The GAZELLES

The GAZELLES

BAND INDEX

circa 1964-5 - Source Broadgate Gnome. R&B / Beat group

Line up: Michael O'Rourke (vocals), Graham Stansfield (lead guitar), Christopher Hollsworth (rhythm guitar), William Campbell (bass), Christopher Cooper (drums).


Managed by Fred Burden, they came second in 1964's 'Big Beat Contest'. They later cut some demos at Panthos Studios, turning professional in 1965. Stansfield and O'Rourke went on to The Image.

Most Local groups find it a Waste of Time to Turn Pro.

By Andy Anderson - Coventry Standard July 8th 1965

(From the article below)

The big beat boom may be over but at least one local group still looks forward to  a professional career and a possible place in the record charts.

The group is the Gazelles and they are managed by Fred Burden. The five Gazelles are bass guitarist William Campbell 17, lead guitarist Gordon Stansfield 16, rhythm guitarist Christopher Hollsworth 18, drums Christopher Cooper 18, Vocals Michael O'Rourke, an engineer.

Their manager told me that the group formed 12 months ago and were keen on turning professional and were quite willing to give up their jobs to have a go at the charts. 

"We have been held up waiting for Gordon Stansfield to sit his O'level GEC's" said Mr Burden. The Gazelles came second in last winter's Big Beat Contest in Coventry and were then tipped for a professional career.

TOO MANY LATE NIGHTS

They have already made a test recording at Panthos Recording Studios, Balsall Common and are looking forward to a recording contract in the near future.

Mr Burden said that the group had been offered plenty of bookings but had turned some of them down. "We feel it is detrimental to the boys health to expect them to do an ordinary job in the daytime and work for the group in the evening and rarely get to bed before two o'clock in the morning" he said.

"Playing in a group is exhausting work and the Gazelles would be relieved to turn professional"

At the moment they are making only a small profit from booking as hire purchase payments on their £1,800 equipment and travelling expenses leave little in the way of spare cash.