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The Phantoms - History

 

"In 1961, I was asked to join Troy and the Phantoms to replace Terry Aspinall on lead guitar by the late Alf Meredith who was the founder member of the band. Alf used to listen to me and Alan Ludley practice our Buddy Holly songs in the front room of our house in Gresham Road, Middlesbrough and thought about improving the line up. We had rehearsals in the Settlement Hall, on Newport Road, what a load of rubbish we were, but how exciting! "Count me in" was my answer. The next new member was lead singer Keith Thirkell, from Stockton. He had a voice of a tenor and a good 'rocker.' He replaced Sid from Thorntree. I can't remember his surname, but the band improved. Next to be replaced was the drummer but he owned the microphones - so it was back to the drawing board - the answer was buy more mics get a new drummer! 'Rocker Rollo' turned up but didn't have a bass drum pedal, he kicked the drum, sounds funny but true. He lasted two days!" The next drummer was a family friend called John Astbury, he was still at school and played in a band called The Sabres. He was a good drummer and fitted in well (John lives in Spain now and still plays with a rock band out there.) We were playing a lot tighter, and with more punch now, and after a few more months of rehearsals were ready for our first gig at The Sadler's Arms, near the Five Lamps in Thornaby. The problem was no transport! We got on the 'O' bus in Newport Road with all our gear, guitars, two Watkins Dominator Amps, a Watkins Copycat echo chamber, microphone and stand and a kit of drums, most of which fitted under the stairs and the rest on our knees. We got some strange looks and comments but who cared. We had a good night and were on our way to stardom, a couple of teddy boys kept grabbing the mic and telling us to play "Be-Bop-A-Lula" while they sang, all their mates egging them on and giving them a lot more applause than what we got. A £4.00 pay-day rock on, it was worth it!"

"The second gig was at the Oddfellows Arm, again in Thornaby. The transport was upgraded, I borrowed John's dads car, a Morris Minor estate, all the gear squashed into the back - no room for the lads - so they got the bus to Thornaby and met John and I at the pub. Of course, the back doors of the car wouldn't shut so, with a piece of rope keeping the back doors almost closed, we set off. Sods law, a hundred yards down the road we lose a mic stand and cymbal, but didn't discover they are missing until we got there. The gig goes well until the second set, a guy stands up and socks Keith the singer in the face and tells him he's shite! That's when the fight started. Keith hit him back others joined in, the band joined in, all the room joined in, tables, beer, bodies and instruments all over, but order was restored and we continued to play - me with a sprained wrist, Keith with a bloody nose, Alf with a cut eye, John with broken drum stand tied up with the back door rope. Only Dave, the bass player, escaped unscathed because he disappeared into the toilet (his days in the band were now numbered as we watched after each other as mates, but he did a runner.) All this for another £4.00, was it worth it? Of course it was! It was just the beginning of many years of similar stories to tell. I could write a book just like any band."

"By now my brother Alan wanted to start up a band, he could play all the numbers The Phantoms played, as we as we practiced guitar together each day, and so the first Bachelor Boys were formed. The very first members of the band were Alan Ludley on rhythm guitar, Arthur Westbrooke on lead guitar, Tubby Ayton on bass with Mike Gutteridge on vocals. Alan, Arthur and Mike were in the same class at Middlesbrough Art College. The Bachelor Boys' first booking was at Joe Walton's Boy's Club and then they played at least two bookings with that line-up at the Black Horse, on Billingham Green. The landlord then asked us to get a drummer as the customers were breaking glasses as they were banging them on the tables in time to the beat. Alan Cave then joined the group. That line-up lasted about five months and then Arthur and Alan Cave left. We then became a four piece group. Mike Gutteridge played the guitar and sang along with Alan Ludley - and then Dave Ritchie joined us to replace Alan Cave on drums."

Terry Sidgewick, who was one of Alan's schoolmates wanted 'in' on the band, but Tubby was good and Terry couldn't play any instrument. Buy yourself a bass and I will do the rest was my answer. He did, and after a bit of tuition and three months later, he replaced Dave Bromham on bass guitar. With the music scene rapidly changing, our tenor voiced singer Keith Thirkell decided he would quit the group, which left me and Terry to take over the vocals. The Phantoms line up now was Alf Meredith on rhythm guitar, Tom Ludley lead guitar, Terry Sidgewick bass with John Astbury on drums."

"The next change in the line-up came as a shock as Alf, who was the founder member, quit the band to spend more time with his family. We were playing three or four nights a week, plus a night to rehearse. We continued as a trio for months but this limited the songs and especially the instrumentals that we could play - the money was good, £5.00 split three ways. On visiting The Gladstone over the border one night, The Fireballs were performing. Malcolm Buckton (Buck) and Terry Russell were the members I knew. I was very impressed with Terry on guitar. Terry lived in Craven Street, just off Gresham Road, around the corner from me. The next day I approached him to join our band. He came to rehearse with us and joined us. Terry Russell was a very talented guitar player and very advanced for the 60's era, I remember playing at the KD Club, in Billingham, on the same bill as John Mayall's Bluesbreakers who had a young Eric Clapton on guitar. Clapton stood at the side of the stage and never took his eyes off Terry all through our set, even 'he' was impressed by Terry's talent."

"John Astbury, our drummer, then joined the army, he went to Wellbeck College then onto Sandhurst where he became an officer. Bob Thompson took over for about six months, although he was good, an outstanding drummer, a young Terry Popple was making a name for himself. On seeing him play with the Kalvins, we were very impressed and ask him to join our band. The line-up was then settled for the next few years. A Tom and three Terry's: When Terry Russell decided to give up playing with us, we went back to just playing as a three-piece for a while before we brought in George Trigg on tenor sax. The band stayed with that line up for approximately another year. When the band broke up Terry Sidgewick and Terry Popple went onto play with Mick Moody and John McCoy in Tramline. At a later date Terry Sidgewick played with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames and Terry Popple with Van Morrison. George went to play with The Denmen and I hung my guitar up for a few years. I played with acoustic band called Calendar in the early 70's for a couple of years, then packed it in altogether. These days I only play up in the loft now - along with the old rock 'n' roll records. In my opinion the 1960's were the best years for music. I'm glad I was around and part of it and wouldn't have missed it for the world. I've got loads of happy memories and met a load of great guys."

Thank you for reading.

Written by Tom Ludley.

 

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