In the sixties there weren’t many Newcastle bands that made it to the top. After the Animals in 1964, there was a long gap of 6 years before Lindisfarne achieved chart success with their second album, ‘Fog On The Tyne’. Lots of individual musicians from the Newcastle area have found fame and fortune but famous Newcastle bands were thin on the ground.
That’s not to say that there weren’t good north east bands around in the sixties that deserved to make the big time or, indeed, tried to make a go of it. After the Junco Partners took over the Animals residency at Newcastle’s Club a’Gogo, a lot of people expected them to achieve the same success as their predecessors and be the next band from the city to hit the charts.
Then there was the Sect. Bands that make it to the top usually have more than just musical ability. They often have at least a couple of members with charisma and good looks. Back in 1964 and 1965, Newcastle band, the Sect had their fair share of both. The band built up a great reputation in the north east and had a large following of mainly female fans. They played at the best venues in the city, such as the Mayfair, Majestic, Club a’Gogo and the Quay Club. They also played at the el Cubana and Blue Note in Sunderland, the Cellar Club in South Shields plus other venues all over Northumberland and County Durham.
The roots of the Sect lay in a band formed in 1963 by guitarists Alan Atkinson and Steve Gatiss plus bass player Dave Stubbington. Mel Mason (vocals) and Ian Pringle (drums) joined the lineup and the band started performing under the name of Tony King and the Chessmen. After a while, Mel left leaving the band to continue as the Chessmen. The band had a busy schedule playing all over the north east, sometimes doing 5 or 6 booking a week.
In 1965 the Chessmen became the Sect. Later that year there were several changes to the lineup including the departure of drummers Ian Pringle, his replacement Dave Burn and bassist Dave Stubbington.
The next Sect lineup was – Brian Short (vocals), Alan Atkinson (rhythm guitar), Steve Gatiss (lead guitar), Tom Duffy (bass) and Dave Corker (drums). Unlike the Junco Partners who played mainly blues based material, the Sect were a bit more mainstream. They covered music that was good to dance to and that was popular in the clubs and ballrooms. A few songs I can remember them doing were; Land Of A Thousand Dances, The Way You Do The Things You Do and It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.
The Sect got their shot at fame and fortune in 1966 when songwriter and producer Tim Rice saw the band performing in the north east. The band was invited to a recording session at the Abbey Road Studios in London by Tim Rice who, at the time, was a producer for EMI. They recorded an upbeat version of Bob Dylan’s ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’ and ‘Walk Away Renee’ which had been written and recorded by the American band the Left Banke a year earlier but had not charted in the UK. In the event, neither track was released by EMI.
Around about the same time, the Sect came to the attention of Ivan Birchall, the manager of the Majestic. The band had supported Unit Four Plus Two at the “Maj” and had impressed Ivan with their performance and the reaction they got from the crowd. This gig was followed by more at the Majestic supporting the likes of the Kinks, Hollies, Small Faces, Georgie Fame and many more. Ivan became the Sect’s manager and left the Rank Organisation to set up his own business in the city. The business became the Birchall Entertainments Agency.
The Sect’s closest rival in terms of local popularity was another Newcastle band, the Elcort. The Elcort, who were also aiming for national recognition, released a record on Parlaphone in 1966 – ‘Tammy’ and played several gigs at London’s Marquee club. The band was fronted by Glyn Sadler and included a couple of other well known north east musicians, Kenny Craddock (keyboard) and Paul Nichols (drums). In 1967 Brian Short left the Sect to form a band called New Religion with Kenny and Paul from the Elcort. The effect of this move was that a number of bands on the books of the Birchall Entertainments Agency, including the Sect and the Elcort, disbanded or reshuffled their personnel and reformed with new identities. The new Birchall ‘A’ list bands to emerge from the melting pot were the New Religion, Funny Farm, Pleasure Machine and with their name unaltered but with different personnel (including Glyn Sadler from the Elcort) – the Sect.
After New Religion, vocalist Brian Short went on to join London based Black Cat Bones, whose line up had included Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke before they left and joined Free in 1968. Brian sang on the band’s 1969 album ‘Barbed Wire Sandwich’ which was released on the Decca Nova label in November 1969.
After Black cat Bones split up, Brian recorded his solo album ‘Anything for a laugh’. In spite of some excellent songs and a memorable title track, ‘Anything for a laugh’ failed to win critical acclaim and Brian never achieved national recognition.
You can listen to ‘Anything for a laugh’ here: –
Anything For A Laugh – Brian Short
The Sect continued to perform locally for another four or five years with the odd change in personnel. Although some individual members went on to successful careers in music, the Sect never quite made it on a national level as a band. However, they continue to be one of the best remembered bands to have performed in the north east music scene in the sixties.
the pic above of Eddie Martin shows me on drums with the Sect 70-73 after which I left to join Sandgate.
The Sect I was i had Eddie Martin, Derek “Dek” Rootham and Alan Atkinson until Dek left the band leaving the three of us to carry on.
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Hi this is Steve Gatiss’s brother writing. Would you have any idea where I might be able to get a copy of the video taken at the Sect’s reunion at the Old Assembly Rooms in Newcastle a couple of years back. Many thanks. I may be biased but I’ve yet to hear a group pro or amature in the same class as the Sect.
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This brings back such memories. I played bass and did vocals for The Sect back in the early 60s. We formed the original band comprising Alan Atkinson, Steve Gatiss, Mel Mason, Ian Pringle and me. We were then called Tony King & The Chessmen. We played all over the North East, mainly in working mens clubs but we did other venues such as The Seaburn Hall. Mel left and we became The Chessmen. Ian then left and Dave Burn became our drummer. Sometime later we changed our name to The Sect and Phil Gatiss became our manager. I left to become a boring insurance guy and later to get married. I unfortunately lost touch with all the lads and in 1974 I moved to Manchester. I still have great memories of playing and in fact I still have an old demo disc we did in a studio in Newcastle.
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hi i remeber the good all days, eddie martin is my cousin and i am trying to get in touch with him does anyone know anything if so could you contact me via email thanks brenda
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The first band I was ever in was with Steve Gatiss and a few years later I met up with him again in Scratchband – anybody know how he is now!
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I worked with Eddie Martin from 73 to 82 in Burlesque. I know Eddie still dose the Clubs in a duo and did live in High Heaton
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Former member of the Streaks I remember the Maj well where we played as resident band after the Gamblers. Paul died some 10years ago but back in touch with Bernie Walsh our sax player after 45 years and we meet occasionally to talk over old times. Played bass in 1966 with The Syn and we played some gigs with The Sect. Back again playing with The Syn under the new name of THE FIX doing local pubs
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Played keys with Eddie in the 80’s moved to the states in 1990 he was/is totally underated
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Hello I am sitting having a pint with steve gatiss glad to say he is alive and well.
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Hi
Just a note to say that Eddie Martin is none too well at the moment but it would be good to have a memorial to the Sect and/or to the great Burlesque on the Quayside on the new walk of fame or whatever it is called. Saw it on the Northern News today. Also to Paul Rutherford who was a fantastic bass guitarist and vocalist in the 70s with Burlesque and who died tragically young. There must be so many people out there who remember them and would love to see a memorial to the great music of the 70s ad 80s and to local guys who never quite made it but gave so much pleasure to the local scene for so many years.
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Just talking to Eddie now he seems fine Brenda i hav told him u are looking for him
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The Photo of Eddie (this page)that’s me in back on drums. We were at the Milvane club, west road, Ncle. Looks like it anyway.
Oh, and Eddie isn’t well, so he told me last week as it happens.
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I have a handful of Ivan Birchall Flyers including The Sect same as the one above and others The Pleasure Machine, and the New Religion, sitting on the Amen corner steps I worked with a guy at a Electrical Contractors who worked for him
Mac
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Some Good lads here Sect reformed with Dek Rootham Glyn Sadler Alan Atkinson Dave Corker and Tommy Duffy
They had the aisles rocking.
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I was in a band with Glyn Saddler and Kenny Craddock in a band called The Heatwave before they left to join The Elcort.
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A great read. Brings back memories of the Sect coming to the Legion Dance Hall in Amble.
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My dad is Steve Gatiss he’s just been reading the updates. Does anyone know any more news on Eddie? Thanks
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I was talking to Steve Gatiss 14/04/18. He is the con sec at Greencroft club next to QE Hospital Gateshead.
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What became of the Pleasure Machine?
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I played in the Bright Lights with Brian Short, Glynn Sadler and Paul Nichols prior to them joining the Ssect / Elcort etc. Tom Duffy and Dave Corker were closely involved at that time as members of the Samovars who were our rivals / friends in Low Fell at the time. I managed Heatwave for a while when Glyn became the singer and they were very good with a spectacular version of Water Melon Man , Alan Robinson who was bass player in the Bright Lights died some years ago, and I know Glyn now lives in Athens. I haven’t heard from Brian Short for years so I wonder how he is. I met up wth Richie Tocher from Elmore green earlier this year and we played a few jam sessions which (I think) we both enjoyed. I spend quite a bit of time in Spain and Rickie in Portugal so not easy to keep going.
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Hi Alan (#20) Sadly Brian Short died in September 2014 in Newcastle. For a long time before his death he had lived in Twickenham, Middlesex.
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Hi.
I am Val Westall. My husband Rod played with Eddie in band called Mr Poobahs. Hope he is well would love to here from him.
We live in Bournemouth and are both well. Rod still loves his music.
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I understand Eddie is still performing and is currently a member of north east band Frankie’s Cafe.
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To Val Westall, did you know Alan Taylorson – he was the organist in Poobahs?
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I used to know Alan Atkinson and his wife Mary but they emigrated to Canada in the seventies and we lost touch.It would be great to get in touch with them again so if anyone has any idea how they are I would love to know.
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Hi Ben I am Mary’s old friend Linda. Last I heard they were still in Canada. Victoria in Vancouver. I think Mary is on facebook. I did know a Ben back then but not sure if you’re the same one. We are now living in Durban South Africa. 🙂
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Hi Linda, I do remember you and your husband Alan as I used to visit you in London when you lived at the Elephant and Castle.It’snice to hear from you after all these years and I will try to get in touch with them even though I am not on Facebook anymore.
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Hi Ben yes it was you i was thinking of. So many years ago. Alan and I had our 50th anniversary can you believe? Mary used to phone me a few years ago and reminisce. but we moved and don’t have a land line now. I can look and see if maybe i had an address or phone number. Hope you are well, Are you still in the UK. You used to work in one of the Oxford St fashion stores that specialised in jeans, am I right?
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Congratulations to you and Alan on your 50th wedding anniversary and I am glad that you are both doing well. I remember Alan being a big Millwall supporter and we had many laughs. You had a son before you left for South Africa, he will be about 46 now. I am now living in Hertfordshire having moved out of London in 1995 and married with two daughters.
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Hi Ben. Jamie will be 49 in August, he lectures in English at Rhodes Uni. Our 2nd son Stuart(38) born here he is Mamelodi Sundown’s (football team) biokineticist. Which means he does fitness training and rehab.They are one of the top teams in SA, a bit like Liverpool haha. He supports Arsenal and Alan still supports Milwall and me Newcastle. Glad to hear you have a family now and hope you are all well and staying safe. Alan and I play bowls now, getting old haha xxx
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Hi Linda, great to hear that you and the family are all doing well and have been successful in your lives.You must be proud of the boys and I do remember Jamie as a baby, I even babysat him once while you and Alan had a night out haha.
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Hi all – Stephen Gatiss has been reading your comments. He was in contact with Nicky (bass player) from pleasure machine last week! Still rocking!
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Hi my name is Dave Hamilton I was the drummer with Mr Poobahs Chicago line in the sixties , Eddie Martin was the lead guitarist and singer,we had both been in a previous band before Poobahs being the countdown blues. I would love to meet up with Eddie again as we had lots of memories of different venues around the north east, I still keep in touch with Rod our trumpet player,but if any of the other members want to get in touch that would be great, All the best to band members past and present.
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Hi Dave Hamilton, this is Eddie Martin its great to hear you are ok. A few people have often asked me about you including Charlie Foskett. Get in touch. Eddie.
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Hello,
Charley Foskett and Eddy Martin here trying to communicate with David Hamilton (ex – The Leopards, The Countdowns, Poobars, etc) – It’s been about 100 years since we gigged together – Where are you now?
Please make contact if you’re still breathing – if you’re not still make contact!
info@foskettsfolkfactory.com
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Hi everyone – just found this page which as some great reading about the bands of the sixties. I am the late Brian Short’s brother and was around at the time of the Maj and the Mayfair etc so I was brought up with the north east music scene. I don’t know if many of you know but Brian has a song he wrote for Gladys Knight and Bill Medley in the Stallone Film Cobra. Also wrote a number one for a French Star Silvie Vartan. So close to the big break you need in Music as you all know. Tommy Duffy lives in Spain now and is still playing. I keep in touch with him on FB. All the best to everyone.
James Short
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Just found this site, my god used to be a Sect fan and a pal to them. Unfortunately I missed their best gig ever at the Maj as I was otherwise engaged whilst using their van. Not sorry I missed the gig, thanks Dusty.
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Great to read all the comments. A few years ago my wife Barbara and I visited Vancouver. We met up with Alan Atkinson and Mary. We had a great day at their lovely home. It was fantastic to see them again.
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Where is Tommy Duffy now? I used to work with him at the Min in Longbenton…years ago.
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