BOSTON CRABS, THE

Lead Vocals: Geoff Mott

Vocals, Guitar, Harm: Fred Friedlein

Vocals, Guitar: Mike Clarke

Guitar: Ian Jack

Bass: Simon Jones 64-65 (2)Thom Friedlein 65-66

Keys, Trm: Stuart Neame 66

Drums: Clive Welham 64 (2)Keith Barker 64 (3)Alan Taylor 64-65 (4)Tony Skinner 65-66

Full details of this band are constantly under question, so we have referred to Vernon Joynson’s, Tapestry of Delights for our base information and added notes and queries from other sources.

The band formed at Cambridge University in around 1965 and have personal connections with an earlier Cambridge band The Mottoes, through original drummer Welham; this connects them into the Pink Floyd family tree along with his previous band Jokers Wild, which contained David Gilmour.

The band signed to Columbia in early 1965, but none of their mainly R&B output made it into the national charts, although Radio London played their first single Down in Mexico on heavy rotation and it was listed as one of the highest climbers in their Fab Forty compiled on 13 June 1965.

After the band split it was a mixture of success and sadness. In 1979 Friedlein, who was running the Soundwave Music Shop in Romford, Essex noticed there was a gap in the market for bespoke bass amplification and founded the company Trace Elliot; in contrast in 1989 popular, well-liked father of four, Jack took his own life. 

Discography:

7” Down In Mexico b/w Who?

Columbia Records DB7586 released on 28/05/65

7” As Long As I Have You b/w Alley Oop

Columbia Records DB7679 released on 25/08/65

7” You Don’t Have To Be So Nice b/w Gin House

Columbia Records DB7830 released on 04/02/66

Bibliography & Source: Tapestry Of Delights (EE) VJ

Websites: radio London

NB: It’s been hard to date this band accurately very few live performances are listed locally during their recording period of 1965 to 1966 but a few gigs do crop up under that name in 1969; a reuinon or an unrelated act!?