BEGINNINGS ~ 1964
The country was by now swamped with beat groups following the meteoric rise to fame of The Beatles who were sweeping all before them. From every town and city up and down the land there were thousands of young hopefuls all seeking to emulate the success of the fab four.
The Black Country boasted a vibrant music scene that was to seed some of the worlds most successful bands in the coming years, and it is in 1964 that we first find the name of Jimmy Lea entering the live picture when as a 14 year old he played bass at a couple of gigs with Robert Haynes, Barry Wooton and Nick Holloway as 'Nick & The Axemen'
The year was to see Holder's 'Phantoms/Rockin' Phantoms' become 'The Memphis Cutouts' following a name change in May and eventually be hired by local celebrity Steve Brett to form part of his backing band 'The Mavericks'
The Vendors featuring Dave Hill and Don Powell were also taking giant leaps in 1964 as they ventured into the recording studio to record four tracks, gained a roadie in the form of one time school pal of Powell's Graham 'Swinn' Swinnerton, and got some real management when signing for the Astra Agency under the guiding hand of Maurice Jones. They also lost Billy Diffey from the band to be replaced by Dave 'Cass' Jones. By November of the year they had become 'The N'Betweens' and another step on the journey to 'Slade' had taken.......
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
5/1 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
10/1 |
T.P.Riley School,Bloxwich |
As The Phantoms |
12/1 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
14/1 |
Hillary St School,Walsall |
As The Phantoms |
19/1 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
26/1 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
2/2 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
3/2 |
The Ashmore Inn,Wednesfield |
As The Rockin' Phantoms |
9/2 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
16/2 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Bloxwich |
As The Rockin' Phantoms (lunchtime gig) |
21/2 |
Beacon Y C,New Invention |
As The Phantoms |
28/2 |
Bloxwich Baths (3rd billing) | R + B Four-The Wilde Cats-The Phantoms |
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
3/1 |
Three Men in a Boat ,Beechdale,Bloxwich |
|
15/2 |
The Gaumont Cinema,Wolverhampton |
|
19/2 |
The Victory WM Club,New Invention |
|
26/2 |
The Victory W M Club-New Invention |
|
MARCH / APRIL
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
4/3 |
Victory W M Club-New Invention |
|
11/3 |
Victory W M Club-New Invention |
|
18/3 |
Victory W M Club ,New Invention |
|
27/3 |
Three Men in a Boat,Bloxwich |
|
11/4 |
YWCA, Warstones |
As Johnny Travelle & the Vendors |
18/4 |
Ritz, Kings Heath |
The Blue Stars - The Vendors |
THE PHANTOMS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
1/3 |
Christ Church YC,Blakenhall |
|
6/3 |
Bloxwich Baths |
The Jaguars-The Phantoms |
20/3 |
T.P.Riley School,Bloxwich |
|
22/3 |
Primrose Ballroom ,Walsall Wood | Lee Stevens & the Satelites -The Phantoms |
23/3 |
Bushbury Arms,Low Hill |
As The Rockin’Phantoms |
20/4 |
Gorsty Lea Hall,Codsall |
As The Rockin'Phantoms |
NICK & THE AXEMEN
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
14/4 |
Stage & Sportsman ,Wolverhampton |
|
MAY / JUNE
THE PHANTOMS / MEMPHIS CUTOUTS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
9/5
|
Phantoms announce name change |
Now The Memphis Cutouts
|
9/5 |
Town Hall, Darlaston |
Mark Antony & The Senators-The Rockin Phantoms |
15/5 |
St Johns Mission, Bloxwich |
|
15/5 |
Stage & Sportsman Club, Wolverhampton |
Les Groups Italianos,The Millionaires,The Rockin' Phantoms |
18/5 |
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton | The Emotions - Rockin' Phantoms |
23/5 |
Town Hall, Walsall (support) | The Master Sounds |
13/6 |
Town Hall, Darlaston |
As The Memphis Cutouts |
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
13/6 |
Willenhall Comprehensive School |
The Dennisons-The Vendors |
NICK & THE AXEMEN
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
11/5 |
The Caves ,Wrens Nest |
|
JULY / AUGUST
THE MEMPHIS CUTOUTS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
6/7 |
Jubilee Hall, Brewood |
|
11/7 |
Town Hall, Darlaston |
|
25/7 |
Jubilee Hall, Brewood | |
26/7 |
Golden Cross, Erdington |
As The Phantoms |
30/7 |
Acorn Hotel,Erdington |
As The Phantoms |
26/7 |
Chorley Institute |
As Johnny Travelle & the Vendors |
2/8 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich (support) |
The Wanderers |
3/8 |
Streetly YC ,Walsall |
|
4/8 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
|
7/8 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
|
8/8 |
Town Hall, Darlaston | |
22/8 |
Jubilee Hall, Brewood | The Corsairs -The Memphis Cutouts |
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER
THE VENDORS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
5/9 |
Trysull Village Hall |
|
7/9 |
Hadley & Bilston YC |
|
12/9 |
Civic Hall, Hednesford |
|
16/9 |
Wakes Ground , Willenhall |
|
19/9 |
Town Hall, Bilston |
Ramrods - The Vendors |
23/9 |
Wakes Ground , Willenhall |
|
26/9 |
Town Hall, Bilston |
The Vendors - Group M5 |
17/10 |
Town Hall, Walsall |
Jeff Silvas & The Four Strangers - The Vendors |
24/10 |
Town Hall, Walsall |
The Four Strangers -The Vendors |
STEVE BRETT & THE MAVERICKS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
5/9 |
Flower Show, Handsworth Park, Birmingham |
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates-Steve Brett and The Mavericks 1.15pm-5.45pm-8.30pm |
12/9 |
Wolverhampton Civic hall |
Pat Wayne & the Beachcombers--The Black Diamonds-The Hellions-The Matchmakers-The Barons-The Montanas-The Sonnets-The Soul Seekers-The Strollers-Steve Brett and the Mavericks |
11/10 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
The Rivers - Steve Brett and his New Mavericks |
15/10 |
The New Mavericks announced |
|
30/10 |
Cavern Club, Peppermint Lounge, Liverpool |
|
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
THE N'BETWEENS
Date |
Venue |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
8/11 |
Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton |
The Little People-The N’Betweens |
20/11 |
Brum Kavern, Birmingham |
As The Vendors |
28/11 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
The Senators-The N'Betweens |
29/11 |
Ship & Rainbow , Wolverhampton |
The Paramounts -The N’Betweens |
28/9 |
Civic Hall, Brierley Hill (3rd billing) |
Nicky James/The Senators |
29/9 |
Three Men in a Boat, Bloxwich |
Lunchtime Gig |
4/12 |
Casino Club, Walsall |
Zoot Money Big Roll Band -The N’Betweens |
5/12 |
Town Hall, Walsall |
The Sonnets - N'Betweens |
17/12 |
Willenhall Baths | The Bo Street Runners-The Vendors-The Spartans |
13/12 |
Ship & Rainbow , Wolverhampton |
Spencer Davis -The N’Betweens |
20/12 |
Ship & Rainbow , Wolverhampton |
Alexis Korner -The N’Betweens |
26/12 |
Casino Club, Walsall |
The Moody Blues-The ‘Nbetweens |
28/12 |
Wolverhampton Civic Hall |
The Marauders -The N’Betweens |
STEVE BRETT & THE MAVERICKS
Date |
Venue |
|
|---|---|---|
8/11 |
Golden Cross, Erdington |
|
18/11 |
Cleveland Arms,Bilston |
|
20/11 |
Marston Excelsior SSC, Wolverhampton |
|
28/11 |
Cleveland Arms, Bilston |
|
29/11 |
Three Men In A Boat, Bloxwich |
The Travellers-Steve Brett & The Mavericks |
1/12 |
Cavern Club, Liverpool |
|
6/12 |
Golden Cross, Erdington |
|
6/12 |
Three Men In A Boat, Bloxwich |
|
8/12 |
Ship & Rainbow , Wolverhampton |
|
12/12 |
Bloxwich Baths |
Steve Brett & The Mavericks-Ralph Leyton & Formula 1 |
15/12 |
The Woolpack, Wolverhampton | |
18/12 |
Tipton Baths |
|
23/12 |
Casino Club, Walsall |
|
26/12 |
Ship & Rainbow , Wolverhampton |
Tony Dangerfield & The Thrills-Steve Brett and The Mavericks |
27/12 |
Cleveland Arms, Wolverhampton |
|
This information is presented here in its most basic form, for those of you wishing to flesh in the bones of the story of these early days then simply follow the link to Michael Parkers excellent pages on the subject.