40 years ago: first Rolling Stones concert in Germany

Walter, shortly before all this happened, my brother in law was in a reasonable band (wasn't everyone in those days?) struggling to become famous. He is quite an accomplished guitarist, his band was a lookey likey Beatles type outfit, that had a slight "rocker" edge to it, and they played various little "talent scout" gigs all around the South of England, in the hope of hitting the big time.

One night, in some god forsaken little town somewhere, they were packing up their gear into the back of their shabby van, when a bloke from the shabby van nearby, strode over and asked for a cigarette. The shops were all closed at that time of night, and the cigaretteless man had only enough money for petrol to get his band home.

My brother in law (non smoker) asked his drummer for some ciggies, and handed the man three or four to help him through the journey.

It was Keith Richards.

My B-in law has now lived in Oz for god knows how many years now, as his band went the way of the scrapheap like most of them do. He is a backing musician for groups such as the Drifters and others, when they tour Oz, and he actually achieved a little bit of fame (so my sister says) on one of their TV channels, doing some double act comedy show for a series or two. I think he went under some different name for this show, and I will have to ask him what it was, just to find out if our Oz members have ever heard of him.

Just think, if he had happened to live near the Stones and had joined their group at the outset as a guitarist, eh?

How funny fate is...............

Thanks, LR.




So just by pure accident we don't see you b-i-b on these pics here :wink:

Yes Walter.....you're brilliant.......that's him!!

In all seriousness Walter, I have just done a google, to see if I could find his band.....and lo and behold, I found ONE reference to them, amongst other bands who obviously went by the same name.

I KNOW that this is his band, as they played at Butlins holiday camps for a couple of seasons (Oh the giddy heights of fame).....and someone has remembered them in their reminiscences of holidays past.........

His group was called the "Vibratones", and I know for a fact that he toured American Army bases in Germany during the winter months, when Butlins were closed.

The G.I's used to freak out, as the "Vibratones" looked and sounded very much like the Beatles, which attracted the local girls in to come and watch them.
Obviously, as the Vibes were playing, the G.I's moved in for the kill on all the young Frauleins, and bought the band drinks all night, to say thank you for giving them a chance to get to "know" the local girls.

I will try to find a more detailed webpage, and possibly dig out some old photos..........


http://www.butlinsmemories.com/17/id30.htm

"followed by a romantic dance to the dulcet tones of "The Vibratones" or whoever was the resident popular singing combo in the Beachcomber Ballroom that year. Against a backdrop of Red Coats, Knobbly Knees and Glamorous Grannies, the "Vibratones" no doubt provided the overture to countless thousands experiencing a similar start in life to mine. I can visualize my Father, filled with the promise of imminent romance splashing out on a Babycham for my mother in the ambient charms of the Beachcomber Bar, whose décor could only be described as Early Sub-tropical Rainforest."

Oh, the swinging sixties........my sister is twelve years older than me, so I missed out on all the casual sex and drugs etc......still, I made up for it in the seventies though...I think.

HA!......I've just found a webpage for one of the band members, who appears to still be going strong.

He wasn't the main singer, so don't judge the band by the soundclip.

The main singer sounded a bit like John Lennon doing his gravelly rocker voice.

I put my brother in law back in touch with Mike (webpage) about three years ago, after an article appeared in my local newspaper, asking for information about the whereabouts of the band members. They went over to Hong Kong for a holiday last year, and spent some time with him, after not seeing eah other for about thirty years or so.

http://www.concept-cards.com/mikeb/mikeabout.html


Later edit..........

Good grief! I didn't realise that they were on the web so much.
From the Songwriters directory.......this mentions their cover version of "Under the Boardwalk" which actually made it into our record charts at the time......number 70 odd, if I remember. They just about broke even on the deal.....

"His band, The Vibratones, were well-known in the UK during the 1960's, performing with the top names of the day including the Barron Knights, the Tremeloes and U.S. singer P.J.Proby, also recording several cover versions of classics such as "The Great Pretender", "Tallahassie Lassie" and "Under the Boardwalk." They toured Germany in 1962 and were a smash hit wherever they appeared."...........

http://www.songwritersdirectory.com/artistpage.cfm?writerid=521

Getting back on track......in about 1972 ish? the Stones were appearing in Perth (Oz) where my B in law lives, and he found out which Hotel they were staying in.

He dropped a note into the reception, asking if he could have his cigarettes back, and said he was in the bar waiting.
He also wrote the address of the venue where it all happened, and went to have a drink.

A flunkie came down almost straight away, and offered him a backstage pass and a couple of tickets, saying that they remembered the venue and wished him well, and would see him for a drink on the night.

He turned down the pass, but took the tickets, telling the flunkie to pass on the message that he would give them to his two daughters, who would appreciate them more.

God, he was ALWAYS cool like that....I remember him being my hero when I was a kid.

Was Dudley Doolittle a member in that band as well? (There's a short reference to them.)

Lord E ; Your B-I-L and his band actually "opened" for groups like the Tremeloes and P.J. Proby ? How cool !! I usually listen just to "oldies" radio,and quite enjoy the Tremeloes. Mr Proby isn't played
much anymore. How sad.

I wouldn't really know, Walter.

I was only a wee kid at the time, so all I remember really, is a lot of cool looking guys, loading instruments into a van on regular occasions, and having a go on an electric guitar, and bashing away on a set of drums during their practise sessions, while they were having a break.

My one vivid memory was going to a very large "gig", where about ten bands played during the evening. Talent scouts were there, and my sister told me and my two brothers, to scream as loudly as possible when the Vibratones came on stage, so that it would impress the judges.

If memory serves me right, a little band called Procul Harum won on that particular evening, mainly because all of their equipment happened to be made by "Vox".

Guess who the event sponsors were?............Vox.

It still took Harum another two or three years to break into the big time.

In our little village during that time (population 1000 or so?) there were more than ten bands, all trying for the big time. There was definitely a national craze going on, and if you weren't in a band, you were a nobody.

Yes, that's definitely the correct band then. The whole family got tickets for these concerts, but us three boys were considered too young, so had to stay at home with our Nan.

My sis was (and still is) a real looker.......an almost exact double of Audrey Hepburn, crossed with what's her name who played Scarlett in Gone with the Wind, so she always had these famous names trying to chat her up, while she was hanging about backstage. With her though, it was love at first sight as far as the B in law was concerned, and used to amaze these "stars" by telling them that she wasn't interested.

I will definitely have to find some old photos...........

FORTY YEARS AGO.....
Lordy,you're memory is going if you can't remember Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara. Please sew name labels in all your clothes,just in case you get lost {lol}

I played the drums (second cast) with The Beating Cloister Boys any second Saturday evening (I left them, unfortunately, when they became famous and were allowed to play every Sunday evening at the 'youth dance tea' in the community hall

Beating Cloister Boys ? Sounds painful. Didn't they object strenuously? Didn't the bruises show ?

Well, we actually played in the former capital hall of a monastry for noble women.

And 'yes', sometimes we sounded painful.

Seriously,though,do you still play drums today?

No.

Re: FORTY YEARS AGO.....


Scarlett O'Hara? Wasn't she in some sort of film?

What day is it?

Where am I?

....and who are you?

Re: 40 years ago: first Rolling Stones concert in Germany



wow ...... nice

I'm betraying a bit of my age now, but do any other 40+ somethings agree that none of crop of boy bands over the past 30 years or so holds a candle to the Beatles, Stones, et. al.?