With thanks to Graham Hicks for the write up below
This was my first band. The personnel from left to right are:-
Leslie Rowe, (Bass Guitar), Peter White (Guitar), John Trevail (Guitar). Michael Hill eventually replaced Leslie Rowe on Bass Guitar.
Looking at these photographs, I notice the absence of a microphone. I can assume from this, that no one actually sang in this band. The lead and rhythm guitar's are Watkins Rapiers. Not sure about the bass guitar, far left. We couldn't afford a bass guitar, so we just removed two of six strings. Also note the bass guitar was not "plugged in". The reason as that Leslie could not play guitar. He was even told at this gig to turn down because he was too loud!
We later added a girl singer called Susan Hill. We then changed the name of the band to "Susan and the Shivering Sands".
The first date we played was at Roche Church Rooms on Monday 11th May 1964.
The photo was probably taken on that date.
This is the first photograph of me playing drums. My age is 14 years. This photograph is from the same gig as the above photograph. The venue is Roche Church Rooms.
The venues we played:
Bugle Legion Hall
Roche Victory Hall (supporting "The Stringbeats")
Roche Church Rooms
The Rectory, Roche
Grampound Road
King Mark, Newquay
Farmers Arms, St. Columb Minor, nr Newquay
Gull Rock Hotel, Newquay
St. Enoder
St. Columb
Church Hall, St. Austell
Church School, St. Dennis
Equipment:
All instruments and vocals were through a single Selmer Guitar amplifier. A Selmer Twin Zodiac, (with the blinking eye). Vocals were through a Grampian Gr2H ribbon microphone.
Mode of Transport.
We travelled in a Milk Van, (yes it was enclosed), which belonged to Les Hill, the father of Susan Hill who also was the local milkman.
Some of the songs we played:-
Set list from Friday 28th August 1964 - Church School, St. Dennis
Good Golly Miss Molly
Please Mr. Postman
Can’t Buy Me Love
Tell Me Why
And I Love Her
I Only Want To Be With You. (sung by Susan)
Will You Still Lover Me Tomorrow (sung by Susan)
Roll Over Beethoven
Long Tall Sally
Farmer John
Don’t Throw Your Love Away
Wipe Out (instrumental)
The Cruel Sea (instrumental)
Perfidia (instrumental)
Not on set list, but part of the set was:
Da Doo Ron Ron (sung by Susan) A hit for the Crystals in 1963. |
