Auditioned as a
temporary replacement for
Pete Quaife on Thursday 9th June 1966 at Carling
Music, Savill Row,
London. Appeared on Top of the Pops on
the same evening at BBC Television
Studios, London. The first live
gig was two days later at The Plaza, Kings Heath, Birmingham with no
time for rehearsals ! This was quickly followed by a tour to Norway and
Spain. The first recording session was on 26th June 1966 at Pye Studios,
London for "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness". Recorded "Dead End
Street" on 28th October 1966 during the evening session (without
Shel Talmy !). Many tours followed until Pete decided to return to the
Band.
Back as a a full time member on 5th April
1969 for a TV show "It's Dee Time". Whatever happened to Simon
Dee ? First recording session in this second spell was in May 1969 at
Pye Studio #2 ("Drivin" and "Mindless Child Of
Motherhood"). Spent most of June recording the "Arthur"
album. My first (eagerly awaited) American Tour started on 17th October
1969 at The Filmore East, New York. The tour lasted nine weeks and
included places like The Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles and The Filmore
West in San Franciso.
Early in May 1970 saw the arrival of The
Baptist (aka John Gosling) on keyboards. His audition was playing piano
on "Lola" (not a bad song to have as your first recording !).
Baptist was then whisked off on his first tour of America where he was
quickly taught how to consume large quantities of ALCOHOL (which he is
still very good at today).
For the next six years we did many tours
all over the world having loads of fun and drinking lots of beer.
