TYKES, THE

Lead Vocals: Dave Bignall > Bass

Guitar, Keys: John Johnny Barnes > Keys

Guitar: Leigh Barnes (2)Reuben Mitchell

Bass: David Hurst (2)Bruce Manning

Drums: Bob Simpson

Simpson put this band together with Bignall after they had left The Fen Four. The first personnel change came in December 1964 when Hurst moved on to join professional Cambridge group Vogue Sound. That same month the band came third in the Huntingdon & Godmanchester Chamber Of Trade Pop Group Contest.

In 1965, the group recorded five tracks for an EP to be released on the Granta Records label. “The EP was called Thing’s Ain’t Working Out, which was one of our original tracks,” said Simpson. “We used The Unicorn Pub in Trumpington as the studio. Just to be clear, the pub was empty; it was a Sunday afternoon. They only opened for a limited time on a Sunday back in those days, unlike today! I believe the pub is now called The Lord Byron.” When Manning left, Bignall took over the bass role. Mitchell adds, “When I came in on guitar John Barnes moved onto Keyboards, and in early 1968, we changed our name to The Muffin Band.” 

Advertised selected supports:

??/??/65 Dorothy BR, Camb - The Who

23/04/66 Boston Gliderdrome - Screamin’ Jay Hawkins with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers

14/05/66 Gala BR, Nch - Paddy Klaus & Gibson

01/07/67 Framlingham Assembly Hall - Tony Jackson’s Garden (ex Searchers)

Mediography:

The Tykes who will be playing at the charity beat dance TYI CN 19/12/64 (P)

NB: Winners of the Huntingdon Pop Group competition were The Cambridge based Prowlers, with the Ely based Vigilantes second

(Mitchell - The Redbeats) The Fen Four <> The Muffin Band (Hurst - Vogue Sound)