The Angstroms
The Angstroms circa 1964-6 (Sources Broadgate Gnome / Pete Chambers)
Beat group (From Broadgate Gnome)
Gordon Kelly (lead guitar), Paul Lamb (rhythm guitar), Roy Powell (bass), Rick Brooks (drums).
Played Star Club in Hamburg and cut a single in early 1965. 'Angstrom is a technical term for a measurement of sound' they told Midland Beat in 1965.
Lamb and Kelly left to be replaced by Martin Jenkins and Ted Arnold. They became the Davy Jones Crew in December 1966. Jenkins later formed Dando Shaft.
Single:
A: We Will Fall In Love / B: Coffee Break (? 1965)
From Coventry Telegraph - Pete Chambers
"THE ANGSTROMS were not one of the area's biggest bands. Nevertheless, they built up a great following that saw this 60s band thrive for many a year.
Gordon Kelly had piano lessons as a child, thanks to his older brother Ray (who was also to become part of the local 60s music scene). Gordon joined the Merchant Navy in the early 60s and got himself a guitar. When he left in 1962, he had become an accomplished player, and put an advert in the Telegraph looking for likeminded musicians.
By 1963 the Angstroms were born.
"We played our first gig in the Church Hall, Willenhall," says Gordon.
"I don't remember too much about it, we lined-up with Roy Powell, Rick Brookes, and Paul Lamb, and myself, but we must have gone down well, as it inspired us to carry on. With the help of manager Mike Vanderstay they broke out of the local circuit and played all over the country and out of it. In 1965 they arrived in Hamburg, Germany.
Gordon recalls that time: "When we got there we were very hungry and short of cash. We had this old van we used, and on arrival in Germany we set up the primer stove in the back of the van as we always did. We would share a tin of beans between us.
"Unfortunately in Hamburg the pan of beans caught alight and started to flare up, we were used to it, unlike the German pedestrians, who were horrified by the sight of this unfussed English pop group all sitting around a flaming stove in the back of their van.
"Our manager fixed us up with lodgings at the Ecuador Embassy, all I can remember is snow up the windows and doors. It was all hard work over there, we played for 12 hours a night, three quarters of an hour on and 15 minutes off and an hour for lunch, then back on stage again."
In 1966 after much gigging at places such as the Leofric, the Heath, the Walsgrave, the Plough, the Navigation and the Cheylesmore, they decided to reinvent themselves.
"Our drummer was into all technical things and he came up with Angstroms," reveals Gordon. "Some people had problems pronouncing it and spelling it, so we thought of a new name, a nautical name The Davy Jones Crew, as in Davy Jones's locker. The amazing thing was, within a couple of months of changing the name, we ended up with a new drummer whose name was Dave Jones."
By 1967 Gordon had emigrated to Australia, the band continued for a while without him, eventually splitting up in the same year. The trip took five weeks thanks to the closing of the Suez Canal, but Gordon played on the ship and had a fun year in Australia. He had intended to stay, but began missing his mates and the music scene.
On his return Gordon played in various jobbing show bands.
He added: "But I had a full time job, and arriving home from a Manchester club at four in the morning, did not fit in with my lifestyle anymore."
He quit the scene for a few years, eventually joining the 70s covers band Museum. Also in the band was former Pinkertons Colours guitarist Tom Long. Here is his take on the band: "Museum was potentially the best band I was ever in. Four guys who all sang lead and harmony vocals, three were multi-instrumental. Great talent and possibilities. Unfortunately too short lived.
"We specialised in playing 60s covers, hence the name Museum. We had some great musicians in that band, we got regular work and were well paid, we supported the likes of Marmalade, the Equals and Edison Lighthouse."
From Museum, Gordon joined Opportunity Knocks winners New City Sounds in 1978, who had become The Internationals by then.
"We had a great front-man called Lenny Bennett," reveals Gordon. "He was a very short guy, but he used to dress as a policeman during the set and sing, of course, The Laughing Policeman.
Nowadays Gordon is still involved with music, writing and recording his own songs. "I really enjoyed playing with a lot of talented musicians, but I got tired humping equipment around.
I did bump into an old Angstrom Roy Powell a year ago, we hadn't met for 40 years, we now have regular jam sessions, and recall those great times," said Gordon.
THE ANGSTROMS
FOR a short while Martin Jenkins was a member of the Angstroms, Martin went on to become a folk hero in Dando Shaft and as a solo artist.
IN 1965 The Angstroms played a rooftop concert at the Locarno. Smithford Way was packed, it was a long way down and with such tiny amplification, Gordon wasn't sure if anyone could hear properly. Though they still beat the famous Beatles' Apple rooftop concert by four years.
AN ATOM OF SUCCESS... The Angstroms (above), in their guise as The Davey Jones Crew (right), and Gordon Kelly today (bottom)."
By Pete Chambers
The Angstroms were not one of the area's biggest bands, indeed their very name is a microscopic measurement usually applied to atoms.
Nevertheless, they built up a great following that saw this 60s' band thrive for many a year.Gordon Kelly had piano lessons as a child, thanks to his older brother Ray (who was also to become part of the local 60s' music scene).
He joined the Merchant Navy in the early 60s and got himself a guitar. When he left in 1962, he had become an accomplished player and put an advert in the Telegraph looking for like-minded musicians.
By 1963 The Angstroms were born.
“We played our first gig in the Church Hall, Willenhall," said Gordon. “I don’t remember to much about it, we lined-up with Roy Powell, Rick Brookes, Paul Lamb and myself, but we must have gone down well, as it inspired us to carry on”.
Carry on they did, with the help of manager Mike Vanderstay they broke out of the local circuit and played all over the country and out of it.
Gordon said: “When we got there we were very hungry and short of cash. We had this old van we used, and on arrival in Germany we set up the primer stove in the back of the van as we always did.
"We would share a tin of beans between us. Unfortunately in Hamburg the pan of beans caught alight and started to flare up. We were used to it, unlike the German pedestrians who were horrified by the sight of this unfussed English pop group all sitting around a flaming stove in the back of their van.
"Our manager fixed us up with lodgings at the Ecuador Embassy, all I can remember is snow up to the windows and doors! It was all hard work over there, we played for 12 hours a night, three quarters of an hour on and 15 minutes off and an hour for lunch, then back on stage again."
In 1966 after much gigging at places like the Leofric, the Heath, The Walsgrave, The Plough, The Navigation and The Cheylesmore, they decided to re-invent themselves.
"The amazing things was, within a couple of months of changing the name, we ended up with a new drummer who’s name was Dave Jones!”
By 1967 Gordon had emigrated to Australia, the band continued for a short while without him, eventually splitting up in the same year.
The trip took five weeks thanks to the closing of the Suez Canal, but Gordon played on the ship and had a fun year in Australia. He had intended to stay, but began missing his mates and the Coventry music scene.
The trip took five weeks thanks to the closing of the Suez Canal, but Gordon played on the ship and had a fun year in Australia. He had intended to stay, but began missing his mates and the Coventry music scene.
Angstroms Trivia
For a short while Martin Jenkins was a member of The Angstroms, Martin went on to become a folk hero in Dando Shaft and as a solo artist.
An Angstrom (abbreviated Å) is one ten-billionth (1/10,000,000,000) of a meter. A hydrogen atom measures about 1Å across. A German fan once said to them “You, I think, are the smallest band in the world”
In 1965 The Angstroms played a rooftop concert at the Locarno. Smithford Way was packed, it was a long way down and with such tiny amplification, Gordon wasn’t sure if anyone could hear properly. Though they still beat the famous Beatles Apple rooftop concert by four years.
In 1965 they arrived in Hamburg, Germany.
The Davey Jones Crew
Gordon Kelly in 2007
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