Yardleys in Snow Hill was the meeting place for years for Birmingham muso’s. Besides selling amps,PAs’, guitars and drums, etc… Yardleys was the place for finding gigs or forming a band.
They also held Drum Clinics there ( I have a ‘Live ‘ recording of Joe Morello transferred off tape to CD which was taken there.)
As it was just round the corner from The Rum Runner Club and Cedars, Yardleys was in an ideal position for visiting bands to browse or buy at.
Celebrating Birmingham's Popular Music History
There Are Currently 37 Comments for this Post
I was at the Joe Morello clinic at Yardleys and would love a copy of the day. Can you oblidge? I’d be more than happy to pay. Sean
I was at the Joe Morello clinic and I’d love a copy, any chance?
Sean
I’m pleased that there are still people around that were at the Joe Morello drum clinic held at the YMCA Snow Hill and organized by Yardleys. I actually worked for the shop at that time, aged seventeen and although the hours were long, the wages low and many of the staff were bullies, I still have some fond memories of my time there. During my six months at the shop, I had the privilege to meet, Joe Morello, Deep Purple, Bill and Tony of Black Sabbath and also Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham who visited the shop with his young son Jason. I visited the shop some time after it had changed hands and when I said that I worked there when it was Yardleys, I was treated like a celebrity.
Pete.
did you know a guy called Michael Evans?
My Uncle Michael Evans (1945-1992) worked here as a drum tutor/salesperson when Birmingham had a thriving music scene in the early-mid seventies. He had the pleasure of meeting John Bonham, Carl Palmer of Emmerson Lake & Palmer, Bill Ward, Tonny Iommi to name but a few. If anybody on this page remembers much of my late uncle please get in touch. I was 7 years old when he passed and remember very little of him.
I knew and worked with Mike Evans at Yardleys and he often gave me a lift part of the way home after work. Mike was regarded as being the best drummer in the Midlands and was the drummer with the dance band at Coventry Lacarno Ballroom and this band had a regular feature spot on BBC radio each weekday morning. I therefore heard Mike just before going to work, I then worked with him during the day and then I would see him on ‘Come dancing’ on TV at night. It was while at Yardleys, that Mike showed me how to play the drums properly and this, undoubtedly, helped me find work with some of the pop groups near Birmingham and also enabled me to teach other drummers. On a personal level, Mike had a great sense of humour and a passion for cars especially American ones. He gave me a photo of the red Ford Mustang that he once owned. I still have many fond memories of Mike and was very saddened when I heard that he was no longer with us.
Pete
Your uncle ‘Micky’ was a good egg who I dealt and laughed with many times. He got me jobs and ordered drum kits (2) that were seriously custom build from Rex Webb at Premier. This would have been around 1970 on. Mick also supplied Bill Ward (Sabbath) with his white Slingerland kit and John Bonham with both his green sparkle Ludwig when he joined Tim Rose (Morning Dew and Come away Melinda, CBS) and the baby green Luddy that John got for his son, Jason. Mick was a fab drummer who could really swing but lacked the image required for a rocker then. His wife worked for a time in the office at Yardley’s. I found her unpleasant (sorry if you’re related but that’s how it goes) as was her boss, Charlie Hewitt. Harry Collins was OK. He had his moments but was alright.
Colin Smith worked in the drum shop with Mick and could tell you a wild story or two. Col was also a good mate of mine and many’s a time he lent me his American Rogers kit to gig with. I miss Colin and have tried to contact him a number of times. I hope he’s still around. We had some fabulous times. Later a cool kid called Gary worked with Colin. One day a guy walked in and after a chat offered Gaz a job. He turned it down. The band was Dexy’s Midnight Runners. I think your uncle was still around then and probably called him a twat.
I knew Mike Evens from around early ’70 until his death in 1992. Had he been of a slightly different mindset he might have grown his hair and been taken by a big name, swept away to fame but sadly that just wasn’t Mick.
I heard he went AWOL, got a new girl and was kicking his legs up for a change when he had the accident. Life is strange. I would never have thought he’d go that way. I was gutted as were a lot of people.
I bought my white vistalite ludwigs off colin – he and gary were so much fun in that shop – i went there sometimes to just chat and laugh with them – saw gary playing in the Railway pub at that time too – love to hear from them
I worked with Mike during the eighties when we were kitchen designers, he was one of the really good guys and a great friend, so tragic when he died in that awful accident, he was far too young and full of life, still miss him.
Hi Ryan, yes I knew your Uncle who was so tragically killed on the motorway. He was a great loss to the muzos of Birmingham. He sold me what I call my first real drumkit, a 1970’s Gretch and from there we became very good friends. he would always try and help out guys who were just starting out. lovely lovely man and sadly missed by me and others
I knew Mike well in the late 60s and 70s. A very fine musician and nice fellow, lost at too early an age.
I knew Mike Evans back in the early 70’s when he worked at Yardleys. He was very helpfull and knowledgable. I remember that later he left Yardleys and managed a large drum shop Drumland in Hill Street close by to Woodroofs for a number of years. I am sorry to hear that he is no longer with us.
It was my Grandad, Edward Clement Hobbs who owned Yardleys Music shop before World War ll. I still have one of his postcard size advertising cards hung up in my office. When he sold the shop, the remaining instruments were stored in the farm house near Ashburton in Devon he bought as an investment. My Dad, who had just completed an agricultural course at Bicton College became the farm manager.
His eldest son, Harry, (Clement Henry – my Dad) started work there behind the counter and also learned the accordion. HE obviously excelled in this and started his own large accordion band. I remember seeing photos of this years ago. He also played the double bass.
Edward Clement died some years ago in Wellington, Somerset. Though owning a jewellers shop in the town, he was still buying and selling instruments even then – he bought all the instruments of Paignton Town Band which he kept in the bathroom!
Dad died in July 1982. He suffered from PTSD after Dunkirk. Hospitalised twice, he made a wonderful recovery, then trained as a Psychiatric Social Worker and reached the top of the profession at a hospital near Ivybridge. I remember him playing for country dancing classes at Landscove in Devon in the early 50s. He married Alice Betty Watkins in December 1940. She died about five years ago.
Jim Hobbs.
Jim Hobbs, does the advertising card you say you have got have the phone number for Yardley’s?
I’ve got a Marshall combo with the remains of the suppliers sticker on the back of it. All that is left is …..leys but the phone number 021 236 7441 is there. Would be good to confirm where it came from
Hello Philip. Although it’s been around 45 years since I worked at Yardleys, the phone number you mention sounds awfully familiar. Yardleys stickers were placed on almost every item that came into the shop and were a gold colour, if I remember correctly. I hope this information enables you to determin where your Marshall amp was originally purchased.
The main man at Yardleys, at the time, was Charles Hewitt, who, I believe, had married into the family that owned the shop. I was told that he was married Mr Yardley’s daughter, (I am not sure if that is true). A second in command, a big guy named Harry Collins, was brought in to help run the shop. I did’nt get along with him either. The salesman that I replaced in the drum shop of Yardleys, was Paul Gill who became the drummer in the backing band of the famous singer, Alvin Stardust.
Best wishes, Pete
Hi,Jim indeed this is one of our old stickers from Yardley’s (B;ham)Ltd.I worked at Yardleys from 1970 to 1986.When I first started I remember the phone number being CEN7441 and then changing to 01212367441.Hope this helps
Hi Pete
I used to work at Yardley’s from June 1969 for around 9 Months. I’d been a Musician in the Army so Charlie Hewitt put me on the Brass, Woodwind and String Section. As you said every instrument/accessory had a tag with a special code which was in fact the cost price and we had to try and make a certain mark-up when negotiating. God help you if you made a loss. Harry came along after I’d been there about 3 months and he was trying to move the business forward and appeal to younger musicians.
Mike next door in the Drum Shop became a friend and introduced me to many great musicians most of which are now at the great gig in the sky. I remember his Mustang, him getting married and his infectious humour.
On one occasion Charlie/Harry invited Jim Marshall to do a demo of his new amplification to encourage local bands to “Buy Marshall” . Marshall had only been in business 7 years or so, still fairly new. We hired the old YMCA Ballroom next door which could seat about 150 people. I asked Charlie who was going to demo the gear, he replied, “We’ve a new rock band coming along who I’m told are doing well, there names Deep Purple or something like that”
When I left Yardley’s I went to work overseas with musicians I’d met at the shop. Still playing now at 68 but live in the sunshine.
Cheers
Graham Clark
Thanks for that Graham,
We were a local covers band around that time and used to hang around Yardleys as did others and it paid off because we got an invite to the Marshall demo with Deep Purple – oh yes 🙂
Couldn’t remember the exact date but you’ve filled in a little more for me
John
Worked with MIke Evans at Yardleys. Played together in Mungo Henderson blues band. Recorded demos at Air studios Oxford Circus with Mike on a different project. Really nice guy MIke and a great musician.
My lasting recollection of visiting Yardleys in the ’70’s as 16 year old kid, with my mate – the drummer in our fledgling band,was of Mike Evans -surely one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet.
He went out of his way to help and managed to put together a kit on the shoe string budget my mate had.
He did it with It happy enthusiasm and genuine friendliness as if we were friends of the family.
The fact the I still can recall his name 40 years later is a testament to the man.
I heard many years later that he had died in an accident on the motorway-which was very saddening to hear.
R.I.P Mike
Colin if you read this get in touch, mate. Life is short. Sean
Hi Sean,I’ve just been told about your comments on here by a mate of mine at work.I am still in Birmingham and working at Heartlands Hospital taking care of stock for the wards.I live near the old airport with my second wife and we are in a 1950’s style Rock and Roll band,although I don’t play drums anymore due to arthritis in both knees.I now front the band on guitar alongside Deb and we share the vocals.I’ve never been on this website before until today so I don’t know if I’m allowed to do this but here goes.My e-mail address is autronicdeb@virginmedia.com it would be great to hear from you mate
Hey Col
I think I’ve been sending messages to a duff e-mail, can you reply to mine. Sean
Hi Ryan,
I knew your uncle from the mid 80s from the kitchen industry when he was working for Princess and then Neff appliances and drove a left hand drive Jaguar XJS!
He was a great guy who I was very fond of, I often think of him as well as many of our colleagues from those days.
Damon
Hi Ryan
I HAD DRUM LESSONS FROM YOUR UNCLE MIKE EVANS IN THE 60s FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS & ENDED UP DRUMMING WITH A GROUP CALLED THE TELSTARS – FROM THE CANNOCK AREA – SINGER THEN WAS IAN ‘SLUDGE ‘LEES ALSO WITH LIGHT FANTASTIC.
MIKE GOT ME A GIG WITH A TWELVE PIECE DANCE BAND FOR ONE NIGHT – DRUMMER HAD ACCIDANT – I WAS OFFERED THE JOB REGULAR BUT THE ATTRACTION THEN WAS TO BE IN A ROCK GROUP – OFTEN WONDERED IF I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE OFFER.
MIKE USED TO TEACH A MILITARY DRUMMER BEFORE ME AND THIS BLOKE HAD BEEN GOING TO HIM FOR 8 YEARS – I USED TO GET THERE EARLY JUST TO SIT OUTSIDE AND LISTEN.
SO I ENDED UP WITH THE TELSTARS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND WE PLAYED THE REGAN CIRCUIT AS MOST THE GROUPS DID – GREAT MEMORIES
GREAT DAYS – HAD MY FIRST SET OF DRUMS FROM YARDLEY’S – PREMIER – THEN HAD SET OF ROGERS AND FROM GEORGE CLAYS HAD A SET OF ‘CAMCO’ – JOHN BONHAM SAT IN ONE NIGHT AT THE BRUM KAVERN WITH THE GROUP AND WANTED TO BUY THEM FROM ME – BUT ONLY HAD THEM ABOUT 2 MONTHS – THEY WERE IMPORTED FROM AMERICA – ONLY THE SECOND SET IN THE U.K AT THE TIME.
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN YARDLEY’S – WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE GUY WHO WORKED IN THE SHOP – USEDTO LISTEN TO HIM PLAYING THE SAX AND SEEN HIM ON THE T.V WITH BIG BANDS.
NICE MEMORIES
LOVE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THESE TIMES
COLIN
Yes, I knew Mick very well, he was my lovely Brother -in-law married to my sister Mary.
He was a very kind, gentle person who would do anything for you if you asked. I remember when I was about 20 yrs old and went to learn guitar at school of music in Coventry. No hesitation from mick, he bought me a guitar case to keep my guitar safe from damage from the shop he worked at , along with a few other little bits to help me.
I often went out for a meal with Mick, Nick & Rachael (his two children) when my mum was babysitting them. He was so kind and I will always remember that. Shock, horror when he was tragically killed on the motorway, I was absolutely gutted along with my sister, his two children (who were very young) and all of the family. Mick loved Mary and his children to the very end without a doubt. He made sure he saw her every week with a massive bunch of flowers and a big kiss. He loved his kids and Mary his ex-wife up until the very end of his life and no-one can take that away from them, no matter what the circumstances were at the time.
We all as a family talk a lot about Mick since he was taken from us so sadly, we will always remember him as Mick with his love for cars, his drums and especially his family. Nick his son is so much like his dad, even his new baby is the spitting image of him. That’s nice because he never lived to see his 1st Grand-daughter by Nick or the twin Grand-daughters by Rachael his daughter.. Rachael’s twins are now 5 years old and Nick’s daughter is only 6 weeks old. The twins have been brought up to know and see who their Granddad was and who their great-grandparents were, as will Nicks daughter.
Their family legend is so complete, I think myself that this is wonderful, the grandchildren talk about him as if they have always known him….how lovely is that !
This to me means the family are complete, it’s truly amazing. I’ m just so, so sorry he isn’t alive to share the joy of his grand-children, he would love them to bits. I miss him too along with the rest of the family. His photo’s and memory are still alive with us all.
So, so lovely to have been a big part of your life dear Brother-in Law Mick. You will never be forgotten by any of us and your legend will always live on through your grand-children without a doubt. Well done to you Mick and lots of love to you up there with the Angels, ’cause you were one yourself. A lovely person who will never be forgotten by any if the family.xxxxx
I remember the Camco kits. Mick used one in white pearl and a see-thru 20″ Fibes that I saw him on at Snobs (a local nightclub), I think. Through Mick I met Bill Ward of Sabbath and later John Bonham of Zep, who through his old mates the Jones brothers, came to see Primadonna, the band I was then with, fronted by Chris Kefford ex of the Move. John was a very solid drummer as the world surely knows and I was a bit worried when Kefford said there would be a jam with Bonzo on my gear. It turned out to be a master class. I have a photo taken from stage right of John, fag in mouth and grinning. Bonham close up was actually very precise in technique. Nothing was wasted, all the beats meant. I was later told by Reg Jones that John did the sound mix for my kit when I was on AND that he thought I was pretty good. A higher compliment you just don’t get and afterwards over a beer we got on well. He actually wanted to record us in Abba’s studio as Zeppelin had something to do with that then. Sadly it never happened as John died a few weeks later.
Me and my pal, John O spent a long weekend in the company of Bill Ward when he and his girlfriend, Misty were staying at the Royal Angus Hotel (facing St Catherine’s Cathedral) in Brum. I’d met Bill in Yardleys when he picked up his white Slingerland kit and got an invitation to dine (also at the Royal Angus) where Bill spoilt us rotten with a great steak dinner and Brandy Alexanders. 3 parts pissed he dropped us off at the Greyhound scrumpy house where our mates were drinking rough and black. It was a warm night and everybody was outside as we arrived, spilling out of the back of Bill’s Rolls Royce onto the pavement, talk about street cred. That was Yardleys and Micky Evens knew ’em all as did Colin Smith.
Colin and a bass player mate used to come down to a residency I had in Nechells. There was a small central stage at the end of a long World War 2 nissan type hut that served as the main body of the club. At both sides of the stage were tiny dressing rooms and in the right hand one Col and his mate would sit and sink a pint and chat with me while I played. After the gig (which paid in cash) we would head for Barbarellas and more. The night usually ended with a Ruby and jugs of green coloured lager at the Shah Bagh on the Horsefair. How I got home I do not recall. However I’ve been told we always had a really good time.
In truth a lot of musos used Yardleys as a sort of social club. I remember sitting with Steve Palmer, Carl’s brother, showing him the drum lick to a Hendrix song (which was unusual for Steve as he normally had all that wrapped up before anybody else) with Colin and Mick drinking tea as they looked on.
If I remember rightly the guys in the guitar and amp shop would throw a dude out if he started playing ‘Smoke on the Water’ (unless he was Richie Blackmore and even then he had to be bloody good).
l’d forgotten about the old YMCA ballroom. I’ve always wondered where we saw Joe Morello play and I’d love a copy of that CD.
Lastly… a carpenter called Alan Moore fitted out the drum shop with gear racks upstairs and down. Alan played with Judas Priest.
Got your message Col and happy it made me. Sorry to hear about the old legs tho. All the best and I’ll be in touch, Sean
PS, when Yardleys ended a big part of Birmingham music did too. They should have a bloody big plaque over where the door was on the corner of Constitution Hill, listing all the names. We had a scene the equal of and sometimes more than London or Liverpool. Celebrate it. You saw it first here.
I first came to Birmingham in 1972 from Belfast for work and stayed at the YMCA. To my surprise there was a drum shop just next door. I couldn’t believe how welcoming Mike evans was and how complimentary he was about my drumming despite him being a giant of a player. I continued to keep in touch after he left Yardleys for Drumland but when it closed I lost touch for many years. By chance I attended a jazz gig in Derent End and he was drumming. An amazing player and a great friend at a key point in my life. I only heard 10 years after his accident he had died which hit me really hard. He was a very special drummer who won’t be forgotten.
Hi just reading posts about Mike Evans at Drumland. I wonder if anybody knows if Gary is still around ? I played in a band with him & would love to hear from him if possible,,,, Thanks Eddy maddox
Barry Jenkins Drummer with the Animals and Eric Burdon and the Animals drum kit came from Yardleys in Birmingham,. l own it and the drums still have the Yardleys water transfer stickers on. The drum kit is a 4 piece Kick drum, floor Tom, top tom and snare with black shells, with pink and silver metal flake, vintage jazz kit. It plays amazing and is in excellent working condition. For sale to the highest bidder. Please email me for photos and authenticity signature from Barry Jenkins confirming sale. Thanks people great blog some very interesting memorabilia 😀
I know yardleys very well both the shop and family, I grew up opposite Mr Yardley in Great Malvern . Pete in answer to your comment , Mr Yardleys daughter married Arthur Thirlwell who was also involved with the shop. .Sadly she died at a young age.. Their son ie Mr Yardleys grandson was my very best friend we grew up together like brothers . I spent many a happy time both in the Shop and Home of Mr Yardley. Good times happy days.
Do any of your members remember Paul Simms ,who used to work at Yardleys .great organist he was a member of the group Little people ?
I remember the band Little People, my friend and I knew one of them slightly, he came from Great Barr I think but I can’t remember his name now!
I own Bill Ward’s original Super Zyn cymbals he purchased at Yardley’s. If anyone has any stories they can share it would be awesome. Thank you.
I used to have drum lessons at Yardleys (it must have been the 1970’s) I think the drum tutor was called Brian. Does anyone know anymore. Thanks
I remember Mike at Yardleys, he was a lovely, friendly, helpful guy, always very encouraging to us young lads at the time. My memory could be playing tricks on me here, but I remember Mike working in a drum shop on Colmore Row. This would have been in April 1979, I do remember it well , as the drummer in the band I was in at the time bought a cymbal stand from Mike. We then walked along New Street and saw Phil Lynott outside the Odeon. Thin Lizzy were on the Black Rose tour. Phil Lynott autographed the box of the cymbal stand. Was this shop called Drum City Brum or something like that ?