ROCKING PREACHERS, THE

Lead Vocals, Piano: Mick Robinson

Guitar: Kenny Thompson

Bass: Geoff Burrell (2)Mick Betts

Drums: Steve Howlett

Tony Dee's Rocking Preachers

Lead Vocals: Tony Dee aka Tony Dann

Drums: Les McNichol

In February 1968 resident band of the Crocodile Public House The Barrons changed their name to The Rockin’ Preachers

The group of rock’n’roll revivalists first Jammed at the Crocodile Public House in Heigham Street before becoming the resident band The Barrons. The popularity of the rock’n’ roll nights at the pub known as The Croc Club encouraged the band to branch out and along with it came the name change to the Rockin' Preachers

The groups reputation for playing a raunchy & loud set of rock'n'roll numbers soon made them one of Norwich’s top live acts. On 20th March 1968 the band made front page news when an outdoor concert at The Cottage Public House AKA Thorpe Cottage just off Thunder Lane had to be stopped as complaints about noise had been received from people living in the city anyone who knows the geography of Norwich will certainly appreciate how loud that must have been.

The band developed the trait of wearing monks habbits and cowls for live performances and lead vocalist Mick Robinson once said "My piano playing was never pretty, but I couldn’t half make it look good."

In 1967 the group set off to a studio in Bayswater Road in London with rock’n’roll companion John Jarvis. John had sung previously with groups such as the Holt, Tornadoes. The group recorded four tracks two of which featured John on lead vocals. The session produced two acetate demo’s one being labelled John Jarvis & the Rocking Preachers

In October 1968 Mick Betts previously of local soul band Impi replaces Geoff Burrell on bass guitar.

The bands split was a shock to all in [month required] 1969 when Phil Beevis of the Norwich Artists Agency who looked after both Memphis Index and The Rockin' Preachers announced there just wasn't enough work for two 'old school' rock'n'roll bands in the region and suggested an amalgamation.

unchecked

Mick and Steve opted to join Memphis with Mick convinced at the time it was the right move, even though it might create a leadership struggle of who would be the groups main singer "I just wanted to play rock and roll, i knew Tony was the leader of the Index but felt i had more to offer, I was young and cocky." said Mick. The "amalgation" wasn't greeted well by all and some didn't see it as an amalgamation at all! "We were by far the better band (Rockin' Preachers)." Explained Preachers guitarist Kenny Thompson "I wasn't best pleased as we were getting great crowds and the act really worked, of course you just move on but when i think about the hard work that was going into the band it did feel like a big stab." Mick does now concede to the fact that it was more or a     "I can see what Kenny means, we were a good band and

Supports: The Drifters / The Small Faces / The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band / The Move / Wild Angels

Venues: The Grange Club, Moncheaux, Somme, France

Tours: Scotland October 1968

Discography:

Actd Kansas City b/w Dizzy Miss Lizzy [ ]1967

Actd Route 66 b/w Stormy Weather (backing John Jarvis)[ ]1968

Actd I took pictures in my mind b/w  ?? [ ]1968

Mediography:

Preachers head for RAF Base EEN H&N 10/06/1968[ ]

When the rock had to stop EEN (fp) 20/07/1968[ ]

Preachers get new habit EDP 19/08/1968[ ]

City Preachers convert French EEN H&N 07/10/1968[ ]

Meet the Rockers EEN H&N 10/02/1969[ ](P)

Meet the Rockers Part 2 EEN 24/02/1969[ ] 

(Betts - Impy) The Barrons <>  Memphis Index  (Betts - ??)

Releases
Cover	Title	Studio	Label	YoR
	I TOOK PICTURES IN MY MIND		PRIVATE PRESSING	1968
	KANSAS CITY		PRIVATE PRESSING	UNDATED
	STORMY WEATHER		PRIVATE PRESSING	UNDATED