BLACK DIAMONDS

Guitar: Steve Smigy Smith + LVox (2)Bob Johnson

Guitar: Pete Phipps

Bass: Dave Kent

Drums: Fred Orvis

Bob Cheek, now Bob Johnson, talks about The Diamonds, “Pete, Dave, Steve, and I were all a Lowestoft Grammar School. The band had started before I joined. I replaced Steve Smigy Smith, although he did make an occasional appearance as a more competent rhythm guitarist and singer. We rehearsed in our front rooms, which only got used on special occasions in those days. My first appearance with the band was at Boston Lodge YC. Kent and Orvis went on to play with The Easi-Beats, and they played at my first wedding reception at The Claremont Pier, Lwst.” Smith was next seen in The Concordes. (Edit)

Bob Cheek talks about how The Black Diamonds came about, “Pete, Dave, Steve and I were all at Lowestoft Grammar School. At 13, I went to Butlins with my parents, and Dave Curtis & The Tremors were the resident band that totally hooked me. It was all The Shadows back then, and I loved their tune ‘Midnight’; I still do. The band had started before I joined, and I replaced Steve Smigy Smith, although he did make an occasional appearance as a more competent rhythm guitar and also a damned good singer. Phippsy then had the difficult task of teaching me rhythm! We rehearsed in our front rooms, which only got used on special occasions in those days. This was our first proper band; Phippsy was at the heart; Kent was a very competent bass player, and Orvis was more of a rough diamond and a workman-like drummer. He was a tad older than us and excelled at playing Wipeout. I was ‘Bob Cheek’ at this time, taking my wife’s surname Johnson in 2004 when I remarried. My first appearance with the band was at Boston Lodge YC. Kent and Orvis went on to play with The Easi-Beats, and they played at my first wedding reception at The Claremont Pier, Lwst.” Steve Smith was next seen in The Concordes BJ 2023

> The Easi Beats / (Smith - The Concordes)