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Bands - A  |
| 3AM circa 1966 - 67 Blues rock Line up: Derek Wilson (guitar, vocals), Nicky Hawkswell (bass), Jimi Longworth (drums). Formed in 1966 as heavy/progressive blues band with Cream / Mayall / Beck influence. 'The group are strongly opposed to the current soul music trend' said manager Rodney Joyce in early 1967. Wilson left February 1967 replaced by Joe Beale. They were augumented by Tim James on vocals and harmonica. Eventually they moved to London and split in late 1967. Wilson later formed Ning.
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| The 3
SPIRES circa 196?
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| A BAND CALLED GEORGE circa 1974 Previously known as Sweeney Todd Bob Young (lead vocals and guitar), Colin Young (bass), Nicky Trevisick (drums), Roger Prince (guitar), Baz Andruszko (accordion), roadies - Ricky and Dave. Were planning a tour of Germany late August 73. Joe Reynolds (joined a reformed version of the band in 1974) Original material in similar vein to Lindisfarne. Members from Coventry and Leamington area. According to HOBO the BBC did not select the single, NCB Man, for airplay and this led to the band’s demise. CET described the song as a ‘ light hearted song about coal miners’ Appeared on Midland’s Today. (CET) ‘It’s a fun folk rock song, not quite representative of the band live’ Managed by Sunshine Agency (SAM) (Managers Craig Ward & Graham Wood). Sunshine Agency was set up to record Bob Young’s songs. Single: NCB Man (on Bell Records) released 24th August 1973.
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| ACME PATENT ELECTRIC
BAND circa 1967-1968 Psychedelic blues Line up: Tim James (vocals, harmonica), Dave Pennycook (guitar), Pete Ward (organ), Bob Jackson (bass), Malc Harker (drums). Had own light show with movies operated by Steve North.
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| ACORN circa 196? Heavy rock band. Changed name to Rogation Sunday.
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| ADRIANS WALL circa 1969 '..vince's own group..'
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| AFRICAN GRASS circa 1968-70 Nuneaton-based progressive/blues. Colin Edmonds (drums), Alan Davies (bass, vocals), Mick Burgoyne (guitar).
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| The AGENTS circa 1964 'R&B'
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| ANALOG circa 1974
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| ANALOG circa 1974-5 Quoted in HOBO as being 'rock'. They were a regular band at the HOBO WORKSHOP. Consisted of Mick Hartley (bass), Steve Edgeson (2nd guitar/clarinet/recorder), John 'Multi-tracking maniac' Rushton (lead guitar/vocals) and Paul 'Babbling' Brook (double drum kit/vocals). Edgeson later turned up in the Reluctant Stereotypes and Pink Umbrellas. In his letter to HOBO in 1974, lead guitarist John Rushton described the band as a “new and truly original Coventry rock band”. There were strong jazz-rock and early King Crimson and Yes influences in the music. The group was pictured in the CET playing at the Hobo Workshop in an article about the workshop. In HOBO it was reported that the band had been rehearsing an original set for a year without playing any gigs. In the letter used for the HOBO article, John Rushton says: “We’re working on a 40 minute suite at the moment, as yet untitled, based on an original idea by Paul Brook. This will comprise the first half of the set, along with a super high-energy instrumental entitled ‘Custer’s Last Stand’ - say no more! The suite contains more words than ‘Close to the Edge’ and has seven main parts.” John A. Rushton - Earlsdon The band's equipment included: Mick Hartley - Sound City 120W amp 7 cab; Paul Brook - Pearl double bass drum kit; Steve Edgeson - Park combination amp and cab; John Rushton - Park 100watt amp + R.P.A. cab + horn unit. The P.A. was hired. According to Coventry’s later music mag. ALTERNATATIVE SOUNDS (late 70’s), Mick Hartley from Analog was also in the Reluctant Stereotypes. Reluctant Stereotypes comprised members from two of Hobo Workshop’s regular bands. The two members of Analog and Paul Sampson of Trigon (see Bands 'T').
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| The
ANGSTROMS circa 1964-6 Beat group Line up: Gordon Kelly (lead guitar), Paul Lamb (rhythm guitar), Roy Powell (bass), Rick Brooks (drums). Played Star Club in Hamburg and cut a single in early 1965. 'Angstrom is a technical term for a measurement of sound' they told Midland Beat in 1965. Lamb and Kelly left to be replaced by Martin Jenkins and Ted Arnold. They became Davy Jones Crew in December 1966. Jenkins later formed Dando Shaft. Single: A: We Will Fall In Love / B: Coffee Break (? 1965)
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| The ANTARCTICS
circa 1965 Included Clive Scott, who later joiner The Transatlantics and eventually, Jigsaw.
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| APRIL circa 1969-71 Bill Jackson (vocals/guitar/recorder/piano), Mick Thompson (12 & 6 string guitars/steel guitar/vocals), Ron Lawrence (8 string bass/guitar/vocals), Gary Richardson (assorted percussion including congas/bongos/claves/drums), Pat Lawrence (sound balancer extraordinaire). Often rehearsed and played at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club in Queen Victoria Rd. Although they had their own unique sound and wrote their material, their sound was akin to early Fairport Convention. Cover versions included Sandy Denny's “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” and James Taylor’s “Carolina on my Mind”. The band played both rock and folk venues and the Warwick University Arts festival. Their manager was Stuart Urquhart of Warwick. Their blurb sheet says:
Group had split up by March 1971 when a booking at the Umbrella club was cancelled. Ron Lawrence later played bass with 80’s band Sniff & the Tears along with Coventry lead guitarist, Loz Netto. April were the hosts every Tuesday at the Swan Folk & Kontemporary Klub, Yardley Birmingham and supported acts such as Cliff Aungier & Gerry Lockran. They also supported Birmingham band Tea & Symphony at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Friday 21st August 1970. Also down to play Club Caroline - Walsgrave (Pete Waterman’s venue) March 1971. although this was cancelled along with the Umbrella gig owing to the split. They also played the Walsgrave June 2nd 1970 with East Light. 1971 Warwick University Arts Festival saw them playing a folk concert (Saturday March 6th) with Jeremy Taylor and Jo-Anne-Kelly. They played The Village (Colin Campbell) sat 26th Dec 1970.
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| ARCHEMEDES PRINCIPAL circa 1967 Became The Mood in September 1967
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| Rob ARMSTRONG circa 196? Ian's potted history to be inserted here
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| The ARROWS circa 1965
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| ASGARD circa 1969-71 Bill (Farfiza organ), ? (drums), ? (bass), Neol Davies (lead guitar - originally) Asgard held open rehearsal sessions in the little theatre of the Coventry Arts Umbrella as well gigs. Trev Teasdel first remembers them in 1969 at the Umbrella’s mini-arts festival, Transcendental Cauldron. At that time they were a four piece including Neol Davies on lead guitar. He left soon afterwards and they continued as a three piece. Mainly original material but with an Ummaguma - period Pink Floyd sound. They covered Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun. The Arts Umbrella News (December 1970) entry for them was:
Tuesday June 23rd 1970 they played a ‘Heavy Concert’ for Pete Waterman at the Walsgrave, with Wandering John & Pantomime. They also played the Warwick University Arts Festival on Sunday March 7th 1971 at the ‘Blues Workshop’ with Skin Alley / Pink Fairies / Bubastis and Whistler. They played The Village Fri 8th January 1971.
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| The AUTOCRATS circa 1965 Beat group Line up: Olly Warner (drums) and others. Ex-Goodmen
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