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Hi
all, I hope some of you 60s buffs out there find this of interest . . .
. . My name is Larry Evans and I started my band when I was at school in Hackney, East London circa 1963, with a group of school friends. The bass and rhythm guitarists didn't quite cut it so I put an advert in the New Musical Express for local replacements. This was soon answered by a couple of Grammar School kids, Tony Sales and Steve Haswell, who we met in the local hostelry (The Marquis of Salisbury in the Balls Pond Road) even though we were only fifteen at the time (nothing changes!). Anyway, they were good blokes, so we arranged an audition and they were in. In 1964, just before I left school, I remember all of us piling into a cab with our guitars, amps (small ones at the time) and the drum kit, to go to CBS recording studios in New Bond Street** to make a demo disc to promote us around the scene. We were very nervous and, to make matters worse, Craig Douglas was also there to make a record. This didn't do our nerves much good at all, but we made the disc in about three hours. The tunes were an instrumental called 'Big Noise from Winnetka', which featured a long drum solo and the 'B' side was 'I'm a Hog for you Baby' originally recorded by Screaming Lord Sutch. These turned out pretty good so we started to promote ourselves. We answered an advert in the NME for bands wanted for an agency. The agent came to see us playing and we were signed up by The Associate Entertainment Agency, a couple of nice jewish blokes who had fingers in all the right pies. Then followed gig after gig on the college circuit. |
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In late 1965 we took over a gig for another band we knew called 'Harry Bates
and The Strangers' (they were a bloody great band!) at a members only club
called The Sphinx in Beak Street, just off Carnaby Street. We were unsure
of how we would go down as we played rather different music to the Strangers'
four part harmonies, Beach Boys numbers etc. Anyway, people could hear us
from outside and banged on the door wanting to get in. The owner loved it,
opened the doors and charged a fee to get in. We were there for five months!
In 1966 our local rag, The Hackney Gazette, ran a top ten East London group
chart and, for sixteen weeks, we were No.1
in front of The Equals and The Riot Squad, who both
had records in the top ten. In 1966 we had to change the band's name as there was an American girl recording group with the same name. The 'Unsuited Medium' was born, and it was under this name that we became most popular. Another happening in 1966, Radio London hosted a night at The Lyceum in The Strand to raise money for the Thalidomide appeal. We were the top band, supported by the resident big band and The Mike Morton Congregation (they had a record in the charts at the time called Burning Bridges). This was held in late May. Also at the gig were Dave Cash, Susannah Leigh (the only british leading lady to have starred with Elvis) and Joyce and Lionel Blair. They were good fun and it was a brilliant night. Two weeks prior to that gig we had taken part in an advertising stunt in Oxford Street. We set our gear up outside Pontins Continental Holiday Shop, which was roughly in the middle of Oxford Street. Then along came about twenty models wearing clothes designed by the London College of Fashion, parading about in front of us while we sang 'Dancing in the Street'. This caused a massive traffic jam and the police were called to sort it out, but they enjoyed it as well. |
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We
soon got another singer, Chic Fraser, who couldn't sing very well but the
girls loved him. When I left school I got a job in the photographic department
of the London Press Exchange in St. Martins Lane in the West End of London.
Everything was happening in that area at that time and I loved it. I saw
an advert in the PJF for a photographic assistant to a photographer named
Lewis Morley. If you haven't heard of him, he is the one who took those
iconic pictures of Christine Keeler sitting astride the chair! I got the
job. His studio was at 18 Greek Street above The Establishment Club (then
owned by Peter Cooke) and, joy of joys, the offices of Private Eye Magazine
were just across the landing inhabited by Peter Cooke, Dudley Moore, Lance
Percival, John Bird and others that I can't remember. I met loads of actors and models including Goldie Hawn, Michael Caine, Charlotte Rampling, Patti Boyd, Jean Shrimpton, Chrissy Shrimpton, Imogen Hassel and Marsha Hunt (left) , who offered me £25 to marry her as her work permit had run out and she wanted to stay here. Great times!! Group pictures are by courtesy of, and are copyright of, Larry Evans 2015 |
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**
The New Bond Street studios were originally owned by Oriole Records and
was where Embassy Records recorded their cover (tribute) versions of current
hits, produced and manufactured by Oriole Records for F.W. Woolworth & Co.Ltd.
from late 1954 until 1965, when the Oriole company was sold to C.B.S. You can see images of these studios and get more information HERE. Sounds Of The 60s (The Ready Steady 60s Show) The band consists of five members, two of whom were in popular 60s bands that played at The Marquee, The Sphinx, Le Carnaby, The Lyceum in the Strand, and clubs and colleges all over England. Now augmented by a new female vocalist, bassist & drummer, each with lots of band experience, they have come together to bring the great 60s sounds to lovers of that era and also to new audiences. They are dedicated to giving their clients the best 60s night experience, with great tunes, smart suits, mini dresses (for the girls that is) and a 60s light show. The show consists of two one-hour sets, or however the client wants the 120minute show split. For more information or bookings contact Larry Evans by clicking on the image. |
| When
You Walk In The Room Baby Come Back Woolly Bully River Deep 123 Spooky Do You Love Me Midnight Hour Peter Gunn theme Da Doo Ron Ron Glad All Over |
Loui
Loui Gimme Some Lovin' Where Did Our Love Go I'm Into Something Good Hi Ho Silver Lining Twisting The Night Away I'll Never Get Over You Shout I Saw Her Standing There Saturday Night At The Movies Mustang Sally |
Build
Me Up Buttercup Do You Love Me Walking Back To Happiness Nights In White Satin Shadows medley Shoop Shoop song The Locomotion Sweets For My Sweet Venus Proud Mary My Boy Lollipop |
Son
Of A Preacher Man Lets Dance Have I The Right Rock & Roll medley Do Wah Diddy I Only Want To Be With You Dancing In The Street Please Please Me Mony Mony Knock On Wood ...... and many more! |
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