Wainwright's Gentlemen - The Strange Brew

By Nick Warburton

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #1:

Chris Wright – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums

West London band Wainwright’s Gentlemen are most notable for containing several musicians who went on to fame and fortune in the late 1960s and early 1970s – Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker (The Sweet).

Wainwright’s Gentlemen circa November 1967- from left to right Tony Hall, Mick Tucker, Robin Box, Brian McManus (Connolly) and Jan Frewer (photo from Sweet Forum)

Formed as Unit 4 in 1962, the band’s original formation comprised lead guitarist Jim Searle, rhythm guitarist Alfred Fripp, who had previously played with Hayes, Middlesex high school band, Paul & The Alpines, and bass player/singer Jan Frewer. Soon after, the trio were joined by lead singer Chris Wright and drummer Phil Kenton.

Taking on Jan’s father, John, as the group’s manager, the musicians began gigging at youth clubs and social clubs in the Hayes, Harrow and Wembley area.

During late 1963, however, the band changed name to Wainwright’s Gentlemen after the musicians discovered that there was another Unit 4 on the West London scene (future Brinsley Schwartz Ian Gomm’s group).

In early 1964, Wainwright’s Gentlemen became resident band at Hayes Beat Club in Hayes, Middlesex and also landed a residency at two coffee bars in the West End – Le Chat Qui Peche in Regent Street and the Cave St Germain in Poland Street.

Having entered the Mecca Dancing and Walls Ice Cream nationwide Beat Group contest, Wainwright’s Gentlemen appeared at Hammersmith Palais on 9 January 1964 in their area competition, beating several groups, including The Detours, who later became The Who.

Wainwright’s Gentlemen returned to the Hammersmith Palais on 6 February for the ‘Hall Final’, which the band won. Unfortunately, when the national finals were held at the Lyceum on the Strand on 4 May, the group finished fifth out of 13 bands.

Daily Sketch’s belated report on the National Beat Group Contest heat at the Hammersmith Palais (from Nigel Young)

Later that year, Wainwright’s Gentlemen secured a recording test at Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth but the session was not successful.

Chris Wright, who worked at Dawe Instruments in Acton, Middlesex, invited tenor sax player Dave Brogden to join the group in early November but the very night he auditioned and joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen, the singer had a falling out with Jan Frewer’s father and departed.

Notable gigs:

9 January 1964 – Mecca Dancing and Walls Ice Cream’s nationwide Beat Group Contest, Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, London
10 January 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, London
11 January 1964 – Le Chat qui Peche, Regent Street, London
6 February 1964 – Hall Final of Mecca Dancing nationwide Beat Group Contest, Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, London
21 February 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, London
28 February 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, London
9 March 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, London
30 March 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
30 April 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, London
4 May 1964 – Mecca Dancing nationwide Beat Group Contest finals, Lyceum Ballroom, Strand, London
23 May 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
6 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London
9 June 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
12 June 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire with Manfred Mann
27 June 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
25 July 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London
8 August 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, London

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #2:

Ian Gillan – lead vocals
Ann Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Dave Brogden – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums

Within days of Dave Brogden joining on tenor saxophone, Wainwright’s Gentlemen brought in Chris Wright’s replacement – Ian Gillan, lead singer with Hayes, Middlesex group, The Javelins. The musicians also added a female singer, Ann Cully around the same time.

The new formation remained steady until late February 1965. Brogden’s diary shows that the musicians returned to Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth on a number of dates in February (3rd, 10th, 15-16th, 19th and 28th), presumably to cut material. However, his original date sheet puts the recording dates for the three tracks that the band cut as 3rd, 8th and 15th March.

The fact that both Brogden and Kenton appeared on the band’s recordings but left in late February suggests the March dates were the original planned dates for recording material but in fact the sessions took place the previous month.

Wainwright’s Gentlemen recorded three tracks – “Ain’t That (Just Like Me)”, which has since surfaced on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod 3 CD compilation; “Que Sera Sera”; and “Slow Down”.

However, soon after a show at the Star & Garter in Windsor, Berkshire on 28 February, drummer Phil Kenton departed and landed a job with an Irish show band. Kenton invited Dave Brogden to join him and, with better pay, the tenor player initially accepted the offer.

Notable gigs:

7 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
8 November 1964 – La Dolphin Club, Baker Street, London
12 November 1964 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
14 November 1964 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent
15 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
16 November 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
21 November 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London
22 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
25 November 1964 – USAF Ruislip, Ruislip, Middlesex
26 November 1964 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
29 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
30 November 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
1 December 1964 – Hammersmith Town Hall, Hammersmith, London
3 December 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London
6 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
7 December 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
10 December 1964 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
12 December 1964 – Hammersmith Town Hall, Hammersmith, London
13 December 1964 – Start & Garter, Windsor, Middlesex
17 December 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London
18 December 1964 – Willesden Grammar School Youth Club, Willesden, London
19 December 1964 – Hotel in Holborn, London
20 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Middlesex
22 December 1964 – Overseas Visitors Club, Fulham, London
23 December 1964 – Ventures Youth Club, Greenford, Middlesex
24 December 1964 – Hotel in Guildford, Surrey
26-27 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Middlesex
28 December 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
31 December 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex
1 January 1965 – Ventures Youth Club, Greenford, Middlesex
2 January 1965 – Watford Town Hall, Watford, Hertfordshire
3 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
7 January 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
8 January 1965 – Ashford Golf Club, Ashford, Middlesex
9 January 1965 – Unknown venue in West Wickham, Kent
10 January 1965 – Star & Garter ,Windsor, Berkshire
11 January 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
14 January 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
15 January 1965 – London School of Economics, London
16 January 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent
17 January 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Leicester
20 January 1965 – Ballroom in Dartford, Dartford, Kent
21 January 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
23-24 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Middlesex
27 January 1965 – Hall in Carpenter’s Park
28 January 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
29 January 1965 – Hoover Social Club, Alperton, Middlesex
30 January 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
31 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Middlesex
1 February 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
5 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Unit 5
6 February 1965 – Annunciation Club, Wembley, Middlesex
7 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Middlesex
11 February 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
13 February 1965 – Tottenham Town Hall, Tottenham, London
14 February 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
17 February 1965 – London School of Economics, London
18 February 1965 – BOAC Social Club, Northolt, Middlesex
20 February 1965 – Railway Hotel, Greenford, Middlesex
21 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
22 February 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
23 February 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Harrow, Middlesex
25 February 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
25 February 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex (advertised in newspaper)
26 February 1965 – Kookey Nook, Windsor, Berkshire
27 February 1965 – Whetstone Hotel, Finchley, London
28 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #3:

Ian Gillan – lead vocals
Ann Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Dennis ??? – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums

During March 1965, Wainwright Gentlemen’s employed a replacement tenor sax player called Dennis, who only lasted about a month. Drummer Mick Tucker also came in to replace Phil Kenton. Tucker had started out in an instrumentals band with future Sweet member Frank Torpey.

After a gig on 26 April 1965, lead singer Ian Gillan departed to form his own group, Ian Gillan & The Dragsters. However, soon after performing a gig on 20 May, he joined Episode Six and later found fame with Deep Purple.

Alfred Fripp departed on the same date and former Javelin lead guitarist Gordon Fairminer came in. Fairminer and Searle began playing harmony solos on guitar, which was innovative for its time.

Former member Dave Brogden, who also gigged with Ian Gillan & The Dragsters during this time, agreed with Jan Frewer to continue to perform with Wainwright’s Gentlemen from 1 April to 24 September whenever he was able to honour gigs (see gigs with *).

Notable gigs:

4 March 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
18 March 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
1 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex *
2 April 1965 – Leonian Hall, Harrow, Middlesex *
3 April 1965 – Blythe Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent *
4 April 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
5 April 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
8 April 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
9 April 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
10 April 1965 – Scala, Dartford, Dartford, Kent *
11 April 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
12 April 1965 – Co-op Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex *
15 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
16 April 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
17 April 1965 – Cinema in Watford, Watford, Hertfordshire *
18 April 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
19 April 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent
22 April 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
23 April 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
25 April 1965 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex
26 April 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex (Gillan and Fripp’s last gig)

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #4:

Ann Cully – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums

Dave Brogden – tenor saxophone

Former member Dave Brogden, who had agreed with Jan Frewer to continue to perform with Wainwright’s Gentlemen whenever he was able to honour gigs (see gigs with *), played his last show on 24 September. By late 1965, he had joined Jean & The Statesides and backed Wilson Pickett on his UK tour during March 1966.

The five-piece line up of Ann Cully, Gordon Fairminer, Jim Searle, Jan Frewer and Mick Tucker carried on until late September before further personnel changes took place.

Notable gigs:

29 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
30 April 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
2 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
3 May 1965 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London *
6 May 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
7 May 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London *
8 May 1965 – Venue in Reading, Berkshire (possibly Olympia Ballroom) *
9 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
13 May 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
15 May 1965 – St Mary’s College (most likely in Twickenham, Middlesex)
16 May 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
20 May 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
21 May 1965 – Old Leonian Hall, Harrow, Middlesex (may have been Café de Artiste in Fulham instead)
22 May 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
23 May 1965 – gig in Mudeford (Dorset?)
27 May 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
28 May 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
29 May 1965 – Starlite (but was this Greenford, Middlesex or elsewhere?)
30 May 1965 – Windsor (most likely Star & Garter)
2 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
3 June 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
4 June 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
5 June 1965 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London with The Prophets *
6 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
10 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
11 June 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London *
12 June 1965 – LSE, Malden (Surrey?)
13 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
15 June 1965 – gig in Dagenham, Essex
17 June 1965 – Wistowe Youth Club, Hayes, Middlesex
18 June 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
19 June 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire *
20 June 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
24 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
25 June 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London
26 June 1965 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
27 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
3 July 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London *
5 July 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
9 July 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London *
24 July 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
6 August 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London *
13 August 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London *
28 August 1965 – Gari Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with John’s Court
August 1965 – The Savoy Rooms, Catford, Kent with Trendsetters Ltd
11 September 1965 – Queen of Harts (location not known) *
18 September 1965 – Club de Dance, Colchester, Essex *
22 September 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex *
24 September 1965 – Café de Artiste, Fulham, London

Wainwright's Gentlemen Hermitage Ballroom Hitchin July 1965

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #5:

Ann Cully – lead vocals
Brian Connolly – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums

In late September 1965, Wainwright’s Gentlemen brought in tenor saxophone player Tony Hall, who had started out playing with early ‘60s West London band Peter Nelson & The Travellers. As Peter’s Faces, this group had made some recordings.

Around the same time, the musicians auditioned for another male singer and brought in Brian Connolly, who had previously sung with The Troop from Harefield, Middlesex.

Notable gigs:

9 October 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
11 December 1965 – Acre Hall, Northwood, Middlesex

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #6:

Ann Cully – lead vocals
Brian Connolly – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums

The new line up remained stable until mid-1966 when Ann Cully and Jim Searle both departed; the latter became a classical guitarist.

The remaining members – Brian Connolly, Tony Hall, Gordon Fairminer, Jan Frewer and Mick Tucker – recorded two demo tracks at Regent’s Sound in early 1967, which surfaced on an acetate on E-bay a few years back – “You Look So Tame” and “One of a Kind”.

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #7:

Brian Connolly – lead vocals
Frank Torpey – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums

Around October 1967, former Tribe lead guitarist Frank Torpey came in for Fairminer. However, Torpey (who’d started out in a band with Mick Tucker in 1962) only lasted a handful of months and by late January 1968, Frewer’s friend Robin Box had succeeded him on lead guitar.

Wainwright’s Gentlemen circa 1967- left to right: Tony Hall, Robin Box, Mick Tucker, Jan Frewer, Brian McManus (Connolly) (photo from Sweet Website)

Wainwright’s Gentlemen #8:

Brian Connolly – lead vocals
Robin Box – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums

Tucker and Connolly weren’t happy with Torpey’s dismissal and in early February 1968 they left the band. The pair reunited with Torpey and together with bass player Steve Priest from another West London band, The Army, they formed The Sweet.

Notable gigs:

17 February 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey with The Effect

Remaining members Robin Box, Jan Frewer and Tony Hall brought in drummer Roger Hills and toured Germany for three months as Rupert’s Spoon.

Back in the UK in mid-1968 (and minus Frewer who later went on to roadie for The Sweet), Robin Box, Tony Hall and Roger Hills found work backing The Flowerpot Men whose members included Hall’s ex-colleagues from Peter’s Faces.

Later that year, Hall left to join Simon K & The Meantimes before joining Geno Washington & The Ram Jam in mid-1970. In early 1971, however, he reunited with Robin Box and Roger Hills in White Plains.

In later years Hall went on to work with the Houseshakers, Screaming Lord Sutch, Flying Fox and Chas & Dave among others and also did session work for Shakin’ Stevens and Sheena Easton.

Huge thanks to Dave Brogden (who very kindly shared his diary entries), Jan Frewer, Frank Torpey and Tony Hall for helping with the story. I’d also like to credit Mark Lay’s book on the band’s early years.

Gigs also sourced from Melody Maker, Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Walthamstow Guardian, Hayes Gazette, Yarmouth Mercury, Hertfordshire Express, Woking Herald.

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

Comment by Nick Warburton:

I found an article on Wainwright’s Gentlemen in the Harrow Weekly Post, dated 19 May 1965, page 10, which is fascinating in the sense that it lists an unknown line up of the band.

The band line up is:

Ann Culley – vocals (17 years of age)
Jan Frewer -bass (18 years of age)
James Searle – lead guitar (18 years age)
Phil Kenton – drums (18 years of age)

Plus two musicians that I’ve not seen noted elsewhere:

Robert Schole (24 years of age)
Tyni Manning (21 years of age)

I am not sure what instrument they both play but the picture shows a sax player and an organist.

I would appreciate any further information.