Although often not very popular with bands (and vice-versa), agents provide regular work for the group interested in more than playing at their friends weddings - you do, after all, tend to run out of weddings to play at.
A number of agents existed in this period, working with some of the major venues and bands of the time. Some are listed below but there were many others. Can you assist????
|
|
|
|
Eccles based George Gray (real name George Sidlow) had been an alto sax player in the RAF. On leaving the RAF, he worked as a blacksmith at Mitchell and Shackleton, Monton near Eccles, where he met Peter Hughes - the drummer with the Chuckles - who also worked there as an apprentice.
At night, George would play in a trio at the College Club in Manchester backing visiting Artists.
Managed Chuckles, working under the name Unit Management.
Later worked with Paul Julian and carlton Edge under title Baron Artistes
 Copy of a Unit Management contract
|
| |
|
| |
|
Not really an agency, perhaps a way to get your acts at a discount.
Ran by Pat Day, the agency booked its own clubs - Rowntrees Sound (Hanging Ditch), Top of the Town (Cross Street), Spring Gardens and Takis (Oxford St). I can remember Pat being pleased she had managed to get a pre-"Gin House" Amen Corner for their usual low rates. Most bands at the clubs got between 15 and 25 pounds for the night.
On looking at an old contract, I spotted the following "The Artistes should arrive no later than 7 pm. Should they arrive after this time, a reduction of $2 for every 15 mins will be made". Remembering that they often tried to sling the band out of the club within minutes of the bar closing, it was somewhat unfeeling.
Copy of a Rowntrees contract |
| |
|
| |
|
Based at The Blue Note Club in Gore Street, the agency booker was Rick Chandler and had, I believe, something to do with IVAN'S MEADS, a great Manchester band with a minor hit record Sins of the Family in the mid sixties. |
| |
|
| |
Run by William Leyland, booking most of the Wigan area gigs - including Wigan Casino and his own Pink Elephant (or Parrot) club.
Managed Harlem John's Reshuffle. |
| |
|
| |
|
Warrington-based agency run by Dave Warwick and George Swindells. Booked for most of the vast number of Warrington gigs, especially Warrington Co-op Hall, where Dave was the DJ.
Whilst George eventually went to the USA, Dave started his ownhighly successful David Anthony Promotions, which handles TV Presenters. Previously Dave had major success with two of his acts, Poacher and Rick Astley.
| |
|
| |
Ian Hamilton
1st Floor Suite, 42-44 Kennedy Street, Manchester
|
Copy of Manchester Playboys contract with Ian Hamilton |
| |
|
|
208 Chapel Street, Salford 3
Managed Four Pennies
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Ingham
Middleton |
|
| |
|
"Paul was our first booker I used to go to school with him – I’m sure he was the same age as me. We did all those clubs in the early days, we kept good company didn’t we?
I passed Paul’s house a few months ago, he lived across the road from Peter Cowap’s hardware shop on Alkrington. I remember calling to his house on many occasions to drop off his 10%, but we soon got fed up of that and gave him a real hard time. Paul would tell the promoters not to give us the money and would collect it himself later in the night to get his commission. Of course we then refused to go on until we got paid and for a time we had a stand off.
Paul then called us with a gig to try and make up as friends again. The gig was Platts Social Club!!!!!! We were an out and out mod band something like the small faces..... Platts was a ROCKER club. When the curtains went back and we saw all the bikers we shit our selves. We did a couple of numbers and a big greasy bugger came up and asked for an Elvis song, we played Heartbreak Hotel about fifteen times that night but to no avail, we had to have a police escort to get out of the building and even then the kicked hell out of the van.
We put out a contract on Paul but there were no takers for the £20. Good old days! I'd love to hear from Paul again. Boy were we a pain in the arse!"
Danny Hardman |
|
| |
Don Read
Based at the beachcomber Club, Bank Street, Bolton |
| |
Don Read was a very perceptive, unassuming man who you would never guess had his finger on the pulse of the hip music scene. He managed my group - Outrage - along with The Warriors (featuring Jon anderson, eventual member of Yes), The John Evans Smash (featuring Ian Anderson, the future lead singer and flautist in Jethro Tull), The Dawnbreakers and Leicestershire band, The Family. I think he had some connection with Wynder K Frog.
He was also responsible for bringing many great bands to the 3 Beachcomber clubs, including the Small Faces, the Who, the Action and Preston's own, very underated David John and the Mood, who had the distinction of not only producing superb Bo Diddley style material of great intensity on stage but also fetured on the Vocalion label, which most record buffs will know is a premier jazz/blues label and equal in stature to Blue Note, Sue and Ace. A major achievement in itself.
Dn helped most of his bands to greater things and in our case, managed to get Kim Fowley to produce our stuff. I believe he ceased trading in 1967 and last time I heard of him he lived in Irlam of the Heights with a well known lady ex jazz singer.
Geoff Parkinson |
|
| JT Enterprises, Blackpool |
I've just remembered another Blackpool agent we used, 'JT. Enterprises'. I'm not sure but I think his name was John Taylor, his name appeares at the bottom of The Love Trade picture.
Phil Coggan |
|
| Jeff Bates Promotions |
Jeff Bates Promotions was also a well established Blackpool agent we used. Jeff Bates was agent/manager to a few groups but mainly to Bruce and the Spiders, who were one of Blackpool's truly pro bands in that, the band was their full time job.
Jeff was very strict with them and made sure they were up to date with chart material. They gigged at least five days a week.
Phil Coggan
|
|
| Brian Mills |
| |
Brian Mills, based in Walkden, had hundreds of acts, not just bands. He booked the Willows acts many times and many of the football clubs I did for him through the 70s as well, such as Bolton Wanderers, Preston NE, Everton 2000 club and the 4 cabaret clubs - Embasy, Carlton and the other two whose names I've forgotten.
Alan Roberts |
|
| |
|
|
