Smokestakks

(’64-’66) Tony Porter (vocal), Peter Mould (rhythm guitar), Roger Allen (lead guitar), Jeff Smith (bass), Freddie Mills (drums), and William Neal (harmonica / vocals).

This 6-piece blues band were akin to a local band super-group: Porter had been in Astolats and Second Time Out; Mould – Bumblies; Allen – Arfur Fagg and the Dog Ends; Smith – Ricky and the Secrets; and Mills – Roadrunners. They all loved to play, and their management saw this too.

The band’s debut was at the hall next to the Guildford Lido. They, however, arrived 15 minutes late for the start time, thanks to an on-road holdup, too a huge crowd. They couldn’t use the venue’s backdoor and had to traipse all their gear through the now ‘slow hand clapping’ throng to the stage. Then there were the groans while Smokestakks tuned up with feedback no idea what it sounded like at the back. What felt like forever, but was getting o for 45-minutes, Porter apologized and announced the opening number: Route 66.

“One, two, three, four…” and only Mills’ drumbeats and Mould’s guitar could be heard, which they looped over and over while the others worked on fixing the issue. Smith’s bass came in really loud, completing the rhythm section and finally Allen’s guitar and Neal’s harmonica set the sound – raw and in perfect time – as Porte yelled “one, two, three, four…” and the band were off, not stopping for three more Chuck Berry numbers. That set, laid the foundation for what to expect from Smokestakks!

On 17 December ’64: Smokestakks supported Hogsnort Rupert and His Band, along with The Phantom Four, at the End of Term Dance organized by Guildford School of Art Student Union and held at the school. The next month the Grand Beat dance was held at the Memorial Hall, Wonersh on 23 January ’65 with Smokestakks providing the music to dance too. The 13 February ’65 found the band performing at the St. Valentine’s Dance at Onslow Village Hall, Guildford and seven days later, on 20 February ’65, they were at The Pirrie Hall, Brook helping Brook Youth Club raise funds for the Betatron Cancer Appeal.

They played Bramley Village Hall, where Phillip Goodhand-Tait saw them play, followed shortly after with them supporting The Stormsville Shakers at Merrow Village Hall on a 31 March ’65. One of the bands most popular covers was “Country Line Special”. Neal left and was replaced by Ian May.

Managed by John Hewins and Alan Matravers, they went on to support The Phantom Four and Hogsnort Rupert at the Art School, Guildford again in ’66 and played Dronfield’s, Guildford and The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Through power failure, heckling drunks, strings breaking, or fire alarms any mess was handled with high energy professionalism; with the band riffing through Jimmy Reed, Howling Wolf or Sonny Boy Williamson covers with ease. Whether it called for busking or jamming acoustically – nothing would spoil a great show.

Neal who has told us that “it was obvious to us all that these moments together were truly special” continued in the arts. He studied at The Guildford School of Art with Top Topham, Duster Bennett and Dick Forcey from ’63 onwards He went on to create the covers for Emerson Lake and Palmer’s “Tarkus” and “Pictures at an Exhibition” LPs amongst other work. He was also a good boogie-woogie piano player. He moved north from Godalming in ’82 and now works out of his studio in Stranraer.

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