Line-up as pictured above:
Nick Gribbon rhythm & lead - Ian Holbrook lead - Harry Feeney vocals - Ciggy Shaw drums - Steve Morris bass |
Reverend Black and The Rocking Vicars (as the band were originally known) are probably best remembered outside the North West due to their guitarist Ian Willis - aka Ian Kilminster - later to be Lemmy of Hawkwind and Motorhead.
But at the time, they were probably one of the hardest rocking live bands around.
Their reputation as a wild band strengthened by their choice of clerical outfits as stage gear.
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Although very much evident on the local scene, where they were a major attraction, they were also one of the first UK groups to perform behind The Iron Curtain (Yugoslavia 1965) and later toured Finland.
There was also an Australian "Rev Black and The Rocking Vicars" formed by ex-Blackoool guitarist, Dave Rossall, formerley with Bruce and The Spiders.
Line-up #1 1963-64
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| Harry Feeney |
Alex Hamilton |
Peter Moorehouse |
Cyril "Ciggy" Shaw |
| lead vocals |
guitar |
bass |
drums |
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Line-up #2 1964-65
This great picture (on the right) is taken from a 1964 promotional leaflet for The Plaza Ballroom.
Back row from left:
Ciggy Shaw - drums
Harry Feeney - vocals
front row from left
Alex Hamilton - rhythm
Ken Hardacre - lead
Pete Moorhouse - bass |
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| Harry Feeney |
Alex Hamilton |
Ken Hardacre |
Peter Moorehouse |
Cyril "Ciggy" Shaw |
| lead vocals |
guitar |
guitar |
bass |
drums |
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Line-up #3 1965-67
Line-up as pictured on the right:
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| Harry Feeney |
Ian "Lemmy" Willis |
Steven"Mogsy" Morris |
Cyril "Ciggy" Shaw |
| lead vocals |
guitar |
bass |
drums |
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Sam Gopals's Dream
Opal Butterfly
Hawkwind
Motorhead |
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Solomon King band |
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UK Singles
I Go Ape/Someone Like You (Decca F 11993) 1964
It's Alright/Stay By Me (CBS 202 051) 1966
(This was a Pete Townsend track - basically "The Kids are Alright"
Dandy/I Don't Need Your Kind (CBS 202 241) 1966
Dandy was a Ray Davies song - a hit for Hermans Hermits.
To find out what this is about - CLICK HERE
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Disc, 17 October 1964
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"I was first aware of the Rockin' Vicars from cries of outrage, in the newspapers, about their name.
I first heard their music on TV program 'Thank Your Lucky Stars'. Each week a section of the show was given
to a studio jury (members of the audience, including Janice 'O'ill give it foive' Nicholls) who voted, points
out of five' on the likely success of 3 new releases. This particular week they played 'I go ape' by the
Rockin' Vicars. The consensus of opinion was that it was too soon after Neil Sedaka's original version, to be a hit.
The first time I saw them live, they were billed as Reverend Black and the Rockin' Vicars. They were a 5 piece group who all wore black suits and 'dogcollars', except for the bass player, who was dressed as a schoolboy (long before Angus Young !). As the set went on, the 'schoolboy' was plastered with 'custard' pies and quirted with a soda syphon.
Whenever I saw them after that, they were a 4 piece band. The bass player (Pete Moorhouse) and a guitarist (Ken Hardacre) were replaced with Ian 'Lemmy' Willis / Kilminster on guitar and Steve Morris on bass. Lemmy often stood with his back to the audience 'windmilling' power chords (like Pete Townshend).
As I recall, their set was a powerhouse from start to finish. The band would come on and start playing and after a few bars, Harry Feeny would bound to the front and launch straight into the vocal. I particularly remember their version of 'Rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu'. Their version of 'Baby never say goodbye' (written and later recorded by Unit 4+2) impressed me enough to go out and buy the available version by the Bo Street Runners, which I still love. |
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They also did a great number that was by Bobby Goldsboro, but I never got the title - nothing I've ever heard by Goldsboro sounded remotely like it.
A CD of all the tracks they ever recorded is available, but only 'I go ape' and 'Shake, rattle and roll' are representative of the sound of their live set. The version of 'Baby never say goodbye' is quite insipid. Their name was changed on record to the Rockin' Vickers, but they were still billed as Vicars. I understood, at the time, that someone at their record company considered the use of 'Vicars' to be blasphemous."
Rev Black and the Rockin’ Vicars' repertoire that I noted down after a few gigs. (With recorded versions in brackets.)
Gloria (Them)
Living Above Your Head. (Walker Bros)
Tears and Kisses.
It’s Too Late (To Say You’re Sorry) (Written by Bobby Goldsboro)
(She’s) Not Respectable (or should this be Not Responsible?)
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (Shirelles)
Turn On Your Love Light
Rockin’Pnuemonia and The Boogie Woogie Flue (P.J Proby)
New Orleans (Bern Elliott and the Fenmen)
Stay By Me (Rockin Vicars)
It’s Alright #
Dandy #
I Don’t Need Your Kind #
Zing Went The Strings of my Heart #
Skinny Minnie
Woolly Bully (Sam the Sham)
Stop The Music
Saturday’s Child (Walker Bros) |
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I’d love to know some information about “Tears and Kisses”. I note that it had been recorded by the Australian version of the band. Are there any versions of the song available over here?
Brian Hadfield
 
30 jAN 1965
We did summer seasons at the Queens at Cleveleys with the Wheels from Belfast and every top name that you could think of at the time ... Lulu, Proby, Swinging Blue Jeans, Jethro Tull, Merseybeats, Undertakers, FourPennies, Billy J Kramer and lots of Manchester bands who we played with at the time Cimmerons, Stylos, Frankensteins Monsters and many more, also Dave Lee Travis and Ray Teret and Dave Eager and Bob Carolgees and many more.
Manchester fans were good to the Rocking Vickers and the city played a big part in our limited success, at least we can say we were there at the time. Many of the famous groups and stars always remember the Vickers because more often than not we blew them off stage thanks to the crowd and the guy who made our big sound amps from TVM in Whitefield.
Harry Feeney
Rev Black
The Vickers toured Finland in the 60s, with Roy Wood's The Move - the Move being the second billing.
Some of the numbers that the Vickers did must have inspired the Move. On return to the UK the Move came out with a L.P "Something else from the Move (Rocking Vickers version of Eddie Cochrane's Something Else), the Move's first E.P. "Zing Went The Strings" - another version of a classic but better orchestrated by the Vickers.
I think the Vickers did not get the recognition that they deserved. One of the best live bands ever!!!
Steve Mealor
I can remember being at Blackpool Casino where Lemmy told me that he was leaving the Vicars, and did I want to go with him down south?
Not long after that I replaced him along with Nick Gribbon who had gone back on rhythm guitar.I only played two gigs with the Vicars, I can't remember where the first one was, but the second was at the Oasis, Manchester.
A little story about Lemmy's guitar! When I was with The Five Commandments I visited the Vicars at the bungalo they rented just outside Blackpool. I remember picking up his Telecaster and tried to bend the strings, but they wouldn't move! On closer inspection I noticed that there were cuts in the frets that stopped the strings from moving, these were caused by him slamming the neck against the mic stand!
The early roadie was a guy called 'Nod' he was originally a sound engineer on 'Radio Caroline North'. There was another roadie after him called 'Lango'.
Phil Coggan
I knew the band well. They used to play regularly at The Stoneyleigh Hotel in Ilkely. They always called at The Old Cafe (Church Street) where I lived, for their tea before the gig, and I always got a lift with them to the hotel in their old MK2 Jaguar. Those were the days. I particularly liked their version of New Orleans.
Jeff Pole
Memories of the Rocking Vicars? Why has no one come forward with the fantastic nights when the Vicars entertained us at the Bolton Palais, Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday night fantastic memories. My first introduction to what I call real R & B as the act started the stage rotated to the heavy beat still causes Goosebumps as clear as if it was yesterday. Ahhhhhhhhh fantastic.
Graham Prendergast
Seem to remember Rev Black and the Rocking Vicars one Monday night at Accrington Con Club. They were brilliant, hard rocking, but unfortunately were banned for stripping off to the waist (lol) so the story goes.
Only found this through a mate, was looking for info on the best live band of that era - which without doubt was Rev Black.
Olly
I used to watch the Vicars at Cleckheaton Town Hall in 63, 64 and 65. They were a great act for that time. They did a great version of New Orleans.
Kenny Rooke
They used to bring the house down at Dewsbury Town Hall - always went to see them - always a sell-out.
Alan Swithenbank
Just reminiscing of the time we went to The Beachcommer on Bank St in Bolton and The Palais. Rev Black was a regular and Frankenstien's Monsters - great times, great memories.
Pete Ripponden
I remember the Rocking Vicars from pubs round Blackpool and the Queens at Cleveleys.
They were ahead of thier time - a truly fantasic band who all the girls just loved they were a great bunch and we followed them all around our area.
Weekends were great just knowing you were going to a Rocking Vicars gig.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh those were the days. I was a big fan and my now husband was too.
Happy times remembered.
Wyn and Ken, Blackpool
I remember "The Rocking Vicars" in the '70s playing at the "Clevleys Hotel". They used to play a a John Paul Young single "Love is in the air, I used to think it was better than the original version.
If I remember rightly Ciggy was lead singer in those days.
Ray Birch
I am still alive and kicking,Wow! Reading this brings back memories,What you up to these days Phil Coggan? The last I heard you had gone back to Wales,and that must be 30 years ago,
Yes - myself, Ciggy and Mogsey kept the Vicars going for quite a few years - packing them in on the local pub and club scene. But once they started putting zimmer frames on stage for us, we decided to call it a day.
It would be great to hear from anyone who used to come and see us
STUART McGARRY
Spiders, Vicars
Hey Stuart !!! Just reading on here brought back memories of those days . If you read this Stuart, do you remember me - Wyn, Janet's friend. We dated a couple of times. I wasn't for you , or you me, but we were young. Hope you're keeping well and let me know on here. Are you still singing or retired with the zimmer frame you spoke about (ha! ha!). BE NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU . HEY KEN AND I ARE STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 42YRS OF MARRIAGE. Hope you are doing ok byeeeeeeeeeeee
Wyn Bennett
Oh boy, were they a good band! I saw them everytime they came to Halifax. They played a few times at the Marlbourgh Hall - never missed a show.Where can i get a copy of 'Its alright' lol.
Thanks for the memories
John Sutton
We still meet up with Mogsy every Friday night at the Queens Hotel, Blackpool, where they have a rock and roll night. Unfortunately, Mogsy is not playing, only visiting. Rev.Black and the Rocking Vicars are still talked about amongst us rock and rollers in Blackpool.
Doreen & Bruce Johnstone
Back in the sixrties I was the drummer with the Voomins (of 'March Of The Voomins' fame) We appeared with you guys along with Brian Poole And The Tremolos and at the Queen's Theatre in Blackpool, (I think?).
At the end of your act, as you left the stage you sprinkled it with ball-bearings and The Tremolos, on making their spectacular appearance, slipped and tottered about like a bunch of drunks.
I though it was great., my fondest memory of the tour. Regards to all.
Ken Harrison
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