(c’63-’67) Barry ‘Bo’ Williams (bass), Alan “Kerry Rapid” Hope (vocals), Brian Cope (drums), and Alan “Brinny” Brincombe (guitar).
Formed as Kerry Rapid & The Seltones in mid ’63, the band along with Johnny Duncan supported the Mark Leeman Five on 19 October ’63 at the Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley. The next year they found themselves supporting Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers at the Town Hall, Farnborough on 20 May ’64 and played the Winchester Lido, Winchester in support of The Paramounts on 10 July ’64.
To the best of our knowledge Williams joined the group in late ’64 or early ’65. He had been the bassist with The Renegades, and as was Bob Potter’s management style he’d been replaced by a member of The Emeralds and transplanted to The Soul Tones. The Emeralds also featured Hope, who’d also been in The Bandits. Early in ’65, on 10 February, The Soul-Tones were supporting The Yardbirds at Farnborough’s Town Hall. They also, reportedly, support The Yardbirds at the Technical College, Farnborough, on either 20 March or 9 July ’65; which featured a brawl. A year later, in ’66, they recorded a cover of Jimmy McCracklin’s “I’m Gonna Have My Fun”, they also appeared with the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson, and John Lee Hooker.
By late ’66 the band were being billed as Kerry Rapid and the Soultones, Soul Tones or Soul-Tones. It was as Kerry Rapid and the Soul Tones that the group supported The Emeralds at the Locarno, Swindon on 15 October ’66.
Managed by Bob Potter they were often booked to support act at his venues, this included Chuck Berry at the Agincourt, Camberley on 25 February ’67. The Soul-Tones covered several Chuck Berry songs and reportedly at this gig Hope asked Berry what his set list would be, so that they didn’t do anything that he would be doing. Berry responded with “You just go along and play whatever you like, I love hearing other people’s versions of my songs”.
From ’71 to ’77, Hope would also sing in Threewheel. On 23 April 2017 there was a band reunion at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green. Mychett born Hope is the current leader and co-founder of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party as Howling Laud Hope.
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