Rick Penrose was manager at Peter Boggia's shop in Truro. Pete also compared at the Rock and Rhythm Contest and convinced Roger it would be a good idea to enter the competition, assuming they would have a good chance of winning. Despite not being listed in the programme The Fantastics entered the 1968 contest. The band of course were The Reaction under an alais. As the band was on the books with Peter Brown of BCD a change of name ensured BCD didn't take any share of any earnings! The Reaction had recently played with The Creation and chose to cover Painter Man on the night.
Bert Biscoe kindly shared his recollections of The Fantastics;
"I was at the Truro Beat Group Contest in 1968. Most of the bands played 'Walk Away Renee' by the Four Tops. There was a delay and then the curtains parted to reveal The Fantastics - Mike Dudley wore what looked like a re-tailored plastic table cloth like a kaftan; Taylor was behind a massive kit on a rostrum and Rick Penrose was to the left of the stage.
During the numbers a French girl called Joelle, who lived in one of the Dolls Houses at Gloweth, just outside Truro, danced centre-stage - they were simply in a different league!
The band played 'Morning Dew' and 'Land of a Thousand Dances' - it was the moment when I realised that music could open doors and rearrange furniture!
Two weeks later I had a Tatra Classic."
Thank you to QueeninCornwall for the image
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