AMAZONS, THE

Lead Vocals: Keith Clark 64-65 (2)Ken Gammon 65-68? (3)Babs Stevens 68?

Guitar: Basil Burgess

Guitar: Roger Lane

Bass: John Burgess

Drums: Colin Lockwood (2)Derek King

We first see this Ely group in late 1964. Clark moved on in 1965 to front new Cambridge band, The PCA4+1, and Lane recalls Gammon replacing Clark. In 1966 Lockwood left to form The Shift and was replaced by ex-Signets drummer Derek King. The band were next spotted as entrants in the 1966 Station Hotel Open Air Beat Comp. Ex-Redbeat Stevens joined the group on vocals for its final months.

"I never did play in a skiffle band, but we did play a couple of skiffle numbers in The Amazons. I started band life practising with Rubin Mitchell in his bedroom along with Barry Broad. They went on to form The Redbeats, which contained Terry Read, who went on to become internationally famous. I joined The Amazons after being asked by Basil Burgess. I recall Ken Gammon replacing Keith Clark on vocals from 1965 to 1968 and Bab Stevens replacing Ken at the end of 1968, just before we disbanded. Baz Burgess went on and played with the Good Company band for some years, and his brother John played bass for a Huntingdon band before his untimely death. I then answered an advert in the Melody Maker for a tenor sax player and joined Soul Inclination. I stayed with them until 1970. We rehearsed at Linton near Cambridge and played quite a bit at The Dorothy in Cambridge. Post Script: After putting down the Guitar and Saxophone 50 years ago, I resumed playing five years ago, joining a University of 3rd Age (U3A) guitar section, and now play and sing in several Zoom meetings and local guitar meetings. Not bad at 75." RL2023

Query: Gigs for this band can only currently be found up to mid-1967.

Selected advertised supports:

10/04/65 Gaiety BR, Ramsey - The Animals + The Cascades

Unconfirmed list from R.Lane:

??/??/66 W.I. Hall, Ely – Tremeloes (unconfirmed)

24/04/65 Peterborough Palais - Moody Blues (Confirmed but no support listed)

06/02/65 Peterborough Palais - Freddy & The Dreamers + The Cherokees (confirmed but Cherokees listed as support)

01/09/66 Hiam’s Sports & Social Club, ?? - Dean Ford & The Gaylords + The Troggs (unconfirmed)

(The Signets - King) <> (PCA4 - Clark) (The Shift - Lockwood) (Lane - Soul Inclination)

info: EAMA/Paddy Murphy/Roger Lane