I was 14 year old drummer in group called The Beat League. Lead guitar-Judd Williams, rhythm guitar-Ernie Avalon, lead singer-Gordon Campbell replaced by Dave Baldwin and bass guitar-Terry Irvine (Good Guys - 1984/1985).

Yes, Terry was fastidious about his snappy dressing clothes even then. Terry's sister Madelaine, Delene for short, was Judd's girlfriend at the time.

Dave Anderton

Pictured right:

That 14 year old drummer, Dave Anderton, outside the Royal British Legion on Great Clowes Street, Salford.

Most of the Salford bands played there in the early to late '60s. Most notably Pete and the Rebels, Dave Barron and the Chariots (later Sweet Chariot withPete Oliver, Ronnie Grundy etc).

Lack of road traffic in 1964 wasn't there?

Drums - Dave Anderton. Now a mature 16 year old man of the world, ready for the onslaught of female adoration.
Lead - Judd Williams. Did George Harrison model his style on Judd?
Rhythm - Ernie Avalon
Singer - Dave Baldwin who had replaced Gordon Campbell.
Bass - Pete ? who had replaced Terry Irvine who had joined The Good Guys. Can't remember Pete's surname but he lived in Crumpsall.

This photo was taken late 1965. Can't remember the venue but what about the Beatles Fab 4 wallpaper? It was somewhere in Salford. Mega or what?

Left to right

Bass - Terry Irvine (who later joined the Good Guys) 
Rhythm - Ernie Avalon (real name Ernie Hatley)
Drums - Dave Anderton ( Who is that 14 year old drummer?
Terry Irvine was going to Salford art college at the time and   painted the motif on the bass drum head. There is a picture of the Good Guys on the site and I strongly suspect Terry may have painted that bass drum head as well).
Lead - Judd Williams
Singer - Gordon Campbell

The picture was taken in 1964 at The Royal Archer pub on Lower Broughton Road in Salford.

How's about that then? The old zebra crossing on Great Clowes street and junction of Silk Street and the Adelphi in Lower Broughton. Maybe The Beatles saw this photo which gave them the idea for the Abbey Road iconic photo on the zebra. Obviously the Beat League beat them to it.

Image generously supplied by Terry Irvine

Manchesterbeat is many things to many people.

For some (my family included) its just for old farts reminiscing and for others its a valuable social history - on artistic par with the entire works of Charles Dickens, the Mona Lisa, the Great Pyramid at Gaza and Sargeant Pepper (I may be alone in this theory).

For many it has been an opportunity to rekindle old friendships - usually spanning forty plus years.

David's own words speak for themselves:

"Firstly, Terry Irvine the bass player phoned me at home. Was on for approximately one and a half hours reminiscing. Neither of us could believe that 45 years have elapsed since we last spoke. We are going to arrange a meeting to further catch up on what has happened. It was unbelievable. Terry challenged me to find Judd Williams the lead guitarist and Gordon Campbell the vocalist.

.... She made me phone her nephew George (Judd) who I haven't seen or spoken to for approx 40 years. He was totally and utterly gob smacked. Needless to say we will be meeting up in the near future. He was amazed when I told him Terry had phoned me the previous evening. "

Paul
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