One of the local bands who played at the Dungeon was The Sons of Adam. They made several appearances at the club and many at other venues across the country, sometimes supporting other bands, such as Gene Vincent and the Yardbirds, sometimes alone, but also as the backing band for some of the stars, such as Irma Thomas And Screaming Jay Hawkins.
This was The Sons of Adam who played at the Dungeon a few times. Left to right :- Paddy Flynn (guitar), Roger Lymn (guitar/vocals), Mick (Harry) Hopewell (bass/vocals), Mick Maltby (drums/vocals) and Troy Wayne (lead vocals).
The band played many Motown songs and covers of songs played by bands such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who and the Beach Boys.
Peter Beckett – “Good band, playing a few Tamla and pop hits of the time. I remember ‘Heatwave’ and ‘Help’.”
As many artists did in the 60s, Mick Maltby used a different stage name – he used his middle name and became Mick Franks.
First Fender Strat
Here is an extract from the Nottingham Evening Post of October 14th 1993 of a letter sent in by Paddy Flynn.
“I started playing guitar in 1961, aged 16, and when I joined Leroy & The Avengers I bought what I think was the first Fender Strat to be seen in Nottingham. It was white, and people came to gigs just to look at it! I was in a band called the Rockin’ Vulcans for a while but I soon joined another band doing blues and Tamla stuff.
“We were called Sons Of Adam and in ‘64 did two British tours backing Irma Thomas & Screaming Jay Hawkins. We opened nearly every show at the Dungeon and shared the dressing room with loads of stars in their early days. Rod ‘The Mod’ Stewart was a regular visitor. I can see him now backcombing his hair in the cracked mirror. He was a real nice guy to talk to and always seemed to wear a boating blazer, black leather gloves and carry a little suitcase.
“I remember backing the Yardbirds at the club with both Clapton and Jeff Beck in the band. We did a great gig there with Gene Vincent who was lovely man but seemed really sad – he just wanted to get back home. And I remember Rufus Thomas drinking orange juice topped up with some really hairy homegrown 100% proof stuff – what a character!”
Paddy Flynn, Calverton.
Irene Morley – “I, Barbara McLean and the late Margaret Loftus were Sons of Adam groupies! Went to see them perform all over the Nottingham area, when our pocket money allowed, as we were still at school. We used to see George Zborowski and his pal Pete Meagher at a lot of the gigs. Loved their music, Motown, Beach Boys and all the sounds of the times. Such happy days x”
Gene Vincent
Here is another quote from Mick Maltby.
“I was looking through my 1964 diary and the date we (Sons of Adam) supported Gene Vincent at the Dungeon. It all came back to me when we turned up to take the equipment in and Mick Parker telling us to set up to suit Gene and his group (quite rightly so). He always told the support bands the same thing.
“Gene arrived complete with walking stick and looked the place over with a grin on his face. I don’t know if he found the set up strange, or if he was keen to appear there. When he had finished performing to an enthusiastic crowd I’m sure he enjoyed the gig very much. I’m sure you know the reason he had a walking stick. Incidentally, in 1968 Gene Vincent tried to shoot Gary Glitter in Germany. He fired several shots and missed, and a frightened Glitter left the country the next day.”
Beat Wagon
Mick Maltby – “Sons of Adam did 13 gigs at the Dungeon and many at other Nottingham Clubs. Here’s an unusual one we did for John Beale’s firm. I think the factory was on Alfreton Road. I wonder how many of you worked there?). We played on a train on May 22nd 1965 for their annual outing. This was to London. A railway carriage was stripped down and mains electricity provided via transformer. The cymbal stands on my drumkit were anchored down to prevent movement from the train. We met at the Elbow Cafe at 5:30 am and after breakfast drove to the Midland Station (platform 6 as I remember). Each carriage took it in turns to come to our carriage (plenty of beer) where we repeated our spot several times and finished at St. Pancras, London playing Route 66 to the clicking of the wheels .… it got slower and slower. The people on the platforms couldn’t fathom out where the sound was coming from. We all went to Battersea Park; had a wonderful time and did the same on the return journey with a different spot. What an experience. The band received £20. Here are the only (not too good) photos of the event.”
Meet-up
Here are some photogaphs of the band meeting in Slab Square ready for the journey to gigs, e.g. one in Hull, at the Majestic Ballroom. (No motorways then!). You will notice that petrol was 5/3d a gallon (5 new pence a litre). Anyone recognise themselves? On return from the North East we used to meet the milkman!
Recording?
Mick Maltby – “Some of the time I played with Sons of Adam at the Dungeon, Mick Parker (the Dungeon Club owner) was our manager. He took us down to London to a recording studio (Lansdowne Studio, as I remember) to meet Chris Blackwell of Island Records. Nothing became of that. It could have been a completely different destiny regarding the future of our band. We thought nothing of it at the time.”
Kate Holmes – “My 1965 diary tells me on 20th May I was at the Palais watching The Sons of Adam and the Imps!”
Germany
In December, 1965, the band played at Storyville, Cologne with Chick Churchill on keyboards: Chick went on to join the Jaybirds/Ten Years After.
Troy Wayne left the band when he got married, which left the band as a foursome.
Agency
The band got the role to back Irma Thomas through Roy Tempest. At this stage, there was a change in the line-up: Paddy Flynn (guitar), Harry Hopewell (bass guitar), Barry Heald (Ex Beatmen) (tenor sax), John Sanderson (tenor sax), Mick Franks (drums).
Irma Thomas Tour, 1966
Embed from Getty Images
Sons Of Adam backed the American soul singer, Irma Thomas, on her 1966 tour of the UK. Here are details of the gigs (a total of 23 performances).
Mick – “We bought shirts and trousers from one of the boutiques on Carnaby Street when we toured with Irma Thomas including a gig at the Dungeon.”
Thursday March 10th – Rehearsal (morning & afternoon) at the Roebuck, Tottenham Court Road. The band had to wait for Stevie Wonder to finish rehearsing in the morning; they were introduced to him by Irma Thomas.
In the evening, rehearsal continued at Titanine Sports & Social Club, Collindale.
Friday March 11th – Three gigs: first at The Marquee, followed by the Club West Indies, NW10, then the Cue Club, Paddington.
Saturday March 12th – the Dungeon Club, Nottingham.
Sunday March 13th – the Gainsborough Club, Salford, followed by the Riverboat Club, Manchester.
Monday March 14th – at 1 pm, Granada TV, Manchester for ‘Scene at 6:30’, followed by the Penthouse Club, Birmingham at 10 pm.
Thursday March 17th – ‘Ready Steady Go!‘ sound balance, followed by the Whisky a Go Go and the Scotch of St James.
Friday March 18th – ‘Ready Steady Go!‘ at 12:30 pm, the Flamingo Club, London, at 7:00 pm and El Partido Club, Lewisham at midnight.
Saturday March 19th – Twisted Wheel, Whitworth St, Manchester (2 Shows).
Sunday March 20th – Roaring 20’s Club, Carnaby St, London
Wednesday March 23rd – Catacombe Club, Eastbourne.
Friday March 25th – Kent University, Canterbury (also on bill Manfred Mann) and New All Star Club, Bishopsgate, London.
Saturday March 26th – the Caribbean Club & the Mojo Club (both Sheffield).
Mick Maltby says:- “I worked at the Mojo on March 26th, 1966 as drummer to Irma Thomas during her UK tour which ended the following night. We had already done a gig at Sheffield’s Club West Indies and arrived at the Mojo ‘hot and sticky’ and the Mojo was very hot with sweat pouring down the walls. Pete (Stringfellow) welcomed us and came over as a very kind person. He made us as comfortable as possible before our performance to a very enthusiastic audience.”
Sunday March 27th – the Flamingo Club, London.
The Screaming Jay Hawkins Tour, 1966
Embed from Getty ImagesSons of Adam played a total of 5 gigs as the backing band for Screaming Jay Hawkins.
Friday April 1st – The Ram Jam Club, Brixton and The All Star Club, Bishopsgate (both London). Mick Maltby: “Afterwards Jay was dying to go to a fish and chip shop, so we found one and he loved it.”
Saturday April 2nd – The Oasis, Manchester
Sunday April 3rd – The Gainsborough Club, Salford, followed finally by the Riverboat Club, Manchester.
A Selection of Gigs
- 26/10/64 – Sherwood Rooms (with Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders)
- 01/11/64 – Sherwood Rooms (with Dave Berry)
- 06/11/64 – Dungeon
- 22/11/64 – Dungeon (with Linda Lewis & the Sinners)
- 29/11/64 – Dungeon (with The Fairies)
- 13/12/64 – Dungeon (with Gene Vincent)
- 20/12/64 – Dungeon
- 02/01/65 – Dungeon (the day I turned pro)
- 05/02/65 – Dungeon (with the Yardbirds)
- 03/04/65 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn
- 22/05/65 – ‘Beat Wagon’ – on train from Midland Station to St Pancras & back
- 28/05/65 – Sherwood Rooms (with Unit 4 + 2)
- 30/05/65 – Blue Ball, Risley
- 18/06/65 – Festival, Trowell
- 20/06/65 – Olympia, Cromer
- 30/06/65 – Dungeon
- 09/07/65 – Castle’s Ballroom, Annfield Plain
- 04/08/65 – Dungeon
- 11/08/65 – Dungeon
- 15/01/66 – Oasis, Manchester (with the Drifters)
- 22/02/66 – Dungeon – “Audition?”
- 02/03/66 – Dungeon,
- Pigalle (about 10:30 pm)
- 11/03/66 – Marquee (*),
- Club West Indies, NW10 (*),
- Cue Club, Paddington (*)
- 12/03/66 – Dungeon (*)
- 13/03/66 – Gainsborough Club, Salford (*),
- Riverboat Club, Manchester (*)
- 14/03/66 – Granada TV, Manchester for ‘Scene at 6:30’ (*),
- Penthouse Club, Birmingham (*)
- 17/03/66 – ‘Ready Steady Go! sound balance (*)
- Whisky A Go Go (*)
- Scotch Of St James (*)
- 18/03/66 – Ready Steady Go! (*)
- Flamingo Club, London (*)
- El Partido Club, Lewisham (*)
- 19/03/66 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester – 2 shows (*)
- 20/03/66 – Roaring 20s Club, Carnaby Street, London (*)
- 23/03/66 – Catacombe Club, Eastbourne (*)
- 24/03/66 – Rialto, Derby,
- Penthouse Club, Birmingham
- 25/03/66 – Kent University, Canterbury (*) (with Manfred Mann)
- New All–Star Club, Bishopsgate, London (*)
- 26/03/66 – Caribbean Club, Sheffield (*)
- King Mojo Club, Sheffield (*)
- 27/03/66 – Flamingo Club, London (*)
- 01/04/66 – Ram Jam Club, Brixton (~)
- New All–Star Club, Bishopsgate. London (~)
- 02/04/66 – Oasis, Manchester (~)
- 03/04/66 – Gainsborough Club, Salford (~)
- Riverboat Club, Manchester (~)
Notes:
- All gigs marked (*) – backing Irma Thomas
- All gigs marked (~) – backing Screaming Jay Hawkins
Autographs
Summary
Sons of Adam started playing gigs around Nottingham, and during a two-year period played many of the major clubs and venues up and down the country (and played in Germany) and did tours as the backing band for American stars, Irma Thomas and Screaming Jay Hawkins.
In August, 1966, Mick Maltby started a very successful career as the drummer in Sons and Lovers, Paddy Flynn played with a blues band called Bluebaker, Roger Lymn formed the Rockin’ Relics and Elderly Brothers, whilst Harry and Troy did not carry on in the music business.
All pictures used courtesy Mick Maltby, 2020, except where specified.
The Dungeon Club, Nottingham 1964-8 
A great read brings back so many memories, what a great time we all had.
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