The Rockin' Vickers
Encyclopedia
The Rockin' Vickers were a 1960s English
rock and roll
band from Blackpool
. They were originally called Rev Black and The Rockin' Vicars, then abbreviated to The Rockin' Vicars, but in order to have a chance to get more gigs or even a record contract, they changed their name to "Rockin' Vickers". The band is most notable for featuring Lemmy, who went by the name Ian Willis at the time, later of Hawkwind
and more famously Motörhead, as a guitarist (Lemmy did not start playing bass until joining Hawkwind). Their last single "Dandy
" was produced by Shel Talmy
.
, the band built their reputation as did many other beat groups of the era, by covering R&B and Beat
standards, but soon became known for their unusually intense live shows and outlandish stage costumes, dressing as vicar
s and Sami
. Although mainly popular as a local act around Blackpool
, England, the Vicars also toured mainland Europe, being one of the earliest British rock bands to perform behind the Iron curtain
when they played in Yugoslavia
in the summer of 1965. They were particularly popular in Finland
, where they recorded a single, a rocked up version of Zing Went The Strings of My Hearts. They released four single records. The band split in 1967
.
In 1967, expatriate Blackpool musician Dave Rossall (ex-Bruce & The Spiders), carrying on the tradition of the English band, formed his own Australian band called Rev Black and the Rockin' Vicars (1967–1969). The Australian band went on to release four singles in its own right, toured extensively around Australia and made the Brisbane Top 40.
I Go Ape/ Someone Like Me/ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/ Stella/ It's Alright/ Stay By Me/ Dandy/ I Don't Need Your Kind Of Love/ Baby Never Say Goodbye/ I Just Stand There/ Say Mama/ Shake Rattle & Roll/ What The Matter Jane/ Little Rosy (Ray Davies
) (+ rehearsal extract)
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band from Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
. They were originally called Rev Black and The Rockin' Vicars, then abbreviated to The Rockin' Vicars, but in order to have a chance to get more gigs or even a record contract, they changed their name to "Rockin' Vickers". The band is most notable for featuring Lemmy, who went by the name Ian Willis at the time, later of Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
and more famously Motörhead, as a guitarist (Lemmy did not start playing bass until joining Hawkwind). Their last single "Dandy
Dandy (song)
"Dandy" is a 1966 song from The Kinks, appearing on their Face to Face album. It was released as a single in Continental Europe only, where it charted, reaching #1 in Germany, #2 in Belgium and #3 in the Netherlands...
" was produced by Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger best known for his work in London with The Who and The Kinks in the 1960s, with a role in many other English bands including Cat Stevens and Pentangle...
.
History
Formed in 19631963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
, the band built their reputation as did many other beat groups of the era, by covering R&B and Beat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
standards, but soon became known for their unusually intense live shows and outlandish stage costumes, dressing as vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
s and Sami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
. Although mainly popular as a local act around Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, England, the Vicars also toured mainland Europe, being one of the earliest British rock bands to perform behind the Iron curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
when they played in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in the summer of 1965. They were particularly popular in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where they recorded a single, a rocked up version of Zing Went The Strings of My Hearts. They released four single records. The band split in 1967
1967 in music
The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The...
.
In 1967, expatriate Blackpool musician Dave Rossall (ex-Bruce & The Spiders), carrying on the tradition of the English band, formed his own Australian band called Rev Black and the Rockin' Vicars (1967–1969). The Australian band went on to release four singles in its own right, toured extensively around Australia and made the Brisbane Top 40.
Members
- 1963-1964: Harry "Reverend Black" Feeney: lead vocals
- Alex Hamilton: guitar
- Peter Moorhouse: bass
- Cyril "Ciggy" Shaw: drums
- Ken Hardacre:lead guitar
- 1964-1965: Harry Feeney: lead vocals
- Ian Holdbrook: guitar/harmonica
- Nicholas Gribbon: guitar
- Stephen "Mogsy" Morris: bass
- Cyril Shaw: drums
- 1965-1967: Harry Feeney: lead vocals
- Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister: guitar
- Stephen Morris: bass
- Cyril Shaw:drums
Singles
- "I Go Ape" b/w "Someone Like You", DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
F 11993, 1964, UK - "Stella" b/w "Zing! Went the Strings of My HeartZing! Went the Strings of My Heart"Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" is a 1934 popular song with words and music by James F. Hanley. It was introduced by Hal Le Roy and Eunice Healey in the Broadway revue Thumbs Up! Probably the most notable recordings were made by Judy Garland and by The Trammps "Zing! Went the Strings of My...
", DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
SD5662, 1965, FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... - "Stella" b/w "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", 1966, Ireland
- "It's Alright (TownshendPete TownshendPeter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
)" b/w "Stay By Me", CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
202051 , March 1966, UK - "DandyDandy (song)"Dandy" is a 1966 song from The Kinks, appearing on their Face to Face album. It was released as a single in Continental Europe only, where it charted, reaching #1 in Germany, #2 in Belgium and #3 in the Netherlands...
(DaviesRay DaviesRay Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
)" b/w "I Don't Need Your Kind", CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
202241, October 1966, UK - "Dandy (Davies)" b/w "I Don't Need Your Kind", ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
4-43818 1966, U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Compilation album
- Its Alright: The Complete Rockin' Vickers, RPM CD196 1995, UK
I Go Ape/ Someone Like Me/ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/ Stella/ It's Alright/ Stay By Me/ Dandy/ I Don't Need Your Kind Of Love/ Baby Never Say Goodbye/ I Just Stand There/ Say Mama/ Shake Rattle & Roll/ What The Matter Jane/ Little Rosy (Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
) (+ rehearsal extract)