FORRESTERS, THE

Lead Vocals, Guitar: Barry Barrett aka Barry Sherwood

Guitar: Brian Parker

Bass: Marty Alvis

Drums: Alan Muttitt (2)John Crisp

[unchecked]

Back in the summer of 1959 Barry Barrett’s first guitar had been crudely constructed from an old re-crafted Tea Chest, he taught himself to play I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine an obscure Elvis Presley 78, B side & the classic Great Balls Of Fire, and headed down to the local record hop at the South Pier. Barry asked if he could perform during the interval. Impressed by performance were Lowestoft grammar local lads Brian Parker and John Crisp. Brian and John had themselves been rehearsing together and suggested they formed a band, within months Barry Sherwood & the Foresters were the talk of the Town.

The Foresters would rehearse at Boston lodge youth club, but it was at the front door of Barry’s house in 1960 that the next chapter of the band began. Marty Alvis had moved to the east coast from London were he had been a bassist in Adam Faiths backing band, he wanted to join. Unsure if he wanted to split the money one more way Barry asked Marty to audition at a rehearsal. Barry takes up the story "Marty was great, ahead of us all, as for splitting the money, we were one of the first bands in Lowestoft and found there was plenty of work so we rarely needed to travel"

In [date required] the group auditioned for Norwich music mogul Chic Applin and landed a summer season at Caister Sands holiday park. "We learn’t a lot from that" said Barry "It was hard work 6 days a week for the whole summer" In [date required] both Barry & John were looking at offshore careers and this made it hard to commit to the band and the group decided to split.

Being less of an obligation Barry went on to front The Jeff Rigby Trio While Brian formed The Hawaiian Beats a band that featured both his brother and father. It was sad to hear though that in [date required] Marty Alvis had taken his own life   

Supports: Paul Raven & Twilights / Billie Davies / The Rolling Stones / Freddie & The Dreamers / Eden Kane / Shane Fenton & The Fentones / Chris Ravel & The Ravers      

<> (Parker - The Hawiian Beats) (Barrett - The Jeff Rigby Trio)