This is not one we would normally add to the site but as it settles the argument on whether the Rolling Stones did or did not perform at The Outlook Club in Middlesbrough we have relented on this occasion. The clipping was supplied by Brian Swales and is reproduced with the kind permission of the Evening Gazette. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
I remember the opening night at the KD Club when they had an open-topped bus to take you home. 20+ lads got on only to be told at Middlesbrough Town Hall that it was going home to Berwick Hills and not Billingham as they expected. a long walk home that night
We’re they fighting that night?
My mum use to tell me that my dad was driving that bus one night, fighting broke out up top and the bus stopped with my dad going up to calm things and ending up getting thrown off. He then apparently picked himself up, went back on top and behold no more trouble.
I am a nephew by the way of Charlie Tennet
‘The opening night ‘headliner’ band at The Scene in Albert Rd, Middlesbrough in early ’64 was, as Brian Swales correctly pointed out, The Rattles from Hamburg. They were supported by John McCoy’s own band The Crawdaddies. The interior walls were in fact painted red and had some large facsimile ‘block printed’ Victorian advertising-posters (from ‘Dodo’s’in London) applied around the various areas. The club had been designed and decorated by John Stonehouse and Dave Borwell two senior-students from M’bro College of Art. The story of the peeling walls, became legendary, as most customers went home that night bearing some trace of the red paint on their clothing. It seems that the emulsion paint had been applied, that very day, to walls which already had a thin coating of condensation on them (no dehumidifiers back then). As a consequence, the paint could not ‘stick’ to the walls and though dry ‘on the top’ it floated off like those ‘tattoo transfers’ we used to soak in water and apply to our arms as kids. Customers quickly found that they could actually ‘draw’ their names on the walls by using only their fingers. Similarly, as the night progressed, the floor paint also began to lift, and woe betide those who had ventured out, proudly sporting their finest suede Beatle-boots that evening. Another amusing story, was when The Nashville Teens (only hit ‘Tobacco Road’) appeared at the Scene. It seems that they required a piano on stage, so John McCoy was obliged to negotiate the ‘loan’ of the ancient bar-piano from The Wellington Pub at the other end of Albert Rd. Having no means of transporting it, the said ‘Joanna’ was pushed by five lads (inc Buff and Macca Harding) along the pavement of Albert Rd on its tiny brass castor-wheels, most of which fell off en-route. This occurrence, leaving the lads no choice but to then drag the poor instrument the final 100-feet from the Corporation Hotel corner. Whether or not the piano desperately required the services of an experienced piano-tuner after such a perilous journey, I have no idea.
Hello, I read your blog with great amusement, and thought that I should shed some light on the Designing of Young Outlook Club in Middlesbrough. I Maureen Travers, then known as Maureen Rogers of Darlington, won the open competition to design the club, and all that went into it! John Stonehouse had nothing to do with it! True David Borwell was one of a number of students at Middlesbough Colllege of Art that I commissioned to do some of the decorative panels.
Yours truly,
Maureen Travers
I remember playing at the Scene Club with Del and the Falcons in Jan 1965, we supported Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. We hadn’t expected them to turn up as they had just charted with Um Um Um Um Um Um (!), but they did AND then taught us their new single ‘The Game if Love’ as we all sat backstage afterwards. Great times!
I don’t remember the purple decor though!…
On the subject on the Scene club in Middlesbrough. I remember going there with a friend on the opening night hoping to get in, but is was impossible as there were hundreds in the queue outside. I’m sure the group that were due to appear that opening night was a German group called the Rattles who had a minor hit in the UK in 1964 with ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah’. They had played alongside the Beatles in Hamburg. Perhaps the Rattles were the support group for the Four Pennies.
I was at the opening night of the Scene. If I remember rightly the Four Pennies played. The place was painted that dingy purple of the time, and by the end of the evening the floor was swimming in condensation and my shoes were covered in purple gunk from the paint.
As mentioned, I remember the scene – an old gas board showroom where the paint came off the walls if you touched them. Also saw the animals and Cliff Bennet and the Rebel Rousers. I also remember seeing the queue on opening night from the committee rooms of the Municipal Buildings, Middlesbrough.
Just found this site. I was there at the Stones/Hollies gig. Some friends and I went down to Outlook during the afternoon hoping the Hollies might be around before the gig. No sign of them, but some other cool looking guys came in. One of them came up to our table and asked if we knew where the Corporation Hotel was. I walked up the stairs with him and out into the street to point it out. So I spoke with one of the Stones, but because I didn’t know of them then I don’t even know which one it was! There were some great nights at Outlook and the Kirk. Cyril Davies and Long John were favourites, and later the Steam Packet at the Kirk. The Crawdaddies were pretty good too, and I had the good fortune to work in Alan Fearnley’s record shop on Saturdays. I’ve been a blues fan ever since.
I remember John Mayalls Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton playing the KD club in Billingham and also Bruce Thomas from Eaglescliffe playing in a band called The Machine, I think he was still working at the Gazette.
Yes, I remember Eugene McCoy’s band, I remember it as The Elastic Band, but there again it could just as easily have been The Rubber Band.
I spent many an afternoon sitting under the stairs at the ‘Purp’ listening to Micky M practice the blues licks that he mastered so expertly and make a terrific career out of… and then there was the Manfred Mann gig at the Coatham/Red Lion – best gig ever…
so, a thanks to John and Mrs Mac and Eugene for the memories and the magic..
Anyone remember the “Rubber Band” or is it just me?
As young gals, we remember The Outlook and The Scene very well. Sometimes we had to walk from Middlebsrough to Stockton/Hartburn. Great website, keep the memories flooding in!
I’m never surprised to find out… just what you can ‘find out’ by trawling the Internet. For instance, the band that preceeded the Stones/Hollies gig shown above, i.e on the Friday night of July 12th were Ian Crawford and The Boomerangs. This band ( like The Hollies) were part of the early ’60’s Manchester ‘beat-boom’ (which as Liverpool iconically also did at that time), produced a profusion of groups. It appears that the lead-singer Ian Crawford was a Brit-born Australian who had enjoyed some minor success ‘darn under’ in his early teens and had come back over to the UK to pusue his career. Unfortunately, he seems to have disappeared without trace. However, his father’s company Crawford Productions in Oz, were an early TV production crew that some years later brought us such notable (??) day-time TV programmes such as ‘The Sullivans’ and ‘Flying Doctors’. Dad certainly fared a tad better in the entertainment business…he evidently received a knighthood!
The north east has produced three world class vocalists over the last 40 odd years. Paul Rogers, David Coverdale and Eric Burdon.
Great news about Paul, in my opinion one of the best vocalists this country has ever produced.
With reference to Tony Hargan’s posting (immediately above) it’s gratifying to note that ‘local lad made good’ rock-singer Paul Rodgers, is about to be awarded an Honorary Doctrate of Letters by Teesside University later this month. Paul now resides in Vancouver, Canada.
I remember working in a bar about 15 years ago and a girl came up to me and said “Your my dad’s favourite DJ” when I asked her who her dad was, the answer “Paul Rogers”.I only wish I had more photo’s from those day although I have one of the Crawdaddys at the Red Lion in Redcar. Another I have is me with some of my friends in the 60’s at the Raglan in Zetland Rd. It includes Kenny Todd, Billy Rowney & Bob Purvess(Rip). The only photo’s I have are of me at the Kirk in about 77′.
On the day that the city of Gary, Indiana, U.S.A. is mourning the death of it’s most famous son, Michael Jackson, maybe we should refer (as mentioned within the posts just above) to possibly one of Stockton’s most ‘iconic’ musician sons, bass-player Bruce Thomas. It is quite amazing that three local musicians, from one local band,’The Roadrunners’ were able to carve out life-long, and highly successful, individual careers in rock-music. Bruce’s huge contribution to the rise n’ rise of Elvis Costello, as bassist in his backing band ‘The Attractions’ is well recognised, and fully appreciated wthin the music iindustry. In fact, it was when Bruce became ‘ an author’ and wrote a novel,’The Big Wheel’, a thinly veiled account of lfe on the road with an ‘arrogant and grandiose’ singer, that Mr Costello, after reading it, split the band up (1996). Thereby almost proving Bruce Thomas’s point! Bruce wrote two more books, one of which is regarded as the ‘definitive’ biography on another Bruce, kung-fu maestro Bruce Lee, entitled ‘Fighting Spirit’.His talents as a bass-player have subsequently placed him alongside artistes such as Paul McCartney,Mick jagger, Suzanne Vega, John Wesley Harding, et al. It is further rumoured, that he was sought as the replacement bass-player for seminal rock-band, The Who, after the sudden death of the legendary John Entwhistle. Spooky that, because as a young 17yr old, I recall Bruce knocking out the complicated bass-riffs to their ‘Can’t Explain’ and ‘My Generation’ tracks, with instant, and accomplished, ease, as we rehearsed in manager Davey Rea’s old ice-cream van garage, off Cannon St, M’bro back in 1966, A raging talent even then.
Yes i think it would have been me.. I use to be a girl about town.. always eying up the nice looking guys. I remember Bari Cohan and Terry Maughan rings a bell. Micky Moody band used to play at Roseworth youth club amongst other places.. his friend was Paul Rodgers of Free. Their group then was called The Roadrunners. Micky went on to play with Whitesnake and Juicy Lucy. He recently brought a book out and I got a nice mention!! I was over the moon… I wrote to him to ask if it was definately me and he was kind enough to reply and say yes!!!! Bless him.. not everyone would have taken the time to reply. I loved his book, it mentions Mccoys, Kirk etc… oh the wonderful old days!!! I hope someone does bring a book out with all the old pics, it would be wonderful – John Mccoy take note, you must have some of mccoys!, purple onion. I love this site.. Thanks to Peter Jordison for lots of comments – keep them coming!
Strange how one subject leads to another, especially when faced with someone’s name from long ago. Back in 1971-73, I was involved in the opening of a large ‘mens boutique’ called ‘Spirit’ which occupied the former site of ‘Barry’s’ Electrical & T.V. shop,
on Yarm Lane corner and The High St, S/ton (opp The Swallow),
Also involved, were Terry Maughan and Bari Chohan. It’s now a Solicitors offices I believe. Was it the same Chrissie Reeves that used to come in, with her friends, and chat with us all on Sat afternoons and meet up again with us, for a drink later in The Fiesta, Inn Cognito, Electric Onion and sundry other places around Stockton at that time?The staff, and ourselves, all used to go out together on weekends, we were the best-dressed guys in town! We should have been….all our suits, ‘suitably’ dry-cleaned, went back on the sales-racks on a Monday morning!!
Can’t check your provenance there Chrissie, as I loaned my copy to Steve Williams (formerly of John McCoy’s Blues DeLuxe band) last year. However, Mick Moody’s own website, Mickymoody.com has a guest-book page, so you an ask him yourself. He’ll no doubt get back to you. I was back then, a sit-in member of the band that Micky describes in his book as being ‘somewhat better at playing with their managers till… than their instruments’, this in the section regarding bass-player Bruce Thomas joining his band The Roadrunners, from ours. The manager in that case being Davey Rea, Thankfully, I was not present when the ‘purloining’ of paper bags full of threepenny bits n’ tanners went on.
I’ve just managed to aquire Micky Moodys book “playing with trumpets”. I think I’m the girl on page 59 called Christine at Roseworth club. Chris Bailey, if you ever manage to get in touch with Mick will you please ask him if it was me? I’d love to know one way or another. Tony Hargan, I bought some of your old records from a charity shop a year or so ago and gave them to my son who collects a wide variety of music.. thanks. I was also one of the Mccoys, Kirk, Twisted wheel clan – oh such happy times. If anyone out there reads this from old days please put your old pics on.. see if I can remember any of you! My memory is not brill. I love this site..
Ah, the Purple Onion, what memories. We hung out there when we were supposed to be studying at the M’bro Library, which was just round the corner. But back to the point – I recall seeing the Who at the dive next door (?) to the Onion, which was two houses with the attics connected. You went in one, went through the roof area, and then down into the “club”. Anyone remember what it was called or when the Who played there? Had to be 1965/66.
I also saw John McCoy and the Crawdaddies frequently, as my girlfriend had a crush on him. Playing feedback on the amps at the M’Bro Town Hall is a particularly vivid memory.
“The Dive” next door was John McCoys own club “Mr McCoys.
Am I going to be the only GIRL to have frequented “The Outlook Club?” Since it appears that only the boys are contributing to the talk about it. Many happy times spent there, I wonder what happened to the old clique? Joyce Addison, Barry Marshall, John Jones, Mike Peel, Chris, Mike Walker, amd many more. We also really enjoyed “The Purple Onion” Another of John McCoys ventures I do believe. I particularly remember an evening when Long John Baldry sang there. A really great time had by all.
I recently received an email from Andrew Loog-Oldham the former 20yr old “enfant terrible” early “60”s co-manager of the Rolling Stones, along with Eric Easton.In the email, he suggests that the band may have taken the Outlook gig to 1) Basically “sound out” the Northern U.K.scene, as they did not think that their sound would go down too well up here, or 2) On a recommendation from Cyril Davies/Long John Baldry,or 3) “Knowing Eric Easton (the bands booking manager),…for the very large fee!”(£65) Mr Loog-Oldham is now a House Music/Garage D.J.on a Californian radio-station, still at the cutting edge in his 6th decade!
I”ve heard reference to a night after a Cyril Davies & The R&B Allstars gig at the Outlook Club when there was a big fight in the coach outside? Can anyone elaborate? We would really like to include comments re: this incident – or any memories of Cyril – on our web site dedicated to his life and acomplishments. Cheers!
Like Tony Hargan, I was a bit puzzled by that Russ Sainty booking at the KD Club as I could not recollect the name, until a bit of keyboard work found his website! Seems he is still performing at age 70, and has just written a book….rock-on! The Hoochie Coochie Men was a band formed out of the “harmonica-led” Cyril Davies R&B All-stars (appeared at the Outlook May 63) after Cyril suddenly died in “64, L.J.Baldry”s co singer in the band, was a young man called Rod Stewart, whom I recall at that time, took to the stage in a straw-boater, and striped boating blazer. This was his “Rod the Mod” period. Former “Deep Purple” keyboard man Jon Lord, and a few “Ozzies” have just formed a band called “The Hoochie Coochie Men”, and seem (on their web-site) to have congratulated themselves upon finding a really “original” band name. “Time to think again lads?”
My sister has just found a couple of cuttings from the Gazette, one of them announces the opening of the Kave Dwellers Club feat Russ Sainty & the Nu-Notes? On the next night you had 1234 Five & the Crawdaddies. The other cutting featured the Redcar Jazz Club with Long John Baldry & the Hoochie Coochie Men, for the support bands you had the Crawdaddies & the Tempests.
Many thanks to C.W. for forwarding a copy of that “Outlook News” publication to me. A simple, “Gestetner” duplicated couple of sheets, produced on a typewriter,. It is a far cry from the mass of full-colour, graphic designer inspired, club-flyers” we see littering the reception areas, and cash-desks, of hairdressers and fashion-shops these days. There is a list of six “Committee members” shown, one of whom is a B.Tennet whose address is given as Osmotherley. I”m sure this was Brian Tennet son of Charles, who owned the large S”ton builders and contractors, Tennet & Co. This family later went on to create the K.D. (“Kave Dwellers”) club at Billingham in “66, where many other great “60”s bands and artistes appeared. In later years, these premises became the “Visions” pub on Station Rd. As far as the fashion store element of the Outlook premises are concerned, and in case you thought designer-clothes and high-pricing was a recent phenomenon, there is an example of a ladies coat listed “.. in finest Swedish cloth, with a blue-fox collar”. This coat is on sale at “twenty five and a half guineas”, which, in index-conversion of prices, i.e.1963 to 2009 would make it around £500-£600 or more!! Mind you they do draw attention to a new “budgetary” fashion department, as well as a the ladies shoe-section. After shopping during the day you could go downstairs into the “club” (or basement) and enjoy a Hamburger for 1/6d (8p) or a Cheeseburger for 2/-(10p) whilst listening to “popular music”. John McCoy is welcomed back in “his own right” appearing alongside the Mike Whitehead band(?) on Oct 12th 1963.
Hi Chris… Mike Lees the fashion buyer general manager had worked for Marks and Spencer and ordered 200 of everything… small, medium and large… pretty dowdy stuff, I persuaded the chairman to budget £250 against all odds. Borrowed a Sinclairs van and loaded up at Mary Quants new shop in Chelsea, advertised by word of mouth we sold out in 2 hours on the Saturday morning… the queue started after the club shut at midnight… we were one of the first places outside London to stock her ‘kit’… another first for ‘Boro,
Just wanted to reinforce the various comments that it is wonderful to see some entries here from John McCoy himself, and to add my thanks to him for being responsible for giving us all so much fabulous music. My enduring memory of the Outlook was the night that the driver”s side sliding door on the Road Runners” old Bedford van came completely off its runners and fell onto the ground in Dave Usher”s haste to get into the club, much to the mirth of the folks in the queue at the Odeon accross the road. I saw Eugene last summer John, and spent a great evening with him at the Tontine reminisicing. I think of Bottomley Street and the Kirk every time I look at a photograph of Joe. Kind regards to you and yours from Toronto.
Sorry, missed off George Bruno “Zoot” Money and the Big Roll Band. They did appear at Mr McCoys, and The Kirk. Owner, John McCoy, was a big pal of Zoot”s (George), and his eldest son is called Bruno. Zoot later took up acting on TV and in films. His “Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band-Live at The Marquee “66” album is still available on CD.
I”ll look forward to that C.W., many thanks. You can ask Picture Stockton for my email address. As for artistes and groups at Mr McCoys I can say that Spencer Davis, The Small Faces and The Hollies did NOT appear there. However, Chris Farlowe and Jimmy Saville did! Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds (featuring guitar legend Albert Lee) appeared the night of the release of his No.1 single “Out of Time”in “66. On the “60”s Group from Stockton” page (on this same site) I related the occasion of Jimmy Savilles visit to the club, during which he “magic-markered” his signature in huge letters across the dressing room wall, using a huge dollar-sign for the “S” in his surname.
Just found a copy of a poster anouncing the opening of Mr McCoys. According to it the forthcoming attractions include – Spencer Davis – The Small Faces – Zoot Money – Chris Farlowe – The Hollies and also Jimmy Saville. I”m not that sure if any of them played there?
I thought the Outlook News might be interesting to somebody. I think it may have been in an old box and just forgotten about over the years, it says it was sent out with the membership card. It would be a shame if the details were just lost so I will get a copy of it for you Chris. On the back page it also has details of forthcoming bands although I must admit I cant remember any of them.
I am amazed to read that you have an original copy of the Outlook News, C.W. As a local collector of all material relevant to the “60”s on Teesside (sad I know, but it keeps me off the streets) I would be more than pleased to receive an A3 or A4 photocopy of that publication. Obviously, I would be willing to cover any costs and postage involved. You can obtain my email address by contacting the Picture Stockton Team.
I would go to the Outlook on a saturday afternoon to the kids club as I was to young to attend in the evening. Once McCoys was open in Bottomley street it was all go for me. I remember being there the first night to see Georgie Fame, and later on the Who, Stevie Wonder the Alan Bown set and many more. Later I spoke to John and he gave me a copy of the bill he had made with all the appearing guests who were due to on. Brilliant club and no drugs.
I have a copy of the first Outlook news dated october 1963. It has the names of the committee on the front and a message from the chairman, it also has the prices of snacks from the grill. Inside it does state that this is the first edition and it gives the names of some of the groups that have already appeared which includes the Rolling Stones, the Hollies, the Searchers and the Mersey Beats. Included are the prices of some of the clothes you were able to buy upstairs in the shop.
What I remember most about the Outlook was the number of Liverpool bands booked including The Searchers, The Undertakers, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, Earl Preston & The TTs etc. I remember seeing Cyril Davies and for me one of the great live club bands at the time – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.
Congratulations, and well done, to Brian Swales for resurrecting this small piece of history…it being carried over from discussions on the “Local 60″s group from Stockton” page on this site. Thanks should also be extended to the site moderators for publishing the item, especially as The Outlook Club was in Middlesbrough and not Stockton. In the absence of any comment from John McCoy to Brian Swales question re: “The Alcove” I can only presume this was to do with matters contractual re; bands, etc in attempt to separate the “club” activity in the basement, from the department/fashion store i.e. retail activities, on the floors above, which also traded under The Outlook name. If anyone recalls, the main seating & table areas were arranged in slightly raised “alcoves” around the walls. The basement, functioned as a coffee-bar during the day, which also served light-lunches. A separate rear s/case connected it to the ground floor of the retail areas.
Absolutely right chris, doing a great job… J.B.
I started my apprenticeship at Cargo Fleet steelworks in 1963, it was a very exciting time musically in the Midbro area,John McCoy and the Crawdaddies were an inspirational group for our generation. I lived in Loftus at the time and saw the band in Redcar Coatham and loved dancing at the Kerklevington, those imported American records were fantastic
I too would like to thank John McCoy for providing some of the most enjoyable nights out I have had in my life, first at the Red Lion at Redcar, then the Outlook Club in Middlesbrough and ultimately the Kirklevington Country Club, dancing to the Crawdaddies and the many soon-to-be-superstars he brought to the Teesside area. On more than one occasion my mates and I walked home from Redcar to Stockton on a Saturday night, having had such a great time at the Red Lion that we missed the last train home.
Until I found your site I feared my childhood was just a dream. I have lived in New Zealand now for nearly 40 years and my recall. Wasn”t the Bottomley St premises just a couple of old houses with the internal walls knocked thru? I think it was a “dry” establishment, but there was a pub just around the corner (The Corporation?) I recall the cloakroom was upstairs and the dancefloor downstairs with a cafe attached? I and my chums from St Marys College and Convent used to frequent it on Friday nites and the Cafe( if one could describe it as such )was THE meeting spot when Saturday Arvo shopping in town. I still play the old Stax and Altantic stuff from that time when I”m driving on a long trip. I think my uncle Jack Edgar used to play brassin a band with one of the McCoy brothers and I do remember Eugene . Thanks for the memories .
Nice to see John McCoy’s reply to this advertisement of when the Rolling Stones & The Hollies played the Outlook Club in July 1963, but his comments have left me a little confused! Although I wasn’t there this particular night several of my friends were and remember this memorable night at the Outlook. I only ever remember going to one club in basement . . . the Outlook, never the Alcove! So perhaps John McCoy could explain why the need for a “Separate I.D.” for the basement club, and why the Alcove appears on the Stones contract and not the Outlook!
I”d like to thank John McCoy for the happy days i spent at his club in Bottomley Street, Middlesbrough! Mccoys.. i absolutely loved it. please if you have any photos or memories of the time will you put them on here? ill be eternally grateful. thanking you in anticipation.
THE ALCOVE WAS THE NAME I GAVE TO TO THE CLUB IN THE BASEMENT AT THE OUTLOOK TO GIVE A SEPARATE I.D. SO WYMAN IS RIGHT I CHECKED WITH HIM AND THAT IN FACT WS ON THE CONTRACT BETWEEN ME AND ERIC EASTON SIGHNED BY BRIAN JONES IT WAS NOT PART OF A TOUR BUT A ONE OFF AS A MATES FAVOUR BROKERED BY BALDRY WE 3 USED TO DRINK TOGETHER AT THE ROUNDHOUSE PUB ON WARDOUR ST SOHO THE FEE WAS £65 60 CASH JONESY SUBBED 3 PACKS OF PLAYERS
Talking about John McCoy, I seem to remember him putting on early gigs by, among others, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Traffic at the Kirkleavington country club in the late 60″s/early 70″s, but can”t be sure “cos my memories of the period are rather hazy (can”t think why) Anyone remember clearly?
I was at The Outlook that night.Never forgot it.Why? Because Mick Jagger and The Stones were different then, with their introduction of american style blues ,it was exciting to listen to. I”ve been a blues fan ever since. Another night I won”t forget in 63 ,was at The Coatham Redcar at sunday nights Jazz Club, where we went every sunday to listen to all the jazz bands on tour and imbibe copeous quantities of Newcastle Brown Ale! Great times. Expecting another Jazz band we were introduced that night to “Cyril Davies All Stars” from London with Alex Korner. It was quite something because they were our first introduction to a Chicago style harp blues band.The place went wild , it was quite a night. Times had changed, the popularity of Trad Jazz bands declined rapidly after Blues stars like John Lee Hooker and Sonny Boy Williamson visited. Teesside was blessed with a great evolving music scene in those years with John McCoys Crawdaddies and Long John Baldry”s Steam Packet among many others..
“Just Like Me” peaked at number 25 in the UK. The Hollies must have been frequent visitors to Teesside in the 60s/70s. If I remember correctly, they gave an interview to the Evening Gazette around March 1966, about their future plans and playing the Fiesta. They also turned up and gave an interview to the local radio station (Radio Tees?) about 1972. Leslie Brown”s shop seemed full of their product, but I only found one LP “Hollies Sing Hollies” relegated to Brown”s bargin bin for 50p. I thought Brown”s were very clever putting their long record department next to the shop entrance. You had to go past it to get to the toys. Thus parents with their teenagers were first tempted into buying the records, and were later buying toys for their ever present youngsters because of guilt or complaint.
That just goes to show how on the ball John McCoy was in those days by booking up and coming bands (or groups as they were known then!) who were not known outside their own area. However the Hollies first single, “(Ain”t That) Just Like Me / Hey What”s Wrong With Me” was released in May 1963. But whether it actually got into the top twenty by July I don”t know.
Except the first Hollies single to reach the top twenty “Searchin” was released in August 1963, according to their official web-site. So this July advert seems a bit premature over “top twenty stars.”
There has been one or two comments on Picture Stockton regarding the night The Rolling Stones played at the Outlook Club in Middlesbrough in 1963. Apparently over the years there has been some dispute as to actually where the band played that night because many references say it was at a club called the Alcove. This is probably because in Bill Wyman”s book “Rolling With The Stones”, (a detailed journal of his time with the band) he states they played at the Alcove club. However there never was a club in Middlesbrough with that name! The actual date was Saturday 13 July 1963 when the Rolling Stones played at the Outlook and it was in fact the Stones first booking out of Greater London on their first UK tour, also on the same bill were the Hollies. Just two months earlier the Stones had released their first record “Come On”. The Outlook club was run, and possibly owned, by John McCoy whose R&B band The Crawdaddies already had a regular following there. He had proved himself well in touch with the early 1960″s music scene by booking many unknown bands on the rise not only from this area but from around the country, London and even America. He had booked the Stones at the Outlook for £40. The Outlook Club was in the basement of a trendy clothes shop called Young Outlook which was on Corporation Road opposite the Odeon. Another of John McCoy”s clubs, Mr McCoy”s he booked The Who and (as he was known then) Little Stevie Wonder.
The Stones two 3/4 hour sets cost £65, while the Hollies one set cost £95 that night…