REDBEATS, THE

Lead Vocals: Roderick Babs Stevens (2)David Crawford (3)Terry Reid + Gtr

Guitar: Eric Bean lnr

Vox, Gtr: Reuben Mitchel

Bass: Melvyn Clark (2)Keith Perry Mason

Drums: Barry Broad (2)Maurice Jordon (3)Charlie Burton

Broad and Mitchell had met at Needham’s Secondary School in Ely. “The group first formed in New Barnes Avenue, Ely,” said Mitchell. “We would practise in Barry Broad’s spare room. Barry had just started working with his dad, painting and decorating, and his first drums were paint tins with rexine stretched over them. Our first gig was at Witchford Sports Hall just outside Ely in 1962, and we played all instrumentals.” [Mitchell/Bean/Clark/Broad] In early 1963 Broad joined The Vigilantes and was replaced by Jordon. Soon after this, the band got its first permanent frontman Stevens, later to be replaced by Crawford. Mitchell takes up the story of how Terry Reid came to join the band, “It was around 1964. Eric Bean had an older brother who lived in Bluntisham. His wife told us there was a young lad in the village that wanted to join a band. It turned out to be Terry Reid. He was only 14 and came to one of our rehearsals. He stood at the back of the hall with his dad. I went over and asked him if he felt like joining in, and as soon as he did, we really jelled. I was adamant at that point he was joining The Redbeats.” Reid’s dad ‘Wol’ soon took on the running of the group.(1) The band came sixth in the Isle of Ely Beat Group Poll in May 1964, and later that year, much was made in the local press of Reid joining The Jaywalkers, as he was only 15.(2) Peter Jay later told us that he had to make assurances to Reid’s parents, including being personally responsible for his safety, before they agreed to let Reid join the group and head for London. Mitchell adds, “I remember Reid’s first appearance with The Jaywalkers back in the area. It was at Hiam’s Sports and Social Club out at Prickwillow [26/09/65]. I recall ‘Wol’ coming to pick me up and take me over there. It was a bittersweet night.” Mitchell was next seen in The Tykes and Mason in The Wreckers.

NB:(1). It transpires that from the point of ‘Wol’ taking on the management of the band, later paper reports carried the idea that the group had formed at St Ivo School, St Ives, Cambs. However, this was only the case with a few later members, most prominently Reid.

(2). Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers were backed by The Redbeats on two occasions. The first time was at The Gaiety, Pboro, on 5 October 1963, but Reid was not part of the band at that point. They later supported The Jaywalkers at The Palais, Pboro, on 28 August 1965, and this is where Peter Jay first saw Terry Reid. Reid announced in the local press that his final gig with The Redbeats was to be at The Dorothy BR, Camb, on 10 September 1965, when they were to support The Barron Knights.

Mediography:
Upwell boys lead way in our beat contest UP c64
Terry (15) joins The Jaywalkers YW UP udat

Notes: Keith Mason says, “I’ve been talking to Rueben (Mitchell) about the Dorothy Ballroom date, and neither of us can remember it. Our last date was at The Peterborough Palais with Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, who then poached Terry. We all had a meeting at Terry’s in the following days, and the band was disbanded. I then joined The Wreckers and Rueben joined Tykes”

<> (Broad - The Vigilantes) (Reid - The Jaywalkers) (Mitchel - The Tykes) (Mason - The Wreckers)