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Whisker Davies Blues Stormers
(c’66-67) Julian “Whisker” Davies (piano / keyboards), Jim Cook (bass), Vince “Vin” Godier (guitar), Pete Newberry (drums) and Jim Luck (vocals).

The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers in 1966, reportedly in the stage at Borough Hall, Godalming. The Grapes of Wrath disband in ’65, as the members various careers took precedence, leaving Cook and Godier. Luck stepped up to fill vocalist Ian May’s spot, and the nucleus of what would become the Whisker Davies Blues Stormers was formed. Cook’s friend Nick Davies suggested that his younger brother Julian, who was still at school but already playing organ with Haslemere based Dimples R&B, might play piano with the band – he also played trumpet and guitar. The schoolkid’s key work impressed immensely, and at the suggestion of Julian’s father, who was ‘protective’ of his youngest son’s acceptance to the Royal College of Music, the band used the kid’s nickname: Whisker. Newberry joined on drums and Godalming’s Whisker Davies Blues Stormers were born in October ’66. Brian Page (guitar) rehearsed with them, but it’s unclear if he joined the band.
The band took off immediately. They regularly support for The Stormsville Shakers at the likes of The Wooden Bridge, Guildford and, thanks to Kirk Riddle, used their Marshall amps. This led The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers to regular support slots at the Stoke Hotel, Guildford‘s Sunday night dances for the likes of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, Nashville Teens, and Alexis Korner. The band also supported The Mike Cotton Sound and The Art Woods.

16 December 1966. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me On 4 December ’66 the band played at The Stoke Hotel, Guildford with The Motivation. Twelve days later they were supporting The Stormsville Shakers at Chichester Hall, Witley.
The Youth Club, Liphook hosted the band on 18 March 1967, who were once again supporting The Stormsville Shakers. In April ’67 it was reported that the band were to record a track written for them by Philip Goodhand-Tait, although this appears to have not come to fruition. As the fanbase grew a fan club was formed and led by Candy Chandler.

Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me The next month the group performed at a charity concert organized by ex-Grape May and headlined by The Graham Bond Organisation. This was held at the Borough Hall, Godalming on 9 May ’67. After approaching three well known blues artists, May happened to speak to Graham Bond at The Wooden Bridge – possibly the same night Bond and band caught and complemented the Whisker Davies Blues Stormers – and asked if he’d participate. He accepted, and waved their fee, joining Whisker Davies Blues Stormers, The Georgia Skin Men from Kingston that included Top Topham and Duster Bennett pre-solo career, Alfie Lucas accompanied by Cook, and The Combined Forces. A couple of months later they also open for P.P. Arnold backed by The Nice, Tony Rivers and the Castaways and Tony “Duster” Bennett at a Guildford School of Art gig at the Civic Hall, Guildford on 6 July ’67. Later Whisker Davies Blues Stormers played once again with Tony Rivers and the Castaways at The Stoke Hotel.
The band split in July / August ’67 when Davies went off to the Royal College of Music, but got together for one more gig at The Angel, Godalming. Davies was also in The Combined Forces and Newberry went on to found the The Gin Mill Club, Angel, Godalming. May would replace William Neal in Smokestakks. Cook, who has written a wonderful ebook: Jim Cook’s 1960s Memoirs – Mostly Music & Me that is well worth a read, joined Spirit Level.
Gallery:

Blues Stormers with the whisker-wagon 
6 July 1967 – The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers, P.P. Arnold, Tony Rivers and the Castaways, and Tony “Duster” Bennett at the Civic Hall, Guildford. 
Article on THe Whisker Davies Blues Stormers from The Advetdiser, 12 April 1967. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
18 March 1967: The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers support The Stormsville Shakers. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
16 December 1966: The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers support The Stormsville Shakers. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
The Whisker Davies Blues Stormers. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
Advert from Melody Maker. Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me 
Picture courtesy of Jim Cook’s Memoir, Mostly Music & Me Alexis Korner, Alfie Lucas, Angel, Borough Hall, Brian Page, Candy Chandler, Chichester Hall, Civic hall, Dimples R&B, Duster Bennett, Gin Mill, Godalming, Guildford, Guildford School of Art, Haslemere, Ian May, Jim Cook, Jim Luck, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, Julian Davies, Kingston, Kirk Riddle, Liphook, Nashville Teens, Nick Davies, P.P. Arnold, Pete Newberry, Philip Goodhand-Tate, Royal College of Music, Smokestakks, Spirit Level, Stoke Hotel, The Angel, The Art Woods, The Combined Forces, The Georgia Skin Men, The Gin Mill, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Grapes of Wrath, The Mike Cotton Sound, The Motivation, The Nice, The Stoke Hotel, The Stormsville Shakers, Tony Bennett, Tony Rivers and the Castaways, Top Topham, Vince Godier, Whisker Davies Blues Stormers, William Neal, Witley, Youth Club -
Jock Cree
In ’68, Ash resident James Scott “Jock” Cree formed the Flams Ltd record label to release his tuitional LP “Learn to Play Drums” [FR 1062].
As a boy in Glasgow, he had learned drums with the Boys’ Brigade. From ’41-’42, he toured in variety theatres with The Harmonists, the band of Gladys Hay, daughter of comedian Will Hay. With the RAF during WWII, he drummed with dance bands and light orchestras and broadcast for the British Forces in Germany. He was known to many as the manager of Potter’s Music Shop, Aldershot during the ’60’s Beat Boom.

Cree on drums with The Mickey Kennedy Band. c’60s. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia From 1947 to about 1980, he was a dance band drummer mainly in Surrey and Hampshire, with many of Bob Potter’s bands and, latterly, with The Keynotes in residency at Frensham Ponds Hotel and elsewhere. Sometime in the early 60’s, Cree, was on drums with Farnborough based The Mickey Kennedy Band.
In ’98, he recorded with his son, Wounded John Scott Cree, on the younger’s LP, “A Superfluous Man“, released on Flams Records [FCD 002].
Cree died in Cove in 2006.
Gallery:



The flyer for mail shots promting ‘Learn to Play Drums’ by Jock Cree. Picture courtesy of John Scott Cree. 
Jock Cree photographed for the “Learn to Play Drums” LP in 1968. Picture courtesy of John Scott Cree. 
Clipping from Aldershot News 1974. Picture courtesy of John Scott Cree. -
Steve Perry
(c’60-’66) Douglas Downs (vocals / guitar)
Born in Godalming, Perry – not to be confused with the singer/piano player of Journey – started singing / performing at Bellfields School, Guildford when he was known by his real name: Douglas Downs. Perry soon graduated to singing at the likes of Holy Trinity Hall, Guildford and local hospitals, often organized by his mother.
He was signed to HMV after a ‘recording test’, arrange by his singing coach. The then 16-year-olds first single “Step by Step”, backed by “Because They’re Young”, being released on HMV [POP745] in 1960. Two years later he was on Decca for the release of “Ginny Come Lately” – The original release by Brian Hyland was 3 months before Perry’s; and along with Perry, Johnny Lion, Redd Wayne, and Bobby Stevens also released that song in May ’62, with another two artists, Bill & Boyd and Billy Forrest, also releasing it that year. It has been released 34 times in 5 languages so far – which was quickly followed by “Young and in Love” [F.11526].
Sometime in early ’63 he joined the Emile Ford package tour promoted by John Smith, along with The Bachelors, The Allisons, Gerry & The Pacemakers, and Vic Sutcliffe. “My Dad” came out in ’63, and later that year saw his final 7″ release with Decca: “Crooked Little Man (Don’t Let the Rain Come Down) / Day Dreams”. His only LP, titled “Another Rainy Day”, was released in ’66 om MGM Records.

Steve Perry’s “Another Rainy Day” LP from 1966. From ’72 onward his tracks have appeared on numerous compilations, but nothing new from Perry. Perry’s bother, Colin Downs, is a classical guitarist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music.
Gallery:

Steve Perry gets “spotlighted” in Record Mail, June 1960 
A Steve Perry promo pic Bellfields School, Bill & Boyd, Billy Forrest, Bobby Stevens, Brian Hyland, Colin Downs, Decca, Douglas Downs, Emile Ford, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Godalming, Guildford, HMV, Holy Trinity Hall, John Smith, Johnny Lion, Journey, MGM Records, Redd Wayne, Royal Academy of Music, Steve Perry, The Allisons, The Bachelors, Vic Sutcliffe -
Sideways
(c’92-’95) Sam Johnson (?) and ?.
This Woking band competed in The White Hart, Frimley’s Battle of the Bands on 3 December ’92, against Serious Plankton – It is unknown at this time if they won that bout.
Their track “Summers Here to Stay” was featured on Farnborough Groove Vol.5 in ’95. Twelve years after XLR8 split, they reformed one more time for a gig supporting Sideways on 14 February ’95.
At a later date Sideways took on a new bassist and became Grasshopper.
Tracks:Gallery:

Sideways’ “Summer’s Here to Stay” appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.5. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
Sideways get a brief mention in this review of Farnborough Groove Vol.5 in the Staines & Ashford News from 8 Sept 1994.
Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD
Sideways competed in The White Hart, Frimley Battle of the Bands in 1992. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter 
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Little Stabs of Happiness
(c’91-’94) Scott Field (vocals), Andy Jefferys (guitar), Stuart Jebbitt (bass), and John Martin (drums).
Formed from the ashes of The Breslaws, and named after a Ken Jacobs film, this Frimley / Woking band recorded their first demo at DNA Studios (also known as JTI Studios), Brixton.
They played venues locally and up into London, such as The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town with Who Moved the Ground? on 15 September ’93 and The Old Trout, Windsor, also in ’93. The band were featured on Farnborough Groove Strikes Back, Vol.5 with “Disease” in Sept ’94.
Track:Gallery:

15 September 1993: Little Stabs of Happiness supported by Who Moved the Ground? played the Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Source: Who Moved The Ground? 
Little Stabs of Happiness’ “Disease” appeared on Farnborough Groove Vol.5 
Little Stabs of Happiness get a brief mention in this review of Farnborough Groove Vol.5 in the Staines & Ashford News from 8 Sept 1994.
Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD
Little Stabs of Happiness -
Sang Froid
(c’85) Simon “Tarquin” George (vocals), Kirk Kelly (drums), Mark Luscombe (bass), Pedro ? (vocalist #2) and Dean Lewis (guitar).
Karl Moult replaced Luscombe on bass. Ex-Screaming Lullabies George took a stab at relaunching the Kavern Club for a third time at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 2 May ’85; along with KURRU, and 20 Flight Rockers – although it was originally billed that Who Pays the Ferryman would play -, Sang Froid were on the bill.
Welshman Lewis, Acton based Moult, George, and Kelly went on to form Savage Opera.
Gallery:

Ex-Screaming Lullibies Simon relaunches The Kavern with Sang Froid, KURRU, and Who Pays The Ferryman in 1985 
Sang Froid headline the first Kavern Club night at the Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 2 May 1985, with KURRU and 20 Flight Rockers in support. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling of Screaming Lullabies and Kurru.























































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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