GASOLINE VALLEY BLUES BAND
Circa: 1972
Home town: Que Que
Members:
-
Dennis Scott - Guitar & vocals
-
Andy Scott - Bass & vocals
-
Colin Graham - Drums
-
Nicky Cole - Guitar & vocals
-
Eric Bradnick - Guitar (Joined some time
after the band was originally formed)
GATE
Circa: 1973 - 1980
Home town: Salisbury
Members:
-
Chewy Lavalette - Vocals, sax & flute
-
Mark Lamberti - Keyboards & vocals
-
Martin Coetzer - Guitar & vocals
-
Kevin Mason - Guitar
-
Tony de Conceiocoa - Bass & vocals
-
Bill Donaldson - Drums
In 1974, the following players joined the band,
replacing others whom had moved on:
-
Deon Bernade - Bass
-
Richard Pickett - Drums
-
Ivan Laborne - Guitar
-
Henk Bormann - Bass
-
Stuart Preston - Drums
-
Nippy Cripwell - Bass
In 1975, this musician joined:
1976 saw these changes occur:
-
Alistair Coakley - Guitar. Replaced
Sandy
Robbie.
-
Phil Smith - Keyboards. Replaced
Mark Lamberti.
-
George van Dyk - Bass. Replaced
Nippy Cripwell.
1977's changes were:
-
Patrick van Rensburg
- Drums. Replaced
Stuart
Preston.
-
Dave Stacey - Keyboards. Replaced
Phil Smith.
-
John Jackson - Keyboards. Replaced
Stacey.
-
Godfrey Minne - Drums. Replaced
van Rensburg.
1978 - No changes!!
1979
1980
GATE finally broke up in 1980.
Recordings:
Single
Look After Number One/Any Man Can Be A Fool (1979) EMI
The band played their first gig ever in Salisbury. It is
said that GATE hold the record for the most personnel changes in any
southern African rock group.
Martin
Coetzer
continues
to gig
on the
local
Durban
scene,
as a One
Man
Band,
playing
at a lot
of
corporate
functions.
Chewy
Lavelette
lives in
Germiston
where he
is
involved
in the
Real
Estate
business.
GENTLEMEN (Updated
21/04/2013)
Circa: 1965
Home town: Salisbury
Members:
Subsequent personnel changes:
- Tony Winhall - Lead guitar
- John Hodgkinson - Lead guitar
- Pete Bailey - Rhythm guitar
- Clive Kluckow - Drums
THE LOOK OF GENTLEMEN!
From left to right: John Hodgkinson,
Barry Stevenson, Peter Wright, Dennis Jones & Graham Wright
THE
GENTLEMEN
Left
to
Right:
Peter
Wright
(bass)/Pete
Bailey
(guitar)/Barry
Stevenson
(vocals)/John Hodgkinson
-
(lead)
&
Clive
Kluckow
(drums)
|
|
|
THE GENTLEMEN SWEEP THE BOARDS -1968
TEXAN ROCK BAND COMPETITION WINNERS!
From Left to Right: Pete
Bailey (Best Rhythm Guitarist), John Hodgkinson (Best Lead
Guitarist), Barry Stevenson (Best Vocalist), Pete Wright
(Best Bass Guitarist) & Clive Kluckow (Best Drummer)
|
|
 |
 |
|
THE GENTLEMEN - GOING DOWN A TREAT
AT LA BOHEME (1966)
From Left to Right: Pete
Wright (Bass), John Hodgkinson (Lead), Barry Stevenson
(Lead vocals), Graham Wright (Rhythm & vocals), & Dennis Jones
(Drums) |
THE GENTLEMEN were founded in early
1965 by Pat Burke and Barry Stevenson who had recently departed
the ranks of Barry Taylor's band, the INDIGOES. In
the search for additional members, Graham and Pete Wright,
together with Dennis Jones, were recruited. They had been
members of a rock band competition winning band in Zambia, the
FORTUNES. The Gentlemen's first gig, arranged
thanks to Graham Wright who worked for Radio Limited, was on the
company's stand at the Salisbury Show. They played an hour long
gig each lunchtime during the Show's season. The Gentlemen very
quickly established themselves on the local scene, being placed
second in the Rhodesian Rock Band Competition staged at Glamis
Stadium just eight days after the trio from Zambia had joined!
At the end of 1965, Pat Burke left the group to pursue a
classical guitar career and his place as lead guitarist was
taken by Tony Winhall who tragically died of cancer a few months
later. For five years the band dominated the Saturday lunchtime
and Sunday night scenes, initially at La Boheme, before moving
over to Brett's Night Club where they continued to ply their
trade.
GENTLEMEN IN WAITING! - The Fortunes Rool The Kitwe Scene
FINDING FORTUNE... AND FAME?
The Gentlemen staged a reunion in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in the
United Kingdom in November, 2012. Whilst not all the original
members were available, many were. The line-up which played
that day was:
-
Dennis Jones - Drums
-
Pete Baillie - Guitar
-
Digby Baillie - Vocals and guitar
-
John Hodgkinson - Lead guitar
-
Ernie Mindrey, formerly of the Executives and Holy Black, joined on
bass.
The You Tube link of this historic gathering is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HAqxOltDUM
Sadly, Digby Baillie who had toured Zimbabwe with Themme Thyngs in
September, 2012, passed away in January, 2013, after a long illness.
The video of the Gentlemen played 'Proud Mary' was his last stage
act.
GENERATION
(Added
16/11/09)
Circa: 1964 - 1969
Home town: Salisbury
Members:
-
Alistair Eaton - Vocals
-
Jock Elliott - Lead guitar &
vocals
-
Mike Williams - Rhythm guitar
-
Dennis Mead - Bass guitar & vocals
-
Blondie Harris - Drums & vocals
The band played many sessions around Salisbury,
entering the Texan Rock Band Competition on two occasions for which
they were rewarded with a few cartons of free Texan smokes!
They also found their way to Beira where they performed one Rhodes &
Founders weekend having a lot of fun with it.
GENUINE IMITATION PLASTIC WATERPROOF STRING VEST
ENSEMBLE
Circa: 1960's
Home town: Salisbury
Members:
-
Richard "Rick"
Fenner - Guitar & vocals
-
Frederick Algernon
Carr-Thompson ("FA" to his mates!) - Trumpet &
epic poems
-
Ray McCauley (of
Liverpool) - Banjo & mandolin
-
Jimmy ("Who's on
first?") Watt - Tea box bass
-
Various suspects -
Washboard or drums
-
The occasional "ivory
tinkler" or two.
This short-lived but historically-important skiffle/trad
jazz group was informally called to order in the BSAP Traffic Branch’s
“Lay-Bye” bar at Cranborne Barracks, Salisbury, one drunken Friday
night sometime in the late ‘60s. No-one can actually remember the date
– after all, it was the Sixties…!
The two founding members, Fred Thompson and Rick
Fenner, ordered a triple Scotch with a beer chaser and a pint of Oude
Meester and a Coke, respectively. They put both the drinks on someone
else’s chit.
Both Fred and Rick had played individually at a
number of bars, and Rick already professed some obscure claim to fame
– some rubbish about “Jo’burg’s legendary Troubadour folk
club” and “RTV”.
Fred’s true talent as a trumpet player, however,
had only recently become evident. One night, at approximately 02h00
Lima, on the Parade Ground of the Police Training Depot, his impromptu
and alcoholically-inspired rendition of bugle calls - commencing with
"Reveille" and finishing with "The Bugle Call Rag"
– made a deep and emotional impression on both the recruit company and
the instructor cadre.
Somewhat taken aback by the short but impassioned
chase by screaming fans in cars with roof-mounted flashing blue lights,
Fred decided to forsake further fame and restrict his playing to more
traditional venues - hence his presence in the “Lay-Bye”.
After the initial gig, and against all the founders’
expectations, people actually began to request the band’s presence. It
became a semi-regular (depending on the availability of prune juice –
we had sanctions, you know!) and occasionally sought-after party band
comprised of said members and the odd scruffy RTV techie.
The band’s unique strength and attraction lay in
its inimitable ability to intersperse good foot-tapping music (the band)
with epic poetry recitals (Thompson), thus appealing to a far broader
spectrum of tastes than its competitors.
Primary venues were various police and
military messes and hostels, post-Marlborough race meeting parties, the Sables
Motor Club and, indeed, any place that wouldn’t throw them out.
The pair’s musical commitment did not end here.
On days when he missed rehearsals “because he was on duty”, Fred was
instrumental (no pun intended) in establishing the Sunday "Jazz
Afternoon Jam Sessions", first at the *********Hotel and later at
the Sherwood Arms. Rick, meanwhile, was exploring his more intellectual,
feeling side and was singing
folk songs at the Beverley Rocks with a little-known local called Clem
Tholet.
Despite these distractions, and to their
everlasting amazement, the G.I.P.W.S.V.E. performed not once, not twice,
but THREE TIMES on RTV’s Saturday night extravaganza, “Starlight
Bar-B-Q” – more than any other Salisbury band. Feeling that they
had succeeded beyond their wildest expectations – being invited back once
was far better than a gold record – they disbanded, and the founder
members returned to their unfinished business in various Messes.
GINGER (Updated 25/05/2012)
Circa: 1973
Home town: Salisbury
Members:
-
Bob McGlaughlin
- Guitar & vocals
-
Neil Shaw -
Keyboards & vocals
-
Denis Mead -
Bass & vocals
-
Grayham Allott
- Drums & vocals
Ginger were a popular band at
gigs and functions performing on the regular session, school dance
and wedding circuit. Highlights included a New Year's Eve gig
at the Wedza Country Club and a session at the Thornhill Airforce
base. Apart from these, Ginger were seen regularly at the
Friday night sessions at the Beverley Rocks Motel and at the Green
Room in Greendale.
GINGER RECIPE?
Getting Ready To Go Gigging!
 |
 |
|
Denis Mead Adding Bass To The Ginger
Mix |
Graham Allott & Neil Shaw In Full
Flow |
 |
 |
|
Ginger Notes? |
Ginger Addicts! |
|
 |
 |
|
Bob McGlaughin |
Generating Ginger Heat |
See also CRYSTAL LEGEND.
GIPSY (Revised
16/09/05)
Circa:
1972
Home
town:
Salisbury
Members:
-
Doug Kennedy - Vocals & percussion
-
Taffy Whelan - Guitar & vocals
-
Jack Lolliot - Bass & vocals
-
Dave Richards - Keyboards & vocals
-
Mark Robbins - Drums
Gypsy soon made their mark on the local scene when
they won the Rhodesian Rock Band competition staged at the Skyline
Hotel. Riding on this wave of success, the band
travelled to South Africa where they played the Coral Lounge at
the old Grand Hotel, as well as Smuggler's in Durban. At
this stage Mark Robbins left the band and proceeded overseas where
he was to continue his music activities.
Winning
Chords
Taffy
Whelan
on
the
day
GIPSY
won
a
Rock
Band
Competition
at
the
SKYLINE
circa
1970
GIPSEY (Updated 7/09/08)
Circa: 1973
Home town: Gwelo
Members:
-
Suley Mohammed - Lead guitar & vocals
-
Dave Amm - Rhythm/Bass & organ
-
Nick Lombard - Drums (Later moved onto rhythm guitar/vocals)
The subsequent changes that took places (as the
drummers played "musical chairs"!) were:
-
Niki Lostrum - Lead vocals
-
Dave Bray - Bass
-
John Hutley (Replaced Nick Lombard
on drums)
-
Ken Homan (Replaced John Hutley)
-
Mossie Hills (Replaced Ken Homan)
GYPSEY - 1977
(From left to right: Soley Mohammed
(Lead guitar), Dave Amm (Keyboards), Niki Lostrum (Vocals), Chris "Mossie"
Hills (Drums) and Nick Lombard (Rhythm)
The band originally began as a trio comprising Soley
Mohammed, Nick Lombard and Dave Amm and, after adding additional
members, reached its peak as a performing outfit with vocalist Niki
Lostrum and Mossie Hills added to the mix. The band, with much
appreciated sponsorship from the Army, completed a "Troopies Tour",
performing for the servicemen. They were well received in
their home town, however, were roundly booed at Shabani where the
audience did not appreciate the rock music they played. There
subsequent visit to Redcliff, however, was far more successful as
the younger crowd who attended were into bands of the day such as
Uriah Heep whose material Gypsey covered. The band were
delighted when they were mentioned in the newspapers and, during
their tours, found themselves often in the company of another local
band, THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT. Fortunately, the two bands played
different material which eliminated the risk of a clash of
repertoires.
Immediately after completing these tours, Nick
Lombard was served with call-up papers and spent the next two years
as a member of 10th Battalion. During his absence various
other local musicians filled his berth although he did,
occasionally, put in an appearance whilst on "R&R". The band
eventually disintegrated in 1978/79. Dave Amm, a serving
policeman, was transferred to another centre whilst Niki Lostrum
relocated to Zambia. Dave Amm now resides in Australia having
moved there from South Africa in 2007.
GREENSTONES
Circa: 1970
Home town:
Members:
-
Okke Hansen - Guitar & vocals
-
David North - Guitar & vocals
These two New Zealanders settled in Rhodesia in the early 1970's,
singing of their travels and experiences with notable success.
Recordings:
Singles
Arianne Jacqueline (1974) CBS
Salome, Jennifer And Me (1974) CBS
Pretty Girls (1975) CBS
Open Up Your Heart (1975) CBS
Mama's Troubadour (1976) CBS
Album
Life In Rhodesia (1975) CBS
GUTTER (Added 06/04/08)
Circa:
Home
town:
Members:
-
Nigel Dams - Guitar & vocals
-
Mark Stewart - Vocals & bass
-
Tony Hugget - Drums & vocals
Nigel Dams recalls that Mark and Tony were amazing
vocalists who taught him about harmony. When he first met them
in audition they asked what he knew how to play, to which he
responded "How about Fat-Bottomed Girls"? They said "OK, let's
play..." and as he started the guitar part they stopped and asked
where the lead-in vocal part was. They restarted the song and
the duo came in with "to die for" harmonies at the right place and
at the right time! From that time onwards, the due never
failed to amaze with their unerring ears and angelic harmonies.
At one stage in 1982, the band succeeded in holding
both the No 1 and No 2 chart spots simultaneously with "Slipping
Away Slowly" and "In The Middle Of The Night". The former was
flighted on television in Zimbabwe are at least a couple of
occasions. The band also made an album in Durban called
Cabbages and Kings, produced by stalwart Rhodie muso, Nick Pickard.
Front Cover of "Cabbages &
Kings"
Back Cover of "Cabbages & Kings"
"Cabbages & Kings" Review
