One of the early Manchester "progressive" bands.  

Alan "Joe" Wroe replaced Harry Ferk on bass in the late sixties and the singer was at that time Allan Yapp. THe drummer was John "Benny" Benson and Lou Ludlum played Flute, Congas & Piano. No Guitarist after John Senior left.

The Band went to Germany in 1972 and imploded there.

Allan & "Joe" carried on a while until "Joe" joined the top German band "Kin Ping Meh". Allen returned to England and works on computers in London. "Joe" is still playing in Germany.

I put a number of people in touch with each other and from this Alan first formed The New Boston Sect around 1966.

Based in Whalley Range and practiced at the Whalley Range Methodist Hall, Withington Road. The line-up (fragmentary) was Alan Yapp- Guitar/Lead Vocals (now Systems Software in London ), Victor Constantinis - Drums ( Catering Business in Australia ) and Ian Tomlinson - Drums ( deceased ). I think that Barry Thornton may have been in the group for a short while on Guitar but as I was mostly in London at the time the rest is hazy.

1967 saw the change to The Henry Allen Blend.

The line-up ( part way through ) was Alan Yapp Lead Vocals/Guitar, Victor Constantinis - Bass, Ian Tomlinson - Drums. The group found a superb lead guitarist but his name eludes me. Paul ( Mash ) Marshall joined as Bass (I think) and he had a mate (Lou Ludlam) who could not play much but started to learn the sax and joined.

New members came and went (as usual).

Both groups were funded by Ian Tomlinson's dad who provided a full set of Marshall PA and a Morris J2 van. Ian acted as Manager as well as playing drums.

From memory The Henry Allen Blend fell apart during 1968.

Alan, at some point, met John Benson and John Senior from Sleep. Alan was developing his skills on the piano and with a bit of song writing and after his dad died, Alan went off to Hamburg ( Sleep?). A

fter the group imploded Alan ended up in London and scratched a living playing the piano and singing in Bars and Clubs until he focused on a chance career in Computer Software.

Kim Vernon
29/5/11

Where are they now?