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The Pleasers
(c’76-79) Nick Powell (guitar/vocals), Dave Rotchelle (drums), Steve McNerney (guitar/vocals), and Steve “Bo” Benham (Bass/Vocals).
Forming in ’76, they were described as a Beatles influenced power pop group, with a sound dubbed ‘Thamesbeat’. A debut single, titled “You Know What I’m Thinking Girl” backed by “Hello Little Girl”, was released on the Solid Gold [SGR104] label in May ’77. This was with original vocalist Chris Alexander, who was replaced by Powell just before the band signed to Arista and released the single “(You Keep on Tellin’ Me) Lies” in ’77, which was promoted as their ‘debut’. The promotion for this single included an appearance on ITV Granada’s ‘Get It Together’. “You Know What I’m Thinking Girl” was subsequently re-released in June ’77. Late in ’77 the band supported The Rezillos at Eric’s, Liverpool on 17 November.
The next year opened with the NME’s 21 January ’78 issue writing “If you missed The Pleasers last year slap your wrists, it’s easy to get the wrong idea about the band, easy to hate them before you’ve seen them, it’s time to open your ears to a new scene.” Their second single with Arista, “The Kids Are Alright” [ARIST180] came out in early ’78, followed by “A Girl I Know” [ARIST217] and “You Don’t Know” [ARIST209]. On 31 January ’78, The Pleasers headlined at The Nashville Rooms, London, supported by Tonight, and The Boyfriends; they also performed at Rafters, Manchester, supported by The Heat, on 18 March ’78. They would go on to appear on ‘Get It Together’ two more times in ’78 performing “A Girl I Know” and “You Don’t Know” as well as Manchester TV’s ‘What’s On’ with Tony Wilson performing “The Kids Are Alright” that same year. The “Cheggers Plays Pop” air date 10 April ’78 saw the band performing “The Kid’s Are Alright” which they also recorded live at BBC Theatre, Shepards Bush for “Crackerjack”. This was the year that Bob Geldof reportedly said of The Pleasers “If the Jam were The Who, The Stranglers The Doors: and we were The Stones, why can’t these guys be The Beatles.” At some point in ’78, they supported Burlesque at a local gig and in the tenth month of ’78 they were supported by The Autographs at Barbarella’s, Birmingham on 20 October, played the Town Hall, Walsall (24 October), and The Triad, Bishop Stortford supported by The Banned (25 October). The next month The Valves and The Flames supported The Pleasers at The Nashville, Kensington on 3 & 4 November, respectively.
Benham and Powell, would later team up with Steve Prudence (bass) and Dickie Knight (drums) to form Bo and The Generals in mid ’79. In ’96 the compilation LP “Thamesbeat” was released on Lost Moment Records [LMCD052]. Some of the original members of The Pleasers reformed in 2009 and performed at The 100 Club and Marquee, London and venues in Japan, about the same time as “Thamesbeat” was re-released in Japan by Air Mail Recordings [AIRCD-099]. In 2020, the Grapefruit Records label released “Surrender to the Rhythm – The London Pub Rock Scene of The Seventies” [CRSEG074T], a 3-CD compilation that included The Pleasers “Rock N’ Roll Radio” on the 3rd CD of Pub Rock classics.
In 2005, Rotchelle, who had toured with The Count Bishops and The Rockets prior to The Pleasers and made a living in photography for newspapers, magazines and commissions after The Pleasers, was recovering from a leg amputation, thanks to diabetes which had also robbed him of dexterity in his hands and clarity in his eyesight. In October 2020, he was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, where he died of diabetes, pneumonia and sepsis. That same year, Powell, who’d also spent time in Evening Sun and Dr JJ’s Blues Band, sadly died from COVID 19. McNerney joined forces with Trace Graham in ’82 to form Dream Cycle 7, was the main mover in Changing Man in ’95/’96 and set up Hannah Music in 2000 and was the composer/performer/producer of original music for a number of documentaries/films/T.V. including The Deadliest Catch and has worked with Bruno Mars, Jim Capaldi, Robert Plant, Noddy Holder, Shaggy, Joe Cocker and many others.
Video:
Gallery:
17 November 1977: The Pleasers supported The Rezillos at Eric’s, Liverpool. Source: Nevil Kiddier via Keep It Out of Sight 
Front cover of 2020’s, Grapefruit Records label released, “Surrender to the Rhythm the London Pub Rock Scene of the Seventies”. Source: Steve Leslie via Keep It Out of Sight 
Back cover of 2020’s, Grapefruit Records label released, “Surrender to the Rhythm the London Pub Rock Scene of the Seventies”. Source: Steve Leslie via Keep It Out of Sight 
“Thamebest” LP cover 
The Pleasers 
The Pleasers’ “You Don’t Know” front sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “You Don’t Know” back sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “A Girl I Know” front sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “A Girl I Know” back sleeve 
The Pleasers’ “The Kids Are Alright” front sleeve. 
The Pleasers’ 1977 debut single “(You Keep On Tellin Me) Lies” sleeve back. 
The Pleasers’ 1977 debut single “(You Keep On Tellin Me) Lies” sleeve front. 
The Pleasers’ Steve McNernrey 
The Pleasers’ Nick Powell 
The Pleasers’ Bo Benham 
Band promo picture for The Pleasers. It was also used on the sleeve for the debut single. Air Mail Recordings, Arista, BBC Theatre, Birmingham, Bishop Stortford, Bo and the Generals, Bob Geldof, Bruno Mars, Burlesque, Changing Man, Cheggers Plays Pop, Chris Alexander, Crackerjack, Dave Rotchelle, Dickie Knight, Dr J.J’s Blues Band, Dream Cycle 7, Erics, Evening Sun, Get It Together, Grapefruit Records, Hampstead, Hannah Music, ITV Granada, Japan, Jim Capaldi, Joe Cocker, Kensington, Liverpool, London, Lost Moment Records, Manchester, Manchester TV, Marquee, Nick Powell, NME, Noddy Holder, Rafters, Robert Plant, Royal Free Hospital, Shaggy, Shepards Bush, Solid Gold, Steve Benham, Steve McNerney, Steve Prudence, Thamesbeat, The 100 Club, The Autographs, The Banned, The Boyfriends, The Count Bishops, The Deadliest Catch, The Flames, The Heat, The Nashville, The Nashville Rooms, The Pleasers, THe Rezillos, The Rockets, The Triad, The Valves, Tonight, Tony Wilson, Town Hall, Trace Graham, Walsall -
Genevieve
(c’70-’71) Colin Lintott (bass/vocals), Alan Blaker (drums/vocals), Barry Fitzpatrick (guitar/vocals), and Janet Martin (vocals/tambourine)
Originally in The Sound Ring, Lintott, Blaker and Fitzpatrick discovered Martin thanks to a bout of singing in a car, then asking if she’d audition. The four went on to form Genevieve, covering the likes of Pickettywitch’s “That Same Old Feeling” and Paul Simon’s “Keep the Customer Satisfied”.
The group signed a four-year contract with Bob Potter and played the army messes at Aldershot and Pirbright as well as the Atalanta Ballroom, Woking.
Gallery:
Clipping from early 70s, possibly Woking News & Mail -
Revolver
(c’96-’98) Dom De Vivo (bass/vocals), Steve Baker (guitar/vocals), Ross Di’Landa (drums), and Enzo Esposito (rhythm guitar).
De Vivo and the other three original members of Squire tried to reform in ’96, but the threat of legal action by Anthony Meynell resulted in them performing as Revolver. The band recorded original tracks written by Baker, who also undertook vocal duties, and used Trinity Studios, within the Community Centre, Knaphill to recorded at least three original numbers.
They kept going, with original music and gigs at many a pub and club, until Baker emigrated to Australia.
Prior to Revolver Baker had also been in Panther, was a founding member of Cutting Edge, and also joined Bo and The Generals for a while. Baker regrettably died on New Years Day 2019.
Gallery:
Revolver’s De Vivo c’96. Pictute courtesy of Dom De Vivo 
Revolver c’96. Picture courtesy of Dom De Vivo -
The Weysiders
(c’50) Gerry Cheeseman (vocals), Fred Gardner (vocals), Derek Potter (vocals) and Les Reed (accordion/vocals).
Active in 1950, Les Reed formed The Les Reed Trio that same year and went on to write hits for Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck amongst others.
Cheeseman, Gardner, and Reed have all sadly passed. The whereabouts/status of Potter is unknown.
Gallery:
The Weysiders in 1950 (LtoR) Cheeseman, Gardner, Potter, and Reed. Source: Christine Turner via WOKING when we were young -
The Vulgar Bros
(c’76-date) Dave Gallagher (guitar), Bernie Foskins (bass), Adam Russel (guitar / harmonica), “Whispering” Bob Darnell (drums) and Paul Trew (vocals).
Vulgar Bros played their first gig at the Hautboy, Ockham c’76. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew The Vulgar Bros/Brothers were a rhythm and blues band from Farnborough that played all over, at colleges, pubs, festivals, etc. Their first gig was on the balcony at The Hautboy, Ockham in ’76, and we know that Carl Schieder replaced Darnell on drums in ’77 – whether that was before or after their appearance at The Albion, Woking that year we don’t know. The Wooden Bridge, Guildford hosted the band on 4 September ’79; and you could have caught the band, who’d augmented their line-up with Graham Hill and Steve Claydon, at The Prince of Wales, Fleet in mid-October.
Then, in ’80 they were one of the Farnborough and Aldershot bands that went to the Stonehenge Festival, funded in part by t-shirt sales, designed and printed by Tim Freeman (Martin Freeman’s brother). On 18 April ’80 the band were at the Technical College, Farnborough with The Torpedoes, by which time Access’ guitarist Keith Jones was on vocals, harmonica and lead guitar with the three other Vulgar Bros: Gallagher, Schieder, and Foskins.
18 April 1980: The Torpedoes and Vulgar Bros played Farnborough Tech. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew Susie Wadey (guitar/vocals) and Carl Launchbury (drums), who’d later co-form The F1-11s, joined the band at some point. The Vulgar Bros are still going today as a 3-piece with Gallagher, Foskins and Schieder. Occasionally joined by David “Mad” Morgan on guitar and harmonica with The Crown, Badshot Lea as their regular venue.
Trew was also in The Torpedoes, Thane, The Virgin Daze, and White as White (and Twice as Dirty), and The Desotos. Schieder would also join Straightshooter in ’77. Sometine in ’89, Jones would take on bass and vocal duties with The Flying Tigers.
Gallery:
The Vulgar Bros. Paul Trew and Bernie Austin at The Albion, Woking in 1977. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
4 September 1979: Vulgar Bros played The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
Not quite complete clipping from Farnborough News, 19 October 1979, of Vulgar Bros. review by David Reading. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew. 
Image on one of 300 t-shirts, designed by Tim Freeman, and printed at the shop he work at on Lynchford Rd. Source: Paul Trew via Farnborough (Hants) NostalgiaAccess, Adam Russel, Badshot Lea, Bernie Foskins, Bob Darnell, Carl Launchbury, Carl Schieder, Dave Gallagher, David Morgan, Farnborough, Farnborough Tech, Fleet, Graham Hill, Guildford, Keith Jones, Ockham, Paul Trew, Steve Claydon, Stonehenge Festival, Straightshooter, Susie Wadey, Technical College, Thane, The Albion, The Crown, The Desotos, The F1-11s, The Flying Tigers, The Hautboy, The Prince of Wales, The Virgin Daze, The Vulgar Bros, Tim Freeman, White as White (and Twice as Dirty), Woking, Wooden Bridge -
The Jimmie Cole Band
(c’50s) James Cole (conductor), ? (bass), ? (piano), ? (sax), and ? (trumpet).
The Jimmie Cole band, all from the Woking area, often played the town’s Liberal Club. Les Reed, when he was a jobbing pianist after demob, was once a member, playing up and down the country.
Gallery:
Jimmie Cole Band at the Liberal Club, Woking. Picture courtesy of Mark Applin -
The New Stars
(c’51-’52) Charlie Partleton (drums), ? (sax), ? (sax), ? (sax), Edward Fowler (trumpet), ? (bass), and ? (piano).
Fowler was a founding member of this popular Farnborough dance orchestra, known to have played the R.A.E Assembly Hall and Town Hall, Farnborough, including an appearance on 22 September ’51.
22 September 1951: Clipping from Aldershot News of Fri, 21 Sep 1951 courtesy of Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia During the day Partleton was a barber at Swan hairdressers and would join The Mickey Kennedy Band in the late ’50s as well as being a member of the Farnborough Concert Orchestra. Partleton passed in June 2016, at 92.
Gallery:
The New Stars playing at the R.A.E. Assembly Hall. Source: Alan Harvey via Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
Community Centre, Knaphill
Commonly called The Pit, Knaphill’s Community Centre was often hired by bands to run gigs and the venue put on their own events too.
Glib Thicket were at the Community Centre, supporting Backstage Pass, on 23 March ’84, and the very next week, on 30 March, were back there again for a solo gig. Later in the year, on 28 July, The Pit hosted Carnival. By ’85, Carnival would be renamed Five O’Clock High and under this moniker they appeared at the venue regularly.
Five O’Clock High at The Pit, Knaphill The Community Centre was also the location for Trinity Studios, which was booked by Heart Management for the all-girl band Touch to choreograph their own dance routines and rehearsals in ’94. It was late in ’94 that Touch were renamed the Spice Girls. A few years later Heart’s boy band 5ive practiced and demoed their work at Trinity Studios.
Members of the Spice Girls in rehearsal, reportedly photographed at Trinity Studios in The Pit, Knaphill Revolver used Trinity Studios, within the Community Centre to recorded at least three original numbers in ’96/’97. The building is now known as Woking Youth Arts Centre (WYAC) and is home to the Knaphill Cabin Youth Club. WYAC has a recording studio, multimedia studio, drama studio and performance stage.
Gallery:
Carnival play The Pit (Community Centre, Knaphill) – Soundscene 26 July ’84 
Soundscene – 21 March 1985 
Five O’Clock High at The Pit, Knaphill. Picture courtesy of Michael Bailey 
The Spice Girls purportedly shot at Trinity Studios, Knaphill. 
Community Centre, Knaphill c’2017 -
Petroleum Spirit
(c’69-’79) Martin Laker (guitar), Maurice Earle (drums), and Ken Parker (guitar).
Formed at Park Barn School, Guildford; they played their rock / heavy metal at a regular Saturday night slot at the British Legion on Quarry Street. Around ’73 they appeared at a dance night organized by Plastic Coatings Limited. Parker was replaced by Trevor Collen in the mid to late 70’s and Earle by John Huggins in late ’78.
1978 Petroleum Spirit with (LtoR) Laker, Earle, and Collen Laker was also a member of Electric Lunchbox and Isis with Malcolm Wooldridge and Neil McGuinn, in the 80s, and Juggling with Jelly in the 90s. He set up The Works Collection, a song writing partnership, in 1992 and is a member of The Guild of International Songwriters and Composers. Earle may have also been involved with a band called Strident. Regrettably Collen has passed.
Gallery:
1973 Petroleum Spirit with (LtoR) Laker, Earle, and Parker 
Petroleum Spirit’s Maurice Earle in 1976 
1979 Petroleum with (LtoR) Collen, Huggins, and Laker British Legion, Electric Lunchbox, Guildford, Isis, John Huggins, Juggling with Jelly, Ken Parker, Malcolm Wooldridge, Martin Laker, Maurice Earle, Neil McGuinn, Park Barn School, Petroleum Spirit, Plastic Coatings Limited, Strident, The Guild of International Songwriters and Composers, The Works Collection, Trevor Collen -
Nelson Keene
(c’59-’62) Malcolm “Dutchie” Holland (singer)
Born in Farnborough in ’42 and given the stage name Nelson Keene by Larry Parnes who managed him, he grew up at 49 Oaken Copse Crescent with his nine siblings, attended Queens Road School and worked locally. In addition, he could be seen, along with Foxy Dance, driving a stock car at Tongham Raceway, as Dutch Holland.
Singing while he worked got his voice noticed and he formed The Raiders with a few friends and won a singing contest pocketing a quid. The Raiders played The Plaza, Guildford and recorded a demo in London, sponsored by the manager of a local radio shop. This demo reached Parnes, who took on Keene and got him a summer season in Blackpool and signed to HMV Records.
“Image Of A Girl” released in 1960 In ’60 his first single, “Image of a Girl” [45-POP 771], a cover version of The Safaris US Top Ten, reached No. 37 or 18, depending on what you read, on the UK Singles Chart. This was outsold by Woking born Mark Wynter‘s rival version of the same song. On 4 March that year Nelson Keene & The Echoes were on stage at the Hippodrome, Dudley opening for a package tour featuring Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Bert Weedon, Tommy Bruce, Vince Eager, and Rolly Daniels. He was further up the bill, on parr with Duffy Power, for a tour that opened at the Adelphi, Slough on 24 September ’60 that also listed Billy Fury, Joe Brown, Tommy Bruce, Dickie Pride, The Vernons Girls, Peter Wynne, The Viscounts, Dave Sampson, Johnny Gentle, Georgie Fame, Billy Raymond, Johnny Goode, Red Price with Jimmie Nicol and his 15 New Orleans Rockers, The Valentine Girls, and The Dale Sisters. This took in a further 44 towns and cities through October, November and early December, wrapping up with a week-long residency at the Empire, Newcastle that started on 5 December ’60.
8 October 1960. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk On 25 February ’61, the Odeon, Guildford was the seventh stop for Larry Parnes’ “Jack Good’s Rock ‘n’ Trad Spectacular – 2nd Edition” headlined by Billy Fury and with Mark Wynter, Tommy Bruce, Joe Brown, Nelson Keene, Duffy Power, The Four Kestrels, Johnny Gentle, Georgie Fame, The Valentine Girls, and the New Orleans Rockers. Two further singles, “Teenage Troubles” [45-POP 814] and “Miracles Are Happening to Me” [45-POP 916], both released in ’61, did not reach the chart. He was then busy on a number of leading package tours.
In ’63 Keene joined Dickie Pride and Bobby Shafto to form The Guv’nors, who signed to Pye Piccadilly and released “Let’s Make a Habit of This”.
He was listed as a soloist again, bottom of the bill, for two appearances at the Roxy, Ulverston and Regal, Bolton on 1 and 2 February respectively. He was backed by The Fleerekkers, and charged with opening for headliner Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and the supporting cast of Heinz & The Saints, Vince Eager, Danny Rivers, and Ricky Valance.
Since 2000 Keene’s songs have appeared on numerous compilations. He emigrated to Australia in the ’70s, after a brief spell in New Zealand, where he still lives.
Gallery:
Press clipping of Nelson Keene biography 
Sheet music for “Image Of A Girl” featuring Nelson Keene 
“Keep Loving Me” released in 1961 
1 May 1961. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
3 December 1961: Advert. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
The Guv’nors feauring Nelson Keene (centre) with Bobby Shafto (left) and Dickie Pride (right). Clipped from Record Mirror 27 April 1963. Adelphi, Australia, Bert Weedon, Billy Fury, Billy Raymond, Blackpool, Bobby Shafto, Bolton, Danny Rivers, Dave Sampson, Dickie Pride, Dudley, Duffy Power, Dutch Holland, Empire, Farnborough, Foxy Dance, Georgie Fame, Guildford, Heinz & The Saints, Hippodrome, HMV Records, Jimmie Nicol and his 15 New Orleans Rockers, Joe Brown, Johnny Gentle, Johnny Goode, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Larry Parnes, Malcolm Holland, Mark Wynter, Nelson Keene, Nelson Keene & The Echoes, New Orleans Rockers, New Zealand, Newcastle, Odeon, Peter Wynne, Pye Piccadilly, Queens Road School, Red Price, Regal, Ricky Valance, Rolly Daniels, Roxy, Slough, The Dale Sisters, The Fleerekkers, The Fleerekkers with Nelson Keene, The Four Kestrels, The Guv’nors, The Plaza, The Raiders, The Safaris, The Valentine Girls, The Vernons Girls, The Viscounts, Tommy Bruce, Tongham Raceway, Ulverston, Vince Eager, Woking
Our Soundscene 
Human beings takes me back to 1981. Followed them all over the Surrey reading area for a year a great band and 3 good guys playing well written songs of the era. I wish john Tim and steve well what ever they are doing now. Should reform for a few shows just like Oasis but do the wooden bridge.
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