(c’65-’70) Dave Litten (guitar), Geoff Kraut (vocals), Andy Biles (bass), and Cliff Davies (drums)

On the 16 September ‘65, Aldershot’s The Moggies supported The Amboy Dukes at New Central Ballroom, Aldershot. Just under two months later, on 6 November 1965, the Harvest Moon Club, Guildford booked The Moggies to support Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers. The band also supported Brian Poole and The Tremeloes.

When in The Moggies, Davies – who had received drum tuition from Jock Cree, and was an accomplished drummer with what was known as an independent left hand – wanted to go professional and joined the Roy Young Band around ’69/’70 to pursue his dream. He was replaced by Gerry Walters.

The band were also joined by Steve Vaughan of the Lorne Gibson Trio, as a guest, at times. Canadian Vaughn meet Litten at Manor Park school, Aldershot and the two got on well; and while The Lorne Gibson Trio were regularly featured on the weekly BBC Radio show “Saturday Club”, he would also join The Moggies on vocals and guitar.

Kraut and Litten continued playing in bands after the Moggies. Kraut regrettably passed way over 20 years ago from cancer. Walters had introduced Litten to The Frank Allen Sound, where he took on bass duties. When the lead guitarist left The Frank Allen Sound, Litten took his place and Paul Braithwaite came on board as bassist. Walters still lives near Aldershot, in Ash. Walters, Braithwaite and Litten would go on to form Celebration playing dinner/dance venue and releasing a CD single. The Celebration trio added Dave Phelps (vocals) and Jim Dawkins (drums) and eventually changed their name to Montage; then Phelps was replaced with Michael Collantine. Career moves meant Litten had to stand down, to be replaced by Fred Green, and he now lives in Spain with his wife Jude. Vaughan is now living in Canada with his wife Mary.

Davies went on to join the second incarnation of the jazz-rock band If, with Dick Morrisey on sax and guitarist Geoff Whitehorn, from ’72 to ’75, contributing to four albums by the band. He also played on Wounded John Scott Cree‘s version of “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” and later Cree sessions for Pye Records. Then living in the Florida Keys and after If’s break up, Davies – through his connection with producer Lew Futterman – joined the Ted Nugent Band in ’75, the group having just dropped the Amboy Dukes moniker and should not be confused with the British soul group with the same name that The Moggies supported in ’65. He remained the Ted Nugent Band’s drummer and co-producer through to ’82. Davies then worked for Next City Productions, New York and recorded with the likes of Grand Funk Railroad. In the ’90s he was living and teaching drums and piano in Atlanta and co-founded the Rock and Roll Remembers Foundation. He was employed as chief engineer at Equametric Studios when, on 13 April 2008, he was found dead in his Atlanta home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound – reportedly he was “extremely distraught” as a result of medical bills.

Gallery:

Three of The Moggies w/ Steve Vaughan c’65. L-R: Biles, Kraut, Vaughan, and Litten (Davies hidden behind Kraut). Picture courtesy of Dave Litten via John Scott Cree.