Headwaiter

(c’76-78) Doug Ferguson (bass / vocals); Tony Leach (keyboards / vocals); Sev Lewkowicz (keyboards / vocals); Dave Bidwell (drums); and James “Jimmy” Kean (vocals).

In ’76 Ferguson was exiting Camel and returned to Guildford where he teamed up with Leach, who’d been in The Famous Rondini Brothers, on a writing project; Bidwell was recruited along with Kean (vocals), from Sweet Charity. Lewkowicz, ex-keyboardist with Running Dry and Asylum, joined for the first demo/s that were laid down at Chestnut Studios, Churt and Camel’s Andy Latimer played guitar and flute on those recordings. At this point they planned to stay a 5-piece, with a bit of help from Latimer.

After over a year together the “writing project” band had not yet played live. That was soon to change as the band had a Dutch tour booked for November ’77, supporting Caravan. But Bidwell was deep into his addiction, disappearing into London’s underbelly, and unable to tour and was replaced. The Netherlands support tour, which saw Headwaiter billed as the Doug Ferguson Band, was set up with both Sandy Davis, who was ex-Gracious and had solo LPs on EMI to his name, and Greg Terry-Short recruited to replace Bidwell on drums. “The band never played live with Bidwell in the line up, sadly. He was always everyone’s first choice as drummer. It’s a measure of his excellence that 2 drummers were recruited to replace him!” said Lewkowicz. The tour took in four cities: Uden, Tolleboek, Zutphen, and Zaandam from 25 to 28 November ’77. Bidwell, who’d spent time in Chicken Shack (’68-’71) and Savoy Brown (c’71–’75), died in January ’78 of a heroin overdose.

This Headwaiter poster, featuring a band members girlfriend at the time, was sent out to venues.

The band played the college/ university circuit in the UK, keeping roadie Mike Lichtman busy, as well as pubs and clubs such as the Boat Club, Nottingham. They entertained locally as well, appearing at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford and the Free Festival at the University of Surrey. A second tour of The Netherlands happened in March ’78, which included Camel’s Andy Latimer who also joined them at gigs in the UK. At some point Dick Middleton (guitar), who also played in House and owned a music shop in Guildford, having played with Gene Vincent, Johnny Halliday and in Mungo Jerry and The Famous Rondini Brothers, joined the band for a couple of UK gigs in ’78 – filling in for gigs Latimer couldn’t do because of Camel commitments. Headwaiter also did one date with Caravan at a concert hall in The Hague.

That’s a Headwaiter poster (featuring girlfriend) on Terry Murphy’s office wall c’78/’79. Murphy was the landlord, of Bridge House, Canning Town and owner of Bridge House Records.

Managed by David Simmons and represented by Joe Slattery of the NEMS Agency Ltd, they did not record or release an album or single, although some songs were recorded, but are now lost in the mists of time. They were offered a couple of album deals, but hung out for a better offer that never came. Three tracks did appear on the Guildford band compilation titled “Who Invited Them?” on the local Thumb label. “Who Invited Them” was recorded in summer 1978, by which time the band had pretty much stopped gigging. They played a few final contracted dates in the autumn of ’78, but without Sandy Davis on drums. The band folded after their last gig in ’78.

This 1978 various artist compilation [TR001] on the Thumb label features 10 tracks from Guildford bands, including Headwaiter “Loser”, Thrown It All Away” and “Believer In Dreams”. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

Terry-Short had also been in Black Velvet, and as well as Headwaiter played in House. He also partook in the Katmandu Sessions with Peter Green, Ray Dorset, Len Surtees, Jeff Whittaker and Vincent Crane in December ’83/January ’84; that was released in ’85 as “A Case for the Blues” by Katmandu; later in the 80s he was in Cast Of Thousands. Terry-Short still resides in Guildford, but no longer plays the drums due to illness. Leach, who regrettably left this realm in 2015, and Lewkowicz did get together in 2010 to record Leach’s “Reunion” album, which Lewkowicz produced. Kean went on to musical theatre, singing the part of Che Guevara in Evita on the London stage for a few years. Davis may be in Germany. Lewkowicz can be seen in local group The Upbeat Band. Ferguson now plays with the Jackie Lynton Band.

In 2021, Joe Smith decided to research and make a radio documentary about Doug Ferguson’s band Headwaiter for a college final. Thankfully, Smith posted this to YouTube and we can now listen to Headwaiter members Lewkowicz and Kean discuss their time in the band.

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