Cavern After Hours
1960s music memories & memorabilia
Bands of the 60s
To be called a band in the 60s, the line-up at least needed a brass section. A brass section meant less money per member, as most line-ups had between 3 and 5 members. If there were five or fewer members, then these groups back in the 60s were always referred to as “groups”.
There were so many great Merseyside groups during the 60s that I cannot list them all on this page, but what I will do is highlight a few that really stuck out for me.
The Seftons was formed in 1964 at the King David School Childwall Liverpool the original line up consisted of Dave Stephenson keyboards and lead singer Yanny Tsamplakos lead guitar and vocals Mike Baron drums Dave Edwards bass guitar and vocals ( later when they changed their name to the Perishers ) Norman Bellis took over on bass guitar. ( Later to be replaced by ) Peter Combes bass guitar
Fronted by Harry Shaw and Sammy Rothwell on keyboards. The Curiosity Shoppe were a heavy rock style keyboards orientated group. During their time on the scene the Shoppe only managed one single on the Deram Label. The single A side was BABY I NEED YOU written by a guy called Mally Rabbit from Warrington. Ironically The Curiosity Shoppe recording of Baby I Need You is actually today, 40 odd years later, more popular than it ever was during the late 60′s. Maybe it was a little before its time who knows, but today when ever a rare copy comes up for sale on Ebay, the German picture covered versions particularly, they easily fetch £60 plus. When you consider back in the 60′s you could of picked one up for a mere six shillings and eight pence ( about 34p in todays money ) not a bad return on your investment. Baby I need you also appears at regular intervals on various compilation albums as and when new compilations appear. During the late 60′s The Curiosity Shoppe use to practice during the day in the Cavern. This resulted in a chance meeting with Paul McCartney who one day around 1968 turned up un-annouced and headed straight down stairs. It was such a surprise to everyone, camera’s being the luxury they were back then, the Cavern owner had to rush out and buy a camera to record the visit.
Solomon's Mines came out from the left overs of a group called the Deans who disbanded in 1966. Solomon's Mines consisted of Tommy Flude keyboards, Eddie Williams Lead Guitar, Allan Devon Vocals with Jim Humphreys and John Sorsky completing the line up. During their short life span, they not only took part in a talent competition called Search for Sound, they also won it. In late 1967 they all decided to break up, shame because they were a good band.