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The US soul singer Garnet Mimms was a popular performer in Great Britain in the 1960s and visited regularly between May 1967 and the turn of the decade.

Although these September-October 1966 gigs were advertised, Mimms did not tour England during this time. This is confirmed by an advert for the Birdcage club in the Portsmouth News in October 1966, which stated that he was not coming over.

Cancelled tour dates

30 September 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London with The Enchanters Show (Melody Maker)

7 October 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)

16 October 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Poster from Andrew Czezowksi’s collection) Melody Maker lists Rick ‘N’ Beckers who replaced him

This second tour was also cancelled, despite the advertised gigs below.

This is confirmed by an article in Record Mirror’s 20 May 1967 issue (see page 7), which confirms this May 1967 tour was his British debut.

Cancelled tour dates

7 February 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

26 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Edwin Starr (Melody Maker)

2 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

Record Mirror’s 20 May 1967 issue above confirms that Mimms toured Great Britain for the first time this month (organised by promoter Roy Tempest) and was backed by six-piece Glasgow group The Senate.

At the time, the band comprised the following members – Sol Byron (lead vocals); Alex Ligertwood (lead guitar/vocals); Bill Irving (bass); Bob Mather (saxophone); Antony Rutherford (trumpet); and Robbie McIntosh (drums).

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

26 April 1967 – Downbeat Club, Liverpool with The Escorts (Liverpool Echo)

5 May 1967 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey (Aldershot News)

5 May 1967 – Cue Club, Praed Street, west London (Melody Maker)

7 May 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Jimi Hendrix Experience and Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Evening Standard)

9 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

9 May 1967 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London (Marylebone & Paddington Mercury/Melody Maker) Some of the live LP Garnet Mimms made with The Senate was recorded here

11 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with The Senate (Birmingham Evening Mail)

12 May 1967 – Flamingo all-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Horatio Soul and The Square Deals Exposure with Yvonne (Melody Maker)

13 May 1967 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)

18 May 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) More of the live LP was recorded here with the rest taken from a show at Sussex University (see Record Mirror article above)

20 May 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

21 May 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

21 May 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

For this second British tour arranged by Roy Tempest, Garnet Mimms was backed by The Clockwork Orange/Oranges.

Originally from Hillingdon, west London, this band had started out as The Sovereigns and at this stage comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Mich Tomich (bass); Brian Johnston (keyboards); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).

All of the gigs below featured The Clockwork Oranges as backing band unless otherwise stated.

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

29 July 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Clockwork Orange, The Soul Trinity and The Barry Lee Show (Lincolnshire Standard)

31 July 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with The Clockwork Oranges (Birmingham Evening Mail)

1 August 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Ten Years After (Evening Sentinel) Pip Williams confirms his group The Clockwork Oranges backed Garnet at this venue and says they did two short tours with Mimms (see second below)

3 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

5 August 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales with The Raynes and The Senate (Chester Chronicle) Backed by The Senate

5 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Manchester with The Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

13 August 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with The Clockwork Oranges (Birmingham Evening Mail)

For this third Roy Tempest organised tour, it looks like The Clockwork Orange(s) and The Senate both provided backing.

The Clockwork Orange completed a tour with The Fabulous Temptations (later The Fantastics) in Manchester on 19 September (see Fantastics entry on this site), so it’s likely the first gig below was The Senate unless another backing group stepped in. During September, The Senate backed both Ben E King and Big Maybelle on British tours.

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

19 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

22 September 1967 – Clouds, Derby with backing group (Derby Evening Telegraph)

23 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Marmalade, The Senate and Yum Yum Band (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Senate

23 September 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Soulmates (or Taylor Upton Big Jump Band) (Leicester Mercury)

24 September 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (www.kingmojostory.com) Pip Williams says The Clockwork Oranges backed Mimms at this venue. During the tour Ron Thomas from Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement replaced Mick Tomich on bass.

25 September 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Senate and The Cedar Cet (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed by The Senate

26 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

27 September 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Senate and The Cedar Cet (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed by The Senate

28 September 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Scots of St James (Evening Sentinel)

30 September 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Senate and The Eyes of Blonde (Herts & Essex Observer) Backed by The Senate

1 October 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The Original Drifters and The Senate (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Senate

2 October 1967 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Senate, The Original Drifters and The Trend (Runcorn Guardian) Backed by The Senate

3 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

4 October 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Clockwork Orange (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Clockwork Orange

4 October 1967 – 5D, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) Mimms did not appear and The Wild Flowers replaced him

5 October 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside with The Soul Sisters, Clockwork Orange, Duane Eddy, Bobby & The Rebels and The Senate (Hull Daily Mail) Backed by The Senate

6 October 1967 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)

8 October 1967 – Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News)

For this next Roy Tempest organised tour, Garnet Mimms was backed by both The Clockwork Orange(s) and Birmingham band, The Cedar Set, who were probably the house band at the Cedar Club in Birmingham (hence the name). I’ve not been able to find any information about this group and would welcome any further details.

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

7 January 1968 – Dungeon, Nottingham (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com) Says with Clockwork Orange

8 January 1968 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Cedar Cet (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed by The Cedar Set

9 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

11 January 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humber with The Clockwork Orange, The Platters and The Trend and The Elite (Hull Daily Mail) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges

12 January 1968 – Cromwellian, south Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

13 January 1968 – Paradise, Wigan, Lancashire with The Clockwork Orange and Troubles Show Group (Liverpool Echo) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges

16 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

17 January 1968 – Victoriana, Liverpool with The Seftons and The Vix (Liverpool Echo)

19 January 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Backed by The House of Orange

21 January 1968 – Cedar Club, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

The Clockwork Orange(s) (soon-to-become The House of Orange) had become the regular backing band for The Fantastics, so The Cedar Set became Mimms’ new regular backing group on this tour.

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

20 April 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Cedar Set and Six Across (Chester Chronicle)

20 April 1968 – The Place, Manchester with The Cedar Cet and The Trend (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

21 April 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

23 April 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

25 April 1968 – Victoriana, Liverpool with The Cedar Set, The Fringe Benefit and Sin-Bad (Liverpool Echo)

26 April 1968 – Bluesville ’68, Manor House, north London with The Cedar Set (Melody Maker)

27 April 1968 – Loughborough gig (possibly university) (Melody Maker)

29 April 1968 – Stoke gig (Melody Maker)

30 April 1968 – Winter Gardens Malvern, Malvern, Worcestershire with The Platters, The Cedar Set, Jo Jo Cooke Jump Band and The Trend (Worcester News)

1 May 1968 – Ramsey, Cambridgeshire (Melody Maker)

2 May 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside with The Cedar Set, The Fantastics (formerly known as The Fabulous Temptations) and The House of Orange, Pete Kelly’s Solution and The Sound of Sweet William (Hull Daily Mail)

6 May 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Melody Maker)

6 May 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker)

Record Retailer lists latest single in its 22 May 1968 issue page 20

Judging by the dates below, it looks like Birmingham group The Cedar Set once again provided most of the backing on this next Mimms tour, organised again by Roy Tempest.

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

13 July 1968 – Grand Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with The Cedar Set and Whisky Mac (Derby Evening Telegraph)

14 July 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Senate and The Jaytree Organisation (Cheshire Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Senate, although they spent a lot of time in Italy in 1968 so needs confirmation

22 July 1968 – Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

28 July 1968 – Beat Centre Discotheque Club, Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with More Mad Movies and Krazy Kartoons (Runcorn Guardian)

The Clockwork Orange Soul Band (aka Clockwork Oranges/House of Orange) had become the regular backing group for The Fantastics (aka The Fabulous Temptations) by this point.

At this stage, they comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Ron Thomas (bass); Brian Johnston (keyboards); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).

Although they started this tour while also playing with The Fantastics, another group took over early on (see below).

These tour dates are incomplete and we’d welcome any additions.

Tour dates:

15 November 1968 – New Revolution, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire with Clockwork Orange Soul Band (Nottingham Evening Post) The Clockwork Orange Soul Band also backed The Fantastics in Scarborough on this date

15 November 1968 – Public Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire with The Showstoppers and The Impressions (Nottingham Evening Post) The Clockwork Orange Soul Band also backed The Fantastics in Scarborough on this date

Within days, Long Melford (near Sudbury), Suffolk band, Village Green took over backing Garnet Mimms.

This group comprised Colin Woodhouse (lead vocals); Roland Higgins (guitar); Terry Boreham (bass); Trevor Jamieson (keyboards); Chris Woodhouse (trombone); Steve Fitzgerald (trumpet); Tommy White (tenor sax); and Joe Osborne (drums)

Steve Fitzgerald kept a diary and the following gigs are all with Village Green providing backing.

Tour dates:

21 November 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Evening Standard/Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

21 November 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

22 November 1968 – Mardi Gras Club, Liverpool with Charge (Liverpool Echo/Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

22 November 1968 – Victoriana Club, Liverpool (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

23 November 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Crystals (Lancashire Telegraph/Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

23 November 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

24 November 1968 – Clouds, Derby with Village Green Soul Band (Derby Evening Telegraph/Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

25 November 1968 – Club Lafayette, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

25 November 1968 – Club Cedar, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail/ Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

27 November 1968 – Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

28 November 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker/Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

29 November 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

30 November 1968 – Gig in Gillingham, Kent (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

30 November 1968 – Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

1 December 1968 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London (Steve Fitzgerald’s diary)

It’s not clear who backed Garnet Mimms on the next tour in 1969 and we’d welcome any further details. These are the only dates I’ve found so far

Tour dates:

18 April 1969 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

1 May 1969 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

Melody Maker’s 16 August 1969 issue, page 43 (above), says he returns to Britain in October for a 17-day tour

Tour dates include:

5 October 1969 – Douglas House, Lancaster Gate, west London (Melody Maker)

10 October 1969 – Victorianna Club and Mardi Gras Club, Liverpool (Melody Maker)

11 October 1969 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Melody Maker)

13 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire (Melody Maker)

We’d welcome any further information below in the comments section