The Rockin' Vickers
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The Rockin' Vickers | |
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| Also known as | Rev Black and The Rockin' Vicars |
| Origin | Blackpool, England |
| Genres | Rock, rhythm and blues, beat |
| Years active | 1963–1967 |
| Labels | Decca, CBS, RPM |
| Members | (See members below) |
The Rockin' Vickers were a 1960s English rock and roll band from Blackpool. They were originally called Rev Black and The Rockin' Vicars, then abbreviated to The Rockin' Vicars, but in order to have a chance to get more gigs or even a record contract, they changed their name to "Rockin' Vickers". The band is most notable for featuring Lemmy, who went by the name Ian Willis at the time, later of Hawkwind and more famously Motörhead, as a guitarist (Lemmy did not start playing bass until joining Hawkwind). Their last single "Dandy", a cover of The Kinks song, was produced by Shel Talmy.
History
Formed in 1963, the band built their reputation as did many other beat groups of the era, by covering R&B and Beat standards, but soon became known for their unusually intense live shows and outlandish stage costumes, dressing as vicars and Sami. Although mainly popular as a local act around Blackpool, England, the Vicars also toured mainland Europe, being one of the earliest British rock bands to perform in a socialist country, when they played in Yugoslavia in the summer of 1965.[1] They were particularly popular in Finland, where they recorded a single, a rocked up version of Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart. They released four singles. The band split in 1967.[2]
In 1967, expatriate Blackpool musician Dave Rossall (ex-Bruce & The Spiders), carrying on the tradition of the English band, formed his own Australian band called Rev Black and the Rockin' Vicars (1967–1969). The Australian band went on to release four singles in its own right, toured extensively around Australia and made the Brisbane Top 40.
Members
| 1963–1964 | 1964–1965 | 1965–1967 |
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Discography
Singles
- "I Go Ape" b/w "Someone Like You", Decca F 11993, 1964, UK
- "Stella" b/w "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", Decca SD5662, 1965, Finland
- "Stella" b/w "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", 1966, Ireland
- "It's Alright (Townshend)" b/w "Stay By Me", CBS 202051, March 1966, UK
- "Dandy (Davies)" b/w "I Don't Need Your Kind", CBS 202241, October 1966, UK
- "Dandy (Davies)" b/w "I Don't Need Your Kind", Columbia 4-43818 1966, U.S.
Compilation album
- Its Alright: The Complete Rockin' Vickers, RPM CD196 1995, UK
I Go Ape/ Someone Like Me/ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/ Stella/ It's Alright/ Stay By Me/ Dandy/ I Don't Need Your Kind Of Love/ Baby Never Say Goodbye/ I Just Stand There/ Say Mama/ Shake Rattle & Roll/ What The Matter Jane/ Little Rosy (Ray Davies) (+ rehearsal extract)