COASTLANDERS, THE

Lead Vocals: Ray Kelf

Guitar: Stuart Gooch

Guitar: Michael Fred Kippin

Bass: Colin Dyball

Drums: Kenneth Billy Cole

The Coastlanders were already rehearsing in July 1964 when Gooch returned from studying as an electrical engineer in Liverpool. Ex schoolmate Kippen encouraged Gooch to attend a practice session at the Two Bears Htl, GY. It wasn’t long after becoming a member though that Kippen moved on to playing bass with the Yarmouth Sidewinders.

The group played their first gig at the Sportsmans Arms PH,  GY, but Gooch recalls another early gig, “We were standing in for the resident pianist at the notorious Yare Hotel on the Quay. It was a rough seaman's hangout, and we had to play every night for a week, we were young, but grew up fast that week.” In March 1965 the group entered The NM&J Great Beat Comp and played at The Garibaldi BR, GY in the opening heat on the 10 May 1965. After the group had split Cole found himself reunited with Kippen in the now well-established Sidewinders and after a short spell with The Soul Rollers, Gooch also became a Sidewinder.

<> The Sidewinders