Prologue:

I was born in April 1942 at Sevenoaks in Kent, UK. My father was a Canadian soldier and over here training for the invasion of Italy. We lived with my grandparents at St Johns Hill. I was told that I was named after my mother’s favourite singer at the time, 'Bruce Trent'. (She also liked Bing Crosby!),

I'm glad she didn't choose Bing! Three weeks after the war finished, mum dad and myself went off to start a new life in Canada, back in my father’s hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, (much I guess, to the sorrow of my grandparents.)

My grandmother Agnes Harris, (maiden name Baldock) was from a very large family who lived in and around Canterbury. I remember as a very young lad just back from Canada meeting all my aunts and uncles, being hugged and kissed by all these strange friendly faces. My Grandmother had been in service before meeting my grandfather, and as a young girl she had worked in a large house as a scullery maid, making her way up to (I think) head cook, (which is just below the Butler in household status..)

My grandfather was Ernest Harris, he was a shoe maker and had a small shop in the village of Sturry just outside Canterbury. He had a brother. Recently I think I have found a distant cousin, he's the grandson to my grandfathers brother.

When my grandparents married they moved into a house in the High Street, Sturry, (opposite 'The Swan' public house - which is still in business.) They had three children, Charlie, then my mum Ivy in 1920 and then the third was Harold. They were brought up in the village and attended the local school on Sturry Hill, which is no longer there. The war started and then in about 1938/9 (not too sure) they moved to a rented house in Sevenoaks. I was told that about a week later, the house in Sturry was destroyed completely by a german bomb!. (If they hadn't moved- then I wouldn't be writing this now!.) Thats fate!

Settling into the Sevenoaks house, the patriotic thing to do during the war was to lodge soldiers from abroad who were serving over here. And so my grandparents took in a Canadian soldier, trooper W.A.Burke from Halifax, Nova Scotia. I believe he was training for the invasion of Italy and that they were practicing the forthcoming attack using Folkestone cliffs.

My mum now nearly 21, fell for this guy with a 'movie' accent and they were married in 1941. My Dad.....

Mum and my grandfather, leaving for the church.....

.

I came along ..on April 21st 1942. Next came my brother David, who sadly died 3 months after being born. I was never told what was wrong, I guess they never talked about it.. After the war dad wanted to return home and so that's what happened. I expect my grandparents must have been very sad, it was a long way to Canada in those days, the world is so much smaller now.

We went over on a 'war brides' commissioned ship 'Mauritainia' from Southampton. At the age of 3, I only have vague memories of the journey. It was three weeks after the war had finished and to my grandparents horror there were still 'U boats' lurking outside Southampton harbour in the Atlantic at that time, and they hadn't surrendered.

In Canada I guess we must have lived with dads mum and two sisters for a while. Dad bought some land out there and started to build us a house, I can just about remember the building site with its huge granite rocks, the taste of the wild blueberries that grew there and the many picnics we had sitting on the rocks in the summer sun watching the house grow. Mum ran a working mens boarding house in Preston Street, Halifax for a while to help with the money. I had a happy time in Canada and was made a fuss of by my new grannie and two aunties, Marie and Edith. My dads mum was widowed, she was of Dutch decendantcy and had married a seaman from Dublin, Ireland called James Burke, who had emigrated to Canada years before and who tragically died at sea some time after his third child Edith was born. (My aunt Edith now lives in Victoria on Vancouver island.)

Canada:

.........................................Dad and me.......................................................Mum and me.

............

My Gran Burke with me, Mum, Edith, Stan and my baby cousin Stan. .....Me and the house dad was building for us,

The weather out there was very cold in winter and lasted a long time. I was entered for the local school but like the house, it was never to be. After a while my mother became homesick and so at the age of just five we returned to England, back this time on the liner the 'Queen Mary' to

my grandparents home at St Johns Hill in Sevenoaks Kent.

Taken in the back yard. Sevenoaks. 1947

My first school upon returning to the UK was St. Johns Primary school in Quakers Hall Lane, Sevenoaks. Its no longer there, I believe new sheltered accomodation for the elderly has been built on the site. I hated school, never fitting in. Mainly I think because I had accquired a Canadian culture and the kids would taunt me about my ways and accent. The headmaster was a kind man, one of the 'old school' Mr Godden, very fair but strict, and he was very helpful to me. I think looking back now, he realised my concern with dealing with a different way of life from Canada, at first I was in complete 'culture shock'.

I grew up in the midst of 50's rationing and optimism. Our grocer Mr Daniels at the corner shop would lean over the counter to me and whisper something like ' We've just had some bananas in... my regular customers can have three, tell your mum..' I would rush the few doors up to tell them the good news. There were lots of things that were rationed then that we take for granted now.

My mother and father divorced when I was eight, my dad eventually re-married and he moved to Tadley in Basingstoke. He never returned to his home in Canada except for holiday visits. My mother re-married again to John Pittock after a couple of years. He was kind and helped to bring me up but I wasn't 'adopted'. I was asked, but I felt strong ties to my real dad and I declined. It was about this time that my folks bought the house.

I loved the cinema and spent a lot of time sitting in the old local 'bug hutch' The Embassy, halfway up St. Johns Hill. My grandfather sometimes had to come and drag me out. I'd watch old Marx brothers films over and over till late in the evening. I even managed to get into 'X' films like 'It came from Outer Space' and 'War of the worlds'. I was facinated with sci-fi and wasn't at all scared. Something I always wanted was to make movies, but that never happened .

My grandfather 'poppie' whom I loved very much, passed away in 1952. I missed him for a long time, his bedtime stories, trips to the seaside and his overwelming kindness and love. (He will always be in my thoughts, along with Gran and all the other members of my family who are now all gone.)

Me with my Gran and Grandad ('poppy') in the back yard, St Johns hill. 1947.

My Grandad died in 1951 aged 63, gran lived another 20 years and died of cancer in 1971 aged (I think) 86.

I did better at school as time went on, but I failed my 11 plus and went to Wildernesse Secondary school for boys in Sealhollow Road, Sevenoaks and worked my way up until, at the fourth year I was in the top grade. (Form 4.1.) and then finally to form 5 with a good prospect of college..

I loved music, art and english. I hated sports and to this day I have no interest at all, except maybe in golf and tennis. My headmaster Mr Streeter was horrified when I said I was leaving school, he wanted me to go on to further education but I had been offered a job at a radio and TV store in town called Johnsons. I was to be the 'boy' who helped the aerial engineer, also delivering radios and TV's with a prospect of becoming a TV repair man. (They also sold records...Cool!). Mr Haynes was the owner and he was so very kind to me. I was assisting with TV aerial installation with Dennis Holton, an ex army man who wasn't too keen on rock n' roll, his love was trad jazz. Chris Barber was his favourite . It was then that I discovered I hated going up roofs..I hadn't much of a head for heights. (something I have conquered over the years.)The first week I started work in 1957, I bought my first '45' disc. It was Danny and the Juniors 'At the hop'. I still have that record, along with many more 45 singles of that time. One of the repair engineers at Johnsons was a kind elderly man called Ernie. He would explain basic principles of electronic circuitry and how things worked. I learnt a lot from him. He drew out an amplifier circuit for me to build that would improve the power of my Dansette record player to a full 10 watts! (My poor folks when it finally worked!)

When I was 16, in December 1957, my mum gave birth to my half-brother Ian.

My real dad passed away in the early seventies, after a lot of ill health and heart attacks. These days a by-pass operation would have saved him. My mother Ivy passed away a couple of years before him after suffering with cancer. Both my parents died young, in their mid 50's.

The house in St. Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent where I was born and lived my teenage years.

My interest in music started so I was told, at a very early age. My very first musical interest was listening to George Formby when I was about 6 years old . I've been told that I use to 'air strum' to his ukulele solo's and sing along. He was my first 'thing'.

Later on as I developed into mid teens I took a great interest in records, and one of Norrie Paramor's early stars was Eddie Calvert. He played the trumpet and had several hit records in the early 50's. I decided that I wanted a trumpet.. (I never achieved this) so I used to pose in front of my bedroom mirror and mime to his hit 'Oh mine papa' or 'Cherry pink and apple blossom white' with a slim silver vase that belonged to my granmother! This normally came to an abrupt halt upon being discovered, and ordered to put the vase back where I found it. maybe this is just as well, my fad for trumpets lasted just a short time, maybe I would have ended up in a dance band !... I remember hearing those early songs by people like 'Alma Cogan' 'Perry Como' and 'David Whitfield' and many others. The first records I ever bought were 78 rpm discs in about 1957, there was 'Young Love' by Tab Hunter, 'Frieght Train' by Nancy Whisky and The Chas MacDevett skiffle group and a few others. The problem with 78's was that they were so fragile and breakable and none of my early records survived. (Just recently I have started collecting 78's and have re-bought nearly all my old originals thanks to Ebay, plus many more classic rock n' roll records. When I play them I remember all those old exciting days.. long live rock n' roll!

I also loved another form of music, 'Doo Wop', (Hard to get hold of in this country at the time) - 'Doo Wop'. Originated from the States and was sung at first by black people, mainly New York street singers, some songs with just vocals, no backings, using their voices for different instruments. (Muso talk: Doo wop was mainly based around a 'four chord' sequence, using three main chords and the relative minor of the root chord).. These records had to be ordered from the record store as no U.K. record play on the radio meant nobody seemed to know of them, (thank god for Radio Luxembourg! ).. Great vocal groups came from this music such as 'The Penguins', 'The Crests', 'The Diamonds' ('Little Darlin'), 'Dion and The Belmonts' (A teenager in love'), 'The Elegants', 'The Skyliners', 'Little Anthony and The Imperials 'and the famous 'Shi-lites' and early 'Smokie Robinson and the Miracles' . So many, too many to list, I loved them all. Great 'dating' songs, 'Earth Angel', 'Sixteen Candles' great 'first love' songs, mostly slow and romantic tear jerkers that you would play over and over when you broke up from your '2 week' romance! .. I loved this music and still do. Eventually doo wop changed and developed into what we know now as 'Motown'.

But then..something else caught my fancy, a new kind of music, something that was going to change the rest of my life, I didn't realise this at the time.............The guitar...and 'rock n' roll....

I was never that impressed with Bill Haley, to me he was just a big old guy in an 'old fashioned jazzy type dance band'. Of course I realise now what a great contribution he made along with his 'Comets' to the onset of rock n' roll. Then came Elvis...we all wanted to be Elvis. I greased my hair into a quiff and wore button collar shirts and big black suede shoes with shocking pink socks. I really thought I was the 'Elvis' of St. Johns Hill!...just like thousands of other teenage boys at that time I guess.

I became very interested in the electric guitar and like most young people at the time I was completely knocked out by the sound of rock n' roll. It was a new sound, a new excitement and energy. When I heard those early sounds played by such artists as Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly, I really wanted to learn to play the electric guitar. It impressed me more than anything had ever done before. Listening to the sound of Ricky Nelsons guitarist James Burton, his Telecaster lead breaks sent a shiver down me and also Scotty Moore on early Elvis Presley tracks freaked me out. Later on, Mick Green's Telecaster sound with JOHNNY KIDD AND THE PIRATES made a big impression and influence on me. Rock n' roll music in those days was so exciting, way before 'THE BEATLES'. I would tune into 'Radio Luxembourg' (208 meters medium wave) late in the evening, the static and fading of the radio reception was tolerated and ignored, simply because there was no other station playing the music I wanted to hear. Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Buddy Holly. His basic chords were so good to pick up for beginners and so recognisable too.

You could forget the BBC, run by stayed and older 'dance band/crooner' types, yes, they avoided rock n' roll, perhaps they would play the occasional 'pop' record during 'Family Favourites' on Sunday morning on the 'Light Programme.' They played many 'cack handed' English imitations at the time, such as: Marty Wilde, Criag Douglas, Duffy Power to name a few. These artists recorded shallow copies of the great American hits, but they never fooled me. (Through no fault of their own, I dont believe any of them ever recorded an 'original' song,) all their hits can be found across the ocean - and the American originals sound so much better!. (Until Cliff Richard came along with the great English classic 'Move it!' written by his guitarist Sammy Samwell (pre Hank Marvin!) and which still sounds great today.) Samwell was so underated, an original member of 'The Drifters' and also the guy who thought up Harry Webbs name! Cliff Richard. Most English rock n' roll until then was flat and dull..with a few exceptions, (JOHNNY KIDD AND THE PIRATES)-(The Shadows). I sometimes had to order the proper American original in the shop and then wait nearly a week to get it. If it hadn't been for Radio Luxembourg no teenager would have known or had the chance to hear these great USA records. for example : 'Singin' the blues..Guy Mitchell, 'A teenager in love' ..Dion and the Belmonts, 'Only 16' ..Sam Cooke..Yes....'Radio Luxembourg' was THE station. The 'Decca' show late at night featured a D.J. by the name of 'Jack Jackson', and it was here that I remember first hearing 'Summertime Blues' by Eddie Cochran. I remember thinking. 'wow! what is that?' I'd never heard a sound like that.... I would love to be able to play the guitar and sound like that!!! I used to sit in my room, playing on a cheap Spanish guitar that I had bought from a mail order company called 'Headquarters and General Supplies' for the grand price of four pounds ten shillings. I practised in my room hour after hour, endlessly, learning Duane Eddy and Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran songs, my fingers sore and bleeding sometimes..

1960- It was then that I heard THE sound.. A clean Fender Stratocaster. The sound that influenced thousands of budding guitarists at that time... THE SHADOWS. I first saw a Strat being played by Buddy Holly, but this was different.. it had 'echo'.

I listened to Hank Marvin playing 'Apache', wondering, as I picked out the melody on my cheapo Spanish acoustic, why I couldn't get the same sound. It wasn't until a few years later that I would finally own the dream of a lot of young guitarists, a Fender Stratocaster guitar.. (and many 'echo chambers' later!) I would gaze for hours at the 'SELMER' music catalogue, knowing I could never afford the guitar featured on the first page, a 'two-tone sunburst' 1960 Strat for the grand price of '185 guineas including purchase tax'- nearly £200. ...I had just started work and my wages were £3 per week! I was trying to save up for a guitar that looked 'similar' in the same catalogue, a 'FUTURAMA' guitar imported from Czechoslovakia by Hofner. It cost 55 guineas, (Nearly £58). When I showed this to Dennis at work one day when we were putting up a TV aerial he said "I could buy a really good tool box and tools for that amount my lad" ..boring! . I wanted and dreamed more than anything to play the guitar and be part of a group.....This saved me in a way.

The crowd I hung out with up till then were quite dodgy and we were always up to no good. I had a nasty brush with the law at that time that made me think again, a short sharp shock...I hate to think how I could have ended up if I hadn't taken an interest in the guitar and mixed with other like minded musicians.. Rock and Roll...You saved me!!!

I am writing this band biography as an account of my past history, I am very proud that I was around during such an exciting period in popular music and it was a great time for young people to be teenagers and grow up in England. You may find it boring or interesting.. whatever.. Events and times are all as accurate as I can recall........ B.W.

The Bands.......

The Phantoms (1960/1)..

My first 'real' electric guitar was a BURNS 'Vibra Artist'. An English model more affordable than the American Fender or Gibson guitars which were just 'out of reach' at the time. However, the Burns was a lovely guitar (I have recently been able to add one to my collection) and I was very lucky to get such a good quality guitar so soon after learning to play, which I must say was down to my mother, and step father for assisting me financially at the time, for which I will always be eternally grateful. It came from 'Lew Davis', a music store in Charing Cross Road and cost the grand sum of 75 Gns. (about 16 times my weeks wages back then!.) They are a very rare item now and are worth a lot more these days.

My first elecric guitar. (Trisonic pickups, made famous by Brian May and his home built guitars.)

The Burns 'Vibra Artist'. Trisonic ..circa 1961. (Pic: Not mine, but identical,..Photo c. Burns UK museum)

I practiced for many a long hour and learnt fast, this was partly due I think to the playability of my new instrument. I would go and watch local groups at the time and soon became friends with a guitarist in a group called The Phantoms. His name was Peter Corke, I went over to his house on several occasions, where he had a loft room 'den'.We sat and he would play his guitar and I would try to copy. We chatted and he would show me riffs and chords. Eventually he offered me a chance to join their band. I was made up, very nervous and not too good. The first time I set foot on stage was late in 1960, a little village called Dormansland in Kent, quite a few miles from my home in Sevenoaks. It was a one off gig, one amp between the whole group and me feeling sick with nerves and a very limited knowledge of basic chords. The line up was Peter Corke on lead guitar, a singer called Roger, the drummer’s name was Ron, and we had no bass player at that time. I don’t think we made too much impression on the youth club, and it was to be the only time I ever played in public with 'THE PHANTOMS' ...because shortly after that first gig, .....my life would take yet another turn in direction...my parents informed me we were moving to the country, near Canterbury!

New Kid in Town.....

In the spring of 1961 we moved to a little village between Ashford and Canterbury called Petham, two buses a day, one on Sunday. The new bungalow was on Vicarage Hill. I would sit in my room on long evenings practising the guitar over and over all the chords, songs and instrumentals that I had been shown back at Sevenoaks and soon it all started to click. It was the era of the guitar instrumental and I learned tracks by such names as 'The Pack-a Beats, 'The Moontrekkers', 'The Hunters', 'The Fentones' 'The Ventures' . Songs by Gene Vincent and Chuck Berry were becoming better and better it was mainly the stuff I had been shown by Peter Corke in Sevenoaks, it was all becoming easier and more fluent.. I was improving and longed to form a group. By now I had become friends with some local lads. Unfortunately, although my new friends were keen to form a group, they couldn't play a note, so I tried to put a few chords and drum beats in their heads. They were Mick Hobbs on Drums and Robert 'Bucksie' Brown on rhythm guitar. Occasionally I travelled over on my pushbike to a youth club at the adjoining village of Chartham and it was here that I first met a guy called Doug Copeland. My first recollection of him was when he came roaring up to the front of the club door on his trials motorbike. I was standing chatting at the door outside and one guy pointed at me and shouted to Doug,

"That’s the bloke from Petham who wants to start a band",

"Oh," murmured Doug casually , switching off his machine and removing his helmet. I had been informed that Doug was a guitarist with a local group called THE ROUSERS. We chatted for a while and spoke of our mutual interest in Rock n' roll. Doug went into the club where he was about to practice with his band. He caught me peering through the window and invited me in. I listened a while and to be honest I wasn't that impressed, Geoff their lead guitarist was an excellent musician, but old fashioned and the band sounded very 'Bert Weeden'...'dance band'. Later Doug came over for a break.

I asked him why didn't they play rock n'roll?. He looked suprised and replied that they did, why? wasn't what you heard rock n' roll?

"No" I replied, I was young and hot headed back then to the point of seeming to be arrogant. "not when I play rock n' roll..."

"So you reckon you can play rock n' roll"? asked Doug,

"Yep," I replied.

"Why don't you come over and prove it then?" he asked..

So I did....Gene Vincent stuff, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry......

Doug said "OK yes, that IS rock n' roll..".

Doug admitted that I was playing the style he had been looking for. He came over to Petham village hall and sat in with the band I was getting together at a practice session, which we held frequently. He wanted to team up with me but was too committed at the time to his own band THE ROUSERS.

On another practice session Doug brought his younger brother along, he was a quiet, shy lad only fifteen, his name was John. John was very good at playing chords he was basically a ukelele player and would adapt well to make a really good rhythm guitarist. A few days later I phoned Doug and asked if his brother would be interested in joining our group, which by now had been named ‘THE FALCONS’, Doug spoke to John and he was very keen so a few days later, John came over to my house to have a 'run through'. I can still see him now - on his BSA motorbike with his acoustic guitar strapped to his back! He made that journey many times rain or shine.

Me and John, just after I had moved to Petham 1961. (Pre Falcons).

The next few weeks were filled with enthusiasm as John, Mick, Robert and myself practiced in the garage of my parent’s bungalow in Vicarage hill, Petham.

As I wrote earlier, going back to my first job in Sevenoaks in 1958. I mentioned that I worked for a radio and TV firm and one of the engineers, Ernie, had helped me build a LOUD amplifier for my record player. I used to drive my folks mad with this at home playing all my 45's through it. At that time I took it up to the local youth club and the lads would dance about and play all the latest rock n' roll, a young girl would be sent by the Y.C. leader to tell us to turn it down.. After that, when I moved to Petham I put it all in a case with a 12" speaker and painted it white. It really worked well and was quite loud with my Burns guitar plugged in it. I called it a 'TRUTONE' but actually it was far from that! John and I eventually went over to a music shop in Kent Avenue Ashford, the shop was Arthur Seaton. We tried out and bought two Watkins ten-watt amplifiers! We were now the bee’s knees! Proper amps! Wow! The first practice gigs we did we had played through my 'Trutone' amp and rhythm guitar through the microphone input on an old 'Walter' reel to reel tape recorder!- very distorted! But now we had real guitar amplifiers!. As we now had a good rhythm guitarist, Robert gave up the guitar and became our singer and at long last my first group was ready to hit the local youth clubs and villages. Robert became 'Eddie' and we asked The local youth club leader David if we could play on Thursday nights. David agreed, -Imagine us carrying all our equipment by foot, down Vicarage Hill to the village hall.! We were so keen....

Eddie and the Falcons (1961)

In late 1961, EDDIE AND THE FALCONS made their first official appearance at Petham village hall youth club and a few weeks later at Waltham village hall dances. Soon we were playing at village hall dances, and once shared the evening with Doug's band.

Waltham Village Hall. 1961. ...Me, Mick, John and Robert.

Then. 1961........................................................................................................... ........Now...2007 with the Burns...

LEFT: Me and Mick (drums), Littlebourne village hall rock n' roll hop, appearing with Doug Copeland's group, 'The Rousers' 1961.(Note the much sought after 'original' Watkins Dominator amp in front of the drums, belonging to Geoff, Dougs other guitarist) worth a fortune now!

Even then we were picking up local interest. I watched as many bands as I could and then soon became aware of the importance of a bass player. I mentioned to the guys that what we were really lacking was a bass guitar. Mick our drummer suggested a guy called Jim Brice, who was known to him and who had recently left a band called WILL AND THE ALPINES. Jim had played the drums and had a good knowledge of music at school he had played the violin.. 'Jamie' as we used to call him then, lived with his folks just outside of Canterbury on the Hythe road, a place on the Nackington Road. He rode a large motor bike, I can't remember what make it was, I think it was a Norton.500cc. They thought Jim may be interested in joining and learning bass and after a few rehearsals he fitted in well and agreed to join the group. That was the line up for a little while. We played at Petham youth club every week and also the village hall at Waltham. Things didn't always run smoothly, one night a guy called Ron Savage came up and sung a song, and I believe this caused tension in the band with Robert. Jim and Robert didn't always see eye to eye and eventually unfortunately because of personality clashes, Robert decided to leave the band.

Tommy Savage and The Falcons (1961-62)

Ron Savage lived over near a village called Aylesham he came up and sang with us again on several occasions, he had a great voice and he went down very well. Although his name was Ron, "Everyone calls me Tommy," he said. He was a steel fixer by trade and seemed very keen to join the group. Tommy was more of a ballad singer, but he sang rock 'n Roll ok and had a terrific voice. He joined up with us and it was then in 1962 that we became "TOMMY SAVAGE AND THE FALCONS". We wore white boots, black trousers and black shirts. We played every week at the Youth Club at Chislet Welfare Hall, Hersden, near Canterbury.

Chislet Welfare Hall, Hersden. 1962. Jim,Mick,Me,John and Tommy...

The hall had only recently been built and I believe that we were one of the first bands to play there. We always had a great night, and the place was packed with young people. Another venue we played at that time was the youth club at Sandwich......... Tommy was rehearsing with us one evening and raved about a drummer in a band he'd seen. The band was called "JOHNNY AND THE JAYTONES". ....... A major move was about to take place...

Tommy Savage and The Satans (1962-63)

Tommy, John and I decided that 'yes,' our band really needed a better drummer. Mick was good, he tried hard and was a really nice guy. But Mick was busy with his day work and was gradually building up his own decorating business, so sometimes he seemed as if his heart was not into his playing the drums. I had only been able to teach him all I knew. The guy Tommy had seen was very good, a dedicated showman who had confidence and experience. We went to see the band and were very impressed with this guy drumming. He appeared to have an extrovert personality and an impressive drum kit, a top of the range Premier outfit with double kick drum and yes..he was good!- we needed him!. His name was Keith Hood, his stage name at that time was Danny Fielding. He lived in Canterbury so that was another good point.. A meeting was arranged and eventually he agreed to join us on one condition.. Ray, who was lead guitarist in their band and a good pal of Keith, was also a good bass player so why not let him play bass, besides, Ray was also a good singer, (we could do with some extra vocals). So the mutual decision was made to invite Keith and Ray to join our band. This change was one decision that in some ways I felt very bad about. I like Mick and Jim. I don’t regret the move, but I was sorry having to do it. Jim went on to form a band called BEAT LTD with my old pal Doug Copeland on lead guitar, together with a singer by the name of Les ('Fender') Stankovitch.

In those days some bands dressed up to their name, Nero and the Gladiators wore Roman clothes. Johnny Kidd and the Pirates had pirate gear. It was the thing to have a 'gimmick'. So we decided that 'Satan' cloaks were for us. Tommy's wife at the time Lil, was an excellent dress maker and so she made us these cloaks in black with red shiny lining. That is how we presented ourselves in the early days of The Satans.

(photo c. by R. Savage)

Thus 'TOMMY SAVAGE AND THE SATANS' came to be in 1963. Rehearsals took place in the back room of The Dukes Head pub in Wincheap Canterbury, next door to where Keith lived.. I remember Ray arranged for us to be carried around in a Bedford Dormobile van by a guy called Arthur. He was an uncle of Ray’s wife and a real character. He was a lot older than us and was very reliable. He would drop us all off and say, "What,... 'bout eleven?". He'd go home and then later drive all the way back to pick us up at the time we said and then take us all home. He never complained, was very quiet and used to softly whistle badly as he drove. He always wore his old flat cap. Arthur, like Fred Dibner, was definitely one of the "old school' brigade. A lovely character I will always remember...........

The line-up stayed the same for a while. I remember playing the local Odeon (now the Marlowe Theatre) for a rock n' roll show one Saturday morning., Keith couldn't make it and a guy called Buster Osmond sat in with us on a 'one off' agreement. Another good memory was the time we supported KENNY BALL AND HIS JAZZMEN one night at the Kings Hall, Herne Bay. Kenny Ball came over whilst we were setting up on the small side stage. He introduced himself and seemed chatty and friendly. He asked if we would mind going onto the big centre stage, as he wanted to play down nearer the crowd. He felt the big stage was too far away from his audience and wanted a more 'intimate' 'club' type atmosphere .So we agreed and he played on the small 'support band' rostrum. We had this vast stage all to ourselves! Lights and everything...It was great..We played to a thousand people that evening and had a fantastic time! In fact a lot of people were disappointed because it was so crowded that they couldn't see Kenny Ball very well, so I think because we had such a great stage and lighting, we went down better than the main act ....we received a really good response that evening. A brilliant night.....

Keith Hood was a good friend but he was prone to mood swings. He was going to leave the band on more than one occasion, then he wasn't. Another time when he had a steady girlfriend, he was thinking of calling it a day but he stayed with us for a while longer before becoming restless. Keith was a showman by any standards, he loved the limelight and was really quite a crazy guy- over the top at times, always getting into scrapes and very accident-prone. He had a great sense of humour.

When Keith finally decided to leave we tried to recruit drummer Buster Osmond, who as I said earlier did a 'one off ' gig with us at The Odeon in Canterbury and although he was interested, he felt he was committed to his band THE DOULTONS. So although he thought about it and liked the idea he declined the offer. ...For now...

(When Keith decided to call it a day he never played again. He sold his drum kit and took a bus-driving job. A great waste of talent. We were to be friends for a number of years after he had left the band. At one time in late1962 - early 1963, he was very good to me when I was in trouble and I will never forget how helpful and kind he was to my family and myself. We drifted our own ways eventually and I saw him very little towards the end of his life................... A few years after he had left the group, Keith met his death tragically due to an accident whilst on holiday on the Broads, he drowned trying to rescue a child who had fallen into the river. The child was rescued but unfortunately Keith perished. His body was found a few weeks later. A terrible thing to happen, ...

A friend who will remain in my memory forever, ....Keith Hood..)

After Keith left the band in 1963, Dick Pressley became our drummer. A quiet, pleasant guy who lived at Sturry just outside Canterbury. He had a really nice drum kit, a Trixon outfit, very compact but a nice sound, you don't see them these days. He was a contrast to Keith, he played a very straight tempo and liked to remain in the background, he was very good and kept a good solid beat. His input and ideas for the band were a great influence on us. By this time we decided to abandon the 'cloaks' as this was becoming a bit unfashionanable, The Beatles and Stones were just starting on the scene and times were changing.

Tommy Savage and The Satans at rehearsals with new drummer Dick Pressley. late 1963.

(photo: c. East Kent Gazzette)

Our play set was getting really tight and it was then that Tommy Savage and The Satans made their way to 'Regent Sound Studios' in Denmark Street, London, (a place I recently found out was where the early Rolling Stones tracks were recorded and also it was around about the same time too). We recorded an EP which consisted of: 'Do the Shake', 'In My Dreams', 'Tears and Sorrow' and 'Tutti Frutti'. Two were written by Tommy, one by me and of course the other is a Little Richard classic. We played 'The Golden Slipper Club' in Lewisham on the way back from London that evening, it was a tiring but memorable day.

Times were beginning to change and with the advent of bands such as The Beatles, Hollies and Rolling Stones we were changing our style. Ray, John and myself were beginning to handle more and more of the vocals and the trend was towards harmonies or rhythm n' blues sounds. Tommy was doing less and less and hinted once or twice that maybe he had gone as far as he could with us, he was a little older than we were and found it harder to adapt. Tommy spoke about singing as a soloist and had one or two engagements lined up at various nightclubs, he has a terrific voice and wanted to sing more Tom Jones style songs. This was not our scene. He was becoming more and more restless within the band.. It was inevitable that he would leave. Tom went on to become a solo singer, working at nightclubs and the occasional 'one off ' gig with bands. He has his own building company now and he lives over near Sandwich and still sings occasionally.

The Satans (1964)

After Tommy left we decided on a change of image and so we had promotional photos taken at Ben Mays Studio in Canterbury. (He is still taking photos!) The results were very good. The lineup remained constant for a while. We played a lot of gigs and we had a lot of good times.

and.....Radio Caroline started.....Still on line!!

 (Photo c. Ben May Studios, Canterbury)

Dicky our drummer had a really good job with SEEBOARD and he was getting promoted higher and eventually had less time for the band. After about a year it was enevitable that he would not be able to commit to the band for much longer and would call it a day. However, there was someone waiting in the wings..... If you recall earlier, I mentioned a guy who was in THE DOULTONS who had sat in with us at The Odeon, Buster Osmond. He had decided to leave his band and when we contacted him again he agreed to join us at last!. Whilst Dicky had been a really good drummer and always filled in well, we felt that now we had acquired one of the best drummers in the area. Buster had quite a good reputation having played with Ashford band 'PAT AND THE CHEETAS' (Pat the singer went on to join the 'Flower Power' band 'THE IVY LEAGUE' ). Before that Buster had also been drummer with the excellent 'PETE KAY AND THE LONELY ONES' from Folkestone, whose line up at that time included the late Noel Redding on lead guitar, who would go on to mega fame as bassist with Jimi Hendrix. Later on, Peter Kay the singer went on to join STATUS QUO as drummer. He was with them for quite a few years and played on many of their hits, including 'Rocking all over the world, also when they opened for the Bob Geldof 'Live Aid' concert in the 80's. Buster remains in touch with Peter and was still in touch with Noel up until his sad death this year. I remember Noel as a brilliant performer and a real genleman.

I married in 1964 and a month or two after we'd recruited Buster I bought the guitar I had always dreamed of owning. I parted with my BURNS guitar and purchased a brand new sunburst FENDER Stratocaster! It was a great guitar and I wish now that I had never sold it in later years. I bought the guitar from a music shop called 'Grimwoods' which had been long established in Whitstable. The company had just opened a new branch in Canterbury about fifty yards from where I lived. The owner, Elmer Grimwood was so very helpful. He would loan equipment to try out and always gave so much enthusiasm to young people learning to play. He was an ex RAF pilot and had lost an arm during the war, but he would carry heavy gear and deliver amplifiers for me personally to try out. Such a nice guy. I bought a VOX AC30 guitar amp from him just after the Fender guitar. Unfortunately after a year or so he decided to retire and close the shops. He passed away a few years later.. Someone I will always have respect for and will always remember, such a great help in those days to musicians who were just starting out...Elmer Grimwood........

A week after I had bought my new 'Strat' we entered a local 'Beat Group' competition. Various heats were held all over East Kent. Our round was held at 'The Deal Palas' in Deal. To our delight we were one of three bands picked to go through to the semi-finals which were to be held at the St Thomas hall, Canterbury.

THE SATANS through to the semi-finals. Deal Palas 1964. With Buster on drums..

A few weeks later, at the semi-finals in Canterbury, we were just beaten by the popular local group at the time THE SWINGING SECRETS. On drums was David Legge, later to become known as comedian DAVE LEE. The finals were at The Leas Cliff hall, Folkestone, only the SWINGING SECRETS went through from this area, I don't think they won, I can't remember who actually won the finals. Dave went on in later years to form the successful local band 'The Ways and Means'.

Another memorable time was when we twice supported THE FORTUNES at the Kings Hall in Herne Bay. They were so good and had such a really good P.A. for those days. Most local bands at that time - including ourselves had back-line guitar amps but no actual front of house 'P.A' system. We used to plug our vocal microphones into our instrument amps! It seems unbelievable these days. We opened the evening and warmed up the crowd, then on came The Fortunes, they sounded excellent with their clear PA system...when they had finished their first set (it was the rule in those days that each band did two sets)- we didn't want to go back on, they were so good! We had some great times though and moments I will always remember..

Other bands we supported at The Kings hall included The Hunters, The Crusaders and Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages. On a Saturday night off from the band I went down to the Kings Hall with Ray to see Gene Vincent backed by the brilliant 'Sounds Incorporated'. It was a great night, we got to meet Gene in his dressing room and we shook hands... His hand was cold and clammy, he looked up smiled and seemed to be a nice guy, he spoke softly and politely. He looked so pale, tired and gaunt. It was clear he was in pain with his leg and I think he had been drinking heavily. It was so sad to see one of my early rock n' roll idols in such a state. He was obviously very ill at the time and tragically it was only a year or so after this that he died. I don't think he ever got over the car crash he was involved in that caused the death of his close friend Eddie Cochran.

One weekend we supported THE MERSEYBEATS, it was the Saturday that Johnny Gustaven, their singer/ bass player had married. It was on the TV news and at the time he was very well known. News of his marriage must have got to the management of the venue, the West Cliff Hall, Ramsgate. (It’s now the motor museum). When OUR John arrived with Ruth his girlfriend an elderly guy came out of the place and walked up to John who was getting his guitar and amplifier out of the car and greeted him saying, "Are you John?"

Surprised, John turned around, "Yes" he replied,

"Oh good, -There are some telegrams for you inside", The man glanced at John holding his amp and guitar, "Here, allow me," saying this, the guy took Johns guitar and amplifier and they all started to walk along the path to the stage door.

"Did you say I've got some telegrams?" asked John feeling puzzled,

"Yes," replied the elderly 'Jobsworth', he glanced at Ruth, "You were married today I believe?"

"No," they both replied,

"Oh,........ you are John... John Gustavan of The Merseybeats?"

"No," replied John, "I'm John Copeland of The Satans, --we're the support band tonight!"

The look on the mans face changed, "OH," he choked and instantly he put down Johns gear to the floor! "er, oh...my mistake " he spluttered..

We laughed when we arrived and John told us the story. , I suppose it was the way the guy had just let go of John’s gear! The 'jobsworth' must have felt really embarrassed. But poor old John, one minute fame, next minute back to normal, oh well, maybe one day......Before the gig started we went out onto a balcony that overlooked the crowd below on the dance floor, it was packed solid. Then some of the crowd looked up in our direction and soon there were loads of girls all waving and screaming. We smiled and waved back thinking this was great, but then we noticed The Merseybeats directly above us on a higher balcony, THEY had been waving at the crowd! The gig that night turned out to be memorable, THE MERSEYBEATS were great and we went down well too .....Great times...........

In 1965, John decided to leave the band, he was working as a carpenter and travelled away a lot during the week. He was also dating a new girlfriend (Sandy) and wanted his weekends free to go out with her. So it was with great regret that we said goodbye to John. He had been with me nearly from the start and was a founder member with whom we had shared so many laughs and good times. I never knew then that in later years I would join up with him again. John’s place in the band was taken by a guy I mentioned earlier, Les Stankovitch. He was ex singer with Doug Copeland's band BEAT LTD, formerly THE ROUSERS. Les's stage name at the time was 'Les Fender'.....Les was a great laugh, a little over the top if he had too many beers, but Buster seemed to keep him in check.

 (photo: c. Faversham Times)

This pic shows us playing at the Faversham Community hall, We shared the Stage with 'The Rebounds', From Folkestone. (1965. With Les Stankovitch replacing John.)

With Les came our first actual P.A. system. He owned a powerful, loud vocal amp made by an Italian company called 'Geloso'. However, unfortunately it proved to be a little unreliable. It blew fuses quite regularly and made many trips to be repaired, of course it always worked perfectly at the engineer’s workshop. In the end Les got so fed up with it that at a gig one night after the fuse blew, he stuffed some silver cigarette paper around the blown cartridge fuse..It was OK for..a while.. Then all went quiet, we turned to look at the smoke started to drift upwards, and the amp had caught fire! We were on stage at a city youth dance in Canterbury at St Thomas's Hall. Thick smoke billowed out as we stopped playing and frantically pulled the plug and put out the fire. We had to plug our mikes back into our backline amps to finish the night.. That was the end of Les's P.A. Amp! I'll always remember Les sitting on the steps leading to the stage with his head in his hands, very upset. Was this the first time a band had ever used a 'smoke machine?'...........!!

To re-cap the line-up at that point; Me on Lead Guitar, Ray on Bass, Buster on Drums and Les on Rhythm. We all shared the vocals and had some really good harmonies. Looking back, I think the band played really well and we were starting to make a name for ourselves locally.

Later, along came another chance to enter a group talent contest, this time to be held in Maidstone, at the Star Ballroom.We had built up quite a few fans and followers from various youth clubs around the area, one of which was Littlebourne youth club. We also had a fan club run by a young lady called Wendy. She decided to hire a coach and bring a crowd up to go to Maidstone and give us some support at the competition. It was a great night, we were beaten into second place. I still think we could have won but I think we upset the judges because of a song we performed. It was a JOHNNY KIDD number called 'Ecstasy, Les sang 'Sextasy' - I don't know if it really made any difference, but the judges did look a bit straight and frumpy! These days you would most likely get disqualified for actually singing 'Ecstasy'! Our fans done us proud, a lot of them were from Canterbury, Sandwich and the villages of Littlebourne and Wingham.

Some of the best dances we ever played at in those days were at Littlebourne village hall.

Read on.....