BOB TEMPEST & THE BUCCANEERS

 

BOB TEMPEST & THE BUCCANEERS

BAND INDEX

BOB TEMPEST & THE BUCCANEERS

From Pete Chambers - Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat.
Line up
David (Dave) Rooney (Band leader)
Bob Davidson
Tony Beard (Rhythm Guitar)
Colin Kingsbear
Louie Woods
Phil Packham
Mal Jenkins


David (Dave) Rooney - band leader - was missed off. He's on the far right in the picture. His first wife is in the picture too. Thanks to his daughter - Kellie Ziemba - for pointing out the omission.

Tony Beard (pictured) became a record plugger for Don Arden and ELO road manager. Phil Packham joined the Sorrows. Mal Jenkins joined Tony Martin and His Echo Four then Decca recording band The Pickwicks. Shared the bill at the Orchid with Johnny Kidd, Wee Willie Harris and Cuddly Dudley.

From Pete Chambers - Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat
Tony Beard " They were glorious" reveals Tony "at the Orchid we shared the bill with Johnny Kid, Wee Willie Harris and Oh Boy favourite - Cuddly Dudley. Then we got to play further afield and met the likes of Eden Kane, Marty Wilde, Shane Fenton and the Dave Clarke. I continued to be one of the group's rhythm guitarists (the band were unique in having a lead guitarist and two rhythm guitarists) but I took on the extra role as manager and got the bookings too."

Among the many venues they played the General Wolf
Tony has also worked with the likes of Pete Waterman (including spending a whole night recording jingles for the Susan Cadogan record Hurt So Good).

Tony played on the original version of the Don Fardon hit Belfast Boy and was also involved with chart topper Eden Kane, glam rock band Hello, Guys and Dolls, Dollar and was a big part of the Electric Light Orchestra (From Pop in to the Past - Pete Chambers) -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2005/12/29/pop_past_eighteen_tony_beard.shtml

I think the name may have come from "The Buccaneers was a 1956 Sapphire Films television drama series for ITC Entertainment, networked by CBS in the US and shown on ATV and selected ITV companies in the UK.

Starring Robert Shaw as Dan Tempest, the series, aimed at children, followed the adventures of Tempest and his crew of former pirates as they made their way across the seven seas in The Sultana."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Buccaneers_(TV_series)

BOB BROLLY'S CALVARY

 

BOB BROLLY'S CALVARY

BAND INDEX

Bob Brolly MBE is an award winning Radio Presenter working for BBC Radio in Coventry. His band Bob Brolly's Calvary has toured the world.

From Pete Chambers Godiva Rocks

"All round nice guy and king of country and the Irish sound in the area. From Ireland to Coventry, from Calvary to solo projects, from Mercia Sound to BBC...his band Calvary later Bob Brolly's Calvary were an M & B brewery promotion covers band including trumpet player John Gissane son of Pat Gissane of the showband."

Bob was born in Derry and moved to Coventry with his family when he was 15. You can read more of his biography on his site

 Bob brolly's Website. photos bio music links

https://www.bobbrolly.co.uk/about/  

More information on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Brolly

Blues to Go

 

Blues to Go

BAND INDEX

Blues to Go
Founded in January 2012 - current band - contact via
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blues-2-Go/310028166349?sk=info&tab=page_info

Line up
Horace Panter - bass
Russell Munns - Drums
Rick Medlock - Drums (stand in drummer)
Peter Gardener - lead
Al Maynard - Vocals / Guitar

Four piece rocking blues band from the Midlands, have been together for eight years and their set includes the likes of  Stevie Ray Vaughan,  B B King, Gary Moore and Eric Clapton.

Bass player Horace Panter also plays with reformed top 80’s band “The Specials” and has also collaborated with Neol Davies of “Selecter” and “Public Enemy”. His book,"Ska'd For Life" about his time with “The Specials” was released in 2008.

Russel Munns is the new multi talented guy on drums. (In the video it's Rick Medlock playing drums)

Pete Gardener on lead guitar? The youngest member of the band, Pete has a talent that belies his age. You have to hear him to believe him.

Al Maynard on vocals and rhythm guitar, fronts the band with a true blues style that is rarely found these days. His smooth tone combined with the presence of a true blues great will leave you feeling a bit special.

The Blue Jays

 

The Blue Jays

BAND INDEX

The BLUE JAYS
circa 1974 Source Trev Teasdel - Hobo

Pop / rock band - any occasion.

Line up: Johnny Adams (lead guitar and songwriter - from Fission and later with Squad), Al Varney (bass - ex Fission), Dennis Varney (roadie) , Mick Lynch (drums).

Came out of Fission with the emphasis now on commercial pop eg

(Tie A Yellow Ribbon On An Old Oak Tree), but also played rock when a rock gig came up.

From Hobo (Coventry Music and Arts Magazine) - Issue 4 Summer 1974) BLUE JAYS "Out of the ashes of Fission awakens a new group called the BLUE JAYS featuring the lead guitarist / songwriter / vocalist from Fission - Johnny Adams; Fission bassist Al Varney and a drummer Mick Lynch. This time around though the band are playing more commercially orientated music including Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree!! in order to earn enough money to finance new gear for the band. When a 'Rock gig' comes up though, they revert to their own rock material. (By Trev Teasdel for Hobo Magazine) Mick Lynch "I played with Fission - Johnny Adams and Al Varney, we were based in Oak Farm Binley and also formed a trio with those two called the Blue Jays to make a bit of money in the pub scene. Softer Ride (stand in for a few weeks) I worked at the sound Centre for a short while with Steve Wheat. and DJ'd down the dive bar with Harvest International for the best part of 10 years. I took Simon Lovegrove's place in Fission when he moved back down south. It was my first band and I didn't have the experience to play with John and Al at the time so they replaced me then asked me back for the Blue Jays which dissolved amongst all kinds of crazy things going on at the farm house."

BLOWN FUZE

BLOWN FUZE

BAND INDEX

Line up:

Stig Foster - vocals and guitar, (Now a film maker)
Mick Galic - bass ( Joined Team 23 then Dexy's Midnight Runners on Come on Eileen)
Gary (Gaz) Hough our live sound man
John Hewitt (Stonki) (in Pic below with King on Top of the Pops) - Drums (later with King - played on Love and Pride) and also with Team 23


From John Hewitt
" I started in 1976, self taught studied drumming by bands: Squeeze, Ian Dury, Steely Dan etc and watched carefully others in clubs and pubs. Stig Foster and me formed Solid Grease doing covers, changed name to Profile first live gig was 26th Feb 1977 at a church in Tile Hill, called The Loft.1978 was in 3 bands at same time- Pseuds and The Fuze (both punk) with Stig Foster plus Dealer, we played covers at Dog and Trumpet a few times.in 1979 met Mick Galic (later Team 23 and Dexy's) at Cov Climax where we worked and changed name to Blown Fuze. Mick joined, I left the other bands and we did a few local gigs. I took drum lessons, to improve myself with Neal Wilkinson (now a session player with Westlife and Leonna Lewis etc) and his uncle Snowy Evans. We did band contest at lanch 1980 and Jerome stole me for The End did Sent from Coventry LP, then formed Team 23, great band that should massive.toured with Specials in 1980, also with Madness, and John Bradbury paid for and did our single. Band split and reformed and did 1 gig at Sportsmans Arms in Cov in 1981.


1982 Jerome and me formed Golden Age and did 1 gig at General Wolfe in cov.1983 Paul King asked me to join King and did loads of gigs and played on Love and Pride.did Guinness Book of Records drum record at nia, july 2009, nearly 600 of us at same time, fantastic, not played since as sent me deaf!! My current kit:tama silver 6 piece starcast,with 16 "and 18"ziljian k cyms and paiste 202 hi hats" Cheers John

Blown Fuze - Here Comes The Funwave

Blown Fuze - In A World Of My Own

John Hewitt with King.

From Alternative Sounds

John Hewitt and Mick Galic

BLITZKRIEG ZONE

 

BLITZKRIEG ZONE

BAND INDEX

"Dave Pepper: Dave's biggest band in the U.K, was 'Blitzkrieg Zone". Based in Coventry, England. Influenced by 'Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Several releases, regular touring, with 'The Pogues' 999,haircut 100!!" Dave Pepper's site - (Dave's US band /musical activities)


Formed in Coventry 1986


"Blitzkriegzone2020 was the brainchild of British guitarist/singer/songwriter Dave Pepper. Born in Coventry England, he was an integral part of the local and nationwide music scene. Playing in bands since the age of 12, he climbed the ladders of varying success with each new band he joined. In 1986, whilst in a Coventry based rock band(Ramrods) he was lucky enough to be on a support tour with The Pogues. During that time, he saw a live performance of Sigue Sigue Sputnik.(Formed by Tony James, X Billy Idol/Gen X) A lightbulb flashed. At the end of the tour using a 4 track tape, he recorded a 2 song demo. 21 Boy and Teenage Rocket age."


Dave met Steve Guest (Vocalist) at the Rose and Crown in Coventry and in Martin the bassist at the Dog and Trumpet. Drums Pete Hnatuska.


First gig was at Busters. Dave Pepper and his songs on Reverbnation

More Pics from
Rock Garden London December 15 1986

This is the commentary that came with the video.
BLITZKRIEG ZONE 20 20 – Coventry’s legendary Dave Pepper…
Broadcast on this date in 1987, a ‘Midlands Today’ TV news report on guitarist Dave Pepper, a leading light on Coventry’s punk scene of the early 80s, (August 21st 1987).

“As a teenage guitarist of some repute, Dave Pepper helped create punk band ‘X-Certs’ and provided a varied stance on the Coventry scene including Dexy’s style soul (Team 23), the iconic “I” with Dill from Gods Toys (who very nearly secured a big deal), the baroque music of the Courtiers of Fashion with Tracey Skarzynska, the Ramrods/Major Five with Danny Cunningham & his brother Barney and of course under the direct influence & support of Tony James (of Generation X & Sigue Sigue Sputnik), probably Dave’s best known band, Blitzkrieg Zone 20 20,” wrote Sonar Records.

“He also spent many years living and working in the USA, playing, touring, learning and including a very successful career playing the vineyard circuit of Virginia.”
From Hobo's A-Z of Coventry Bands: "Blitzkriegzone2020 was the brainchild of British guitarist/singer/songwriter Dave Pepper."

"Born in Coventry England, he was an integral part of the local and nationwide music scene. Playing in bands since the age of 12, he climbed the ladders of varying success with each new band he joined."

"In 1986, whilst in a Coventry based rock band(Ramrods) he was lucky enough to be on a support tour with The Pogues. During that time, he saw a live performance of Sigue Sigue Sputnik(formed by Tony James, X Billy Idol/Gen X). A light bulb flashed. At the end of the tour using a 4 track tape, he recorded a 2 song demo. 21 Boy and Teenage Rocket age."
The video clip features Dave in action with Blitzkrieg Zone 20 20 followed by an interview where he shares his kit car expertise.

I’ve added a bonus clip at the end: John Peel playing a demo track ’21 Boy’ from Blitzkrieg Zone, broadcast on 26th February 1986.

Blaze

 

Blaze

BAND INDEX

c 1977

Another photo shot at the old mill Bagington with new keyboard player Tim Constable.Tim wrote Ashes in my wine which we recorded at Roger Lomas studio in Broad street Coventry and performed at the auditions for New Faces in Birmingham.Tim later went on to form his own group Paris and was replaced in Blaze by John Alderson [lead guitar]


"I joined Blaze as lead vocalist Along with Tony Milton on keyboards around 1976 along side original members Vic Griffin [guitar] Paul Johnson [bass guitar] and Mick Lynch [drums].Played all over Coventry, Birmingham, Leicester, Leamington and Warwick clubs, pubs and several night clubs including regular gigs at 1812 club Chesford Grange." Tony King


Mick Lynch "Blaze were a club band for about four years after a few line up changes Tony King joined from the King brothers who were an acapella group (real brothers) and Tim Constable joined on keyboards Tim went on to form Paris."


Also featured John Alderson (Guitar) (Ex Wandering John / Just Jake / Otterman / Last Fair Deal, Travelling Riverside Blues band.


Mick Lynch Drums (Ex Fission / Blue Jays)