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band name
Quantum

who's in the picture
Melvyn Austin, Keith Bateman, John Wigham, Paul Francis.

Reunion 1984

quantum

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band name
Section 62

submitted by
David Flack
who's in the picture
Left to right: Pete Adams - lead guitar & backing vocals; David Flack - rhythm guitar & backing vocals; Dave Baggalley - Drums; Dave Price - Vocals; David 'Pip' Levy - bass guitar & backing vocals

where was the band based
We all lived around the Ilford and Dagenham areas of Essex, UK
years active
1961 - 1966, 2007 - present day
musical influences
Beatles, Hollies, Searchers, Kinks, Buddy Holly & The Crickets etc. After reforming we would add Eagles, America, Mamas & Papas
notes
The band has a website section62.org.uk which contains lots more photographs and details about the band and its history, and includes some live tracks that we recorded quite recently.
brushes with fame
In our early days we used to rehearse using the facilities at the same school as Brian Poole & The Tremeloes. In 1966 we were the supporting act for a dance starring Tony Rivers & The Castaways, who went on to become Harmony Grass.
where are they now
The final 60's line-up got back together in 2007 and are once again entertaining people at dances, birthday parties etc. - and the audiences aren't entirely made up with people of our age! The original bass player, Bill Plaskett, went off to Nova Scotia and, although we haven't met up with him for a couple of years we understand he is still playing musical instruments, providing backing for his son who is a professional musician. Roger Wholey, our original drummer, joined the RAF and was still serving as recently as 2008. We also understand he took up playing the guitar - possibly too many percussionists in the services!

Section

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band name
Section 62

who's in the picture
In 1963 we had a contract with Kangol (made berets and crash helmets) to promote their products by playing in the Palais dance halls around London. Although a very old press photograph, this shows us dressed as French matelots for this - Left to right: Bill Plaskett, Pete Adams, Roger Wholey, Dave Price and David Flack (almost hidden behind Dave Price).

Section

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band name
The Spectres

submitted by
John Bell
who's in the picture
Left to right: John Bell, lead guitar; Frank Trusdale, bass; Teddy Palmer, vocals; Des Dumphy, rhythm guitar; John Smith, drums; Leaning over the tombstone is our manager David Parkinson doing a 'Hector' impersonation!!

where was the band based
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
years active
1963-1969
musical influences
Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Buddy Holly and The Crickets.
brushes with fame
We were playing in a little town called Comber. We were approached by a manager to let his band on to do our interval. We agreed and while having a break, this crowd of hairy yobs jumped onto the stage, screamed and yelled and wrecked the stage gear!! After about 3 numbers they finished and the singer cursed at the crowd and they all ran off stage. We all agreed that they were terrible and never be heard of again. BUT next week they were on TV with a hit record called 'Baby please don't go' It was the band called THEM and their singer was a guy by the name of VAN MORRISON!!!
notes
The band was formed by me (John Bell), with a few friends in a teacher training college, around 1963. We got the chance to play at College dances and other small engagements. We based ourselves on the Shadows, Cliff Richard's backing group and of course played all their numbers. When it came to a name for the group we decided on the 'Spectres' {ghosts} because I - who was a cartoonist, had a little character caller 'Hector the Spectre' and as well as a gimmick, he was drawn on the front of the drum kit. When we were more famous we issued little glove puppets of Hector to our fans.

As our fame spread around the Belfast area, we picked up many other engagements further afield, as instrumental music was the “in” thing in the early 60's. We won several talent contests too, and our talent was noticed by several influential managers. Then in 1964 we were approached by another student called Teddy Palmer who asked if he could be our vocalist. After a short audition he joined the ranks and the 'Spectres' became a five piece band - just like Cliff and the Shadows. It also meant that we could do full 5 hour dances on our own.

Top Showband at the time were The Royal, who had a hit record called 'The Hucklebuck'. The Spectres got their big break by being asked to open the dance by playing for the first hour to warm up the audience. However after playing about two hours without any sign of the Royal - and not being offered any money to play longer - the boys decided to do the unthinkable - SING THE 'HUCKLEBUCK’! This was against protocol but we went down a bomb! and did it several times to please the huge crowd!! The result was that there was an awful row with the promoters - but the press coverage was worth it!!

The 'Spectres' made a record of the Student Rag Week called 'The facts of Life' backed with an instrumental called 'Whirlpool'. It has now become a collector's item.

However a row about the direction of the band caused a rift in 1965. Some wanted to go full time, and chuck in their studies, while I felt that we should finish their studies and graduate - just in case we didn't make the big time!!

I kept the name 'Spectres' and formed a small trio based on the Buddy Holly and the Crickets set up and we played around until 1969 by which time the Ulster 'Troubles' finished travel in the city and throughout the province.

In Ulster (Northern Ireland) there were only a few big bands called 'Showbands' usually about 8 - 12 members. But in the South (Republic of Ireland) the Showbands were the big thing, and they had hit records and travelled the world. For the small group like the 'Spectres', getting to play an interval spot on a big bill dance with a famous Irish Showband was really something.

where are they now
I am a retired teacher and still play Shadows music with backing tracks. Frank had 'disappeared', Teddy became a manager for several artists in England. Des followed John into teaching and is retired and living in Scotland. John still drums for various acts around Belfast and is still teaching. David is also a retired teacher, who is involved in publishing educational books.

Spectres

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band name
The Spectres who's in the picture Left to right: John Bell, lead guitar; Ian Nicol, drums; Terry Bell, bass.

Spectres

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band name
The Spectres

Spectres

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band name
The Spectres

Spectres

band name
Steve Jackson & The Boys

submitted by
John Parkes. I wanted to play and sound like Hank Marvin and was bought a Hofner Clubman and a Selmer 10watt Amplifier. Now this was a real guitar, and I started to play seriously, but it did not sound the same as Hank! I bought all the records to play along with - I had them on auto play on the Dancette record player (you know with the arm back) but I still did not sound the same as the records.

Then I found out Hanks guitar was different, and so was his Amp. He even had an echo box, something I had not got. I got a Watkins Copycat echo box, a continuous loop tape echo from ‘Smedleys’ music shop in Printing Office Street Doncaster (the shop is still there today). It still was not the same sound as Hank!

There was this wonderful place in Leeds called ‘Kitchens Music’. It was an Aladdin’s cave of musical instruments and they had a Fender Stratocaster, which was the same guitar that Hank played. By now I was 16 years old. I bought a Fender Stratocaster in Flamingo Pink for 160 guineas, a Vox AC30 Combo Amp for 110 pounds and a Baby Binson Echo for 110 pounds and 5 shillings. When I got these plugged in and switched on - Wow! This was the sound, I had got there at last!
who's in the picture
John Parkes, lead guitar; Terry Hardy, rhythm guitar; Eric (Brun) Brown, drums; Ben Thornton, vocals.
where was the band based
Doncaster, UK
years active
Early 1960's
musical influences
The Shadows
notes
We did a good few working men’s clubs in and around the Doncaster Area. We had a manager called Ray Brooks who used to get us bookings and drive us and our gear around.
brushes with fame
...
where are they now
I play lead guitar in a Shadows tribute band called The Apaches.

steve jackson and the boys

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band name
The Vacant Lot

submitted by
Robin Wood
who's in the picture
Left to right: Ian Couch, bass, vocals; Jeff Burstin, lead guitar; Rob Wood, drums; Greg Heitsch, rhythm guitar, vocals.
where was the band based
Mount Waverley, Melbourne, Australia
years active
1966 - 1968
musical influences
The Rolling Stones, The Easybeats, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry.
notes
Played local dance every second Saturday. Also played school fetes, birthday parties etc.
brushes with fame
Jeff went on to play in some top Aussie bands including Company Caine, The Black Sorrows and Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons.

Greg went on to a Seekers type acoustic folk group called “The Brentwoods”. They released a 45rpm record called “Penny to my name / Run come see” on the Astor label, which was a minor hit record in the Melbourne charts in the late 60’s.
where are they now
I joined the "Weekend Warrior" program last year, run by a music store, and with 4 complete strangers was given rehearsal space, instruments, and 12 hours over 6 weeks to put together a band to do a 30min gig in a local pub. We called ourselves “Itchy & The Scratchies” and had a ball.

Currently, with my wife and friends, we are rehearsing for a little rock musical we have written ourselves which is a tribute to the 60’s, featuring live performances of songs by Chubby Checker, The Crystals, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis etc. The show is called “It’s My Party!” and will be performed in December. DECEMBER 2008 UPDATE: “It’s My Party” has been and gone and was a great success, so much so that we had so many requests for another, we have written a show called “Flip, Flop & Fly”, we are currently in rehearsals, and intend to present the show early in 2009.

I Don't know where the other members of the Vacant Lot are, but would like to find out. (Jeff Burstin is still active, in a Blues and Roots band called The Hornets. See www.thehornets.com.au for more information).

vacant lot