"This must have been about 1963 or 64. We opened up at The Jungfrau for Ivans Meads.

The original line up - they were doing John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Witherspoon tunes - EXACTLY what I wanted to do.

I was playing guitar and had Frank Thornlee standing in on bass from the Electrons (Alderley Edge). Frank was a great guitar player and could wipe the floor with me but our regular guy Pete Faulkner was absent on this particular night . We did a reasonable set - Frank played the bass like a lead guitar !! and I stuck around after we finished and was VERY impressed by the 'Meads ' .. so I boldly walked up to one of them , and gave them the pitch "If you ever need anybody please let me know , you guys are great " or words to that effect .

Three weeks later, I'm sloggin' away in my advertising job when my Mum calls me and says .. "I've got a phone call from Ivans Meads, that band you have been talking non-stop about ... they want you ..on bass".

Within hours I was in the band .. now a bass player .. been wingin ' it ever since ..great memories."

David Bowker

Sad to hear that Gordon Thornton has passed away
Sept 2008

I have a vague memory of a one night stand (music wise!!!) with the Hearts. For some reason they had no lead guitar for a (wedding?) gig at some county hall and asked me to stand in. No rehearsal no nothing just... " Our next number is Reelin' and a rockin'"... "What key?..."A"... and away we went. I seem to remember it went down O.K.

James Hollingworth
Ex B.L. and the 'Feds.