The K Factor

If you are a performer with an ambition to become famous, for the past 10 years or so you will have had the opportunity to take a fast track to instant stardom. I’m talking, of course, about Pop Idol and its successor, the X Factor. If you have something resembling talent and can make it past the initial stages that eliminate the cringe-fodder, the weirdos and the no-hopers, you could be in with a chance of realising your ambition.

Even if you don’t get to the finals, you will have undergone professional coaching, met influential showbiz people and have been seen by millions of viewers worldwide. However much people hate the concept of X Factor or the programme itself, there is no doubt that for some lucky participants the TV show has helped them bypass years of hard work.

In the mid sixties, when 17 year old Kim Davis from the north east began her career as a professional singer, ‘fast track’ wasn’t in a performer’s vocabulary. Although Kim definitely had what’s now known as the X factor, It took her nearly 17 years of hard work to achieve a hit single and, tragically, those 17 years turned out to be less than one half of her short life.

Kim and the Kinetics in 1964

Kim Davis emerged as a force to be reckoned with in1964 when she started singing in north east clubs with a four piece backing band, collectively known as Kim and Kinetics. One of the clubs at which the band appeared regularly was the Beach Club in South Shields. With her great voice and dynamic stage presence it wasn’t long before she was recognised as being a potential star. Whilst performing on the club circuit, possibly at the Beach Club, Kim came to the attention of Newcastle club owner and entrepreneur Ray Grehan. Ray had been involved in Newcastle’s Club A’Gogo in its early days and by 1964 he owned a couple of north east clubs – The Scene in Middlesbrough and the Blue Note in Sunderland. Ray Grehan became the manager of Kim and the Kinetics and started promoting them in the north east and beyond.

In September 1964 Kim and the Kinetics became part of the Geordie Sound tour with five other north east bands. The Geordie Sound was designed to showcase north east talent following the Animals success. The show was scheduled to kick off in the north east followed by a number of bookings nationwide. In addition to the north east bands, a number of popular national acts including the Merseybeats and a young Joe Cocker were booked in an attempt to boost audience numbers. The Geordie Sound tour was not particularly successful and did little to raise Kim’s profile either locally or nationally. Following the tour Kim and the Kinetics continued to play at venues in the north east, still under the management of Ray Grehan.

Excerpt from the Geordie Sound Tour souvenir programme

At the beginning of 1965 Ray Grehan bought into a struggling entertainment agency in the Doncaster area called the Chris Wainwright Agency. Around this time I started playing sax for the Kylastrons who, at the time, were getting work through Ray Grehan at his two north east clubs; the Blue Note and the Scene. Ray started providing additional bookings for the Kylastrons and Kim and the Kinetics in the Yorkshire area through the newly acquired Wainwright agency. On several occasions in the early months of 1965 the Kylastrons stayed in the same digs as the Kinetics when both bands were playing in the Yorkshire area. It was rumoured at the time that Ray wasn’t happy with the existing Kinetics lineup. At the end of February Ray approached me during a Kylastron gig at the Blue Note and asked me if I would join Kim’s band as a sax player. As things were going OK with the Kylastrons I declined the offer. Not long after Kim parted company with Kinetics and needed a whole new band.

In the months that followed Kim teamed up with a top north east band – The Del 5. At the time the Del 5 were playing regularly at the Ray Grehan’s Blue Note club. According to drummer Mike Tulloch, the band was approached by Wally Nash who managed the Blue Note for Ray and asked if they would be interested in backing Kim Davis on a professional basis. The band agreed and started performing with her under the new name of ‘Kim D and the Del 5’ in what was to become a very successful partnership.

Kim and the Del 5 – left to right: Bernie Watson (keys), Billy Wilson (guitar/vocals), Colin Woodland (lead guitar), Mike Tulloch (drums), Kim and Sid Cross (bass)

Kim D and the Del 5 toured throughout Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire playing at contrasting venues such as the Scala in Doncaster and Ollerton Miner’s Welfare Club near Mansfield. They were also doing gigs as far away as the Rhondda Valley in South Wales where they received great receptions, in particular when Kim sang a couple of Shirley Bassey songs.

Around the back end of 1965 or early 1966, Ray Grehan arranged an important audition for Kim and the band at the Starlight Rooms in London. The audition was in front of Colin Berlin, who was Tom Jones’ booking agent and the London impresario, Arthur Howes. Unfortunately, the audition failed to achieve a deal for Kim and the band as Berlin and Howes were not happy with Ray Grehan’s terms.

Although neither of the agents signed Kim and the Del 5, the band did subsequently get some prestigious gigs through Colin Berlin, including the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth and Sheffield City Hall. They also toured with Roy Orbison on his 1966 Spring UK tour which also included the Walker Brothers and Lulu. The 33 venue tour opened on 25th March 1966 at Finsbury Park Astoria and closed at the Coventry Theatre on 1st May 1966. The Del 5s drummer, Mike Tulloch remembers travelling on the tour bus with Roy Orbison whilst the Walker brothers travelled separately in a Mark 10 Jaguar. On the second day of the tour Roy fell off a motorbike and had to do at least one gig with his leg in a cast.

Ad for the Roy Orbison tour

After the tour, Kim D and the Del 5 went back to playing the club circuit in various parts of England and Wales. By this time they had released a single on Decca records called ‘Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away’. The song was written by a Welsh songwriter called Rod Thomas who the band met on one of their tours in Wales – more about the song on this link. In spite of the record being featured as the ‘Hallmarked Hit of the Week’ on DJ Tony Hall’s show for Radio Luxemburg, it failed to take off in the charts. Kim also had some TV exposure without the band on the Tom Jones Show plus some other work for Tyne Tees Television but this, too, failed to launch her as a national star.

Eventually Kim D and the Del 5 parted company leaving Kim without a backing band. At the beginning of April 1968 during one of my gigs with a band called Village at The Carousel Club in Chester-le-Street, I was approached by Ray Grehan for a second time and asked if I was interested in joining a band he was managing. Once again I declined the offer of the work, which I presumed was to be part of Kim’s new backing band. As it happens, the guitarist from my previous band, Keith Pongo Waring started playing with Kim so I would have been in good company. The new band, which was to include a two piece sax section was called the Del 7.

Kim Davis and the Del 7 at Newcastle City Hall – left to right: Sid Cross (bass), Keith Pongo Waring (guitar), Tommy Sloan (drums), Kim, Peter Parkinson (tenor sax), Mick Whittaker (baritone sax)

During the period that Kim Davis was managed by Ray Grehan, she released four singles on various labels: -

Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away / Feelin’ Blue (Kim D and The Del 5) – 1966 on Decca
The Real Thing / Come On Baby (Kim D) – 1968 on Pye
Until It’s Time For You To Go / I Hold No Grudge (Kim Davis) – 1968 on CBS
Are You Ready For Love / A Taste Of Excitement (Kim Davis) – 1969 on CBS

Click on the tracks below to listen to Kim:-

Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away
Feelin’ Blue
The Real Thing
Come On Baby
Are You Ready

Although none of the singles were chart hits, a couple of them became popular with Northern Soul fans and can still be found on various Northern Soul compilation CDs.

In the seventies Kim Davis worked around the north east club scene without a backing band. By this time her career as a solo recording artist had come to an end.

Then her fortunes changed. In 1979 she joined a disco/soul band called Eruption, replacing their singer Precious Wilson. Eruption was a British band who had become very successful in Germany after being discovered by Boney M producer Frank Farian. By the time Kim joined the band they had already released a couple of albums and had achieved a number 5 UK chart hit – ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’.

Kim with Eruption in 1980

Kim appeared on Eruption’s third album ‘Fight, Fight, Fight’ and on the single ‘Go Johnny Go’ which was a big chart hit in Germany in 1980. Tragedy struck the same year when Kim suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage. Some reports state that Kim was killed in a car accident so it is possible that the haemorrhage was brought about by a head injury sustained in an accident.

There are several videos on Youtube featuring Eruption performing ‘Go Johnny Go’ but so far I haven’t found one with Kim as the vocalist. However the following Youtube performance of ‘One Way Ticket’ does feature footage (but not the voice) of Kim and claims to be a rare video of her: -

So there was no instant X Factor type stardom for Kim Davis. Her deserved success was a long time coming and Kim’s way involved a lot of hard work – the K Factor.

BAND OF BROTHERS

During the late sixties and early seventies, while I was playing in Newcastle bands, I would occasionally come into contact with two Newcastle musicians; vocalist, Brian Goulden and his brother – drummer, Colin Goulden. Although I never played in the same band as the brothers, we knew the same musicians, a handful of which played alongside myself and at different times with the Gouldens. Brian and Colin were well known, respected musicians in the sixties and seventies. This is their story, as told by Brian: -

THE FACTS O’ LIFE

In Autumn ’64 I went home one night to find my youngest brother, Colin and two of his school friends in our kitchen. Colin was known to play a perfect rendition of the drums for “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris. His friends were Dave Winter and Jim Sharp. They had guitars and little amps. Our Colin only had a snare drum and a hi-hat and they were learning a Chuck berry song called “Sweet Little Sixteen”.

I was asked to sing so I suggested “Baby let me take you home” by The Animals, which was in the charts. I suppose the band was formed there and then and we arranged to meet again. We called ourselves “The Facts of Life” after a suggestion by Mickey Watson – (you know who you are).

Having practised like mad for months, we had one problem – we didn’t have a bass player!! This did not stop us doing a couple of ‘bookings’ at local youth clubs to dip our toes in the water and we went down well enough to boost our growing confidence. However, we knew we had to get a bass player so we enlisted a guy from Shieldfield whose name was Keith Penfold. Around about the same time, Jim left so we brought in a young organist called Ian Pearce. Ian had a new Vox Continental, which were the keyboards of choice at the time. Looking back at our early years it was definitely a case of “Light blue touch paper and stand back”.

Facts o’ Life – Left to right (back): Jim Sharp, Ian Pearce, Brian Goulden, Colin Goulden and Keith Penfold: Front – Dave Winter

We went to youth clubs to see the top local bands of the time like the The Elcort. This was when Terry Fairlamb was the bass player. I remember Dek with his big Gretsch guitar. We thought they were the bee’s knees. They used to play an Edvard Grieg instrumental, “In The Hall Of The Mountain King” (from Peer Gynt). Rob Turner – (I think it was Rob) – used to dress up as a bloody mummy and go down into the audience to scare the girls, which became a dangerous thing to do. Great band!!!

Another was The Unknowns – classy, competent and who did songs nobody else did. Of course they went on to become The Chosen Few. We were forever poaching songs from other bands. There were lots to admire; we had no shame! We did a gig at the Banqueting Hall in Jesmond Dene with another local super group of the day, The Lectrons. When we asked them what they thought of our performance they replied, “crap”, which we thought was very encouraging of them. Thanks lads for your input!

Over the next two years the band, which now had my elder bother Alan as Roadie, quickly gained popularity and we went from playing church halls and youth clubs to playing bigger gigs.

One experience I must share with you from this time is this; we were booked at Consett Co-op Hall and on arrival we went into the rear of the building. After setting up our gear we went to get changed in a back room which must have functioned as a small kitchen. After playing our one hour set we retired back to the room. The room had large sash windows to one side, one of which was open to the fire escape which ran up the side of the building. All of sudden a young man stepped through the window into the room. It was Colin Blunstone closely followed by Rod Argent. We were dumbstruck. It was The Zombies. We all said hello to the band; we could not believe our luck. Later on, they got into a huddle on the other side of the room and rehearsed a four part harmony of “Tracks Of My Tears” – it was absolute perfection. They played to a virtually empty room and after every song the only thing you could hear was our band’s applause for them. It was a disgrace when you think how big they were and how huge they were to become in the States.

We had also started playing venues like the Rex Hotel (Saturday, Sunday and Monday), the Mayfair and the Locarno in Sunderland. We never seemed to be away from those venues. The first time we played the Mayfair was with my heroes, The Animals and The Gamblers. When we were booked at the gig of the day, the Club a’GoGo, we really did think we were stars! We did the Cellar Club on Beach Road, South Shields a few times. When it changed site to Thomas St, they had new formica-topped tables installed with all the band’s names on them from the old site. We were thrilled to see ours on them – “Facts o’ Life”.

BERT’S APPLE CRUMBLE

We played at many other venues and my memory recalls that it was a very exciting time to be a teenager, let alone be in a band. It was now into ’67 and the band’s music was changing as was the music of most other bands. We were doing Spencer Davis numbers and a couple of Alan Bown songs, along with the popular numbers of the day. In ‘66 we had come across single by a London mod band called The Quik. We were already doing one of their songs “Love Is a Beautiful Thing”. Their second single was “King Of The World” c/w “Bert’s Apple Crumble” which is an instrumental. We thought it would be really cool to change the band’s name. The Elcort had split and we had become friends with Rob Turner and he was asked to join the band, which he did. The transition from ‘Facts o’ Life’ to ‘Bert’s Apple Crumble’ was seamless and gig-wise we were introduced to pastures new.

Brian

We had become friends with Bill Keith of Quay Club fame and he kind of took us under his wing. He introduced the band to an agent in Carlisle called Monica Linton, who booked lots of venues over there. So as well as our hometown gigs we were now going to such venues as Wigton Town Hall, Brampton Town Hall, The County in Carlisle, Whitehaven Rugby Club and a gig which became a favourite of ours, the Tow Bar Inn, which was a big caravan park situated at Egremont. When you played the Tow Bar you were booked for two nights – Saturday and Sunday. The management used to supply the band with a “used” caravan for the weekend. This arrangement was fine during the summer; in fact, it was fantastic; but during the winter it was far from glamorous. This was in the days of gas mantles and little wood burning stoves in caravans. Have you ever had to look for something to burn on a caravan site, especially on a icy cold winters day? We had a little cooker to provide a meal; that’s if we had the foresight to take something to cook. Picture this – 6 in the band, 1 roadie, plus other ‘guests’; it was not ideal. Besides this, the bar only sold pickled eggs and beer. It was wild, but we loved it!.

Colin

Rob was not with the band that long as he left to join a band in Carlisle but we carried on towards the back end of ‘67. Colin and I had come across an album in ‘Windows’ in ’66. We had been encouraging the band to start doing songs from that album but they were not interested. We decided to find other like-minded people and announced our departure from the band. The album was, “The Doors”!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of both the “Facts”, and “Bert’s”, for ‘being there’ during the early years. You were magic!

On one of our nights out to see another band, we went to the Quay Club; Just Bent were playing, fronted by Rob Rudd (see Sneeze). We were acquainted with all the band as they came from the same estate as Colin and me. We were really impressed with their lead guitarist – his name was Alan Gay. He was a student of fine art at Newcastle University and he was a great guitarist. Colin and I are only little guys but Alan must have fell asleep in a grow bag – he was over 6 foot. The band played a song called, “Hey Grandma”, which had been released that year on a album by Moby Grape, which was finger picked by Alan throughout. We were sold! After talking with him during the break, we devised a ‘cunning plan’. We joined Just Bent, (their drummer joined The Village) and we added to their gig diary with our Carlisle connections. The band were very commercially safe, but, save the lead guitarist, were not very adventurous musically. This was very apparent when we were booked at the Newcastle University Ballroom supporting The Jeff Beck Band, featuring Rod Stewart. It was total clash of musical abilities and musical styles. The music scene in the North East was changing rapidly and we tried to change the band into something they could never be. Three of the band were against the other three in the band, so we were not with them very long. We left, taking the lead guitarist with us. Sorry Lads!

Brian

WEST SIDE STORY

In late ‘67, early ‘68, we set about recruiting other band members. The first being John Bunford, who I had heard of  but did not know. John was the bass player of the Footappers, who were a local band and they had been big in the early sixties. He had not struck a note since. After much cajoling and pestering, he agreed to come on board. If we were to do ‘Doors’ tunes, we had to have a organist, so we sought out, and poached “Bert’s” organist back from The Village; (sorry Roger). We started to rehearse in a class room at our old school youth club and got our set list together. We must have been doing at least six Doors numbers from the first and second album, which included “Light My Fire” and “Love Me Two Times”. We also did “Fresh Garbage”, a song by Spirit. We also included, “She’s Not There” by the Zombies and “Summer In The City”, a Lovin’ Spoonful song. We did a blistering version of “And Your Bird Can Sing” – the Beatles “Revolver” track, because it showed off Alan’s picking skills. We did “Sunshine Help Me”, which was a Spooky Tooth number, and “Rock and Roll Woman”, by Buffalo Springfield.

We started gigging, but nowhere near the rate that we had previously enjoyed. I remember regular gigs at the Rex and Lampglass Cellar at Ashington; also Wigton Town Hall where we twice bumped into The Cobwebs, who were a band from around the Carlisle area. They had in their ranks a guy who played the most beautiful white Gibson SG. It is remarkable what sticks in your mind. Coincidentally, this was the band Rob Turner had left Bert’s for. He only auditioned for the job, but didn’t get it.

We still had our friendship with Bill Keith but he no longer had anything to do with the Quay Club. He decided to create an office above a garage in Jesmond. My brothers and I assisted in painting it out etc. It was carpeted out and a desk and phone were installed. My elder brother is Alan who has always been our stalwart roadie. With Bill’s connections and help we were going to start an agency called ‘Boro Entertainments’. The plan was to swap bands up and down the country. In that way we could up the profile of, not only ourselves, but other worthy bands from Newcastle. And may I say, they were numerous. In order to give the agency some credence, they had to start big!

Colin

We had done a couple of gigs at Hillheads, situated behind Whitley Bay Ice Rink and was capable of holding three to four hundred people. Who could he put on to fill the place? We put our heads together and came up with The Alan Bown Set! My brother Alan booked the band for a fee of £200 with us in support. It was ticket only entrance; a sell out; and a great success. The Alan Bown Set did not disappoint. Alan, next turned his attention to The Lampglass Cellar in Ashington and asked Dougie, who ran it, who he would really love to have at his club? He chose and got, for a fee of £200 – Fleetwood Mac! This was unbelievable when I think back how big they were at the time and how small the place was. Again it was easily sold out and has gone down in the annals of rock in that part of the North East. I remember a lot of promo photos, arriving from London, pushing up and coming bands of the day – among them were Jethro Tull, Ten years After and Chicken Shack. Just when Alan was getting into his stride, Bill was involved in a horrific crash on the Coast Road and wrote off his Mercedes. He was badly injured and without his input the whole idea just lost its momentum, which was a real shame as we will never know where it might have led us. Mr Bill Keith, died a few years ago. Gone, but not forgotten, what a great guy he was!

We had the use of a brand new Commer van at the time, but it got damaged one night when we ran over some broken glass outside the Rex. It went to get fixed and I never saw it again, so we were vanless! We had been in contact with an agent in Coventry and he booked the band for 3 months playing American Army bases in Germany, but no transport! On the Wednesday of the week we were due to leave, Bill purchased an old Thames Ambulance for £50 from Coopers Auction Rooms at the bottom of Westgate Road. With no Tax, no insurance and a £25 kitty that Alan Gay managed to wangle from his bank, we left on Saturday morning. We were booked firstly for one month at the ‘9 High Club’. It was on a sprawling military site on the edge of Heidelberg, which is in the south of the country. Being young and stupid, we didn’t factor in just how far south it was. We arrived on Sunday evening, too late to play. They fed us, allowed us to shower, then bedded us down on the club floor for the night.

I’m not going to bore you with you with details of this trip but I’ll leave you with these thoughts. America’s involvement in the Vietnam war was in its infancy, its army were very young conscripts. Young lads plucked off the streets of the U.S.A., transported to Germany and given 6-8 weeks training before being sent to Vietnam. A tragic 250,000 plus, never saw home again. The ones we met were terrified and resentful of their circumstance.

________Colin Goulden________

If you have ever seen the film, “Good morning Vietnam”, it is to me a stark portrayal of the attitudes we encountered regarding music. The last thing the powers that be wanted, was a long haired band that reminded these young lads of the homes they had left weeks earlier. After all, our opening number was the Doors “Light my Fire”. I will conclude by saying that if it had not been for the kindness and generosity of these Gls, we would have starved. We were away 19 days, and personally I lost a stone in weight.

When we returned, our first gig back was at Alnwick Castle Hall. We were second on the bill to a band called Pickets Steam Coffin, who I had never heard of. Their claim to fame was their rendition of “America” by the Nice. Being second fiddle to them got right up our nose. They, themselves, will know how good they were! We did a few gigs booked through a Scots agent called, “Drunken Duncan”, who had a liking for fine Malts. I remember towns like Hawick and Selkirk – (the other names of which are now a blur in my memory), plus another visit to the Tow Bar and ending at Newton Stewart, which is situated right over to the west of Scotland above the Solway Firth. It was a very long drive in our old ambulance. The gig was at the local Town Halland when we got there it was a drunken Saturday night hop. We did our gig and on the way out we met the main band unloading equipment. seven lads with large afro’s. They were called The Tamla Express. “Those who are about to rock, we salute you” – AC/DC.

On the way home it rained; and it rained; and then it rained some more. Our windscreen wipers broke. We ended up pulling them back and forward with a string contraption we had to rig up – all the way home. The band had a blazing row. Everybody, including myself, was saying things that on reflection we should not have. As a result we split up! Looking back now in 2012, that band would have today been a fantastic pub band, Shame – I salute a GREAT band. Victims of circumstance.

SPYDA

Early ‘69 saw myself, Colin, and John Bunford with no band!! We frequented a local watering hole called “The Station” in Killingworth. We busied ourselves in the function room upstairs, which we had been given free use of. We contacted loads of people, eventually finding a lead guitarist called Nick McGuckin. Nick played lead in, “The Pleasure Machine” who were a popular Tyneside band. We remembered we had come across an organist when we had been viewing Hillheads the year before – his band had been practicing there. We managed to contact him and discovered that he lived locally. So Bob Braidwood joined our ranks.

Left to right: John Bunford, Colin Goulden, Nick McGuckin, Bian Goulden; seated – Bob Braidwood

We had become interested in a new band called “Yes” and were well impressed with their first album, so along with some material from West Side’s days we added a few “Yes” songs. The band had an immediate asset in that four of us sang. The harmonies the band achieved were to become a real signature of ours. We had a problem; Bob played a Farfisa organ which was not conducive to either our music or our image, so we bugged the poor lad over the months to get a Hammond, which looking back was an outrageous thing to do as they were very expensive. He got one – a Hammond L100. It weighed a ton but sounded magical. We practised for months, eventually launching ourselves at the Hadrian Youth Centre, Wallsend, where we were greeted to much acclaim. We were booked through the Birchall Agency for all of our gigs and I should point out that Nick McGuckin was Ivan Birchalls brother-in-law. The band got its gigs on merit, but our profile was further enhanced by our connections.

The band was phenomenally successful and the months were just a haze of gigs – The Mayfair, Redcar Jazz Club, (we played there so many times; twice with Rory Gallagher; twice with Terry Reid; plus others including Edgar Brougton Band and even The Sweet.) The Rex, Change Is, The Viking, and just about every college and university in the North East as well as the Golden Slipper in South Shields, a couple of Liverpool clubs, Dundee University (with Nazareth) all the local youth clubs, plus Sands in Carlisle.

Spyda at the Mayfair

During those early months, such was our success, that we decided to go ‘Big Time’. The band went into debt to purchase new sound equipment across the board. We purchased it all from Greg Burman Sound. His workshop was in Handysides Arcade which was situated just off Percy St, Newcastle. We purchased 2×412” cabs and an amp for lead, 2×412” cabs plus amp for the bass, 1 x 4 15” cab plus a horn cab and amp for the organist and finally 4×412” columns, a six channelled 100 watt powered desk (1st of its kind in the north east) plus a 100 watt slave for the PA. Boy was it impressive when it was set up.

Around about the same time, we were doing yet another Mayfair gig and a young man introduced himself to us. His name was Joe Robertson and he was the manager of local giants, The Junco Partners and Brethren, who later became Lindisfarne. He asked if we would be interested in him becoming our manager and we agreed he should. He shared a small office in Handysides Arcade and ran his band dealings from there. So not only did we have gigs through our own merit plus the support of the Birchall Agency, now we had input from Joe’s connections. Joe set up a audition for a 2 week stint at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg. The audition was at Change Is which was a night spot situated on Bath Lane, Newcastle. The guy we had to impress was Ricky who we were not introduced to on the day. I remember other bands being there including Sneeze. We were on first and we did a “Yes” version of a Beatles song, “Every little thing” plus we had been doing our own arrangement of another Beatles LP track, “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”, so we included that. I remember receiving support from Sneeze during our spot, so we reciprocated during theirs. They did an original “Stodge” number called “Take it easy”, which was good.

Brian

In late summer of 1970 we got our 2 week stint at the Top Ten for the sum of £900; it was a lot of money in those days, but boy did you have to earn it! When you were booked at the Top Ten you didn’t need to take any amplification as it was all supplied, but we needed drums and the Hammond organ, so we had to take our Transit van. The club was situated on the Reeperbaun, in the red light district of Hamburg, which is like a wide Northumberland Street  but with bars, night clubs, sex shops, and brothels; indeed on one side of the club was The Palace Del Amour and the Telephone Club on the other.

We met the other band on the ferry going over. They were called Stonewall and hailed from South Shields. They were Mal Hooper on guitar; Vic Malcolm on lead (later of Geordie fame); Micky Golden on bass (I loved his style); Paul Thompson on drums (later of Roxy music), and a guy called Sammy on vocals. He gave the impression that he had been here before and warned me of “Hamburg throat”, which he said I would suffer from. He was right!

The arrangement at the club was a 7 o’ clock start, doing 45 minutes on and 45 minutes off, between the two bands. This went on until 3 o’ clock in the morning on weekdays, and 5 o’ clock in the morning at weekends. It was gruelling work where you would repeat your entire repertoire over and over again as the audience were changing all the time. I lost my voice the first night and to make life more difficult the equipment provided was crap. The bands were provided with free accommodation at the Hotel Pacific, which was a 10-minute walk away. The “Hotel Pacific” sounds quite “exotic” doesn’t it? But we were not quite in the hotel; we were in an annexe above the kitchens at the rear of the building, which I can only describe as ‘0’ star. We climbed into our beds in the very early morning only to awoken by hotel staff, bin men, and girls on roller skates – skating up and down our lino covered hallway shouting, “Wake up Top Ten boys!” But thankfully we did not suffer every morning. We did our 2 weeks, got paid and came home. It was one hell of an experience and not one I would have shared again if the offer had come along; but it gave the band a very tight sound.

On the day we returned, we were doing a gig at the Five Bridges Hotel in Gateshead and it was a mighty relief to get back to our own gear and sound normal.

Whilst we were away, Joe Robertson had been contacted by Ivan Birchall.  They met up and decided to set up Open Door Management specifically to manage the band. Both thought we were going to be Big!

We gigged like mad and did some recording at the BBC studios in Maida Vale, London to feature on Radio One but we never heard anything more about it. (Close, but no cigar!) The band gigged all the way to just before Christmas 1970. We were doing a gig at a school in Corbridge and John the bass player was having issues with Nick’s lead playing. John and Nick had a row in a cloakroom, which we were using as a dressing room and John promptly sacked him. It was fatal

SPYDA (mark 2)

Early 71 saw myself, our Colin and Bob Braidwood searching for new band members. First on board was a very good guitarist called Micky Burlison, who hailed from Low Fell, and then we were surprised to be contacted by George Otigbah, otherwise known as ‘Stodge’ the bass player from Sneeze who wanted to join. We were astonished to hear he had been writing new material with us in mind. Bob Braidwood also had a couple of songs that he had penned, so we started to get the band together with our new songs, plus some songs from the previous band.

Left to right: Bob Braidwood, Colin Goulden, George Otigbah (Stodge), Brian Goulden and Micky Balls

I remember it not taking very long to get it together and we started gigging at the usual haunts. The band was a highly competent outfit so it was suggested we do some recordings that Joe could take to London, specifically to Charisma Records, to whom he had just sold Lindisfarne. Talk about strike while the iron’s hot!

We went to Micky Mead’s studio, which was situated in Maxie Share’s old shop, on the west side of the Grainger Market. Pierre Pedersen was the engineer. We were recording a couple of original songs, plus we recorded our rendition of The Beatles “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”. We were informed that Micky Mead was working at a studio in Hamburg. Whilst we were recording Pierre took a phone call from Micky asking, “who’s in?” and “what are they doing?”. We were not party to his phone call but Pierre must have said some kind things about us because he was told to “send the tapes over”. Around the same time, Micky Burlison decided to seek pastures new, but rather than drop us in it, he would stop on until we brought his replacement up to speed. Our new lead guitarist was another former Sneeze member called Micky Balls. For quite a few gigs we played with two lead guitarists, which was great. Out of the blue, we were informed by Joe that we had been invited on a 1 week, all expenses paid, trip to Hamburg to record an album. Of course on hearing this, Micky Burlison did not want to leave, but the die was cast and he played his last gig with us at Redcar Jazz Club, the night before we departed for Germany.

We were driven to Harwich where we boarded the ferry and were met in Hamburg by a mini bus and taken to our Hotel. We were to record at Windrose Television Studios, under the guidance of our benefactor, a guy called Herbert Helderbrant who was a successful record producerand with Micky Mead to assist. With it being a very busy television studios, all our recording was to be done through the night. Over the week, we managed to record 9 tracks in total; 8 original band songs plus “Happiness Is A Warm Gun”.

Click below to listen to Spyda’s recording of “One On The Way” (an original Spyda track written by George “Stodge” Otigbah): -

One On The Way – Spyda

(There are more Spyda recordings on the Music page)

Feeling very pleased with ourselves and egos inflated, we headed back to be met at Harwich and driven home. We had been recording on an 8-track machine, and were given some rough mix, 2 track reel tapes, to take with us. These went immediately to Charisma records, but they were not in a position to consider our band at that time.

Mayfair advert from 1970

In the meantime, Micky Meade had ‘parted’ company from his Hamburg job and had brought the 8-track tapes to Newcastle, claiming they were his! He demanded a percentage cut of any deal we made, which we were not willing to agree to; so no 8-tracks to remix. At Charisma another guy was present who had connections with a big time record producer of the early sixties. His name was Shel Talmy He had produced the early hits of The Who and The Kinks, to name but two. Colin and I were invited to London to meet him at his large apartment in Knightsbridge. We were also introduced to a guy called Hugh Murphy who was to become the record producer for Gerry Rafferty. Over the next few weeks the band made several expenses paid trips to his pad in Knightsbridge, where we sat around a table, played acoustically and sang him our original songs with harmonies. It was flawless. We knew something was up, when we started to receive demos of other peoples songs in the post, which they wanted us to learn and play to them on our next visit to London. “Amos Burke” was one song which Elvis Presley later recorded. “Freedom for the Stallion” was another, which I believe the Hues Corporation had a minor hit with. Plus a few others, which were mainly power ballads.

We were not gigging very much with all this going on; so no money and consequently my PA got repossessed and we could not do any gigs at all. Stodge and Bob became totally disenchanted with the whole London thing and other peoples bloody songs. On our next visit down south Hugh decided he would buy me a new PA, which was great for me, but the final straw for both Stodge and Bob. Hugh had clearly displayed where his interests lay and it was not with the whole band. The band played a few more gigs; then folded along with my personal aspirations to be a rock star. Colin, Micky Balls and myself carried on with further versions of Spyda and did some recording of our own material at Olympic studios London for Hugh Murphy but he eventually asked for the PA back and we never heard from him again.

Colin and myself continued in bands until we lost him in 2007. I continue to sing with a local pub band to this day 2012.

Brian performing recently with his pub band

January

North east gigs

11/1/65 Cilla Black, PJ Proby, Fourmost and Tommy Roe appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/1/65 Cilla Black, PJ Proby, Fourmost and Tommy Roe appear at Odeon, Stockton
19/1/65 Chuck Berry, Graham Bond and Moody Blues appear at Newcastle City Halll
23/1/65 Chuck Berry, Graham Bond and Moody Blues appear at Odeon, Stockton

Happening Elsewhere

The Kinks make their first tour of Australia and New Zealand beginning in January 1965 as part of a package bill that includes Manfred Mann and The Honeycombes

On 29th January The Who make their first appearance on the Rediffusion TV programme ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’. Fellow guests are the Animals, Elkie Brooks, Goldie & The Gingerbreads and Rhythm & Blues Inc. The Who mime to ‘I Can’t Explain’.

In the charts

1    Yeh Yeh – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
10  I’m Gonna Be Strong – Gene Pitney
20  You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – Righteous Brothers

___________________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

18/2/65 Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with the Kylastrons)

Fri 5/2/1965 Blue Note, Sunderland (supporting Black Knights
Sat 6/2/1965 Ashington Welfare (with Lectrones)
Sun 7/2/1965 El Cubana / Rainbow Club, Seaton
Thu 11/2/1965 The Scene, Middlesbrough
Sat 13/2/1965 El Cubana, Sunderland
Thu 18/2/1965 The Scene, Middlesbrough
Sun 21/2/1965 Doncaster (with Blue Jays)
Thu 25/2/1965 County Hotel
Fri 26/2/1965 Blue Note, Sunderland
Sat 27/2/1965 Murton Democratic Club

Happening Elsewhere

The Who’s ‘I Can’t Explain’ enters the NME chart at number 28.

‘The Sound of ‘65’ – the first LP by The Graham Bond Organisation, is released by Columbia. The album which featured US blues standards and original material receives excellent reviews but fails to chart.

In the charts

1   You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – Righteous Brothers
10  Cast Your Fate To The Wind – Sounds Orchestral
20  Yes I Will – The Hollies

___________________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

6/3/65 Roy Orbison, Rockin’ Berries and Marianne Faithful appear at The Globe, Stockton
7/3/65 Del Shannon, Wayne Fontana, Herman’s Hermits, The Shagi-Las appear at Newcastle City hall
7/3/65 Buddy Guy appear at Kirklevington Country Club
9/3/65 Rolling Stones, Dave Berry and The Hollies appear at Odeon, Sunderland
14/3/65 Kinks, Pretty Things, Animals and Screaming Lord Sutch appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/3/65 Roy Orbison, Rockin’ Berries and Marianne Faithful appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/3/65 Moody Blues appear at Durham University
20/3/65 T Bone Walker appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
25/3/65 Searchers, Dusty Springfield, Bobby Vee and the Zombies appear at Odeon, Stockton
26/3/65 Searchers, Dusty Springfield, Bobby Vee and the Zombies appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with the Kylastrons)

Wed 3/3/1965 Morton Sound (recording)
Fri 5/3/1965 Kendal Town Hall
Sat 6/3/1965 Palais, Worksop (with Mal Parker)
Sun 7/3/1965 Rotherham Baths (with Futures)
Mon 8/3/1965 Arbourthorne Hotel, Sheffield
Tue 9/3/1965 Wombwell
Wed 10/3/1965 Hull University (supporting Spencer Davis)
Sat 13/3/1965 Blue Note, Sunderland (with Invaders)
Fri 19/3/1965 Blue Note, Sunderland (with Invaders)
Sat 20/3/1965 Blue Note, Sunderland (with Junco Partners)

Happening Elsewhere

‘It’s Not Unusual’ by Tom Jones reaches number 1 in the UK charts and launches his career. His first single ‘Chills And Fever’ released by Decca in 1964 failed to make the charts but a heavy promotion of ‘It’s Not Unusual’ by pirate radio station – Radio Caroline ensures it’s success. The song was originally offered to Sandie Shaw who declined it after she heard Jones’ version.

In the charts

1    It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
10  Yes I Will –m The Hollies
20  The Minute You’re Gone – Cliff Richards

___________________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

1/4/65 Moody Blues appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
30/4/65 Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

Bob Dylan begins a two week tour of the UK, which includes concerts at Sheffield, Liverpool, Leicester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester culminating with an appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Eric Clapton joined John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers just a few months after the release of their first album after a spell in the Yardbirds. He left the Yardbirds to concentrate on the blues.

Dusty Springfield hosts an edition of Rediffusion’s ‘Ready Steady Go!’ featuring a host of Tamla Motown artists who are on tour in the UK. Amongst those featured on the show are; The Supremes, The Temptations, The Miracles and Stevie Wonder.

In the charts

1    The Minute You’re Gone – Cliff Richard
10  I’ts Not Unusual – Tom Jones
20  Pop Go The Workers – The Barron Knights

___________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

3/5/65 The Who appear at the Majestic, Newcastle
5/5/65 Billy Fury, Brian Poole, Dave Berry and John Barry 7 appear at The Globe, Stockton
6/5/65 Bob Dylan appears at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with the Six Leaves)

Sat 1/5/1965 Horder Labour Club
Tue 4/5/1965 The Queens, Hartlepool
Sun 9/5/1965 Dawdon Club
Sun 16/5/1965 Hordon Comrades
Fri 21/5/1965 Houghton Dance
Sat 22/5/1965 Blackhouse Club
Sun 23/5/1965 Hordon Comrades

Happening Elsewhere

Alan Price leaves the Animals due to personal circumstances, musical differences and a fear of flying. He is temporarily replaced by Newcastle Hammond organist, Mick Gallagher and then by a permanent replacement – Dave Rowberry who had been playing in the Newcastle jazz/blues since his university days in the early sixties.

The Small Faces travel to Manchester and Sheffield for their first gigs outside of London. In Sheffield they are paid off at a Working Men’s club after playing just three songs. Shortly after the band played at Peter Stringfellow’s Mojo Club in Sheffield and according to Stringfellow go down an “absolute storm”.

In the charts

1    Ticket To Ride – The Beatles
10  Wonderful World – Herman’s Hermits
20  Clapping Song – Shirley Ellis

___________________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

17/6/65 Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders appear at Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with the Six Leaves)

Sat 12/6/1965 Hordon Labour Club
Sun 13/6/1965 Durham Club
Sun 20/6/1965 Silksworth WMC
Sun 27/6/1965 WestLea Club

Happening Elsewhere

The Who appear at Le Club au Golf Drouot, Paris as part of a promotional trip to the French capital. Despite the language barrier, the appearance marked the beginning of the Who’s popularity in France, a market generally resistant to English acts.

In the charts

1    Long Live Love – Sandy Shaw
10  Marie – Bachelors
20  Looking Through The Eyes Of Love – Gene Pitney

___________________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

30/7/65 Alex Harvey and The Fallouts appear at Blue Note, Sunderland

My gigs (with the Six Leaves)

Thu 1/7/1965 The Queens, Hartlepool
Fri 2/7/1965 South Shields British Legion
Tue 6/7/1965 York House, Seaham
Sat 10/7/1965 Silksworth Buffs
Sun 11/7/1965 Glendale, Houghton
Mon12/7/1965 York House, Seaham
Fri 16/7/1965 Aero Club, Sunderland
Mon 19/7/1965 York House, Seaham
Sat 31/7/1965 Rainton Club

Happening Elsewhere

On July 25, 1965 Bob Dylan appears for the third time at the Newport Folk Festival. On the previous two occasions he had performed as a solo artist and as a duo with Joan Baez. .On his third appearance he is booed by some fans when he plays with backing from Mike Bloomfield on electric guitar and other musicians from Bloomfield’s band – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The hostile reception from fans is because of  Dylan’s “abandoning of the folk orthodoxy” but may also be because of poor sound quality on the night (or a combination of the two). The performance, Dylan’s first live “plugged-in” set of his professional career, marks the shift in his artistic direction from folk to rock and has wider implications for both styles of music.

The Graham Bond Organisation appear on Ready Steady Go! And promote their new single ‘Lease On Love’. Bond uses this opportunity to feature his new found instrument – the Mellotron.

In the charts

1    I’m Alive – The Hollies
10  Colours – Donovan
20  We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – The Animals

___________________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

16/8/65 Moody Blues appear at Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle
22/8/65 Moody Blues appear at Kirk Levington Country Club

My gigs (with the Six Leaves)

Wed 4/8/1965 Newbottle
Sun 8/8/1965 Haswell Plough
Mon 9/8/1965 Seaham Harbour
Wed 11/8/1965 Horden Labour Club
Fri 13/8/1965 Easington Lane
Sat 14/8/1965 The Queens, Hartlepool
Sun 15/8/1965 Hordon Comrades
Mon 16/8/1965 Seaham Harbour
Fri 20/8/1965 Ivy Leaf Club
Sat 21/8/1965 Murton Democratic Club
Tue 24/8/1965 The Queens, Hartlepool

Happening Elsewhere

The Who videotape three songs for the US ABC network’s syndicated pop show ‘Shindig!’ at Twickenham Film Studios.

In the charts

1    Help – The Beatles
10  I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
20  He’s Got No Love – The Searchers

___________________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

19/9/65 John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers appear at Kirklevington Country Club
23/9/65 Peter, Paul & Mary appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/9/65 John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with the Six Leaves)

Sun 5/9/1965 Hordon Labour Club
Sat 18/9/1965 Ryhope WMC
Wed 22/9/1965 Roker Hotel
Sat 25/9/1965 Glendale Club, Houghton

(with Jazzboard)

Thu 30/9/1965 Club 11, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

Following several disagreements with Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce is sacked from The Graham Bond Organisation. However, he continues to return for gigs as he feels that it is his group as well. When Ginger Baker finally pulls a knife on Jack Bruce and tells him “If you show up again, this goes in you!”, Bruce leaves for good.

In the charts

1    (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
10  Tears  Ken Dodd
20  Just A Little Bit Better – Herman’s Hermits

___________________________________________________________

October

North east gigs

7/10/65 Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis and Unit 4 +2 appear at Newcastle City Hall
8/10/65 Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis and Unit 4 +2 appear at ABC, Stockton
14/10/65 Everly Brothers, Cilla Black, Biily J Kramer appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/10/65 4th American Folk & Blues Festival featuring Big Mama Thornton, Eddie Boyd, Lonesome Jimmy Lee and Buddy Guy appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/10/65 Spencer Davis Group and Alan Price Set appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
29/10/65 Gene Pitney, Lulu and Rockin’ Berries appear at ABC, Stockton
30/10/65 Them, Steam Packet and Gas Board appear at Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Fri 1/10/1965 Club 11, Sunderland
Sat 2/10/1965 La Cubana, Sunderland
Sun 3/10/1965 El Cubana, Sunderland
Thu 7/10/1965 El Cubana, Sunderland
Fri 8/10/1965 La Cubana, Sunderland
Fri 22/10/1965 Guys and Dolls, Newcastle
Sun 24/10/1965 El Cubana, Sunderland
Fri 29/10/1965 Guys and Dolls, Newcastle
Sat 30/10/1965 Guys and Dolls, Newcastle

In the charts

1    Tears – Ken Dodd
10  Message Understood – Sandie Shaw
20  Here It Comes Again – The Fortunes

___________________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

12/11/65 Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
14/11/65 Steampacket appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/11/65 Gene Pitney, Lulu and Rockin’ Berries appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Fri 5/11/1965 Guys and Dolls, Newcastle
Sat 6/11/1965 Fuse Box, Whitburn
Fri 12/11/1965 Guys and Dolls, Newcastle
Sun 14/11/1965 Federation Club
Mon 15/11/1965 West End Dance
Thu 18/11/1965 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Fri 19/11/1965 Guys and Dolls, Newcastle
Sat 20/11/1965 Jazzboard Club
Tue 23/11/1965 Peterlee Dance
Thu 25/11/1965 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Fr 26/11/1965 45 Club, Whitley Bay
Sat 27/11/1965 Ashington Welfare

In the charts

1  Get Off My Cloud – The Rolling Stones
10  My Generation – The Who
20  Princess In Rags – Gene Pitney

___________________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

4/12/65 Beatles and Moody Blues appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/12/65 Steam Packet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Fri 3/12/1965 4X Jazz Club, Tynemouth
Sat 4/12/1965 Redcar Jazz Club (with Skyliners)
Wed 8/12/1965 Seaburn (Arts Ball) (with Crawdaddies & Junco Partners)
Fri 10/12/1965 Peterlee Dance
Sat 11/12/1965 Jazzboard Club
Fri 17/12/1965 Peterlee College Dance (with Continentals)
Sat 18/12/1965 Jazzboard Club
Mon 20/12/1965 Washington Grammar Dance
Tue 21/12/1965 Peterlee Youth Centre
Wed 22/12/1965 West End Club, Newcastle
Thu 23/12/1965 Club a’GoGo, Newcastle
Fri 24/12/1965 Ashington Welfare
Fri 31/12/1965 Kirk Levington Country Club (with John McCoys Crawdaddies)

Happening Elsewhere

The Who’s first album – ‘My Generation’ is released and reaches number 5 in the album charts.

In the charts

1   The Carnival Is Over – The Searchers
10  Princess In Rags – Gene Pitney
20  Tell me Why – Elvis Presley

January

North east gigs

4/1/66 Steampacket appear at KD Club, Billingham
7/1/66 The Who appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
18/1/66 Spencer Davis group appear at El Cubana, Sunderland
20/1/66 Spencer Davis group appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

The Bailey Organisation opens Club Latino in South Shields.

Sunderland’s Locarno and Top Rank ballrooms are both granted full pub licenses for the first time. (Prior to this they had to apply for alcohol licenses for specific events.)

The Animals end their association with Mickey Most and switch record labels from Columbia to Decca (and MGM for the USA).

Manfred Mann vocalist, Paul Jones is injured in a car accident following a gig at Hull University. Several shows are cancelled but Eric Burdon from the Animals stands in for him for a gig at London’s Marquee Club.

In the charts

1 Day Tripper/We Can Work It out – The Beatles
10 Spanish Flea – Herb Alpert
20 To Whom It Concerns – Chris Andrews

____________________________________________

February

North east gigs

8/2/66 Small Faces appear at the Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle
17/2/66 The Who appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
25/2/66 The Animals and Graham Bond Organisation appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

The owner of Liverpool’s Cavern Club, Ray McFall is declared bankrupt. The Cavern gained national fame in the early sixties through the Beatles who played there regularly both as the Beatles and the Quarrymen prior to becoming famous. Despite the Cavern Club’s success it is not a financially secure business and is forced to close due to Mcfall’s financial situation. The closure comes as a real shock but it quickly attracted two new investors who set about developing and improving the club.

Arthur Brown, who is to later rise to prominence with his ‘Crazy World’, disbands his band ‘Union’ and forms the ‘Arthur Brown Set’ in order to fulfill a residency at the Moulin Rouge, Paris

The Rolling Stones tour Australia and New Zealand.

The Animals appear on the BBC TV programme – ‘Whole Scene Going’

The Small Faces start recording their first album at IBC Studios, Portland Place, London.

In the charts

1 You Were On My Mind – Crispan St Peter
10 Mirror Mirror – Pinkertons Assorted Colours
20 Michelle – David & Jonathan

____________________________________________

March

North east gigs

11/3/66 The Action appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
13/3/66 Tony Rivers And The Castaways appear at Kirklevington Country Club
19/3/66 Zoot Money And The Big Roll Band appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

‘The Beatles at Shea Stadium’, a fifty-minute-long documentary of the Beatles’ concert at Shea Stadium in New York on 15th August 1965 is shown on BBC TV on 1st March. The documentary captures not only the concert, the attendance of which was 55,600, the largest Beatles concert up to that time, but also the events leading up to the concert, including the Beatles’ helicopter ride from Manhattan to Flushing Meadows, their preparation in the Shea Stadium dressing room, which was the visiting baseball team’s locker room.

John Lennon is interviewed by journalist Maureen Cleave for article about the Beatles’ lifestyles. When the article appears in the Evening Standard, Lennon is quoted as saying that Christianity is in decline and more controversially – “We’re more popular than Jesus now”. The remark arouses no outrage in the UK but when the article is reproduced in the teenage magazine ‘Dateline’ five months later in the USA, mass protest against the Beatles break out which adversely affect the band’s third US American tour.

Drummer John Steel quits The Animals and is replaced by Barry Jenkins.

The Musician’s Union bans its members from miming on TV with effect from 31st March, affecting popular programmes such as BBC’s ‘Top Of The Pop’.Several weeks later a compromise was reached whereby a specially recorded backing track was permitted – as long as all the musicians on the track were present in the studio

Rod Stewart leaves the r&b band ‘Steampacket’, formed by Long John Baldry a year earlier. The band, which features Rod Stewart and Julie Driscoll on vocals and Brian Auger on organ splits up shortly after.

In the charts

1 A Groovy Kind Of Love – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
10 Spanish Flea – Herb Alpert
20 This Golden Ring – The Fortunes

____________________________________________

April

North east gigs

2/4/66 Roy Orbison, Walker Brothers, Lulu and Kim D & The Del 5 appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/4/66 Roy Orbison, Walker Brothers, Lulu and Kim D & The Del 5 appear at ABC, Stockton
15/4/66 Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
20/4/66 The Pretty Things appear at the Top Rank, Sunderland
21/4/66 The Pretty Things, Junco Paretners and Jazzboard appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
29/4/66 Kinks, Dave D Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich and Wayne Fontana appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/4/66 Herbie Goins And The Nighttimers appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles begin recording their seventh studio album – “Revolver”, which will feature songs such as; Eleanor Rigby, Taxman, Yellow Submarine, Here There And Everywhere and Godd Day Sunshine. The album will be released later in the year in August.

In the charts

1 Somebody Help Me – Spencer Davis Group
10 Make The World Go Away – Eddie Arnold
20 Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann

____________________________________________

May

North east gigs

4/5/66 Them appear at the Top Rank, Sunderland
6/5/66 The Shevelles appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
12/5/66 Johnny Cash appears at Newcastle City Hall
13/5/66 John Lee’s Groundhogs appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
27/5/66 Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere
The Animals appear in an episode of BBC TV’s ‘A Whole Scene Going’ hosted by Barry Fantoni and Wendy Varnals. Later in the month they appear on ITV’s ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’
Building on the success of their singles in the US and riding high on the back of the British Invasion, Van Morrison’s Them undertook a two month tour of the States that included a residency at the Whiskey A’Gogo, Los Angeles from 30th may to 18th June.

The Small faces self titled album is released.

In the charts

1 Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
10 Sorrow – The Merseys
20 Somebody Help Me – Spencer Davis Group

____________________________________________

June

North east gigs

2/6/66 The Kinks appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
15/6/66 The Small Faces appear at the Top Rank, Sunderland
17/6/66 The Eyes appear at KD Club, Billingham
21/6/66 Bob Dylan appears at Odeon, Newcastle
23/6/66 Crying Shames appear at Mayfair, Newcastle

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere
Jack Bruce announces that he will be joining a new instrumental trio called The Cream.

In the charts

1 Strangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra
10 Paperback Writer – The Beatles
20 Nobody Needs Your Love – Gene Pitney

____________________________________________

July

North east gigs

13/7/66 World Cup Night at Club Aztec, Sunderland
14/7/66 Alan Price, Chris Farlowe, Junco Partners and Gas Board appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
16/7/66 Ivans Meads appear at KD Club, Billingham
20/7/66 Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and the Sect appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
31/7/66 Solomon Burke appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Eric Clapton leaves John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to join Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in Cream.

Paul Jones leaves Manfred Mann to go solo

The British Prime Minister Harold Wilson officially reopens Liverpool’s Cavern Club which has been overhauled and extended to include a new entrance, a souvenier shop, a boutique and a ground floor coffee lounge and eatery, whilst retaining its original basement vaults and atmosphere. Top of the bill on the opening night are American soul stars Rufus Thomas and Soloman Burke.

In the charts

1 Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks
10 Hideaway – Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich
20 Don’t Bring Me Down – The Animals

____________________________________________

August

North east gigs

4/8/66 Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
4/8/66 The Merseys appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
11/8/66 The Troggs and Tony Rivers & The Castaways appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles play their final concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco. Their US tour is overshadowed by the controversy surrounding John Lennon’s remarks earlier in the year comparing The Beatles’ popularity to Jesus. He is forced to issue an apology.

In the charts

1 With A Girl Like You – The Troggs
10 Love Letter – Elvis Presley
20 All Or Nothing – Small Faces

____________________________________________

September

North east gigs

4/9/66 The Hollies appear at the Fiesta, Stockton
5/9/66 The Hollies appea at the Fiesta, Stockton
15/9//66 The Action and The Fenman appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
29/9/66 Stormsville Shakers appearat Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
29/9/66 Rolling Stones, Ike & Tina Turner and Yardbirds appear at ABC, Stockton

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Disagreements between Eric Burdon and the other members of The Animals causes the band to split.

Jimi Hendrix arrives in England on the 24th accompanied by his new manager, ex-Animals bassist Chas Chandler, who first saw Hendrix (as Jimmy James & the Blue Flames) at Greenwich Village’s ‘Café Wha?’ on July 4th. Hendrix signed a management contract with Chandler and Mike Jeffery. Hendrix, along with Chandler held auditions for band members at the Birdland in London on the 29th. Noel Redding (ex-Loving Kind) subsequently joins as bass guitarist. Jimi’s band is to be named the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

In the charts

1 All Or Nothing – Small Faces
10 Got To Get You Into My Life – Cliff Bennet & The Rebel Rousers
20 When I Come Home – Spencer Davis Group

____________________________________________

October

North east gigs

1/10/66 Rolling Stones, Ike & Tina Turner and Yardbirds appear at Newcastle City Hall
2/10/66 Cream appear at Kirklevington Country Club
4/10/66 Dusty Springfield and Alan Price appear at Odeon, Newcastle
8/10/66 Walker Brothers, Troggs, Dave Dee appear at ABC Stockton
12/10/66 Family appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
13/10/66 Cream appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
14/10/66Walker Brothers, Troggs, Dave Dee appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/10/66 Gerry And The Pacemakers appear at La Dolce Vita, Newcastle
24/10/66 Jerry lee Lewis appears at La Dolce Vita, Newcastle
27/10/66 The Measles and A Wild Uncertainty appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

John Lennon meets Yoko Ono for the first time, at the Indica Gallery in London. Lennon was intrigued by Ono’s ‘Hammer A Nail’ – patrons hammered a nail into a wooden board, creating the art piece. Although the exhibition had not yet opened, Lennon wanted to hammer a nail into the clean board, but Ono stopped him. Dunbar asked her, “Don’t you know who this is? He’s a millionaire! He might buy it.” Ono had supposedly not heard of the Beatles but relented on condition that Lennon pay her five shillings to which Lennon replied, “I’ll give you an imaginary five shillings and hammer an imaginary nail in.” An alternative version of how John Lennon and Yoko Ono first met is given by Paul McCartney: In late 1965, Ono was in London compiling original musical scores for a book John Cage was working on, ‘Notations’. McCartney declined to give her any of his own manuscripts, but suggested that Lennon might oblige. Lennon did, giving Ono the original handwritten lyrics to ‘The Word’.

Eric Burdon forms The New Animals.

The Yardbirds film their contribution to the movie “Blow-Up” at Elstree Studios. The group are shown performing ‘Stroll On’ which culminates in Jeff Beck smashing his guitar. Following this the group embark on a strenuous U.S tour starting on the 19th. However Beck quits after 2 gigs, claiming illness. The group carry on as a 4-piece with Jimmy Page the sole lead guitarist.

Mitch Mitchell (ex-Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames) joins the Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums.

In mid-October 1966, Chas Chandler arranges an engagement for the Jimi Hendrix Experience as Johnny Hallyday’s supporting act during a brief tour of France. Their enthusiastically received 15-minute performance at the Olympia theatre in Paris on October 18th marks the earliest known recording of the band. In late October, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, managers of the Who, signed the Experience to their newly formed label, Track Records, which released the Experience’s first single on 23rd October. “Hey Joe”, which included a female chorus provided by the Breakaways, was backed by Hendrix’s first songwriting effort, ‘Stone Free’.

Eric Burdon appears in an episode of the ITV television programme ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ along with the Rolling Stones and Paul & Barry Ryan.

The Moody Blues, who have been recording and performing as a band since 1964 after bassist Clint Warwick left followed by his brief replacement, Rod Clark.

In the charts

1 Distant Drums – Jim Reeves
10 I Can’t Control Myself – The Troggs
20 Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles

____________________________________________

November

North east gigs

4/11/66 Jerry lee Lewis appears at the Marimba Club, Middlesbrough
6/11/66 Small Faces,Hollies, Paul Jones and Paul & Barry Ryan appear at Newcastle City Hall
10/11/66 Family appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
13/11/66 Cream appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
10/11/66 The Nashville Teens appear at Quay Club, Newcastle
29/11/66 Zombies appeared at Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

After a break of over two months, The Beatles re-convene at Abbey Road studios to begin the recording of “Strawberry Fields Forever”. The group dismiss rumours that they are to replace Brian Epstein as their manager with American Allen Klein.

The Moody Blues quickly re-form with new members Justin Hayward (guitar) and John Lodge (bass). Lodge is an old Birmingham friend of the group while Hayward is recommended to the Moodies by Eric Burdon.

In the charts

1 Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – Four Tops
10 No Milk Today – Herman’s Hermits
20 Help Me Girl – Eric Burdon & The Animals

____________________________________________

December

North east gigs

2/12/66 Eyes Of Blue appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
2/12/66 Cream appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
4/12/66 Little Richard appears at Newcastle City Hall
10/12/66 The Who, Dave Berry and She Trinity appear at The Empire, Sunderland
15/12/66 Family appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
31/12/66 Shotgun Express appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles continue work on ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’.

The British Government announce plans for the BBC, who has been losing its radio listening audience to pirate radio stations, to be given a wavelength for a radio channel devoted entirely to pop music.

The final ‘Ready Steady Go!’ programmes are broadcast. Guests include Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich on 2nd December, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, The Move on the 9th, Keith Relf, The Troggs on the 16th and Eric Burdon, Alan Price, The Who, Donovan, the Spencer Davis Group and Paul Jones in the final programme on 23rd December.

Arthur Brown returned from Paris and temporarily joined the London r&b, soul and ska band – The Ramong Sound. The Ramong Sound would eventually become the hit making Foundations.

In the charts

1 Green Green Grass Of Home – Tom Jones
10 Semi-detached Suburban Mr Jones – Manfred Mann
20 There Won’t Be Many Coming Home – Roy Orbison

January

North east gigs

15/1/67 Jimi Hendrix Experience appear at Kirklevington Country Club
20/1/67 Cream appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
29/1/67 Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band appear at Kirklevington Country Club

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Leicester group The Farinas change their name to Family and move to London. They quickly become favourites at UFO and other underground venues.

Eric Burdon & The Animals appear on the German TV programme ‘Beat Club’ along with The Who.

In the charts

1 Green Green Grass Of Home – Tom Jones
10 Night Of Fear – The Move
20 Friday On My Mind – The Easybeats

________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

1/2/67 Jimi Hendrix Experience appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
2/2/67 Jimi Hendrix Experience appear at Imperial Hotel, Darlington
2/2/67 Alexis Korner appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
6/2/67 Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
13/2/67 Jimi Hendrix Experience appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
16/2/67 Maxine Brown appear at Kirklevington Country Club
17/2/67 Alan Bown appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/2/67 Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
23/2/67 Family appear at Kirklevington Country Club
25/2/67 T D Bachus & The PowerHouse appear at Sunderland Polytech
25/2/67 Pink Floyd appear at Kirklevington Country Club

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Mick Jagger and Keith Richard are arrested on drugs charges after a police raid on Richard’s home, Redlands.

Pink Floyd record their debut single “Arnold Layne” at Abbey Road Studios.

In the charts

1 I’m A Believer – The Monkees
10 Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix Experience
20 I Feel Fine – Cream

________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

10/3/67 Jimi Hendrix Experience appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
11/3/67 Root & Jenny Jackson appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
16/3/67 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
19/3/67 Roy Orbison, Small Faces and Paul & Barry Ryan appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Vocalist and keyboard player, Steve Winwood quits The Spencer Davis Group and forms a new group, Traffic, with Jim Capaldi (drums/vocals), Chris Wood (woodwind) and Dave Mason (guitar).

Pink Floyd sign to EMI who purchase the rights to the group’s already recorded debut single. They begin recording their first album at Abbey Road where they meet the Beatles. Syd Barrett is impressed because Paul
McCartney is very encouraging and supportive about the Floyd’s music.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience appear on BBC TV’s ‘Top Of The Pops’ and perform their single ‘Purple Haze’.

In the charts

1 Release Me – Engelbert Humperdinck
10 Snoopy vs Red Barron – Royal Guardsmen
20 Let’s Spend The Night Together/Ruby Tuesday – Rolling Stones

________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

12/4/67 Manfred Mann, Gas Board and Junco Partners appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
21/4/67 Jimi Hendrix Experience, Walker Brothers, Englebert Humperdinck and Cat Stevens appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/4/67 The Settlers appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/4/67 The Tremeloes appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
30/4/67 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Former member of The Paramounts Gary Brooker and his lyricist partner Keith Reid advertise in the Melody Maker for musicians to play their new songs. They form Procol Harum (after initially calling themselves The Pinewoods).

Carlisle band, The VIPs change their name to ‘Art’.

In the charts

1 Something Stupid – Nancy & Frank Sinatra
10 It’s All Over – Cliff Richard
20 Touch Me, Touch Me – Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich

________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

7/5/67 Wynder K Frog appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
10/5/67 Family appears at El Cubana, Sunderland
14/5/67 Alan Price Set appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
19/5/67 Pink Floyd appears at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
29/5/67 Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band appeared at La Dolce Vita, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Brain Jones was arrested for drug possession on 10th May, shortly after the ‘Redlands’ incident at Keith Richards’ Sussex home involving both Richards and Mick Jagger. Authorities find marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine in his flat. He confesses to marijuana use but claims he does not use hard drugs. Reacting as fans did at the arrests of Jones’s band mates, protesters appear outside court demanding that Jones be freed. He is not kept in jail but is fined, given probation and ordered to see a counsellor.

The new Beatles album, “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” is premiered at a party held by manager Brian Epstein. Paul McCartney meets his future wife Linda for the second time at this party, having been introduced four days previously at the Bag O’Nails club.

In the charts

1 Puppet On A String – Sandie Shaw
10 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You – The Monkees
20 Happy Together – Turtles

________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

4/6/67 Family appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
11/6/67 Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
25/6/67 Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
29/6/67 The Herd (with Peter Frampton) appear at Oak Tree, Eston, Middlesbough
30/6/67 Ten Years After appear at Quay Club, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Mick Jagger and Keith Richard are convicted of drug offences and are sentenced to jail for three months and one year respectively. They are released pending appeal after one night in prison.
Paul McCartney reveals in Life Magazine that he has taken LSD, the final Beatle to do so.

The Beatles play their new single “All You Need Is Love” on the first worldwide live satellite TV broadcast “Our World”.

It is announced that a full-length cartoon film inspired by The Beatles song “Yellow Submarine” is to be made, featuring exclusive songs by The Beatles themselves.

Mick Taylor quits his Hatfield based blues band The Gods and replaces Peter Green as guitarist with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

In the charts

1 A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
10 The Wind Cries Mary – Jimi Hendrix Experience
20 New York Mining Disaster 1941 – Bee Gees

________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

1/7/67 Family appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
2/7/67 Simon Dupree And The Big Sound appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
12/7/67 Family appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
16/7/67 Pink Floyd appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
17/7/67 Family appear at Quay Club, Newcastle
18/7/67 Alan Bown Set appear at Locarno Sunderland
19/7/67 Traffic appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
20/7/67 Alan Bown Set appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
21/7/67 Alan Bown Set appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere
Keith Richard’s conviction for drug offences is quashed after some evidence used against him is ruled as inadmissible. Mick Jagger’s sentence is reduced to a conditional discharge
Art (Mike Harrison, Greg Ridley, Mike Kellie & Luther Grosvenor), formerly known as The VIPs (from Carlisle), release their first single.

Zoot Money disbands his R&B/jazz oriented Big Roll Band and forms psychadelic group ‘Dantalian’s Chariot’.

In the charts

1 A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
10 San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie
20 You Only Live Twice/Jackson – Nancy Sinatra

________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

20/8/67 Cream appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Happening Elsewhere

Beatles manager Brian Epstein is found dead at his London flat. The Beatles are informed while they are in Bangor, North Wales, attending a course run by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

In an attempt to wipe out off-shore pirate radio stations competing for listeners with BBC radio, the British government passes the Marine Offences Act . The act wipes out all of the stations by midnight on 14th August 1967 with only Radio Caroline surviving. DJs from the ‘Pirate’ radio station – Radio London (The Big ‘L’) arrive back in London following the enforced closure of the station by the new Marine Offences Act. It’s revealed that at least twenty of the pirate DJs will be joining the BBC’s new Radio 1 station.

Syd Barrett collapses from exhaustion, causing a string of scheduled Pink Floyd gigs to be cancelled.

The Who appear on the US TV comedy show “The Smothers Brothers”. Their act climaxes with an explosion that wrecks Keith Moon’s drum kit. Pete Townsend suffers singed hair and damaged ears while Moon himself sustains a cut leg. The blast causes fellow guest Bette Davis to faint.

Giles, Giles and Fripp form in Bournemouth. They move to London the following month.

In the charts

1 San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie
10 Even The Bad Times Are Good – The Tremeloes
20 Pleasant Valley Sunday – The Monkees

______________________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

24/9/67 to 30/9/67 Eric Burdon and the Animals appear at Fiesta, Stockton

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles film their “Magical Mystery Tour” in Kent, London and the West Country of England. The film is unscripted. Various ‘ordinary’ people travelled on a coach and have unspecified “magical” adventures. The film includes six new Beatles songs.

The Rolling Stones sack Andrew Loog Oldham as their manager/producer.

Radio 1, the BBC’s new pop music station begins broadcasts. The first record played is ‘Flowers In The Rain’ by The Move. British Prime Minister Harold Wilson sues The Move after he is featured on a suggestive postcard used to promote their latest single “Flowers In The Rain”. Song composer Roy Wood loses all of his royalties after the group lose the case. The postcard had been a stunt dreamed up by their manager Tony Secunda without the group’s knowledge.

Marc Bolan forms acoustic duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Took.

In the charts

1 The Last Waltz – Engelbert Humperdinck
10 Heroes And Villains – Beach Boys
20 Death Of A Clown – Dave Davies

________________________________________________

October

North east gigs

1/10/67 The Gods appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
1/10/67 Georgie Fame appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
7/10/67 Young Rascals appear at Newcastle City Hall
8/10/67 Denny Lane’s Electric Strings appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
Georgie Fame appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/10/67 Kinks appear at Club Fiesta, Stockton
20/10/67 Cream appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
22/10/67 Sounds Incorporated appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
25/10/67 Alan Bown! appear at Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle
27/10/67 Small Faces appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
28/10/67 Pink Floyd appear at Dunelm House, Durham
29/10/67 Jeff Beck appear at Kirklevington Country Club
30/10/67 The Who, Traffic and The Herd appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with The James South Syndicate)

Happening Elsewhere

Brian Jones is sentenced to nine months imprisonment for possession of cannabis. The sentence is suspended in December following an appeal.

Art (previously the VIPs from Carlisle) change their name once again, this time to Spooky Tooth, when American organist/vocalist Gary Wright (ex-The New York Times) is added to the group.

In the charts

1 Massachusetts – The Bee Gees
10 Itchycoo Park – Small Faces
20 I’ll Never Fall In Love Again – Tom Jones

________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

2/11/67 The Alan Bown appear at Club A’Gogo Newcastle
3/11/67 The Alan Bown appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
4/11/67 Tom Jones appears at ABC, Stockton
16/11/67 Tom Jones appears at Newcastle City Hall
16/11/67 Jeff Beck Group appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
23/11/67 Cream appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
26/11/67 P.P.Arnold appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
28/11/67 Alan Price Set, Jimmy Powell & The Dimension at the Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with The James South Set)

Happening Elsewhere

The BBC refuses to screen The Beatle’s promo film for their “Hello Goodbye” single as it contravenes Musicians Union rules over miming.

Pink Floyd embark on a disastrous American trip. Syd Barrett is in very poor shape which, combined with the late arrival of work permits, causes the cancellation of several concerts. The group make two TV appearances -“The Pat Boone Show” on the 5th November on which Barrett remains motionless throughout the entire proceedings, and “American Bandstand” on the 6th where Syd glares blankly into the camera during mimed performances of “See Emily Play” and “Apples and Oranges”.

Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees has a lucky escape when the train on which he is travelling crashes at Hither Green in South East London. Forty-nine people are killed but Gibb emerges from an overturned carriage suffering shock. A fortnight later the group play a special show in aid of the disaster fund followed by a concert at the Saville Theatre, supported by The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Flowerpot Men.

Traffic Jam (formerly The Spectres) change their name again, this time to The Status Quo, following the addition of rhythm guitarist Rick Parfitt. They are signed to the Pye label.

In the charts

1 Baby, Now That I’ve Found You – Foundations
10 There Is A Mountain – Donovan
20 When Will The Good Apples Fall – The Seekers

________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

1/12/67 T D Bachus & The Powerhouse appear at Durham Town Hall
4/12/67 Eric Burdon & the Animals appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
4/12/67 Jimi Hendrix,The Move, Pink Floyd and Amen Corner appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/12/67 Alexis Korner appears at Lamp Glass Cellar, Ashington
17/12/67 Eric Burdon & The Animals appear at Kirklevington Country Club
26/12/67 The Alan Bown appear at Kirklevington Country Club

My gigs (with James South)

Happening Elsewhere
The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” is screened by BBC1 on Boxing Day. The film confuses many; the situation exacerbated by the fact that the colour film is broadcast in black and white. The film is savaged by critics, some suggesting that the group are in terminal decline.

In the charts

1 Hello Goodbye – Beatles
10 World – The Bee Gees
20 Zabadak – Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich

January

North east gigs

14/1/68 Cream appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/1/68 The Troggs appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
25/1/68 The Herd appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
27/1/68 The Nice appear at Newcastle University

My Gigs (with James South)

Mon 1/1/1968 Bay Hotel, Sunderland
Sat 6/1/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields

(with Technique)

Thu 18/1/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri 19/1/1968 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 20/1/1968 Glenholme, Crook
Sun 21/1/1968 Hebburn Dance
Tue 23/1/1968 St Andrews Dance, Roker
Fri 26/1/1968 Portland Hotel, Ashington
Sat 27/1/1968 Boom Boom Club, Durham

Happening Elsewhere

‘Everything I Am’ by Plastic Penny featuring vocalist Brian Keith enters the UK charts. The single was recorded using session musicians but guitarist Mick Grabham and drummer Nigel Olsson, both from Sunderland are recruited by Keith and become permanent member of Plastic Penny.

George Harrison spends a week in Bombay recording Indian music for the movie “Wonderwall”.

David Gilmour joins the Pink Floyd. His addition will enable the group to “explore new instruments and add further experimental dimensions”. The five-man Floyd line-up play just five gigs before the other members decide that Syd Barrett should be excused from live appearances to concentrate on song-writing.

Jimi Hendrix spends a night in a Swedish jail cell after wrecking a hotel room following an argument with Noel Redding.

The Small Faces and The Who are thrown off an aircraft for rowdy behaviour while preparing to fly between gigs on an Australian tour.

In the charts

1 Hello Goodbye – Beatles
10 World – The Bee Gees
20 She Wears My Ring – Solomon King

__________________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

9/2/68 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
20/2/68 Procol Harum appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
23/2/68 Procol Harum appear at Dunelm (Durham University)
25/2/68 Moody Blues appear at Kirklevington Country Club
28/2/68 Moody Blues, Zoot Money and PP Arnold appeared at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Technique)

Thu 1/2/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri 2/2/1968 Quay Club, Newcastle
Sat 3/2/1968 Gateshead Rugby Club
Wed 7/2/1968 Portland Hotel, Ashington
Fri 9/2/1968 Durham Town Hall
Sat 10/2/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Wed 14/2/1968 Grindon School Dance
Thu 15/2/1968 Rainton Club
Sat 17/2/1968 Boom Boom Club, Durham
Sun 18/2/1968 Impulse Studio (recording)
Mon 19/2/1968 Glenholme, Crook
Tue 27/2/1968 St Andrews Dance, Roker

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles visit the Maharishi’s meditation camp at Rishikesh in India, accompanied by Donovan, Mike Love of The Beach Boys and other friends. Before they leave for India, The Beatles are filmed at Abbey Road while they record the track “Hey Bulldog”.

In the charts

1 Everlasting Love – Love Affair
10 Pictures Of matchstick Men – Status Quo
20 Magical Mystery Tour (EP) – Beatles

__________________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

6/3/68 Status Quo appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
6/3/68 Jethro Tull and Junco Partners appear at Newcastle University
14/3/68 Status Quo appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
19/3/68 Small Faces, Simon Dupree appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/3/68 The Herd appearat Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
29/3/68 Zoot Money, Mr Poobah’s Chicago Line and Pleasure Machine appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Technique)

Fri 1/3/1968 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 2/3/1968 Haggerston Castle
Sun 3/3/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Thu 7/3/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri 8/3/1968 Horden Club Dance
Sat 9/3/1968 Haggerston Castle
Fri 15/3/1968 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 16/3/1968 Haggerston Castle
Sun 17/3/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Thu 21/3/1968 Joshua Wilson Dance

(with Village)

Fri 22/03/1968 Balliol College, Newcastle
Sat 23/03/1968 Alnwick Teachers Training College
Sun 24/03/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Fri 29/03/1968 Highfield Community Centre
Sat 30/03/1968 Houghton Rugby Club

Happening Elsewhere

“Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” wins four Grammy awards, including best album of 1967 and best album sleeve.

“She’s Leaving Home” by the Beatles is named best song of 1967 at the Ivor Novello Awards. “Whiter Shade Of Pale” (Procol Harum) is the most successful UK song overseas, while “Grocer Jack” (Keith West) is novelty song of the year.

The Hollies start work on a new studio album but the sessions grind to a halt with most of the tracks left unused or unfinished, including Graham Nash’s “Marrakesh Express” which is later a hit for Crosby, Stills and Nash.

The Herd (with Peter Frampton) sign up to appear in the feature film “Otley” which stars Tom Courtney.

In the charts

1 Cinderella Rockafella – Esther & Abi Ofarim
10 She Wears My Ring – Solomom King
20 Gimme Little Sign – Brenton Wood

__________________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

4/4/68 John Mayall appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
13/4/68 Bee Gees appear at the ABC, Stockton
13/4/68 The Kinks, Herd and the Tremeloes appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Village)

Thu 4/4/1968 Milvain Club
Fri 5/4/1968 Sacriston Memeorial Hall
Sat 6/4/1968 County Hall, Carlisle
Sun 7/4/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Mon 8/4/1968 Carousel Club, Chester le Street
Fri 19/4/1968 Shiney Row YMCA
Sat 20/4/1968 Club a”gogo, Newcastle
Tue 23/4/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri 26/4/1968 Rutherford College
Sat 27/4/1968 Houghton Rugby Club
Sun 28/4/1968 Townley Arms
Tue 30/4/1968 Central Club, Ashington

Happening Elsewhere

Syd Barrett is asked to leave Pink Floyd as a result of his ongoing (and worsening) drug and mental problems. Barrett heads back to his mother’s home in Cambridge while the group continue as a four piece. Bassist Roger Waters becomes Floyd’s main song-writer. Meanwhile, the group make a promo film for their latest single ‘It Would Be So Nice’.

John Lennon and George Harrison finally leave Rishikesh. Ringo and Paul left earlier.

Dantalion’s Chariot disbands. Zoot Money joins Eric Burdon and The Animals

The Speakeasy Club in London is destroyed in a fire.

In the charts

1 Congratulations – Cliff Richard
10 Jennifer Eccles – The Hollies
20 Something Here In My Heart – Paper Dolls

__________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

4/5/68 Status Quo appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/5/68 Jeff Beck appears at Kirklevington Country Club
17/5/68 Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
27/5/68 Captain Beefheart appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Village)

Fri 3/5/1968 Sacriston Memeorial Hall
Sat 4/5/1968 Middlesbrough Bowling Alley
Mon 6/5/1968 Club Franch, Jarrow
Fri 10/5/1968 Northern Counties College
Sat 11/5/1968 101 Club, Carlisle
Sun 12/5/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Fri 17/5/1968 Saxon Club, Jarrow
Sat 18/5/1968 Easington Colliery Welfare
Fri 24/5/1968 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sun 26/5/1968 Middlesbrough Bowling Alley
Mon 27/5/1968 Michaels Club
Fri 31/5/1968 Newbiggin

Happening Elsewhere

Brian Jones, guitarist with the Rolling Stones was arrested a second time on 21st May for possession of cannabis, which he said had been left by previous tenants of the flat. He was facing a long jail sentence if found guilty owing to his probation. Stones’ bassist Bill Wyman commented, “The fact that the police had secured a warrant with no evidence showed the arrest was part of a carefully orchestrated plan. Brian and the Stones were being targeted in an effort to deter the public from taking drugs.

The Small Faces release their new album “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake” in circular packaging.

Dave Mason re-joins Traffic. During his time away from the group he has produced the debut album by Family (the startling ‘Music In a Doll’s House’), released a solo single and played on various sessions (including with Jimi Hendrix).

Plastic Penny, which includes north east musicians Nigel Olsson (drums) and Mick Grabham (guitar) part company with lead singer Brian Keith.

In the charts

1 What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
10 Congratulations – Cliff Richard
20 Cry Like A Baby – The Box Tops

__________________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

6/6/68 John Mayall appeared at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
14/6/68 Log John Baldry appeared at Mayfair, Newcastle
21/6/68 The Who, Status Quo and Nashville Teens appeared at Durham University
30/6/68 The Move appeared at Kirklevington Country Club

My gigs (with Village)

Sat 1/6/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Sun 2/6/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Fri 7/6/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Sat 8/6/1968 Houghton Rugby Club
Sun 9/6/1968 Townley Arms
Mon 10/6/1968 Bedlington Social Club
Fri 14/6/1968 Alexandra Hotel, Sunderland
Sat 15/6/1968 Winnybank Youth Club
Sun 16/6/1968 Excel, Middlesbrough
Wed 19/6/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Fri 21/6/1968 Dudley County School
Sat 22/6/1968 Haggerston Castle
Fri 28/6/1968 Northern Counties College
Sat 29/6/1968 Centre 64, Blyth

Happening Elsewhere

The Nice burn a representation of the American flag during a performance of their hit single “America” at the Royal Albert Hall. They are handed a lifetime ban from the venue.
Cream appear on the “Glen Campbell Show” for U.S TV.

Giles, Giles and Fripp recruit keyboards/sax player Ian McDonald and ex-Fairport Convention singer Judy Dyble. Pete Sinfield arrives as lyricist but Dyble departs within a few weeks.

The Who’s Pete Townsend becomes a follower of Meher Baba, an Indian Perfect Spiritual Master. This profoundly affects his future songwriting.

In the charts

1 Young Girl – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
10 I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die – Herd
20 Helule Helule – Tremeloes

_________________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

19/7/68 Traffic appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
26/7/68 Skip Bifferty appear at Manor Court Club, Newcastle
28/7/68 Family appear at Sunderland Empire

My gigs (with Village)

Sat 6/7/1968 Houghton Rugby Club
Sun 7/7/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Wed 10/7/1968 Duke of Wellington, Blyth
Fri 12/7/1968 Amble British Legion
Sat 13/7/1968 East Stanley Dance
Wed 17/7/1968 Saxon Club, Jarrow
Thu 18/7/1968 Stanley Youth Club

Happening Elsewhere

After the completion of the ‘Wheels Of Fire’ album members of US group ‘The Band’ decide they’ve had enough and want to go their separate ways. They announce they will split later in the year.

The Yardbirds split up. Jimmy Page attempts to form a ‘New Yardbirds’ to fulfil existing tour commitments, while Keith Relf and Jim McCarty launch themselves as a ‘Folksy, advanced pop’ duo under the name of ‘Together’.

Bassist Danny Mc Culloch and guitarist Vic Briggs quit The Animals. Eric Burdon names Andy Summers as replacement guitarist.

The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” cartoon movie is premiered in London.

More controversy for The Nice. Their single “America” is promoted by a poster showing the group members with small children on their knees, and superimposed on the children are the faces of the late President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and Dr Martin Luther King. The group instruct their Record Company, Immediate, to withdraw the poster after stores refuse to stock the record.

Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger’s UK hit ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ stalls at 102 in the US.

David Bowie forms ‘Feathers’, a music and mime group. They perform at Middle Earth and other clubs but do not record.

The Middle Earth club in London closes, but concerts continue to be promoted under the Middle Earth banner at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London.

In the charts

1 Baby Come Back – Equals
10 Blue Eyes – Don Partridge
20 I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten – Dusty Springfield

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August

North east gigs

1/8/68 Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
16/8/68 Manfred Mann and Blonde On Blonde appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
27/8/68 Small Faces and Toby Twirl appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
31/8/68 Teespop 68 at the Recreation Ground, Eston featuring Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Alan Bown, Family, Amboy Dukes, Joe Cocker, Tramline and Chelfont Line

My gigs (with Village)

Tue 13/8/1968 Birtley Rex Club
Thu 15/8/1968 Evenwood Club
Sat 17/8/1968 New Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri 23/8/1968 Amble British Legion
Sun 25/8/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Fri 30/8/1968 Hirst Central, Ashington
Sat 31/8/1968 Ashington Welfare

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles officially launch their Apple label. Apple was to serve as the new outlet for their own recordings as well as the music of an eclectic roster of artists who were all personally brought to the label by The Beatles (either individually or collectively).

Much to the disgust of Graham Nash, The Hollies play a season in cabaret, wearing matching white suits and performing material such as ‘Puff (The Magic Dragon)’ and ‘Dang Me’.

Chris Squire and Jon Anderson form Yes. Peter Banks quits Neat Change to join Yes. Ex-Winston’s Fumbs organist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford complete the original line-up.

Spooky Tooth begin a US Tour (15th) that continues until late September.

In the charts

1 Mony Mony – Tommy James & The Shondells
10 Do It Again – The Beach Boys
20 Son Of Hickory Hollers Tramp – O.C.Smith

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September

North east gigs

1/9/68 Noel & The Fireballs and Tenth Avenue Allstars appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
8/9/69 Blossom Toes and Coloured Rain appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
13/9/68 Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
26/9/68 Pink Floyd, The Nice, The Sect and Coloured Rain at the Mayfair, Newcastle
29/9/68 Savoy Brown and Toycupboard appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)

My gigs (with Village)

Sat 7/9/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Wed 11/9/1968 Winnybank Youth Club
Fri 13/9/1968 Ramside Hall
Sat 14/9/1968 Northern Counties College
Sun 15/9/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Mon 16/9/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Thu 19/9/1968 Shildon Railway Institute
Fri 20/9/1968 Deneside Youth Centre
Sat 21/9/1968 Cellar Club, Hartlepool
Thu 26/9/1968 RAF, Acclington
Sat 28/9/1968 Haggerston Castle

Happening Elsewhere

Davy O’ List leaves The Nice, officially because of ‘pressure of work’, but in reality because of his unreliability and unpredictable behaviour (legend has it that O’List was ‘spiked’ by David Crosby in early ’68 during The Nice’s first U.S tour, and he was never the same again). Steve Howe, currently with Bodast, has tentative rehearsals with the remaining members but the results are unsatisfactory. Newcastle guitarist, Malcolm Langstaffe (formerly with the north east band ‘The Kylastrons’ performs O’List’s intended guitar parts on the second Nice album “Ars Longa Vita Brevis”. Langstaffe is briefly considered as a replacement for O’List but instead the group remains a trio.

Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones appears in court facing drugs charges following his arrest in May. In spite of his plea that the drugs belonged to a former tenant of his flat, the jury finds him guilty. However, the judge has sympathy for Jones and instead of jailing him he fines him £50 plus £105 in costs and tells him: “For goodness sake, don’t get into trouble again or it really will be serious”.Saturday Club)

In the charts

1 I’ve Got To Get a Message To You – Bee Gees
10 Jesamine – The Casuals
20 Sunshine Girl – Herman’s Hermits

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October

North east gigs

4/10/68 Yardbirds, Junco Partners and Downtown Faction appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
10/10/68 Status Quo appear at Newcastle City Hall
11/10/68 Manfred Mann appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
12/10/68 Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
13/10/68 Orange Bicycle appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
17/10/68 The Nice appear at New Cellar, South Shields
17/10/68 Move and Family appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
20/10/68 The Kinks appear at Club Fiesta, Stockton
25/10/68 Fleetwood Mac and P.P.Arnold appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
27/10/68 Incredible String Band appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Village)

Fri 4/10/1968 Hirst Central, Ashington
Sat 12/10/1968 Carlisle
Fri 18/10/1968 Amble British Legion
Sun 20/10/1968 Townley Arms
Mon 21/10/1968 Blackhall WMC
Wed 23/10/1968 Duke of Wellington, Blyth
Fri 25/10/1968 Hirst Central, Ashington
Sat 26/10/1968 Quay Club, Newcastle
Sun 27/10/1968 Stanley Youth Club
Thu 31/10/1968 Shildon Railway Institute

Happening Elsewhere

The New Yardbirds make their live debut and soon change their name to Led Zeppelin.

Eddie Hardin and Pete York leave the Spencer Davis Group and are replaced by Dee Murray and Dave Hynes of The Mirage, who promptly split up.

Decca Records continue their refusal to release The Rolling Stones’ new album ‘Beggars Banquet’ with it’s proposed cover design of a graffiti covered toilet wall.

Reports suggest that The Beatles have booked the Royal Albert Hall for a ‘comeback’ concert in December. The concert doesn’t take place.

Dave Mason quits Traffic for the second time.

The Small Faces are banned from Bristol’s Colston Hall after they are accused of inciting the audience to riot at their concert at the venue.

In the charts

1 Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkins
10 Les Bicyclettes De Belsize – Engelbert Humperdinck
20 Only One Woman – Marbles

__________________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

18/11/68 The Who, Yes and Joe Cocker appear at Newcastle City Hall

My Gigs (with Village)

Fri 1/11/1968 Stanley Boys Club
Sat 2/11/1968 Centre 64, Blyth
Sat 9/11/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Sun 10/11/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Mon 11/11/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Sat 16/11/1968 Tow Bar, Whitehaven
Sun 17/11/1968 Tow Bar, Whitehaven
Tue 19/11/1968 Hirst Central, Ashington
Wed 20/11/1968 Bishop Aukland
Thu 21/11/1968 Quay Club, Newcastle
Fri 22/11/1968 Dumfries Drill Hall
Sat 23/11/1968 Birtley Community Centre
Sat 30/11/1968 Haggerston Castle

Happening Elsewhere

Cream disband after playing 2 farewell concerts at The Royal Albert Hall, where they are supported by Yes and Taste (26th). The members explain that they have taken their music as far as they could.

Chas Chandler sells his managerial interest in the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mike Jeffreys is now sole manager of the group.

In the charts

1 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Hugo Motenegro
10 Little Arrows – Leapy Lee
20 Mexico – Long John Baldry

__________________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

1/12/68 Pentangle appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/12/68 Aynsley Dunbar’s Retalliation appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
11/12/68 Sect, Junco Partners and Mr Poobah’s Chicago Line appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
15/12/68 Pink Floyd appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/12/68 Status Quo appear at Annabels, Sunderland
17/12/68 Status Quo appear at Annabels, Sunderland
19/12/68 The Nice appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/12/68 The Animals appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/12/68 Alan Bown appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
30/12/68 The Move appear at Kirklevington Country Club

My gigs (with Village)

Fri 6/12/1968 Outon Manor YC, Hartlepool
Sat 7/12/1968 Quay Club, Newcastle
Fri 13/12/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Sat 14/12/1968 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Sun 15/12/1968 Townley Arms
Wed 18/12/1968 Ashington Tech Dance
Thu 26/12/1968 Beechwood YC, Middlebrough
Fri 27/12/1968 Five Bridges Hotel, Gateshead

Happening Elsewhere

Graham Nash quits The Hollies to form Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Eric Burdon disbands The New Animals after a farewell gig at Newcastle City Hall on 22nd December

Steve Winwood quits Traffic with the intention of beginning a solo career.

Guitarist Mick Abrahams quits Jethro Tull. Tony Iommi (of Birmingham group Earth, later known as Black Sabbath) appears with the group at the taping of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus”, miming to a previously recorded track. Davy O’List also temporarily fills the gap.

Skip Bifferty split up. Several group members form Arc in 1970. “We can’t carry on”, says vocalist Graham Bell. He attempts a solo career before joining Every Which Way.

In the charts

1 Lily The Pink – Scaffold
10 I’m A Tiger – Lulu
20 All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix Experience

January

North east gigs

6/1/69 Family appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
6/1/69 Don Partridge appears at Wetherells, Sunderland
10/1/69 Simon Dupree &The Big Sound appear at Annabels, Sunderland
12/1/69 Jethro Tull appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
13/1/69 Free appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
17/1/69 Amen Corner appear at Locarno, Sunderland
20/1/69 Harmony Grass appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
20/1/69 Solomon King appears at La Strada, Sunderland
26/1/69 Family, Gun and Bonzo Dog Band appear at City Hall, Newcastle
27/1/69 Keef Hartley appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
28/1/69 Barry Ryan appears at Top Rank, Sunderland
31/1/69 Geno Washington and Cupid’s Inspiration appear at the Locarno, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles perform an impromptu concert on the roof of Apple HQ in Saville Row, London to complete the filming of their “Let It Be” movie.

U.S Police confiscate thirty thousand copies of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Two Virgins’ album, declaring the cover to be “pornographic”.

With Traffic having split when Steve Winwood quit the previous month, keyboardist Wynder K Frog (Mick Weaver) joins Capaldi, Mason and Wood. They are briefly known as Wooden Frog but they split after a series of unproductive rehearsals and a few uninspired live appearances.

Peter Frampton announces that he is leaving The Herd.

Noel Redding forms a new band, Fat Mattress, but denies that he is leaving the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Jimi Hendrix appears on the BBC TV show ‘A Happening For Lulu’. He is supposed to perform ‘Hey Joe’ but partway through the song he leads the Experience into an unrehearsed rendition of “Sunshine Of Your Love” in tribute to the recently defunct Cream. Lulu is left helpless in the wings as she waits in vain to perform her show finale. Hendrix gleefully shouts “We’re being thrown off the air” as the shows producers cut the broadcast.

Martin Barre is installed as Jethro Tull’s new guitarist.

Pete Giles quits Giles, Giles and Fripp. The group replace him with Greg Lake (ex-Shy Limbs/ The Gods) and change their name to King Crimson.

In the charts

1 Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da – Marmalade
10 Son Of A Preacher man – Dusty Springfield
20 A Minute Of Your Time – Tom Jones

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February

North east gigs

1/2/69 The Who and Junco Partners appear at Newcastle University
2/2/69 The Who appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
2/2/69 Pink Floyd appear at the Bay Hotel, Sunderland
3/2/69 Pretty Things appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
3/2/69 Marmalade appear at the Fiesta, Stockton
3/2/69 The Foundations appear at Annabels, Sunderland
3/2/69 Dave Berry & The Cruisers appear at La Strada, Sunderland
5/2/69 Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
6/2/69 Moby Grape and Nice appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/2/69 The Nice appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
7/2/69 The Web appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
10/2/69 Karl Denver Trio appear at La Strada, Sunderland
13/2/69 The Casuals appear at the Fiesta, Stockton
14/2/69 The Coasters appear at Annabels, Sunderland
17/2/69 Pink Floyd appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
17/2/69 The Herd appear at Annabels, Sunderland
17/2/69 The Fortunes appear at Wetherells, Sunderland
17/2/69 Acker Bilk appears at La Strada, Sunderland
21/2/69 Ferris Wheel appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
21/2/69 Love Affair and Pleasure Machine appear at Locarno, Sunderland
22/2/69 Circus appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
22/2/69 Deep Purple appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
23/2/69 to 1/3/69 King Crimson appear at Change Is, Newcastle
24/2/69 Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
24/2/69 Ten Years After appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/2/69 Move appear at the Fiesta, Stockton
28/2/69 The Herd appear at the Fiesta, Stockton
28/2/69 Writing On The Wall appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
29/2/69 Simon Dupree & The Big Sound appear at the Fiesta, Stockton

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Fri 7/2/1969 Quay Club, Newcastle
Sat 8/2/1969 Stanley RAOB
Thu 13/2/1969 Cromer Avenue YC, Low Fell
Fri 14/2/1969 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 15/2/1969 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Sun 16/2/1969 Stanley Youth Club
Thu 20/2/1969 Shildon Railway Institute
Fri 21/2/1969 Hirst Central, Ashington
Sat 22/2/1969 Heworth Welfare
Sun 23/2/1969 Impulse Studio (recording)
Wed 26/2/1969 Belvedere, Bishop Aukland
Thu 27/2/1969 Milvain Club, Newcastle
Fri 28/2/1969 Ponteland Training College

Happening Elsewhere

Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker announce the formation of a new ‘supergroup’, Blind Faith.

Steve Marriott quits The Small Faces.

The Soft Machine reforms as a trio, with their former Roadie and ex-Wilde Flower Hugh Hopper replacing Kevin Ayers on bass. Their music becomes ever more jazz-rock orientated and experimental, but Robert Wyatt’s unique vocal style ensures that they remain accessible to rock fans.

In the charts

1 Albatross – Fleetwood Mac
10 (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice – Amen Corner
20 Mrs Robinson (EP) – Simon & Garfunkel

_____________________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

1/3/69 Episode Six appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
3/3/69 Black Sabbath and Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
8/3/69 Yes appear at Empire Theatre, Sunderland
10/3/69 Spirit Of John Morgan appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
13/3/69 Chicken Shack, Spooky Tooth, Deep Purple appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/3/69 Deep Purple, Chicken Shack and Spooky Tooth appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
16/3/69 Incredible String Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/3/69 Spooky Tooth appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
17/3/69 Genesis appear at Club Rokoko, Sunderland
17/3/69 Desmond Decker & The Aces appear at Annabels, Sunderland
21/3/69 Crazy World Of Arthur Brown appear at Locarno, Sunderland
22/3/69 Leviathan appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
24/3/69 Amen Corner appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
24/3/69 Country Joe & The Fish appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
26/3/69 Stevie Wonder, Foundations appear at ABC, Stockton
28/3/69 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
30/3/69 Free appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
31/3/69 Idle Race appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland

My Gigs (with Sneeze)

Sat 1/3/1969 Haggerston Castle
Mon 3/3/1969 Bedlington Market Place
Thu 6/3/1969 Newbiggin Hall
Fri 7/3/1969 Havelock Hall University
Sat 8/3/1969 St Johns, Whitley Bay
Sun 9/3/1969 St Cuthberts, Seaham
Fri 14/3/1969 Chantry YC, Morpeth
Sat 15/3/1969 Haggerston Castle
Sun 16/3/1969 Townley Arms
Thu 20/3/1969 Newton Aycliffe YC
Fri 21/3/1969 Deneside Youth Centre
Sat 22/3/1969 Haggerston Castle
Sun 23/3/1969 Impulse Studio (recording)
Tue 25/3/1969 Bedlington County School
Wed 26/3/1969 Newbiggin Hall
Thu 27/3/1969 Newburn Memorial Hall
Fri 28/3/1969 Hirst Central, Ashington
Sat 29/3/1969 Haggerston Castle
Sun 30/3/1969 St Patricks, Consett
Mon31/3/1969 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

Robin Gibb quits the Bee Gees.

The Troggs split up. (They reform in 1972)

In the charts

1 Where Do You Go To My Lovely – Peter Sarstedt
10 First Of May – Bee Gees
20 Albatross – Fleetwood Mac

_____________________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

11/4/69 Plastic Penny appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
13/4/69 Hollies appear at Showboat, Middlesbrough
14/4/69 Terry Reid appears at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
19/4/69 Hard Meat appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
21/4/69 Liverpool Scene appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
23/4/69 BB King, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee and Fleetwood Mac appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/4/69 Fairport Convention appear at Sunderland Technical College
26/4/69 Eyes Of Blue appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
28/4/69 The Who appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Sat 5/4/1969 Winnybank Youth Club
Sun 6/4/1969 Belmont WMC
Thu 10/4/1969 Shildon Railway Institute
Fri 11/4/1969 Washington
Sat 12/4/1969 All Saints Church
Mon 14/4/1969 Stanley RAOB
Thu 17/4/1969 Benton Youth Club
Fri 18/4/1969 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 19/4/1969 Barnard Castle YMCA
Sun20/4/1969 St Dominics, Newcastle
Fri 25/4/1969 Sacred Hearts, Hartlepool
Sat 26/4/1969 Hotspur, Whitley Bay
Sun 27/4/1969 St Cuthberts, Seaham
Mon28/4/1969 Peterlee Youth Club

Happening Elsewhere

Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton announce the formation of Humbie Pie. The Melody Maker headlines “Pop Giants Supergroup”. The other group members are Greg Ridley, who had quit Spooky Tooth, on bass and former Apostolic Intervention drummer Jerry Shirley.

Henry Spinetti replaces Andrew Steele as drummer with The Herd.

Rick Grech quits Family on the eve of a U.S tour to join ‘supergroup’ Blind Faith. Ex-New Animals bassist John Weider replaces him. Family’s tour proves disastrous and is cancelled after a few dates when singer Roger Chapman has his visa revoked.

In the charts

1 I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
10 Windmills Of Your Mind – Noel Harrison
20 First Of May – Bee Gees

_____________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

5/5/69 Keef Hartley appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
9/5/69 Mary Wells appearsat Annabels, Sunderland
4/5/69 Steam Hammer appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
10/5/69 Alan Bown appear at Lamp Glass Cellar, Ashington
11/5/69 Keef Hartley appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
11/5/69 Jethro Tull appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
12/5/69 Bobby Vee appears at Wetherells, Sunderland
12/5/69 Chicken Shack appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
14/5/69 Jethro Tull, Ten Years After and Clouds appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/5/69 Fleetwood Mac appear at Locarno, Sunderland
18/5/69 Taste appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
19/5/69 Breakthru appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
22/5/69 The Tremeloes appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
25/5/69 Clouds appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
26/5/69 Savoy Brown and This years Girl appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
26/5/69 Kiki Dee appears at Wetherells, Sunderland
26/5/69 Alan Bown appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Fri 2/5/1969 Northern Counties College
Sun 4/5/1969 Portland Hotel, Ashington
Wed 7/5/1969 Peterlee WMC
Thu 8/5/1969 Shildon Railway Institute
Fri 9/5/1969 Gosforth Rugby Club
Sat 10/5/1969 Peterlee Sports and Social Club
Sun11/5/1969 Argus Butterfly, Peterlee Keef Hartley
Wed14/5/1969 Bedlington YMCA
Fri 16/5/1969 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 17/5/1969 Quay Club / Change Is
Wed21/5/1969 Guidepost Youth Club
Thu22/5/1969 Boldon Community Centre
Fri 23/5/1969 Seaham Northsea School
Sat24/5/1969 Rio Grande Cavern Club
Mon 26/5/1969 Barnard Castle YMCA
Fri 30/5/1969 Banquetting Hall, Newcastle
Sat 31/5/1969 Cellar Club, Ashington

Happening Elsewhere

Martin Lamble, drummer with Fairport Convention, is killed when the band’s van crashes on the M1 in the early hours of the morning as they return from a gig at Mothers club in Birmingham. Ashley Hutchings and Richard Thompson are injured while designer Jeannie Franklin (Thompson’s girlfriend) is also killed. Roadie Harvey Bramham, who had fallen asleep at the wheel, is later prosecuted for “dangerous driving” and serves a prison term.

Pete Townsend is arrested and charged with assault after knocking a plainclothes policeman off the stage at New York’s Fillmore East (on 16th May. The cop had been trying to explain that the show had to be stopped owing to a fire. Townsend is bailed the following day.

In the charts

1 Get Back – Beatles (with Billy Preston)
10 Dizzy – Tommy Roe
20 I’m Living In Shame – Diana Ross & The Supremes

_____________________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

2/6/69 Yes appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
5/6/69 The Casuals and Foundations appear at Locarno, Sunderland
6/6/69 Spirit Of John Morgan appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
9/6/69 Mud appear at Wetherells, Sunderland
9/6/69 Three Dog Night appear at bay Hotel, Sunderland
12/6/69 Marmalade appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
13/6/69 Jethro Tull appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
16/6/69 The Nice appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
17/6/69 Jethro Tull appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
19/6/69 Sam The Sham appear at Annabels, Sunderland
20/6/69 Led Zeppelin, Blodwyn Pig and Liverpool Scene appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/6/69 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds appered at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
23/6/69 Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon appear at Annabels, Sunderland
23/6/69 Aynsley Dunbar appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
26/6/69 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Locarno, Sunderland
27/6/69 Tyrannosaurus Rex and Free appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
30/6/69 Yes appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
30/6/69 Long John Baldry appear at Wetherells, Sunderland

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Sun 1/6/1969 Change Is
Mon 2/6/1969 Change Is
Tue 3/6/1969 Change Is
Wed 4/6/1969 Change Is
Thu 5/6/1969 Change Is
Fri 6/6/1969 Change Is
Sat 7/6/1969 Change Is
Mon 9/6/1969 Bedlington Social Club
Thu 12/6/1969 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Marmalade, Animal Farm
Fri 13/6/1969 Whitley Bay, YMCA
Fri 20/6/1969 Newcastle University
Sat 21/6/1969 St Johns, Whitley Bay
Thu 26/6/1969 Shotley Bridge Victory Club
Fri 27/6/1969 Jarrow YMCA
Sat 28/6/1969 Quay Club, Newcastle
Mon 30/6/1969 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay

Happening Elsewhere

Brian Jones quits The Rolling Stones over ‘musical differences’. Mick Taylor, guitarist with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers is announced as Jones replacement.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience disbands following their appearance at the Denver Pop Festival.

Drummer Dave Hynes leaves the Spencer Davis Group. North east drummer, Nigel Olsson from Plastic Penny replaces him.

Manfred Mann split up. Manfred and Mike Hugg work on advertising jingles, including the famous “full of fitness food” campaign for Ski yoghurt.

Van Der Graaf Generator split up, (not for the first or last time).

In the charts

1 The Ballad Of John And Yoko – Beatles
10 The Boxer – Simon & Garfunkel
20 Behind A Painted Smile – Isley Brothers
_____________________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

3/7/69 The Equals appear at Locarno, Sunderland
7/7/69 Chicken Shack appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
11/7/69 Writing On The Wall appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
11/7/69 The Herd appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
14/7/69 Colosseum appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
18/7/69 White Trash appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
18/7/69 Deep Purple and Thunderclap Newman appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/7/69 Marsha Hunt and White Trash appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
18/7/69 The Tremeloes appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
21/7/69 Family appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
24/7/69 The Crystals appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
25/7/69 Third Ear Band appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
25/7/69 Bill Hayley & The Comets appear at Annabels, Sunderland
26/7/69 Yes appear at Kirklevington Country Club
27/7/69 The Who appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
27/7/69 The Move appear at Wetherells, Sunderland
28/7/69 The Who appear at the Locarno, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

On 2nd July, after spending the day with his Swedish girlfriend, Anna Wohlin, ex-Rolling Stones guitarist, Brian Jones is found dead in the swimming pool that evening at his home – Cotchford Farm, Sussex.

On 5th July the Rolling Stones headline at a free concert in Hyde Park, London just three days after their former guitarist was found dead at his home. Also appearing at the concert are King Crimson, Thurd Ear Band, Screw, Family, Battered Ornaments and Alex Korner’s New Church. The vent attracts a crowd of between 250,000 and 500,0000 fans.
It is the Stones’ first public concert in over two years, and is intended as an introduction to new guitarist, Mick Taylor. Circumstances inevitably changed following the death of former member Brian Jones days earlier..

The Beatles record their last ‘proper’ album, “Abbey Road”.

The Spencer Davis Group finally split-up.

Van Der Graaf Generator re-form!

Vocalist Jess Roden quits The Alan Bown group and is replaced by Robert Palmer from Yorkshire group The Mandrakes.

In the charts

1 Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman
10 Give Peace A Chance – Plastic Ono Band
20 That’s The Way God Planned It – Billy Preston

_____________________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

8/8/69 Thunderclap Newman appear at the Showboat, Middlesbrough
13/8/69 Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and King Crimson appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
15/8/69 Deep Purple, The Gun and Doc K’s Blues Band at the Mayfair, Newcastle
17/8/69 Love Affair appear at Wetherells, Sunderland
22/8/69 Family and Grail appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
29/8/69 Liverpool Scene, The Mooche and Junco Partners appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
31/8/69 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich appear at Wetherells, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

Crazy World Of Arthur Brown members Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer form Atomic Rooster.

Vocalist Rod Evans and bassist Nick Simper are sacked by Deep Purple. Episode 6 members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover replace them.

In the charts

1 Honky Tonk Woman – Rolling Stones
10 Bringing On Back The Good Times – Love Affair
20 Curly – Move

_____________________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

1/9/69 Fat Mattress appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
1/9/69 5th Dimension appear at Manhattan Club, Sunderland
5/9/69 Soft Machine appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
5/9/69 The Fourmost appear at Wetherells, Sunderland
12/9/69 Free and Mott The Hoople appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
12/9/69 Family appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
3/9/69 Bonzo Dog Band appear at the Showboat, Middlesbrough
13/9/69 Yes appear at Kirklevington Country Club
14/9/69 Fleetwood Mac appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
15/9/69 Chicken Shack and Rubber Plant appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
19/9/69 Atomic Rooster appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
21/9/69 Deep Purple appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
22/9/69 The Casuals appear at Wetherells, Sunderland
22/9/69 Richard Kent Style and Georgia Quintet appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
25/9/69 Jethro Tull appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/9/69 Chicken Shack and Principle Edwards appear at Locarno, Sunderland
28/9/69 Eclection and Third Ear Band appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
29/9/69 Principle Edwards Magic Theatre appear at the Locarno, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

Steve Took quits Tyrannosaurus Rex to “do his own thing”. Took is replaced by Micky Finn, who had replied to a Melody Maker advertisement seeking a “gentle guy who can play bongos, bass guitar and vocal harmony”.

Illinois University students publish articles reviving the rumour that Paul McCartney had been killed in a 1966 car crash and had been replaced by a look-alike. The articles claim that clues to McCartney’s supposed death in 1966 could be found among the lyrics and artwork of the Beatles’ recordings. Clue-hunting proved infectious and within a few weeks had become an international phenomenon. The ‘Paul is dead’ urban legend is born and continues for several decades.

Blind Faith split on completion of their U.S tour.

‘Stones In The Park’, Granada TV’s recording of the Rolling Stones performance at the Hyde Park free concert on 5th July is shown on UK TV. While the event was considered a memorable one by some critics, the general feeling was that it was not one of the Stones’ best performances, and the guitars played during the concert were out of tune. In a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Keith Richards evaluated their performance, “We played pretty bad until near the end, because we hadn’t played for years …. Nobody minded, because they just wanted to hear us play again.”

In the charts

1 Bad Moon Rising – Creedance Clearwater Revival
10 Good Morning Starshine – Cast Of Oliver
20 Cloud Nine – Temptations

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October

North east gigs

2/10/69 Love Affair appear at The Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
3/10/69 Barclay James Harvest and Savoy Brown appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
5/10/69 Simon Dupree and the Big Sound appear at the Showboat, Middlesbrough
6/10/69 Marmalade and the Tremeloes appear at Newcastle City Hall
6/10/69 Pretty Things appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
10/10/69 Nice appear at Newcastle City Hall
10/10/69 Fat Mattress appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
11/10/69 Yes appear at Newcastle University
13/10/69 Pete Brown & Piblokto appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
14/10/69 Colosseum appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/10/69 Family and Man appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
19/10/69 Grumbleweeds appear at La Strada, Sunderland
20/10/69 Writing On The Wall appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
20/10/69 Yes appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
21/10/69 The Troggs appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
24/10/69 Pink Floyd appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
24/10/69 Slade appear at Annabels, Sunderland
24/10/69 Manfred Mann Chapter Three appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
24/10/69 Humble Pie and David Bowie appear at Sunderland Empire
25/10/69 Free appear at Dunelm House, Durham
26/10/69 Incredible String Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
27/10/69 Roy Harper appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
27/10/69 Lovin’ Spoonful appear at Annabels, Sunderland
30/10/69 The Move appear at Top rank, Sunderland
30/10/69 Family and Raw Spirit appear at Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
31/10/69 Savoy Brown and Barclay James Harvest appear at Locarno, Sunderland

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Thu 2/10/1969 Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay The Love Affair
Fri 17/10/1969 Eustace Percy Hall

Happening Elsewhere

The Jeff Beck Group finally splits after a turbulent couple of years.

The Hollies appear on “The Bobbie Gentry Show” playing country-rock songs.

The Small Faces officially replace Steve Marriott with Rod Stewart. Ron Wood comes in on guitar. The group shorten their name to The Faces (although in the U.S they are still billed as “Small Faces” until after the release of their first album in April 1970).

The newly shortened Hawkwind sign a deal with Liberty. They begin recording an album in November with ex-Pretty Thing Dick Taylor as producer.

After struggling along for most of the year without prize asset Peter Frampton, the remaining members of The Herd finally concede defeat and split up.
Tunbridge Wells based psych-pop group Kippington Lodge split up after releasing 5 flop singles. However, members Nick Lowe, Bob Andrews and Brinsley Schwarz immediately form much hyped pub-rock band ‘Brinsley Schwarz’.

Graham Bond is arrested at the Hampstead Country Club for alleged contempt of court arising out of bankruptcy charges made almost two years previously, before he left the UK for an extended stay in America. Bond is remanded in custody at Pentonville prison.

In the charts

1 Je T’Aime .. Moi No Plus – Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg
10 Throw Down A Line – Cliff Richard
20 Viva Bobby Joe – Equals

_____________________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

1/11/69 Sandie Shaw and The Troggs appear at Sunderland Empire
1/11/69 Pentangle appear at Newcastle City Hall
3/11/69 Principle Edwards Magic Theatre appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
4/11/69 Marv Johnson appears at Top Rank Sunderland
7/11/69 Edgar Broughton Band and Zoot Money appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
8/11/69 The Casuals appear at Annabels, Sunderland
10/11/69 The Pretty Things appear at Annabels, Sunderland
14/11/69 Family, Yes and Blossom Toes appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/11/69 Christine Perfect and Mighty Baby appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
18/11/69 Love Affair appear at Annabels, Sunderland
20/11/69 Move, Mr Poobah, Pleasure Machine appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
21/11/69 1910 Fruitgum Company appear at Annabels, Sunderland
21/11/69 Flowerpot Men appear at the Showboat, Middlesbrough
21/11/69 Free and Quintessence appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
23/11/69 Tyrannosaurus Rex appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/11/69 Graham Bond appear Annabels Sunderland
28/11/69 Tyrannossaurus Rex and Spirit Of John Morgan appear at the Locarno, Sunderland

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Sun 2/11/1969 Shildon Railway Institute
Thu 20/11/1969 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle The Move, Mr Poobah, Pleasure Machine

Happening Elsewhere

The Rolling Stones tour America for the first time in three years.

Ex-Yardbirds Keith Relf and Jim McCarty return in new band Renaissance.

Sax/Flute player Jim King leaves Family. He is replaced by ex-Blossom Toes man John ‘Poli’ Palmer.

Semi-pro Yorkshire vocalist Robert Palmer (ex-Mandrakes) who has replaced Jess Roden in The Alan Bown! records new vocals for “The Alan Bown!” album but the U.S release retains Roden’s vocals.

Rumours about Paul McCartneys alleged death in 1966 revived by Illinois University students in September decline after a contemporary interview with McCartney is published in Life magazine.

In the charts

1 Sugar Sugar – The Archies
10 Love’s Been Good To Me – Frank Sinatra
20 Liquidator – Harry J & The All Stars
_____________________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

1/12/69 Hard Meat appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
4/12/69 Chicken Shack appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
5/12/69 Barclay James Harvest and Gin House appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
5/12/69 Deep Purple appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
5/12/69 Marv Johnson appears at Annabels, Sunderland
5/12/69 The Pretty Things appear at Seaburn Hall, Sunderland
5/12/69 Moody Blues and Trapeze appear at Odeon, Newcastle
8/12/69 Gypsy appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
9/12/69 Ten Years After, Stone The Crows and Blodwyn Pig appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/12/69 Edgar Broughton Band and Graham Bond appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/12/69 Family appear at Newcastle University
14/12/69 Family appear at Peterlee Jazz Cllub (Argus Butterfly)
14/12/69 The Searchers appear at La Strada, Sunderland
15/12/69 Rare Bird appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
16/12/69 Lou Christie appears at Top Rank, Sunderland
18/12/69 The Drifters appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
19/12/69 The Who appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/12/69 Juicy Lucy appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
21/12/69 Chicago Transit Authority appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/12/69 Gypsy appear at Locarno, Sunderland
23/12/69 Love Affair, Juncos and Sneeze appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
27/12/69 Yes appear at Kirklevington Country Club

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Sun 21/12/1969 Argus Butterfly, Peterlee Juicy Lucy
Tue23/12/1969 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle The Love Affair,Junco Partners
Wed 31/12/1969 Freemasons Arms, Consett

Happening Elsewhere

The Rolling Stones headline at the infamous Altamont Free Festival attended by 300,000 people in California on 6th December. The festival which also featured Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills,Nash & Young was marred by violence, heavy drug taking and the consequential murder of black teenager, Meredith Hunter who had been brandishing a gun in front of the stage when he was stabbed by a Hell’s Angel during the Stone’s performance.

Following the split of Blind Faith, Ginger Baker forms his Air Force.

Fat Mattress split up with leader Noel Redding reportedly suffering from nervous exhaustion. The other members re-group with Steve Hammond replacing Redding.

Keith Emerson of The Nice and Greg Lake of King Crimson hatch plans to form a new group while their current outfits play together at San Francisco’s Fillmore West.

In the charts

1 Sugar Sugar – The Archies
10 All I Have To Do Is Dream – Bobby Gentry & Glen Campbell
20 Nobody’s Child – Karen Young

January

North east gigs

1/1/70 Edgar Broughton and Principal Edwards appear at Locarno, Sunderland
9/1/70 Manfred Man and Principal Edwards appear at Locarno, Sunderland
9/1/70 White Trash, The Windmill, The Sect and Sneeze appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
12/1/70 John Dummer’s Blues Band appear at Locarno, Sunderland
15/1/70 Led Zeppelin appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/1/70 Quintessence appear at Locarno, Sunderland
16/1/70 Fat Matress and Man appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
19/1/70 Stone The Crows appear at Locarno, Sunderland
23/1/70 Family and Emily & Muff appear at Locarno, Sunderland
27/1/70 Sect, Junco Partners, Gorilla and Spyda appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
30/1/70 Ten Years After and Junco Partners appear at Locarno, Sunderland

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Fri 09/01/1970 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle White Trash, Windmill, Sect
Tue 13/01/1970 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Traction, Good Lovin Band

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles (minus Lennon) hold their final recording session to complete the ‘Let It Be’ soundtrack.

The Move announce plans to transform themselves into The Electric Light Orchestra.

Vocalist Carl Wayne quits The Move. Jeff Lynne replaces him, having elected to remain with The Idle Race when previously invited to join The Move the previous February. Lynne joins the group only after being assured that he will be involved in Roy Wood’s ambitious Electric Light Orchestra project.

Greg Lake hands in his notice to King Crimson, but as a favour he records lead vocals on several tracks intended for the group’s second album, “In The Wake Of Poseidon”.

Guitarist Peter Banks is sacked by Yes. He is replaced several weeks later by ex-Tomorrow & Bodast man Steve Howe.

Organist Gary Wright quits Spooky Tooth.

In the charts

1 Two Little Boys – Rolf Harris
10 Come And Get It – Badfinger
20 Leavin’ On A Jet Plane – Peter, Paul & Mary

_________________________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

1/2/70 Yes appear at Empire Theatre, Sunderland
3/2/70 Sect, Mass Action, Blondie and Envelope appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
6/2/70 Free and Griffin appear at Locarno, Sunderland
13/2/70 Blodwyn Pig and Audience appear at Locarno, Sunderland
14/2/70 Spyda, Junco Parners nad Sneeze appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
20/2/70 John Hiseman’s Colesseum and Jess Roden’s Bronco appear at Locarno, Sunderland
23/2/70 Siren appear at Locarno, Sunderland
24/2/70 Animal Farm, Morning Glory and Sneeze appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
27/2/70 Chicken Shack and Quintessence appear at Locarno, Sunderland
27/2/70 Crazy World Of Arthur Brown appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Sat 14/02/1970 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Junco Partners, Spyda
Tue 24/02/1970 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Animal Farm, Morning Glory

Happening Elsewhere

The Who record a live album at Leeds University on 14th February using Pye’s mobile studio.

Steve Winwood abandons plans to release a solo album and reforms Traffic with Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood.

Spooky Tooth split up, considering that they have become stale. The group viewed their album ‘Ceremony’ (a collaboration with Pierre Henry) as a complete failure.

In the charts

1 Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Edison Lighthouse
10 Wand’rin’ Star – Lee Marvin
20 United We Stand – Brotherhood Of Man

____________________________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

6/3/70 Edgar Broughton and Juice appear at Locarno, Sunderland
7/3/70 Status Quo appear at Viking, Seahouses
9/3/70 Third Ear Band and Genesis appear at Locarno, Sunderland
9/3/69 Yes appear at Civic Theatre, Darlington
13/3/70 David Bowie and Pricipal Edwards appear at Locarno, Sunderland
11/3/70 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Kirklevington Country Club
14/3/70 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Longlands College, Middlesbrough
16/3/70 Chicken Shack appear at Locarno, Sunderland
19/3/70 Free, Juicy Lucy, Junco Partners and Raw Spirit appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
20/3/70 Blodwyn Pg and Writing On The Wall appear at Locarno, Sunderland
21/3/70 Mott The Hoople appear at Kirklevington Country Club
26/3/70 Ginger Baker’s Airforce appear at Locarno, Sunderland
30/3/70 Clouds appear at Locarno, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

David Bowie performs with a new backing group, The Hype, which includes ex-Rats guitarist Mick Ronson.

Family return to the U.S for a tour, but their jinx strikes again when Roger Chapman’s passport is stolen. The band play dates in Canada without him.

King Crimson appear on Top Of The Pops with an ad hoc line up including pianist Keith Tippett, performing their single “Cat Food”.

Jethro Tull turn down an offer of £10,000 to top the bill at a Hampden Park, Glasgow pop festival. Jethro’s manager, Terry Ellis says that the stadium’s 120,000 capacity would mean that the group couldn’t hope to get itself over to a crowd of that size

The Nice split-up after completing a final UK tour and a couple of shows in Germany. Their last concert is The Peace Festival in Berlin, where they are supported by Deep Purple . Keith Emerson goes onto form ELP, Lee Jackson teams up with some old mates from his home town of Newcastle in Jackson Heights, while drummer Brian Davison puts together an avant-garde/jazz influenced outfit, Every Which Way, which features ex-Skip Bifferty singer Graham Bell.

In the charts

1 Wand’rin’ Star – Lee Marvin
10 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
20 Knock Knock Who’s There – Mary Hopkin

________________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

3/4/70 Taste and Black Sabbath appear at Locarno, Sunderland
8/4/70 Sect, Sneeze, Dogg and Juice appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
9/4/70 Taste and Black Sabbath appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
10/4/70 Edgar Broughton and Juice appear at Locarno, Sunderland
16/4/70 Yes and Graham Bond appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
17/4/70 Groundhogs and Grisby & Dyke appear at Locarno, Sunderland
23/4/70 Taste and Black Sabbath appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
24/4/70 Roy Harper and Humble Pie appear at Locarno, Sunderland
27/4/70 Steamhammer appear at Locarno, Sunderland
30/4/70 Edgar Broughton and Terry Reid appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Sat 25/04/1970 St Peters

Happening Elsewhere

It’s officially announced that The Beatles have split up.

Peter Green quits Fleetwood Mac because “I want to change my life” and “I want to be completely free to do what I like”.

Keith Emerson (ex-Nice) and Greg Lake (ex King Crimson) finally team up to form the band they have been planning ever since they met in late ’69 while touring in the U.S with their old groups. They audition drummers and in June Carl Palmer (ex Atomic Rooster) is added to the trio. Meanwhile Lee Jackson begins rehearsals with his own group, to be called Jackson Heights.

Guitarist Peter Banks is sacked by Yes. He’s replaced by ex-Tomorrow and Bodast man Steve Howe.

Jack Bruce joins Tony Williams’ Lifetime for “a few weeks recording”, while ex-Cream colleague Ginger Baker makes extensive changes to the line-up of his Air Force.

In the charts

1 Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
10 Farewell Is A Lonely Sound – Jimmy Ruffin
20 You’re A Good Looking Woman – Joe Dolan

________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

1/5/70 Keef Hartley and Black Widow appear at Locarno, Sunderland
7/5/70 Colosseum, Man and Raw Spirit appear at Locarno, Sunderland
7/5/70 Tyrannosaurus Rex and The Sect appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
8/5/70 Traffic and If appear at Locarno, Sunderland
13/5/70 Ten Years After appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/5/70 Procol Harum appear at Locarno, Sunderland
15/5/70 Colliseum and Man appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
22/5/70 Radha Krishna Temple appear at Locarno, Sunderland
23/5/70 Free and Bronco appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/5/70 Gypsy appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
29/5/70 Tyrannosaurus Rex appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
29/5/70 Savoy Brown and Juicy Lucy appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

Pink Floyd suffer the theft of most of their stage equipment in New Orleans.

Spooky Tooth split to follow solo projects.

In the charts

1 Back Home – England World Cup Squad
10 Can’t Help Falling In Love – Andy Williams
20 Up The Ladder To The Roof – The Supremes

________________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

5/6/70 Groundhogs appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
5/6/70 The Move and Idle Race appear at Newcastle City Hall
9/6/70 Terry Reid and Fat Mattress (with Noel Redding) appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
12/6/70 Family appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
12/6/70 Edgar Broughton, Quintessence and Dogg appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
15/6/70 Quatermass appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
19/6/70 Savoy Brown and Yellow appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
19/6/70 Terry Reid and Fat Mattress appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
22/6/70 Principal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
26/6/70 Free and Kevin Ayres appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
26/6/70 Rare Bird and Hard Meat appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

Status Quo keyboard player Roy Lynes quits the group. The others decide not to replace him, and in the light of their ever decreasing pop/psych success they change musical direction to become purveyors of heads down, no-nonsense, mindless boogie for the next thirty-plus years.

Folk-Rockers The Strawbs add Royal Academy of Music piano student Rick Wakeman to their line-up. Wakeman was already a noted session player, having played Mellotron on David Bowie’s hit ‘Space Oddity’.

In the charts

1 Yellow River – Christie
10 Sally Gerry Monroe
20 Down The Dustpipe – Status Quo

________________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

3/7/70 Roy Harper, Pretty Things and Brinsley Schwartz appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
10/7/70 Chicken Shack and Matthews Southern Comfort appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
17/7/70 If, Lord Sutch & His Heavy Friends appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
23/7/70 Atomic Rooster and Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
31/7/70 Deep Purple and Daddy Longlegs appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Wed 08/07/1970 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Junco Partners, Saratoga, Gollum
Fri 24/07/1970 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Jimmy Bence, Don Eddy Trio

Happening Elsewhere

The Rolling Stones contract with Decca Records expires. They still owe one single but deliver the unreleasable “Cocksucker Blues”.

Ex-Family, Blind Faith and Air Force bassist Ric Grech joins Traffic

In the charts

1 In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry
10 Lola – Kinks
20 Love Like A Man – Ten Years After

_____________________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

7/8/70 Derek & The Dominoes and Writing On The Wall appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
14/8/70 Humble Pie appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
21/8/70 Quintessence, Mott The Hoople and Supertramp appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
28/8/70 Tyrannosaurus Rex and Principle Edwards appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
31/8/70 Yes appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Fri 21/08/1970 Rennington Farm, Alnwick (with James Lowrie Set)

Happening Elsewhere
Mick Abrahams quits Blodwyn Pig. Ex-Yes guitarist Peter Banks takes over.

Bassist Nic Potter quits Van Der Graaf Generator. He is not replaced.

The Bee Gees reform as a trio comprising the Gibb brothers.

In the charts

1 The Wonder Of You – Elvis Presley
10 The Tears Of A Clown – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
20 Sweet Inspiration – Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon

_____________________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

11/9/70 Blodwyn Pig appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
23/9/70 Barclay James Harvest, Steam Hammer and Gin House appear at Newcastle City Hall
27/9/70 Jethro Tull, Procol Harum and Tir Na Nog appear at Newcastle City Hall
27/9/70 Barclay James Harvest and Uriah Heep appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

Happening Elsewhere

Jimi Hendrix is found dead in a London flat on the 18th, having asphyxiated on his own vomit after taking barbiturates. In the days before his death, Hendrix is reported to have been in poor health, due in part to fatigue caused by overworking, a chronic lack of sleep, and an illness assumed to be influenza related. Insecurities about his personal relationships and disillusionment with the music industry had also contributed to his frustration. Although the details of his final hours and death are disputed, Hendrix spent much of his last day with Monika Dannemann. During the morning of 18th September, she finds him unresponsive in her apartment at the Samarkand Hotel, Notting Hill. She calls for an ambulance at 11:18 a.m. and he is taken to St Marys Abbot’s Hospital where an attempt is made to resuscitate him. He is pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m. The post-mortem concludes that Hendrix choked on his own vomit and died of asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates. At the subsequent inquest, the coroner, finding no evidence of suicide and lacking sufficient evidence of the circumstances, records an open verdict. Dannemann stated that Hendrix had taken nine of her prescribed sleeping tablets, 18 times the recommended dosage.
Veteran r&b groaner Chris Farlowe is a surprise addition to Colosseum. Bassist Tony Reeves quits and is replaced temporarily by Louis Cennamo (of Renaissance) before Mark Clarke steps in permanently.

Brian Auger disbands The Trinity and launches the heavier Oblivion Express.

In the charts

1 The Tears Of A Clown – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
10 Rainbow – Marmalade
20 Black Knight – Deep Purple

_______________________________________________________

October

North east gigs

2/10/70 Keef Hartley, Strawbs and Pink Fairies appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
4/10/70 Emerson Lake & Palmer appear at Newcastle City Hall
9/10/70 White Trash, Windmill and Sect appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
10/10/70 Mott The Hoople appear at Kirklevington Country Club
16/10/70 Yes appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/10/70 Free, Deep Purple, Principal Edwards, Cochise and Yellow appear at Top rank, Sunderland
22/10/70 Keef Hartley, Strawbs and Pink Fairies appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
22/10/70 The Who appear at ABC, Stockton
23/10/70 Black Sabbath, Manfred Mann and appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
30/10/70 Ten Years After appear at Mayfair, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

Gordon Haskell is sacked from King Crimson. He’s replaced by ex-Boz People singer Boz Burrell. Burrell is taught the bass guitar by Robert Fripp.

Marc Bolan abbreviates Tyrannosaurus Rex to T Rex and changes musical direction from psychedelic folk to glam boogie.

Spooky Tooth reform with original members Mike Harrison, Luther Grosvenor and Mike Kellie plus bassist Steve Thompson and keyboardsman John Hawken. They set out on a mammoth 50-date European tour.

In the charts

1 Band Of Gold – Freda Payne
10 Patches – Clarence Carter
20 Gasoline Alley Bred – The Hollies

_________________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

6/11/70 Tony Williams Lifetime (with Jack Bruce) appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/11/70 Uriah Heep appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
14/11/70 Jackson Heights appear at Kirklevington Country Club
19/11/70 Chicken Shack, Yellow and Traction appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
21/11/70 The Strawbs appear at Kirklevington Country Club
26/11/70 Curved Air appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
27/11/70 The Faces appear at Kirklevington Country Club
28/11/70 Gentle Giant appear at Kirklevington Country Club

Happening Elsewhere

The Rolling Stones rule out the possibility of British concert appearances until the New Year.

Peter Banks quits Blodwyn, only weeks after replacing Mick Abrahams. Reason given is ‘musical differences’.

In the charts

1 Woodstock – Matthews Southern Comfort
10 Black Knight – Deep Purple
20 I’ve Lost You – Elvis Presley

_______________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

15/12/70 The Who appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
17/12/70 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
18/12/70 Yes appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/12/70 Edgar Broughton Band appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
30/12/70 Lindisfarne appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Sneeze – incomplete records)

Thu 31/12/1970 Middlesbrough

Happening Elsewhere

Jethro Tull bassist Glen Cornick quits and is replaced by Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond.

Robin Gibb rejoins The Bee Gees as the brothers settle their differences, however their music grows more syrupy and MOR with each successive release.

Tony Kaye, organist with Yes, breaks his foot when the group’s van is involved in a head-on collision near Basingstoke. He has to be carried on and off stage at gigs for several weeks.

In the charts

1 I Hear You Knocking – Dave Edmunds
10 Indian reservation – Don Fardon
20 Woodstock – Matthews Southern Comfort

January

North east gigs

1/1/71 Groundhogs, Quintessence and Medicine Head 9/10/70 White Trash, Windmill and Sect appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
3/1/71 Tyrannosaurus Rex appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
14/1/71 Yes and Dada appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/1/71 Chicken Shack, Third Ear Band and If 9/10/70 White Trash, Windmill and Sect appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
15/1/71 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Newcastle, Polytechnic
16/1/71 Audience appear at Durham University
18/1/71 Black Sabbath, Curved Air and Freedom appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/1/71 The Faces appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/1/71 Mott The Hoople and Wishbone Ash appear at Newcastle City Hall
31/1/71 Van Der Graaf Generator, Lindisfarne and Genesis appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Fri 8/1/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 9/1/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Tue 12/1/1971 St Johns, Whitley Bay
Fri 15/1/1971 Amble British Legion
Mon 18/1/1971 Blue Star Social Club
Sun 24/1/1971 Stanley Youth Club
Fri 29/1/1971 Alnmouth
Sat 30/1/1971 Felling Welfare

Happening Elsewhere

The case to dissolve The Beatles’ partnership begins at London’s High Court (19th), with Paul McCartney fighting his corner against the other three plus business manager Allen Klein.

Arthur Brown re-launches his career with a new backing band ‘Kingdom Come’.

It’s announced that Ginger Baker’s ‘Airforce’ outfit will disband after the final date of their current tour (Feb 20th)

Lee Jackson re-vamps Jackson Heights. Out go drummer Tommy Sloane and organist Dave Watts. In come John Woods (ex-Jody Grind) on drums and guitarist Roger McKew from Neil Innes’ The World. Guitarist/Pianist Charlie Harcourt remains with the band.

Despite having broken-up The Beatles are voted Top British Group in the 1971 NME Readers Poll, followed by The Hollies, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones & Moody Blues. McGuinness Flint are Best New Group.
Organist Wynder K Frog (Mick Weaver) and saxist Johnny Almond join the Keef Hartley Band.

It’s reported that Noel Redding has rejoined Fat Mattress, and that the group has reverted to its original four-piece line-up.

In the charts

1 Grandad – Clive Dunn
10 Home Lovin’ Man – Andy Williams
20 You’re ready Now – Frankie Valli

_________________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

5/2/71 Family and Dada appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
7/2/71 Yes appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
11/2/71 Uriah Heep appear at Middlesbough Town Hall
12/2/71 Clouds and Quiver appear at Sunderland Tech College
13/2/71 Barclay James Harvest appear at Darlington College
13/2/71 The Strawbs appear at Durham University
13/2/71 Quiver appear at Kirklevington Country Club
14/2/71 Free and Amazing Blondel appear at Sunderland Empire
18/2/71 Tyrannosaurus Rex and If appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
19/2/71 Stackridge appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
20/2/71 Kevin Ayres, Dr Strangely Strange and Gringo appear at Durham University
20/2/71 Deep Purple and Hardin-York appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/2/71 Barclay James Harvest and Mick Abrahams appear at Sunderland Tech College
23/2/71 Jackson Heights, Every Which Way and Audience appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/2/71 Johnny Winter, Climax Chicago Blues Band and Mogul Thrash appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/2/71 Nucleas appear at Newcastle University
26/271 Uriah Heep appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
27/2/71 Lindisfarne appear at Kirklevington Country Club
27/2/71 Free and Amazing Blondel appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Fri 5/2/1971 Consett Victory Club
Sat 6/2/1971 Ashington Hop
Fri 12/2/1971 Colwell Village Hall
Sat 13/2/1971 Students Union, Newcastle
Thu 18/2/1971 Birtley Buffs
Fri 19/2/1971 St Cuthberts
Sat 20/2/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Tue 23/2/1971 Change Is
Sun 28/2/1971 Portland, Ashington

Happening Elsewhere

George Harrison is sued over his hit “My Sweet Lord”. It’s alleged that the song infringes the copyright of The Chiffons’ 1963 hit “He’s So Fine”. Harrison is eventually found guilty of ‘unconscious plagiarism’, subsequently losing all of his royalties on the song.

Fleetwood Mac guitarist Jeremy Spencer goes missing in Los Angeles shortly before the group are due to perform at the Whiskey A Go-Go club. Subsequently it’s discovered that he has joined the Children Of God religious cult and has quit the music business.

Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thompson quits the group, causing the cancellation of their prestige concert at Royal Festival Hall. Thompson is not replaced, instead Simon Nicol switches from rhythm to lead guitar.
More drama for Fairport when a lorry crashed into their communal home. Dave Swarbrick narrowly escapes death as his bedroom collapses. The Dutch driver is not so lucky.

Singer/dancer Malcolm Le Maistre joins the Incredible String Band while Rose Simpson leaves the band in order to study sound engineering!

Led Zeppelin announce a ‘Back to the Clubs’ tour of the small venues where they started out, but the ruse back-fires somewhat, with an avalanche of ticket enquires clogging systems and many complaints from disgruntled punters who miss out.

Lindisfarne perform on BBC’s ‘Sounds Of the 70s’ radio programme.

In the charts

1 My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
10 Ape Man – Kinks
20 Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

_________________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

4/3/71 Rolling Stones appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/3/71 Emerson, Lake & Palmer appear at ABC, Stockton
5/3/71 Fairport Convention and Stud appear at Top rank, Sunderland
5/3/71 Mungo Jerry and Principal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Durham University
7/3/71 Yes appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
12/3/71 Lindisfarne, Amazing Blondel and Storyteller appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
13/3/71 Dream Police appear at Kirklevington Country Club
13/3/71 Pentangle appear at Newcastle Univesity
14/3/71 Quintessence appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/3/71 Fairport Convention appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/3/71 Led Zeppelin appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
18/3/71 Stone The Crows, Beggars Opera and Arc appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/3/71 Amazing Blondel appear at Kirklevington Country Club
20/3/71 Jethro Tull and Steeleye Span appear at Sunderland Empire
26/3/71 Mott The Hoople and Medicine Head appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
26/3/71 Emerson Lake & Palmer appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/3/71 Bridget St John appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
27/3/71 Thin Lizzy appear at Kirklevington Country Club

My gigs (with Sneeze)

Thu 4/3/1971 Ponteland Youth Club
Sat 6/3/1971 Felling Welfare
Mon 8/3/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay

Happening Elsewhere

The judge in the Beatles’ court case decides in Paul McCartney’s favour. Meanwhile, the press run headlines that the Beatles will reform with Klaus Voorman replacing McCartney on bass. McCartney is also involved in yet another dispute, this time with publishers Northern Songs over his latest hit single “Another Day”. The song has been co-credited to both McCartney and his wife Linda, thereby reducing the amount of earnings due to Northern songs by 50%. Northern Songs Chairman Jack Gill insists that Linda is not capable of composing such music and threatens court action.

Peter Green stands in for the missing Jeremy Spencer on Fleetwood Mac’s US Tour.

Quintessence are banned from future appearances at Bristol’s Colston Hall following their concert this month. The venue’s management objected to the group handing out burning joss sticks to the audience, constituting a ‘fire risk’.

Ex-Jethro Tull bass player Glen Cornick announces the formation of his new group, Wild Turkey, which includes Gary Pickford-Hopkins and John Weathers from Swansea psych-group Eyes Of Blue.

Kinks leader Ray Davies is ordered to slow down and take a month off by his medical advisors. Davies apparently has “four writing projects on the go” plus recording and live concert commitments.

On 8th March, Lindisfarne appear on BBC’s ‘Sound Of The 70s’ programme.

In the charts

1 Baby Jump – Mungo Jerry
10 Resurrection Shuffle – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke
20 Jack In The Box – Clodagh Rodgers

_________________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

2/4/71 Quintessence and Stray appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
2/4/71 Head, Hand & Feat appear at Kirklevington Country Club
3/4/71 Terry Reid appear at Kirklevington Country Club
4/4/71 Pink Floyd appear at Locarno, Sunderland
8/4/71 Skid Row, Hardin & York and Stray appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
11/4/71 ELO appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/4/71 Groundhogs, Chicken Shack and Michael Chapman appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/4/71 Wishbone Ash appear at Kirklevington Country Club
17/4/71 Caravan and Bell & Arc appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/4/71 Stackridge appear at Durham University
25/4/71 Strawbs appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/4/71 Quintessence and Stone The Crows appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Fri 30/4/1971 Training College, Nevilles Cross

Happening Elsewhere

The sleeve of David Bowie’s latest album “The Man Who Sold The World” runs into controversy as it shows the artist wearing a dress. The sleeve is withdrawn, making original copies highly priced collector’s items.

Sessions for a planned second Derek & The Dominoes are scrapped amid considerable acrimony. Eric Clapton retreats to his home in Surrey, becoming a virtual recluse for the next two years.

The Rolling Stones launch their own ‘Rolling Stones’ label, to be distributed by Atlantic. Meanwhile, the group have moved to the French Riviera to escape UK Tax laws.

In the charts

1 Hot Love – T.Rex
10 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story – Andy Williams
20 Something Old, Something New – Fantastics

_________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

7/5/71 Edgar Broughton Band appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
7/5/71 The Who appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
8/5/71 Caravan and Teargas appear at Durham University
11/5/71 Groundhogs appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/5/71 Buddy Miles Express and Kevin Ayres appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
14/5/71 Soft Machine appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/5/71 King Crimson appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/5/71 Stud, Hardin & York and Gin House appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
28/5/71 Rod Stewart and The Faces appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
29/5/71 Hart Rock at Hartlepool Football Ground: beggars Opera, Arrival, Yellow, Spyda and Brass Alley

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Tue 4/5/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 8/5/1971 Leam Lane Youth Club
Fri 14/5/1971 Langley Park Youth Club
Mon 17/5/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Fri 21/5/1971 Amble British Legion
Sat 22/5/1971 Bellingham Town Hall
Sun 23/5/1971 Portland, Ashington
Mon24/5/1971 Horden Labour Club
Fri 28/5/1971 Disco Club, Hartlepool
Sat 29/5/1971 Viking, Seahouses

Happening Elsewhere

Free split after a turbulent Australian tour. Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser form their own groups, Peace and Toby respectively, while Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke work together on an album alongside Tetsu Yamauchi and John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick.

American Bob Welch is installed as Jeremy Spencer’s permanent replacement in Fleetwood Mac.

Russ Ballard of Argent is electrocuted on stage at Frankfurt’s Zoom Club in Germany. Thankfully he recovers in hospital.

Mick Jagger marries Bianca in Paris (12th)

In the charts

1 Knock Three Times – Dawn
10 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story – Andy Williams
20 Something Old, Something New – Fantastics

________________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

1/6/71 Osibisa and Budgie appear at Newcastle City Hall
5/6/71 Stray appear at Durham University
6/6/71 Skid Row appear at Newcastle City Hall
6/6/71 Rory Gallaghers appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
11/6/71 Rory Gallagher appears at Newcastle City Hall
11/6/71 Groundhogs appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
12/6/71 Humble Pie appear at Durham University
13/6/71 Cliff Bennet’s Rebellion appear at Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough
13/6/71 Edgar Broughton Band and pink Fairies appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/6/71 Curved Air and Mick Abrahams appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
19/6/71 Wishbone Ash, Renaissance and Stackridge appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/6/71 Lindisfarne, Bell & Arc and Halfbreed appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/6/71 Thin Lizzy and Bronco appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
22/6/71 Sha Na Na, Juicy Lucy, Uriah Heep and Paladin appear at Sunderland Empire
25/6/71 Deep Purple and Quiver appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
25/6/71 Traffic appear at Durham University

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Fri 4/6/1971 Glororum Farm, Bamburgh
Sat 5/6/1971 Redheugh Park / Centre 64, Blyth
Sat 12/6/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Fri 18/6/1971 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Sat 26/6/1971 Three Ones Club, Ashington

Happening Elsewhere

Barriemore Barlow replaces Clive Bunker on the drum stool in Jethro Tull. No reason is given for the switch.

1968 pop stars The Herd reform without Peter Frampton. One single later and they disband again.

Keyboardist Wynder K Frogg (Mick Weaver) replaces Chris Stainton in The Grease Band.

Dave Mason re-joins Traffic for a short British tour. Drummer Jim Gordon and percussionist Rebop also augment the core trio of Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood.

Noel Redding announces his new group, to be called “Road”.

In the charts

1 Knock Three Times – Dawn
10 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle Of The Road
20 Mozart Symphony No.40 in G Minor – Waldo De Los Rios

________________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

3/7/71 Procol Harum, Stone The Crows and Chicken Shack appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
4/7/71 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
7/7/71 Uriah Heep and Palladin appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
9/7/71 Ground Hogs and Head Hands & Feet appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
9/7/71 Hookfoot appear at Locarno, Sunderland
15/7/71 Mungo Jerry appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/7/71 Wishbone Ash and Brinsley Shwartz appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
16/7/71 Wishbone Ash and Atomic Rooster appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
23/7/71 Colosseum and Osibisa appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
25/1/71 Colloseum appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/7/71 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at La Ronde, Billingham
29/7/71 Audieance, Renaissance and Gordon Giltrap appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/7/71 Audieance, Renaissance and Gordon Giltrap appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
30/7/71 Rory Gallagher and The James Gang appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Thu 1/7/1971 Haswell WMC
Sat 3/7/1971 Lanchester
Fri 23/7/1971 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Sat 24/7/1971 Cellar Club, Ashington
Mon 26/7/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Sat 31/7/1971 Dolphin Club, Seahouses

Happening Elsewhere

Led Zeppelin are involved in a massive riot during their gig in Milan, Italy. The 15,000 crowd are enraged when police and soldiers lob tear gas and charge them with batons. The group are locked in their dressing room for several hours until the situation calms.

George Harrison announces that he will stage two All-Star benefit concerts in aid of Bangla Desh in New York during August

The Rolling Stones begin recording their next album while in tax exile in France

Bass player and fiddler John Weider quits Family because he wants to “Settle down, do some session work and generally move at his own pace”. He is eventually replaced by John Wetton (ex-Mogul Thrash)

Guitarist Robin Trower quits Procol Harum and is replaced by Dave Ball. Procol also add Alan Cartwright (from Every Which Way) on bass, allowing Chris Copping to concentrate on organ rather than doubling up.

Mott the Hoople are banned from further appearances at the Royal Albert Hall following disturbances at their concert at the venue on July 8th.

Also banned is Edgar Broughton. His attempts to play a series of free shows at Seaside resorts are frustrated by Morecambe, Blackpool and Blackpool Councils on the grounds of “possible inconvenience to local residents”. In Redcar Edgar is arrested in front of five thousand fans after going ahead with a show on a local playing field without permission.

In the charts

1 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle Of The Road
10 Monkey Spanner – Dave Ansil Collins
20 Tonight – The Move

________________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

6/8/71 Curved Air and Medicine Head appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
13/8/71 Mott The Hoople and Gin House appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
15/8/71 If, Steamhammer and Million appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/8/71 Quintessence and East Of Eden appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
27/8/71 Rod Stewart & The Faces and Bell & Arc appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Sat 7/8/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Sat 14/8/1971 Irish Democratic Club, Consett
Fri 20/8/1971 Morpeth Police Dance
Fri 27/8/1971 Colwell Village Hall
Sat 28/8/1971 Viking, Seahouses

Happening Elsewhere

George Harrison organises the ‘Concert For Bangla Desh’, held at New York’s Madison Square Garden, in aid of the famine ridden country (1st). Harrison is joined by a star-studded bill including fellow Brits Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton (his final public appearance for a year and a half) and Badfinger.

Paul McCartney announces the formation of his new group, Wings, featuring ex-Moody Blue Denny Laine on guitar and Denny Sewell on drums. Mrs McCartney supplies keyboards!

Tony Kaye leaves Yes. He is replaced on keyboards by Rick Wakeman from The Strawbs, who replace Rick with Blue Weaver (ex-Amen Corner).

Drummer Alan Whitehead leaves Marmalade. He’s replaced by Dougie Henderson (ex-Poets).

Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle quit McGuinness Flint.

Within weeks of quitting Family, John Weider reverses his decision to settle in the USA because of homesickness. Instead he joins Stud, the group put together by the ex-Taste rhythm section, John Wilson and Richie McCracken, and former Blossom Toes guitarist Jim Cregan (ironically a future Family bass player!)

John Lennon writes and produces a single “God Save Us”, credited to the Elastic Oz Band, in aid of Oz magazine, the editors of which are facing obscenity charges.

In the charts

1 Never Ending Song Of Love – New Seekers
10 Me And You And A Dog Named Boo – Lobo
20 Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me – The Tams

________________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

10/9/71 Cat Stevens, Mimi Farina and Tom Jans appear at Newcastle City hall
16/9/71 Ten Years After, Supertramp and Keith Christmas appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/9/71 Curved Air appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
19/9/71 Uriah Heep appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
22/9/71 Magna Carter appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/9/71 Alan Hull, The Callies and Pete Scott appear at Newcastle City Hall

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Thu 2/9/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 4/9/1971 Dolphin Club, Seahouses
Fri 10/9/1971 Kelso Village School
Sat 11/9/1971 Three Ones Club, Ashington
Sun 12/9/1971 Jarrow Festival
Thu 16/9/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Fri 17/9/1971 Wideopen Secondary School
Sat 18/9/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Sun19/9/1971 Stanley Youth Club
Mon 20/9/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Tue 21/9/1971 Mulitchord Studio (recording)
Sat 25/9/1971 Glenholm, Crook
Tue28/9/1971 St Josephs, North Shields

Happening Elsewhere

Peter Frampton quits Humble Pie to concentrate on a solo career. Frampton is replaced by Dave Clempson of the disbanding Colosseum.

Emerson Lake & Palmer are voted Top British band in the Melody Maker Poll. Rod Stewart is top male vocalist and Sandy Denny top lady.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono leave London to live in New York. Lennon never sets foot on British soil again.

Hawkwind bassist Dave Anderson leaves the group owing to a difference of musical opinion. His replacement is a certain Ian Kilmister (ex-Rocking Vicars, Sam Gopal, Opal Butterfly)–better known as “Lemmy”!

Head Hands & Feet, and Bridget St John appear on BBC 2’s new ‘live’ music programme – ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’. The show focuses on ‘serious’ rock music rather than chart hits. It is emphasised by a lack of showbiz glitter with bands often performing their songs in front of either the bare studio walls or plain wooden boards.

In the charts

1 Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me – The Tams
10 Let Your Yeah Be Yeah – Pioneers
20 For All We Know – Shirley Bassey

________________________________________________________

October

North east gigs

2/10/71 Paladin appear at Newcastle University
3/10/71 Paladin appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
6/10/72 Bell & Arc appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
8/10/71 Wishbone Ash and Quiver appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
9/10/71Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Durham University
10/10/71 Wishbone Ash appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
15/10/71 Yes and Jonathan Swift appear at ABC, Stockton
16/10/71 Yes and Jonathan Swift appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/10/71 Patto appear at Durham University
21/10/71 Steeleye Span and Andy Roberts appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/10/71 Quintessence and East Of Eden appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
23/10/71 Bell & Arc appear at Dunelm House, Durham
23/10/71 Caravan, Pink Fairies and Vinegar Joe appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/10/71 King Crimson appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/10/71 Sandy Denny appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/10/71 Argent and Climax Chicago Blues Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/10/71 Southern Comfort, Audience and Genesis appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/1071 Stone The Crows appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
30/10/71 The Who appear at the Odeon, Newcastle
30/10/71 Groundhogs appear at Durham University
31/10/71 T Rex appear at Newcastle City Hall
31/10/71 Head, Hand & Feet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Fri 8/10/1971 La Ronde, Billingham
Sat 16/10/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Mon 25/10/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Fri 29/10/1971 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Sat 30/10/1971 Barnard Castle YMCA
Fri 08/10/1971 La Ronde, Billingham
Sat 16/10/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Mon 25/10/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay

Happening Elsewhere

Vocalist Allan Clarke announces that he is to leave The Hollies.

It’s announced that Paul McCartney’s new group, comprising himself, wife Linda, Denny Laine and drummer Denny Seiwell, will be known as Wings.

Ex-Nice/ Attack guitarist Davy O’List joins up-and-coming band Roxy Music in time for their first public gig at the LSE.

Graham Gouldman joins Hotlegs for their British Tour in support of the Moody Blues. Initially a temporary member along with 2 other musicians,

Gouldman soon joins full-time and the group change their name to 10cc.

Cat Stevens and Jack Bruce appear on BBC2 TV’s ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ on 5th October, Lindisfarne and Wishbone Ash appear on the12th and Stone The Crows on the 19th.

In the charts

1 Maggie May – Rod Stewart
10 Cousin Norman – Marmalade
20 Keep On Dancing – Bay City Rollers

________________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

3/11/71 Atomic Rooster and Cochise appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/11/71 T Rex appered at ABC, Stockton
5/11/71 Mott The Hoople and Peace appear at Newcastle City Hall
6/11/71 Bell & Arc appear at Newcastle University
11/11/71 Led Zeppelin appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/11/71 Mick Abrahams appear at Newcastle University
12/11/71 Led Zeppelin appear at Locarno, Sunderland
13/11/71 Mick Abrahams appear at Durham University
13/11/71 Family appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/11/71 Edgar Broughton and Stray appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
17/11/71 Slade appear at Locarno, Sunderland
19/11/71 Dando Shaft appear at Kirklevington Country Club
20/11/71 Uriah Heep appear at Dunelm House, Durham
21/11/71 Slade appear at Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough
21/11/71 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
21//1/71 Fairport Convention appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/11/71 Soft Machine appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/11/71 Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express and Warm Dust appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
27/11/71 Principal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
28/11/71 Groundhogs appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My gigs (with Scallywag)

Fri 5/11/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 6/11/1971 Dolphin Club, Seahouses

Happening Elsewhere

Colosseum break up. It’s a sudden decision taken when the members decided that “They were no longer working as a unit”. Vocalist Chris Farlowe claims that he knew nothing of this “collective decision” until he phoned drummer/leader Jon Hiseman to find out rehearsal times! Guitarist Dave Clempson is quickly invited to join Humble Pie as a belated replacement for Peter Frampton who had quit Pie a couple of months previously. Of the other members, Dick Heckstall-Smith forms his own band and bassist Mark Clarke joins Uriah Heep before eventually teaming up with Hiseman again in Tempest.

Uriah Heep bassist Paul Newton collapses on stage at Waltham Tech College. He is diagnosed as having a nervous breakdown. The group replace him with the newly available Mark Clarke. Drummer Ian Clarke also leaves because of those good old “musical differences” and is replaced by Lee Kerslake (ex-Gods/ National Head Band).

Slade turn down an offer to make an American TV series which would have launched them as “The Next Beatles!” because they don’t want to be identified as a “Hype”. Instead they intend to consolidate their new-found success in the UK & Europe.

Alan Bown’s band undergoes its first personnel changes in four years. Guitarist Tony Catchpole is replaced by Jim Laney, ex-Hate, while bassist Andy Brown is hospitalised with a “serious skin complaint” and is replaced by Dougie Thompson. (Thompson and Bown’s saxist John Helliwell are both future members of Supertramp)

Juicy Lucy split up, but vocalist Paul Williams and guitarist Mick Moody re-form the group straight away with ex-Blodwyn Pig rhythm section Ron Berg and Andy Pyle.

London’s biggest Rock music venue, The Rainbow Theatre, opens with a three night run of shows by The Who.

In the charts

1 Coz I Luv You – Slade
10 Banks Of The Ohio – Olivia Newton John
20 Surrender – Diana Ross

______________________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

1/12/71 Groundhogs, Egg and Quicksands appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/12/71 Lindisfarne appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/12/71 Amazing Blondel, Sutherland Brothers and Claire Hamill appear at Newcastle City Hall
9/12/71 Genesis appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Polytechnic
12/12/71 Patto appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
12/1/271 Uriah Heap and Bullet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
14/12/71 Stackridge appear at Change Is, Newcastle
17/12/71 Juicy Lucy and Fat Grapple appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
17/12/71 Uriah Heap and Bullet appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/1/71 Hookfoot appear at Stockton Tech College
30/12/71 East Of Eden, Troggs and Gravy Train appear at Newcastle City Hall

Happening Elsewhere

The Faces “Nod’s As Good As a Wink” lp is banned in the USA because of an alleged ‘obscene’ poster included within the sleeve. The album is re-issued without the poster.

The rhythm section of Traffic, Ric Grech and Jim Gordon, leave the group which reverts back to a trio of Winwood, Capaldi and Wood.

The Montreaux Casino is burned down by “Some stupid **** with a flare gun” (as immortalized by Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water”) during a Frank Zappa concert. Purple were supposed to record their new album at the Casino, using the Rolling Stones Mobile studio, but are forced to improvise by using their hotel instead.

Zappa’s troubles weren’t over however. Playing a show at the new Rainbow Theatre, he is knocked into the orchestra pit by the jealous boyfriend of a female Zappa-fan, sustaining a compound fracture of his leg.

John Lennon is deep into his political-protest period. He and Yoko join the “Rock Liberation Front” and headline a rally against harsh jail sentences for possession of marijuana. Lennon also launches a vicious attack on his erstwhile bandmate Paul McCartney.

Martin Carthy quits Steeleye Span in the wake of Ashley Hutchings’ departure.

Keith Relf, who has been producing Medicine Head, becomes a member of the group.

In the charts

1 Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) – Benny Hill
10 Till – Tom Jones
20 Fireball – Deep Purple

January

North east gigs

2/1/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
7/1/72 Rory Gallagher and Nazareth appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
9/1/72 Argent appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
13/1/72 Atomic Rooster appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
15/1/72 Ashton Gardner & Dyke appear at Locarno, Sunderland
16/1/72 Ashton Gardner & Dyke appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/1/72 Fleetwood Mac appear at Top rank, Sunderland
21/1/72 Procul Harum and Amazing Blondel appear at Newcastle City hall
21/1/72 Slade and Armada appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
23/1/72 Ralph McTell appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/1/72Armada appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
27/1/72 Pink Floyd appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/1/72 Stackridge appear at Van Mildert College, Durham
29/1/72 Barclay James Harvest appear at Durham University

Happening Elsewhere

Pete Sinfield quits King Crimson. The group begin rehearsals for a US tour but a disagreement between Robert Fripp and the other members causes a split. A temporary reconciliation enables the tour to go ahead but Crimson break up again at its conclusion.

David Bowie causes a stir by claiming to be gay in an interview with Melody Maker.

Henry McCulloch (ex-Grease Band & Eire Apparent guitarist) joins Paul McCartney’s Wings.

Allan Clarke quits The Hollies and is replaced by Swedish singer Mikael Rickfors.
Free reform and announce tours of Japan and Britain.

Magna Carta guitarist Davey Johnstone joins Elton John’s band.

Mike Harrison, former Spooky Tooth vocalist, joins Carlisle based group Junkyard Angels.

In the charts

1 I’d Like To Teach The Word To Sing – New Seekers
10 No Matter How I Try – Gilbert O’Sullivan
20 Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

____________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

1/2/72 Free and Junkyard Ange appear at Newcastle City Hall
3/2/72 Steeleye Span appear at Durham University
3/2/72 Thin Lizzy appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Technical College
4/2/72 Barclay James Harvest appear at New castle City Hall
5/2/72 Black Sabbath and Wild Turkey appear at the Newcastle City Hall
6/2/72 Nazareth appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
10/2/72 Home appear at Teeside Polytech
12/2/72 Gary Farr appear at Kirklevington Country Club
12/2/72 Wishbone Ash and Glencoe appear at Newcastle City Hall
13/2/72 Free, Vinegar Joe and Junkyard Angels appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
18/2/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/2/72 Climax Chicago Blues Band appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
19/2/72 Free and UFO appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
20/2/72 Argent, Beggars Opera, Beckett and Brass Alley appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
20/2/72 Strawbs appear at Darlington Civic Hall
20/2/72 Gary Wright’s Wonder Wheel appear at Newcastle University
20/2/72 Home appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
20/2/72 Hawkwind appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
21/2/72 Free appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/2/72 Jethro Tull and Tir Na Nog appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
24/2/72 The Strawbs appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/2/72 Price and Fame appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
25/2/72 Genesis appear at Locarno, Sunderland
26/2/72 Thin Lizzy appear at Durham University
27/2/72 Beggars Opera appear Excel Bowl, Middllesbrough
27/2/72 Stud appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
28/2/72 Manitas De Plata appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/2/72 David Bowie appear at Locarno, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

Paul McCartney and Wings play a series of unannounced live shows at Universities around Britain. Meanwhile, the BBC bans the group’s new single for being ‘politically controversial’.

A power cut causes Pink Floyd’s concert at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester to be abandoned after 25 minutes. Many concerts around the country are cancelled owing to the power shortages.

Chris Farlowe joins Atomic Rooster as vocalist, replacing Pete French who moves to America.

Guitarist Chris Spedding quits the Jack Bruce Band because of musical differences.

Steamhammer drummer Mick Bradley dies suddenly of leukaemia aged just 25.

Led Zeppelin are voted Top Group in the world by Disc readers. T Rex win the Top Group in Britain award. The Who are Top Live Group and Lindisfarne are “Brightest Hope for ‘72”.

Rhythm guitarist Pat Fairley quits performing with Marmalade. He plans to concentrate on the band’s business affairs.

Bell + Arc officially split up. The group’s existing concert commitments are fulfilled by vocalist Graham Bell with a pick-up band.

Hawkwind are robbed of a substantial amount of equipment including amplifiers and microphones, forcing them to cancel several concerts.

In the charts

1 Telegram Sam – T.Rex
10 Brand New Key – Melanie
20 Got To Be There – Michael Jackson

____________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

2/3/72 Roy Harper appear at Newcastle City Hall
1/3/72 Hookfoot appear at Top Deck, Redcar
2/3/72 Slade appear at Locarno, Sunderland
3/3/72 Quintessence appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
3/3/72 Humble Pie appear at Durham University
4/3/72 Groundhogs, Man and Help Yourself appear at Longscar Hall, Hartlepool
5/3/72 Rod Stewart & The Faces and Byzantium appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
7/3/72 Jethro Tull and Tir Na Nog appear at Newcastle City Hall
9/3/72 Incredible String Band appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
9/3/72 Procul Harum appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
12/3/72 Jackson Heights appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
16/3/72 Mungo Jerry appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/3/72 Gallagher & Lyle appear at Kirklevington Country Club
17/3/72 Morgan appear at Middlesbrough Polytech
17/3/72 Jethro Tull appear at ABC, Stockton
23/3/72 Barclay James Harvest, Tree and Matthew Ellis appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/3/72 Chicken Shack and Groundhogs appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
24/3/72 David Bowie, Armada and Patch appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
25/3/72 Head Hands & Feet and Patto appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/3/72 Rory Gallagher and Byzantium appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/3/72 Armada appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
30/3/72 Slade appear at Mayfair, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

The T Rex concerts at Wembley’s Empire Pool are filmed for an intended movie titled “Born To Boogie”. Ringo Starr is the Director. Prior to these concerts T Rex tour the USA. Uriah Heep are the main support group but friction between the two camps results in their removal from the tour.

Guitarist Davy O’List leaves Roxy Music. He is replaced by Phil Manzanera, formerly with Quiet Sun. Roxy begin work on their debut album with Pete Sinfield producing, after the Island label win the race to sign them up.

Bass player Mark Clarke quits Uriah Heep in the middle of their US tour. Clarke had only been with Heep since the previous December when he joined them following Colosseum’s split. Gary Thain from the Keef Hartley Band joins Heep as Clarke’s replacement.

London’s Rainbow Theatre closes only 4 months after opening when the proprietors run into financial difficulties.

Archie Leggett quits the bass player’s spot in Wonderwheel. He’s replaced by Tom Duffy (ex-Bell + Arc).

In the charts

1 Without You – Nilsson
10 Meet Me On The Corner – Lindisfarne
20 Desiderate – Les Crane

____________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

2/4/72 Glencoe appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
2/4/72 Quintessence appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
5/4/72 Marmalade appear at the Tavern, South Shields
7/4/72 Edgar Broughton band appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
9/4/72 UFO appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
13/4/72 Morgan appear at Middlesbrough Polytech
13/4/72 Mott The Hoople and Hackensack appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/4/72 Vinegar Joe appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
14/4/72 Dave Edmunds appear Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough
14/4/72 Renaissance appear at Sunderland Art College
14/4/72 Wishbone Ash appear at Locarno, Sunderland
16/4/72 Head Hands and Feet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/4/72 Curved Air and Gary Moore Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/4/72 East Of Eden appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
26/4/72 Curved Air appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
27/4/72 John Mayall and Matching Mole appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/4/72 Hawkwind appear at Locarno, Sunderland
28/4/72 Brinsley Schwartz and Sandgate appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
30/4/72 Fairport Convention appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

Happening Elsewhere

Edgar Broughton Group lose most of their stage equipment in an avalanche in Norway!

Three members of Man are beaten up by a gang of ‘Rockers’ in Swansea.

Deep Purple are forced to abandon their US tour when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore contracts hepatitis. Randy California of Spirit stands in for a couple of dates but the other members of Purple eventually decide to cancel the remaining dates.

Steamhammer sign 21 year-old drummer John Lingwood as their new drummer to replace the deceased Mick Bradley. They are also joined by singer Ian Ellis (ex-Clouds).

It’s confirmed that Jess Roden has quit Bronco to go solo.

The Sweet are banned by Mecca ballrooms following an alleged “suggestive stage act” at Portsmouth Locarno.

In the charts

1 Without You – Nilsson
10 Heart Of Gold – Neil Young
20 Mother And Child Reunion – Paul Simon

_________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

5/5/72 Steeleye Span and Amazing Blondel appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
5/5/72 Lindisfarne and Flash appear at Newcastle University
10/5/72 The Doors, Sandy Denny and Hawkwind appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/5/72 Head Hand & Feet and Vinegar Joe appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
14/5/72 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/5/72 Argent appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
17/5/72 Shirley Bassey appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/5/72 ELO and Colin Blunstone appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/5/72 If and Genesis appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
22/5/72 Uriah Heap appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/5/72 Gypsy and Morgan appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
26/5/72 Marmalade appear at Sunderland Polytech
27/5/72 Gypsy and Morgan appear at Sunderland Polytech
28/5/72 Skin Alley appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
30/5/72 Arthur Brown and Kingdom Come appear at Newcastle City Hall

Happening Elsewhere

Lindisfarne make several appearances on BBC radio during May; on the Jimmy Young show on 8th, Johnny Walker show on the 15th and the Alan Freeman show on the 22nd.

In the charts

1 Amazing Grace – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
10 Back Off Boogaloo – Ringo Starr
20 Until It’s Time For You To Go – Elvis Presley

____________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

2/6/72 David Bowie appear at Newcastle City Hall
2/6/72 Hookfoot and Flash appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
3/6/72 Kinks appear at Newcastle City Hall
5/6/72 Renaissance appear at Change Is, Newcastle
5/6/72 Spencer Davis Group appear at Top Deck, Redcar
8/6/72 Lindisfarne, Capability Brown and Beckett appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
8/6/72 David Bowie appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
8/6/72 Capability Brown appear at Locarno, Sunderland
8/6/72 Lindisfarne appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
9/6/72 Sha Na Na and Ashton Gardnet & Dyke appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
11/6/72 Genesis appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
11/6/72 Paladin appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/6/72 Argent and Sutherland Brothers appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
16/6/72 Trapeze appear at Locarno, Sunderland
17/6/72 Caravan, Khan and Parlour Band appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
17/6/72 Hookfoot appear at Durham University
18/6/72 Slowbone appear at Ron’s Place, Stockton
22/6/72 Arthur Brown and Kingdom Come appear at Trevelyan College, Durham
23/6/72 Genesis, Al Stewart, Lindisfarne and Bridget St John appear at Durham Castle
23/6/72 Family and Audience appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
24/6/72 T Rex appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/6/72 Vinegar Joe appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
30/6/72 stone the Crows and Paladin appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
30/6/72 Stackridge appear at Northumberland College, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

The Rolling Stones begin a notorious tour of the USA, their first for 3 years.

Ashton Gardner & Dyke disband having “Gone as far as they could go”.

Alex Harvey joins with members of Scots group Teargas to form The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Ray Davies is involved in an altercation with members of Slade in the BBC bar following an appearance on Top Of The Pops. Jim Lea allegedly has a pint of beer poured over him after “congratulating Davies on his performance”. The BBC deny all knowledge of the incident.

Roxy Music featuring north east vocalist Bryan Ferry appear on BBC TV’s ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ on 20th June.

In the charts

1 Metal Guru – T.Rex
10 Sister Jane – New World
20 Leeds United – Ledds United F.C.

______________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

1/7/72 If and Help Yourself appear at Stockton Town Hall
7/7/72 Stray and Third Ear Band appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
14/7/72 Atomic Rooster and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
16/7/72 Genesis appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/7/72 Thin Lizzy appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
21/7/72 Dando Shaft appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/7/72 Mott The Hoople and Beckett and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

Roy Wood quits ELO, leaving Jeff Lynne as undisputed leader of the group.

North east drummer, Alan White replaces Bill Bruford as drummer with Yes. White has just three days in which to learn his drum parts before Yes commence their fourth US tour.

Andy Fraser walks out on Free prior to a scheduled Japanese tour.

Paul McCartney and Wings tour Europe aboard a double-decker London bus.

John Wetton leaves Family owing to the usual musical differences and is replaced by ex-Blossom Toes and Stud guitarist Jim Cregan.

In the charts

1 Puppy Love – Donny Osmond
10 Rockin’ Robin – Michael Jackson
20 Little Bit Of Love – Free

__________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

6/8/72 Quintessence appear at Hartlepool Borough Hall
11/8/72 Brinsley Shcwartz, Amazing Blondel and Fat Grapple and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
18/8/72 Vinegar Joe, Chicken Shack and Brass Alley and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
25/8/72 Curved Air and Glencoe appear at Newcastel City Hall
27/8/72 Beggars Opera, UFO and Sandgate appear at Mayfair Newcastle
31/8/72 Elton John appear at Newcastle City Hall

Happening Elsewhere

Roy Wood springs a surprise by quitting the Electric Light Orchestra, a project he had been planning for several years, leaving Jeff Lynne as leader. Wood forms a Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival group, Wizzard.

Jeff Beck breaks up his group and forms a new trio with Tim Bogart and Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge.

John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick and Tetsu Yamauchi are enlisted by Free, on keyboards and bass respectively.

Van Der Graaf Generator split up again. Peter Hammill plans a solo recording career.
T
he planned Great Western Festival, due for the Bank Holiday weekend, is scrapped when The Rolling Stones state that they won’t be appearing.

Wings’ Euro tour is marred when the group are arrested on drug charges.

In the charts

1 School’s Out – Alice Cooper
10 You Wear It Well – Rod Stewart
20 The Locomotion – Little Eva

__________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

5/9/72 David Bowie appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
12/9/72 Yes appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/9/72 Free and Smith, Perkins & Smith appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
17/9/72 Free and Hackensack appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/9/72 Stone The Crows, tennet and Morrson appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/9/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
20/9/72 Mott The Hoople appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/9/72 Juicy Lucy and Bullfrog and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
24/9/72 Deep Purple appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/9/72 Status Quo appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
25/9/72 UFO, Beckett and Lloyd Watson appear Newcastle City Hall
28/9/72 Lindisfarne, Genesis and Rab Noakes appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/9/72 Kinks appear at Newcastle University
29/9/72 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Durham University

Happening Elsewhere

Glam Rock invades the USA as Slade, David Bowie and T Rex all begin tours in New York.

Dave Ball is replaced as Procol Harum lead guitarist by ex-Cochise man Mick Grabham.

Ex-Tyrannosaurus Rex member Steve Peregrine Took signs a management deal with Tony Secunda, who had handled the affairs of a certain Marc Bolan until a surprise split between them earlier in the year.

Free cancel several dates of their tour after Paul Kossoff trips over some wires and knocks himself out during rehearsals. He’s found to be suffering from concussion.

In the charts

1 Mama Wear All Crazee Now – Slade
10 Children Of The Revolution – T.Rex
20 Wig Wam Ban – Sweet

___________________________________________________

October

North east gigs

4/10/72 Free appear at Durham University
6/10/72 Steppenwolf and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
7/10/72 Rare Bird appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Polytech
11/10/72 Free and Beckett appear at Sunderland Locarno
12/10/72 Jackson Heights and Magna Carta appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/10/72 Free appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
15/10/72 Head hand & Feet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
20/1072 Free and Beckett appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
22/10/72 Stackridge appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/10/72 Steeleye Span and Amazing Blondel appear at Newcastle City Hall
27/10/72 Beggars Opera appear at Top rank, Sunderland
27/10/72 Glencoe appear at Locarno, Sunderland
27/10/72 Pretty Things appear at Newcastle University
27/10/72 Quiver and Nazareth and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
29/10/72 Ten Years After appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/10/72 Pentangel appear at Newcastle City Hall

Happening Elsewhere

Joe Cocker is convicted on drugs charges in Australia.

In the charts

1 Mouldy Old Dough – Lietenant Pigeon
10 Too Young – Donny Osmond
20 Goodbye To Love – Carpenters

_____________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

1/11/72 Humble Pie appear at Odeon, Newcastle
3/11/72 Slade and Thin Lizzy appear at Newcastle City Hall
3/11/72 Fleetwood Mac appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
3/11/72 Argent and Babe Ruth appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
10/11/72 Fairport Convention appear at Top rank, Sunderland
10/11/72 Soft Machine appear at Newcastle University
10/11/72 Blackfoot Sue and Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
11/11/72 Roxy Music and East Of Eden appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/11/72 Free appear Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
16/11/72 Pretty Things appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Polytech
17/11/72 Vinegar Joe appear at Newcastle University
19/11/72 Cat Stevens appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/11/72 Bridget St John appear at barnes Hotel, Sunderland
21/11/72 Bridget St John appear at Corner House, Newcastle
22/11/72 Santana appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/11/72 Slade and Thin Lizzy appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
23/11/72 Barclay James Harvest appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/11/72 Spontaneous Combustion, ELO and Babe Ruth appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
24/11/72 camel appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
26/11/72 Groundhogs, Stray and gentle Giant appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/11/72 ELP appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/11/72 Led Zeppelin appear at Newcastle City Hall

Happening Elsewhere

Juicy Lucy split up, and so do jazz-rockers If.

Ex-Free bassman Andy Fraser forms a new group, The Sharks. Noted session guitarist and former member of Pete Brown’s band Chris Spedding is also featured in the group.

Barclay James Harvest agree to undertake no further visits to South Africa, having come under fire from many Student Unions for playing to segregated audiences on a recent tour.

100,000 tickets for Led Zeppelin’s upcoming British tour reputedly sell out within four hours of going on sale.

In the charts

1 Clair – Gilbert O’Sullivan
10 Crazy Horses – Osmonds
20 You’re A Lady – Peter Skellern

______________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

6/12/72 Sandy Denny and John Martyn appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/12/72 Incredible String Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
8/12/72 Faces appear at Newcastle City Hall
8/12/72 King Crimson appear at Odeon, Newcastle
8/12/72 Velvet Underground and Goldie and Audience appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
10/12/72 Incredible String Band appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
14/12/72 Hawkwind appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
15/12/72 Hawkwind appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/12/72 Man appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
17/12/72 Family appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/12/72 Beggars Opera appear at Top rank, Sunderland

Happening Elsewhere

An All-Star performance of The Who’s ‘Tommy’ is staged at London’s Rainbow Theatre.

Yet another Wings single is banned by the BBC. ‘Hi Hi Hi’ gets the cold shoulder because of ‘blatant sexual implications’.

The Marc Bolan/T Rex movie ‘Born To Boogie’ is premiered in London (14th) and is savaged by the critics. Bolan also claims that a T Rex cartoon series will be produced during 1973. It isn’t.

In the charts

1 My Ding-A-Ling – Chuck Berry
10 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Plastic Ono Band
20 Little Drummer Boy – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards