DEREK PICKERING

Derek Pickering was born

Band timeline:

The Ferrets

The Teen Scene

The Amalgamation

Hi kingsley I first started playing the guitar when I was 12. I went to the Earlham school and was friends with Paul Defour (drummer) , we spent a lot of the school holidays practicing different rhythms . When I left school at 15 I met 2 guys who wanted to form a band we call it the Ferrets. there was Paul Defour drums , Jonny Knights guitar, Gerry the singer Bass cant remember his name and myself on guitar. We had a few gigs mostly at the Rose Valley pub. Apart from Paul and me I don't think the others played again. Later that year 1963 I met John Russell and we formed another band called the Teen Scene. The line up John Russell guitar and main singer, Nigel Pleasence bass and singer, Paul defour on drums and myself on guitar. We stared to get a bit of work at village halls youth clubs and private functions. Christmas 1964 I had an accident and was in hospital for 2 months , the band kept going but when I was fit again Paul wanted to leave so we split up. I met Nick Day in the late summer of1965, we had a few jamming sessions and he said he knew some others so we formed a band the first line up of Nick Day bass, Barry Wilkinson drums,Alan Holmes rhythm guitar, Myself lead guitar. A few months later we auditioned for a singer and that is when Brian Tubby joined. You know most of the rest. Bits not on your site we supported the Who , Cat Stevens, The Bee Gees, Georgie Fame, there were lots of others but they were the main ones. The last working band I played in was the Amalgamation , but I was in the Bubbly Hum for a few months but left before they done any gigs. [Derek Pickering]