DYNATONES, THE

Lead Vocals: Tony Benham (belived to have passed away)

Guitar: Richard Bugs Austin (believed to be in Australia)

Guitar: Mick Lemmon (belived to have passed away)

Keys: Adrian King [Titman] (now in USA)

Bass: Colin Hodgkinson

Drums: Malcolm Swindon (in Spain) (2)Trevor West [Wright] (belived to have passed away)

Founding drummer Swindon said, “I started playing the drums in 1957 and really loved it. I tried guitar and trumpet but found that I much preferred the percussion. I taught myself through listening to other bands and did much of my early drumming in local pubs at weekends and occasionally sitting in for dance bands. I met up with Mick (Lemmon), and we started the band. Initially, we would rehearse in the front room of his house. Musically I followed the Beatles, as I was impressed with Ringo’s style of drumming. The Dynatones also followed the Beatles, as well as  The Shadows.” MS2022

According to Ian Lemmon, brother of Mick,the band got together in early 1961* and he would often act as the bands roadie, and his father Arthur became the group’s manager. The band picked up many named support slots through impresario Norman G Jacobs, who ran dances in Peterborough and Wisbech.

*1959 is also noted by others as the bands start date.

An early change was drummer West from the local group The Marauders coming in to replace Swindon who joined up The Sovereigns.

In March 1963, they opened for the Arthur Howes Montez/Roe package tour at The Embassy, Pboro. The tour also featured a slot by The Beatles; keyboard player King remembers how John Lennon offered them some friendly advice on the night, “He said we all played well but told us to stop being like The Shadows. It was a revelation because up until then most bands did try to be like The Shadows and The Beatles; we were one of the few who didn’t!”

In ??, the group were offered a one-month residency at The Savoy in Hanover, Germany but turned it down as three of the band were still apprentices.*

* The statement about the band still being apprentices is made by Arthur Lemmon although at some point it's noted that the band are managed by local agency JB Promotions (John Bennett Promotions)

The group folded around 1964. Hodgkinson turned professional around 1966 with The Neil Hubbard Quartet, later known as The Adrian Titman Trio and was also connected to The Eric Delaney Band and Alexis Korner but is probably best known for work with his own jazz rock trio Back Door and as a session musician.
 

Selected advertised supports:

17/03/63 Embassy Theatre, Pboro - Chris Montez / Tommy Roe Tour

with The Beatles / The Viscounts / The Terry Young Six

21/09/63 PBoro CornX - The Rolling Stones

Mediography:

Goodbye to those swinging sixties  PET 02/01/70 (P)

Bibliography & source: Dancing at the Corn Exchange KR

website: peterboroughimages.co.uk & colinhodgkinson.co.uk

(West - The Marauders) <> (Swindon - The Sovereigns)