, was top points scorer, mainly because of his place-kicking abilities. Despite his weight he, together with R. Kirkwood, showed well in the loose play with some speedy running; the latter player took over as hooker half-way through the season and hooked well. Altogether the season was a successful one in that the team gained experience of the game, had some enjoyable matches, and began to settle down to play together.
The following boys played for the team during the 1959-60 season:
Full-back: A. Leadbetter.
Three-quarters: A. Canter, J. Goodwin, G. Lewis, A. McCarthy, C. Wheatley.
Half-backs: P. Tully, I. Watson.
Forwards:. B. Castle, C. Dobbins, M. Dudley, R. Kirkwood, J. Landon, P. L. Lygo, S. MichaeIides, K. Nock, T. Pierce, T. Pratt, D. Robson, C. Spicer, G. Sutton, A. Thomas, T. Thompson.
Captain: C. Wheatley (until injury), P. Tully.
Vice-Captain: T. Pratt.
Tam Joseph
Yeah...
I used to play Rugby at Hackney Marshes, I recall that it only just bearable in Spring and extremely hostile to people who sensitive to cold wind and hard cold mud. Mr. Hamlyn was the Ref:
John Thomas
I seem to remember another model shop on the Holloway Road too, between Jones Bros and Holloway Road tube station. It think is was called Rip Max. There was a terrific window display and I remember many a happy time admiring the window display on my way home from Eden Grove. If I am correct they had another shop in Camden Town about half way up Parkway.
Barry Page
I think the shop John is referring to was Nicholl's. The attached image shows the shop frontages in Holloway Road, and I believe the model shop (which I always frequented and bought my AIRFIX kits there) was located next to the bank. Any other GOBB memories of model building?
Link to obituary of Henry Nicholls.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1353685/Henry-Nicholls.html
John Thomas
You are absolutely right, it was Nicholl’s. Is it still there? I left London in '69 and haven’t been back to Holloway since. Is it still there?
Chris Zindilis
Yes, Beresfords was indeed an Aladdin’s Cave for young model makers.
I remember back to the early 70's, buying all my model kits from there. Memories of countless hours spent on building my line controlled planes and taking them over to Scratch Woods and flying them there.
Those were the days!!
Alan French
One of our Barnsbury Boys lived over that model shop. He was Richard Hill. Good actor and appeared in some school plays, maybe he is named in The Barnsburian.
Barry Page
Here's a photo of Richard Hill in 2011, plus some other BBS lads skulking around Theberton Street.
Michael Stewart
I am one of those skulkers caught off guard in Theberton Street. Yes, I admit it. I was caught skulking by Tam Joseph and his box brownie. I think we were about to launch into a ring-a-ring of roses type Morris dance at the time. Richard Hill is the one wearing a Father Christmas beard. John Wilsher and Brian Masters are also present. I saw Richard last July in the Compton and he had just come from a hernia operation. I believe there was a hole in his stomach (presumably plastered over with medical cement or whatnot, and bandages). It didn't dim his sense of humour anyway. I invited John and Richard, who both live in London in or near Islington, to the Barnsbeery reunion but John had visitors and Richard never replied. Richard used to work in Nicholls model shop. I think they used some of those model aeroplanes in the film 633 Squadron and maybe even in the Battle of Britain. The film not the real one. Churchill and Bomber Harris were not economising that much.
Chris Zindilis
Yes, John I do remember the model shop well at Holloway road - the one between Jones Bros and Holloway Road tube station, and yes, it always had a terrific window display. As Barry rightly said, it was called Nicholl's: now it goes by the name of 308 Hobbies. I use to go there often to buy balsa wood and tissue paper for my model aircraft repairs and also, engines, fuel and batteries that kept me flying my model aircraft. I also remember the music shop further down from where I bought my first guitar.
I also used to go down to the other shop RipMax at Camden town. It housed lot's of different variety of models. It was originally his very first shop and was opened in 1949 by RipMax as a Toy and Model-shop.
Constantly meeting the public demand, RipMax grew from strength to strength through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. I think that after 2005 it amalgamated with another firm, but the shop I believe is still there. There is also another couple of model shops in Enfield.
John Thomas
I seem to remember being in a play in Camden Road in the mid-60’s. If I remember correctly it was ‘Home at Seven’ by R.C.Sheriff and was produced by our English master Mr Chapman (he drove a Reliant 3 wheeler if I remember correctly). I must apologise for such vague recollections but I think that Richard Hill played the leading role.
A truly wonderful shop. I had no idea about Henry Nicholls history.
On another matter I read with interest Tony Alger’s recollections of his time in Kai Tak. The reason I am so interested is that I recall the name Alger from my class register (1 Alpha to 5 Alpha) in Barnsbury School, this would be between 62 and 67. I joined the RAF in 69 and was posted to the Maldives (RAF Gan) in 71 and was there until 72, so if everything fits together I could very well have serviced Tony’s VC10 on its way out to Kai Tak! I would be very interested in knowing when Tony transited through Gan. It’s a small world!
John James Fairbanks
Thee was a Richard Hill in my class 5AG, so that makes him a 1959 - 1964 boy; now either 66 or 67. Think he was buddies with Keith Gamwells. and I think Keith Gamwells was in the band with me. Tenor horn I think.
Tam Joseph
Rugby ....? Richard! Can you remember how skinny he was ? No, he was more of cricket man and continued playing even after he left Barnsbury.
Alan French
Do you Remember Malcolm Avery? He was in your class, 1st year 1B. Supported Plymouth Argyle. I always wondered why.
John Fairbanks
Hi Alan, I do. He was a big fellow - well, big by 11 year old standards. Quite posh as I remember (his house probably had an inside toilet!)
Russell Profitt
Mr Hamlyn....now I remember him as a kind and supportive soul...but - in the light of all recent revelations about teachers....who knows???
I believe that rugby also involved going on long and cold coach journeys to play somewhere well outside of London...less muddy than the Marshes...
Cricket was better, played at Finsbury Park cricket pitch....then all off to investigate the goodies offered by Manor Park shops, then back up to Highbury by bus…. Great times..
John Fairbanks
I remember Hamlyn as the boring Science teacher who never taught anything just got us to copy down in our exercise books the 5 blackboards full of close-written small chalk writings. Cropley (Chemistry) couldn't control a class. Best of all was Reuben, Physics.
David Brearey
Yes, Hamlyn, your description of him is quite right. I shall always remember him as a nasty Bastard, Graham took me for commerce when I was in 4AC, which I believe stood for 4C (Commercial studies). I remember at the time I had a part time job with Tesco's in the Cally Road, on my report he wrote " With David's commercial experience I would have expected better results"....What a pillock I was only a shelf filler!. Whilst questioning the class one day on what jobs we were hoping to have I said Motor Mechanic One hour later I was called into the Bonk's office and half an hour later I was transferred to 4AT which was great as Walton was the form master.
I am one of those skulkers caught off guard in Theberton Street. Yes, I admit it. I was caught skulking by Tam Joseph and his box brownie. I think we were about to launch into a ring-a-ring of roses type Morris dance at the time. Richard Hill is the one wearing a Father Christmas beard. John Wilsher and Brian Masters are also present. I saw Richard last July in the Compton and he had just come from a hernia operation. I believe there was a hole in his stomach (presumably plastered over with medical cement or whatnot, and bandages). It didn't dim his sense of humour anyway. I invited John and Richard, who both live in London in or near Islington, to the Barnsbeery reunion but John had visitors and Richard never replied. Richard used to work in Nicholls model shop. I think they used some of those model aeroplanes in the film 633 Squadron and maybe even in the Battle of Britain. The film not the real one. Churchill and Bomber Harris were not economising that much.
Chris Zindilis
Yes, John I do remember the model shop well at Holloway road - the one between Jones Bros and Holloway Road tube station, and yes, it always had a terrific window display. As Barry rightly said, it was called Nicholl's: now it goes by the name of 308 Hobbies. I use to go there often to buy balsa wood and tissue paper for my model aircraft repairs and also, engines, fuel and batteries that kept me flying my model aircraft. I also remember the music shop further down from where I bought my first guitar.
I also used to go down to the other shop RipMax at Camden town. It housed lot's of different variety of models. It was originally his very first shop and was opened in 1949 by RipMax as a Toy and Model-shop.
Constantly meeting the public demand, RipMax grew from strength to strength through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. I think that after 2005 it amalgamated with another firm, but the shop I believe is still there. There is also another couple of model shops in Enfield.
John Thomas
I seem to remember being in a play in Camden Road in the mid-60’s. If I remember correctly it was ‘Home at Seven’ by R.C.Sheriff and was produced by our English master Mr Chapman (he drove a Reliant 3 wheeler if I remember correctly). I must apologise for such vague recollections but I think that Richard Hill played the leading role.
A truly wonderful shop. I had no idea about Henry Nicholls history.
On another matter I read with interest Tony Alger’s recollections of his time in Kai Tak. The reason I am so interested is that I recall the name Alger from my class register (1 Alpha to 5 Alpha) in Barnsbury School, this would be between 62 and 67. I joined the RAF in 69 and was posted to the Maldives (RAF Gan) in 71 and was there until 72, so if everything fits together I could very well have serviced Tony’s VC10 on its way out to Kai Tak! I would be very interested in knowing when Tony transited through Gan. It’s a small world!
John James Fairbanks
Thee was a Richard Hill in my class 5AG, so that makes him a 1959 - 1964 boy; now either 66 or 67. Think he was buddies with Keith Gamwells. and I think Keith Gamwells was in the band with me. Tenor horn I think.
Tam Joseph
Rugby ....? Richard! Can you remember how skinny he was ? No, he was more of cricket man and continued playing even after he left Barnsbury.
Alan French
Do you Remember Malcolm Avery? He was in your class, 1st year 1B. Supported Plymouth Argyle. I always wondered why.
John Fairbanks
Hi Alan, I do. He was a big fellow - well, big by 11 year old standards. Quite posh as I remember (his house probably had an inside toilet!)
Russell Profitt
Mr Hamlyn....now I remember him as a kind and supportive soul...but - in the light of all recent revelations about teachers....who knows???
I believe that rugby also involved going on long and cold coach journeys to play somewhere well outside of London...less muddy than the Marshes...
Cricket was better, played at Finsbury Park cricket pitch....then all off to investigate the goodies offered by Manor Park shops, then back up to Highbury by bus…. Great times..
John Fairbanks
I remember Hamlyn as the boring Science teacher who never taught anything just got us to copy down in our exercise books the 5 blackboards full of close-written small chalk writings. Cropley (Chemistry) couldn't control a class. Best of all was Reuben, Physics.
David Brearey
Yes, Hamlyn, your description of him is quite right. I shall always remember him as a nasty Bastard, Graham took me for commerce when I was in 4AC, which I believe stood for 4C (Commercial studies). I remember at the time I had a part time job with Tesco's in the Cally Road, on my report he wrote " With David's commercial experience I would have expected better results"....What a pillock I was only a shelf filler!. Whilst questioning the class one day on what jobs we were hoping to have I said Motor Mechanic One hour later I was called into the Bonk's office and half an hour later I was transferred to 4AT which was great as Walton was the form master.
Tony Alger
Yes I was in Class 1 – 5 Alpha (62 and 67) spending the earlier years in Eden Grove followed by the later years in Camden Road. No disrespect but I don’t remember you but then again I don’t remember many people from my class sadly only the more ‘charming’ members like Steve Bull, Alan Lester, Billy Sanderson [no relation -Ed] and (?) Dudley. This little troupe would make it their objective to pilfer lunch money or get you in trouble when it was no fault of yours. As a result most of my visits to Sharr’s office for a caning were down to these b*****ds! Do you remember them? I have been asking the rest of the Gobbs but no one recalls. Whilst we are on the subject I too spent many a lunch break down at Nicholls model shop just to get away from them!
Back to the RAF, my outbound leg from Brize Norton to Kai Tak transited us via RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus so we never got to RAF Gan on that trip. However my return leg was via Gan a trip which was full of incidents both bad and good. On our approach to Gan we developed engine problems but safe to say we landed ok. My wife was at this time seven months pregnant with our first son and was close to the limit of being able to fly so when the pilot said the engines would have to be replaced we were beside ourselves. This meant we had a 24 hour stop over whilst they flew in a new engine set. However we were made to feel so welcome by the guys on the island who were very much in a party mood …this was normal we came to find out… loads of Beer, (Lemonade for the wife) Food, Entertainment (outdoor cinemas) we were enjoying ourselves so much that we refused to take two spare seats on the next VC10 transiting through to the UK so we could enjoy the place more. So after 24 hours of partying, sleeping in unmade beds in the flight crew mess, being shat on by the biggest Fruit Bats I have ever seen in my life and almost falling for the one of the biggest windups for new arrivals; that being to take a disco boat to a neighbouring Island full of local nurses it was an experience we would never forget. Oh yes unbeknown to the wife I applied for a 9 month tour in Gan as soon as I got back to the UK J … I got Northern Ireland instead so she must have had a word.
So yes John it is a small world!
Yes I was in Class 1 – 5 Alpha (62 and 67) spending the earlier years in Eden Grove followed by the later years in Camden Road. No disrespect but I don’t remember you but then again I don’t remember many people from my class sadly only the more ‘charming’ members like Steve Bull, Alan Lester, Billy Sanderson [no relation -Ed] and (?) Dudley. This little troupe would make it their objective to pilfer lunch money or get you in trouble when it was no fault of yours. As a result most of my visits to Sharr’s office for a caning were down to these b*****ds! Do you remember them? I have been asking the rest of the Gobbs but no one recalls. Whilst we are on the subject I too spent many a lunch break down at Nicholls model shop just to get away from them!
Back to the RAF, my outbound leg from Brize Norton to Kai Tak transited us via RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus so we never got to RAF Gan on that trip. However my return leg was via Gan a trip which was full of incidents both bad and good. On our approach to Gan we developed engine problems but safe to say we landed ok. My wife was at this time seven months pregnant with our first son and was close to the limit of being able to fly so when the pilot said the engines would have to be replaced we were beside ourselves. This meant we had a 24 hour stop over whilst they flew in a new engine set. However we were made to feel so welcome by the guys on the island who were very much in a party mood …this was normal we came to find out… loads of Beer, (Lemonade for the wife) Food, Entertainment (outdoor cinemas) we were enjoying ourselves so much that we refused to take two spare seats on the next VC10 transiting through to the UK so we could enjoy the place more. So after 24 hours of partying, sleeping in unmade beds in the flight crew mess, being shat on by the biggest Fruit Bats I have ever seen in my life and almost falling for the one of the biggest windups for new arrivals; that being to take a disco boat to a neighbouring Island full of local nurses it was an experience we would never forget. Oh yes unbeknown to the wife I applied for a 9 month tour in Gan as soon as I got back to the UK J … I got Northern Ireland instead so she must have had a word.
So yes John it is a small world!
February/March 2015
Chris Zindilis
Love the stories on the subject of music and bands. Which bands are you going to see Barry from that long selection that's coming your way? I certainly would have like to have listened to them all, especially Gospel side of Elvis.
I have a very memorable little true story to tell that happened one night many years back.
Back in the eighties, Chas and Dave bought their own pub near Stock Newington, and kept it going for few years. It was called the "Chas & Dave," and they had weekly competitions for bands to go there and play.
At that time, I was involved with a rock band doing vocals; my best friend put together a band, we kept it together for a few years. We put in an application a few weeks before, to go over to the pub and play. On the final day, our drummer wasn't well - he had problems suffering from haemorrhoids; don't ask! Our bass guitarist had a fall the night before and he hurt his arm! My mate Tom, who was the lead guitarist, phoned me up in the afternoon to go over to his house and from there we drove to the Chas and Dave pub. On the way there I was concerned that we only had half a band, but Tom assured me that he phoned one of he's best school mates, who also knew someone else who could come and help with the drums. I remember asking Tom, "Are they any good?" "They should be, they been around for a while," was Tom's answer. I think we only entered the competition, so we could play at the Chas & Dave pub.
Anyway, we got to the pub, three hours before our turn was up. Apparently, we didn't need to set up any of our gear. The whole place was already set up, a good drum kit included.
Only four bands were in the competition that night, three sets each to perform and we were the last on the list.
Sitting in one corner was Chas with couple of his mates having a drink. Tom and I went over and introduced ourselves, sat and joined the conversation. I found Chas to be talkative, very jolly, but also quite tough.
Eventually the first band went on. They were too heavy on the drums, too loud too. Chas told them to keep the volume down, and after the first number he told them to get off the stage. While the next band went on we went and got some drinks and returned and sat with Chas. Our band replacements finally had arrived. Unknown to me, our replacement bass player was Alan Warner from the Foundations, and his mate, our drummer for the night, was none other than Mick Avory from the Kinks. Apparently, sometimes Alan invited Avory to come and drum for the new reformed Foundations. What a set up. Chas recognised Avory straight away, and he knew Alan too. We bought some more drinks for our new arrivals and sat and listened to the second rock band.
Unfortunately because we weren't a complete original band, we couldn't enter the competition, but who cared. At the end of the evening and having quite a lot to drink, we got up and played some numbers, accompanied by Chas. It was one of the most unforgettable nights I ever had performing with professionals. A few years later the pub was sold. Only a long gone memory still remains.
Johnny Pearce
Went there a couple of times Chris, a great night. I heard from themselves that it was shut down as they could not make a profit as the staff was fiddling too much? Maybe they drunk the profits? Micky S. did you know that there was a brewery in London Fields Hackney? They do a tour of the brewery, maybe worth a visit one day?
And just to get off of football and music for a second, does any one know where the term "Kippers on Horseback” came from? My dad always used to use this when we had Kippers and I never found out what it meant?
Alan French
Hi Chris and All
Your story was so enjoyable I had to join in and expand the subject further. My experience of auditions are way behind me. As far as I can remember some of those auditions were used to bring a band in for a couple of hours thereby having free entertainment. I suppose a comparison these days might be work experience without regular work at the end. One audition I remember well was at The Refectory in Golders Green. Musicians were congregating all around. The reward was a resident gig at a club in Germany. A big prize in the late 60's. I couldn't say how many bands were there but to give some idea auditions started around 5.30 pm and lasted until closing time. There were some good bands there that day and I quickly realised we were ill prepared. I don't remember which songs we played but in our set list then was The Kinks Sunny Afternoon. I would say at this stage in our career we were ' Getting It Together.' I never saw any famous faces there. There was a band who played their version of The Dixie Cups song IKO IKO ( my grandma and you grandma sitting by the fire ) they were very professional. Their harmonies were exceptional. I guess they got the gig. Other auditions I remember were at The Bell Walthamstow and The Duragon Arms in Homerton. We got the gig at the last named.
I met Clem Curtis, singer with the Foundations twice. The first meeting was in a lift on the P&O liner Ventura. He was part of the entertainment on that cruise. I have to say his voice is standing up well these days and he still has the skill to win over audiences. It was a close encounter in that lift and he was outnumbered, there were two of us. I asked him how he kept his voice in good order. He said it was all down to smoking cigars. I wondered if it was his best joke? The second meeting was on the Azura, still doing the cabaret rounds for P&O. In between these dates I saw him when he opened the show for Bill Medley at Wembley Arena this being in 2013. The seats for that show were £100 which could be seen as extortionate. Obviously close to the stage we had a great view. Now, the only reason we paid this much was because Gary Puckett was also on the bill and wanted to see him. I believe it was his first gig in the UK. Clem Curtis was backed by a dubious line up of The Foundations and did a short set which included the hits. Of course they are what the fans want to hear. The show was sponsored by Gold Radio and the organisation was a bit of a shambles. Gary Puckett was next up backed by a reformed Union Gap dressed in Confederate uniforms and we weren't disappointed. His voice still has an amazing range and he had the best three piece band I've ever heard. The sound they achieved was very close to his original recordings and for me he was the star of the show. At this point we were prepared to leave the arena and make tracks but we stayed on and the next act was a very young version of the Drifters led by Ray Lewis an original Drifter who at his big age surprised everyone with his voice. They were very good but with no live band and using backing tracks it was like listening to a luxurious Karaoke performance. Bill Medley sang his hits You've Lost That Loving Feeing, ( I've had ) The Time Of My Life and Unchained Melody, with his daughter taking the harmony part of the late Bobby Hatfield. It was a very polished set. At least I saw one of The Righteous Brothers live.
Back to my second meeting with Clem Curtis on the Azura 2014. After his set he was selling his live cd's outside the theatre and I made sure I was first in line. As he was signing the cd case I told him I paid £100 to see him at Wembley the previous year which took him by total surprise. No charge for his cd.
Your meeting with Chas Hodges must have been enlightening and to sing and play on the same stage memorable. I never met him. I did like his work with Head Hands and Feet whose singer Tony Colton lived in Clements Street ( Offord Road ) at some point. Guitarist Ray Smith also lived in the area, somewhere around The Cally.
Chris Zindilis
Hello Alan, John P and all
Thanks for your email: very interesting stories, and comments indeed.
Yes, it was great to have met Chas. What a great personality and a true professional. As you rightly said, having competitions was a cheap way to have in-house entertainment week after week. I remember having a conversation that night with Mick Avory, and he was telling us about all the problems he had with Ray Davies while he was with the Kinks; the rivalry going on between them was huge and that was one of the reasons that they eventually split up.
Some years back when the film "There's something about Mary," starring Cameron Diaz, was made and shown at the cinemas, one of the songs that headed the film was one of the Foundation's numbers. All of a sudden they were in great demand. I remember they started doing a tour of the country - a tour that lasted over a year and finished over in Australia. I remember going and seeing Alan Warner off before he went to Australia.
My mate Tom and Alan Warner were brought up and lived in Borehamwood, they were class mates and were always very good friends, so even when Alan made it, he never forgot the great friendship he and Tom had. So he was always there for Tom and our band. When Tom's son was 18 he came over to the birthday party and joined Tom's band and we had a great night doing the old songs.
I don't know if you remember what was once the "Old Thatch Barn" that was off the A1 off Borehamwood. About fifteen years ago, Tom hired one of the main halls there for a Christmas do; a Christmas party for all his friends, and all night we had the newly reformed Foundations band and Tom's band as our entertainment. As a favour to Tom, Alan brought with him that night the original singer of the foundations, Clem Curtis stepped in and did the original hit songs. He was unbelievable - like you said; still had that incredible voice, a true professional. I remember when we all sat around one of the tables that night having a drink, Clem was telling us how he did associated acts with Arthur Brown, Johnny Johnson, Johnny Benson, Mike Elliot, and Colin Young among many others. What a great bloke. We rocked and rolled all night.
That was a Christmas party to remember.
Alan French
What can I say? As you met Clem Curtis you will know what a nice man he is. At the beginning of his act now he talks about having many wives so has to carry on working. Not sure if that is tongue in cheek or not but seems to get through to the audience in a good way. He must be about 74 years old. I am surprised he was associated with Arthur Brown as his style is completely different and is one of my favs.
I did see Mick Avory play in the 90's. It was at a private party at a private club in Crystal Palace. It was obviously a put together blues band. My only regret was I didn't get to speak to him. I think Ray Davies had a lot of problems with his brother Dave. The famous incident when a cymbal was thrown on stage. I know they had the best following in Muswell Hill, becoming known as The Muswell Hillbillies.
Roger Osborn
Talking of Violet Kray reminded me of when I was a humble clerk working in the Finsbury health centre in Pine Street
'Her boys' aka the twins used to bring her to Pine Street( before my time) when she was more mobile
I used to send out appointments for elderly patients to have there feet treated at home and Mrs Kray was one of our patients.
The post office and the chiropodists both decided to go on strike at the same time. So it was left to me to write to all the patients and tell them their appointments were cancelled .
This meant hand delivering the letters personally all over Finsbury so I hope you can understand how quietly I crept up to 68 Braithwaite House, Bunhill Row (the address the boys gave later at their trial at the Old Bailey) slipped the letter even quieter through the letter box and then f###ed off down the stairs sharpish.
Paul Kenealy
Hi Alan, Chris & all GOBBs.
You have nailed the subject of auditions Alan. When I started playing in about 1962 we always had to audition, or enter talent comps. Billy P-J and I did a few auditions with Steve Howe, in pubs in the Cally, The Albion in Thornhill Road, The PO Club in Roman Way and a youth club in Georges Road. After that last gig Steve decided to find band mates with more talent. In '63 I joined a band called The Cardinals. We got a residency in a club in Westbourne Grove, and the club owner became our manager. He got us an 'audition' at the 2I's in Old Compton Street. We played for about two hours on a Sunday afternoon (not a sunny one) We were given the old heave ho, and Tom Littlewood didn't even answer our phone calls. However about a year later we did another 'audition' also at the 2I's, and this time we were rewarded with a tour of European US army bases.
We auditioned a girl singer as we were told they wanted a female face in the lineup. We weren't happy with at set-up, but went ahead with the booking. At the last minute, about a couple of days before we left, this girl or her mother decided that four weeks in a Bedford Dormobile with five hairy musicians was not the way she wanted to spend the summer. We were offered a longer booking but decided that four weeks was long enough for us all too. But we had a great time and became much better musicians playing every day. We didn't earn a fortune but came home slightly better off, but needing a bath.
Alan French
I laughed at your last comment about the bath. You describe things as they were. A girl singer was sometimes mandatory for gigs at American Bases. We only worked for one week in Germany ever. It was the Storyville Club in Frankfurt in January when the snow was at its most. The journey was horrendous. The club wasn't too bad. We were supposed to all sleep in bunk beds in a tiny room at the back of the club. No dimmed lighting just bright strip lighting. The idea was to play your sets ( morning, noon and night ) then roll off stage and get into you bunk bed. We didn't take any of that, after one night we found rooms to stay in. The club owner certainly got his money's worth out of the group's. Dominic Grant was with us then so much of the focus was on him. I remember Dominic sitting at a table one lunchtime talking with Brian Auger ( Hammond Organ / Julie Driscoll ) Brian's new album had just been released. It was being played in the club at the time. Of course it was jazz orientated. Now, some people can't relate to jazz. Brian asked Dominic what he thought of the music being played at that time, I don't think the answer what was wanted. Brian looked disappointed. We finished the week and got our money. I have to say because we were paid in Deutsch Marks, I actually went home with a tidy sum -it was when the pound was running low.
Paul, I wonder how you managed to fit your gear and yourselves into that Dormobile . Must have been uncomfortable. This was part of the fun about gigging, better than working. You've done this and I think it give us a different outlook on life.
I am disappointed Steve Howe never replied to you. It doesn't take very much to do this. If he did, it only makes sense as he would gain more fans. At least when I contacted Ray Russell ( Baldwin ) ( one of our own ) he answered me straight away. I was touched by this. It's all about feelings, I think.
Griff Lewis
Have to agree Tam, he showed great promise even back in '63/'64 when I used to see him at "Klooks Kleek" (aka the Railway Hotel, West Hampstead) where he used to play as interval singer to the headline acts.
Saw Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson there, plus quite a few home grown bands.
Great memories to look back on.
From Wikipedia: Klooks Kleek was a jazz and rhythm n’ blues club at the Railway Hotel, West Hampstead, North West London. Named after a 1956 album by jazz drummer Kenny Clarke entitled Klook’s Clique, the club opened on 11 January 1961 with special guest Don Rendell (tenor sax) and closed nine years later on 28 January 1970 after a session by drummer Keef Hartley’s group.
There were over 1200 sessions at Klook’s Kleek, around 300 of them featuring jazz and the remainder rhythm ‘n’ blues. Zoot Money, Ten Years After, John Mayall and Graham Bond recorded live albums at KK. The UK Blues boom of the early 1960s brought to the club many living legends. The full story of the club and the Decca Studios next door is told in a book by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: West Hampstead's Musical Heritage Remembered), which includes Appendices listing every jazz, blues and RnB artiste who appeared. [Ed]
Tam Joseph
I heard about "Klooks Kleek" but never went there. I saw The Cream at Hornsey College of Art and Hendrix when he played his first gig at The Saville Theatre.
The Royal College of Art had a "Do" every 2nd Friday of the month, it was great because they invited a lot of 'jobber bands" featuring good musicians to entertain the Art students. Also the best looking women in town always went to those art school gigs!
Micky Simmonds
I saw Rod at the Downbeat Manor House playing with Jimmy Powell & the Five Dimensions; even then he had a great voice.
How the other half lives …
Chris Zindilis
Love the stories on the subject of music and bands. Which bands are you going to see Barry from that long selection that's coming your way? I certainly would have like to have listened to them all, especially Gospel side of Elvis.
I have a very memorable little true story to tell that happened one night many years back.
Back in the eighties, Chas and Dave bought their own pub near Stock Newington, and kept it going for few years. It was called the "Chas & Dave," and they had weekly competitions for bands to go there and play.
At that time, I was involved with a rock band doing vocals; my best friend put together a band, we kept it together for a few years. We put in an application a few weeks before, to go over to the pub and play. On the final day, our drummer wasn't well - he had problems suffering from haemorrhoids; don't ask! Our bass guitarist had a fall the night before and he hurt his arm! My mate Tom, who was the lead guitarist, phoned me up in the afternoon to go over to his house and from there we drove to the Chas and Dave pub. On the way there I was concerned that we only had half a band, but Tom assured me that he phoned one of he's best school mates, who also knew someone else who could come and help with the drums. I remember asking Tom, "Are they any good?" "They should be, they been around for a while," was Tom's answer. I think we only entered the competition, so we could play at the Chas & Dave pub.
Anyway, we got to the pub, three hours before our turn was up. Apparently, we didn't need to set up any of our gear. The whole place was already set up, a good drum kit included.
Only four bands were in the competition that night, three sets each to perform and we were the last on the list.
Sitting in one corner was Chas with couple of his mates having a drink. Tom and I went over and introduced ourselves, sat and joined the conversation. I found Chas to be talkative, very jolly, but also quite tough.
Eventually the first band went on. They were too heavy on the drums, too loud too. Chas told them to keep the volume down, and after the first number he told them to get off the stage. While the next band went on we went and got some drinks and returned and sat with Chas. Our band replacements finally had arrived. Unknown to me, our replacement bass player was Alan Warner from the Foundations, and his mate, our drummer for the night, was none other than Mick Avory from the Kinks. Apparently, sometimes Alan invited Avory to come and drum for the new reformed Foundations. What a set up. Chas recognised Avory straight away, and he knew Alan too. We bought some more drinks for our new arrivals and sat and listened to the second rock band.
Unfortunately because we weren't a complete original band, we couldn't enter the competition, but who cared. At the end of the evening and having quite a lot to drink, we got up and played some numbers, accompanied by Chas. It was one of the most unforgettable nights I ever had performing with professionals. A few years later the pub was sold. Only a long gone memory still remains.
Johnny Pearce
Went there a couple of times Chris, a great night. I heard from themselves that it was shut down as they could not make a profit as the staff was fiddling too much? Maybe they drunk the profits? Micky S. did you know that there was a brewery in London Fields Hackney? They do a tour of the brewery, maybe worth a visit one day?
And just to get off of football and music for a second, does any one know where the term "Kippers on Horseback” came from? My dad always used to use this when we had Kippers and I never found out what it meant?
Alan French
Hi Chris and All
Your story was so enjoyable I had to join in and expand the subject further. My experience of auditions are way behind me. As far as I can remember some of those auditions were used to bring a band in for a couple of hours thereby having free entertainment. I suppose a comparison these days might be work experience without regular work at the end. One audition I remember well was at The Refectory in Golders Green. Musicians were congregating all around. The reward was a resident gig at a club in Germany. A big prize in the late 60's. I couldn't say how many bands were there but to give some idea auditions started around 5.30 pm and lasted until closing time. There were some good bands there that day and I quickly realised we were ill prepared. I don't remember which songs we played but in our set list then was The Kinks Sunny Afternoon. I would say at this stage in our career we were ' Getting It Together.' I never saw any famous faces there. There was a band who played their version of The Dixie Cups song IKO IKO ( my grandma and you grandma sitting by the fire ) they were very professional. Their harmonies were exceptional. I guess they got the gig. Other auditions I remember were at The Bell Walthamstow and The Duragon Arms in Homerton. We got the gig at the last named.
I met Clem Curtis, singer with the Foundations twice. The first meeting was in a lift on the P&O liner Ventura. He was part of the entertainment on that cruise. I have to say his voice is standing up well these days and he still has the skill to win over audiences. It was a close encounter in that lift and he was outnumbered, there were two of us. I asked him how he kept his voice in good order. He said it was all down to smoking cigars. I wondered if it was his best joke? The second meeting was on the Azura, still doing the cabaret rounds for P&O. In between these dates I saw him when he opened the show for Bill Medley at Wembley Arena this being in 2013. The seats for that show were £100 which could be seen as extortionate. Obviously close to the stage we had a great view. Now, the only reason we paid this much was because Gary Puckett was also on the bill and wanted to see him. I believe it was his first gig in the UK. Clem Curtis was backed by a dubious line up of The Foundations and did a short set which included the hits. Of course they are what the fans want to hear. The show was sponsored by Gold Radio and the organisation was a bit of a shambles. Gary Puckett was next up backed by a reformed Union Gap dressed in Confederate uniforms and we weren't disappointed. His voice still has an amazing range and he had the best three piece band I've ever heard. The sound they achieved was very close to his original recordings and for me he was the star of the show. At this point we were prepared to leave the arena and make tracks but we stayed on and the next act was a very young version of the Drifters led by Ray Lewis an original Drifter who at his big age surprised everyone with his voice. They were very good but with no live band and using backing tracks it was like listening to a luxurious Karaoke performance. Bill Medley sang his hits You've Lost That Loving Feeing, ( I've had ) The Time Of My Life and Unchained Melody, with his daughter taking the harmony part of the late Bobby Hatfield. It was a very polished set. At least I saw one of The Righteous Brothers live.
Back to my second meeting with Clem Curtis on the Azura 2014. After his set he was selling his live cd's outside the theatre and I made sure I was first in line. As he was signing the cd case I told him I paid £100 to see him at Wembley the previous year which took him by total surprise. No charge for his cd.
Your meeting with Chas Hodges must have been enlightening and to sing and play on the same stage memorable. I never met him. I did like his work with Head Hands and Feet whose singer Tony Colton lived in Clements Street ( Offord Road ) at some point. Guitarist Ray Smith also lived in the area, somewhere around The Cally.
Chris Zindilis
Hello Alan, John P and all
Thanks for your email: very interesting stories, and comments indeed.
Yes, it was great to have met Chas. What a great personality and a true professional. As you rightly said, having competitions was a cheap way to have in-house entertainment week after week. I remember having a conversation that night with Mick Avory, and he was telling us about all the problems he had with Ray Davies while he was with the Kinks; the rivalry going on between them was huge and that was one of the reasons that they eventually split up.
Some years back when the film "There's something about Mary," starring Cameron Diaz, was made and shown at the cinemas, one of the songs that headed the film was one of the Foundation's numbers. All of a sudden they were in great demand. I remember they started doing a tour of the country - a tour that lasted over a year and finished over in Australia. I remember going and seeing Alan Warner off before he went to Australia.
My mate Tom and Alan Warner were brought up and lived in Borehamwood, they were class mates and were always very good friends, so even when Alan made it, he never forgot the great friendship he and Tom had. So he was always there for Tom and our band. When Tom's son was 18 he came over to the birthday party and joined Tom's band and we had a great night doing the old songs.
I don't know if you remember what was once the "Old Thatch Barn" that was off the A1 off Borehamwood. About fifteen years ago, Tom hired one of the main halls there for a Christmas do; a Christmas party for all his friends, and all night we had the newly reformed Foundations band and Tom's band as our entertainment. As a favour to Tom, Alan brought with him that night the original singer of the foundations, Clem Curtis stepped in and did the original hit songs. He was unbelievable - like you said; still had that incredible voice, a true professional. I remember when we all sat around one of the tables that night having a drink, Clem was telling us how he did associated acts with Arthur Brown, Johnny Johnson, Johnny Benson, Mike Elliot, and Colin Young among many others. What a great bloke. We rocked and rolled all night.
That was a Christmas party to remember.
Alan French
What can I say? As you met Clem Curtis you will know what a nice man he is. At the beginning of his act now he talks about having many wives so has to carry on working. Not sure if that is tongue in cheek or not but seems to get through to the audience in a good way. He must be about 74 years old. I am surprised he was associated with Arthur Brown as his style is completely different and is one of my favs.
I did see Mick Avory play in the 90's. It was at a private party at a private club in Crystal Palace. It was obviously a put together blues band. My only regret was I didn't get to speak to him. I think Ray Davies had a lot of problems with his brother Dave. The famous incident when a cymbal was thrown on stage. I know they had the best following in Muswell Hill, becoming known as The Muswell Hillbillies.
Roger Osborn
Talking of Violet Kray reminded me of when I was a humble clerk working in the Finsbury health centre in Pine Street
'Her boys' aka the twins used to bring her to Pine Street( before my time) when she was more mobile
I used to send out appointments for elderly patients to have there feet treated at home and Mrs Kray was one of our patients.
The post office and the chiropodists both decided to go on strike at the same time. So it was left to me to write to all the patients and tell them their appointments were cancelled .
This meant hand delivering the letters personally all over Finsbury so I hope you can understand how quietly I crept up to 68 Braithwaite House, Bunhill Row (the address the boys gave later at their trial at the Old Bailey) slipped the letter even quieter through the letter box and then f###ed off down the stairs sharpish.
Paul Kenealy
Hi Alan, Chris & all GOBBs.
You have nailed the subject of auditions Alan. When I started playing in about 1962 we always had to audition, or enter talent comps. Billy P-J and I did a few auditions with Steve Howe, in pubs in the Cally, The Albion in Thornhill Road, The PO Club in Roman Way and a youth club in Georges Road. After that last gig Steve decided to find band mates with more talent. In '63 I joined a band called The Cardinals. We got a residency in a club in Westbourne Grove, and the club owner became our manager. He got us an 'audition' at the 2I's in Old Compton Street. We played for about two hours on a Sunday afternoon (not a sunny one) We were given the old heave ho, and Tom Littlewood didn't even answer our phone calls. However about a year later we did another 'audition' also at the 2I's, and this time we were rewarded with a tour of European US army bases.
We auditioned a girl singer as we were told they wanted a female face in the lineup. We weren't happy with at set-up, but went ahead with the booking. At the last minute, about a couple of days before we left, this girl or her mother decided that four weeks in a Bedford Dormobile with five hairy musicians was not the way she wanted to spend the summer. We were offered a longer booking but decided that four weeks was long enough for us all too. But we had a great time and became much better musicians playing every day. We didn't earn a fortune but came home slightly better off, but needing a bath.
Alan French
I laughed at your last comment about the bath. You describe things as they were. A girl singer was sometimes mandatory for gigs at American Bases. We only worked for one week in Germany ever. It was the Storyville Club in Frankfurt in January when the snow was at its most. The journey was horrendous. The club wasn't too bad. We were supposed to all sleep in bunk beds in a tiny room at the back of the club. No dimmed lighting just bright strip lighting. The idea was to play your sets ( morning, noon and night ) then roll off stage and get into you bunk bed. We didn't take any of that, after one night we found rooms to stay in. The club owner certainly got his money's worth out of the group's. Dominic Grant was with us then so much of the focus was on him. I remember Dominic sitting at a table one lunchtime talking with Brian Auger ( Hammond Organ / Julie Driscoll ) Brian's new album had just been released. It was being played in the club at the time. Of course it was jazz orientated. Now, some people can't relate to jazz. Brian asked Dominic what he thought of the music being played at that time, I don't think the answer what was wanted. Brian looked disappointed. We finished the week and got our money. I have to say because we were paid in Deutsch Marks, I actually went home with a tidy sum -it was when the pound was running low.
Paul, I wonder how you managed to fit your gear and yourselves into that Dormobile . Must have been uncomfortable. This was part of the fun about gigging, better than working. You've done this and I think it give us a different outlook on life.
I am disappointed Steve Howe never replied to you. It doesn't take very much to do this. If he did, it only makes sense as he would gain more fans. At least when I contacted Ray Russell ( Baldwin ) ( one of our own ) he answered me straight away. I was touched by this. It's all about feelings, I think.
Griff Lewis
Have to agree Tam, he showed great promise even back in '63/'64 when I used to see him at "Klooks Kleek" (aka the Railway Hotel, West Hampstead) where he used to play as interval singer to the headline acts.
Saw Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson there, plus quite a few home grown bands.
Great memories to look back on.
From Wikipedia: Klooks Kleek was a jazz and rhythm n’ blues club at the Railway Hotel, West Hampstead, North West London. Named after a 1956 album by jazz drummer Kenny Clarke entitled Klook’s Clique, the club opened on 11 January 1961 with special guest Don Rendell (tenor sax) and closed nine years later on 28 January 1970 after a session by drummer Keef Hartley’s group.
There were over 1200 sessions at Klook’s Kleek, around 300 of them featuring jazz and the remainder rhythm ‘n’ blues. Zoot Money, Ten Years After, John Mayall and Graham Bond recorded live albums at KK. The UK Blues boom of the early 1960s brought to the club many living legends. The full story of the club and the Decca Studios next door is told in a book by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms (Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek: West Hampstead's Musical Heritage Remembered), which includes Appendices listing every jazz, blues and RnB artiste who appeared. [Ed]
Tam Joseph
I heard about "Klooks Kleek" but never went there. I saw The Cream at Hornsey College of Art and Hendrix when he played his first gig at The Saville Theatre.
The Royal College of Art had a "Do" every 2nd Friday of the month, it was great because they invited a lot of 'jobber bands" featuring good musicians to entertain the Art students. Also the best looking women in town always went to those art school gigs!
Micky Simmonds
I saw Rod at the Downbeat Manor House playing with Jimmy Powell & the Five Dimensions; even then he had a great voice.
How the other half lives …
May 2020
Paul Kenealy
Hi Martin and friends,
I’m just sending this as a note to you few to show you how Canonbury was revered in our household.
I was born in Newington Green, on the Islington side, so our postal address in those days was Islington N5.
When I was about 8 years old, about 1955, we moved to the prestigious LCC Council Estate ‘Highbury Quadrant’, which was not only brand new, but the LCC were very particular about the tenants, none of the rubbish allowed by Islington, or Peabody or any of those homes for the poor.
My mum got a job as secretary to the curator of The Geffrey Museum in Hackney, the centre of the furniture trade in the 19th Century. The curator was a lady named Molly Harrison, and my mother was her personal assistant as well as keeper of the account books (mum had previously worked for an accountancy firm).
When mum was interviewed she obviously had to give her address and telephone number; yes we were on the telephone even then. She replied Canonbury 7718. Oh, said Mrs Harrison, you live in Canonbury. Yes, lied mum, just north of Canonbury Tower. Molly Harrison never came to our flat, so didn’t know we lived on an Estate.
When I asked Bill Pitt-Jones some years ago why I always went to his flat in Beaconsfield Buildings to play guitar after school, but he never visited me, he replied that as we had a telephone he thought we were too posh.
Happy Days (to come)
A Word to the Wise from the not so …
Paul Kenealy
A few months ago I saw an advertisement on Facebook which fascinated me. It was from a guitar shop in San Francisco which claimed to be going out of business. There were photographs of the vast shop with guitars all over the walls. Fender Stratocasters, Telecasters, Precision Basses, Gretch Country Gentlemen; Electro Jets, Gibson 335’s, 175’s and Les Pauls. Now, as a guitarist since a teenager, I have owned and lost and bought again plenty of guitars, but never a Gibson Les Paul.
As it happens on my travels, once of which I visited Keith Morgan in California, I had actually been in this shop on California Avenue in San Francisco. And it was a massive shop. The advert claimed ALL the stock was to be sold at knock down prices to clear the inventory prior to the shop closing. The slogan stated ALL PRICES START AT $99.99. Too good to be true I told myself, and moved on to the next item. A couple of days later the same advert appeared, and so on for the next few days. I phoned my friend Chris and told him the story and he agreed with me that it was, indeed, too good to be true.
Then it occurred to me – against all my better senses – that a Les Paul would complete my current collection of guitars, so I decided to take a chance. I went onto the website and ordered a Gold Top Gibson Les Paul standard, with hard case for $99.99 including postage. As usual I paid using my PayPal account. A day later my bank told me that PayPal had requested £69.00 from my account. I got an invoice from the shop promising delivery in 4 to 6 weeks. I sat back waiting patiently for my new guitar to arrive.
The six weeks duly went by and no guitar arrived. I contacted PayPal and claimed a refund. PayPal told me that I had to email the company and wait seven days before they would proceed with my claim. I duly emailed the company and forwarded the email to PayPal. Needless to say that I had NO REPLY from the shop, so seven days later I once again contacted PayPal and they conceded I was due for a refund, and that I should check my bank account in three days. Yes, I had been conned.
Three days later I checked my bank online and was delighted to see a payment there from PayPal. Wondering how much the fluctuating exchange rate had affected me, I looked at the amount of refund and there WAS a change; I was reimbursed for £79.00, ten pounds more than I had paid! Six weeks of worrying had earned me a tenner. I phoned my friend Chris and he said I should’ve ordered ten guitars!
Moral of the story: you win some, you lose some, but as PayPal are insured and charge the retailer a fee, the customer sometimes can win.
Paul Kenealy
Hi Martin and friends,
I’m just sending this as a note to you few to show you how Canonbury was revered in our household.
I was born in Newington Green, on the Islington side, so our postal address in those days was Islington N5.
When I was about 8 years old, about 1955, we moved to the prestigious LCC Council Estate ‘Highbury Quadrant’, which was not only brand new, but the LCC were very particular about the tenants, none of the rubbish allowed by Islington, or Peabody or any of those homes for the poor.
My mum got a job as secretary to the curator of The Geffrey Museum in Hackney, the centre of the furniture trade in the 19th Century. The curator was a lady named Molly Harrison, and my mother was her personal assistant as well as keeper of the account books (mum had previously worked for an accountancy firm).
When mum was interviewed she obviously had to give her address and telephone number; yes we were on the telephone even then. She replied Canonbury 7718. Oh, said Mrs Harrison, you live in Canonbury. Yes, lied mum, just north of Canonbury Tower. Molly Harrison never came to our flat, so didn’t know we lived on an Estate.
When I asked Bill Pitt-Jones some years ago why I always went to his flat in Beaconsfield Buildings to play guitar after school, but he never visited me, he replied that as we had a telephone he thought we were too posh.
Happy Days (to come)
A Word to the Wise from the not so …
Paul Kenealy
A few months ago I saw an advertisement on Facebook which fascinated me. It was from a guitar shop in San Francisco which claimed to be going out of business. There were photographs of the vast shop with guitars all over the walls. Fender Stratocasters, Telecasters, Precision Basses, Gretch Country Gentlemen; Electro Jets, Gibson 335’s, 175’s and Les Pauls. Now, as a guitarist since a teenager, I have owned and lost and bought again plenty of guitars, but never a Gibson Les Paul.
As it happens on my travels, once of which I visited Keith Morgan in California, I had actually been in this shop on California Avenue in San Francisco. And it was a massive shop. The advert claimed ALL the stock was to be sold at knock down prices to clear the inventory prior to the shop closing. The slogan stated ALL PRICES START AT $99.99. Too good to be true I told myself, and moved on to the next item. A couple of days later the same advert appeared, and so on for the next few days. I phoned my friend Chris and told him the story and he agreed with me that it was, indeed, too good to be true.
Then it occurred to me – against all my better senses – that a Les Paul would complete my current collection of guitars, so I decided to take a chance. I went onto the website and ordered a Gold Top Gibson Les Paul standard, with hard case for $99.99 including postage. As usual I paid using my PayPal account. A day later my bank told me that PayPal had requested £69.00 from my account. I got an invoice from the shop promising delivery in 4 to 6 weeks. I sat back waiting patiently for my new guitar to arrive.
The six weeks duly went by and no guitar arrived. I contacted PayPal and claimed a refund. PayPal told me that I had to email the company and wait seven days before they would proceed with my claim. I duly emailed the company and forwarded the email to PayPal. Needless to say that I had NO REPLY from the shop, so seven days later I once again contacted PayPal and they conceded I was due for a refund, and that I should check my bank account in three days. Yes, I had been conned.
Three days later I checked my bank online and was delighted to see a payment there from PayPal. Wondering how much the fluctuating exchange rate had affected me, I looked at the amount of refund and there WAS a change; I was reimbursed for £79.00, ten pounds more than I had paid! Six weeks of worrying had earned me a tenner. I phoned my friend Chris and he said I should’ve ordered ten guitars!
Moral of the story: you win some, you lose some, but as PayPal are insured and charge the retailer a fee, the customer sometimes can win.