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The Late
(c’66-71 ) Pat Martin (guitar / vocals), Ken Baker (guitar / keyboards/ vocals), Pete Perryer (vocals / drums) and Dave McGreggor (bass).
Pre-The Late Edition in 1965 (LtoR: Martin, Colborne, Baker and Perryer). Woking based McGreggor originally joined The Pink Bears and suggested renaming the band The Late Edition, which after a while was shortened to The Late. On leaving school in ’67 they went professional as The Late, starting with local gigs at the likes of the Stereo Club, Woking and the Atalanta Ballroom, Woking.
1 April 1967: The Late played the April Fools Day Beat Dance at Dennis Bros. Source: Tina Morant via Guildford Town Past & Present On 1 April ’67 they played the Dennis Apprentice Association’s April Fools Day Beat Dance in the Dennis Brothers canteen, Guildford; at which Perryer broke his snare skin and had no spare. Howard Crouch offered to fetch a spare snare from the bands shed in Send, in his dad’s Lotus Cortina. He was back in no time with the spare and the Cortina in need of some bodywork having lost it on a corner on the way there. The Late’s “Sleepsong” takes some inspiration from this incident and “Nightingale Crescent” was written by Crouch, who’d got a job delivering for Alsford Timber, Cobham to pay for the repairs, while out delivering to Nightingale Crescent. Both songs ended up on Unicorn‘s Blue Pine Trees LP.
The band spent some time in Graham Clark (yes, the racing driver) Studios in Walton-on-Thames resulting in a number of demos. Atalanta owner Bob Potter became The Late’s manager, replacing Martin’s father; a relationship that lasted three years, starting in late ’67 thru ’69. “Family Tree” from one of the bands demos was picked up by UK publishing company, Planetary Norm, who paid for the band to re-record the track. They however lost interest when they struggled to place it.
Under Potter the gigging increased, with venues across the lower half of the UK, and Trevor Mee (ex-Tony Rivers and the Castaways) replaced McGreggor in the line up. They supported Lunar Two, a USA soul duo and Sue and Sunny (who became Brotherhood of Man). They also supported Geno Washington at the Agincourt, Camberley. In ’68 they became Billy J. Kramer’s backing band for 9 months which included 10 TV and radio spots. On 21 June ’68 the “fabulous much in demand” The Late headlined at Bourne Youth Club’s midsummer nights dance, with The Modern Art of Living in support, held at Bourne Hall. In ’69 they were booked for a residency at The Carousel Club, Copenhagen, playing three 45-minute sets each weeknight and five at weekends.
The Late with their LWB 6 wheel Transit in 1969. Pat Martin’s mum in the background, said “You can’t use that I’ve got my pinny on!”. To accommodate the touring and the gear The Late used a LWB 6 wheel Transit. Reportedly, four musicians, two roadies, a Hammond organ, Leslie, two Marshall stacks, a drum kit, four Wem columns, two SL 100 Wem slaves and a Wem Audiomaster mixer were taken all over England, Scotland, Wales, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Sweden in that van.
The Late in 1969 (LtoR: Mee, Martin, Perryer, and Baker) On 1 August ’69 the combined Farnborough Tech and R.A.E. Apprentices’ Rag Week’s Rag Queen Inauguration Ball at R.A.E. Assembly Hall, Farnborough was headlined by Status Quo, with The Late, and Magic Alice in support. Then, on 1 October ’69, The Late were one of the many bands, including Sky, Wishful Thinking, The Embers, Canterbury Tales, Crazy Paving, Chimera, and Magic Alice that played a benevolent concert at Samantha’s Club, as the Agincourt was called for a time. This was compered by Dave West and also featured the Radio 1 D.J. Ray Moore. About this time Baker started writing his own songs. They recorded several acetates, demos and private recordings, some recorded in Bob Potter’s studio in Mytchett, Surrey on an Ampex 4 and many are now included on Wooden Hill Records compilation “Songs From The Family Tree” [WHCD021]. Potter insisted on the group continuing as a covers band causing some friction and eventually a split.
A demo was cut and the Transatlantic Records label offered a one album deal and “Uphill all the Way” was released in May ’71, along with the “P.F Sloan” single, under the band’s new name, Unicorn.
Front cover image of CD 3 from “Let’s Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967” on Cherry Red’s imprint Grapefruit Records includes “Family Tree” by The Late. In 2016, The Late’s “Family Tree” was included on Grapefruit Records [CRSEGBOX033] “Let’s Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sounds Of 1967” 3-CD compilation box set, compiled by David ‘Dog Man’ Wells who has worked on several projects for Woking label Tenth Planet.
Mee sadly passed away in early July 2015
Tracks:
Gallery:
The Late’s Pete Perryer singing and playing drums with Pat Martin singing, playing guitar and wearing a Santa outfit c’66/’67. Picture courtesy of Pat Martin 
1968 and the “fabulous much in demand” The Late headlined. 
The Late in 1968, from a photo shoot at Bisley Ranges. Picture courtesy of Patrick Martin 
The Late in 1968, from a photo shoot at Bisley Ranges. 
1 August 1969: The Chronic rag mag for Farnborough Tech and R.A.E. Apprentices’ Rag Week 1969 lists the Rag Queen Inauguration Ball at R.A.E. Assembly Hall, Farnborough with Status Quo, The Late, and Magic Alice. 
A Bob Potter contract booking THe Late to play at PJs Club, Truro on 23 August 1969. Picture courtesy of Patrick Martin 
1 October 1969: Crazy Paving played Samanthas (Agincourt Camberley). Image courtesy of Maureen Gamble 
Poster from 1970 for The Late to appear three night in a row at the Blue Lagoon, Newquay. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Agency Flyer for The Late. Purloined from a post by Richard Prest 
A c’71 Unicorn press clipping from somewhere. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Pat Martin of The Late. 
The Late with Transit “tour bus”. Picture courtesy of Patrick Martin 
The Late’s Ken Baker and Pat Martin in their Transit with Dave Helm 
Box set front cover image. Compiled by David Wells, who also has projects with Woking label Tenth Planet, “Let’s Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967” on Cherry Red’s imprint Grapefruit Records includes “Family Tree” by The Late. 
CD 3 back cover image. Compiled by David Wells, who also has projects with Woking label Tenth Planet, “Let’s Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967” on Cherry Red’s imprint Grapefruit Records includes “Family Tree” by The Late. 
Box set back cover image. Compiled by David Wells, who also has projects with Woking label Tenth Planet, “Let’s Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967” on Cherry Red’s imprint Grapefruit Records includes “Family Tree” by The Late. 
Page 31 of booklet featuring The Late. Compiled by David Wells, who also has projects with Woking label Tenth Planet, “Let’s Go Down And Blow Our Minds: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967” on Cherry Red’s imprint Grapefruit Records includes “Family Tree” by The Late. 
David Rose looks back at Woking’s Pink Bears and their development, via The Late, into Unicorn in this Woking News & Mail article from 2 November 2017. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records Agincourt, Alsford Timber, Atalanta Ballroom, Billy J. Kramer, Bob Potter, Bourne Hall, Bourne Youth Club, Brotherhood of Man, Camberley, Canterbury Tales, Chimera, Cobham, Copenhagen, Crazy Paving, Dave McGreggor, Dave West, David Wells, Dennis Apprentice Association, Farnborough, Farnborough Tech, Geno Washington, Graham Clark, Graham Clark Studios, Grapefruit Records, Howard Crouch, Ken Baker, Lunar Two, Magic Alice, Mychett, Pat Martin, Pete Perryer, Planetary Norm, R.A.E., R.A.E. Assembley Hall, Radio 1, Ray Moore, Richard Colborne, Samantha's Club, Send, Sky, Status Quo, Stereo Club, Sue and Sunny, Technical College, Tenth Planet, The Carousel Club, The Embers, The Late, The Late Edition, The Modern Art of LIving, The Pink Bears, Tony Rivers and the Castaways, Transatlantic Records, Trevor Mee, Unicorn, Walton on Thames, Wishful Thinking, Woking, Wooden Hill Records -
Redefining Beautiful
(c’92-’95) Martin Warren (vocals / guitar), Matt Harding (guitar / vocals), Russ ? (drums / vocals), Alex Bowen (bass / vocals) and Phil Ernest (guitar / b.vocals).
Redefining Beautiful. Image courtesy of Mick Magic After the demise of Deceased Disease, Harding and Ernest went on to form Redefining Beautiful with Severance bassist Martin Warren on vocals. We believe you would have found this Camberley / Farnborough band at The George, Ash Vale on 2 July ’92 and later that month, on 25 July, playing The Four Horseshoes, Camberley with The Exploding Fir Trees. On the 25 and 26 August ’92, Redefining Beautiful were in Studio Poisson, Crondall – as used by The Vinegar Blossom. They laid down the four tracks: “Swan”, “I Will Tell You”, “Velvet” and “Drift” that were, once produced by drummer of The Sundays, Patrick “Patch” Hannon, released as their “Sky High” demo cassette.
Redefining Beautiful’s “Sky High” demo cassette inlay outer. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren The band rehearsed at The Workhouse, Aldershot and at some point in ’93 we know that Redefining Beautiful played with Fleet based The Hairy Things at Farnborough Tech. The band also, along with Credit To The Nation, performed at Critical Club, West End Centre, Aldershot on 5 June ’93. They were back at Critical Club on 22 October ’93 with Who Moved The Ground? and Serious Plankton.
The following year, on 14 April ’94, the band were joined by J.C. Regulator in supporting Suck Henry at The Shed, South Hill Park, Bracknell, where the band were described by the reviewer for Wokingham News as ‘[blowing] everyone away when all four guitars were blasted manically into action…’. The following month, on 18 May ’94, they competed in the Battle for the Limelight at Princes Hall, Aldershot; along with Who Moved the Ground?, Strange World, Parmaviolet, Blind, and Punching Judy, who all lost to Headnoise. ‘Revenge of Farnborough Groove, Vol.4’ also arrived in 1994 with only six of the 20 bands having appear on a Groove before. This heavy dose of newbies included Redefining Beautiful with “Swan”.
3rd February 1995: Redefining Beautiful openned the first Splatch with Meanwhile, Skipper and The Baby South also on the bill. Source: The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene On 3 February ’95 they opened the first Splatch! with Meanwhile, Skipper and The Baby South also on the bill. That same year their track “Discontent” appeared on Farnborough Groove Strikes Back Vol.5, their second and final appearance.
Ernest went to the School of Audio Engineering, Islington and produced the 7″ Who Moved the Ground? single, “The Chase”, which was released post tour in September ’94, amongst others. Bowen joined Dry Riser in ’95.
Tracks:
Gallery:
Redefining Beautiful – Picture is from Farnborough/Aldershot News c’94. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren 
5 June 1993: Redefining Beautiful supported Moonflowers, with Credit To The Nation at Critical Club, West End Centre. Aldershot. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren 
Redefining Beautiful’s “Sky High” demo cassette. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren 
Redefining Beautiful’s “Sky High” demo cassette inlay inner. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren 
22 October 1993: Who Moved The Ground?, Serious Plankton and Redefining Beautiful played the Critical Club, West End Centre, Aldershot. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren 
On 2 July 19?? Redefining Beautiful played The George, Ash Vale then on 25 July they played the Four Hourse Shoes, Camberley with The Exploding Fir Trees. Picture courtesy of Martin Warren 
18 May 1994: Flyer for Battle for the Limelight at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Head Noise beat Who Moved the Ground?, Strange World, Parmaviolet, Blind, Punching Judy, and Redefining Beautiful! Source: Who Moved The Ground? 
Clipping from local rag mentions Redefining Beautiful along with Credit To The Nation supporting Moonflowers at Critical Club, West End Centre on 5 June 1993. Picture courtesy of Steve Porter 
14 April 1994: Review of Suck Henry, Redefining Beautiful, and J.C. Regulator from Wokingham News 5 May 1994 issue. Image courtesy of Matt Harding. 
Redefining Beautiful’s “Discontent” appeared on Farnborough Groove Strikes Back Vol.5 in 1995. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole 
Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse, Aldershot. Image courtesy of Matt Harding 
Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse, Aldershot. Image courtesy of Matt Harding 
Harding & Ernest of Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse, Aldershot. Image courtesy of Matt Harding 
Harding of Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse, Aldershot. Image courtesy of Matt Harding 
Russ (drums) and Harding (guitar) from Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse. Image courtesy of Martin Warren 
Warren of Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse. Image courtesy of Martin Warren 
Redefining Beautiful, and Keith of Study in Scarlet, in The Workhouse’s reception area. Image courtesy of Martin Warren 
Harding of Redefining Beautiful at The Workhouse. Image courtesy of Martin Warren Aldershot, Alex Bowen, Ash Vale, Battle for the Limelight, Blind, Bracknell, Camberley, Credit to the Nation, Critical Club, Crondall, Deceased Disease, Dry Riser, Farnborough, Farnborough Groove, Farnborough Tech, Fleet, Headnoise, Islington, J.C. Regulator, Martin Warren, Matt Harding, Meanwhile, Parmaviolet, Patch Hannon, Patrick Hannon, Phil Ernest, Princes Hall, Punching Judy, Redefining Beautiful, School of Audio Engineering, Serious Plankton, Severance, Skipper, South Hill Park, Splatch!, Strange World, Studio Poisson, Suck Henry, Technical College, The Baby South, The Exploding Fir Trees, The Four Horseshoes, The George, The Hairy Things, The Shed, The Sundays, The Vinegar Blossom, Who Moved the Ground?, Wokingham News -
The Pink Bear
(c’63-65) Pat Martin (guitar / vocals), Ken Baker (guitar / keyboards/ vocals), Pete Perryer (vocals / drums), and Richard ‘Richy’ Colbourne ( bass/ vocals).
The Senders (c’64) first line up (LtoR: Richard Colbourn, Ken Baker, Pat Martin, and at back Pete Perryer). Formed by Martin, who was at West Byfleet CSS and Baker who went to St. Bedes school, (the same school as Eric Clapton) in Send, and after recruiting Perryer and Colbourne (both also St. Bedes boys).
After much rehearsal of covers these 13 year olds; Colbourn on a Strubleminster, Baker playing a Rosetti Lucky 7, Martin his Vox Stroller, and Perryer keeping the pulse, started playing the local youth clubs as The Senders, and then The Pink Bears. Their first ever gig was actually at the Butaca Club, Old Woking.
We know The Pink Bears played at Lancaster Hall, Send in ’65 and that Colbourne left that same year to be replaced by Woking based Dave McGreggor on bass. It was McGreggor who suggested renaming the band The Late Edition…
Gallery:
David Rose looks back at Woking’s Pink Bears and their development, via The Late, into Unicorn in this Woking News & Mail article from 2 November 2017. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The Pink Bears playing in Send’s Lancaster Hall, ’65 -
Smokestakks
(’64-’66) Tony Porter (vocal), Peter Mould (rhythm guitar), Roger Allen (lead guitar), Jeff Smith (bass), Freddie Mills (drums), and William Neal (harmonica / vocals).
This 6-piece blues band were akin to a local band super-group: Porter had been in Astolats and Second Time Out; Mould – Bumblies; Allen – Arfur Fagg and the Dog Ends; Smith – Ricky and the Secrets; and Mills – Roadrunners. They all loved to play, and their management saw this too.
The band’s debut was at the hall next to the Guildford Lido. They, however, arrived 15 minutes late for the start time, thanks to an on-road holdup, too a huge crowd. They couldn’t use the venue’s backdoor and had to traipse all their gear through the now ‘slow hand clapping’ throng to the stage. Then there were the groans while Smokestakks tuned up with feedback abd no idea what it sounded like at the back. What felt like forever, but was getting o for 45-minutes, Porter apologized and announced the opening number: Route 66.
“One, two, three, four…” and only Mills’ drumbeats and Mould’s guitar could be heard, which they looped over and over while the others worked on fixing the issue. Smith’s bass came in really loud, completing the rhythm section and finally Allen’s guitar and Neal’s harmonica set the sound – raw and in perfect time – as Porter yelled “one, two, three, four…” and the band were off, not stopping for three more Chuck Berry numbers. That set, laid the foundation for what to expect from Smokestakks!
17 December 1964: Smokestakks, Hogsnort Rupert and His Band, along with Phantom Four. Image courtesy of William Neal On 17 December ’64: Smokestakks supported Hogsnort Rupert and His Band, along with The Phantom Four, at the End of Term Dance organized by Guildford School of Art Student Union and held at the school. The next month the Grand Beat dance was held at the Memorial Hall, Wonersh on 23 January ’65 with Smokestakks providing the music to dance too. The 13 February ’65 found the band performing at the St. Valentine’s Dance at Onslow Village Hall, Guildford and seven days later, on 20 February ’65, they were at The Pirrie Hall, Brook helping Brook Youth Club raise funds for the Betatron Cancer Appeal.
They played Bramley Village Hall, dressed in their ‘uniform’ of suede waistcoats and black corduroy trousers, where Phillip Goodhand-Tait saw them play, followed shortly after with them supporting The Stormsville Shakers at Merrow Village Hall on a 31 March ’65. It was around this time that Allen was hospitalized for nasal surgery, with an as yet unidentified sub stepping in to belt out the band’s popular covers such as “Country Line Special”. Neal left and was replaced by Ian May.
A business card for Smokestakks. Image courtesy of William Neal Managed by John Hewins and Alan Matravers, they went on to support The Phantom Four and Hogsnort Rupert at the Art School, Guildford again in ’66 and played Dronfield’s, Guildford and The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Through power failure, heckling drunks, strings breaking, or fire alarms any mess was handled with high energy professionalism; with the band riffing through Jimmy Reed, Howling Wolf or Sonny Boy Williamson covers with ease. Whether it called for busking or jamming acoustically – nothing would spoil a great show.
Neal who has told us that “it was obvious to us all that these moments together were truly special” continued in the arts. He studied at The Guildford School of Art with Top Topham, Duster Bennett and Dick Forcey from ’63 onwards He went on to create the covers for Emerson Lake and Palmer’s “Tarkus” and “Pictures at an Exhibition” LPs amongst other work. He was also a good boogie-woogie piano player. He moved north from Godalming in ’82 and now works out of his studio in Stranraer.
Gallery:
23 January 1965: The Grand Beat Dance at Wonersh Memorial Hall featured Smokestakks. Image courtesy of William Neal 
23 January 1965: The Grand Beat Dance at Wonersh Memorial Hall featured Smokestakks. Image courtesy of William Neal 
13 February 1965: Smokestakks played the Valentine’s Dance at Onslow Village Hall, Guildford. Image courtesy of William Neal 
c’65 Smokestakks clipping. Image courtesy of William Neal 
20 Febraury 1965: The Brook Youth Club hosted Smokestakks at The Pirrie Hall, Brook. Image courtesy of William Neal 
Poster, designed by William Neal, for Wednesday 31 March ’65 gig at Merrow Village Hall. Alan Matravers, Arfur Fagg and the Dog Ends, Art School, Astolats, Bramley, Brook, Brook Youth Club, Bumblies, Dick Forcey, Dronfield’s, Duster Bennett, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Freddie Mills, Godalming, Guildford, Guildford School of Art, Hogsnort Rupert, Ian May, Jeff Smith, John Hewins, Memorial Hall, Merrow, Onslow Village Hall, Peter Mould, Phillip Goodhand-Tate, Ricky and the Secrets, Roadrunners, Roger Allen, Second Time Out, Smokestakks, The Lido, The Phantom Four, The Pirrie Hall, The Stormsville Shakers, Tony Porter, Top Topham, Village hall, William Neal, Wonersh, Wooden Bridge -
The Tunsgate Club, Guildford
This Guildford High Street ‘drinking’ den was above Russell & Bromley shoe shop. Ricky & The Rhythmics were the house band for a while. Another local band Ad-Finitum also played there, as did The David James Band.
In the late 50’s and early 60’s, Tommy Strudwick manged the club. Husband and wife team, Jerry and Anne, also managed the venue for a while, and ‘Old Jack’ was the doorman. If spread over two floors, with a bar on each, and was renowned for it’s revealing U.V. lighting. One of the venues managers once bought an old Foosball table from The Parrot Inn, Shalford for £10.00. Opening it up, once installed, he found £20.00 in tanners inside.
The venue also infamously banned a contingent of 1,400 French students that were visiting Guildford in the early 60’s. By ’65, The Rivals were playing the club regularly, on Sunday nights, despite the club’s £6 fee!
The Tunsgate Club was later renamed Dronfields, after the then manager John Dronfield, and we know that Smokestakks played the venue under this moniker in ’65 or ’66. In ’71 the club moved to 11 Quarry Street and shortly after was renamed Harpers.
Gallery:
Ricky & The Rhythmics in early special effect picture taken at The Tunsgate Club, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Bens Collectors Records 
Ricky & the Rhythmics on the Tunsgate Club roof over Russell & Bromley. Picture courtesy of Bens Collectors Records 
Tunsgate Club membership application from the 1960s. Source Peter Winning via Guildford Town Past & Present 
Dronfield’s Membership Card. Source: Pauline Kirke via Guildford Town Past & Present -
Roadrunners
(c’62-’67) Roger Newman (guitar), Vic Hatch (drums), Dave Franklin (bass), Mick Cheesman (vocals), and Osmond Abdullah (guitar)
All we have is this one publicity photograph taken at St. Catherine’s Chapel, Guildford of Worplesdon based Roadrunners. They formed at the village’s youth club in ’62 and rehearsed at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Around ’65/’66 the band held a residency at the Harvest Moon Club, Guildford.
The band folded in ’67, with Newman and Abdullah forming a new band that played in Spain and on cruise ships. Reportedly, at some point, Freddie Mills played drums with the combo, going on to join Smokestakks.
Gallery:
The Roadrunners at St. Catherine’s Chapel, Guildford. Source: Dragon News Archives via Jonathan Piers Butler -
Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band
(c’76-05) Kirk “Loader” Riddle (bass), Alan “Algy” Watkins (drums), Graham “Cupcake” Cooper (guitar) David Sherrington (Sax), and Jackie “Lash” Lynton (vocals).
While Lynton is from Middlesex, the band have always been seen as Guildfordian. It started in ’76 when Lynton (ex-Savoy Brown, Diesel, Jackie Lynton’s Grande), with former members of The Stormsville Shakers, hit the road as Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days. Both Riddle and Sherrington had previously done time with The Stormsville Shakers and Circus. Riddle would also form The Train Set before joining Lynton. Graham Cooper had joined The Phantom Four, when Richard Over left, who subsequently rebranded as Strange Brew departing himself in the summer 1968. Watkins had been in The Embers before joining agency band Rubber Duck and then Lynton’s combo.
On 19 April ’77, Jackie Lynton ‘s Happy Days opened for Remus Down Boulevard at the Marquee. Then late that year, on 29 December, we find the band, supported by Stamps, playing the Music Machine, Camden. The band were back at the venue on 20 February ’78.
“Live – A Week At The Bridge E16” a double EP gate-fold released on Bridge House Records (BHLP 001) A change of line-up, which may have seen Greg Squeak (sax / harmonica) replace Sherrington, in ’78 saw the name change to Jackie Lynton’s HD Band, then shortened to The Jackie Lynton Band. It was in ’78 the band were featured on two compilation albums: “Live – A Week at The Bridge” and “Who Invited Them?”. “Live…” was a double EP gatefold released on Bridge House Records (BHLP 001) and consisted of the blues rock / pub rock that appeared at The Bridge House, Canning Town at the time and carried the bands’ “You Don’t Have To Pay“. “Who Invited Them?” was a various Guildford artist compilation [TR001] on the Thumb Records label featuring 10 tracks, including “The Worlds A Wheelbarrow” and “Goin’ Down” by The Jackie Lynton H.D. Band. That same year, on 6 June, Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band were on the roster to celebrate Dingwall’s 5th anniversary.
Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records The Music Machine would host the band on 8 January ’79, supported by Zorro, and The Bridge House would host them on 14 April ’79. On 9 June ’79 the Corn Dolly, Oxford let you in to see the band for 20p. The band were also responsible for Thumb’s next two releases. The band’s debut LP, ‘Till We’re Blue In The Face’ (TR-002) in ’79, which was released in two version, the more collectable featuring blue vinyl. This LP release was accompanied by TR-003, the bands 7″ titled ‘Dan (The Hedgehog Song)’, and Thumbs’ only single. The ‘B’ side, ‘Farting With The Famous’, was co-written by Rick Parfitt, of Status Quo. That same year Status Quo scored with “Again And Again”; co-written by Lynton and Parfitt. The band were regularly performing at The Bridge House, dominating the stage again on 14 July and 15 September ’79. The next month, on 20 October ’79 The Jackie Lynton Band played Agincourt, Camberley.
At The Tramshed, Woolwich 1980 By ’80 Greg Terry-Short of House had replaced Watkins on drums – Watkins would subsequently join House – Graham/e White had replaced Cooper on guitar, and Headwaiter keyboardist/vocalist Tony Leach had joined. That same year the next album, called “A Bit Near The Mark” was released on Scratch Records [SCR L 5002]; a double album with three live sides and one studio set. They celebrated Christmas Eve ’80 by performing at the Golden Lion, Fulham.
Early in ’81, on 16 January, the band were back at the Marquee. They also appeared at The Reading Festival in ’81 and ’82, and have two tracks” “Slow Rider” and the “Hedgehog Song” on the “Reading Rock Volume One” album on Mean Records (MNLP 82). Also in ’82 the band acted as Frank Leyton’s backing band for the release of the 7″ single “Cry”, backed by “Alexander’s Rock And Roll Band” on the Dwarf Records label [DW 2]. This was produced by Lynton and recorded in January ’82 at Jacob’s Studios, Farnham.
Jackie Lynton Band at Reading ’81 On 21 January ’82, the Jackie Lynton Band found themselves supported by Marillion at The Regal, Hitchin. The next day they were booked 40-ish miles South at The Greyhound, Chadwell Heath, along with support band Far Canal; and the Marquee welcomed the band on 23 July ’82.
The bands heavier “White Line” album, again on Thumb Records [TR 006], was released in ’83 with Willie Bath now on bass, replacing Riddle. Farnborough based Capricorn supported Jackie Lynton at The Royal, Guildford on 22 March ’84. In ’85 a VHS of live performances recorded at New Golden Lion, Fulham; Tramshed, Woolwich; Jim Davidsons’ Party in Guernsey and The Royal, Guildford was released titled “The Jackie Lynton Band…Live, Magic Cut’s 1980-84”.
The Green Gate, Bethnal Green hosts the band on 12 April ’86 and then on 4 July ’86, supported by Veto, they were at The Red Lion, Brentford. A few months later, on 31 October ’86, Jackie Lynton played The Swan, Fulham Broadway. Two and half years later, on 25 May ’89, the band, supported by Get Rhythm, played The Royal Standard, Walthamstow.
We lose track of the band until ’96, when the now 7-piece – Stuart Hughes (bass), Steve Bruce (drums), Poker‘s Keith Purnell (guitar), Mark Leppard (guitar), Ollie Holbrow (harmonica), Vince Bull (harmonica) and Lynton – are gigging regularly and release another live album; the 32-track “Alive! At The Bleak House”. This double CD, on A New Day Records [AND CD12] was recorded using the Running Frog mobile studio on 19 August ’96 (with a few additions recorded at their Windsor studio in September) and released in November that year. Almost 10 years later we see them on the bill for Weyfest 2005.
At some point Mick Hogsden/Bryant (piano/vocals), who was also in The Famous Rondini Brothers and Poker, played in the Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band. Chris “Wheelbarrow” Brayne, of whom the bands “The Worlds A Wheelbarrow” is about, also played drums in JLHD for quite a while, . Watkins went on to be a Bloodhound. Copper would be later found performing solo under the Graham “Cupcake” Cooper moniker, and some recall Eric Clapton joining him and other local musicians onstage at The Royal, Guildford for a charity gig in the early ’80s with Bruce Foxton of The Jam in the audience.
White, Leach, Hogsden, Brayne, Sherrington and Riddle have all sadly passed.
Links:
The first 6:25 on The Jackie Lynton Band Live Magic Cuts 1980-84 video: https://www.facebook.com/dave.reeves.505/videos/10158454513278469/?t=357Tracks:
Gallery:
19 April 1977: Jackie Lynton opened for Remus Down Boulevard at the Marquee. Source: www.tracks.co.uk 
29 December 1977: Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days, supported by Stamps, played the Music Machine, Camden according to this advert from NME December 1977. Source: Paul Rodgerson via Keep It Out Of Sight 
20 February 1978 
6 June 1978: Jackie Lynton’s Happy Days Band were on the roster to celebrate Dingwall’s 5th anniversary. Source: Alan McDonald via Keep It Out Of Sight 
This 1978 various artist compilation [TR001] features 10 tracks from Guildford bands, including the Jackie Lynton Happy Days Band. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collecters Records 
This 1978 various artist compilation [TR001] features 10 tracks from Guildford bands, including the Jackie Lynton Happy Days Band. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collecters Records 
8 January 1979: This ad from NME puts Jackie Lynton HD Band, supported by Zorro, at Music Machine, Camden. Source: Ulrich Wegener via Keep It Out Of Sight 
14 April 1979: Jackie Lynton’s H.D. Band played Bridge House. Source: Neil Barker via Mods N Sods 
9 June 1979 – 20p to see Jackie Lynton’s H.D Band on a Saturday night. 
14 July 1979 
15 September 1979: Jackie Lynton was at The Bridge House, Canning Town. Ad from Record Mirror. Source: Len Lighthouse via Keep It Out Of Sight 
20 October 1979: Jackie Lynton Band played Agincourt. Clipping Farnborough News 19 October 1979. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
Record Mirror 24 May 80 
24 December 1980: Jackie Lynton’s HD Band had the Christmas Eve slot at the Golden Lion, Fulham. Source: Len Lighthouse via Keep It Out Of Sight 
c’80/81 the band were l-r Jackie Lynton (vocals),Grahame White (guitar), Greg Terry-Short (drums),Tony Leach (piano/vocals), and Kirk “Loader” Riddle (bass). 
16 January 1981: The Jackie Lynton Band played the Marquee 
21 January 1982: Jackie Lynton Band, supported by Marillion at The Regal, Hitchin. Source: Diz Minnitt via www.morain.de 
22 January 1982: Jackie Lynton Band supported by Far canal. Source: Guy Tkach via www.morain.de 
Clipping from the Reading Festival ’82 paper. Source: http://robsbaralora.magix.net/public/newspreading1982.htm 
23 July 1982: Jackie Lynton Band played Marquee. Source: Mike Eldon via www.morain.de 
22 March 1984 Jackie Lynton’s at The Royal, Guildford. 
12 April 1986: Jackie Lynton’s Band were at The Green Gate, Bethnal Green. Source: Neil Thompson via Keep It Out Of Sight 
4 July 1986: Jackie Lynton, supported by Veto, was at The Red Lion, Brentford. Source: Neil Thompson via Keep It Out Of Sight 
31 October 1986: Jackie Lynton played The Swan, Fulham Broadway. Source: Neil Thompson via Keep It Out Of Sight 
25 May 1989: Jackie Lynton, supported by Get Rhythm, played The Royal Standard, Walthamstow. Source: Neil Thompson via Keep It Out Of Sight 
16 January 19?? 
Year Unknown 
A Bit Near The Mark 
A Bit Near The Mark 
A Bit Near The Mark 
Jackie Lynton Band Live Magic Cuts 1980-84 VHS sleeve (front) Source: Dave Reeves via The Jackie Lynton Band 
Jackie Lynton Band Live Magic Cuts 1980-84 VHS sleeve (back) Source: Dave Reeves via The Jackie Lynton Band A New Day Records, Agincourt, Alan Watkins, Bethnal Green, Bloodhound, Brentford, Bridge House Records, Bruce Foxton, Camberley, Camden, Canning Town, Capricorn, Chadwell Heath, Chris Brayne, Circus, Corn Dolly, David Sherrington, Diesel, Dingwalls, Dwarf Records, Eric Clapton, Far Canal, Farnborough, Farnham, Frank Leyton, Fulham, Get Rhythm, Golden Lion, Graham Cooper, Graham White, Greg Squeak, Greg Terry-Short, Guernsy, Guildford, Headwaiter, Hitchin, Horsell, House, Jackie Lynton, Jackie Lynton Band, Jackie Lynton H.D. Band, Jackie Lynton's Band, Jackie Lynton's Grande, Jackie Lynton's Happy Days, Jackie Lynton's Happy Days Band, Jackie Lynton’s HD Band, Jacob’s Studio, Jim Davidsons’ Party, Keith Purnell, Kirk Riddle, Marillion, Mark Leppard, Marquee, Mean Records, Mick Bryant, Mick Hogsden, Music Machine, New Golden Lion, Ollie Holbrow, Oxford, Poker, Reading Festival, Remus Down Boulevard, Rick Parfitt, Rubber Duck, Running Frog, Savoy Brown, Scratch Records, Stamps, Status Quo, Steve Bruce, Strange Brew, Stuart Hughes, The Bleak House, The Bridge House, The Embers, The Famous Rondini Brothers, The Green Gate, The Greyhound, The Jam, The Phantom Four, The Red Lion, The Regal, The Royal, The Royal Standard, The Stormsville Shakers, The Swan, The Train Set, The Tramshed, Thumb, Thumb Records, Tony Leach, Veto, Vince Bull, Walthamstow, Weyfest, Wheelbarrow, Willie Bath, Windsor, Woolwich, Zorro -
Yellow Lifetime
(c’85-’87) Duncan “Du Kane” Elder (lead vocal/rhythm guitar), Phil “Fil B.” Bushen (bass); Anna Lucy (vocals), “Scampi” Fullwood (Sax) and David Howick (drums).
The 5-piece Yellow Lifetime, described as sax-based pop (which we misread, often), played The Old Schoolhouse, Woking in ’85 and supported The Rapids at The Riverside Club, Fetcham on 2 February ’86. The next month they recorded the “Is It Just Lust” demo cassette at Unknown Studios W1, except “Adore” which was laid down at Electrorhythm, NW10; with production by Nick Sykes and Steve Smith.
Recorded in march ’86. Picture courtesy of Du Kane They became the 6-piece Lax Lifetime in July ’87; with the addition of David Maskrey (lead guitar) and Anton Daniels (percussion) and departure of Scampi. A couple of months prior to the name change the band, with the addition of Damian Hand, recorded “Step in Time” and “Shout! About” at Peppermint Studio, where they were produced by George Chambers and Elaine Fairfax.
Video:
This video, courtesy of Mike Krabbers, features Yellow Lifetime performing “Till The Ending Time” at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking in ’85: https://www.facebook.com/mike.krabbers/videos/2051330858446816/Gallery:
Recorded in March ’86. Picture courtesy of Du Kane 
James Steen looked back at 1987 in the 31st December ’87 Soundscene column. This is the July section of that issues and Yellow Lifetime changed their name to Lax Lifetime. 
February 1986 and Yellow Lifetime are supporting The Rapids. Picture “borrowed” from Christopher Short 
Yellow Lifetime demo, with other cassettes… Anna-Lucy Torjussen, Anton Daniels, Damian Hand, David Howick, David Maskrey, Duncan Elder, Elaine Fairfax, Electrorhythm, Fetcham, George Chambers, Lax Lifetime, London, Mike Krabbers, Nick Sykes, Peppermint Studio, Phil Bushen, Scampi, Steve Smith, The Old Schoolhouse, The Rapids, The Riverside Club, Unknown Studios, Woking, Yellow Lifetime -
Poker
(c’78) Chris Brayne (drums), Stuart Reffold (vocals), Keith Purnell (guitar), Tim Weatley (bass/vocals), and Mick Hogsden/Bryant (piano/vocals).
The band appeared on the Guildford artist compilation Who Invited Them? [TR001] on the Thumb Records label in ’78. Featuring 10 tracks from Guildford bands it included Poker’s “Walkin’ the Dog”, “Something You Got” and “Rock ‘N Roll on our Minds”.
When Eric Clapton played the Village Hall, Cranleigh, on 7 September ’79, Poker were the support. The hall was packed and crowded around Clapton who stood in the middle of them all. Poker paused between songs, and Clapton was heard to shout “Come on get on with it … it’s show business“…
Brayne had played in The Stormsville Shakers; Backhurst was in The Famous Rondini Brothers, prior to Poker, before going on to join Mungo Jerry. Purnell is rumored to have been in Billie J. Kramer’s backing band. Reffold had been in The Rivals and Duffy in the early ’70s, who saw success in Europe. Weatley owned / ran Chestnut Studios, Churt and had played in Good Earth, Gracious, Taggart, then House before joining Poker. Wheatley and Brayne also performed in Cryin’ Out Loud. Another ex-Stormsville Shaker, Dave Sherrington (sax) had also been part of Poker as well as guesting with House.
Tracks:
Gallery:
1978’s compilation [TR001] included Poker’s “Walkin’ The Dog”, “Something You Got” and “Rock ‘N Roll On Our Minds”. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
1978’s compilation [TR001] included Poker’s “Walkin’ The Dog”, “Something You Got” and “Rock ‘N Roll On Our Minds”. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records Billie J. Kramer, Chestnut Studios, Chris Brayne, Cranleigh, Cryin’ Out Loud, Dave Sherrington, Duffy, Eric Clapton, food, Good Earth, Gracious, Guildford, House, italian, Keith Purnell, London, Mick Bryant, Mick Hogsden, Mungo Jerry, photography, Poker, Stuart Reffold, Taggart, The Famous Rondini Brothers, The Stormsville Shakers, Thumb Records, Tim Wheatley, travel, Village hall -
Thumb Records
(c’78-’83) Thumb was a small independent label based out of 83 Waltham Avenue, Guildford and owned by Tony Leach, who was in Headwaiter. Their LPs and singles shared the same TR-000 numerical series.
Their first release was TR-001, a various artists LP entitled ‘Who Invited Them?’ in ’78 that featured four Guildford bands: Headwaiter, House, Poker, and the Jackie Lynton H.D. Band. The Jackie Lynton H.D. Band were also responsible the labels next two releases. The LP, ‘Till We’re Blue In The Face’ (TR-002) in ’79, which was released in two version, the more collectable featuring blue vinyl. This LP release was accompanied by TR-003, the bands 7″ titled ‘Dan (The Hedgehog Song)’, and Thumbs’ only single. The ‘B’ side, ‘Farting With The Famous’, was co-written by Rick Parfitt, of Status Quo.
Reading based Mainline’s ‘Where We Are Now’ (TR-004) came out in ’81, apparently selling 500 copies in New South Wales, Australia and making it a local No.1. Interestingly we can find no record of a TR-005. In ’83, two years after Mainline’s LP, Thumb put out the Jackie Lynton Band’s ‘White Line’ (TR-006), which they had recorded at Jacob Studios.
The label’s next and final release came in 2010. This was label creator and owner Tony Leach’s own pop balladry LP “Reunion” (TR-007). This project saw Leach, who regrettably left this realm in 2015, and fellow ex-Headwaiter member Sev Lewkowicz get together again. Lewkowicz as well as producing, engineering and mixing the album contributed keyboards, electric guitar, bass, and backing vocals. They also roped in Lesley Broughton (backing vocals), Arthur Bainbridge (drums), and Dick Middleton (electric guitar) – but only on track 8.
Gallery:
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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