HOME | THE BANDS | THE VENUES | ROCK AND RHYTHM CONTEST | FORUM
 
     
 
 
Bluecaps
 
 

Years active:

Mid-60s

 
 

Location:

Penzance

 
 

Band Members:

Nigel Uren (Drums)
Al Crocker (Bass)
Malcolm McKenna (Guitar)
Mike Semmens (Keyboard/Rhythm)

 
     
 

At the time most of the band were around 15 years old, except for Mike who was slightly older at 17. Contemporaries of The Layabouts the band started off playing around the Penzance area and were known for the vocals and harmonies. The band would practice in the store Davey's wine shop, which was owned by Nigel's father.

Malcolm was an excellent guitarist and way ahead of his time. He was known for doing harmonics on his guitar in '64/65. They were soon playing across Cornwall and were on the books with BCD who managed to secure them a gig at RAF St Mawgan billed as a 5 piece dance band! After an initial panic the drinks began to flow and the crowd were soon on board with the band playing the hits of the day.

Starting out as a support band they soon turned pro and hot the road, covering Devon and Somerset. They also secured gigs in Essex, where they supported the Applejacks. They also supported Johnny Kidd and The Pirates, Eric Delaney and Wayne Montana, amongst others.

They also secured many gigs around South Yorkshire and the Midlands. During one of the journeys up to Sheffield Malcolm learnt the then just released Ticket To Ride. It was so new that the punters at the gig hadn't yet hear the Beatles version!

The band relocated to Sheffield, initial sharing a house with The Staggerless in the Broomhill area of the city, before moving into their own flat. They then played all around the Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster area.

After the band split Mike played with a showband in Devon
Malcolm became a session guitarist.

 

 
 

 

 
 

Links to other bands:

Nigel would play with Cruiser, Gentlemen, Smokey Joes, Flying Fortress, Motherchild, Parlour Band, Ocean, Serpent and Globetrotters
Malcolm McKenna also played with Gentlemen and The Circuit Five
Alan Crocker also played with Gentlemen


 
     
Did you play in this band? If so please get in touch!
 
 
 
     

 

HOME | THE BANDS | THE VENUES | ROCK AND RHYTHM CONTEST | FORUM