WELCOME TO ALEX'S PIE STAND

updated April, 2010

The Snackerie or "Alex's pie stand" as it was more widely known, was a popular spot in central Birmingham during the 1960s for members of local bands to get a hot meal after a late night engagement.

It was there where many group members met up and exchanged stories and ideas; discussing future plans and catching up on the latest music news. As well as hot cups of tea, the place served the famous Fleur de Lys steak & kidney or chicken & mushroom hot meat pies which many Brummies will remember. In memory of Alex's Pie Stand I will be posting on this page the latest Brum Beat related news and stories. Also mentioned here are the latest updates to www.brumbeat.net. If you have any Brum Beat related information that you would like to share, please send to: john@brumbeat.net

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The Chads

This Birmingham group developed from an earlier band called The Sundowners who formed in the late 1950s. In 1964, The Sundowners became The Chads and changed their format to an American blues-based sound, thus joining some of the first local groups to play this style of music. The Chads will be forever immortalized in classic rock history as one of the earliest bands to feature future E.L.O. front-man Jeff Lynne.

Mick Adkins who was lead guitarist in The Chads, had preserved the history of the group on his own website in the 1990s - one of the first sites to be dedicated to a 1960s Brum group who were known only locally. Sadly, Mick passed away in June of 2007 from lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust during his long career as an electrician.

Mick was very helpful to me during the early days of the BrumBeat.net web site in answering many questions I had about the 1960s Birmingham music scene. His e-mails to me were as funny as they were informative and he was a very down-to-earth character. It is only fitting then that The Chads and Sundowners biography on this web site is dedicated to the memory of Mick who I'm sure is missed by all who knew him.

To read the biography of The Chads, click HERE or see them listed in the Brum Beat MAIN INDEX.

To hear a short sound clip of Mick Adkins and The Chads, click HERE

The Moody Blues - GO NOW

Possibly the most important Brum Beat record ever made, 'Go Now' was the first song recorded by a West Midlands group to gain international recognition and finally establish Birmingham on the world's pop music map. Although a couple of other local groups such as The Applejacks and Rockin' Berries had charted earlier, their success was confined mainly to the UK without impact on the all-important North American market.

While bands from other cities in the UK - Liverpool, London, Manchester and even lowly Newcastle - had spearheaded the famous 1960s "British Invasion", Britain's second city had to wait until an obscure local group known as The Moody Blues made it to the top spot with their version of a little-known R&B composition.

Although the Moody Blues' classic version of Go Now is very well known, the story behind the making of that record is not. Brumbeat insider Bulls Head Bob recently interviewed former Moody Blues manager and record producer Alex Wharton who told Bob the story of that legendary recording session. This fascinating story exclusive to BrumBeat.net, can now be read by clicking the link HERE or see it listed on the Brumbeat FEATURES page.

Bulls Head Bob's blog can also be seen at www.bullsheadbob.blogspot.com

The Talismen

The Talismen won top spot in the first Midland Beat magazine popularity poll that was held in 1964. The poll was meant to highlight the most popular performing groups in the West Midlands so a high placing would benefit a band considerably in terms of publicity and the extra bookings that would result from it. Funnily enough though, The Talismen were not from Birmingham but were based in Cheltenham - quite some distance south of the Midlands area!

While not a West Midlands group, The Talismen are included here as their connections with Brum and the legendary Midland Beat newspaper provide a fascinating story. Chris Stanbury with assistance from Clive Devine of The Talismen have provided the exclusive story of the group that can now be seen on this web site. Click HERE to read the story of The Talismen or see them listed in the Brum Beat MAIN INDEX.

The Redcaps

Of all the hundreds of local groups who performed around the West Midlands during the early 1960s, there were a few who stood out as being a major influence for many young and aspiring rock 'n' roll musicians at the time. The Redcaps were one of these groups who even today are remembered by many for their musicianship and performance skills on stage.

Signed to the prestigious Decca Records label in 1963, The Redcaps talented line-up was formed around the Walker brothers; Dave (lead vocal & guitar) and Mick (vocal & bass guitar). They, along with Mac Broadhurst (saxophone), Roy Brown (lead guitar), and Alan Morley (drums), were well known on the famous "Ma" Regan circuit of venues that included The Plaza Ballroom in Handsworth, Old Hill Plaza, The Ritz in Kings Heath, and The Brum Cavern Club in Small Heath.

Brum Beat musician and historian Brian Nicholls who, with the assistance of Mick Walker, has written the story of The Redcaps which can now be seen on the BrumBeat.net web site (click HERE) or see them listed on the BrumBeat.net MAIN INDEX

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Deep Feeling - PRETTY COLOURS

One of the great "lost" groups to emerge from the West Midlands music scene of the 1960s, Deep Feeling have at last received recognition with the release of a CD to document and preserve their recorded legacy. Known as an exciting live act, Deep Feeling evolved from The Hellions beat group who formed in Worcester.

To fans of the legendary band Traffic, Deep Feeling will be remembered as the group that Jim Capaldi fronted before joining Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, and Chris Wood for their critically acclaimed journey to international stardom. While Deep Feeling could indeed have been considered as the "blueprint" for Traffic, their line-up of Jim Capaldi, Gordon Jackson, Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth/Mott The Hoople), Dave Meredith, and Poli Palmer (Blossom Toes/Family) combined much individual musical talent in their own right.

For an exclusive in-depth review of Deep Feeling's Pretty Colours CD, see the BrumBeat REVIEWS page or click HERE. For additional information visit the Sunbeam Records web site at at: www.sunbeamrecords.com

Rock 'n' Roll at Smethwick Baths

What do The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Who have in common? Well for one, they all performed at Smethwick Swimming Baths (Thimblemill Baths) during the 1960s along with loads of local bands such as Carl Wayne and The Vikings, The Brumbeats, The Uglys and many more. The baths were one of Birmingham's top venues for hosting events in the 1950s and 60s.

After more than 70 years in operation, the baths continue to be a valuable asset to the community. As one of the former top entertainment venues in the city, concerts, dances, and even boxing tournaments used to be held at the baths. For special events, the water from the main bath would be drained and a specially sprung maple dance floor would be assembled over the empty pool. Andy Moore who is the Duty Manager at Smethwick Swimming Centre (Smethwick Baths, Thimblemill baths) has been doing some research into the bath's colourful history.

Andy says the management at the baths are actively trying to keep the history of the centre alive. "Some things we have done so far are Backstage Tours of the baths for the public (you get to see the plant room, secret tunnel, and WWII air raid shelter), and ghost hunts (we are one of the most active locations in the country with 11 ghosts on site). There's also arranged tours of the baths for the local schools. The next step for us is to inform people of the great musical heritage that the baths has. From the tours that we have done so far, we have many stories from the public about the gigs they saw at the baths and this info needs recording with pictures to help bring it alive for the younger generation."

If you have any photos or posters/memorabilia of bands or artistes performing at Smethwick Baths, Andy Moore would love to hear from you. Please e-mail him at: andrew_moore@sandwell.gov.uk or phone 0121 429 1421.

Kelly Groucutt 1945-2009

Sad news for music fans concerning West Midlands musician Kelly Groucutt who passed away suddenly from a heart attack on February 19, 2009. Kelly was known world-wide as bass guitarist/vocalist with Brum's famous Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) who evolved from the acclaimed 1960's pop group The Move.

Born on September 8th 1945 at Coseley Staffordshire, Michael William Groucutt formed his first group as 'Rikki Burns and The Vibras' in the early 1960s. He was later involved with a number of West Midlands groups including Greenwich Village, Marble Arch, and Sight & Sound - a band that went through several different line-ups that reads almost like a "who's who" of Brumbeat.

After leaving ELO, Kelly Groucutt got involved with other musical projects which included his own solo album and the group 'Orkestra' that featured former ELO members. This later developed into ELO Part II when they joined up with Move/ELO drummer Bev Bevan. The group recorded a number of well-received albums as well as touring extensively with much of the shows featuring covers of ELO's classic hits and album tracks. A talented musician and songwriter, Kelly has also played sessions on records by other artistes. Most recently he was touring with 'The Orchestra' (see www.theorchestra.net).

My deepest sympathy goes out to Kelly's family and friends. We have lost yet another great talent. For more information, go to Kelly's official web site at: http://kellygroucutt.sitesled.com To read an interview with Kelly Groucutt, visit Martin Kinch's "Cherry Blossom Clinic" website at www.cherryblossomclinic.freeserve.co.uk

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Phil Myatt Remembered

It is with great regret that we announce the sad news about Brumbeat agent Phil Myatt who passed away on November 15, 2008. One of Birmingham's top promoters, Phil will be remembered as the driving force behind the legendary 'Mothers', formerly The Carlton Club, Erdington. Read Bulls Head Bob's dedication to Phil on the December blog page at: www.bullsheadbob.blogspot.com

Jimmy Powell - INTERVIEW

When Jimmy Powell's recording of 'Sugar Babe' was released in 1962, few would have realized the significance of it as the first pop music single by a Birmingham vocalist. This historic event began a flood of great records by Brum bands and performers that continues to this day. Now, more than 40 years later, Jimmy Powell talks about those early days and recalls some of the highlights of his amazing career in music.

Jimmy Powell is one of the great underrated vocalists to come out of Birmingham and one whose considerable popularity as a live performer was never reflected in the sales of his records. Well-known around the 1960s London blues scene as 'Jimmy Powell and The 5 Dimensions' his backing group at one time included a young and then-unknown Rod Stewart. I had the great privilege to recently interview Jimmy Powell and ask him questions about his music career and what he has been doing since those heady days of the 1960s.

To see the Jimmy Powell interview exclusive to BrumBeat.net, click HERE or see it listed on the BrumBeat FEATURES page.

Terry Wallace remembered

I regret to post this sad news of talented guitarist Terry Wallace who passed away on August 14, 2008. A true pioneer of Birmingham's early rock 'n' roll scene, Terry was the founding member of Brum's legendary local group The Vikings who formed in the late 1950s.

The Vikings were fronted by a number of charismatic singers including George "Duke" Mann, Keith Powell, and Carl Wayne. It was during Carl's association with the band as 'Carl Wayne and The Vikings' that they enjoyed their greatest success with the line-up of Terry Wallace (guitar & vocal), Johnny Mann (guitar), Dave Hollis (drums) and Chris "Ace" Kefford (bass guitar & vocal). Terry Wallace while playing his famous Fender Stratocaster guitar was a familiar sight on stage with The Vikings as they packed the dance halls around Birmingham while performing rock 'n' roll classics along with many chart hits of the time. The American guitarist Eddie Cochrane was a big influence for Terry in the early days.

Carl Wayne and The Vikings became one of Birmingham's top performing bands during the first half of the 1960s along with Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders, Denny Laine and The Diplomats and The Spencer Davis Group. The Vikings - known for their smart appearance and polished stage performance - played throughout the West Midlands as well as doing a number of engagements in Germany. They were signed to the Pye Records label in 1964 and had two singles released; What's A Matter Baby and This Is Love. Bev Bevan from The Diplomats replaced Dave Hollis on drums just before the group departed for their final trip to Germany.

The Vikings split up at the end of 1965 but then re-formed as The Move with the addition of guitarists Roy Wood from The Nightriders and Trevor Burton from Danny King's Mayfair Set. Terry Wallace and Johnny Mann were not part of the new line-up but Terry soon joined "Mike Sheridan's Lot" before his interest turned to folk music and he switched to acoustic guitar. He formed The Southerners, a successful trio with his wife Cheryl as lead vocalist and Robbie Harper on bass guitar. Years later, Terry recalled his days as a folk musician to be amongst the happiest of his long career in music.

A former Metro-Cammel and Leyland employee, Terry Wallace lived in Erdington and was father of two. He never lost interest in playing guitar and was later in a number of other local groups including 'Sounds Hawaiian' and 'The Nightshift'. He had fought a two year battle with cancer (Mesotheioma) before passing away at age 66. My deep sympathy goes out to Terry's family and his many friends. He will be missed.

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The Thunderbirds

It's hard to imagine these days how much demand there was for live music back in the 1950s and 60s. Before the advent of special occasion DJs and with so many pubs, clubs, and venues to play at, proficient rock 'n' roll bands or beat groups were always in demand. Wolverhampton's Thunderbirds fitted the bill perfectly.

Typical of many young semi-pro groups formed in the early 1960s, The Thunderbirds had no shortage of work and may even have had a chance at the "big time" as the decade progressed. Geoff Cook who was guitarist in The Thunderbirds remembers the great times he had as a member of the band but the tragic death of their lead singer was an event no one could have forseen.

Geoff has written the story of The Thunderbirds which can now be seen on the BrumBeat.net web site (click HERE) or see them listed on the BrumBeat.net MAIN INDEX

Johnny West and The Sunsets

Johnny West and The Sunsets were one of Birmingham's many rock 'n' roll groups who performed at social clubs and pubs during the late 1950s and early 1960s. In that pre-Beatles era, bands almost always featured a lead singer or "front man" who would usually go under a stage name or alias.

John Miller remembers The Sunsets well as he was the drummer in the band as well as one of the founding members. This was John's first group with whom he played for about 18 months before they disbanded. John later went on to join the Birmingham blues group Catch 22 who played support for Eric Clapton's 'Cream' at London's famous Marquee Club in 1966.

The story of 'Johnny West and The Sunsets' as written by John Miller can now be seen on BrumBeat.net. Click HERE or go to the group's listing on the BrumBeat.net MAIN INDEX.

Light Fantastic

Light Fantastic were well-known throughout the West Midlands during the late 1960s and early 70s while also gaining fans in the rest of the U.K. and abroad. Their exciting and theatrical live performances sometimes featured bass guitarist Ron Dickson's infamous "coffin act" when he would emerge from a coffin on-stage wearing horrific Dracula or monster make-up, terrifying many in the audience!

Formed in 1967 by members of a popular Birmingham group called The Vogues, Light Fantastic lasted well into the 1970s, recording a number of singles, an album, and touring with some of the biggest "glam rock" bands of the time including The Sweet and Mud. The group were also featured on the hit TV show 'Opportunity Knocks' but their stage shows did not always run so smoothly when their attempts at pyrotechnics sometimes put both the band members and their audience in serious danger!

Still performing today in his own highly successful "Nightmare" horror stage-show, Ron Dickson has kindly supplied the biography of Light Fantastic that I am proud to show here and exclusive to the BrumBeat.net web site. To read the story of Light Fantastic, click HERE or go to the group's listing on the BrumBeat.net MAIN INDEX.

Lady Jane and The Royaltee

There are many from the Wolverhampton area who will remember 'Lady Jane and The Royaltee' who were a big part of the local music scene during the latter half of the 1960s. A perfect blend of musical talent, fashion style, plus the obvious appeal of their attractive female singer set this group apart as one of the 'happening' acts to go out and see.

Originally known as Dean King and The Conquests, Lady Jane and The Royaltee were one of the Astra Agency's top groups who rarely had a night off from their busy schedule of bookings. Sometimes described as a West Midland's equivalent of "The Mama's and The Papa's", the core of the group consisted of vocalist/bass guitarist Philip Terrana and his sister Anna (Lady Jane) who provided the perfect focal point for the band. Geoff Hill (guitar/vocal), and drummer Graham Nock completed this charismatic line-up who went on to record two singles for CBS Records in 1969.

Veteran Brum Beat musician and historian Brian Nicholls with the assistance of Anna Terrana have put together the story of 'Lady Jane and The Royaltee' that can now be seen for the first time on the BrumBeat.net web site. To read this exclusive biography click HERE or go to the group's listing on the BrumBeat.net MAIN INDEX.

The Senators

The Senators unknowingly made rock music history in 1964 when they recorded a song called "She's A Mod" at Hollick & Taylor Studios in Birmingham. This was the first ever recording featuring a 16 year old drummer called John Bonham - long before he became part of Led Zeppelin - one of the most successful rock bands of all time!

The Senators were one of the 13 local bands chosen to be on the "Brum Beat" album released by Dial Records - a label set up by London-based David Gooch for the purpose of showcasing Britain's undiscovered talent. Very little has been written about The Senators until now but certainly their significance in the story of John Bonham and the history of Led Zeppelin should at last be recognized.

Bill Ford, who played bass guitar in The Senators, remembers those early days of the 1960s well and has kindly supplied this biography of the band as told in his own words. I am grateful to Bill for allowing me to present The Senators story here for the very first time and exclusive to the Brumbeat.net web site. Click HERE or go to their listing on the BrumBeat.net MAIN INDEX.

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Hearing the grass grow - THE MOVE REMASTERED

The year 2007 was an incredibly good one for fans of Birmingham's legendary group The Move. It was a year that marked the 40th anniversary of the band's first chart success in the 1960s with a handful of hit singles that placed them at the cutting edge of innovative pop music as that decade reached its creative peak. 2007 was also the year of the group's first official re-union with a series of well-received concerts in the U.K.

October of 2007 also saw the high-quality re-issue of The Move's original 1960s albums on CD as part of the definitive collection documenting their recorded legacy.

Following in the steps of the brilliant re-issue of their 'Message From The Country' album (EMI 0946 3 30342 28) in 2005, this definitive set comprising The Move's first two albums along with substantial bonus material (including all their 1960s singles) is by far the best collection ever assembled of this significant Brum group. In addition, their 1970 album 'Looking On' has also gotten the re-master treatment as of April of 2008. Though there have been some well-meaning attempts in the past to re-issue Move recordings on the Compact Disc format, the audio quality was generally disappointing and included some significant errors that have now been corrected.

To see a detailed review of the Move 40th Anniversary Remasters click HERE or go to the BrumBeat REVIEWS page.

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The Breakthru ALBUM REVIEW

The Circle Records company has released an album of previously un-issued 1960s recordings by the West Midlands group Breakthru. Until now, the band's recorded legacy was known only by a rare single 45 release from 1968. The group was never happy with the single as it was not a good representation of what their sound was like at the time.

Breakthru were known for performing exciting music while providing their own psychedelic light show to further enhance a larger-than-life image on stage and create for their audience a truly memorable experience. The group were certainly used to playing in front of large audiences as they performed at a number of outdoor music festivals during the latter part of the 1960s. Breakthru were denied having an album of their own released despite all the members contributions of original songs - many of which were recorded by the group in various sessions between 1967 and 1970. Now - for the first time - you can hear these recordings in a wonderfully prepared package titled "Breakthru - Adventures Highway".

To see an in-depth review of Breakthru's 1960s recordings now released on Circle Records, click HERE for the Brum Beat "Reviews" page on this web site or visit the Circle Records web site at at: www.circlerecords.co.uk

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THE BEATLES, HENDRIX, and ENGELBERT in Birmingham

LEGENDS ON TOUR - The Pop Package Tours of The 1960s

The Rockin' Berries front man Clive Lea and Cindy Kent of The Settlers are among 21 of the 1960s stars who share their memories with Martin Creasy in his new book "Legends On Tour - The Pop Package Tours of The 1960s". The book follows seven tours between 1965 and the end of 1967, featuring some of the biggest names on both sides of the Atlantic. There is a separate section dealing with the six pop package tours of The Beatles, including their five tour appearances in Birmingham, at The Hippodrome, the Town Hall and at The Odeon.

The Rockin' Berries were featured on Engelbert Humperdinck's winter 1967 tour and famously took over as top of the bill at the Portsmouth Guildhall when the velvet voiced one's vocal chords finally gave out. The Berries' mix of music and comedy went down well on the tour and they made new friends and secured some high prestige work.

Clive Lea told the author: "I remember Engelbert's voice going on that tour. Anita Harris was asked to top the bill, but she wouldn't so we were asked to do it. We just extended our act, with more of the comedy, and it was an outstanding success. I don't think anyone asked for their money back. In fact, the story made the nationals and we ended up playing the Royal Command Performance that year, so that's an indication of how well it went." Legends tells the complete story of the tour, backed up by some never before seen pictures of the Berries relaxing in their dressing room and singing on stage, and there are also two shots of their hilarious knock-about custard pie excesses.

The Settlers were on the bill for Roy Orbison's spring 1967 tour that also included mod heroes The Small Faces and those scream idol twins Paul and Barry Ryan. Along with Roy, The Settlers enjoyed being heard during their sets, with respectful applause at the end of their numbers, while Faces and Paul and Barry's fans went for non-stop screaming while their favourites were on stage. The Settlers met while at college in Birmingham and they received warm applause when the tour hit Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Their new single On The Other Side went down particularly well, according to the Express and Star.

The tour had got off to a distressing start for The Settlers when a sneak thief got into their dressing room at the Finsbury Park Astoria and stole their money. Cindy Kent said: "The thing is, we didn't have much money and the cash that was stolen was meant to pay for our digs and tour expenses. I can't remember how much it was, but it was a lot to us. Backstage at the Astoria was like a rabbit warren, with numerous stairways. As soon as Steve Marriott heard what had happened, he organised a collection from the other performers. It was very sweet of him and it saved the day for us."

The Beatles section of the book includes references to their five Birmingham appearances on package tours. The first, on Sunday March 10, 1963, at The Hippodrome was on a tour with Americans Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. The screaming had already started, but by the time they returned to the city that summer their fame was spreading. That summer show also featured their Merseyside chart rivals Gerry and The Pacemakers. However, it was Roy Orbison who had the honour of topping the bill. "Well at least that was the case at the start of the tour," said Legends author Creasy. "However, by the time the show reached the town hall on Tuesday June 4, 1963, The Beatles were closing the show, and the programmes had been reprinted with their name, in glorious red lettering, over Orbison's.

"The Beatles' set list for that Orbison tour included their Cavern favourite Some Other Guy, plus five tracks from their debut LP - namely Do You Want To Know A Secret, Love Me Do, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There and Twist And Shout. They also featured, of course, their current number one, From Me To You." The other bonus, according to Creasy, is that those lucky Birmingham fans would have seen the group at their most enthusiastic. "Although the boys were already getting rapturous receptions up and down the country, the screaming hadn't got out of hand yet. Those town hall fans would actually have heard The Beatles!"

The Fabs returned for another Hippodrome show on Sunday, November 10, 1963, as the headline act. By now Beatlemania was in full flow. She Loves You had already topped the charts and was about to make an unprecedented return to Number One. And it was only tipped off top spot by their next single I Want To Hold Your Hand. By this time the Fabs were being smuggled in and out of venues, with decoy cars used to try to throw the waiting baying girls off the scent.

It was almost a full year before The Beatles toured the UK again. It included their customary visit to Birmingham - appearing at the Odeon, on Sunday October 11, 1964. They were supported by Mary Wells, fresh off her summer success with My Guy. The Beatles made their final appearance in Birmingham at the Odeon on Thursday December 9, 1965, on a tour which included The Moody Blues.

THE BEATLES DATES IN BIRMINGHAM: Sunday, March 10 1963: Hippodrome Theatre with Montez and Roe. Tuesday June 4, 1963: Town hall with Roy Orbison and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Sunday November 10, 1963: Beatles top the bill at the Hippodrome with The Kestrels, Peter Jay, Vernons girls etc. Sunday October 11, 1964: At the Odeon with Mary Wells. Thursday December 9, 1965: Odeon with Moody Blues, The Paramounts and The Koobas.

OTHER LEGENDS TOURS: Monday March 1, 1965: Del Shannon tour plays the town hall. Saturday February 18, 1967: Gene Pitney and The Troggs at the Odeon. Wednesday March 8, 1967: Roy Orbison, Small Faces, The Ryan Brothers at The Odeon. (Roy made time to look around the BSA factory in Birmingham to admire motorbikes before the show). Thursday, April 2, 1967: The Walkers, Jimi Cat and Engelbert Humperdinck play The Odeon. Saturday November 18, 1967: Engelbert with The Rockin' Berries at The Odeon.

Legends features more than 100 photographs that have never been seen before - many unearthed from newspaper archives. "It's very much been a labour of love for me," said Creasy, a journalist who lives in Church Crookham, Hampshire. "Five of the seven other tours spotlighted by Legends included shows in Birmingham, featuring such greats as Del Shannon, Hermans Hermits, The Troggs, Gene Pitney, The Small Faces and Roy Orbison. "There was also the unforgettable line-up that featured The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens, The Jimi Hendrix Experience... and Engelbert Humperdinck! Yes, it happened, and they played a date at the Birmingham Odeon on Thursday, April 2, 1967."

Many thanks to Martin Creasy for permission to show the above passages from his book. Legends On Tour - The Pop Package Tours of The 1960s, is available from Waterstones (and other good book shops) and widely on the internet. The ISBN number is 978-0-7524-4275-4.

More information is available on Martin's website at: www.martincreasy.co.uk

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Where did OZZY go to work?

Do you remember going to the wonderful old Birmingham Museum of Science & Industry located on Newhall Street in downtown Brum? I used to spend many fascinating hours there exploring the halls and exhibits - everything from working steam engines to motorbikes and loads of old industrial equipment and electronics (including musical instruments), much of it made in Birmingham - and it was FREE admission too!

A dedicated group has been formed to promote Birmingham's industrial heritage and hopefully make more of the old museum's fantastic collection available to the public. MADE IN BIRMINGHAM - Birmingham's Industrial History Website, provides information about the once-thriving factories and businesses of which most are only a memory today. If you can think of anything, it was probably made in Birmingham at one time or another and it's little surprise that products from Birmingham and the West Midlands found their way to all parts of the world. Many of the future Brum Beat stars also had day-jobs working in the local factories. Even Ozzy Osbourne used to work at a factory that made car parts!

The MADE IN BIRMINGHAM web site is operated by Jon Price and he would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to contribute information concerning Birmingham's industrial past. You can subscribe to the site's free newsletter and participate in discussions that may be of interest to you. There's also lots of links there to other related websites.

You can visit the MADE IN BIRMINGHAM website at: www.madeinbirmingham.org

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Rod Allen of The Fortunes 1944-2008

Sad news for music fans regarding The Fortunes vocalist and founding member Rodney Bainbridge (Rod Allen) who passed away on January 10, of 2008. Rod's famous voice was known throughout the world as lead singer of The Fortunes, one of Birmingham's most enduring pop music groups.

Rod Allen will be forever remembered for his magnificent and melodic singing voice that made The Fortunes records so instantly recognizable. The band's breakthrough recording of "You've Got Your Troubles" in 1965, propelled The Fortunes to international success which they shared along with other Brum groups at that time such as The Moody Blues and the Spencer Davis Group. As well as subsequent big hits including "Here It Comes Again", "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling" and "Freedom Come Freedom Go", the Fortunes recorded "It's The Real Thing" Coca-Cola commercial title-track; surely one of the most recognizable advertising jingles of all time.

It is not only as a great singer but also as a great bass guitarist that Rod Allen should be remembered for. His fluent use of the instrument on stage while fronting the band and in the recording studio was always something to be admired. The sudden loss of Rod Allen comes as a particular shock as he was only diagnosed with cancer just a few months before his death. Rod had enjoyed good health up to that time and performed with The Fortunes regularly - as he had done for the last five decades.

My deepest sympathy goes out to Rod Allen's family and friends. His memory will live on in the many fine recordings he has made with The Fortunes. You can leave a personal tribute to Rod on the book of condolences at the official Fortunes web site at: www.thefortunes.co.uk

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KEX GORIN - a tribute

It is with regret that I post this sad news of yet another BrumBeat veteran who passed away recently. Kevin "Kex" Gorin who played drums in a number of Birmingham groups during the 1960s and beyond, succumbed to cancer at the end of December 2007. Kex had many friends in "the business" and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

One of Kex Gorin's earliest bands was The Andicaps from Shard End who are known as the first group formed by Jeff Lynne long before he went on to world-wide success with E.L.O. Kex did quite a lot of touring with The Andicaps and this included time spent in both Germany and Finland. Kex also played in a local band called "Paradox" before becoming a founding member of the acclaimed Birmingham rock group "Magnum" with whom he recorded their first four albums. It is his masterful drum-work with Magnum that Kex will likely be most remembered for.

I would like to express my deep sympathy with Kex's family and friends during this difficult time. John Kerton of JLP Events was Kex Gorin's former band-mate in the Andicaps and a life-long friend. John last saw Kex in hospital just before he passed on. He includes a touching tribute to Kex as follows:

"We met as kids and had a dream..."

The official web site for Magnum can be accessed at www.magnumonline.co.uk

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More BRUM ROCKS LIVE!

Could this be Birmingham's very own version of the Traveling Wilburys? Well-known local author/musician Laurie Hornsby has successfully taken his popular "Brum Rock" book series a step further by uniting some of the top local music legends to perform "Brum Rocks Live!"

Pictured are (left to right) Laurie Hornsby, Trevor Burton, Steve Gibbons, Bev Bevan and Danny King. Both Trevor Burton and Bev Bevan are founding members of influential Birmingham hit group The Move who went on to world-wide success in the 1970s as the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Steve Gibbons fronted local band The Uglys throughout the 1960s and later enjoyed international success with his own Steve Gibbons Band which also included Trevor Burton. Danny King is one of the founding fathers of the Brum music scene having fronted several significant local bands since the 1950s. Laurie Hornsby was himself a part of the Brum Beat music scene as bass guitarist in various bands during the 1960s and 70s.

This amazing line-up started touring in 2006 to sold out shows. For more information about "Brum Rocks Live!", go to the Brian Yeates Associates web site at www.brianyeates.co.uk/tours/rocks.htm

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Discovering the "Lost Traffic? album"

A significant release on CD recently is a rare 1969 album by guitarist/songwriter Gordon Jackson who was a founding member of the West Midlands bands The Hellions and Deep Feeling. Fans of the internationally-famous Brum group Traffic may know that Dave Mason and Jim Capaldi started out in those bands but few have heard Gordon Jackson's solo album which featured the complete Traffic line-up plus a number of other well known names.

As a regular visitor to Traffic's "psychedelic" cottage in Berkshire, Gordon Jackson gained plenty of inspiration for many of the songs on this album. Thinking Back exists as a wonderful snapshot of those times and despite the participation of famous friends, this album really showcases Gordon Jackson as a songwriter of considerable talent at a time when pop music was evolving rapidly. This makes it all the more unfortunate that the original release of Gordon Jackson's Thinking Back was terminated by the collapse of Giorgio Gomelsky's Marmalade Records label after only a small number of copies had entered circulation.

Thirty six years later, Sunbeam Records has done a great job in re-issuing Gordon Jackson's solo album - also adding five extra tracks not included on the original release. For an exclusive in-depth review of Gordon Jackson's Thinking Back CD, click HERE or visit the Sunbeam Records web site at at: www.sunbeamrecords.com

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Jim Onslow INTERVIEW

Brum Beat veteran performer Jim Onslow was recently interviewed by Roy Wood super-fan Martin Kinch. Jim was at the center of the Birmingham music scene during the 1960s when he played in bands that included future members of the Moody Blues and The Move - later to become The Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.)

One of Jim's earliest bands was Gerry Levene and The Avengers who were known throughout the West Midlands during the early 1960s. The band's drummer was Graeme Edge who helped to form The Moody Blues and with whom he remains to this day. Jim Onslow, along with Graeme Edge and the rest of The Avengers, recorded a rare single called "Doctor Feelgood" in 1964. This record is significant as the earliest known recording to be released that has Graeme Edge on drums and Roy Wood on guitar. Roy was part of the Avengers line-up for a few months before joining Mike Sheridan's Nightriders. Jim's connection to The Moody Blues and E.L.O. didn't end there as he later joined future Move/E.L.O. drummer Bev Bevan in The Diplomats as replacement for Denny Laine - also a founding member of The Moody Blues.

Martin Kinch (shown on the left in the photo) is likely the leading source of knowledge on the amazing Move/E.L.O./Wizzard founder Roy Wood. He operates the excellent "Cherry Blossom Clinic" website which is dedicated to Roy and many of the talented musicians he has worked with over the years. Jim Onslow (who is still an active performer today) also operates his own website at jimonslow.bizland.com but has not spoken much about his involvement in the early Brum music scene until now.

To read Martin Kinch's exclusive interview of Jim Onslow, click on the link http://martinkinch.members.beeb.net/jim.html or visit the Cherry Blossom Clinic web site at www.cherryblossomclinic.freeserve.co.uk

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Meet Bulls Head Bob - the "mystery" Brum Beat personality!

I am pleased to announce the appointment of "Bulls Head Bob". A mystery Brum Beat musician who will be putting together some new and exciting content to appear on future updates of this website.

The true identity of Bulls Head Bob will remain a secret at this time. All I'm going to say is that Bob is a veteran of the Brum Beat music scene. He was in a number of local bands during the 1960s including one that was very well known. Bob brings with him a vast knowledge and first-hand experiences of the West Midlands music scene as it was during the 1960s.

In addition, Bulls Head Bob now has his own blogger spot where you can read his thoughts and reviews concerning the world of Brum Beat. You may not always agree with his opinions, but that's Bob - gritty, hard, and right in yer' face! Just like Brum Beat was (as he say's so himself). I look forward to reading his blog as it is updated every month and I think you will too.

If you have any thoughts, comments, contributions or just want to contact Bob with some news, send them to bobsbullocks@gmail.com

Bulls Head Bob's blog can be seen at www.bullsheadbob.blogspot.com

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Mike Sheridan - keeps on rockin'

As one of the original founding fathers of the Brum Beat scene and with a career in music spanning 40-plus years, Mike Sheridan has seen it all. Still going strong today as one half of a performing duo alongside his wife Suzie, Mike Sheridan recently launched his very own web site that he hopes will help clear up much of the mis-information that has been written about him over the years.

"I was so fed up of reading all of the other (web sites), some of which were completely wrong, so I thought I'd put it right" says Mike. For those who don't know, Mike Sheridan fronted the legendary Brum band The Nightriders who along with Carl Wayne's Vikings and the Spencer Davis Group, were one of the top-rated performing bands in the West Midlands during the first half of the 1960s. The various respected guitarists in The Nightriders over the years included Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne - both to find fame in the hit groups The Move and Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.) respectively. Though not to reach the charts himself, Mike Sheridan was very much involved in the developing Birmingham music scene and has a long list of recordings to his credit. He even appeared on Top Of The Pops as a member of Roy Wood's chart-topping band Wizzard!

You can now visit Mike Sheridan's very informative web site at www.mikesheridan.org.uk "The Official Mike Sheridan Website" that details his career starting at his musical roots in Brum and up to the present day. Also included is latest information on where you can catch Mike on-stage still performing the great rock 'n' roll classics that inspired himself and so many others.

Note: Mike Sheridan's wife Suzi is also in business designing professional quality websites. To find out more, write to suzisheridan@btinternet.com

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