SONS OF FRED, THE

Lead Vocals, Organ, Guitar: Mick Hutchinson

Guitar: Ray Redway

Bass: Alan Bohling (2)Pete Sears + Keys

Drums: Tim Boyle

I have today 07/10/2014 deleted The Sons Of Fred from the East Anglian Music Archive. I have spent many years searching for proof that the band were based in Great Yarmouth. I had an inkling very early on having already compiled many gig dates from the Great Yarmouth area that the band had been mixed up with Great Uncle Fred a Great Yarmouth band that had grown out of local beat band The Millionaires

The situation arose when the band were listed as a Great Yarmouth band in the Encyclopedia Of British Beat Groups Of The Sixties, published in 1980 by local author Colin Cross. I didn't want to doubt Colin as he is as passionate about this as i am. I just found it strange that i had no local gigs listed for the band in the Great Yarmouth area under that name. It is not impossible, some bands do rise to fame very quickly, however, there was also no trace or recollection of the band from any of the operatives of the period ie other bands or promoters

I did find two notable visits by the band. The first was playing at the Royal Links with local band The Ultimate in December 1965 and then a return visit in February 1966

The problem seems to have been compounded by the regurgitation of this piece of information by many of the countrys leading authories and writers of such subsequent tomes, Pete Frame and Vernon Joynson to name but two. The bands singles are now worth around £175 each which is not a bad legacy. Although Pete Frame points out that the group will be remembered more for its name than its records. For those wondering were the name came from it was a series of TV Shows made by the Goons in the mid 50's.

I now firmly believe that the band has been confused with Great Uncle Fred who began as the Yarmouth Millionaires in 1964 changing their name to Great Uncle Fred around 1966 when moving to London. Sadly the downfall of this mistake in identity means that Great Uncle Freds cult release I'm In Love With A Beauty Queen on the classic Decca subsiduary Strike does not get a mention.

Update: 09/01/2015

Today out of the blue i received this from Pete Sears of The Sons Of Fred. I'd like to thank him for putting closure to the subject.

Thanks for your interest in my old band The Sons Of Fred. I played bass and sometimes keyboards with them up until the band fizzled out in early 1966.

Your latest assessment is correct, the band was started by vocalists Ray Redway and singer, writer and rhythm guitarist Alan Bohling who were both based in Beckenham, South London (where we rehearsed). They also lived in Dulwich for a while.

Guitarist Mick Hutchinson and drummer Tim Boyle were both from Chisilhurst, and I was from the Bromley, Kent area. I can see how the confusion as to where we originated began because of the similarities in the two band names. Yes Ray got the name "Sons of Fred" from an obscure Spike Milligan TV show of the same name. There is another misconception (not on your site) that we changed our name and carried on as "Odyssey"...we had nothing to do with Odyssey.. Thanks for everything, and keep up the good work...you have a cool site.

All the best,

Pete Sears

www.petesears.com

Discography:

7” Sweet Love b/w Ill Be There Columbia DB7605[ ]65

7” I,I,I (Want Your Lovin’) b/w She Only Wants A Friend Parlophone R5391[ ]65

7” Baby What Do You Want Me To Do b/w You Told Me Parlophone R5415[ ]66

Compilations:

12” Ct Rubble Vol2 - Sweet Love RUB2[ ]?? also reissued on CD RUB2[ ]92

CD Ct Maximum R&B - I’ll Be There REVV111[ ]9?

CD Ct Trans World Punk - I’ll Be There Unk[ ]??

CD Ct English Freakbeat Vol3 - I,I,I (Want Your Lovin’)/She Only Wants A Friend AIPCD1048[  ]97

CD Ct The R&B Scene - Baby What Do You Want Me To Do Unk[ ]??

CD Ct English Freakbeat Vol4 -     AIPCD1051[ ]97

I’ll Be There ~