Guy Mowbray here, from Chesterfield. (not football commentator)
Re: Small Faces gig, Birmingham Hippodrome(?) November 17th 1968
I’m a published author and currently writing a book about session musicians with The Small Faces. Some of these session musicians played in the brass section with the band at this gig.
Background:
In June 1968, the Small Faces started touring in support of their No.1 album Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake. They took a five-piece brass section on the road. One of their final gigs with this unique line-up was at The Birmingham Theatre. I have interviewed musicians who were there and would like more fans views.
I’m seeking interviews and recollections of fans who were there. It was a full house. Also on the bill were headliners The Who, Arthur Brown – who sang “Fire,” Joe Cocker and also The Mindbenders and maybe Yes and/or Free.
Hope You Can Help.
My email is mowbrayguy01@gmail
There Are Currently 10 Comments for this Post
I’m sure this was the gig I was at. Were they touring with The Who and the Crazy world of Arthur Brown?
If so, they were due to play 2 shows in the same date, a matinee and an evening show. They didn’t turn up for the afternoon matinee, so we and a load of others went to the box office to complain – it was them I wanted to see above all else!
We were eventually given tickets for the evening show, after they realised we were going nowhere till we saw them! .
Hi
thanks for coming back. Can I interview you over the phone about this.
my number is 0797 959 7260
Guy
I’ve sent you an email . I was definitely at that concert . My favourite band !
I was there with my parents! Free were on first, Then The Mindbenders, though Joe Cocker was on the tour he was not on The Hippodrome gig.I had the program for decades but don’t know where it is now.
As I remember it, I was there with a mate and my older brother and his girlfriend. Definitely the same line up – Free, Arthur Brown, Mindbenders, Small Faces (minus Steve Marriot?) and the Who, though I’m a bit surprised it was as early as 1968 as that would have made me 13 years old only. It was my first ever gig. The whole thing was just so exciting for me, seeing all these people in the flesh. I thought Paul Kossoff just looked so cool but my favourite band at the time was Arthur Brown who I believe had ‘Fire’ in the charts at the time and had wowed us all on TOTP with his flaming helmet! I remember there was this perfumey smell which permeated the air the whole evening which for some reason I thought was something to do with the electric buzz coming from the equipment. Best bit was Keith Moon threw one of his drumsticks into the crowd and my brother caught it and took it home. Unfortunately,, he had a drumkit of his own at home at the time and he used it on that and managed to break it in half. I think it ended up in the bin!
This was my first ever gig – I was only 14 and with my first girlfriend. We went to the afternoon show and there was ‘no show’ by Small Faces. I was disappointed but I really wanted to see the Who. I remember being impressed by Free, and became a lifelong fan. I think the m/c was ‘ The Baron’ who was embarrassing bad as a continuity announcer between the acts. Arthur Brown was also stunning, using strobe lighting to create effect with a mock fight on the stage. Overall this concert left a big impact on me, and subsequently went to 1000s of gigs in subsequent years, and is probably why I now suffer from tinnitus!
Hi Guy
Not commenting on your work just wanted to get in touch but do not have your address
Still working on family history but not making progress at the moment hope we can stay in touch without funerals!!!
Best wishes-your cousin Su Bird
Ruella
134 Letchworth Road
Leicester LE37FH
No comments on music just trying to get in touch as cousins/without funeral attendance
Hope you are fit and well
Best wishes from your cousin Su Bird
My father Ray Fisher Put on The “Grand Eater Parade” in 1947,With Jan Berenska’s Orchestra I have some very dated photographs of the event which was the first major Dance there after the war.
One Photograph shows the Orchestra performing on stage,2 photographs of my dad in dinner suit and white bow tie at the event and another photo of a packed dance floor, taken from the entrance balcony,with the stage in the background.
It was sold out to capacity. If there is any interest I will scan them in and put them on The Bearwood Page and my Face Book Page
I’m another for whom this was my first gig! I was 14 the following week and my Mum bought two 14/6 tickets (about half way back) for me and my mate. It was billed as The magic Bus Tour. We went to the evening show and the programme had The Incredible String Band as the first act but in fact it was Free who did Crossroads and Spoonful (I assumed they were just a covers band!) Then The Crazy world of Arthur Brown without the flaming headset as the Brum fire Brigade wouldn’t allow it (there had been a controversy on Midlands Today about it) followed by The Small Faces who definitely did have Steve Marriott with them but the sound was poor. Then there was an interval after which we saw The Mindbenders followed by The Who. Townsend smashed his guitar which pleased me a great deal though I think it had been a pretty tame gig by their standards. Each band played for no more than twenty minutes I think. It was a good start to my gigging life (my first pub gig the following year was Black Sabbath at Henry’s Blues House!).