Yes, I know it isn’t really rock, but it is still fun! A few years ago, I vowed never to attend a 60s revival tour again. I found them cringy; and full of really old people dancing in a very embarrassing way! Roll on some years and I have gone back on my decision. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I realise that I love 60s music and it was the soundtrack to my childhood and early youth. Secondly, I have lost any concerns of going to see bands with very few, or no, original members. I now take the view that I will enjoy the songs, even the lineup is not 100% authentic. Finally, I am now myself a really old person and I fit in with the crowd! So let the fun begin. This was the 60s gold tour.
Darlington Hippodrome is a lovely old theatre which I have visited several times over the years, including taking my daughter to see the Chuckle Brothers in pantomime. Good fun! This time I was going to witness a collection of bands from the 1960s. There were 7 acts in the concert so it was jampacked and very tightly timed.
First up was the Fourmost, who enjoyed a golden era of hits including “Hello Little Girl” “I’m in Love” and the classic1964 hit “a Little Lovin”. Well, they performed all of those hits in their allocated 12 minute slot. Not sure if there are any original members in the band but sounded pretty authentic anyway and were a good opening and.
The 2nd group was Gerry’s Pacemakers, the band who used to back up the late great Gerry Marsden. They performed some of Gerry’s massive hits, including “I like It”, “ How Do You Do It”, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and “Ferry Cross The Mersey”. Quite entertaining.
Next up was someone who is 100% authentic, 82 years old and still in great voice. Dave Berry has his own individual style, including those hand movements across his face and performed chart-topping hits, including my favourite “The Crying Game” (which featured, on the original 45, Jimmy Page and Big Jim Sullivan on guitar: fantastic), “Little Things” “Memphis Tennessee” and “Mama”. Excellent.
Closing the first set was my main reason for going. Now when I was around 12 or 13 years old, I had several heroes. These included of course the Beatles and the Stones. However, on a Saturday morning I would attend a kids disco at Sunderland Top Rank Suite (The Rink). I would try and dress like a young mod and I modelled myself on Barry Ryan, Steve Marriott and the man who I was about to see: the one and only main mod man Steve Ellis, the original lead vocalist and founder of Love Affair who had five Top 20 singles, “Rainbow Valley”, “Bringing On Back The Good Times”, “A Day Without Love” and their classic No.1 “Everlasting Love”. Steve still looks and sounds great. Very much the Cockney swagger growing old disgracefully mod. He performed all of the aforementioned songs, and also included a great cover of Small Faces’ “all or nothing” in tribute to “the boys” and the other Steve (Marriott). I think I will be seeing Steve again on another 60s concert tour very soon. Time for a pint of Guinness.
Interval
Opening the second half of the show was Herman’s Hermits, who are led by the only original member Barry Whitwam, the drummer who looks great and is 87 years old. They were, of course, one of the biggest selling bands of the 60s The band has chalked up 23 hit singles, 10 hit albums, and have sold in excess of 75 million records. They performed very good renditions of ‘There’s A Kind Of Hush’, “Wonderful World”, “A Must To Avoid”, “I’m Henry the Eighth I Am ” and others.
Next, we were treated to a performance of Searchers hits performed by current member Spencer James who has been with the band since 1986. They performed great versions of those wonderful hit songs, including “Needles And Pins”, “Don’t Throw Your Love Away” “Sweets For My Sweet” and many more.
Closing the show was the consummate professional Marmalade, who I have seen before and always put on a great show. The band does have a link to the originals through front man Sandy Newman, who joined Marmalade around 50 years ago and was on their last hit “Falling Apart at the Seams”, which they performed along with the classic pop songs, with their great harmonies, “Lovin’ Things”, ‘Reflections Of My Life”, “Falling Apart At The Seams”, and their Lennon & McCartney composed No 1 smash hit “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da” which closed the show.
A marathon of 60s hits, all good fun. Steve Ellis was worth the ticket price on his own! He remains a cool mod and a great hero of mine. Many thanks to Jan and Chris for the images.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by TerriersFan on October 15, 2023 at 2:19 pm
I’m glad that you decided to go, Peter.
Sometimes we do indeed need to close our eyes to the non-100% authentic bands and just enjoy the music.
Roger 🤘🎶🎵
Posted by vintagerock on October 15, 2023 at 6:20 pm
Thanks Roger. Nostalgia is class. And Steve Ellis is THE MAN. I still wish I could dress with the style of Barry Ryan/Steve Marriott/Steve Ellis. Pure mod cool. I know where Paul Weller gets his moves from 🙂 happy days and bring back the 60s Peter
Posted by dcmuso on October 15, 2023 at 7:13 pm
All those classic songs and a few genuine heroes represented good value for money there for you.
As you’re a still quite groovy old bloke (like me) you might enjoy Steve Ellis’s last solo album “Boom! Bang! Twang!” – it was even released on lovely coloured vinyl. Good songs and musicians on there.
Posted by vintagerock on October 16, 2023 at 11:57 am
Sounds good. Thanks for the heads up. I shall take a look and may well purchase. Happy days Peter
Posted by John on October 16, 2023 at 6:58 am
Hi Peter, Wow! That takes me back to my adolescence. Reading the review felt like I was there again! Keep on rocking, John
Posted by vintagerock on October 16, 2023 at 11:54 am
A great night of nostalgia John. Happy days Peter
Posted by Prof_Alistair on October 16, 2023 at 9:26 am
A fine theatre that was almost lost in the 50s/early 60s as I remember. Saw my first pop concert there (mounted by 5 local groups) (not sure if this will work 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10215288146335200&set=a.10209232286422487&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZWIf5FxhKjJ90cXmOwl8m6M5fvqbJ22FEpdLCv42jKoCv2pIp-4RcIjb2QInPjiHYqUBentWz5XbKn5J1e7_1ik4AGr6hm00cJW_oKYYrKACBhvTro160CZolocs0Ln1F_niDXI0FYSA4p5-bttHfRh48xmUfnn_uNk7iIK-EviqmhBQQcdIXylS3-EavX7wKq65VqAQaN_e83hc0rPTb2Ldni7Re_fVK8JbeL7ZavlpQ&__tn__=EH-y-R) Concert called 5 by 5 echoing the Stones’ EP of that name.
Other highlights at the Civic (as it was called)? My favourite band in the history of the universe, the Incredible String Band in 1973 in a rare double bill with McGuinness Flint.
The American Folk Blues Festival in 1972 (with Sony Terry and Brownie McGhee, Willie Dixon and the Chicago All-Stars, Champion Jack Dupree, Bukka White and others.
The funniest night I’ve ever spent anywhere with the revue ‘An Evening of British Rubbish’ (touring in 1964ish from the West End and a great influence on the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band) which, inter alia, involved the ‘Sheikh of Araby’ played on a stuffed camel and ‘Show me the way to go home’ played on a penny farthing using a mash hammer as a ‘plectrum’ of sorts.
Much else beside.
Thanks for the memories.
Posted by vintagerock on October 16, 2023 at 11:43 am
Hi Alistair thank you for some lovely memories of great concerts in a wonderful venue. The American Folk Blues Festival was a great annual event. I saw the tour at least once, at the Barnes Hotel Sunderland in the early 1970s. It is great that some of the older venues are being restored, such as Darlington and also Stockton Globe. Happy days Peter
Posted by treetopflier2009 on October 16, 2023 at 9:46 am
Sounds like you had a canny night Peter. I’ve only seen Steve Ellis once when he was the singer in Windowmaker. They were supporting someone (I want to say Nazareth, but I’m not sure and I have no ticket to back it up) I thought they were a great band and I remember thinking he was a superb vocalist! Sadly they disappeared after a couple of albums which I don’t own. Was Steve Ellis not one of the contenders for the Zeppelin job until they found Plant?
Posted by vintagerock on October 16, 2023 at 11:36 am
Hi Yes it was good fun. I also saw Widowmaker at least twice, once supporting at the City Hall (I also cannot remember exactly who or when) and once at the Mayfair. I also saw Steve’s earlier band Ellis supporting the Groundhogs at the City Hall. I don’t think he was considered for Led Zeppelin. I think the main contender was Terry Reid, who declined the offer and recommended Robert Plant. Happy days Peter