Birmingham Music Archive

When Gerry’s Mother realised he was serious about music, she went into Westwoods Music in John Bright Street, Birmingham and bought Gerry a Hofner Committe guitar.

One of the first gigs he played was at the Youth Club in Perry Barr, Birmingham with John Watson, his brother’s friend. By the age of 14, Gerry had become part of a group and played at Birchfield Rd School Youth Club alongside; Mike Cassell, John Matthews and John Watson. Gerry and John Watson remained together and took on new members before settling on the following line-up:

*Gerry Levene (vocals)
*John Watson (guitar)
*Mike Hopkins (lead guitar)
*Jim Onslow (bass)
*Graeme Edge (drums) born 30 March 1944, Coventry Road, Small Heath Birmingham

Ken Smith became the bands manager, and named them Cliff Angel and The Virtues before settling on Gerry Levene and The Avengers. They started playing all the pubs in Birmingham until they landed a gig at the West End Ballroom, and ended up being the resident band every Wednesday and Saturday thereafter.

Ken then moved to Liverpool and started booking the band on the Liverpool circuit so they could play at the West End Ballroom at lunch-time and venues in Liverpool on the evening.

John Watson left the band and was replaced by Roy Wood. During this time, the band auditioned for EMI and Decca on the same day at the Plaza in Handsworth and actually had a choice of which record company to go with. They chose Decca, managed by Phil and Dorothy Solomon who also had a group called, The Batchelors.

Gerry Levene and The Avengers recorded, ‘Do You Love Me’, ‘Twist and Shout’ and ‘Dr Feelgood’, and went on to release ‘Dr Feelgood,’ while Brian Pool and The Tremeloes released the other two songs and had number one hits!

The current band line-up was working well and appeared on ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars.’ However, Roy left for Mike Sheridan and The Nightriders (see under artists) to play lead guitar and was replaced by Peter Cook, a blind keyboard player from West Bromwich. Peter left the band and went on to work for BBC2 on programmers such as Stamash. Mike and Jim also left during this time to join The Diplomats, so Gerry and Graeme went on to form a new band with Denny Laine called the M and B5 which became The Moody Blues.

Gerry left The Moody Blues following a dissagreement with Denny, Jim eventually went on to play with Raymond Froggatt and Mike Hopkins joined Magnum.

Gerry joined a band called The Chicanes which became The Avengers. Various members came and went before Gerry left himself.

In 1968, producer/engineer, Bill Farley of Regents Sound put Gerry in a new band called Crossbones consisting of:

*Gerry Levene
*James Parsons
*Les Fortnham
*Mike Millard

On the Penny Farthing label, they released, ‘Shakin’ All Over’

Then Gerry joined The Hinge, a duo with Chris Sedgewick and recorded songs including, ‘The Village Postman’ and ‘You’d Better Go Home.’ Peter Lee Sterling (Daniel Boone – ‘Beautiful Sunday’) wrote one of the B-sides.

During this time, Gerry started recording for Pye under the solo name of David Lincoln and produced, ‘Hold Back The Daybreak’ with a 50 piece orchestra.

In 1974, Gerry was reunited with Jim Onslow in a group called the Rockin Rockets Road Review which was a huge group of musicians who performed an impressions show. It consisted of:

*Big Al Johnson (guitar)
*Jim Onslow (bass)
*Mike Alexander (keyboards)
*Nick Pentelow (sax)
*Dave Hollis (drums)
*Danny King (vocals)
*Gerry Levene (vocals)
*Mike Sheridan (vocals)
*Brenda Bosworth (vocals)

Together they toured colleges and clubs but were mainly based at Barbarellas. The remnants of this band became Cirkus in which Gerry was the ’straightman.’

Gerry remained in the music industry but during the last years spent a long time fighting bowel cancer. As a result, he became involved with running shows for the Holly Trust Bowel Cancer Charity. He also plays solo gigs and runs dance nights.

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, was born December 9, 1950 in Basseterre on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts in the West Indies. She moved with her family to Birmingham in 1957 and taught herself to play piano and guitar. By the age of 14, she had began writing lyrics and music. She started her career playing music at local clubs as a teenager.

Joan’s first job was working at Rabone Chesterman (makers of engineering tools) in Hockley, Birmingham. She was sacked from this job because she insisted on bringing her guitar to work and playing during tea breaks. Her first guitar was a gift from her mother – a pawn shop exchange for two old prams.

In the early 1970s, Joan moved to London to perform in a repertory production of Hair. There she met the lyricist Pam Nestor, and they worked together on the album ‘Whatever’s for Us‘, released on the Cube label in 1972.

In 1975, Joan had left Cube and was free to sign with A&M, and issued the album ‘Back to the Night‘ which was promoted on tour with a six-piece jazz-pop group called The Movies.

A major publicity relaunch in 1976, and the involvement of producer Glyn Johns propelled her next album, ‘Joan Armatrading‘, into the top 20 and spawned the top 10 hit single “Love and Affection”. The album mixed acoustic work with jazz-influenced material, and this style was retained for the follow-up, ‘Show Some Emotion‘ (1977). This album was also produced by Glyn Johns, as was 1978’s ‘To the Limit‘. These albums included songs which continue to be staples of Joan’s live shows, including “Willow”, “Down to Zero”, “Tall in the Saddle”, and “Kissin’ and a Huggin”. Also at this time, Joan wrote and performed “The Flight of the Wild Geese”, which was used in the 1978 war film The Wild Geese. A live album entitled ‘Steppin’ Out‘, which showcased her well-honed stage act, was released in 1979.

Joan had achieved international fame as a headlining musician and also a solo performing black woman – a rarity at that time.

In 1980, Joan revised her playing style and released ‘Me Myself I‘, a more pop-oriented album produced by Richard Gottehrer, who had worked with the likes of Blondie. This became Joan’s highest ever charting album both in the UK and the US, while the title track became her second UK top 40 hit single. The same pop style was also evident on the 1981 album ‘Walk Under Ladders‘ and 1983’s ‘The Key‘. Both of which were also top 10 successes in the UK, with ‘The Key‘ also producing the hit single “Drop the Pilot”, Joan’s third and, to date, final UK top 40 hit. To capitalise on her success, A&M released a ‘the best’ of compilation album, ‘Track Record‘ (1983).

Joan’s next studio album was ‘Secret Secrets‘ (1985). Taking over production responsibilities herself, Joan recorded the albums ‘Sleight of Hand‘ (1986), ‘The Shouting Stage‘ (1988) and ‘Hearts and Flowers‘ (1990) for A&M Records, which all made the UK top 40.

In 1991, A&M released the compilation ‘The Very Best of Joan Armatrading‘ which returned her to the top 10. Following ‘Square The Circle‘ (1992), Joan left A&M – a label she had been with for almost 20 years and signed with RCA for her 1995 album ‘What’s Inside‘.

Joan’s backing musicians have included members of Little Feat, Fairport Convention, XTC and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. She works only with the finest, like Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones), Tony Levin (King Crimson), Manu Katche (Sting) and Benmont Tench (Tom Petty). Joan has also worked with an impressive list of producers and co-producers including Glyn Johns, Gus Dudgeon, Steve Lillywhite, David Tickle (Prince, Debbie Harry).

She was nominated twice as Best female vocalist for the Brit Awards and also nominated three times for the American Grammy Award. She received the Ivor Novello award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996, along with numerous platinum, gold and silver albums.

Joan released a CD of ‘Lullabies With A Difference‘ in December 1998 for a children’s charity called PACES. The charity helps children with cerebral palsy. She asked friends and musicians whom she admires, like Mark Knopfler, Jools Holland, Midge Ure, Tina Turner, The Cranberries, Melissa Etheridge, Brian May and Lewis Taylor to give a song with a lullabies theme.

Joan has presented 4 music series on both Radio 2 and 4. Other achievements include being nominated as one of the 100 most influential women in rock in the VH1 poll at the end of 1999. Joan received a platinum CD for her participation with other artists in the Lou Reed song Perfect Day by the BBC for sales of over 1 million.

Joan played for Nelson Mandela oh his 70th birthday at Wembley Stadium in London and at the end of 1999 was asked to write a tribute song to the former President of South Africa. On April the 6th 2000, Nelson Mandela made a private visit to London and Joan, backed by The Kingdom Choir, had the honour of singing that special song entitled ‘The Messenger’ to him. Mr. Mandela danced and smiled on stage through out the entire song.

In 2001, after five years of studying Joan received her BA (Hons) Open University Degree in History. She has also been awarded Honorary Degrees from Birmingham and Aston University and was made an Honorary Fellow of the John Moores University of Liverpool and of Northampton University.

Eight years later, in 2003 and no longer attached to a major label, Joan released the album ‘Lovers Speak‘.

On the 25th of June 2008, Joan received yet another Honorary Degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Making history, Joan became:

The first female UK artist to debut at number 1 in the Bilboards Blue Chart
The first female UK artist to be nominated for a Grammy in blues category
The first black UK artist to debut at #1 on Billboard blues chart
The first black UK artist to be nominated for a Grammy in blues category
The first artist from St Kitts to have debuted at number 1 in the Billboards Blues chart
The first artist from St Kitts to have been nominated for a Grammy

Discography:
*Into The Blues (2007)
*Live All The Way From America (2004)
*Lovers Speak (2003)
*A tribute song for Nelson Mandela (1999)
*Lullabies With A Difference (1998)
*What’s Inside (1995)
*Square the Circle (1992)
*Hearts and Flowers (1990)
*The Shouting Stage (1988)
*Sleight of Hand (1986)
*Secret Secrets (1985)
*The Key (1983)
*Walk Under Ladders (1982)
*Me, Myself, I (1980)
*Steppin’ Out (1979)
*How Cruel (1979)
*To the Limit (1978)
*Show Some Emotion (1977)
*Joan Armatrading (1976)
*Back to the Night (1974)
*Whatever’s for Us (1972)

The Applejacks were the first local band to make an impact in the music industry, with a number seven hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1964.

Members:
*Al Jackson (vocal) born Harry Llewellyn Jackson on 21 April 1945, Birmingham
*Martin Thomas (lead guitar) Baggott born 20 October 1947, Birmingham
*Philip Peter Cash (rhythm guitar) born 9 October 1947, Birmingham
*Megan Kelso Davies (bass guitar and vocal) born 25 March 1944, Sheffield, Yorkshire
*Gerald Ernest Freeman (drums) born 24 May 1947, Solihull
*Dan Gould (piano and organ) born 23 March 1947, Solihull

The group formed in Solihull in 1961, and were originally known as The Cresta and then The Jaguars before becoming The Applejacks. All were members of the 1st Olton Scouts Troop in Shirley, accept for Dan who was added to line-up at the end of 1961 and Al who joined in 1962.

The band regularly appeared at Solihull Civic Hall playing American style rock ‘n’ roll and were unusual for having a female bass guitarist.

In late 1963, The Applejacks were signed up by talent scout, Mike Smith from the Decca Record Company. Shortly after they released their first single, ‘Tell Me When’ which peaked at number seven and remained in the charts for 13 weeks. The single’s success was followed by numerous TV appearances on shows like ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ where the band became friends with the Beatles who they met during a rehearsal.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney provided The Applejacks with the song, ‘Like Dreamers Do’ which the band released as their next single.

1964 saw The Applejacks record a self-titled album for Decca Records under Mike Leander. They appeared in the British pop music film, ‘Just For You’ which featured Freddie and The Dreamers and Peter and Gordon. The band also performed live on the New Musical Express annual poll winners concert at Wembley. In the same year, Megan and Gerald married in a high profile wedding attended by hundreds.

The band had become very popular and were booked to appear at dance halls all over the country throughout 1964.

By 1966, the band had signed a lucrative contract in cabaret to perform on the luxury Trans-Atlantic ocean liners R.M.S. Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I and II.

Discography:
*The Applejacks (1964)
*Tell Me When (1990 re-issue of The Applejacks)

Kelli Ali was born Kelli Dayton on June 30th, 1974. For the first seven years of her life, she lived on the 7th floor of a tower block called Near Oak House in Bartley Green, Birmingham.

Kelli was a dreamer and loved to sing and dance. She grew up listening to old rock ‘n’ roll singles from a little record player that she carried around with her. At the age of 13 she was listening to Sonic Youth, The Violent Femmes, Mud Honey and Nirvana. She was also into Prince, Raspberry Beret and Little Red Corvette.

After leaving school at the age of 14, Kelli started going to see lots of bands including; Sonic Youth, Iggy Pop, Mud Honey, Fugazi, X – Ray Spex, Billy Idol, Prince, Transvision Vamp, and The Stranglers.

When Kelli was 16, she joined her first band – Psycho Drama, and together they played around the city centre, but they didn’t last long. However, she received a phone call from Russell Cross who had seen Psycho Drama play and wanted her to join his band.

At first, Kelli was reluctant to join another band so soon after just leaving one, but after checking them out she said if they changed their name to The Lumieres and learned all of her songs, she’d join them.

They were trying to get gigs in london and when they finally got one at the Garage in Islington, Kelli wrote to loads of record companies to get them down there. Rick Lennox, an A&R guy for One Little Indian Records turned up. After the gig, he said that he wasn’t into the band but if Kelli was up for singing with other people, he’d keep his eyes open in London.

Not long after, Rick contacted Kelli and said there was a band called F.R.I.S.K. (Forever Rain In Self Knowledge) on a sub label of One Little Indian, Clean Up records who wanted a singer and he thought they should meet up. So Kelli went to one of their gigs and after the band came off stage, she sat down with them, Rick Lennox and their manager Craig. That was the beginning of the Sneaker Pimps.

After meeting Chris Corner and Liam Howe at the gig (F.R.I.S.K.), Kelli went back to Birmingham and they sent her some demo tracks which she liked. The band already had a singer, but they were after a female voice.

The guys came to see one of The Lumiere’s gigs at an open air festival in Birmingham City Centre. Kelli was surprised by how shy they were towards her when she came off stage. She sensed that they were very different and there was a definite divide between them.

Nevertheless, Kelli agreed to go up to Elwick Village, Northumberland where Liam had a little bedroom studio. And there she sang all the vocals in a little cupboard that Liam had made into a vocal booth and was impressed at their musical ability.

Craig, the guys manager called Kelli and said that the band would like her to join them. At first, she declined, The Lumieres had started getting a lot of attention and Kelli wanted to sing her own songs so she told Craig that they could use her voice if they wanted, but why should she join a band who just wants her to sing?

Craig convinced her that she could continue to make her own music and join the band. Virgin Records America were already interested in signing the band if Kelli became a permanent member.

Kelli decided to join the band ( that had now chosen the name Sneaker Pimps) on the basis that she would write B-sides and co-write on the next album. Within a couple of weeks they were offered a U.S. deal with Virgin Records America.

Sneaker Pimps finished the album, ‘Becoming X‘ in Liam’s bedroom studio. Shortly after, the band were on the road and had a few weeks to get the live show together. They played all over the U.K, Europe and America, touring with a band called 12 rounds. At first they played in little pub venues to no more than twenty or thirty people but soon moved on to bigger things, supporting Neneh Cherry and Blur for a part of their tour.

The film, The Saint with Val Kilmer, used 6 Underground as part of the sound track, then that was it. Sneaker Pimps were asked to fly to New York and record a song with Marylin Manson for the Spawn movie soundtrack in addition to going on TV and radio shows.

However, After touring so long and living in close proximity, things started to get difficult on the road and the band started to grow apart. One morning, towards the end of our last U.S. tour, the band woke up in Tennessee to find a note from Liam saying he had had enough. He’d flown home and left the band on the bus.

Kelli returned to London and decided to go travelling to Costa Rica and Panama for a couple of months. When she returned to London, the Sneaker Pimps had already set up a studio at Terminal Studios in London. The band called a meeting, which Kelli thought was to discuss new ideas for the next album. But when she turned up, Liam said that Chris was going to sing from now on in replace of Kelli.

Kelli left The Lumieres in 1998. In 2001, she signed a solo record deal with One Little Indian Records and released two solo albums; ‘Tiger Mouth’ (2003) which featured hits such as “Sunlight in the Rain” and “Kids,” which featured ex-Doors drummer John Densmore.

She toured alongside Garbage in 2003 and released a follow-up album,’Psychic Cat‘, in 2004. The second album featured musician-turned-author Tony O’Neill on keyboards.

In 2005, Kelli left London to go traveling and write a new album. Whilst journeying through Mexico and California, she wrote many songs and in 2007 had completed writing for the ‘Rocking Horse’ album.

In March 2008, she went to Edinburgh to work with composer and producer, Max Richter on a new record. ‘Rocking Horse’ will be released in Autumn 2008.

Discography:
*Psychic Cat (2004)
*Tiger Mouth (2003)
*Inferno High Love (2002)