LANKY BEAT
WEBSITE UNDER CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT.
Wesley Street Southport
"I have a 1953 Hofner Committee acoustic with an Armstrong jazz pick-up. It came from from Wesley Music, Wesley Street, Southport."
^rf22vfl: Wigan World:
July 2010
LIDDYPOOL:
Birthplace Of The Beatles
David Bedford
www.liddypool.com
"What this book doesn't need is another superlative accolade; but it's getting another huge one from me!"
'AB FAB'
Bill Hart: August 2010 |
Please scroll down to reach your band's destination..
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THE OLYMPICS
Groovy Kind:
Wigan
1964 -1967
Ocean Room - Blackpool
Paul Beasley: Bass Guitar. John McNamara: Lead Vocal. Drums: John Bass.
Tony Hughes: Rythmn Guitar. Dave Riley: Lead Guitar.
Groovy Kind: Don Perry: Drums.
"We played all the main local venues plus The Las Vegas Club and The Mask serving our time hacking it in the youth clubs like St Georges Hall etc before moving on to the Wellfield Hotel every Friday night. We even rehearsed in The Court Hall Ballroom and The Crawford Rooms dressing rooms which are in the same building. Most unusual was our three weeks residency at The Room At The Top. We played Mon - Wed - Fri - Sat - Sun afternoon sessions; brilliant days they were.
At The Casino Club Bolton - again resident for but this time for three months - we played with The Merseybeats and Dave Dee, Dozy. Beaky, Mick & Titch. At The Beachcomber Club, also in Bolton - 'we never got to play at Wigan Beachcomber' - I watched Pete Townsend of The Who smash his guitar into the ceiling for fun.
At Walkden Civic Hall nr Manchester we played with The Moody Blues in 1965 and at the
USAA Air Force Base Burtonwood we were asked by two GI's to smuggle them out of the Base
for the night. They sneeked inside the back of the van with the equipment then two strippers joined them who had been performing on the same bill that night!"
Paul Beasley: January 2011 |
The Magic Lanterns 2011
Ian Moncur - Allan Wilson - Pete Shoesmith.
"Here we meet to discuss a possible 2011 tour of the USA: 'Urmston, Salford and Ashton!' - The old ones are the best."
Allan Wilson: March 2011
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THE
MAGIC LANTERNS
The Sabres: The Hammers:
Lankyland
*Allan Wilson's update..
*Ian Moncur, Jimmy Bilsbury, Pete Shoesmith and Allan Wilson
A publicity pic of our first record release 'Excuse me Baby' in June 1966.
The group had two personnel changes from when we were The Hammers. Jimmy Bilsbury replaced vocalist Maurice Tickle and Pete 'Coco' Shoesmith replaced Gerry Blackman on Guitar.
Cutting from the St Helens Reporter
Sweden 1967
Alaster Beveridge - Ian Moncur - Pete Shoesmith
Jimmy Bilsbury - Allan Wilson
New member Alaster 'Bev' Beveridge from
Newton-le-Willows joined as a rhythm guitarist plus vocals.
Pete Shoesmith - Mike Osbourne: seated. Jimmy Bilsbury - Alaster Beveridge - Allan Wilson.
.
Mike 'Ozzy' Osbourne replaced Ian Moncur on bass guitar. The pic above was taken to publicise 'Shame Shame'. The record reached No17 on Billboard Charts in the USA but sadly it did not chart over here in the UK.
Allan Wilson: March 2011
http://youtu.be/ExyeCczwO0o
Jimmy Bilsbury R.I.P
1966 -1968
Jimmy Bilsbury: Vocal Piano Guitar. Ian Moncur: Bass
Peter 'Coco' Shoesmith: Lead Guitar. Allan Wilson: Drums.
The Magic Lanterns on Facebook.
Ian Moncur, The original bass player and one of the founding members of The Magic Lanterns' - CBS records is interviewed about his life in professional music by Ronnie Carr of The Beat Boys - Decca - during the Spring of 2009. Here Ian talks of his youth and recalls fond memories of their number #1 hit on Radio Caroline. From the early days as Bassist in The Magic Lanterns, to the late sixties when he quit the group to focus on his religious belief and beyond.
His home movie re-edited by Chris Miller
www.myspace.com/ukfm
A UKFM Shortfilm Archive 2010
The Magic Lanterns were formed by vocalist- pianist Jimmy Bilsbury
somewhere in, around and inbetween Warrington and Leigh.
We were The Hammers when this was taken, infact it taken was outside the Towers Club in Warrington which was the sister club to the Garrick Club, Leigh.
They formed after Jimmy left local Leigh band 'The Beat Boys' and in 1962 he appeared with a new local line up in a band called 'The Sabres', who after playing locally around Leigh, Burtonwood American Airbase, Manchester and Liverpool changed their name first to 'The Hammers' and then shortly after to 'The Magic Lanterns'. It is uncertain who decided on the band name.
"Since packing in with the ML's in 1968 I had an eight year break - got married and had a son.
I even sold my beloved Ludwig kit - must have been mad. However, in 1976, I started playing again in clubs and for twenty odd years I had residences in quite a few. I now just do dep' work at a few clubs."
Allan Wilson: March 2011
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THE
MAGIC LANTERN
1968 - 1971
Jimmy Bilsbury: Vocal Piano Guitar. Alistair Beveridge: Guitar Vocal.
Mike 'Oz' Osborne: Bass Vocal. Harry Paul Ward: Drums Vocal.
Peter Garner: Guitar Vocal. |
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THE HAMMERS
St Helens
1963
The Hammers.
Gerry Blackman - Allan Wilson - Maurice Tickle - Ian Moncur
"We changed our name from The Sabres as there was a Liverpool group called Denny Seyton & The Sabres and it was causing us problems getting into the Liverpool clubs. We also had a change in line up Pete Bond and Ken Hobin left the group and we replaced them with Gerry Blackman from Leigh."
1964: The Hammers on stage at Formby Hall, Leigh.
Jimmy Bilsbury: Vocal-Guitar. Ian Moncur: Bass Guitar
Gerry Blackman: Lead Guitar. Allan Wilson: Drums.
*http://youtu.be/ExyeCczwO0o
Jimmy Bilsbury R.I.P
1962 Jimmy Bilsbury - right - formed The Sabres, playing locally and changing their name a few years later to The Magic Lanterns and hailing from Warrington.
Later he went on to achieve even greater things such as joining the The Les Humphries Singers in Hamburg, Germany who had a diverse ethnic line-up which included Liz Mitchel of Boney M. As one of the lead singers, Jimmy never gained the respect and credit for his writing and co-writing since to the record company wanted to have the focus on Les Humphries only.
Jimmy however, is credited with writing the song recorded by
Boney M called 'Belfast': A Northern Ireland protest song.
Jimmy's former bands:
(England)
RAY JOHNSON SKIFFLE GROUP
THE NIGHTBOPPERS
THE BEAT BOYS
THE SABRES
THE HAMMERS
THE MAGIC LANTERNS
(Germany)
THE LES HUMPHRIES SINGERS
MEGATON
A film is out soon featuring Jimmy's earlier career!
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THE SABRES
Vince Reno & The Sabres: The Hammers: The Magic Lanterns
St Helens
*New Pic.. Allan Wilson
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Vince Reno & The Sabres taken in action at St Vincents School, Derbyshire Hill, St Helens around 1961. The line up is Vince Reno - aka Maurice Tickle, Pete Bond - lead guitar, Allan Wilson - drums, Ken Hobin- rhythm guitar and Ian Moncur- bass guitar.
Allan Wilson: March 2011
*New pics.. Pete Bond: March 2011
*
St Helens Town Hall
Pete Bond: Lead Guitar - Vocal. Bert Griffiths: Manager. Allan Wilson: Drums.
Ken Hobin: Rhythm Guitar - Vocal. Maurice Tickle: Lead Vocal. Ian Moncur: Bass Guitar - Vocal
* 
Ken Hobin Maurice Tickle Pete Bond
"The Sabres became Vince Reno & The Sabres - to avoid confusion with the Liverpool band, Denny Seyton & The Sabres - and were formed at the end of 1961. We played the local ballrooms, Leigh Casino, Hindley Monaco, Co-op Ballroom's in St Helens, Leigh, Warrington etc as well as The Cavern with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated - Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Baker, drums. The Hollies also played that night as did about six or seven other bands.
We were in no way connected to Godley and Crème - 10cc - of the Manchester Sabres.
Also Jimmie Bilsbury did not join The Sabres till about 1964 or 1965 when the name Vince Reno was dropped and the band then became The Hammers then later The Magic Lanterns.
Snowy Night in Buffalo
Whilst driving through Buffalo New York State one snowy night in 1971 my radio was tuned to a 1960’s station. What came on but the song Shame Shame. The presenter was doing a count-down of top twenty hits for a particular month/year and Shame Shame came in at number 17. I almost drove the car into a ditch. I also remember driving The Magic Lanterns down to London to make their second record Rumplestilskin in 1966. I think that was a great record but didn’t do too well on the charts. I still keep in touch with Ian Moncur the bass player and what a great friend he is after 45 years.
*
Vince Reno & The Sabres play the St Helens Plaza
Please, Bill, keep up the great work on Lanky Beat. I’ve been marooned out here in Canada for forty years so it’s just great to talk to some guys who know where I’m coming from. Hope this info' helps the site! All the best."
Ken Hobin: November 2010 |
*THE THUNDERBEATS
Preston
Keith 'Keef' Hartley: Drums.
The Thunderbeats have the honourable distinction of playing at The Floral Hall, Morecambe in support of The Beatles in one of the fab-four's two bookings there between late 1962 and early in 1963. The band had been making an impact on audiences around the north-west circuit for a while, but this was not an issue for drummer Keith, as the call was soon to come for him to turn professional and leave the semi-pro Thunderbeats behind.
Bill Hart: December 2010
KEEF HARTLEY
A vacancy had recently occurred in a Liverpool band and they needed a good new drummer and quick. At first Keith wasn't over keen when he heard which band's drummer he would be eventually replacing.
"Nah, I didn't rate 'em much. I always thought the lead singer was a bit of a prat, but I couldn't turn down the chance."
A bloke named Ringo Starr had left Rory Storm & the Hurricanes to join another unknown band called The Beatles and Rory Storm was stuck.
Knowing each other well from gigging around, many a band's personnel were as shifting sands and no one was particularly surprised at his rapid move into the full-time ranks for any of these young aspirational musicians. It was often case of "What. Full-time and £10 quid a week? When do I start?"
Earning around twice the average wage, off he went touring the country and wearing Ringo's old luminous pink suit in the process. Then to The Star Club, Hamburg for a couple of disillusioned months where he met Freddy Starr who had arrived in Germany without a drummer for his backing band The Starr Boys. With two old Preston pals from
David John & The Mood in the ranks it made Keef's decision to stay on at The Star Club with Freddy quite an easy one.
In 1964 Freddy left the returning Starr Boys to a Blackpool summer season residency at
The Picador Club where many named acts of the era such as Bill Fury and Joe Brown performed regularly. Still unsettled with his musical lot and lustily ambitious, he opted to up-sticks, go to London, and go for it!
He slept rough at times in the city centre before reading an ad' in The Melody Maker: 'Drummer wanted for rhythm and blues band'. The Artwoods had recruited a great Lankyland drummer. The band leader Art Wood has a now-famous brother: Ronnie Wood.
Later joining John Mayall's Blues Breakers and after gaining much notability he went on the form The Keef Hartley Band. The group were the first British band to play on the bill at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. They have since released four popular albums, including Halfbreed and The Battle of North West Six.
Bill Hart: December 2010
Note: Ringo's immediate replacement in Rory Storm & The Hurricanes was, for a few gigs, Pete Best; the sacked Beatles drummer. |
THE DIPLOMATS
Rhythmn & Blues Incorporated
Southport
Quentin Haggerty: Rhythm Guitar. David Tollins: Bass Guitar.
Barry Warmsley: Lead Guitar. (Front) Kelvin Finlayson: Drums.
Barry Warmsley left The Diplomats and went on to join fledgling band Rhythm & Blues Incorporated on lead Guitar. However, Playing at The
Kingsway Club in Southport the first time that The Beatles played there.. Barry asked John Lennon if he'd been asked to turn the volume down whilst they were playing. "No", he said. "And if they do tell us to turn down, I'll tell them to 'turn' off."
 
Barry Warmsley Wesley Music Wesley Street
Southport
RHYTHM & BLUES INCORPORATED
The Diplomats
Southport
A Rhythm & Blues Inc' Brick in the Cavern Wall of Fame - Liverpool
R&BI released a single called Louie Louie 1964 as a cover of The Kingsmen's record with the Carl Perkins song Honey Don't on the B side. "The Kinks released an EP with Louie Louie on it," said Barry. "And with Ringo vocalising 'Honey Don't' on a Beatles LP: That sort of killed that! We went out on the circuit though and had a good time but we didn't make any money from it. We were always skint."
From his music shop in Wesley Street, Southport he can be an interesting and entertaining character. Reminiscing the hundreds of stories from his time with the band in the 1960's, where he proudly shows off his collection of pictures and vinyl records, which cover the walls of his tiny shop, to his many loyal and visiting customers.
Always welcoming Barry point me to a red box on his counter. "Also, this a new venture of mine." He shows me a vintage top-of-the-range Bush Inter-Changable Record Player circa 1955. I've got more coming in shortly around forty or so of them - all makes. All in good working order and now on sale including a 1960's 'Hi-Fidelity' model, which back 'then'", he adds, "Everybody had."
 
Barry - I'm glad to say - is still active in the biz. Together with his brother they are gigging togetter with the not-so-inconsiderble-help of a four-piece back line including the great Brian Jones - sax player with Liverpool legends The Undertakers.
When you're in Southport next, call in at Wesley Music for a chat and a little nostalgia. You never know you might even walk out with vintage record player?
Give Barry ring on 01704 532132.
Bill Hart: July 2010
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The Q FACTOR
The Q Factor was in transition about 1970 Joe and Bill Boardman - Rumble Fat Band - Trumpet - played with us for a while. The vocalist from about 1970 was John Downs from Atherton. He had performed as a solo artist under the stage name of Steve Warren - the names of his sons. John was our vocalist until about 1974, when unfortunately, he died suddenly. We never found a vocalist of his calibre to replace him thus the demise of The Q Factor in about 1975.
There was a group named Septre in 1969 and they used to do the residency at The Garrick in Leigh, last late spot before closing. "We got that residency late '69 and used to do a spot about midnight, we also did Roy Jackson's other club at Warrington - The Towers. Those Garrick days were great with the big acts Roy used to have booked. We were there about 6 months if I remember correctly and used to go there following bookings elsewhere the same evening."
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THE SABRES
Manchester
Jimmy Bilsbury: Guitar Vocals. Neil Lavine: Guitar
Harvey Rose: Bass Vocals. David Solomons: Guitar. Harvey Starr. Vocals.
Kevin Godley: Drums. Lol Creme: Guitar
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| THE NIGHTBOPPERS
Pythons Skiffle Group
Atherton
*
A signed picture of The Night Boppers
by Sir Paul McCartneywishing the band a happy recent reunion.
Dave Peacock: Lead Vocal. Keith Halliwell: Guitar Vocal. Roy Hilton:
Roy Timperley: Jimmy Billsbury: Piano Vocal.
"Formed in 1957 as The Pythons. I sang in The Night Boppers between 1959-61. We played with The Beatles just the once at The Aintree Institute in Liverpool. All the Liverpool bands at the time played there although we never made it to The Cavern."
Dave Peacock: June 2010
*
*Pics courtesy of David Bedford - Liddypool: Birthplace of the Beatles
www.liddypool.com |
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RAMSAMMY
Various
"Ramsammy were a collective band made up of anyone who could be there on the day, but generally people you would never believe just joined in - ask Mitch of Ipso Facto.
We did lots of studio recordings and jingles for a "pirate" or community radio station in the 1980's called Douglas Valley Radio, broadcasting on 102.4 FM. DVR lasted for two years or so, broadcastiing at weekends mainly over Wigan and local topographical area. We were eventualy caught-out and we all paid our dues to society. However, Ramsammy carried on in various forms doing charity gigs and sessions throughout the Wigan area.
"Rock For Kids" was a charity event originally organised to raise money for a local Standish boy but it grew on from there. The artiste's and groups who perfomed at these events were incredible. All local bred and loads of photos. These were the best years of our lives."
Garry Hughes: May 2010 |
SWEET CHARIOT
Salford
Sweet Chariot were a three-piece band from Salford who used to play all the clubs in the north west. They were very friendly with The Walker Brothers when they where based in 60's Manchester.
David Darbyshire: June 2010
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LEE SHANE
&
THE TROPICS
The Vigilantes
Leigh
Sat on van:
Keith Pennington: Lead Guitar. Alan Ashurst [Lee Shane]: Lead Vocal.
Ray Headland: Rhythm Guitar. Phil Taylor: Bass Guitar.
John Lowe: Manager. Dave Thompson: Transport. Adie Bate: Drums.
Here's a list of some of the venues Lee Shane and the Tropics who played at in 1961-63. originally called The Vigilantes but they changed to LS&TT to avoid confusion with the Warrington group of the same name.
The Tropics at the Monaco Ballroom Hindley Wigan 1962
The Harrow - Culcheth: The Harrow - Edge Green: Old Dog - Wigan: Owl Inn - Upholland:
Walmesley Arms - Spring View: Old Hall - Ince: The Royal - Ince: The Stag - Garswood:
Leigh Casino - Leigh: Parr & Hardshaw L.C. - St Helens: Co-op Hall - St. Helens: The Plaza - St. Helens: Railway Club - Warrington: The Monaco - Hindley: Platt Bridge Brithish Legion - old one. Platt Bridge L.C. Wigan: Carnegie Library - Pemberton, Wigan: Carlton-Sportsman's Club - Pemberton Wigan:
Phil Taylor: July 2010
A recent pic of Lee Shane & The Tropics meeting up for the first time in 45 years. Taken at The Stag in Garswood where we used to play in the 1960's, we all got in touch again due to a photo which was published on Wigan World.
L-R Phil Taylor: Bass. Glenda Lofthouse (Roberts) Vocals. Alan Ashurst (Lee Shane): Vocals.
Keith Pennington: Lead Guitar. John Lowe: Manager. Norman Pritchard: original Drummer.
Phil Taylor: Agust 2010 |
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OWENS HOBBITS
Wigan
Lead Vocal: Owen Hughes. Alan Whalley: Stan Gore: Stuart
"With regards to the late lamented Owens Hobbits you asked me for memories and pictures. I can't find any photos and I cant remember what happened yesterday? But what I do remember of the band is Stan Gore who is now an optician, Stuart, who was a posh-lad from Wigan Grammar School, Jack a Bobbies son from Worsley Hall and the only one I still keep in touch with Alan Whalley, local businessman and golfer.
I would very much like to hear how the guys are getting on and I would just like to let youknow that after 45 years in the business - DARLING!, I am still looking for a proper job!!"
Owen Hughes: August 2010
"Owens Hobbits - quite rightly - once proudly proclaimed to be the first-ever sixties rock band to play on the Wigan Mesnes Park bandstand. One Saturday night I took a girl who I really fancied into the park. It was early evening and the pale summer sun had just begun setting over the highest peaks of the slag heap tips in the not too distant faraway lands of Goose Green.
I could hear the familiar bump-bump-bump of the rock 'n roll beat. In no time at all we could clearly see the bandstand. In full flag they were - Owen and his animated Hobbits. A dog walker had stopped casually by a tall tree, partly removing his flat cap, he looked up towards the lads and waited for the inevitable to happen: It did!
The 'Fab' Four..?
Looking around there weren't many fans supporting them either. I think we were the only two - but - I suppose the dog and his walker really made it four.
This was the first band I had ever seen play outside - in the great-out-doors so-to-speak. So next week, Owen told us, there would be another local band performing - that's of course - if it didn't pour down with rain?
Owen Hughes knew his limitations a singer and soon turned-up working for William Leyland at L.E Agency in Hindley as an assistant agent.
Owen has run his own Agency for many years now based in Aspull, Wigan and is imaginitively named:
Owen Hughes Entertainments."
Bill Hart: June 2010
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THE FRENZ
Wigan
Alan Dwyer: Guitar. Mick Hannen: Lead Vocal. Jimmy (Thurston) Hannon: Bass Guitar.
Phil Maiden: Drums, Mitch Mitchinson: Keyboards Harmonica.
The Frenz formed when Alan Dwyer and Mick Hannan left The Trakkers to pursue other musical interests. Initially the band was a four piece group with Phil Maiden on drums and Jimmy Hannon on bass - Jimmy's first name was Thurston.
After a few Gigs Michael 'Mitch' Mitchinson (pre-Ipso Facto) joined the band as keyboard and harmonica player. They played around Wigan and could be seen on numerous occasions at the very popular Room At The Top Club, Wigan. Sadly, Jimmy and Alan passed away at early ages, leaving Mitch, Mick and Phil as surviving members.
Charity at the Monaco
John 'Wokky' Watkinson: Guitar. Mitch Mithchinson: Guitar.
Mick Hannon: Lead Vocal. Phil: Frenz drummer.
Barry Hammond: Bass. Oggie: Guitar.
(Also see The Trakkers)
"In 1964 I joined The Frenz who were already a very good group. I'd seen them at Room At The Top in Wigan and was very impressed. I initially joined as harmonica player then guitar as I improved. We were booked as support for The Kinks at Preston Top Rank ballroom and the place was packed with screaming young ladies. I can remember we were supposed to play after The Kinks. It was a Saturday afternoon show and at around 4.00pm The Kinks still hadn't arrived, the crowd were restless so they asked us to go on first."
"The Kinks were late - so..."
We donned our brand-new suits with frilly shirts and new cuban-heeled boots and stepped onto the revolving stage. We opened with 'Dont Bring Me Down' by the Pretty Things which featured harmonica. The stage had only rotated about a third when the crowd, thinking we were The Kinks, dragged me onto the dance floor .
My harmonica was halfway down my throat when Mick the singer landed on top of me! The bouncers stopped the show and I dont think we played one song! Funny thing is, someone
had nicked one of my new boots while I was on the dance floor and I had a big hole in my sock and my big toe was sticking out! Me mam went mental at me for losing me boot."
Mike 'Mitch' Mitchinson April 2010 |
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TONY EMERALD
&
THE DIAMONDS
Wigan
Alan Turner: Lead Vocal.
Dennis 'Raz' Berry - 'Tony Emerald' - Billy Shym -with duffle bag
Short-lived but this band was one of the first manifestations of a rock 'n roll group based on Cliff Richard & The Shadows rather than the mid 1950's Lonnie Donegan Skiffle craze.
Alan 'Rocky' Turner - aka: Tony Emerald - went on to form the earliest version of the Shyms line-up with Dennis Berry and myself -Bill Hart. Alan Bentham came next -
then Malc' Green.
Bill Hart: June 2010 | ~
"Do you know anymore about this band or any others?"
Then get in touch right away!
bill@lankybeat.com
Bill Hart Lo-call 08450 94 87 95
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