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Rick and The Hayseeds

 
 
 

Years active:

 

 
 

Location:

Wadebridge

 
 

Band Members:        

Graham Burt (bass)
Rick Pearn (vocals)
Don Carthew (Rhythm)
Steve Cotton (lead)
Paddy Phillps (drums)

Graham Burt (bass)
Don Carthew (Rhythm)
Steve Cotton (lead)
Paddy Phillips (drums)
Rick Pearn (vocals)

Chris Cotterel (drums)
Mike Black-Borow (bass)
Rick Pearn (vocals)
Pete England (rhythm)
Tony Priest (vocals)
Steve Cotton (lead)

Chris Cotterel (drums)
Mike Black-Borow (bass)
Pete England (rhythm)
Tony Priest (vocals)
Steve Cotton (lead)

Fritz Phillips (Drums)

 
 

L-R: Graham Burt (bass), Rick Pearn (vocals), Don Carthew (Rhythm), Steve Cotton (lead), Paddy Phillps (drums). Front, Vic Cotton

L-R: Graham Burt (bass), Don Carthew (Rhythm), Steve Cotton (lead), Paddy Phillips (drums), Rick Pearn (vocals)

L-R: Chris Cotterel (drums), Mike Black-Borow (bass), Rick Pearn (vocals), Pete England (rhytm), Tony Priest (vocals), Steve Cotton (lead)

 

 
 

A very popular North Cornwall band that would play all around the county.

When originally formed the band were mostly very young, some being only 13 or 14. The main driving force behind the band was their manager Vic Cotton, Steve’s father. He had great drive and ambition for his son’s band to succeed. He also had to the gift of the gab and secured many useful contacts, ensuring a busy gigging schedule.

The band would cover a diverse mixture of styles, with Rick Pearn singing a lot of the more easy listening pop hits of the day, which also included him yodelling! Rick’s style was very in the Frank Ifield, Jim Reeves style, which was becoming very dated by then. Rick was popular with the ladies, although a touch unreliable, the band were often left waiting until the last minute to see if he would arrive or not.

Don Carthew

Steve Cotton would take over vocal duties on the more R’n’B and Rock and Roll numbers. Later Tony Priest would join the band and they would go out for a while with two singers, but Tony replaced him as sole singer.

Initially they practiced in an old coal loft in Wadebridge, but there was so much dirt and rubbish that they moved out to taking up practice sessions in Patrick’s parents house on the outskirts of the town.

Rehearsal outside of Patrick Phillips parents house

They played many big gigs and played most nights of the week throughout Cornwall. On one occasion they supported Sounds Inc at the Flamingo, performing to 2000 people. This required Patrick to work extra hard on the drums as they would be the one piece of kit not miked up at the time!

They also played a gig in Totnes where they received a reception not unlike the Beatles arriving in town! The local teens went wild for the visiting beat band from Cornwall.

They would also perform a regular slot at the Blue Lagoon in Newquay. Vic had a good relationship with Dusty who booked the bands, which ensured they became almost a house band at the popular venue.

It was at the Blue Lagoon that the band would also make one of their two recordings. Patrick also operated Wadebridge Sound Studio, which provided a sound recording service for local bands. They would set up on afternoon and record a session at the Blue Lagoon. They would also make recordings in Wadebridge Cinema.  

Patrick had a job interview out of Cornwall one day and as the band had some high profile gigs coming up, Chris Cotterrel was brought in to replace him. When he returned Chris would kept on as permanent drummer, until Vic decided to replace him with Fritz Phillips.

The Hayseeds were very much Vic Cotton’s baby and he pushed them hard to become bigger than they were, which included turning professional. Don and Graham didn’t want this, so left the band to be replaced by Mike Black-Borow and Pete England.

When the band split they would soon re-group with some small line-up changes to became Onyx Set (later Onyx), again with Vic driving the band to much bigger and better things.

Round and Round - Bodmin Grammar School. 1964/65

Talkin 'About You - Bodmin Grammar School. 1964/65  

 

Ticket to Ride - Blue Lagoon, Newquay. 1965

 

Tiger By The Tail - Blue Lagoon, Newquay. 1965

 

 
     
 

Links to other bands:

Tony Priest, Chris Cottrel, Mike Black-Borow, Pete England and Steve Cotton would play in The Onyx.

Tony Priest and Mike Black-Borow were in 3 and a bit

Mike Black-Borow also played in The Gunslingers, The Other Five, Gunslingers and Tamarisk

Pete England played in Tamarisk

Patrick Phillips played in Electrons and Dangerous Age

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

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