THE VAQUEROS The Bachelor Boys Whiston *New from Johnny Kearns: See below.   Lally Stott: Vocal - Guitar. John Watkinson: Rythm Guitar. Gary Roberts: Lead Guitar. John Kearns: Drums. Alan Liptrot: Bass Guitar - Wigan. Roadie: Malc' Brown    Lally Stott wrote the number 1 chart topper "Chirpy-Chirpy Cheep-Cheep". http://youtu.be/GMNADUgGfVg      He wrote the tune for Scottish band Middle Of The Road in the UK in 1971. Stott's own version was a hit in Italy, went to No 1 in Australia for one week and charted at No 92 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Harold 'Lally' Stott was killed in an accident in 1977 while riding a Harley Davidson which he allegedly purchased using profits from the song. (Source: Wikipedia)    "I saw them play a few times at the Old Hall pub near Wigan Cemetary in the Lower Ince area where they played several times a week. They played the Lennon/McCarney song 'Michelle' and made a superb job of it. I remember the drummer blowing me away he was that good.    "The Vaqueros were involved in the-now-cult-film; 'Gonks Go Beat' with Lulu & The Luvvers and Mike Hurst & The Trekkers. I took a girl friend to see it at the Palace Cinema in Wigan.. It was possibly the worst film I have ever seen.. but! There is a sequence in it which involved around fifty pro' drummer's playing  the same drum solo. John Kearns was one of them. Tremendous stuff.. However, I never saw the 'girl friend' again." Bill Hart: June 2010   "The Vaqueros were great guys, each one a character, very like the early Beatles, bursting with zany humour and scouse wit." Ken Eden: July 2010   *"I was a mate and driver for The Vaqueros or The Bachelor Boys as they were then back in the sixties. I lived in Whiston near Liverpool but moved to Hindley, Wigan in 1959. I met my mates again in about 1962/1963 at the Old Hall Hotel in Wigan. My dad had a small fleet of vans so I was able to become their driver and roadie for them. They were a great group and full of talent.     Lally Stott didn't live on the same planet as the rest of us, but never-the-less a great mate and much missed. John kearns was the best drummer that ever came out of Merseyside. Johnny Wok' was still in the Army at the time. The Military Police would go to his home to take him back to Germany. They would knock on his door then step back and ask him to come with them. He wouldn't go with them and as John was a big lad they never tried to force him. In the end they got the Padre to visit him as they knew he was safe. John eventually did go back to Army Camp but a week or so later walked through the doors of the Old Hall Hotel. He got a lift home on an American Airforce plane and also got a military discharge after that. Gary was very sincere about his music and he was one of the best guitarist I've ever heard. Allan came from Wigan and we called him 'Little Beatle' for the way he looked like them.     This was one of the best times of my life but I had I living to make and my lovely Doreen to marry. We both miss the lads and would love to meet up with them again. The last time I saw Lal' and John Wok' was when Lal' was at his mothers in 1973 and John was playing at the Horseshoe pub in Whiston. I havent seen John Kearns, Gary Roberts or Allan since and would love to meet up with them all over again." Malc' Brown: January 2011     *“We started in 1962 as The Bachelor Boys. Lally Stott was on lead/vocals, Ray Jump (a guy from Whiston) on rhythm, John Helsby on bass (a guy from Rainhill) and myself. We played at school dances, etc.   I guess our biggest gig at that time was appearing at The Cavern with  Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, Freddy Star & The Midnighters and of course The Beatles were the last band to go on. We all squeezed into this little dressing room at the side of the stage with amps piled up to the ceiling.  I remember The Beatles playing their first hit, Love Me Do. It may have been the first time Ringo had appeared with them at The Cavern 'cos all the girls were screaming for Pete Best. I remember Lennon shouting into the mike that ‘Ringo is now our drummer!.’   Anyway, we made our way to the Wigan Scene. Ray Jump dropped out of the band and we recruited Gary Roberts on rhythm. When we started playing The Old Hall Hotel John Helsby quit so Alan Liptrot stepped in on bass. We had plenty of work, playing the Old Hall seven nights per week plus Sunday afternoon at a club in Wigan. Periodically we took time away to play one nighters, such as at The Wigan Emp’ with Little Richard, or a week long gig at The Garrick Club in Leigh with Cleo Lane etc. but we always came back to the Old Hall.   Then William Leyland of L. E’ Agencyasked to manage us. He organized our appearance in the film ‘Gonks Go Beat‘.  However, the director of the movie, Robert Hartford Davis changed our name from The Bachelor Boys to The Vaqueros. Hence the name.  Davis also put us on TV, BBC2 Beat Room where we appeared live, with The Rockin Berries, Tammy St. John, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Hollies. Lally sung a Little Richard song and I performed a drum solo.    Anyhow, months passed and after a disagreement with Lally and a meeting with Gary and Alan we fired him. After Lally left Johnny Wocky stepped in as lead vocalist. Later Lally went on to Italy and helped write tunes for Middle Of The Road, including Chirpy, Chirpy Cheep Cheep. We carried on until Alan decided to quit and then we recruited Mike 'Mick' Gannon on bass. When The Vaqueros split up in 1966, I believe Gary went on to Italy and joined Lally where he helped write the Samson and Delilah song.      I actually left England, bound for Germany in May of 1967 with a singer from Wigan named Roy Robinson, a long haired bearded hippie looking chap called Jimmy Mac  on lead guitar and Kenny Fillingham who agreed to play bass. The first week in Germany, while we were rehearsing in a cellar in a town called Ingelheim, we met up with a bass player from London, Jimmy Eichhorn and his singing ‘broad’ called Liz. They were working with a German band and asked to join us. Well, as they had all the work lined up, we agreed, plus Kenny got rid of his bass and shared lead with Jimmy Mac. We gigged a month at a time in various clubs all over Germany until December 1967.   The lads wanted to return to England but I decided to stay and joined a German band called Sylvia’s Showband. We played for just over a year then I returned to England and hooked up with Gary Roberts, Johnny Wock - two old Vaqueros and Colin Edwardson on bass. We stayed together for about a year before I received a letter asking me to return to the Sylvia’s Showband in Germany. From the end of 1969 through 1972 we were an acclaimed band and were booked solid with 26 shows a month, another location for each show, for 18 months non-stop. The money was great but it nearly killed me.   One good thing came from it all because my wife was also with the band and we were married in 1973.   I'm not drumming anymore. I quit professionally on 1 December in 1972 and started a ‘normal’ life working for the U.S. Government.  My wife and I had bought a new house so I continued playing just weekends to furnish the whole place. I eventually sold my skins in 1978.” Johnny Kearns: February 2011 With special thanks to Ken Eden   If you have any info' please get in touch with bill@lankybeat.com

MIKE HURST & THE TREKKERS  Ray Lewis & The Trekkers: The Trekkershow *CRASH! Below..                      Preston   1968 in The Pink Elephant Club Aspull Wigan Dave Hall: Lead Guitar. Mike Hurst: Lead Vocal.  Bill Hart: Drums. Paul Nichol: Bass Guitar.   Changing their name to The Trekkershow in 1968, Bill Hart left the Shyms and joined them on drums replacing stickman Dave. They were now headed for the night-club cabaret circuit after a mega-successful early to mid 60's playing full-on rock 'n roll to rapturous Lankyland audiences. Time's were changing rapidly in the R 'n R business as it reached the end of the incredible 1960's era. Many top bands moved on and into new forms of musical group entertainment which brought TV fame to the likes of The Grumbleweeds, The Black Abbotts and The Rocking Berries.      Extremely popular with take's on Elvis Presley from Mike, along with the band boasting full-on vocal harmony, they showed off their many talents to perfection by covering rock classics like Amen Corner's 'Bend Me-Shape Me' and The Boxtops 'The Letter'. Dave played classic Jimi Hendrix guitar on Purple Haze whilst the boys softer side came through by handling polished vocals on Gene Pitney's 'I'm Gonna Be Strong' with somewhat amazing ease. Gideons Ways   'Into the cabaret scene they went, full of confidence.'   Into the cabaret scene they went, full of confidence. A short tour to the South Wales Vallay's at the time of the twin national tragedies of foot & mouth cattle disease and the Aberfan spoil-heap incident in 1969 gave them time re-style their old act. Undaunted by these local disasters and professional to the the hilt, the band members were billeted out for the week-long tour, to different local families for hospitality, good food and safe accomodation. During the long dark rainy days they spent their time rehearing, planning new idea's and practicing intricate comedy routines in order to trial them in front them to their adoring Welsh fans at the evening show's in the packed-out social clubs.   'The band were in for an unexpected and massive internal shock.'   Back to Lankyland they came, but unfortuately the band were in for an unexpected and massive internal shock. Mike decided he would leave the band to concentrate on his religeous studies as a Jehova's Witness. Bill also believed it was right too that he would leave also purely for personal reasons and move home with his then girl-friend and family to London.   Barry replaced Bill on drums and The Trekkershow became a working three piece oufit. Shows at such places as Blackpool Opera House became deriguer. Never quite topping the bill but backing up as such to many established 'stars', Blackpool always did and want to supply the very best of showbiz attractions to a huge audience and these guys were a huge part of it!     'Dave would introduce himself as "Ventriloquist - Dave Tent - The-Bent-Vent"'. A slick 20 minute comedy show twice nightly and several matinee's in the weekly Holiday season earned them a superb reputation at all levels of the business. Part of the act would see a small luggage trunk appear on stage and Dave would introduce himself as, "Ventriloquist-Dave Tent - The-Bent-Vent".     Opening the trunk and 'speaking' to the dummy inside it, out of it Dave manhandled Paul the Bass player. To the audiences astonishment Paul was now playing the finest dummy I've ever seen since Wigan's Eric Ashton wrong footed the entire Widnes team at Wigan's Central Park to score a wonderful try. Paul was small but not tiny and just how he fitted himself inside that trunk is anybody's guess?    Many winter and summer seasons saw them play extensively on the social club circuits and in and around the early 1980's they eventually called it a day. Paul Nichol moved in as compere at a local Preston Club and Mike Hurst went solo first and then in a duo later on... for many years after. Bill Hart May 2010   PS: Sadly, Mike Hurst passed away a few years ago.   Dave Hall    Mike Hurst  Dave?: Paul Nichol   "Here is a promo' pic, circa 1966/67 passed to me by the band when I worked backstage the Bolton Casino club at that time." Ken Hampson: October 2010   Crash "As far as I know Mike Hurst & The Trekkers were the only group in Lankyland to have a 'roadie'. His name was Doug' Larby, a lovely man, he used to drive the van, set up the P A system and check the sound was okay. I know Bill Hart - Lanky Beat author - later joined The Trekkers - but did they ever tell you Bill, about the time Dougie crashed the van?     I believe he went off the road down an embankment. The van rolled over and over Dougie came out with bumps and bruises but the van and the equipment inside, i.e. the amps, P A system and drums were a complete write off. The next day they rang the L.E. Agency and told them what had happend and said we are at Bolton Casinotonight; who are we on with? When they were told you are on with The PACT  they said thank goodness for that because we know The PACT and they will let us use their equipment.        Paul Nicol and Dave Hall always kept their guitars with then so they turned up for the gig with just two guitars and a pair of drum sticks. They thanked us for letting them use our equipment but just before they went on stage. I said to Mike Hurst 'do you remember setting up your P A system for us at Wigan Casino and there was an almighty feed-back when the curtains opened?' He said, 'yes I do.' Then I said, 'well its pay-back time.' Mike said, 'oh no. What have you done?' I said, 'I've done nothing - I was just winding you up.'" Tony Bird: January 2011

THE BLUE DIAMONDS Wigan New Pic: The Blue Diamonds perform at Belle Vue, Manchester in 1966. Erick Johnson: Lead Guitar.  Roy Davies: Drums.  Ricky Parkinson: Rythmn Guitar. Jack Tyldsley: Bass Guitar.  Ross Raynor: Lead Vocal.    Eric Johnson: Lead Guitar - Vocals. Ross Raynor: Lead Vocal.  Roy Davies: Drums. Jack Tyldesley: Bass - Vocals.    "The Blue Diamonds started life practicing in the barbers shop on King street, Wigan - Moot Hall - we then eventually got better and began taking bookings in youth clubs, weddings, partys, etc. Moving on to places like The Room At The Top - remember the stairs?, The Crawford Rooms, The Transport Club and Casino. The Wigan Emp'/Wigan.         We then signed for a Manchester Agency, which took us out of the Wigan area. Playing Ice Rinks up and down the country and clubs in and around Manchester and Liverpool, which also included playing at the world famous Cavern Club. They have a brick in the famous Mathew Street 'Wall of Fame'.     'In Paradise..'  After a couple of years we came back to work in Wigan as resident band at The Paradise Club in Scholes, a job we got through Billy Butler, D.J. at the Cavern Club - and now of BBC Radio Merseyside:     We stayed at The Paradise Club until 1967. We then got booked to go to Germany, but for some reason the contract fell through, so we all got proper jobs! - and went our separate ways. Ross found a successful solo career other members joined other bands, sadly Ross died a few years back.   An original pic of The Blue Diamonds at the Comet Youth Club, Wigan.  Jack Tinsley: Rhythm: Guitar - Later Bass: Ross Raynor: Lead Vocal. Roy Davies: Drums. Ricky ParkinsonRhythm Guitar. Jimmy Hindley: Bass Guitar.  Eric Johnson: Lead Guitar.       It must have been the 1962 credit crunch when the six-piece band became four. It was taken I believe in the Comet Youth Club - How did we manage with that gear?   I remember getting the bookings in The Cavern for November-December 1963-64. Looking down the list we spotted a job near home, it was The Cavern Liverpool. At the time it meant nothing to us just another job in Liverpool. I can recall when we arrived at the club it was pouring down with rain and freezing cold. We then had to carry all our gear down the steepest set of stairs in the world through to what was loosely described as a dressing room. As I recall it was just a square room painted black with group names painted or scratched all over the walls with a broken mirror at one end, dim lighting with a wash basin at the other - I don’t think it was used for washing hands!.     We were told that because we had arrived first we would go on first. A mistake we didn’t make a second time. The other bands arriving after us would ask if they could use our gear or part of it, them not having to carry it down the afore mentioned stairs - a good move on their part.     On stage it was just a case of turn up the volume and do one tune after another. The place  was packed and so hot. At that time we were kitted out in shirt and tie and blue suite's - what a big mistake that was. We came off stage after about forty minutes looking like we had jumped in and out the river Mersey.     On the bill that night were two other bands. I can’t remember one of the bands names but last on was The Big Three, so we couldn’t leave until they finished their set, to get our gear back. As I stated earlier we didn’t make that mistake again."     Looking back it is something to tell the kids and grandchildren I played drums at the now world famous Cavern Club. I didn’t think they would have believed me, but now I can prove it thanks to LANKY BEAT for showing the famous Cavern Wall of Fame bricks. Roy Davies: May & August 2010

~

The Lancastrians 'Brick' in The Wall of Fame

"I remember well The Lancastrians! They had a 'biggie' with 'We'll Sing In The Sunshine' around 1964-65."

Mitch Mitchinson: August 2010

"John Featherstone of The Chuckles and I work in a band now called The Chevrolets."

Steve Wilde: August 2010

~

THE MERSEY FOUR

Little Gene & The Outlaws: The Mersey Five: Tony Prince Combo:

Tony Carlton & TMF: Tony Carlton & The Merseyboys:

Southport

Ray Marshall: Bass Guitar - Vocal. Tony Nelson: Guitar - Vocal.

Pete Campbell: Guitar - Vocal. Carl Riche: Drums.

The Mersey Four were a hugely appealing outfit from the Merseyside area where the band mostly played. Various personelle line-ups emerged with one such making a tour of Germany in 1964. With Decca Records they made an LP of Beatles covers getting good reviews and it sold quite well at the time. 

*Information produced from 'The Sound With The Pound'.

 A book by Manfred Kuhlmann: September: 2010

 ~

BRUCE HARRIS

& THE CAVALIERS

Lankyland

Michael Anthony Jenion - better known as Tony Jenion

- was the drummer with Bruce Harris & The Cavaliers

 

"I am currently trying to put together a scrap book of pictures and other bands he worked with for our family history. I know he did play at the Cavern, more than once I think, although I am not 100% sure. As we are in Australia, its a little difficult to get to the areas he worked in with the bands. These were Wigan, Leigh, Warrington, Manchester etc."

 

  If you have anything that you can share with me, information or links to other sites which maybe helpful I would really appreciate it."

Kind regards

Tammy Augostin: September 2010

Contact

Dennis Keeley: Drums. Paul Nash: Bass Guitar - Vocal.

Steve Duggan Lead Guitar - Vocal, Geoff Keeley: Rhythm Guitar - Vocal.

 

A top pioneering group in Widnes who toured the national circuit as professionals and played just the once at the Cavern Club in 1964. Decca signed them producing a 45 Geoff Keeley 

self-penned single. Still fondly remembered by the locals of the day.