Reg’s own record collection included the likes of Pat Boone, Guy Mitchell, Dean Martin, Johnny Ray, Nat King Cole and Frankie Laine. However, all those records would find themselves placed in the attic to make way for the skiffle sounds of Lonnie Donegan, Chas McDevit and The Vipers that began to appear during the second half of the mid 1950s. So influenced, was Reg, by this music that he set about creating his own music related evening. During March 1957 he decided to organise a charity show and had over 100 applications from teenagers who wanted to take part.

Seventy were selected and three shows were given at the Cheylesmore Community Centre. Two of those shows were for the Coventry and District Spastics Society and one for the Canine Fund.

About a year later Reg formed a small group to hold charity dances. He became the vocalist and the others were guitarists Robin Bailey (whose skiffle group had taken part in those earlier shows), Geoff Baker, Phil Packham and drummer Ronnie Cooke.

This group played for two all-night marathons in aid of funds for local charities and things went from strength to strength as they were invited to play for dances at Transport House, youth clubs, working mens’ clubs and many other venues. The result of a challenge by another group at The Rialto Casino gave the group a half hour slot on Tuesdays and Fridays for two and a half months. 

The band’s initial line-up was Vince Martin, Geoff Baker, Phil Pack-Packham and Barry Bernard. However, depending on who you talk to that initial line-up may or may not have included Keith Parsons. 

Their advanced bookings had spread to Warwick, Rugby and Leicester. In addition, the band never refused a request to play for charity if they were requested too.

So busy were The Vampires that they enlisted the services of Keith Parsons’ elder brother, Bryan, as assistant manager. The band’s progress was also shown by way of matching suits and upgrades to equipment such as microphones, guitars and drums.

Where the group failed though was in the area of amplification and this was highlighted when they failed a BBC audition for that very reason during 1960. Despite that setback they went ahead and purchased a van for the purposes of a holiday tour which was planned for the summer of 1961. During the lifetime of the band other local musicians performed for The Vampires. Johnny Washington, Alan Palmer and later on during 1963 Murray Winters and Sherlee Scott all passed through the band’s ranks. The last recorded date I have for a Vampires gig was during 1965.

Vince, as he was more widely known by now, actually left The Vampires during the early 1960s. He became more interested in, and felt he could make a greater impact, with the promoting of concerts. As a result he firstly created Vince Martin Beat Groups. Then later on, during the 1962/63 period, he also started up an entertainment agency called the Big Three Enterprise and based them in Whitefriars Street. Big Three handled bookings for artists like Cilla Black, Lulu and The Hollies. 

At the turn of 1962/63 Big Three and VM rock bands joined forces and then, toward the end of 1964, they in turn teamed up with Mick Tiernan and Jack Hardy at Friars Promotions who had also been based in Whitefriars Street.

Between then this new venture would become known as Friars Promotions and Agencies. At about the same time they left their respective offices in Whitefriars Street and moved to new premises on the corner of Albany Road and Broomfield Road in Earlsdon.

Music trends may have been changing toward the end of the 1960s but Vince moved along with them. He still worked for Friars who, by now were promoting nationally known bands around the Midlands, but this was combined with working at venues like The Walsgrave Pub where he became the house DJ for several years from around 1967. This would continue through to the early 1970s where he eventually moved on to The Mercers Arms and became that venue’s DJ in 1971.

Vince Martin remained in the music business till 1972. As everyone by now knew him as Vince he remained as such when he began his next venture in the holiday business. For that though, he combined his stage name and the surname he was born with and, thus, became known as Vince Holliday.

Says Vince, “Other than those that were part of the rock ‘n’ roll heydays I don’t think that anyone can truly imagine just how big the Coventry and district music scene was. Some of the more popular bands were, at times, coping with two engagements per night / seven nights per week. As office manager for Friars Promotions I was responsible for the majority of their gigs and being a DJ I also shared the stage with these guys on a regular basis. 

Today, and in his late 70s, Vince may not be as active as he was but still organises and gets involved with a lot of charity work for causes such as ‘The Myton Hospice Appeal.’ .’ He also keeps a keen eye and looks after the interests of The Phoenix Rock ‘n’ Roll Band who he arranges gigs for as well as posts out occasional newsletters.

And throughout the vast majority of Vince’s journey he has been accompanied by his wife Sue who really deserves special mention and praise as she has been at his side for over 50 years.

The VAMPIRES
circa 1959-65 – Sources Broadgate Gnome /Rex Brough

Beat group

Line up: Vince Martin (vocals), Johnny Washington (vocals), Graham Sutton (bass), Alan Palmer(drums), Johnny Buggins, Robin Bailey, Barry Bernard.

Keith Parsons also drummed at one point.

Managed by Vince Martin of JRD Entertainments in Whitefriars Street.

Vince Martin (Aka Vince Holliday)

From Rex Brough Memories from Modie Albrighton

“The singer in the Vampires was Vince Holliday who changed his name to Vince Martin. In

every band there is one that stands out and Vince was the one. Showman, salesman, front man and always had time to help other bands. Later he started an Entertainment Agency called the Big Three Enterprise in Whitefriars street bookings for people like Cilla Black, Lulu, and the Hollies. He also handled other bands like the Sorrows, Matadors, and the Tears. He was always on the go. He became the manager of the Peppermint Kreem”

Pete Chambers from the Coventry Telegraph – It’s back to the 60s when The Vampires ruled the music scene.
AS THE former frontman of “Coventry’s first rock ‘n roll band,” Vince Martin and the Vampires, I was pleased to be reminded in a recent Telegraph article that the group actually appeared at The Hawthorn Tree, Tile Hill, way back on January 6, 1963.

The band was originally formed in 1959 to take part in a fundraising concert for the Baginton Fields School for special needs children.

We proved so popular that we eventually went on to appear at many of the country’s major venues, including Blackpool Tower, various holiday parks and the famous Belle Vue Ballroom with Jimmy Saville.

The career spanned a period of 15 years until finally forced to disband in 1973 due to the majority of the popular venues converting to bingo and the disco craze.

Many of the band’s previous followers will no doubt be surprised to hear that all the original members of The Vampires are still alive and kicking.

We occasionally meet up at local jam sessions and the annual “Call Up The Groups” reunion and despite being OAPs, some of us are still involved in the music scene. 

VINCE HOLLIDAY Jon Washington is a popular recording artist currently living in Las Vegas, Phil Packham is currently a member of Coventry’s first supergroup “Rock-It” and Allan Palmer has been in Commanding Officer of the Coventry Corps of Drums for many years.

As for myself, I have been booking manager for the popular “Phoenix Rock ‘n Roll Showband” for the past two years and enjoying every minute of it.

May I, on behalf of all the many former local musicians from the Rock ‘n Roll heyday, thank both writers Peter Chambers and Peter Clemons for their interest and contributions in respect of keeping the city’s music history alive.

It’s greatly appreciated and brings back a lot of brilliant memories for numerous Telegraph readers.

Vince Holliday (aka Vince Martin) William and Mary Cottages, Earlsdon Avenue South, Styvechale.

Vince of Vince Martin and the Vampires on the Radio

The first broadcast from 2015 on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire. Vince talks about his memories of playing in Coventry’s first Rock n Roll band and his role in Friars Promotions that put some many bands, artists and discos into Coventry’s M & B pubs.

This is Vince Martin of the Vampires talking on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire about the band and Friars Promotions – March 2015

There more of Vince’s broadcasts on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire to be found here 

http://coventrygigs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/vince-of-vince-martin-and-vampires-on.html

Vince started Friars Promotions in Coventry – Read about it here

http://covdiscoarchive.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/friars-promotions.html

The idea for the band came from vocalist and harmonica player Nick Rowbotham back in 1978. The original concept, which still works today, was to use musicians from differing musical backgrounds and experiences to work with him to perform original material and classic R ‘n’ B tunes. And, based around Nick, a selection of musicians would be put together based on who was available at the time.

Initially the Mosquitos, who were Leamington Spa based, was made up of Nick and his long time friend and bass player Keith Hancock together with guitarist Steve Walwyn, and drummer Andy Bentley. After a couple of years the band was expanded and included guitarist Steve Aaron and bass player Horace Panter. In fact during 1981, when the Specials single Ghost Town was at number one in the singles chart, Horace famously celebrated by performing with the Mosquitos at the Green Dragon In Stratford-Upon-Avon.

However the track ‘Something out of Nothing’ was not lost forever. Lee Brilleaux, the enigmatic leader of Dr Feelgood, got to hear the song and was well impressed. So much so that he used it on the B side of e Feelgood’s 1983 single ‘Crazy About Girls’ released on the Chiswick label.

It was at this point that it became clear that the band needed to have an even more liquid membership. So the Mosquitos ‘family’ was extended further. is resulted in drummer Rick Medlock, fiddle player Martin Bell and guitarist Phil McWalter all being drafted in. The Mosquitos would continue to play many gigs in pubs, clubs and universities and built a loyal following.

Due to the liquidity of the band the various individuals who made up the group were more involved in other projects. As such the musicians were spending less and less time to devoted to the Mosquitos. And by 1985, with all the band members doing other things, the group simply faded out. Despite this the band members remained great friends and even during their hiatus, they still found the time to perform the very occasional Mosquitos gig.

The Mosquitos began gigging again in 2011. And, every year since, the call goes out to see who is available. Their first year back saw the band perform a handful of gigs over the course of a month. e following year saw them gigging for two months. And now, in 2014, it’s certainly three months, and possibly four months worth of work, as the gigs continue to pour in.

Once again the Mosquitos are generating a tremendous amount of interest. And this is re ected by way of the spread of gigs across the region. And behind the scenes drummer Rick Medlock works hard to secure the gigs and maintain the website. The band are certainly beginning to regain their fan base again as word spreads and each gig seems to bring with it a growing and appreciative audience.

Largely the ‘squad’ gigging today, with the exception of a few notable additions, is much the same as it was thirty years ago. e additional musicians are guitarist Baz Eardley, bass player Chris Wright and guitarist Pete Gardner. And each of these musicians bring with them an outstanding pedigree. Dust My Broom, Bullfrog Blues, I’d Rather Go Blind, Walking Blues, Killing Floor, Shakin’ All Over are just a selection of the band’s songs which get covered. But their repertoire is quite extensive and, as such, no two gigs are the same.

These guys are no spring chickens. Yet despite their advancing ages The Mosquitos still play with passion and enthusiasm. They may be playing for fun but make no mistake about how serious they take their craft. Pride in what they deliver would not have it any other way.

The 2014 season is now over. Let’s hope the 2015 season continues where the last one ended for the band. In their own words, next time you see an advert for a gig near you, then come and join the malarky that is e Mosquitos!

Reg never appeared to settle. Life was just one huge adventure. It was packed with highs and lows. ese include when, for example, he struggled to find employment and for three years lived in a caravan in an apple orchard. But then he took out a mortgage to finance the purchase of Clifton Hall near Rugby. Using a more up to date expression, he lived life on the edge.

And then one day, during the mid-1950s, he heard ‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley and the Comets. This became a defining moment in Reg’s life. His attentions shifted and he began his next great adventure and that was to bring rock ‘n’ roll to England. This dream culminated when his life was cut tragically and unfairly short.

Whenever I read about Reg Calvert I get the impression that this music impresario simply wanted to live the dream. Not only that but it seemed as though he wanted to share that philosophy with everyone and join him in living life to the full.

And now Reg Calvert’s amazing, yet incredibly short, life is being serialised in a trilogy of books. Book one, released during May 2014, is entitled ‘Popcorn to Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and covers the period from 1946, the year he married, through to 1960. Book two, it is hoped, will see day of light during winter 2014/15 and will cover the Clifton Hall period which was also known as the school of rock and where Reg nurtured his dance hall acts. Book three is scheduled for the summer of 2015 and is titled ‘Life and Death of a Pirate.’ . is will cover the days when Reg became involved in pirate radio and which led to his demise during June 1966.

I recently came across an old newspaper cutting from 1962. This was when Reg Calvert’s dances, or Teen Beat shows, were just taking o at the Co-op Hall in Nuneaton. I have reproduced it below.

‘It’s a far cry from making popcorn at a seaside factory to promoting one of the biggest ‘beat’ shows in the Midlands – one that stretches to the south coast, and as far north as Manchester.

Yet that is what Mr Reg Calvert has done with his ‘Teen Beat’ shows, one of which is a regular and popular Friday night feature at the Co-op Hall, Nuneaton.

At the moment Mr Calvert has three young men who have a future in show business – with records. He is soundly off financially, and he moves not only up and down the country, but on the continent.

But at one point Mr Calvert wondered where the next meal was coming from. After promoting his own little shows in a Yorkshire village near Huddersfield, and then to booking bigger bands for his shows, he had to go into the army. 

After this he opened a recording studio in Darlington. It wasn’t a success. He lost all money he had saved in the army. There seemed little hope. So he went to Southampton, with no capital, and nothing but hopefulness. He started making popcorn.

Things turned out brighter. He soon opened two retail shops, and gained enough capital to start promoting shows again, in the Bannister Ballroom in Southampton.

Over the years the public taste in music altered. The Lonnie Donegan style of skiffle really came into its own, and Bill Haley and his Comets arrived.

So Mr Calvert also changed. He started promoting rock ‘n’ roll shows. But he came up against a difficulty. The best groups were not able to be found in Southampton. And he decided to find somewhere in the Midlands to take his road shows. 


He found Clifton Hall, near Rugby, which was just right for what he wanted. It was big enough to house three top groups – Danny Storm and the Strollers, Buddy Britten and the Regents and Robbie Hood and his Merry Men – and it was central enough for his shows.

He promotes these shows at Nuneaton, Weymouth, Andover, Banbury, Cheltenham, Worcester, Evesham, Kidderminster, Burton, Atherstone, Southampton and Rugby. A formidable list for a man who once found it hard to make ends meet. Clifton Hall – the large house that has been termed the ‘school’ for pop singing – conjures up a picture of young singers making new records and practising all day for the shows to come. And that is just what it is. Mr Calvert, who is electrician, manager and promoter, all rolled into one, has made Clifton Hall the focal point for all his shows.

It is here, with its spacious gardens, recording rooms, billiard room, football pitch and luxurious lounge that Mr Calvert gets his singers to work to make the shows he puts on as perfect as possible.

One song has to be sung over and over again. If the vocal is correct the backing is edited, so that both are in tune. It may take minutes but more often than not it is a matter of hours before a record is ready to be put on the market.

And these boys have a strict disciplinarian in Reg Calvert. His rules: No alcohol, No girls.

But they also have plenty of freedom. There is no set time for bed. If someone wants to play drums or sing in the middle of the night he is entitled to. There is no irate neighbour to come knocking on the door complaining. As Mr Calvert says ‘We are a world unto ourselves.” ‘ 

If the film makers are looking for a sequel then they need look no further than the life and times of Reg Calvert. is would enable them to create a movie of the actual true life events that surround the whole pirate radio scene.

PC: The Peeps were formed in 1965. Who approached you about joining the band? Are you able to recall your first gig with them? RA: I think our first gig was in Hamburg at the top ten club but I can’t be sure. Martin Cure came around to my house one day and told me that Steve Jones their guitarist was leaving and asked if I would step in..Of course I said yes Martin is one of the nicest guys you ever want to meet.

PC: I am sure you were, but could you conrm, if you were involved in the recording of the singles made by e Peeps.

RA: I believe “I can make the rain fall up” was one of them PC: Did you have a favourite Coventry venue where you enjoyed playing at the most? RA: The Navigation inn and the Heath hotels back room which we always called Dantes inferno. PC: Next group up were e Rainbows. How did that band get up and running? RA: Rainbows were the Peeps reincarnate, Terry Howells came on the keyboards and Gordon Reed was on drums. Graham Amos was on the bass. We got involved with Ashley Kozak who was previously Donovan’s manager and recorded our first track which was “Rainbows”. It was music away from the normal verse chorus of the day and was probably the beginning of what would later be known as progressive rock.

PC: Of course you were with Rainbows when you went to Germany and first met up with the guys who would become Nektar? RA: at’s right, we were doing a stint as the house band in the Top ten club in Hamburg and during the day while the clubs were being cleaned I passed the Star club and heard a drummer practising. is was Ron Howden from the band Prophecy. He and I decided to spend the next few days together playing and when it was time for Rainbows to return to the UK I told Ron that if they ever needed a guitarist they should call me. A while later I got a telegram from the bass player asking if I want to join them in Hamburg. at was November 5th 1969. 

We came up with a few ideas that were touching on commercial but not too much but at the same time able to venture into other parts, a little like the classics would do. is for me would be the start of my own personal song writing career which would expand even more when I joined Ron Howden to form Nektar.

PC: Nektar of course are well documented around the world. I could really go o on one right now and gush over some of those albums you created with them. But I don’t want to do that, only to say that after all these years those albums still make the hair on my back stand.

RA: It was a very special time with Nektar, we were very productive in the space of a few years, it was a kind of relief to be able to play and create music as we want, we were lucky in the fact that our then record company gave us the freedom to do this. Ninety nine percent of all other record companies were afraid to take on our first album “journey to the centre of the eye” because they said it was too far out, I guess in 1970 it was. 

And there you have it although I am not sure that last statement is strictly true. I accept that times change and musical tastes move on but today’s music listener is not afraid to travel back in time to listen to some of those classic rock acts of the past as well as embrace what is current.

For me though the music is just too good to ignore and although I would personally recommend that you listen to and totally absorb yourself in a Nektar album from beginning to end, given today’s listening habits, you can treat yourself to selected tracks.

If that is your preferred option then give songs such as ‘Wings’ ‘New Day Dawning’ and ‘Do You Believe in Magic’ a spin. They are truly astonishing and they really do stand the test of time. 

Thanks to Lesley Evans for the use of the photos which were taken on April 2 at a Steve Walwyn and Friends evening at e Zephyr in Leamington.

My own preference is for his music-related art: e Clash, e Specials, Amy Winehouse, e Ramones. In written and spoken comments about Horace’s art, I often come across the name of Sir Peter Blake as a comparison, perhaps because they both use bright colours and similar subject matter. Horace has even done an homage to Peter Blake with his ‘Elvis with Badges’ painting which is based on Peter Blake’s ‘Self Portrait.’.

* However, I am far from being an expert in thiseld so could not possibly begin to compare the two. I do know what I like though and I think some of his collages and portraits in the musical genre are wonderful. I love the vibrancy of the colours and the fact that he seems to capture the essence of his subject. 

As well as the painting itself, Horace is currently putting the finishing touches to a book to be published this year about his art. is is after the fact that he wrote his musical biography ‘Ska’d for Life’ (published in 2007) in which describes the formative years of e Specials, his early musical experiences and the rise and fall of the band.

Following the initial demise of e Specials, he spent ten years as an art teacher prior to the band reforming in 2008. e book is written from his own perspective, in a light-hearted way and without any hint of pretentiousness; this is not the kind of book that dishes the dirt. Horace’s passion and dedication for performance is very evident but there is nothing disrespectful towards the other band members. It is refreshing to read this honest first-hand account and out of my collection of music-related books it is certainly one of my favourites. 

Being the bassist in e Specials doesn’t prevent him from playing locally in the blues band ‘Blues 2 Go’: Alio Maynard on vocals, Pete Gardner on guitar and Russell Munns on drums. ey are to be found most weekends playing in and around Coventry, with regular appearances at e Broomeld Tavern, Whitefriars Olde Ale House and e Albany Club – all the gigs are free entry.

Formed ten years ago, ‘Blues 2 Go’,’ are recognised as being more than just a band that has a ‘Special’ in the ranks. eir set will typically include the music of Cream, Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix. And, listening to them live, you quickly realise that their delivery of such classic and respected music is quite exceptional.

And if that wasn’t enough Horace will be bringing his new venture, the ‘Uptown Ska Collective’,’ to the Godiva Festival on Sunday, July 6. By all accounts the USC are a nine-piece band that includes a brass section, which will perform Horace’s favourite music in a ska/reggae style.

Horace’s art can be seen on his website: http://www.horacepanterart.com but to see it up close you could visit either e White Room Gallery in Leamington: http://www.thewhiteroomgallery.com or at Reuben Colley Fine Arts in Birmingham: http://www.reubencolleynearts.co.uk. He exhibits in galleries throughout the UK and this summer is exhibiting in Singapore at ‘Best of British’ (an event showcasing the best of British art and design) and at Icon Gallery.