’66

US soul music continued to thrive in the UK charts in 1966 leading local bands to add songs by James Brown, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett to their set lists. Bands with a saxophone or a brass section, such as the Gas Board and Gregg Burman Soul Band fared particularly well covering soul material.

More US records were appearing in the UK charts prompting the New Musical Express to announce that the ‘British Beat Boom’ of the previous four years was over. Successful British bands in 1966 were The Kinks, Small faces, Manfred Mann, The Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

In 1966 Newcastle bands the Sect and the Elcort were playing at the best venues in the north east. Both of these bands strived to release a record that year. The Elcort’s attempt with their single ‘Tammy’ was the more successful of the two.

North east gigs

January

4/1/66      Steampacket appear at KD Club, Billingham
7/1/66      The Who appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
18/1/66    Spencer Davis Group appear at El Cubana, Sunderland
20/1/66    Spencer Davis Group appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
27/1/66    Graham Bond Organisation appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
29/1/66    John Mayall appears at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Sat	01/01/1966	45 Club, Whitley bay
Sun	02/01/1966	Birtley Buffs
Wed	05/01/1966	West End Club Tramps Dance
Fri	07/01/1966	The McCoy Club, Middlesbrough	The Who
Fri	14/01/1966	45 Club, Whitley bay
Sat	15/01/1966	Washington Welfare	Outliners
Mon	17/01/1966	Private Party, Roker
Wed	19/01/1966	Sunderland College
Fri	21/01/1966	Quay Club, Newcastle
Sat	22/01/1966	West End Club, Newcastle
Sat	29/01/1966	West End Club, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

The Bailey Organisation opens Club Latino in South Shields.

Sunderland’s Locarno and Top Rank ballrooms are both granted full pub licenses for the first time. (Prior to this they had to apply for alcohol licenses for specific events.)

Singer David Jones changes his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones (of Monkees fame).

The Animals end their association with Mickey Most and switch record labels from Columbia to Decca (and MGM for the USA).Manfred Mann vocalist, Paul Jones is injured in a car accident following a gig at Hull University. Several shows are cancelled but Eric Burdon from the Animals stands in for him for a gig at London’s Marquee Club.

In the charts

1     Day Tripper/We Can Work It out – The Beatles
10   Spanish Flea – Herb Alpert
20   To Whom It Concerns – Chris Andrews
__________________________________________________________

February

North east gigs

3/2/66      The Steam Packet appear at the Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
4/2/66      Alan Price Set appear at the Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
8/2/66      Small Faces appear at the Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle
12/2/66    Jimmy James & The Vagabonds appear at the Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
17/2/66    The Who appear at the Club a’Gogo, Newcastle
25/2/66    The Animals and Graham Bond Organisation appear at Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
26/2/66    Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at the Club a’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Sat	05/02/1966	Ashington Welfare	Morton Sound
Tue	08/02/1966	Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle	Small Faces
Fri	11/02/1966	4X Jazz Club, Tynemouth
Sat	12/02/1966	Bay Hotel (private party)
Fri	18/02/1966	Newgiggin
Sat	19/02/1966	Quay Club, Newcastle
Tue	22/02/1966	West End Club, Newcastle
Thu	24/02/1966	Trimdon Bakeries Dance
Fri	25/02/1966	45 Club, Whitley Bay
Sat	26/02/1966	West End Club, Newcastle
Sun	27/02/1966	Lamp Glass Cellar, Ashington

Happening Elsewhere

The owner of Liverpool’s Cavern Club, Ray McFall is declared bankrupt. The Cavern gained national fame in the early sixties through the Beatles who played there regularly both as the Beatles and the Quarrymen prior to becoming famous. Despite the Cavern Club’s success it is not a financially secure business and is forced to close due to Mcfall’s financial situation. The closure comes as a real shock but it quickly attracted two new investors who set about developing and improving the club.

The Animals appear for the fifth time on on the Ed Sullivan Show and perform ‘We Gotta Get Out Of This Place’.

Arthur Brown, who is to later rise to prominence with his ‘Crazy World’, disbands his band ‘Union’ and forms the ‘Arthur Brown Set’ in order to fulfill a residency at the Moulin Rouge, ParisThe Rolling Stones tour Australia and New Zealand.

The Animals appear on the BBC TV programme – ‘Whole Scene Going’The Small Faces start recording their first album at IBC Studios, Portland Place, London.

In the charts

1      You Were On My Mind – Crispan St Peter
10    Mirror Mirror – Pinkertons Assorted Colours
20    Michelle – David & Jonathan
____________________________________________________________

March

North east gigs

3/3/66      Georgie Fame appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
3/3/66      John Mayall appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
11/3/66    Spencer Davis Group appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
11/3/66    The Action appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
12/3/66    Jimmy Cliff appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
13/3/66    Tony Rivers And The Castaways appear at Kirklevington Country Club
19/3/66    Zoot Money And The Big Roll Band appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Tue	01/03/1966	– Kirk Levington Country Club	John McCoy’s Crawdaddies
Thu	03/03/1966	– Boom Boom Club, Durham
Fri	04/03/1966	– Boom Boom Club, Durham
Sat	05/03/1966	– Boom Boom Club, Durham
Sun	06/03/1966	– Kelloe
Fri	11/03/1966	– The McCoy Club, Middlesbrough	The Action
Sun	13/03/1966	– Kirk Levington Country Club	Tony Rivers and the Castaways
Thu	17/03/1966	– Club aGoGo, Newcastle
Fri	18/03/1966	– Guidepost School Dance
Sat	19/03/1966	– Ashington Welfare	Silver Dollars
Sun	20/03/1966	– El Cubana, Sunderland
Sat	26/03/1966	– West End Club, Newcastle
Wed	30/03/1966	– Seaham Harbour Tech Dance

Happening Elsewhere

‘The Beatles at Shea Stadium’, a fifty-minute-long documentary of the Beatles’ concert at Shea Stadium in New York on 15th August 1965 is shown on BBC TV on 1st March. The documentary captures not only the concert, the attendance of which was 55,600, the largest Beatles concert up to that time, but also the events leading up to the concert, including the Beatles’ helicopter ride from Manhattan to Flushing Meadows, their preparation in the Shea Stadium dressing room, which was the visiting baseball team’s locker room.

John Lennon is interviewed by journalist Maureen Cleave for article about the Beatles’ lifestyles. When the article appears in the Evening Standard, Lennon is quoted as saying that Christianity is in decline and more controversially – “We’re more popular than Jesus now”. The remark arouses no outrage in the UK but when the article is reproduced in the teenage magazine ‘Dateline’ five months later in the USA, mass protest against the Beatles break out which adversely affect the band’s third US American tour.

On 5th March Kenneth McKellar sings the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest – ‘A Man Without Love’. It finishes ninth.

Drummer John Steel quits The Animals and is replaced by Barry Jenkins.

The Musician’s Union bans its members from miming on TV with effect from 31st March, affecting popular programmes such as BBC’s ‘Top Of The Pop’.Several weeks later a compromise was reached whereby a specially recorded backing track was permitted – as long as all the musicians on the track were present in the studio.

Rod Stewart leaves the r&b band ‘Steampacket’, formed by Long John Baldry a year earlier. The band, which features Rod Stewart and Julie Driscoll on vocals and Brian Auger on organ splits up shortly after.

In the charts

1       A Groovy Kind Of Love – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
10     Spanish Flea – Herb Alpert
20     This Golden Ring – The Fortunes

__________________________________________________________

April

North east gigs

2/4/66      Roy Orbison, Walker Brothers, Lulu and Kim D & The Del 5 appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/4/66      Roy Orbison, Walker Brothers, Lulu and Kim D & The Del 5 appear at ABC, Stockton
15/4/66    Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
20/4/66    The Pretty Things appear at the Top Rank, Sunderland
21/4/66    The Pretty Things, Junco Partners and Jazzboard appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
28/4/66    John Mayall appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
29/4/66    Kinks, Dave D Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich and Wayne Fontana appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/4/66    Herbie Goins And The Nighttimers appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
30/4/66    Herbie Goins And The Nighttimers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Thu	07/04/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Mon	11/04/1966	– 45 Club, Whitley Bay
Thu	14/04/1966	– Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Fri	15/04/1966	– The McCoy Club, Middlesbrough	Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band
Sat	16/04/1966	– West End Club, Newcastle
Thu	21/04/1966	– Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle	Pretty Things, Junco Partners
Fri	22/04/1966	– 45 Club, Whitley Bay
Sat	23/04/1966	– Whitley Bay Youth Club
Thu	28/04/1966	– Sunderland Art College Dance
Fri2	9/04/1966	– The McCoy Club, Middlesbrough	Herbie Goins and the Nightimers
Sat	30/04/1966	– Bede College Dance, Durham

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles begin recording their seventh studio album – “Revolver”, which will feature songs such as; Eleanor Rigby, Taxman, Yellow Submarine, Here There And Everywhere and Godd Day Sunshine. The album will be released later in the year in August.

Disc Weekly is incorporated with Music Echo magazine.

In the charts

1      Somebody Help Me – Spencer Davis Group
10    Make The World Go Away – Eddie Arnold
20    Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
________________________________________________________

May

North east gigs

4/5/66      Them appear at the Top Rank, Sunderland
6/5/66      The Shevelles appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
12/5/66    Johnny Cash appears at Newcastle City Hall
13/5/66    John Lee’s Groundhogs appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
27/5/66    Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Sun	01/05/1966	– Private Party, Dundas Street
Tue	03/05/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri	06/05/1966	– The McCoy Club,Middlesbrough	The Shevells
Sat	07/05/1966	– Sunderland Technical College	Five Links
Sun	08/05/1966	– Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle
Thu	12/05/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Fri	13/05/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Sat	14/05/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Sun	15/05/1966	– North Shields Youth Club
Mon	16/05/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Thu	19/05/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Fri	20/05/1966	– Fuse Box, Whitburn
Sat	21/05/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Thu	26/05/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Fri	27/05/1966	– The McCoy Club, Middlesbrough	Dawnbreakers
Sat	28/05/1966	– Ashington Welfare	Dischords
Sun	29/05/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Mon	30/05/1966	– 45 Club, Whitley Bay

Happening Elsewhere

On 1st May The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who perform at the New Musical Express poll winners’ show in London. The show is televised but the Beatles and The Rolling Stones performances are left out because of union conflicts.

13th May – The Rolling Stones release ‘Paint It Black’.

The Animals appear in an episode of BBC TV’s ‘A Whole Scene Going’ hosted by Barry Fantoni and Wendy Varnals. Later in the month they appear on ITV’s ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’

Building on the success of their singles in the US and riding high on the back of the British Invasion, Van Morrison’s Them undertook a two month tour of the States that included a residency at the Whiskey A’Gogo, Los Angeles from 30th may to 18th June.

The Small faces self titled album is released.

American singer Bob Dylan backed by The Hawks (later The Band) perform at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. Dylan is booed by the audience due his decision to tour with and electric band. The boos culminate in the famous “Judas” shout.

In the charts

1      Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
10    Sorrow – The Merseys
20    Somebody Help Me – Spencer Davis Group

____________________________________________________________

June

North east gigs

2/6/66      The Kinks appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
15/6/66    The Small Faces appear at the Top Rank, Sunderland
17/6/66    The Eyes appear at KD Club, Billingham
21/6/66    Bob Dylan appears at Odeon, Newcastle
23/6/66    Crying Shames appear at Mayfair, Newcastle

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Thu	02/06/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Fri	03/06/1966	– Guidepost School Dance
Sat	04/06/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Thu	09/06/1966	– Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland	Gene Mayo Orchestra
Sat	11/06/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Wed	15/06/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Thu	16/06/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Fri	17/06/1966	– KD Club, Billingham	The Eyes
Thu	23/06/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Sat	25/06/1966	– 45 Club, Whitley Bay
Sun	26/06/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Wed	29/06/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland	Revolutionary Spirit
Thu	30/06/1966	– Ramside Hall, Durham

Happening Elsewhere

Jack Bruce announces that he will be joining a new instrumental trio called The Cream.

In the charts

1      Strangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra
10    Paperback Writer – The Beatles
20    Nobody Needs Your Love – Gene Pitney

_____________________________________________________________

July

North east gigs

13/7/66    World Cup Night at Club Aztec, Sunderland
14/7/66    Alan Price, Chris Farlowe, Junco Partners and Gas Board appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
16/7/66    Ivans Meads appear at KD Club, Billingham
20/7/66    Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and the Sect appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
31/7/66    Solomon Burke appears at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)

My Gigs (with Jazzboard)

Sat	02/07/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sun	03/07/1966	– Club Astec,Sunderland
Thu	07/07/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Fri	08/07/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland	Heatwaves
Sat	09/07/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Wed	13/07/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland	Revolutionary Spirit
Thu	14/07/1966	– Columbia House, Stockton
Fri	15/07/1966	– 45 Club, Whitley Bay
Sat	16/07/1966	– KD Club, Billingham	Ivan’s Meads
Sat	23/07/1966	– Lamp Glass Cellar, Ashington
Fri	29/07/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Sun	31/07/1966	– Redcar Jazz Club	Solomon Burke

Happening Elsewhere

Eric Clapton leaves John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to join Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in Cream.

Paul Jones leaves Manfred Mann to go solo.

The British Prime Minister Harold Wilson officially reopens Liverpool’s Cavern Club which has been overhauled and extended to include a new entrance, a souvenier shop, a boutique and a ground floor coffee lounge and eatery, whilst retaining its original basement vaults and atmosphere. Top of the bill on the opening night are American soul stars Rufus Thomas and Soloman Burke.

The Beatles become the first band to perform at the Nippon Budoka Hall in Tokyo, a venue normally associated with martial arts. Local citizens protest, saying that it was inappropriate for a rock and roll band to play there.

In the charts

1      Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks
10    Hideaway – Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich
20    Don’t Bring Me Down – The Animals

_______________________________________________________________

August

North east gigs

4/8/66      Stormsville Shakers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
4/8/66      The Merseys appear at the Locarno, Sunderland
11/8/66    The Troggs and Tony Rivers & The Castaways appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Sat	06/08/1966	– Ashington Welfare
Sun	07/08/1966	– Latino, South Shields
Fri	12/08/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sat	13/08/1966	– 45 Club, Whitley Bay
Sun	14/08/1966	– Latino, South Shields
Wed	17/08/1966	– Club Astec, Sunderland
Fri	19/08/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sat	20/08/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Fri	26/08/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sun	28/08/1966	– Latino, South Shields	Bill Maynard
Mon	29/08/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields

Happening Elsewhere

On 11th August John Lennon holds a press conference in Chicago to apologise for his remarks the previous March about Jesus. He said “I suppose if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I would have gotten away with it. I’m sorry O opened my mouth. I’m not antiGod, anti-Christ or anti-religion. I was not knocking it. I was not saying we were greater or better.”

The Beatles play their final concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco. Their US tour is overshadowed by the controversy surrounding John Lennon’s remarks earlier in the year comparing The Beatles’ popularity to Jesus. He is forced to issue an apology.

In the charts

1      With A Girl Like You – The Troggs
10    Love Letter – Elvis Presley
20    All Or Nothing – Small Faces
______________________________________________________

September

North east gigs

4/9/66      The Hollies appear at the Fiesta, Stockton
5/9/66      The Hollies appea at the Fiesta, Stockton
15/9/66    The Action and The Fenman appear at Mayfair, Newcastle
29/9/66    Stormsville Shakers appearat Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
29/9/66    Rolling Stones, Ike & Tina Turner and Yardbirds appear at ABC, Stockton

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Fri	09/09/1966	– The McCoy Club, Middlesbrough
Sat	10/09/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Fri	16/09/1966	– Greys Club, Newcastle
Sat	17/09/1966	– Swan Hotel, Redcar	Blue Caps
Mon	19/09/1966	-La Dolce Vita	Los Bravos
Thu	22/09/1966	– Darlington
Fri	23/09/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sat	24/09/1966	– Ashington Welfare
Mon	26/09/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Johnny Dankworth
Thu	29/09/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Fri	30/09/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough	Four Pennies

Happening Elsewhere

Disagreements between Eric Burdon and the other members of The Animals causes the band to split.

Jimi Hendrix arrives in England on the 24th accompanied by his new manager, ex-Animals bassist Chas Chandler, who first saw Hendrix (as Jimmy James & the Blue Flames) at Greenwich Village’s ‘Café Wha?’ on July 4th. Hendrix signed a management contract with Chandler and Mike Jeffery. Hendrix, along with Chandler held auditions for band members at the Birdland in London on the 29th. Noel Redding (ex-Loving Kind) subsequently joins as bass guitarist. Jimi’s band is to be named the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

In the charts

1      All Or Nothing – Small Faces
10    Got To Get You Into My Life – Cliff Bennet & The Rebel Rousers
20    When I Come Home – Spencer Davis Group

___________________________________________________________

October

North east gigs

1/10/66      Rolling Stones, Ike & Tina Turner and Yardbirds appear at Newcastle City Hall
2/10/66      Cream appear at Kirklevington Country Club
4/10/66      Dusty Springfield and Alan Price appear at Odeon, Newcastle
7/10/66      Robert Parker appears at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
8/10/66      Walker Brothers, Troggs, Dave Dee appear at ABC Stockton
12/10/66    Family appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
13/10/66    Cream appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
14/10/66    Walker Brothers, Troggs, Dave Dee appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/10/66    Gerry And The Pacemakers appear at La Dolce Vita, Newcastle
24/10/66    Jerry lee Lewis appears at La Dolce Vita, Newcastle
27/10/66    The Measles and A Wild Uncertainty appear at Club a’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Sat	01/10/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sun	02/10/1966	– St Bede’’s Dance
Mon	03/10/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Crispian St Peter
Wed	05/10/1966	– Sunderland Art College Dance
Fri	07/10/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough
Sat	08/10/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Mon	10/10/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Danny Williams
Thu	13/10/1966	– Darlington
Fri	14/10/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough
Sat	15/10/1966	– Kirk Levington Country Club
Mon	17/10/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Gerry and the Pacemakers
Thu	20/10/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Fri	21/10/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough
Sat	22/10/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Mon	24/10/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Jerry Lee Lewis
Tue	25/10/1966	– West End Club, Newcastle
Fri	28/10/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough	Gerry and the Pacemakers
Sat	29/10/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Sun	30/10/1966	– St Bede’’s Dance
Mon	31/10/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson

Happening Elsewhere

John Lennon meets Yoko Ono for the first time, at the Indica Gallery in London. Lennon was intrigued by Ono’s ‘Hammer A Nail’ – patrons hammered a nail into a wooden board, creating the art piece. Although the exhibition had not yet opened, Lennon wanted to hammer a nail into the clean board, but Ono stopped him. Dunbar asked her, “Don’t you know who this is? He’s a millionaire! He might buy it.” Ono had supposedly not heard of the Beatles but relented on condition that Lennon pay her five shillings to which Lennon replied, “I’ll give you an imaginary five shillings and hammer an imaginary nail in.” An alternative version of how John Lennon and Yoko Ono first met is given by Paul McCartney: In late 1965, Ono was in London compiling original musical scores for a book John Cage was working on, ‘Notations’. McCartney declined to give her any of his own manuscripts, but suggested that Lennon might oblige. Lennon did, giving Ono the original handwritten lyrics to ‘The Word’.

Eric Burdon forms The New Animals.

The Yardbirds film their contribution to the movie “Blow-Up” at Elstree Studios. The group are shown performing ‘Stroll On’ which culminates in Jeff Beck smashing his guitar. Following this the group embark on a strenuous U.S tour starting on the 19th. However Beck quits after 2 gigs, claiming illness. The group carry on as a 4-piece with Jimmy Page the sole lead guitarist.

Mitch Mitchell (ex-Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames) joins the Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums.In mid-October 1966, Chas Chandler arranges an engagement for the Jimi Hendrix Experience as Johnny Hallyday’s supporting act during a brief tour of France. Their enthusiastically received 15-minute performance at the Olympia theatre in Paris on October 18th marks the earliest known recording of the band. In late October, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, managers of the Who, signed the Experience to their newly formed label, Track Records, which released the Experience’s first single on 23rd October. “Hey Joe”, which included a female chorus provided by the Breakaways, was backed by Hendrix’s first songwriting effort, ‘Stone Free’.

Eric Burdon appears in an episode of the ITV television programme ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ along with the Rolling Stones and Paul & Barry Ryan.The Moody Blues, who have been recording and performing as a band since 1964 after bassist Clint Warwick left followed by his brief replacement, Rod Clark.

In the charts

______________________________________________________________

November

North east gigs

3/11/66      Graham Bond Organisation appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
9/11/66      Winder K Frog appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
4/11/66      Jerry lee Lewis appears at the Marimba Club, Middlesbrough
6/11/66      Small Faces,Hollies, Paul Jones and Paul & Barry Ryan appear at Newcastle City Hall
10/11/66    Family appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
10/11/66    The Nashville Teens appear at Quay Club, Newcastle
13/11/66    Cream appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/11/66    Alan Price Set appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
24/11/66    Brian Auger Trinity appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
29/11/66    Zombies appeared at Mayfair, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Fri	04/11/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough	Jerry Lee Lewis
Sat	05/11/1966	– Ashington Welfare
Mon	07/11/1966	– La Dolce Vita, Newcastle	Peter and Gordon
Fri	11/11/1966	– Marimba, Middlebrough
Sat	12/11/1966	– West End Club, Newcastle
Sun	13/11/1966	– Redcar Jazz Club	Cream
Thu	17/11/1966	– Imperial, Darlington
Fri	25/11/1966	– Sunderland R&B Club
Sat	26/11/1966	– Cellar Club, South Shields
Wed	30/11/1966	– Roker Victory Club	Consolidated Sounds

Happening Elsewhere

After a break of over two months, The Beatles re-convene at Abbey Road studios to begin the recording of “Strawberry Fields Forever”. The group dismiss rumours that they are to replace Brian Epstein as their manager with American Allen Klein.

The Moody Blues quickly re-form with new members Justin Hayward (guitar) and John Lodge (bass). Lodge is an old Birmingham friend of the group while Hayward is recommended to the Moodies by Eric Burdon.

In the charts

1      Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – Four Tops
10    No Milk Today – Herman’s Hermits
20    Help Me Girl – Eric Burdon & The Animals

___________________________________________________________________

December

North east gigs

1/12/66      Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
2/12/66      Eyes Of Blue appear at Mister McCoys, Middlesbrough
2/12/66      Cream appear at New Cellar Club, South Shields
4/12/66      Little Richard appears at Newcastle City Hall
8/12/66      Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
10/12/66    The Who, Dave Berry and She Trinity appear at The Empire, Sunderland
15/12/66    Family appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle
31/12/66    Shotgun Express appear at Club A’Gogo, Newcastle

My gigs (with Jazzboard)

Thu	01/12/1966	– New Cellar Club, South Shields
Sat	03/12/1966	– Sunderland Technical College	The Shevells
Thu	08/12/1966	– New Cellar Club, South Shields
Sat	10/12/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Sun	18/12/1966	– St Bede’’s Dance, Newcastle
Mon	19/12/1966	– Jackson the Tailors Dance
Tue	20/12/1966	– Washington Grammar Dance
Thu	22/12/1966	– New Cellar Club, South Shields
Sat	24/12/1966	– Quay Club, Newcastle
Wed	28/12/1966	– West End Club, Newcastle

Happening Elsewhere

The Beatles continue work on ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’.

The British Government announce plans for the BBC, who has been losing its radio listening audience to pirate radio stations, to be given a wavelength for a radio channel devoted entirely to pop music.The final ‘Ready Steady Go!’ programmes are broadcast. Guests include Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich on 2nd December, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, The Move on the 9th, Keith Relf, The Troggs on the 16th and Eric Burdon, Alan Price, The Who, Donovan, the Spencer Davis Group and Paul Jones in the final programme on 23rd December.

Arthur Brown returned from Paris and temporarily joined the London r&b, soul and ska band – The Ramong Sound. The Ramong Sound would eventually become the hit making Foundations.

In the charts

1      Green Green Grass Of Home – Tom Jones
10    Semi-detached Suburban Mr Jones – Manfred Mann
20    There Won’t Be Many Coming Home – Roy Orbison

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Go to 1965
Go to 1967
Go to 1968
Go to 1969
Go to 1970
Go to 1971
Go to 1972

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The main sources for the material on the Years pages are as follows: –

• Marmalade Skies and it’s sister site – Remember The Times

• ‘A Promoter’s Tale – Rock At The Sharp End’ by Geoff Docherty: Omnibus Press ISBN 0-7119-9434-X

• Individual posts and images from North East History Facebook page

• ‘The Sixties Sounds That Made The North East Swing” by Mel Kirtley: Wearside Books ISBN 0-9525380-3-2

• “Ballroom Blitz” web site (not currently available)

• Various web sites containing historic gig listings for individual touring bands of the late sixties and early seventies