Johnny Breeze and the Atlantics (Blackpool)

Line-up - Johnny Breeze and the Atlantics

• Johnny Breeze - vocals
• Chris Riley - rhythm guitar, later organ
• Frank Blackburn - guitar
• Michael Stephens - bass
• Brian Hood - bass - replaced MS
• Ronnie Brambles - drums

Line-up - The Atlantics

• Chris Riley - rhythm guitar 
• Michael Stephens - bass 
• Frank Blackburn - lead guitar 
• Ronnie 'Lee' Brambles - drums 

The Atlantics formed in 1962 in Blackpool, with Chris Riley on rhythm guitar (b. Christopher Riley, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK), Michael Stephens on bass, Frank Blackburn on lead guitar, and Ronnie 'Lee' Brambles on drums (b. Ronald Brambles, 1949, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, now in Cumbria, UK). 

Riley and Stephens, who had been close friends at school and founded this instrumental group that played Shadow's songs, adding exceptional guitarist Blackburn and drummer Brambles to the line-up. 

The Atlantics played six or seven nights a week in 1963. Also three members of the soon to form Blades, Ian Anderson (b. Ian Scott Anderson, Tuesday, August 10, 1947, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, UK), Jeffrey Hammond (b. Wednesday, July 30, 1947, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK) and John Evans (b. John Spencer Evans, Sunday, March 28, 1948, Warley Road, North Shore, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK), saw The Atlantics play at the Catholic Church-run Holly Family Youth Club, just around the corner from John Evans' house in Links Road? Blackpool. 

On Friday, November 27 1964 The Atlantics released their only single ''Don't Say No'' / ''Send Him To Me.'' It was produced by Peter Sterling, who also arranged the A-side along with Ted Taylor, who also arranged the B-side.

After they released this single the band became Johnny Breeze and the Atlantics, when the group took on lead vocalist Breeze. 

At some point Stephens left the band to join another Blackpool group The Blades, to play six-string guitar and was replaced by bassist Brian Hood (b. 1947, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK), who had been to school with future Jethro Tull bassist Tony Williams (b. Anthony Williams, Tuesday, August 19, 1947, Durham City, County Durham, UK), who had also been in The Executives with bassist Glenn Cornick (b. Glenn Douglas Barnard Cornick, Thursday, April 24, 1947, 117 Kent Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, now in Cumbria, UK) of Kendell Avenue, Carleton Village, Lancashire. 

Riley also stopped playing rhythm guitar and started playing organ. 

In early 1966 Riley left Johnny Breeze and the Atlantics because he did not want to play pop and R & B hits of the day, from the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones which is what the band's manager wanted. He joined The Hobos with Ronnie 'Lee' Brambles and bassist Glenn Cornick, who had been in two Barrow-in-Furness groups, Joey and the Jailbreakers and The Vikings.

Discography

UK 45's

Friday, November 27, 1964 Don't Say No (Stewart, Colton)/Send Him To Me (Lewis, Lily, Levy) Windsor WPS 129 

Some Atlantics concerts: 

Sunday, July 5, 1964: The North Pier Pavilion, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK, supported Gene Vincent and the Shorts and The Animals, as did Patsy Ashe, The Sylos. The promoter was Austin Newman and the compère was Johnny More

Some Johnny Breeze and the Atlantics concerts: 

Tuesday, November 29, 1966: The Public Hall, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumberland, UK, with The Powerhouse

Some info from Greg Russo ''Flying Colours: The Jethro Tull Reference Manuel'' (Crossfire Publications, 1998).