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band name
The Diamonds
submitted by
Bob Gregory
who's in the picture
Left to right: Mike Teather, bass guitarist; Bruce Humphries, rhythm guitarist and occasional vocalist (Buddy Holly style numbers); Bob Gregory lead guitarist; Howard Whittles, drummer and Mike Seaton second lead guitarist (member only for a short period). The photograph was taken the day after we had played for the first time at an open air venue at Ecclesall Garden party, Sheffield.
where was the band based
Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK
years active
1960-1964
musical influences
The Shadows, The Ventures, Buddy Holly, Joe Brown and Dave Berry.
notes
The group was formed by a number of friends that had been instrumental in re-establishing the youth club at Ecclesall Church in Sheffield. The initial members were Bob and Bruce, with Bob making an electric guitar (seen in the attached photograph, held by Mike Seaton) and Bruce demonstrating his electrical knowledge by building an amplifier and tape echo chamber utilizing an old radio and modifying a tape recorder. Further equipment involved Linear Conchord and Heath kit amplifiers and home made speaker cabinets. Howard and Bob were at the Technical school together and formed a friendship through photography, which lead to Howard taking up the drum kit and persuading the art master to design and paint a suitable front for the bass drum!
The Diamonds in our short life, played in the Sheffield area, mainly for fun and entertaining the local youth clubs in the region. We undertook a number of engagements at weddings, local elderly people homes and local pubs, with gigs coming via Cannes the music man record shop in Sheffield.
In 1964 before a major transformation into The Blueberries, I left the group to start my university education in London. My place was taken by Mick Wilson. The group underwent a number of subsequent name changes.
brushes with fame
It is understood that Mick Wilson was later to be a key player in McCloskeys Apocalypse, which formed in 1968 after his involvement with the Diablos and then the Dukes who had Joe Cocker as guest singer on a number of occasions.
where are they now
Following the break up of the original group, contact was lost until 2004, when Mike Teather and I, using Friends Reunited re-established contact. Tragically this was to be short lived as Mike was killed in a flying accident in 2005. Bruce still lives in Surrey, but there is no known current information of the remaining members. Incidentally Mick Wilson turned his musical experience to a different use and it is understood that he became a professor of music at Sheffield University and Howard became a driving instructor in Sheffield (information supplied in conversation with Bob by Mike at their re-union).
band name
The Diamonds
submitted by
Bob Gregory
who's in the picture
Left to right: Mike Teather, bass guitarist; Bruce Humphries, rhythm guitarist and occasional vocalist (Buddy Holly style numbers); Bob Gregory lead guitarist; Howard Whittles, drummer and Mike Seaton second lead guitarist (member only for a short period). The photograph was taken the day after we had played for the first time at an open air venue at Ecclesall Garden party, Sheffield.
where was the band based
Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK
years active
1960-1964
musical influences
The Shadows, The Ventures, Buddy Holly, Joe Brown and Dave Berry.
notes
The group was formed by a number of friends that had been instrumental in re-establishing the youth club at Ecclesall Church in Sheffield. The initial members were Bob and Bruce, with Bob making an electric guitar (seen in the attached photograph, held by Mike Seaton) and Bruce demonstrating his electrical knowledge by building an amplifier and tape echo chamber utilizing an old radio and modifying a tape recorder. Further equipment involved Linear Conchord and Heath kit amplifiers and home made speaker cabinets. Howard and Bob were at the Technical school together and formed a friendship through photography, which lead to Howard taking up the drum kit and persuading the art master to design and paint a suitable front for the bass drum!
The Diamonds in our short life, played in the Sheffield area, mainly for fun and entertaining the local youth clubs in the region. We undertook a number of engagements at weddings, local elderly people homes and local pubs, with gigs coming via Cannes the music man record shop in Sheffield.
In 1964 before a major transformation into The Blueberries, I left the group to start my university education in London. My place was taken by Mick Wilson. The group underwent a number of subsequent name changes.
brushes with fame
It is understood that Mick Wilson was later to be a key player in McCloskeys Apocalypse, which formed in 1968 after his involvement with the Diablos and then the Dukes who had Joe Cocker as guest singer on a number of occasions.
where are they now
Following the break up of the original group, contact was lost until 2004, when Mike Teather and I, using Friends Reunited re-established contact. Tragically this was to be short lived as Mike was killed in a flying accident in 2005. Bruce still lives in Surrey, but there is no known current information of the remaining members. Incidentally Mick Wilson turned his musical experience to a different use and it is understood that he became a professor of music at Sheffield University and Howard became a driving instructor in Sheffield (information supplied in conversation with Bob by Mike at their re-union).
See photo in gallery
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