After working with The Charmers and The Carl Douglas Set from 1965-1966, Jamaican singer Carl Douglas and long-standing member, Tony Webb (now on bass) started to put together a new outfit (soon to become The Big Stampede), retaining guitarist Del Grace from The Carl Douglas Set, and bringing in sax player Dave Brooks, who may have joined just before Danny McCulloch departed to become a member of Eric Burdon’s New Animals in late September.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #1:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Webb – bass
Dave Brooks – sax
Ray Beresford – drums (replaced very briefly by Nick Baxter)
Notable gigs:
24 September 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, Kent
26 September 1966 – Tiles, London with The Searches (billed as Carl Dallas & The Big Stampede)
By early October, Ray Beresford was gone and former Charmers’ drummer (and the group’s road manager) Nick Baxter filled in until a permanent replacement was found. Next to join was Del Grace’s former band mate from the original Big Wheel, Mike Manners on keyboards. Within a week, Del Coverley had arrived from Switzerland where he’d been playing with the latest incarnation of Big Wheel. Trumpet player Verdi Stewart completed The Big Stampede.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #2:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Webb – bass
Mike Manners – organ
Dave Brooks – sax
Verdi Stewart – trumpet
Del Coverley – drums
Notable gigs:
13 October 1966 – Tiles, London with Excels
16 October 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, Middlesex with Ike & Tina Turner show
22 October 1966 – Tiles, London with Graham Bell & The Trend and Ray King Soul Pact
28 October 1966 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as Carl Douglas Set)
7 November 1966 – Tiles, London with Dave Antony’s Moods
11 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, Middlesex
13 November 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London with Paul Butterfield Blues Band
18 November 1966 – Cromwellian, London
19 November 1966 – Flamingo, London
21 November 1966-4 December – Bag O’ Nails, London (Jimi Hendrix jammed one night)
6 December 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
7 December 1966 – Cromwellian, London
8 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, London
9 December 1966 – Gravesend Grammar School, Gravesend, Kent
10 December 1966 – Prince of Wales Youth Club, Canterbury, Kent (early pm)
10 December 1966 – Flamingo, London (late pm) with The Blueshealers
14 December 1966 – Cromwellian, London
17 December 1966 – Riley Club, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
20 December 1966 – Birdcage Club, Hull, Humberside
23 December 1966 – Beaconsfield Youth Club, Beaconsfield, Hertfordshire
24 December 1966 – Cromwellian, London
25 December 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London (afternoon and evening gigs)
26 December 1966 – Brentbridge Hotel, Golders Green, London
30 December 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex
31 December 1966 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
1 January 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
4 January 1967 – Falcon Hotel, Rochester Way, Eltham, Kent
6 January 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, Kent
6 January 1967 – Flamingo, London
7 January 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop Stortford, Herts (cancelled)
8 January 1967 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
9-10 January 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
12 January 1967 – Club A-Go-Go, Newcastle on Tyne
13 January 1967 – Dancing Slipper Club, West Bridgford, Nottingham
15 January 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with The Soul Sisters
18 January 1967 – Adam & Eve Club, Southampton, Hampshire
19 January 1967 – Left for Belgium for four days and played at New Inn Club, Liege from 20-22 January
27 January 1967 – Candlelight, Scarborough
28 January 1967 – Students’ Union, Southampton University
29 January 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
29 January 1967 – Flamingo, London (Radio Caroline Show with D J Johnny Walker)
31 January 1967 – Flamingo, London with The Soul Survivors
3 February 1967 – Mr McCoy’s, Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire
4 February 1967 – Left for Scotland for four days (including Maryland Club, Glasgow)
11 February 1967 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, London
11 February 1967 – Flamingo, London with Maxine Brown and The Q Set
12 February 1967 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham
15 February 1967 – Adam & Eve Club, Southampton, Hampshire
17 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, London
17 February 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, Kent
18 February 1967 – Disc O Blue, Ryde, Isle of Wight
20 February 1967 – Cromwellian, London
24 February 1967 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
25 February 1967 – Students’ Union, Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
2 March 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, London
3 March 1967 – Assembly Room, York
4 March 1967 – Students’ Union, Newcastle University, Newcastle on Tyne
5 March 1967 – Mr McCoy’s, Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire
6-7 March 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
10 March 1967 – Glenlyns Ballroom, Forest Hill, London
11 March 1967 – Nottingham College of Education, Nottingham
12 March 1967 – Klue J Klub, Chelmsford, Essex
14 March 1967 – Black Prince, Bexley, Kent
18 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, Middlesbrough
18 March 1967 – Flamingo, London, with Lloyd Alexander Blues Band and Dynamic Ebonies
18 March 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, London
19 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
20 March 1967 – Al Capone Club, Salisbury, Wiltshire
26 March 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex
27 March 1967 – Surrey Tavern, Oval, London
28 March 1967 – Bird Cage, Anlaby Common, Anlaby, Hull, Humberside
30 March 1967 – Darlings, Maidenhead, Berkshire
31 March 1967 – Rub a Dub, Reading, Berkshire
1 April 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London with The Artwoods
7 April 1967 – Dancing Slipper Club, West Bridgford, Nottingham
8 April 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Derby, Derbyshire
9 April 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
10 April 1967 – Baldock YC, Hertfordshire
David Brooks leaves and briefly works with Felder’s Orioles among other things before re-joining in December 1967. Mel Wayne comes in from Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #3:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Webb – bass
Mike Manners – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Verdi Stewart – trumpet
Del Coverley – drums
Notable gigs:
13 April 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, Hampstead, London
14 April 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, Kent
15 April 1967 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, London
17-18 April 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
19 April 1967 – Cavendish Rooms, Willesden, London
22-23 April 1967 – Maryland Club, Glasgow, Scotland
28 April 1967 – Clouds Club, Derby, Derbyshire
30 April 1967 – Ram Jam Club, Brixton (possibly did not happen)
1 May – 2 June 1967 – Voom Voom Club, St Tropez, France, Valbonne Club, Valbonne, France, Whisky A Go Go, Nice, France and American school, Lugano, Switzerland
7 June 1967 – Adam & Eve Club, Southampton, Hampshire,
9 June 1967 – Clouds Club, Derby, Derbyshire
10 June 1967 – University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire
11-12 June 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
17 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London with The Soul Meeting Band
18 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex
21-22 June 1967 – Bag O’Nails, London
23 June 1967 – Ealing Technical College, Ealing, Middlesex (early)
23 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex (late)
24 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, Middlesex (early)
24 June 1967 – Tiles, London with Downliners Sect and Ebonys (late)
25 June 1967 – Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
30 June 1967 – El Grotto Club, Ilford, Essex
1 July 1967 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex
5-6 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
7 July 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, Kent (early)
7 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, London (late)
Mike Manners leaves at this point and records with Australian singer Johnny Young. A temporary keyboard player filled in
8 July 1967 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Ocean Room, Bournemouth, Dorset
9 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
11 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
Del Grace leaves at this point to work as a solo artist. Martin Pugh comes in from The Package Deal. Several temporary keyboard players used, including Verdi Stewart’s friend Ian Green.
12 July 1967 – Norwich University, The Flixton Room, Norwich, Norfolk
13 July 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
14 July 1967 – St Birinus School, Didcote, Berkshire (Ian Green on organ) (early)
14 July 1967 – Rasputin’s, Bond Street, London with The Ford Foundation and The Survivors (late)
15 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable with The All Night Workers (billed as Carl Douglas Set) (Ian Green on organ)
15 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, London (Ian Green on organ)
15 July 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
17-18 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
20 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
21 July 1967 – Gillingham Technical College, Gillingham, Kent
23-24 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
28 July 1967 – Palisades Club, Chatham, Kent
29 July 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
Del Coverley leaves at this point and works with a group called Kindness with Andy Clark from Big Wheel and two former members of The Fenmen – Alan Judge and Eric Wilmer.
Carl Douglas and Tony Webb bring in a red haired drummer called Colin for a return trip to France.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #4:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Webb – bass
Verdi Stewart – trumpet
Mel Wayne – sax
Colin ? – drums
Notable gigs:
August 1967 – Voom Voom Club, St Tropez – Valbonne Club, Valbonne, Whisky A Go Go, Nice
3 September 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
Verdi Stewart returns to France and then moves into session work.
Carl Douglas and Tony Webb rebuild The Big Stampede, bringing in former Ivan’s Meads organ player Rod Mayall.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #5:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Webb – bass
Rod Mayall – organ, vocals
Mel Wayne – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
20 September 1967 – Shanklin Beat Cruise, Portsmouth, Hampshire
22 September 1967 – Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
23 September 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, Middlesex
25 September 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
30 September 1967 – Apex Club, Brookfield Community Centre, Ashford, Kent
30 September 1967 – Nicholas Youth Centre, Basildon, Essex
6 October 1967 – Beaconsfield Youth Centre, Beaconsfield, Hertfordshire (early)
6 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London (late)
7 October 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
13 October 1967 – Co-op Hall, Ilkeston, Derby, Derbyshire
14 October 1967 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey
17 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
21 October 1967 – G-Ranch Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent
21-22 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
24 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
25-26 October 1967 – Sibyllas, London
27 October 1967 – Big C Club, Farnborough, Hampshire
28 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
29 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent
30 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
3 November 1967 – East Berks Tech College, Windsor, Berkshire
4 November 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire
7 November 1967 – Black Prince, Bexley, Kent
9 November 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, Hampstead, London
10 November 1967 – Q Branch Club, Maidstone, Kent (early)
10 November 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, London (late)
11 November 1967 – Shoreditch College, Egham, Surrey
16 November 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
17 November 1967 – Gillingham Technical College, Gillingham, Kent
18 November 1967 – RAF Wittering, Stamford, Lincolnshire
19 November 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
24 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester
25 November 1967 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
26 November 1967 – Star Hotel, Maldon, Essex
27 November 1967 – Queen Mary’s Ballroom, Dudley Zoo, Dudley, West Midlands
30 November 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
2 December 1967 – Lord John, Hounslow, Middlesex (early)
2 December 1967 – New All-Star Club, Liverpool Street, London (billed as Carl Douglas)
8 December 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, London
9 December 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers and Ferris
14 December 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, Hampstead, London (billed as New Stampede)
15 December 1967 – Shakespere Hotel, Woolwich, Kent
16 December 1967 – Bee Gee Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Long-standing member Tony Webb can’t go to France and leaves for a few months. Mel Wayne departs soon after and later plays with Calum Bryce.
Former Rupert’s People bass player Tony Dangerfield comes in to replace Tony Webb. Former member Dave Brooks re-joins the band in Biarritz.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #6:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Dangerfield – bass
Rod Mayall – organ, vocals
David Brooks – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
20 December 1967-3 January 1968 – (possibly La Canasta), Biarritz, then club in Perpignan, France
13 January 1968 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey
22 January 1968 – St Matthew’s Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
25 January 1968 – Bird Cage, Harlow, Essex
23 February 1968 – Drill Hall, Stratford, Essex
24 February 1968 – St Joseph’s Disco, Swindon, Wiltshire
2 March 1968 – University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire
17 March 1968 – Clouds Club, Derby, Derbyshire
22 March 1968 – Margaret McMillan College, Bradford, West Yorkshire
23 March 1968 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, London
24 March 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
28 March 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
30 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire
6 April 1968 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
6 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, London
Tony Dangerfield departs when Tony Webb returns shortly before a trip to Spain.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #7:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Webb – bass
Rod Mayall – organ, vocals
David Brooks – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
19 April 1968 – Wimpson Youth Club, Southampton, Hampshire
20 April 1968 – White Tiles, Reuben George Hall, Swindon, Wiltshire
27 April 1968 – Stax Club, Circenster, Gloucestershire
29 April-31 May 1968 (31 days) – Stones Club, Madrid, Spain
7-22 June 1968 – Titan Club, Rome, Italy
Rod Mayall departs and returns to Madrid to join Los Buenos.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #8:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Webb – bass
David Brooks – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
27 June 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
4-14 July 1968 – ‘Boat Lydia’, Bacares, near Perpignan, France
1 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
15 September 1968 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
30 September 1968 – Stax Club, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Martin Pugh joins Steamhammer immediately afterwards. Dave Brooks moves into session work. Tony Webb forms another south London band. Carl Douglas moves to Spain and records with The Explosion before finding fame and fortune with ‘Kung Fu Fighting’.
Thanks to the band’s manager Ken Baxter for sharing his contracts and to bass player Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) for providing concert posters. Dates were also sourced from Melody Maker.
Watch out for the full length story on Carl Douglas’s rise to fame at Nick Warburton’s website.
Copyright © Nick Warburton, 2014, All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author
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