Years active:

1965-67

Location:

St Austell

Band Members:                                         

Kenny Higman (Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals – later + Trumpet)
Tony Coxon (Rhythm Guitar & Harmonica)
Dave Bassett (Drums & Lead Vocals – later Hammond Organ)
Dave Higman (Bass Guitar – later + Sax)

Later (1966-67)
Steve Allen (Drums)
Terry Cross (Sax)
Nick Dower (Rhythm Guitar & Trumpet)                                                  

(Account written by Kenny Higman with much help from Tony Coxon - additional photos from Dave Bassett)

Rehearsing Trethowal Village Hall

Tony Coxon, Dave Bassett, Kenny Higman’s Dad (who use to drive the band sometimes), Dave Higman and Kenny Higman

The group was originally called The Intruders and began with the same line-up.  The name change was to reflect the evolving style of music we were playing and to show we were growing up – we were now 16 after all.  

Our gigs were moving further afield and included Perranporth, Barn Club (Penzance), Flamingo (Redruth), Quay Club (Plymouth), Princess Pavilion (Falmouth), St Ives Guildhall, Cornish Riviera (Carlyon Bay), Tavistock Town Hall + a host of town and village halls, holiday camps, etc throughout Cornwall and into Devon.

Dave Bassett on Drums

We first played The Flamingo in Sept 1965 as supporting act for Adam Faith and the Riot Squad.  What a genuinely nice bloke he was.  This became a regular venue for us and we were lucky enough to support several top-class acts (and some not so).  These included Dave and the Strollers, Heinz, The Uglies, The Mike Cotton Sound, Trendsetters Ltd and The Tremoloes.  For us, the real high spot was supporting The Who and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.  

We also supported top-class acts at the Princess Pavilions and a favourite was The Zombies who were an unexpectedly friendly group of lads considering they were in the charts with “She's Not There”.  They seemed genuinely interested in us and what we were doing. We supported them 2 or 3 times.

We supported many of the chart bands of the time at the Cornish Riviera at Carlyon Bay including Bow Street Runners, Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, The Troggs, Manfred Mann and Procul Harum (while “Whiter Shade...” was at number 1).

(Tony Coxon) we actually played Whiter Shade of Pale before Procul Harum came on. It received a great response. I don’t think PH were too pleased and we probably shouldn’t have done that!

In March 1966 we again entered the Cornwall Rock Contest at Truro.  We had a fantastic reception from the crowd who were very upset and vocal when the judges awarded the contest to another band.  I remember an article in the Cornish Guardian headed “Dis-satisfied because the Dissatisfied didn't win”.    

After unsuccessful auditions to find a new lead singer in April 1966, we managed to prise Dave Bassett out from behind the drums to play an electronic organ and be more visible as a front man.  Steve Allen joined as a new drummer.  Our first gig with the new line-up was at The Harlyn Bay Club to a packed house.  The new sound was very satisfying.  Subsequently, Dave replaced his electric organ with a fantastic Hammond Organ and Lesley speaker – wow!

After we had supported Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (who included a brass section in their line-up), we really wanted to try it – especially as my brother Dave and myself had brass experience.  So, Dave picked up a tenor sax and I acquired a trumpet and we were soon belting out numbers like “In the Midnight Hour”.  We would play the normal line-up in the first set and the new brass section in the second.  Subsequently, for visual effect and increased impact, Terry Cross joined the band on 2nd Sax and Nicky Dower was 2nd Trumpet.  Tony moved onto Bass Guitar for this set.

Unfortunately, in 1967, after A-levels were completed and the summer was over, Tony Coxon left to follow further education at a college in London and Dave Bassett and myself found gainful employment.  We had all been close friends and neighbours (all living within a mile of each other) and we had had a blast.  It would never have been the same with other people so we all agreed to call it a day.  But what memories …..

After the Dissatisfied folded, Dave Bassett later became part of Jason’s Mind with Mike Grose, Ben Marshall & his brother Phil Bassett?

Kenny Higman  played with the Soul Society for a while on Bass Guitar and enjoyed playing with Will Coon and Spike Hooper, etc – very talented musicians.

(Tony Coxon) although I went off to London for a year 1967-68, I was lucky enough to be seeing bands like Ten Years After, Pink Floyd, John Mayall, Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack with Christine Perfect. It wasn’t long before I was playing again, primarily with Bent Cement and Marvelous Kid.

Kenny Higmans’ wedding: Dave Higman, Tony Coxon, Valerie, Terry Cross, Pamela Matthews (Dave's then girlfriend) and Dave Bassett

Links to other bands:

Kenny Higman played with Soul Society

Tony Coxon played with Bent Cement and Marvelous Kid