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Rising Signs
(c’86-’88) Kendall Sparks (drums), Dean Low (guitar), Bobby Cass (bass), and Pippa Mitchener (vocals).
This Aldershot group, who’d originally considered Man Made Soul as a name, debuted at the West End Centre, Aldershot supporting Drink Britain Dry. On 4 May ’88 they were one of the bands, along with West One, Paper Moon, and UxB, at Battle for the Limelight held at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Sparks left the band after the first couple of gigs and was replaced by Vince Southey of West One.
The band were once more at the West End Centre for a local band night on 2 September ’88, with The F1-11s, supporting West One.
Southey left us in the early 2000s, as did bassist Cass in 2020. Low would form acoustic duo Deano & Co sometime in the 2000s. As of 2024, Mitchener is still performing in Self Preservation Society and Man Made Soul (funnily enough).
Tracks:Gallery:
4 May 1988: Ticket for Battle For The Limelight at Princes Hall, Aldershotwith West One, Paper Moon, UxB, and Rising Signs. Source: West One
Man Made Soul. Picture courtesy of Pippa Mitchener 
Man Made Soul. Picture courtesy of Pippa Mitchener 
2 September 1988: Poster for West One at the West End Centre, Aldershot supported by Rising Signs, and F1-11. Source: West One 
2 September 1988: Poster for West One at the West End Centre, Aldershot supported by Rising Signs, and F1-11. Source: West One 
2 September 1988: Poster for West One at the West End Centre, Aldershot supported by Rising Signs, and F1-11. Source: West One -
Bunters, Guildford
(c’71-’82) Bunters, on the Shalford Road, opposite the Yvonne Arnaud was run by Billy “Bunter” Williamson, with bar manager Raymond Young. Prior to Bunters, from ’71 it was called Dronfields after that club moved down from Tunsgate to 11 Quarry Street. This club then changed its name to Frasers, before it became Bunters.
Local police were often on site due to incidents caused by the “overzealous bouncers”, oft described as “little scuffles”. Entering from Quarry Street and once you got through the door, and passed the likes of bouncers Tuppenny Kendall, James “Coco” Essua (He would also join LongPig on stage occasionally playing bongos), Brian Durbridge, and John Wright, the venue was not particularly salubrious, with low ceilings, papers on the wall, three floors that were often ‘sticky’, and a different music genre in each bar supplied by resident DJ, Billy “Cat Weasel” Jepp. Occasionally Noel Edmonds was present, often promoting some alcoholic beverage.
Tuesday night was half price night and Bunter’s “restaurant” apparently produced some pretty tasty grub when you were a few pints into the evening. Disc jockey Andy Miles recalls The Jackie Lynton Band playing Bunters in late ’73, while he spun the vinyl with help from Frank Cox, but it was more likely Jackie Lynton’s Grande. The Jam are listed as playing the venue on the 7 and 21 July ’74 with another gig on 5 Oct, supporting The Rock Island Line, cancelled due to the bombings in Guildford. In an interview with Malcolm Wyatt, Rick Buckler states “I remember we set up the equipment in there, went home to Woking, had some tea, because we weren’t going to be on until really late at night. But then we got a phone call, saying we can’t come back because they’d literally shut the whole of Guildford down.”
On 7 April ’76, Blackblood played Bunters, and George Gimarc’s “Punk Diary: The Ultimate Train-spotter’s Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982” does list The Sex Pistols as playing Bunter’s Club (which is listed on Sex Pistols site as The Place) on 28 September ’76, although we’ve found no evidence to date. Similarly, The Clash are also reported to have played Bunters, but there has been no evidence uncovered to date either, although page 211 of Marcus Gray’s “Last Gang in Town” does state: [The Clash’s] second trip out on their own, on some forgotten date in October [’76], was to a pub-cum-disco in Guildford run by Marmalade’s former bass player. It was the smallest venue the band ever played, and that the audience consisted of “one lone drunk refugee from the club/disco below, where the bouncers were having the shit kicked out of them by a bunch of squaddies”. Is that Bunters? According to an article by Malcolm Wyatt for The Guildford Dragon ‘The Clash’s Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer reminisced about that date in a 1982 NBC TV interview as having ‘only one person in the audience’. Another band to play the venue in the ’70s was West Byfleet / New Haw band The Slim Franklin Band.
24 July 1978: Junction, Guildford hpsed Magnets and The Little Jimmies. Picture courtesy of John Hudson In the late 70’s / early ’80s, The Junction night took up residence on the top floor, featuring live bands every Monday – there was also a The Junction night at The Star, Guildford. The Bunker’s Junction hosted Jasmin Pie, supported by The Reaction on 24 April ’78. The Magnets, supported by The Little Jimmies, on 24 July ’78, and a month later, on 24 August, Crisis performed a 10-song set at the venue, On 12 November ’79, UBz supported Rockola. The following month Dick Middleton organized a Battle of the Bands night, this included Farnborough based rockers Kama Sutra who appeared at the event, on 19 December ’79. The next year Spider/s performed on 14 January returning on 4 February. El Seven dropped by on 14 April, Crosswinds on 11 August, and Pozer are known to have appeared there on 13 October ’80. They were followed a week later by Cavalry on 20 October and the triple header of The Chevrons with B Film, and Red Box on 3 November ’80, and then UBz returned on 12 November. Jumping to mid ’81 we find Panther opened for The Alligators on 10 July ’81. Other bands that are known to have played the venue are The Detroit Emeralds, The Golden Age of Metro, Heatwave, House, Duffo (with local keyboardist Sev Lewkowicz), The Dodgers who were supported by Squire in ’78, Luxury Glass Town, Patrick Fitzgerald, The Volunteers, Whirlwind, White Colors, and The Vapors.
10 July 1981: The Alligators supported by Panther played Junction (top floor of Bunters), Guildford. Picture courtesy of John Hudson. The story goes that Williamson was a friend of the Krays and may have “done a runner” to Spain due to underworld connections / activity (which might explain the loaded gun in the glove box of his bright yellow jag). He lived above the club and had a small private bar where he reportedly entertained ‘off duty’ detectives; and was certainly seen waving a shotgun out of an upstairs window. Meanwhile, Essua – who liberally deployed a very colourful vocabulary when up trees in opposition to the local constabulary, ripping the lights from the roof of a police car, on buses, and when collecting debts – was charged for stealing sheep!
It became Legion in 2007 and is now flats.
Gallery:
7 April 1976: Blackblood played Bunters, Guildford according to this advert from Record Mirror. 
12 November 1980: Set list for UBz’s gig at Bunters, Guildford Andy Miles, B Film, Billy Jepp, Billy Wiliamson, Blackblood, Brian Durbridge, Bunters, Cavalry, Crisis, Crosswinds, Dick Middleton, Dronfield’s, Duffo, El Seven, Farnborough, Frank Cox, Frasers, George Gimarc, Guildford, Heatwave, House, Jackie Lynton Band, Jackie Lynton's Grande, James Essua, Jasmine Pie, Joe Strummer, John Wright, Kama Sutra, Legion, LongPig, Luxury Glass Town, Marcus Gray, Marmalade, NBC, New Haw, Panther, Patrick Fitzgerald, Paul Simonon, Pozer, Raymond Young, Red Box, Rick Buckler, Rockola, Sev Lewkowicz, Spider, Spiders, Squire, The Alligators, The Chevrons, The Clash, The Detroit Emeralds, The Dodgers, The Golden Age of Metro, The Guildford Dragon, The Jam, The Junction, The Little Jimmies, The Magnets, The Place, The Reaction, The Rock Island Line, The Sex Pistols, The Slim Franklin Band, The Star, The Vapors, The Volunteers, Tuppenny Kendall, UBz, West Byfleet, Whirlwind, White Colours -
Billie Davis
(c’61-date) Billie Davis (singer)
Born Carol Hedges in Woking, Robert Stigwood suggested the performing name Billie (Holliday)/(Sammy) Davis (Jr.). Backed by the Rebel Rousers she won a talent contest at Southall Community Centre singing Connie Francis’ “Many Tears Ago”; and subsequently teamed up with The Tornados to record a few demo tracks for Joe Meek, signing to Decca.
Woking born Carol Hedges, aka Billie Davis In August ’62 “Will I What” [Parlophone R4932] was released on which she performed with Mike Sarne, which reached No.18 in the UK Singles Chart. Her biggest success came early the next year with a cover of The Exciters’ “Tell Him” [Decca F11572], peaking at No.10. The promotion for “Tell Him” had Davis in Package Tours with the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. This was followed by “He’s The One” [Decca F11658] which barely made the Top 40.
1 May 1963. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk Davis went on an All-Stars Package Tour with Mike Sarne, John Leyton, Mike Berry, Don Spencer, The Innocents, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, Billy Doyle, Duffy Power, Grazina, The X-L Five, and Bick Ford across the end April and through May ’63. On Saturday morning’s the BBC broadcast Saturday Club, a show of predominantly pre-recorded “live” performances. Davis recorded tracks for Episode 239, 252, and 272, broacast on 27 April, 27 July, and 14 December ’63 respectively. The then 17-year-old, Davis split from Decca and moved to Columbia and got involved with married ex-Shadows bassist Jet Harris. In September, while returning from a gig their chauffeured car crashed into a bus, breaking Davis’ jaw and Harris received head injuries. The press focused on the “scandalous” side of the story, while Davis was unable to work for months due to the injuries received. But the photogenic, bobbed, long booted, leather mini wearing Davis would be back.
12 Feb 1964: John Leyton w/ Mike Sarne, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Don Spencer, Billy Boyle, The Rolling Stones, Mike Berry and The Innocents, Billie Davis and the Le Roys. and Jet Harris One of those package tours, the All Stars ’64 tour, headlined by John Leyton, along with Mike Sarne, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Rolling Stones, Don Spencer, Billy Boyle, Mike Berry and The Innocents, and Jet Harris, bought Billie Davis and the Le Roys close to her hometown when it hit the Odeon, Guildford on 12 February ’64. She returned to BBC Radio 1’s Saturday Club on 13 June ’64 (Episode 298).
Davies changed label from Columbia to Pye Records and released a Burt Bacharach number on 19 March ’65. The next month she appeared on Radio Luxembourg’s ‘Ready, Steady, Radio!’ with The Temptations and The Zephyrs on 3 April ’65. There was another appearance on Episode 369 of Saturday Club which went out on 30 October ’65.
Early in ’66, Episode 380 of Saturday Club, broadcast on 15 Jan ’66, carried a Davis session. Also, in ’66, the duo called Keith and Billie formed and signed onto the Piccadilly record label. Together Keith Powell, of The Valets, and Davis released three singles including “Swingin’ Tight”, but without chart success the pairing dissolved. Dhe was back on the Saturday Club on 11 June ’66 (Episode 401). Peter Simensky, of The Manchester Playboys, recalls Davis working at The Scotch of St James, Mayfair around July ’67 when they were gigging in London. Back on Decca, Davis recorded several singles, including “Angel of the Morning”, in ’67, backed by Kiki Dee, Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Kay Garner, The Moody Blues and P. P. Arnold.
Northern soul-esque “I Want You to Be My Baby” was Davis’ last charting single, topping out at No.33 in October ’68, possibly aided by an appearance on Saturday Club, Episode 517 on 31 August ’68 and Episode 526 on 2 November ’68.She left Decca again on ’71, after the release of an eponymous LP in ’70. The recording didn’t stop however, with a number of releases on several different labels and touring too, with “I Want You to Be My Baby” doing well in Spain; well enough for a Spanish language version to be recorded and released.
Front cover of the eponymous “Bilie Davis” LP from 1970. In ’93, Davis was part of the Telstar Tour which visited Guildford on 25 February. Spanish TV aired her performing a cover of The Moody Blues “Nights in White Satin”, which also charted in Spain. A cover of Burt Bacharach’s “The Last One to Be Loved” appeared on the “Trains & Boats & Covers” compilation LP. Teaming up with Albert Lee in ’99, they created and released “Stormy”, an LP of Davis’ own songs. A retrospective collection of recordings, titled “The Decca Years” was released in 2005 and in January 2021, Davis was featured in The Beat magazine.
Gallery:
An early Billie Davis promo shot 
13 May 1963. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
February/March 1964: John Leyton w/ Mike Sarne, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Don Spencer, Billy Boyle, The Rolling Stones, Mike Berry and The Innocents, Billie Davis and the Le Roys. and Jet Harris 
Don Spencer is none too complimentary of Billie Davis’ performance in his Melody Maker (15 February 1964) review of Robert Stigwood’s ‘All Star ’64’ package tour. 
April/May 63: Front cover of the All-Stars Package Tour souvenir program. Source: www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
April/May 63: Billie Davis profile on Page 9 of the All-Stars Package Tour souvenir program. Source: www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
April/May 63: Decca advert featuring Billie Davis on Page 11 of the All-Stars Package Tour souvenir program. Source: www.bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
14 July 1963. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk 
Back cover of the eponymoud “Bilie Davis” LP from 1970. 
25 February 1993, Billie was part of the Telstar Tour at Civic Hall, Guildford. Clipping from February issue of Aldershot News. Source: Who Moved the Ground? Albert Lee, BBC, BBC Radio 1, Bick Ford, Billie Davis, Billie Davis and the Le Roys, Billy Boyle, Billy Doyle, Burt Bacharach, Carol Hedges, Columbia, Community Centre, Connie Francis, Decca, Don Spencer, Doris Troy, Duffy Power, Grazina, Guildford, Jet Harris, Joe Meek, John Leyton, Kay Garner, Keith Powell, Kiki Dee, London, Madeline Bell, Mayfair, Mike Berry, Mike Berry & The Innocents, Mike Sarne, Odeon, P.P. Arnold, Parlephone, Peter Simensky, Piccadilly, Pye Records, Radio Luxembourg, Ready Steady Radio, Rebel Rousers, Robert Stigwood, Saturday Club, Southall, Spain, Telstar, The Beat, The Beatles, The Exciters, The Innocents, The Manchester Playboys, The Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, The Scotch of St.James, The Shadows, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Temptations, The Tornados, The Valets, The X-L Five, The Zephyrs, Tony Meehan, Woking -
Graham Parker
(c’75-date) Graham Parker (singer / songwriter)
Graham Parker and Rumourmobile; NME Dec 1976. Source: Len Lighthouse via Keep It Out Of Sight In late ’74 a young man living with his parents in Deepcut, who worked as a petrol pump attendant, placed an ad in Melody Maker seeking like-minded backing musicians. Guitarist Noel Brown answered and in Spring ’75 Parker began driving up to London on a regular basis.
Through Brown, Parker met ex-Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers member Paul “Bassman” Riley and secured a solo gig at Southern Comfort, Finsbury Park. Riley introduced Parker to Dave Robinson, the ex-manager of Brinsley Schwarz who, in a studio above the Hope & Anchor, Islington; began to record Parker.
This wasn’t Parker’s first foray into music. When at Chobham Secondary Modern he’d been in the Deepcut Three and the Black Rockers with some other students. Parker has also mentioned in interviews traveling from home to the Atalanta, Woking and The Gin Mill Club, Godalming to listen to bands. Leaving school at 16, he moved to Guernsey at 18 and bought a guitar, taught himself and began writing songs. After bouncing around a bit, he ended up in Gibraltar and played in a bar or two and appeared on a Gibraltar TV show performing his own songs. He joined Pegasus and went to Tangier, Morocco where they performed in a nightclub. The band morphed into Terry Burbot’s Magic Mud. By ’72 he was back in the UK. At some point Parke had a chance meeting with Jean Marie “JC” Carroll, who’d go on to join The Members, at The Three Mariners, Bagshot; and he and Carroll produced a two-track bedroom demo.
Jumping forward again, two of the demo songs laid down in Robinson’s studio was “Nothin’s Gonna Pull Us Apart” and “Between You and Me”. These were aired on Charlie Gillett’s “Honky Tonk” show on BBC London. Nigel Grainge of Phonogram Records heard them and got in touch. Robinson, now Parker’s manager, struck a deal with Phonogram and recruited the Rumour: Brinsley Schwarz (lead guitar), Bob Andrews (keyboards), Martin Belmont (guitar), Andrew Bodnar (bass), and Steve Goulding (drums). Recording for “Howlin’ Wind” began in the late ’75, and Robinson, who founded Stiff Records, put Parker’s “Back to Schooldays” on the compilation LP: “A Bunch of Stiff Records”.
19 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Free Trade Hall, Manchester Graham Parker and the Rumour began working the British pub rock scene and eventually began opening for Ace on tour and supporting Thin Lizzy in March / April that year. This took in Sheffield University on 5 March ’76, the Dance Hall at Essex University, Colchester the next night, Cheltenham’s Town Hall on 11 March; St. George Hall, Bradford on the 17 March followed the City Hall, Newcastle and Free Trade Hall, Manchester on the 18 & 19 March ’76 respectively. On 20 March ’76, Parker opened at the Stadium, Liverpool, doing the same at Brunel University, Uxbridge on 26 March ’76 and at New Victoria Theatre, London on 4 April. “Howlin’ Wind” was released in April ’76 and was followed by LP number 2 “Heat Treatment” and the EP “The Pink Parker” later in ’76. The track “Don’t Ask Me Questions” hit the Top 40 UK Singles Chart. By the end of ’76 Graham Parker and the Rumour were headlining in their own right, progressing to touring the US twice, without the support of Phonogram’s US arm, Mercury.
15 July 1978: The front cover of the official Picnic at Blackbushe programme listing Graham Parker & The Rumour. Source: Liam Feeley via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia A third LP – “Stick to Me” – was released in ’77. Parker also appeared, second on the bill for the Saturday, 27 August ’77, at Reading Rock (aka 17th National Jazz Blues and Rock Festival), and at the Rider Open Air Festival, Scheeßel, Germany on the 3 or 4 September ’77, along with two other local talents, namely The Stranglers and Camel. On 15 July ’78, Graham Parker & The Rumour appeared at The Picnic at Blackbushe, with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading and Lake; when he came on he yelled: “Anyone here from the One Oak?” – With 100,000+ in the audience of course there was. Mercury’s ignorance led Parker to sign with Arista and what followed was “Squeezing Out Sparks” in ’79, which reached No.44 in the US album charts, selling a 1/4 million copies. Parker and the Rumour toured extensively in the year of its release, beginning at Belfast’s Witlow Hall on 2 February and ending at the Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand on the 26 November, with little time off. At some point in the year the demo version of “Between You and Me”, recorded at the Hope & Anchor, in early ’75, was included on ’79’s The Honky Tonk Demos compilation LP.
A demo version of “Between You and Me”, was included on 1979’s The Honky Tonk Demos compilation LP. Source: Terry Newman via Keep It Out Of Sight They then made their last album “The Up Escalator.” Schwarz and Bodnar continued to record and gig with Parker through the ‘80’s and Parker has continued to release albums since, notably “Struck by Lightning” on RCA, “Deepcut to Nowhere” on Razor & Tie, and “Don’t Tell Columbus” released on Bloodshot Records. In May 2011, Parker reached out to the Rumour to work on a new album.
“Three Chords Good,” was recorded in July ’11 and released in October ’12 with tours of the US, UK and Europe. Graham Parker and the Rumour then recorded the “Mystery Glue” LP, releasing it on the Cadet Concept label in May ’15. In 2017 Parker was touring as a duo with Schwarz, and Parker continues to release singles, EP and LPs to this day.
Gallery:
5 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Sheffield University 
5 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Sheffield University 
6 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Dance Hall,Essex University, Colchester 
11 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Town Hall, Cheltenham 
11 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Town Hall, Cheltenham 
17 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at St. George Hall, Bradford 
18 & 19 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at City Hall, Newcastle, then Free Trade Hall, Manchester 
18 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at City Hall, Newcastle 
20 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Stadium, Liverpool. Source: Rhys Griffiths via Keep It Out Of Sight 
Tony Stewart reviews Graham Parker and The Rumour at Dingwalls for the 20 March 1976 issue of NME. Source: Rhys Griffiths via Keep It Out Of Sight 
26 March 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at Brunel University, Uxbridge 
4 April 1976: Graham Parker & The Rumour support Thin Lizzy at New Victoria Theatre, London 
T. Moon reviews Graham Parker’s ‘Kansis City..Live!’ in the Sideburns No.1 Fanzine from January 1977 
27 August 1977: Graham Parker & The Rumour second on bill at Reading 
3 & 4 September 1977: Camel, Stranglers, and Graham Parker all on the bill for Rider Open Air Festival in Scheeßel, Germany. Source: www.omegaauctions.co.uk
Clipping from Record Mirror 29 October 1977: Review of “Stick To Me”. 
Advert from November 1977 issue of NME for Graham Parker and the Rumour’s “New York Shuffle”. Source: Len Lighthouse via Keep It Out Of Sight 
John Hayward reviews Graham Parker for Music Week, 3 December 1977. Source: Robert Jarvis via Keep It Out Of Sight 
Clipping from Record Mirror 18 March 1978 outlining the UK tour. 
28 April 1978: Signed, complimentary ticket (No.00159) for Graham Parker & The Rumour 
A demo version of “Between You and Me”, was included on 1979’s The Honky Tonk Demos compilation LP. Source: Terry Newman via Keep It Out Of Sight Ace, Andrew Bodnar, Arista, Atalanta, Auckland, Bagshot, BBC London, Belfast, Black Rockers, Blackbushe, Bloodshot Records, Bob Andrews, Bob Dylan, Bradford, Brinsley Schwarz, Brunel University, Cadet Concept, Camel, Charlie Gillett, Cheltenham, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, Chobham Secondary Modern, City Hall, Colchester, Dance Hall, Dave Robinson, Deepcut, Deepcut Three, Eric Clapton, Essex University, Finsbury Park, Free Trade Hall, Germany, Gibraltar TV, Godalming, Graham Parker, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Honky Tonk, Hope & Anchor, Islington, Jean Marie Carroll, Joan Armatrading, Lake, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Martin Belmont, Melody Maker, Mercury, New Victoria Theatre, New Zealand, Newcastle, Nigel Grainge, Noel Brown, Paul Riley, Pegasus, Phonogram Records, Razor & Tie, RCA, Reading, Reading Rock Festival, Rider Open Air Festival, Scheeßel, Sheffield University, Southern Comfort, St. George Hall, Stadium, Steve Goulding, Stiff Records, Terry Burbot’s Magic Mud, The Gin Mill, The Members, The Picnic at Blackbushe, The Rumour, The Stranglers, The Three Mariners, Thin Lizzy, Town Hall, Uxbridge, Witlow Hall -
The Highwayman, Camberley
The Highwayman, Old Dean, Camberley is another lost venue, replaced by a block of flats. On opening night in ’66 Dudley Moore and Peter Cook were there, and The Dudley Moore Trio played here regularly in the late 60’s with many of the audience sat on the floor. Tuesday night was Modern Jazz Night where you could have caught Tubby Hayes, Don Rendell, Michael Garrick and Jimmy Witherspoon.
The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet, with Garrick on piano, playing at The Highwayman, Camberley There is a recording of Neil Ardley directed New Jazz Orchestra’s performance at The Highwayman, Camberley in March ’66 floating about somewhere. At the time the orchestra featured Ian Carr (flugelhorn), Don Rendell (sax), Michael Garrick (piano), John Mumford (trombone), Les Carter (flute), Dave Gelly (tenor sax), Henry Lowther (trumpet), Jack Bruce (double bass), and Jon Hiseman (drums).
The next year, on 17 January ’67, Highwayman regulars, The Garrick Trio were joined by drummer and pianist Bill Le Sage. Pianist Garrick’s Trio was often formed or augmented by guest musicians such as singer Bobby Breen and saxophonist/clarinetist Olaf Vas who joined him on 31 January ’67 at The Highwayman. Six weeks later, on 14 March, tenor saxophonist Danny Moss and his wife, singer, Jeanie “Miss Disc” Lambe joined the Garrick Trio at the venue. The St. Vincent emigree Ellsworth McGranahan “Shake” Keane on a visit from his German home, where he was the featured soloist with the Kurt Edelhagen Radio Orchestra played sax with Garrick’s combo on 8 August ’67 and on 19 September ’67, Humphrey Lyttleton and Tony Coe played the Highwayman with Garrick. Little known tenor player Jimmy Philip bought The Jimmy Philip Quintet to the pub on 3 October ’67.
Humphrey Lyttleton and Tony Coe were with The Garrick Trio once again on 26 March ’68, and The Rendell-Carr Quintet held forth on 11 June ’68. Joe Harriott, who’d made several albums and EPs with Garrick in the mid-’60s, joined The Garrick Trio on 20 August ’68 at the Highwayman.
Highwayman, Camberley in 1990 just before demolition. The Highwayman, with its nod to the highwaymen who frequented Bagshot Heath such as Claude Du Vall and William “Golden Farmer” Davis, developed a bit of a reputation in the ’70s/’80s but still featured the odd night of live music. It was demolished in 1990.
Gallery:
THe Highwayman, Camberley in 1961 
17 January 1967: The Garrick Trio w/ Bill Lesage at Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker w/e 21 Jan 1967) 
31 January 1967: The Garrick Trio w/ Bobby Breen and Olaf Vas at Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker w/e 4 Feb 1967) 
14 March 1967: The Garrick Trio w/ Danny Moss and Jeanie “Miss Disc” Lambe at Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker w/e 18 March 1967) 
9 May 1967: Tubby Hayes Quartet at Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker w/e 12 May 1967) 
27 June 1967: The Garrick Trio w/ Danny Moss and Jeannie Lambe at Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker w/e 1 July 1967) 
8 August 1967: The Michael Garrick Trio and Shake Keane play Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker) 
19 September 1967: The Garrick Trio with Humphrey Lyttleton and Tony Coe play Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker) 
3 October 1967: Jimmy Philip Quintet at Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker w/e 7 Oct 1967) 
26 March 1968: The Garrick Trio with Humphrey Lyttleton and Tony Coe play Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker) 
11 June 1968: The Rendell-Carr Quintet play Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker) 
20 August 1968: THe Garrick Trio with Joe Harriott play Highwayman, Camberley (Melody Maker) 
Highwayman, Camberley in 1990 during demolition. Bagshot Heath, Bill Le Sage, Bobby Breen, Camberley, Claude Du Vall, Danny Moss, Dave Gelly, Don Rendell, Dudley Moore, Ellsworth McGranahan Keane, Henry Lowther, Humphrey Lyttleton, Ian Carr, Jack Bruce, Jeanie Lambe, Jimmy Philip, Jimmy Philip Quintet, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Harriott, John Mumford, Jon Hiseman, Kurt Edelhagen Radio Orchestra, Les Carter, Michael Garrick, Neil Ardley, New Jazz Orchestra, Olaf Vas, Old Dean, Peter Cook, Rendell-Carr Quintet, Shake Keene, The Dudley Moore Trio, The Garrick Trio, The Highwayman, Tony Coe, Tubby Hayes, William Davis -
Juggling With Jelly
(c’96) Mark Vass (bass), Jeff Hammond (drums), Trevor Hammond (vocals), Gary Shrubshall (guitar) and ? (keyboards).
This Farnborough band are known to have played at The Imperial Arms, Farnborough in 1996. The Hammond brothers’ sister, Karen, sometimes played bass with the band.
Guitarist, Martin Laker got involved with Juggling with Jelly, having been in Petroleum Spirit, Electric Lunchbox, and Isis previously, as well as setting up The Works Collection, a song writing partnership, in ’92 and is a member of The Guild of International Songwriters and Composers.
Gallery:
Juggling With Jelly at The Imperial Arms, Farnborough in 1996. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
Mike Raynor and The Condors
(c’64-’70) Michael “Mike Raynor” Bigg (vocals), Bob Bigg (guitar), Keith Barnard (drums), Patrick ‘Paddy’ Lavelle (bass), and Laurie Jenkins (trumpet, saxophone, flute, and euphonium).
Mike Raynor and The Condors The Bigg brothers had been playing in local bands from an early age, forming Aldershot based Mike Raynor and The Condors at some point in ’64, originally calling the band The Strangers. On 1 March ’64, The Condors supported Dave Curtiss & The Tremors at New Central Ballroom, Aldershot. A few months later they were bottom of the bill at The Attic Club, Hounslow for the venues 26 July ’64’s ‘Special All Star Show’ with PJ Proby with The Diamonds, Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters, The Sonics, and The Roosters. The Condors went on to play Silver Blades, Streatham on 18 November that year.
The band were soon on Bob Potter’s books and appearing across the Southern UK circuit. Initially there was some confusion as Johnny Milton & The Condors were already working the circuit, although they changed their name to The Symbols in ’65, and we’re hopeful we haven’t made the same error in this piece. Our Condors appeared at the 400 Ballroom, Torquay on 30 April ’65, locking in a weekend at the venue as Mike Raynor & The Condors on 19, 21, and 22 June ’65. Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays played the Potter run Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley on 15 August ’65, supported by The Condors. The following month the band supported Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers, on 12 September, at the Agincourt and returned to the 400 on 23 October ’65.
23 October 1965: The Condors Return to Torquay’s 400. Source: Torquay Herald Express On 19 February ’66 the 400 hosted The Condors once again. On 6 March 66 the band appeared once more at the Agincourt, as just The Condors supporting The Pretty Things and three months later, on 12 June ’66, supporting The Loving Kind. Later in the year, there were back-to-back headliners, on 3 and 4 December ’66, at the Old Barn Club, Penzance. The band subsequently signed to Decca, releasing 1967’s 7″ single “Turn Your Head” [F 12605] backed by “Lazy Day” in the UK and Denmark.
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames booked The Condors for 4 February ’67, and according to Tony Bacon’s “London Live” the band supported The Sands at the Marquee, London on 17 February ’67. The band returned to The Playhouse on 28 February, then on 12 March ’67 they supported Pink Floyd at the Agincourt! Reportedly, Pink Floyd arrived late, smelled bad, appeared to be dressed in rags, and played really loud directly through the PA system. And they didn’t talk to each other… They barked. On the 9 April ’67 the band were in Denmark where we know they headlined at the Beat House Club held at Anlægspavillonen, Ringsted, supported by Shouts. A support slot with Jimmy James and The Vagabonds went down on 30 June ’67 at Tiles, London. In September that year Mike Raynor and The Condors played The Playhouse once again on 2 September ’67; then headed out on a tour of Denmark once more and supported Pink Floyd again, this time at the Boom Center, Aarhus on 9 September. Also, in ’67 Decca put out the “Is She a Woman Now” [ F 22 690] single in Denmark, with “My Shy Serenade” on the flipside.
In 1967 Mike Raynor and The Condors toured Denmark. Pictured is Mike Raynor during their Copenhagen date, stage diving. Source: Peter Moller The following year the band covered Lennon and McCartney’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” [F 22864], releasing it on Decca in Denmark as Mike Raynor and Sky with “I’m Going Down” on the B-side. While their vinyl was pushed in Scandinavia the band continued to appear in the UK at venues like The Barn, Penzance on 9 and 16 March ’68, squeezing a visit to Walton-on-Thames’ Playhouse on 12 March between the two and again on 13 July and 10 August ’68. Mike Raynor & The Condors returned to the 400 on 28 September, and The Cobweb, St. Leonards, were they performed on 19 October ’68 supported by The Inventive Mr. Jeff. Maintaining a live presence in Denmark the band were back in the country in late ’68, reportedly performing at both Ungdonklubberne, Roskilde, supported by Raws, and at the Beat House Club, Anlaegspavillonen, Slagelse on 7 December ’68. During ’68 the band started to go by Sky, for whom ex-Skeleton Skiffle band member Mike Betts roadied, appearing at their regular haunt, The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames as The Sky (formerly Mike Raynor & The Condors) on 28 December ’68.
Sleeve front for “On Our Way” [001CD] by Sky2010 featuring Mike Raynor and The Condors. Jump forward 42 years to 2010 and the Spred Music label issued “On Our Way” [001CD] by Sky2010 featuring Mike Raynor and The Condors. As of 2020 Barnard and Bob Bigg were still playing the odd gig under the original The Strangers name, joined by Mike Bigg occasionally.
Tracks:Gallery:
The two young guitarists in front are the Bigg brothers, Michael and Bob. Michael became the singer in the Condors and Bob the lead guitarist. Source: Howard Fullbrook via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
26 July 1964: The Condors 
12 June 1966: The Loving Kind supported by The Condors played the Agincourt, Camberley. Advert from the Aldershot News & Camberley News from June 1966 
3 & 4 December 1966: Mike Raynor and The Condors played the Old Barn Club, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
Bob Potter Entertainments Agency flyer listing Mike Raynor and The Condors. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
9 April 1967: Mike Raynor and The Condors play Anlægspavillonen, Ringsted. Image courtesy of: www.beathouse.dk 
9 Apil 1967: Local press clipping for Mike Raynor and The Condors appearance at Anlægspavillonen, Ringsted. Image courtesy of: www.beathouse.dk 
Mike Raynor and The Condors were signed to Decca, releasing 1967’s 7″ single “Turn Your Head” [F 12605] 
In 1967 Decca put out the “Is She A Woman Now” [ F 22 690] single in Denmark 
9 and 16 March 1968: Mike Raynor and The Condors were at The Barn, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
19 October 1968: The Cobweb, St. Leonards hosted Mike Raynor and The Condors 
Date unknown (c’68): Mike Raynor and The Condors played The White Buck, Burley. 
In ’68, Mike Raynor and The Condors covered Lennon and McCartnry’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” [F 22864], releasing it on Decca in Denmark as Mike Raynor and Sky with “I’m Going Down” on the b-side. 
28 December 1968: Sky (formerly Mike Raynor and The Condors) at the Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames 
Sleeve back for “On Our Way” [001CD] by Sky2010 featuring Mike Raynor and The Condors. 
Mike Raynor and The Condors 400 Ballroom, Aarhus, Agincourt Ballroom, Aldershot, Anlægspavillonen, Beat House Club, Bob Bigg, Bob Potter, Boom Center, Camberley, Cliff Bennet and The Rebel Rousers, Dave Curtiss & The Tremors, Decca, Denmark, Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters, Hounslow, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, Johnny Milton & The Condors, Keith Barnard, Laurie Jenkins, London, Marquee, Michael Bigg, Mike Betts, Mike Raynor, Mike Raynor and Sky, Mike Raynor and The Condors, New Central Ballroom, Old Barn Club, Partrick Lavelle, Penzance, Pink Floyd, PJ Proby, Raws, Ringsted, Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays, Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, Roskilde, Shouts, Silver Blades, Sky, Sky2010, Spred Music, St. Leonards, Streatham, The Attic Club, The Cobweb, The Condors, The Diamonds, The Inventive Mr. Jeff, The Loving Kind, The Playhouse, The Pretty Things, The Roosters, The Sands, The Sonics, The Strangers, The Symbols, Tiles, Tony Bacon, Torquay, Ungdonklubberne, Walton-on-Thames -
Sweet Life
(c’60-70’s) Pat McLoughlin (guitar/vocals), Dick Walker (bass), Chris Walker (drums), Melvin Cobbett (keyboards), Paul Morehead (lead guitar), and Dave Poole (vocals).
This Woking band started out as Shades of Green, before becoming Sweet Life. Bob Oliver booked the band to play the Maybury Youth Club a couple of times. Originally managed by the Wally Dent Agency they eventually moved to Bob Potter’s International Entertainment Agency stable. Under Potter they often double billed with The Embers and gigged across the south, including The Barn, Penzance on 21 March ’70. On 9 June 1970, Camberley’s Collingwood Club hosted a performance by Sweet Life.
21 March 1970: Sweet Life on stage at The Barn Club, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest In July 2008 four ex-members: Morehead, McLoughlin, D. Walker, and Cobbett, held a reunion and decided to reform as a Sweet Life tribute band called Waisted. Joined by Ivan Rooke on drums they mostly played around the Camberley / Farnborough area and various line-ups including Morehead and D. Walker continued to play as Waisted until 2018.
Chris Walker unfortunately died far too young and sadly Melvin Cobbett died on Sunday, 8 January 2023.Gallery:
21 March 1970: Sweet Life on stage at The Barn Club, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
21 March 1970: Sweet Life on stage at The Barn Club, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
21 March 1970: Sweet Life on stage at The Barn Club, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
21 March 1970: Sweet Life on stage at The Barn Club, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
21 March 1970: Sweet Life played The Barn, Penzance. Source: Richard Prest 
9 June 1970: Sweet Life played The Collingwood Club, Camberley. Image courtesy of Paul Morehead 
Sweet Life (L-R: McLoughlin, D. Walker, C. Walker, Cobbett, Morehead, and Poole) 
Sweet Life Bob Oliver, Bob Potter, Camberley, Chris Walker, Dave Poole, Dick Walker, Farnborough, International Entertainmemt Agency, Ivan Rooke, Maybury, Melvin Cobbett, Pat McLoughlin, Paul Morehead, Penzance, Shades of Green, Sweet Life, The Barn, The Collingwood Club, The Embers, Waisted, Wally Dent Agency, Woking, Youth Club -
Village Hall, Albury
The Village Hall in Albury, with its small stage and 80-120 person capacity, was and still is used for rehearsals and events. One notable band to rehearse here was Bad Company.
In the Summer of ’73 Paul Rodgers formed Bad Company with ex-Moot the Hoople guitarist Mike Ralphs, former Free drummer Simon Kirke and with Boz Burrell, ex-bass player with King Crimson, joining later. They rehearsed at Albury and Chilworth Village Halls. Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant was invited to hear them at an Albury rehearsal. He arrived late and along with Clive Coulson heard them through an open window. Coulson became their day-to-day manager and Grant their official manager – the rest is history. It’s also rumored that Bad Company’s debut gig was at the Village Hall, not Newcastle City Hall as often reported.
December 1976: Bad Company performed for Paul Rodger’s birthday in the Albury Village Hall. Picture courtesy of Martin Blogg In December ’76, Bad Company returned to the Village Hall to perform a ‘secret’ charity gig for Paul Rodgers 27th birthday. Billed as the Rough Diamonds. The band charge a quid a ticket and raised just over £200 for the Albury based Tupperfield old people’s home.
This Breed Of Heroes held a Christmas party at Albury Village Hall in December 1985. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman. In addition to Bad Company, The Innocence rehearse at the hall in ’83/’84, and in December ’85, This Breed of Heroes hired the venue for their “Christmas Party” gig.
Gallery:
December 1976: Bad Company performed for Paul Rodger’s birthday in the Albury Village Hall. Picture courtesy of Martin Blogg 
December 1976: Bad Company performed for Paul Rodger’s birthday in the Albury Village Hall. Picture courtesy of Martin Blogg 
Clipping from the 17 Dec 1976 Surrey Advertiser about the “secret” Bad Company gig at Albury Village Hall. Picture courtesy of Martin Blogg 
The Innocents (mk1) rehearsing in Albury Village Hall c’83/4. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman 
The Village Hall, Albury -
Go! Service
(c’83-’85) Danny Hagan (bass), Jo Bartlett (vocal/guitar), Mike Highgate/Auton (drums), Dom/Rudy Carroll (vocal/guitar).
Bartlett and Hagan formed The Service in February ’83. Hagan had just left Strictly Hush-Hush and together with Mark ?, a drummer friend of Hagan’s, they banded with a keyboardist. By July ’83 Mark had left for Africa – the result of musical differences – and been replaced by Highgate/Auton and the keyboard player had taken employment at Lightwater Country Club; then in late ’83 Carroll joined on guitar.
Sleeve (front) of the 12″ single “It Makes Me Realise” [DREAM 003] from ’85 At some point they re-branded as Go! Service and in September ’84 joined Fenton Weills to support Television Personalities as they toured Germany, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. This Camberley band were by then signed to the Dreamworld Records label and quickly released the 12″ single “It Makes Me Realise” [DREAM 003] in ’85. This was backed by “Real Life” and “I Just Don’t Know”. That same year they once again supported label mates The Television Personalities around Europe. In November ’85 the band supported The Housemartins.
1 December 1985: Buzz Club flyer for The Blow Monkeys, supported by Go! Services and Zaz Turned Blue held. Source: Karen Stratton via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia Towards the end on ’85 Bartlett and Hagan had started The Buzz Club, and the club’s second outing, at The Agincourt, Camberley featured The Blow Monkeys, supported by Go! Service. By December ’85, The Buzz Club had moved to the West End Centre, Aldershot, with the first gig there being The June Brides on 7 December, again with Go! Service in support. When Go! Service disbanded in ’86; Bartlett, Carroll, and Hagan teamed up with Kevin Morey to form Bluetrain.
In ’96 the compilation “Dreamworld 1985-1987” was released on Vinyl Japan [ASKCD57] and included the band’s single “It Makes Me Realise” In ’96 the compilation “Dreamworld 1985-1987” was released on Vinyl Japan [ASKCD57] and included the band’s single “It Makes Me Realise”. Three Go! Service tracks were also included on Bluetrain’s “Some Greater Love” retrospective compilation released in 2008. Most recently, “Real Life” was added to “C86” by Cherry Red Records [CRCDBOX12] when they expanded the seminal compilation to a three CD set in 2014.
Bartlett and Hagan would go on to form Poise.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Page 11 of Obsession No.1 fanzine, and the first page of The Service interview. Picture courtesy of Tim Naylor 
September 1984: Tour poster for Go! Service support of Television Personalities European Tour 
20 September 1984: Tour poster for Go! Service support of Television Personalities at Forum Enger, Enger, Germany 
Sleeve (back) of the 12″ single “It Makes Me Realise” [DREAM 003] from ’85 
2 November 1985: Go! Service supported The Housemartins at The Room at The Top, Haverstock Hill. Source: C86 
2 April 1986: TV Personalities with Film Poets, and Go! Service played The Clarendon, Hammersmith. Source: C86 & All That: The Creation of Indie in Difficult Times 
Three Go! Service tracks were also included on Bluetrain’s “Some Greater Love” retrospective compilation released in 2008 
Go! Service’s “Real Life” was added to “C86” by Cherry Red [CRCDBOX12] in 2014. 
Go! Service Links:
Jo Bartlett’s Go! Service profile: https://indiethroughthelookingglass.com/jingle-jangle-c-86/Agincourt, Agincourt Ballroom, Aldershot, Bluetrain, Buzz Club, C86, Camberley, Cherry Red Records, Country Club, Danny Hagan, Dom Carroll, Dreamworld Records, Go! Service, Jo Bartlet, Kevin Morey, Lightwater, Mike Auton, Mike Highgate, Poise, Rudy Carroll, Strictly Hush-Hush, The Blow Monkeys, The Housemartins, The June Brides, The Service, The Television Personalities, Vinyl Japan, West End Centre
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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