The Mad Lads came from Birmingham and seem to have been active no later than late summer 1966.
They cut one excellent original song “Come Back to Me” written by Butch Romana and Larry Rosser, backed with a good version of “Tossin’ and Turnin'”. It was released on Prestige Productions Records PP66-152 in August 1966.
The Mad Lads did get some fine gigs, including Stage Center for the April 19-20, 1966 Festival of Arts at Third Avenue and 20th Street North. Other rock performers those days included the Shades and Carol the Go-go Girl, the Discotheques, and the Blackouts.
They also played at Holiday Beach on the Tuscaloosa Highway in June, 1966.
Most notably they performed at a Battle of the Bands on TV Channel 42 vs. the Impacts on Saturday, March 26, 1966!
I would appreciate more info on the group. Does a photo of the band exist?
Channel 42 Battle of the Bands – The Impacts vs. Mad Ladson March 26, 1966
Richie’s Renegades in the Daily Item, April 17, 1966
Richie’s Renegades came from Lynn, Massachusetts. After winning a state-wide battle of the bands in May, 1966, the group cut a fine single on the Polaris Records label, “Don’t Cry” / “Baby It’s Me” released in August.
Members included:
Richie Reynolds – lead vocals William Dunn – guitar Robert Leger – guitar Robert Peck – organ Brian Michaels – bass Kevin Robichaud – drums
Erik Lindgren’s notes to The Polaris Story CD note that they cut the single at Fleetwood, while alternate versions of the single and a Pepsi commercial “Come Alive” featured on the CD were done at Ace.
The Lynn Daily Item ran photos of the group on April 26 and May 13, 1966:
Richie’s Renegades, a Lynn band, will be one of 18 competing for sate-wide honors tomorrow at Boston Gardens. They are on of a group of winners selected from more than 600 band taking part in local and regional contests, sponsored by the Jaycees.
The accompanying article noted that “Plans are now underway for a national competition next year, the Jaycees said.”
May 16, 1966 notice of their win
The May 16 Daily Item noted that the band won the final competition “which brings with it a $500 cash award, new musical instruments, recording contracts and other awards.
Inscribed to Edlita Adams (Miss Essex County and a Jaycee finals judge) by Billy Dunn, Bob Leger, Bob Reader (?) and Kevin Robichaud.
I found a copy of their record inscribed to Edlita, with four signatures: Bob Leger, Bob Reader [surname correct?], Ken Robichaud, and Billy Duran. Bob Reader isn’t in the lineups I’ve found online, and I read Robichaud’s as Kevin instead of Kenneth.
Kevin Robichaud is the correct spelling, as Lou Ames Music Store ran ads in September and October, 1968 with Kevin’s photo as a drum instructor, “featured with ‘The Playn Jane” and formerly with ‘Richie’s Renegades.'”
I found a notice in the Daily Item on August 25, 1966:
Richie and the Renegades of Lynn … will give two performances at the Pepsi booth as a highlight of the Family Day program at Topsfield Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The group will autograph their just released recordings “Baby, It’s Me” and “Don’t Cry” and, in addition, will offer autographed photographs.
One of the judges of [the Boston Garden battle] was Miss Edlita Adams, 19, of Lynn, reigning “Miss Essex County.”
That notice, and a couple others I found, list Robert Teck instead of Robert Peck.
The Boston Globe ran a brief item in April, 1967 about the group going to Worcester for the national competition with the same lineup listed as in 1966.
November 24, 1967 notice in Greenville, New Hampshire with William the Wild One, Tall Paul Floyd, and the Young Adults.
A December 20, 1966 notice in the Daily Item ran:
The Lynn Young Democrats held a Christmas party for needy children, highlighted by the appearance of a local band, Richie’s Renegades …
Members of the Renegades, donating their services for the occasion, were Brian Michaels, Bob Leger, Bill Dunn, Bob Peck, Kevin Robichaud, Dick Tarnborini, Bill Barry and Richie Reynolds.
The inclusion of Bill Barry is interesting, as he is also known as William the Wild One, who cut a great 45 on Festival in 1966, supposedly with Richie’s Renegades providing backing. A Fitchburg Sentinal notice mentions the Renegades playing a show with William the Wild One at Appleton Academy in December, 1966, noting that William “toured the country with the Dave Clark Five. He and Reynolds are cousins of Dave Barry, a student at the academy.”
By 1968, Richie’s Renegades became Playn Jane, mentioned in the February 29, 1968 Daily Item:
The third annual Battle of the Bands sponsored by the Lynn Jaycees will be held Saturday night at Classical High.
The competing teenage bands are Danny and the Dreamers, Passing Times, Playn Jane, Psychedelic Innovation, Satisfaction and the Sinders …
Dancing will be allowed during the competition.
Robert Leger passed away on January 7, 2020.
September, 1968 ad for Kevin Robichaud of Lou Ames Music Studio
The Road Runners have a Gadsden, Alabama address on their only 45, but a notice in the Alexander City Outlook on December 15, 1966, mentioned a performance at the Goodwater, AL home of Mr. & Mrs. Steve Gilliland, Jr. Both towns were east of Birmingham, but at some distance from each other. The other names on the notice are Dr. & Mrs. Joe T. Roberts, likely parents of another band member.
The A-side is a good, jaunty version of the Contours hit, with the full title “Do You Love Me Sixty Six Style”. The flip is a light instrumental credited to Gilliland, “To Be With You”.
Froggy and the Gremlins from left: Mike Shields (organ), John McClusky (drums), Bill Thomason (lead vocals), Pat [surname?] (lead guitar), and Craig Gardner (bass) Our band started one Friday night in late 1964 literally in a garage in Vestavia, Alabama when I (Froggy) was singing while two friends were playing the drums and the guitar. The three of us attended Berry High School. The drummer’s cousin, Craig Gardner stopped by to show off his new Oldsmobile 442 and he listened to us perform a tune or two. The next day Craig called me and said that he and a few guys from Shades Valley High School were starting a band and asked if I was interested in being the lead singer. Of course, I said yes.
My neighbor was Ray Edwards, the lead singer with The Knights and the first time I saw them perform I resolved to one day do the same. This was my chance! So, the following weekend, Froggy and the Gremlins band was born in Mike Shields living room and the first song we learned was a cover of the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There”.
Members in the photo at top:
Mike Shields – electric organ John McClusky – drums Bill Thomason – lead singer Pat ? – lead guitar Craig Gardner – bass
Before long, Pat dropped out and was replaced by lead guitarist Jerry Meadows.
After learning a set list of about 25 songs we hit the road and were very popular locally in Birmingham and North Alabama. Venues consisted of many fraternity parties at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and in Birmingham, and teenage dances and sock-hops at local National Guard Armories around northern Alabama. We were invited to a Battle of the Bands at the Huntsville coliseum and placed third. WBRC-TV in Birmingham televised a weekly Battle of the Bands and we were matched against the late, great Rooster Gallagher and the Townsmen who I believe eventually won the entire competition later that year.
Pizitz Department Store in downtown Birmingham would hold regular dances and Go-Go demonstrations in the teen clothing section which was a brilliant marketing idea since it drew hundreds of teens (and their mothers) to the store. We played these events several times and once opened for The Swingin’ Medallions there.
Over time as all the other bands were adding horns and reeds, we added:
Bill Roberts – alto sax Mark Stevens – trumpet
I was also a trumpet player so we had a full, solid sound and were consistent with what was popular at the time. Also, we dropped the “Froggy” and were just “The Gremlins” to project a more contemporary and professional image.
Jerry Meadows was a song writer so like practically every other band on this site, the time came for our rite of passage in Ed Boutwell’s studio at an old church on 2nd Avenue North in Avondale. We created an eight-song demo tape of six cover songs and two songs that Jerry had composed. One was titled “Summer Girl” and the other one I do not remember. We had no money to afford a record press so we hawked the reel-to-reel demo tape around to several radio stations with favorable results but of course there was no air time since there was no vinyl to play.
Finally, in the fall of 1966 most everyone was leaving for various colleges around the state. I, on the other hand having primarily been interested in dedicating most of my time to The Gremlins rather than to high school academics, was shipped off to military school at Lyman Ward Military Academy in south Alabama. Thus, The Gremlins band officially came to an end.
Over the years, I saw Mike Shields occasionally at church and later heard he moved to Carmel, California and became an artist. I also occasionally saw Bill Roberts at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa when we were both students there. Ironically, John McClusky was the drummer for String and the Beans when they played at my High School senior military ball. He eventually became a lawyer in the Birmingham area. I lost touch with Jerry Meadows, Craig Gardner and Mark Stevens after our last gig in the late summer of 1966.
Regrettably, as the years passed and my focus turned to college, kids and careers, my copy of the demo tape disappeared. Several years ago, I reached out to Mark Harrelson at Boutwell Studios right after they moved to their beautiful new facility on Central Avenue in Homewood. He told me that had I been a year earlier they probably would have had the master tape but that after all those years they had finally purged the old archives in the latest move.
What an exciting time it was to be a teenager and part of the incredible ‘60’s music scene. Music has remained a big part of my family and these days even one of my college-aged grandsons is carrying on the tradition with a country music solo act.
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on and, where possible, I have added the sources used, whether they are newspapers or websites. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email:[email protected]
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Photo: Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
Derek Savage – Lead vocals
Tony Noble – Lead guitar
Ian Milne – Organ
John Turner – Bass
Jim Van Sickle – Drums
According to an article in the Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle from 10 March 1967 (page 8), Derek Savage formed this group in late 1965 with American drummer Jim Van Sickle after leaving another band.
Photo: Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
Tony Noble arrived having responded to a newspaper advertisement and introduced his friend John Turner, with Ian Milne completing the formation.
The band played extensively at the Flamingo in Wardour Street in Soho, central London from late 1966 through to early 1967 and signed with Date Records, which issued a lone single – ‘Stop the Wedding’ c/w ‘Breakin’ Through’.
Photo: Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
The musicians were also pictured, with a short article, in the Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle, in the newspaper’s 17 March 1967 issue (page 4).
The Derek Savage Foundation continued to gig until late 1967 before splitting up.
We’d love to hear from anyone that can add further information below
Notable gigs:
Image may be subject to copyright
23 September – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The VIPs (Melody Maker)
7 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Freddie & The Dreamers (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
8 October 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Remo Four (Melody Maker)
14 October 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ike & Tina Turner Show (Melody Maker)
22 October 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
5 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Trinity and Tina and Johnny Glover (Melody Maker)
12 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Makin Sound and Tina and Johnny Glover (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
19 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Trinity and Tina and Johnny Glover (Melody Maker)
26 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alex Harvey & The Mox and Tina and Johnny Glover (Melody Maker)
3 December 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
4 December 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
9 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with O’Hara’s Playboys and Tina and Johnny Glover (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
17 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Locomotive and Tina and Johnny Glover (Melody Maker)
13 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jo Jo Gunn (Melody Maker)
L-R: Roger Smith (rhythm guitar); Ron Prior (vocals); Jess Hodges (drums); Graham Bradley (vocals); Keith Greaves (bass); and Roger Tinkler (lead guitar). Photo: Ron Prior
Ron Prior – lead vocals
Graham Bradley – lead vocals
Roger Tinkler – lead guitar
Roger Smith – rhythm guitar
Keith Greaves – bass
Jess Hodges – drums
This northwest Surrey band evolved out of The Black Arrows and featured two lead singers – Ron Prior and Graham Bradley.
Invited by Cyril Stapleton to record a demo recording at Radio Luxembourg in central London, the sextet cut two tracks, including a cover of Solomon Burke’s ‘Stupidity’ via Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (featuring Prior on lead vocals), but it was never released.
Prior and Tinkler subsequently joined Jeep Rongle in March 1966.
Ron would love to hear from any surviving band members in the comments section below
Selected gigs:
6 December 1964 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey with The Applejacks (Woking Herald)
26 January 1965 – Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)
26 February 1965 – The British Legion Hall, Virginia Water, Surrey (Staines & Egham News)
5 March 1965 – Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
8 May 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Club, Egham Hythe, Surrey with The Roosters (Staines & Egham News)
12 June 1965 – St Paul’s FC, Social Centre, Egham Hythe, Surrey (Staines & Egham News)
19 June 1965 – Social Club, Egham Hythe, Surrey with the Cherokees (Staines & Egham News)
21 August 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Centre, Egham Hythe, Surrey with The Stormsville Shakers (Staines & Egham News)
19 September 1965 – Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
Clockwise from front: Roger Smith (rhythm guitar), Alan Smith (lead guitar), Keith Greaves (bass) and Ron Prior (drums). Photo: Ron Prior
Alan Smith – lead guitar
Roger Smith – rhythm guitar
Keith Greaves – bass
Ron Prior – drums
Former Highlights and Magnets singer/turned drummer put this band together in 1962 with Chertsey, Surrey-raised brothers Alan and Roger Smith.
Like Prior’s previous band The Magnets, The Black Arrows played extensively throughout Surrey, including appearing frequently at the Walton Playhouse (see 1962 on that entry).
Although The Black Arrows did not record, all of the members (with the exception of Alan Smith) stayed on when the group became The Legends (not to be confused with the west London band of the same name) in 1965.
Ron would love to hear from any surviving band members in the comments section below
L-R: Roger Smith, Ron Prior, Keith Greaves and Alan Smith. Photo Ron Prior
L-R: Craig Collins (drums), Paul Baxter (lead guitar), Ron Prior (lead vocals), Mick Angel (rhythm guitar). Ronnie Knight not pictured. Photo: Ron Prior
Ron Prior – lead vocals
Paul Baxter – lead guitar
Mick Angel – rhythm guitar
Ronnie Knight – bass
Craig Collins – drums
Formed in 1960 by Virgina Water, Surrey-raised singer Ron Prior, who’d started out with The Highlights, a group that briefly included future Kinks drummer Mick Avory.
The group played extensively throughout Surrey for the best part of two years before Prior departed to form The Black Arrows.
Ron would love to hear from any surviving band members in the comments section below
L-R: Ron Prior (hands at the microphone), Paul Baxter, Mick Angel and Ronnie Knight. Photo: Ron Prior
I haven’t been posting much on the site. Lost my motivation, for several reasons, not least of which is U.S. support for Israel’s nihilistic genocide in Gaza.
Israel is a virulently racist society that treats native inhabitants with second-class citizenship at best (within the 1948 UN boundaries), and as “human animals” (Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant) without any rights in the occupied territories. Israel subjects Palestinians to degrading treatment including torture. Don’t take my word for it, read any of the reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, or Israel’s own B’Tselem rights group.
Before you say “October 7”, then please read one of the articles in Israeli media, among others about what happened that day.
My organization, Columbia County for Palestine, is hosting a talk next Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Hudson, NY public library on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns with Riham Barghouti and Rebecca Vilkomerson, at 3:30 pm. One focus is to “Break the Bonds”: to have New York State wind down the $340 million it holds in risky Israel bonds. As with apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, the aim is to increase non-violent pressure to reduce the violence and force democratic change.
Whether this is appropriate for this site, my explanation is this: I cannot celebrate US and western music but ignore the damage my country is doing around the world by supplying weapons, providing diplomatic cover, spreading lies, and silencing critics. The Biden and Trump administrations are both guilty of these charges; this is not a partisan issue.
“I don’t think I ever, in my life, felt the glare of racism burn stranger and more intense than in Israel” – Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Message
Note: these are my personal views, and not necessarily those of any other contributors to this site.
Happy to be kicking off the new vinyl DJ night of my old friend, DJ $mall ¢hange, at the Half Moon at 48 S. Front St. in Hudson, NY 12534 this Friday, Jan 24, 2025.
All kinds of (old) music, including garage. Come out and say hello.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at [email protected]if you can loan or donate original materials
The Mad Lads came from Birmingham and seem to have been active no later than late summer 1966.
