Peppermint Circus used an ex-Airport double-decker bus painted black, white and orange.They had it fitted with beds, lights, heating and a cooker.Group members included bass guitarist Alan Tallis from Solihull, Paul Thomas, vocalist, James Curtis, the vocalist/songwriter, Clive Hartley from Coventry … he played the first time on a television programme “LIFT OFF” when their …
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Peppermint Circus
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Call Up The Groups
On November 10th at The Spencer Club, Albany Road Earlson, there is to be a Call Up The Groups reunion night, a night open to anyone who was part of a band in Coventry & Warwickshire in the 1950’s and 60’s. It’s a free night, full of nostalgia, a chance to swap stories and meet …
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Shel Naylor
Shel Naylor Shel Naylor was backed by half of Rock Legends Led Zeppelin. He had a song written for him by Dave Davis of The Kinks and if you were to buy his two singles today you would have no change from £120. He would go on to have a number one for four weeks …
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Stavely Makepeace
Some bands are born with greatness, others have greatness thrust upon them, but Stavely Makepeace went for a third option and knocked up their own greatness in their front room using reel to reel tape recorders and anything they could find to hand! It was 1968, and two old friends were reunited when Rob Woodward …
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The Atlantics
The Atlantics were formed from the Hepjacks at a time when rock n roll was still young, the legendary Buddy Holly was still alive (just) and rag-tag hoard of British skiffle bands were all looking to America again for inspiration and were discovering that their ‘do-it-yourself’ music was slowly evolving into full-on rock n roll. …
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The Countdowns
There surely can’t be many bands around that have not only remained friends for over 40 years, but also organise regular re-unions along the way. One such band is The Countdowns, who were a valuable addition to the local beat scene. The band was formed in February 1963 when friends Bob Wilson (bass) and Gary …
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The Flys
Although incessantly tagged as ‘punk’, to my way of thinking The Flys were much more a new wave rock band, lying more to straight rock than punk. Either way, they were capable of some astounding music and have left a body of work that refuses to just disappear. Whenever I hear the name The Flys, …
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The Jokers
It was the late 50’s, skiffle music was at its peek, and Warwick like everywhere else in Britain, had seen Lonnie Donegan, and wanted to emulate their hero. John Steed, had grown up in the County town with his brother Frank. A piano may have dominated their front room, and originally the ’boy Steed’ fancied …
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The Liberators
Rugby’s Liberators would forever be linked with being the source material that created Chart stars Pinkerton’s Colours. But before Pinkerton’s it was The Liberators who were to dominate the East Warwickshire music-scene. Tom long was a member of The Liberators, and a budding Rugby musician, takes up the story. “I used to work at Associated …
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The Little Darlings
In the early 1960’s, Coventry beat scene was predictably full to the brim with pop bands, thanks to the influence of The Beatles. As the months ticked by, new bands like the Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things would arrive on the national scene and would give pop music an altogether new, Rhythm ‘N’ Blues …
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