(c’76-05) Kirk “Loader” Riddle (bass), Alan “Algy” Watkins (drums), Graham “Cupcake” Cooper (guitar) David Sherrington (Sax), and Jackie “Lash” Lynton (vocals).
While Lynton is from Middlesex, the band have always been seen as Guildfordian. It started in ’76 when Lynton (ex-Savoy Brown, Diesel, Jackie Lynton’s Grande), with former members of The Stormsville Shakers, hit the road as Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days. Both Riddle and Sherrington had previously done time with The Stormsville Shakers and Circus. Riddle would also form The Train Set before joining Lynton. Graham Cooper had joined The Phantom Four, when Richard Over left, who subsequently rebranded as Strange Brew departing himself in the summer 1968. Watkins had been in The Embers before joining agency band Rubber Duck and then Lynton’s combo.
On 19 April ’77, Jackie Lynton ‘s Happy Days opened for Remus Down Boulevard at the Marquee. Then late that year, on 29 December, we find the band, supported by Stamps, playing the Music Machine, Camden. The band were back at the venue on 20 February ’78.
A change of line-up, which may have seen Greg Squeak (sax / harmonica) replace Sherrington, in ’78 saw the name change to Jackie Lynton’s HD Band, then shortened to The Jackie Lynton Band. It was in ’78 the band were featured on two compilation albums: “Live – A Week at The Bridge” and “Who Invited Them?”. “Live…” was a double EP gatefold released on Bridge House Records (BHLP 001) and consisted of the blues rock / pub rock that appeared at The Bridge House, Canning Town at the time and carried the bands’ “You Don’t Have To Pay“. “Who Invited Them?” was a various Guildford artist compilation [TR001] on the Thumb Records label featuring 10 tracks, including “The Worlds A Wheelbarrow” and “Goin’ Down” by The Jackie Lynton H.D. Band. That same year, on 6 June, Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band were on the roster to celebrate Dingwall’s 5th anniversary.
The Music Machine would host the band on 8 January ’79, supported by Zorro, and The Bridge House would host them on 14 April ’79. On 9 June ’79 the Corn Dolly, Oxford let you in to see the band for 20p. The band were also responsible for Thumb’s next two releases. The band’s debut LP, ‘Till We’re Blue In The Face’ (TR-002) in ’79, which was released in two version, the more collectable featuring blue vinyl. This LP release was accompanied by TR-003, the bands 7″ titled ‘Dan (The Hedgehog Song)’, and Thumbs’ only single. The ‘B’ side, ‘Farting With The Famous’, was co-written by Rick Parfitt, of Status Quo. That same year Status Quo scored with “Again And Again”; co-written by Lynton and Parfitt. The band were regularly performing at The Bridge House, dominating the stage again on 14 July and 15 September ’79. The next month, on 20 October ’79 The Jackie Lynton Band played Agincourt, Camberley.
By ’80 Greg Terry-Short of House had replaced Watkins on drums – Watkins would subsequently join House – Graham/e White had replaced Cooper on guitar, and Headwaiter keyboardist/vocalist Tony Leach had joined. That same year the next album, called “A Bit Near The Mark” was released on Scratch Records [SCR L 5002]; a double album with three live sides and one studio set. They celebrated Christmas Eve ’80 by performing at the Golden Lion, Fulham.
Early in ’81, on 16 January, the band were back at the Marquee. They also appeared at The Reading Festival in ’81 and ’82, and have two tracks” “Slow Rider” and the “Hedgehog Song” on the “Reading Rock Volume One” album on Mean Records (MNLP 82). Also in ’82 the band acted as Frank Leyton’s backing band for the release of the 7″ single “Cry”, backed by “Alexander’s Rock And Roll Band” on the Dwarf Records label [DW 2]. This was produced by Lynton and recorded in January ’82 at Jacob’s Studios, Farnham.
On 21 January ’82, the Jackie Lynton Band found themselves supported by Marillion at The Regal, Hitchin. The next day they were booked 40-ish miles South at The Greyhound, Chadwell Heath, along with support band Far Canal; and the Marquee welcomed the band on 23 July ’82.
The bands heavier “White Line” album, again on Thumb Records [TR 006], was released in ’83 with Willie Bath now on bass, replacing Riddle. Farnborough based Capricorn supported Jackie Lynton at The Royal, Guildford on 22 March ’84. In ’85 a VHS of live performances recorded at New Golden Lion, Fulham; Tramshed, Woolwich; Jim Davidsons’ Party in Guernsey and The Royal, Guildford was released titled “The Jackie Lynton Band…Live, Magic Cut’s 1980-84”.
The Green Gate, Bethnal Green hosts the band on 12 April ’86 and then on 4 July ’86, supported by Veto, they were at The Red Lion, Brentford. A few months later, on 31 October ’86, Jackie Lynton played The Swan, Fulham Broadway. Two and half years later, on 25 May ’89, the band, supported by Get Rhythm, played The Royal Standard, Walthamstow.
We lose track of the band until ’96, when the now 7-piece – Stuart Hughes (bass), Steve Bruce (drums), Poker‘s Keith Purnell (guitar), Mark Leppard (guitar), Ollie Holbrow (harmonica), Vince Bull (harmonica) and Lynton – are gigging regularly and release another live album; the 32-track “Alive! At The Bleak House”. This double CD, on A New Day Records [AND CD12] was recorded using the Running Frog mobile studio on 19 August ’96 (with a few additions recorded at their Windsor studio in September) and released in November that year. Almost 10 years later we see them on the bill for Weyfest 2005.
At some point Mick Hogsden/Bryant (piano/vocals), who was also in The Famous Rondini Brothers and Poker, played in the Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band. Chris “Wheelbarrow” Brayne, of whom the bands “The Worlds A Wheelbarrow” is about, also played drums in JLHD for quite a while, . Watkins went on to be a Bloodhound. Copper would be later found performing solo under the Graham “Cupcake” Cooper moniker, and some recall Eric Clapton joining him and other local musicians onstage at The Royal, Guildford for a charity gig in the early ’80s with Bruce Foxton of The Jam in the audience.
White, Leach, Hogsden, Brayne, Sherrington and Riddle have all sadly passed.
Links:
The first 6:25 on The Jackie Lynton Band Live Magic Cuts 1980-84 video: https://www.facebook.com/dave.reeves.505/videos/10158454513278469/?t=357
Tracks:
Gallery:
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