Can anyone remember The Esquire Club on Leadmill Road in the 60's..It was owned by a chap called Terry Thornton..I understand he is now in prison for life for trying to murder his Ex with a bomb..but we used have some great nights at the club...I saw a young "Rod Stewart" sing there with the long John Baldry Band

yep saw small faces , dave berry ,ritche blackmoor ,cocker,kinks ,pretty things,,plus a lot of terrible fights [blokes getting thrown down the stairs ,i think somebody got kicked to death one night by a bunch of lowlife teds with thier winkle pickers on ...stood in acircle about 6 of them and just kicked for about 5 mins... i can still picture it now..... i hope thier all suffering from some evil desease in an old peoples home now..remember the allnighters having sex on the bus seats .purple hearts, green and blacks ,sex in the passageways .

I never liked The Esquire as much as Terry Thorntons previous Club 60 but he did book some great acts there. Most taste were catered for, I remember seeing Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Carl Perkins and the Kinks. Good times and great music, oh dear if only we could go back and do it again

Message as follows:
--------------------------

To whom it may concern.

I read an article on your news page asking did anyone remember the Esquire Club on Leadmill Road and the Club 60 down on West Bar.

Well here's a blast from the past for your older city (60's vintage readers), I was the manager of the Club 60 in a quantra deal done with Terry Thornton, which incidentally he never backed up in times of need, just took the money when times were good.

But that's not the story, the story really is on the number of up and coming groups that played at the Club 60 in the mid 60's, for what I might ad in those days was a very small fee. Some of the notable groups we had
were: Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Jimmy Crawford and the Ravens (whatever happened to him ?, his real name was Ron Lyndsay, he was a champion school boy swimmer), Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Rockin Berries, Frankenstein and the Monsters, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Fortunes and many more. We nearly booked the Rolling Stones in their very early years, but Terry Thornton said they hadn't received very good reviews from down South, so we didn't bother (bugger).

The big problem with the Club 60 was you could only get about 350 people in, and in a three cellar complex that was mighty crowded when full. The club worked well for a while, but unfortunately when the River Don rose in the winter, the cellars were suseptible to seapage, and manys the day that we had crews mopping three inches of water out for a Saturday night openning, and the damp smell left behind was not pleasant. But the club enjoyed success for a couple of years, but then as with all small venues the crowds went to bigger and better clubs, and we really needed to spend a heap of money on it, which (I) did not have at the time.

The main rivals were the Esquire Club, which eventually covered three floors down on Leadmill Road, and Pete Stringfellow's Mojo Club, which also did very well at that time, and as they say the rest is history.

I actually went to to old Grand Hotel (now long since gone) to pick up Sonny Boy Williamson, who was quite fluid at the time for a performance at the Esquire Club in it's hayday. He was not quite sure where he was, but I remember his performance that night, and he never missed a beat on stage, as they say he was one of the old masters. The same thing happened with Lightning Hopkins when he came to the Esquire, but they were old pro's and the music was pure soul.

Well there you go, we had a lot of faithful followers in the old days, and I'm sure many of them may still have a fond memory or two of the old Club 60 down on Shail Road. Funny enough I can't remember the name of the pub whose cellars we used, perhaps you could research that for me.

PS: Dave Berry and the Cruisers are playing in Queensland this coming weekend, and I believe Frank White is still with him, they go back a long way.

Best Regards: Tony Land, an old Handsworth boy

Originally posted by deadgobby
yep saw small faces , dave berry ,ritche blackmoor ,cocker,kinks ,pretty things,,plus a lot of terrible fights

When you say Ritchie Blackmore, that would have been when he was a member of the Screaming Lord Sutch Band, presumably?

TIMBUCK You have a lot of interesting stories about 60s groups, were you in one of them.
I am a big sixties fan and its always nice to hear about the groups of the time, and what they are doing now.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
TIMBUCK You have a lot of interesting stories about 60s groups, were you in one of them.
I am a big sixties fan and its always nice to hear about the groups of the time, and what they are doing now. I first started playing guitar in 1955 it was a flat top spanish type accoustic with a pickup made from an old pair of army headphones..the Amp was made from an old radiogramme cut down. My mate Mick Mills was not bad at singing and we used to get up and do some songs together at Shiregreen comunity centre, most of our stuff was Gene Vincent co's we were big fans.
The first group I was in was called "Mark Stone and the Questors"
Founded in 1957 We were based in Shiregreen ..Other groups in the area were the Falcons, The Greycats who had been around for years, The Whirlwinds with Johnny Ryder on vocals and Dave Hawley on lead Guitar, The Twin Cities Beat Boys, Jonny Tempest and the Mariners, Ron Lyndsey and the coasters (with Frank white) , Terry and the Roosters, Pete Fender and the Trackers, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, The avengers with Joe Cocker on drums, and lots of others I can't remember, Rhythm Groups as they were called were being formed all the time and every body I knew was in one..at one time there were over 300 groups in Sheffield. The Sheffield Telegraph published a weekly magazine just for the groups, it was call the "Top Star Special" (I think).
The biggest event I remember at the time was The Mackerson Rhythm Group Contest..it was A Knockout Contest held at all the Tennants pubs in the Sheffield area that could stage a show..Like the Wharncliffe at Firth Park, The Sicy Hotel, The one at Page Hall.
( can't remember it's name)...Any way the Winner was was promised A recording contract and some cash, our band was elliminated in one of the stages beaten by "The Kenny Pete Five"..
If there are any questions you'd like to ask please go ahead and try to jog my memory.

Originally posted by mojoworking
When you say Ritchie Blackmore, that would have been when he was a member of the Screaming Lord Sutch Band, presumably? i thought i was the only one that new that,i think he was the first to use distortion or fuzz

Originally posted by deadgobby
i thought i was the only one that new that,i think he was the first to use distortion or fuzz

Difficult one, that. It's sometimes claimed that Dave Davies started it when he slashed his speakers with a razor blade before recording You Really Got Me. Jimmy Page was using guitar effects early on, including a prototype wah-wah pedal in 1965 (notably on Dave Berry's The Crying Game).

Before Sutch, of course, Ritchie was a member of The Outlaws, a Shadows-type instrumental band, produced by Joe Meek and featuring Chas Hodges (later of Chas & Dave) on bass.

This is to deadgobby.
I think your imagination has got the better of my old mate with regards some one getting kicked to death. I work at the Esquire for most of the time it was open and no one was fataly injured
that I know of. You mentioned Teds, well Ted were very old fashioned by then and they didn't wear winkle pickers. Teds wore suade soled brothel creepers.
Still, good old days

remember Dodge`s on the corner[Magnet pub]
once saw Rod the mod come out of the Esquire and jumpstart his Jag.
We were outside cos we were skint and had not got the right piece of wallpaper edging they used as a passout.
They were great times, Mojo tues & sat, Esquire fridays.
Only went to club 60 once[over the back wall]

Met the wife there in '64

Great club The Esquire, I was in one night when it got raided by the police, maybe because of the purple hearts that were getting passed round at that time, I dont know.

Anyway, the police made every body give them there name and address, including there neighbours name.

The big mistake was, loads gave false names, and before you could get out of the club, they had a copper checking from a Kellys dictionary, if it did not match, you were in trouble.

There were three to a cell in West Bar that night.

Happy days.

What a lot you folks remember about the Esquire. I was there the night Frankenstein (Ray Stuart?) fell off the balcony and supposedly bit off the end of his tongue. Also lots of all-nighters, although the stongest thing I ever had there was a Coca Cola. Never even saw a purple heart!

I was involved in setting up the leadmill in the early '80s. Dismantled the esquire. Felt like I was destroying a part of sheffield's history. Found around 20 purses and wallets inside the toilet partitions, all empty and obviously dumped when stolen. For those who don't know, it was where the leadmill is now, on the first, second and third floors above the main entrance and running towards the station end of lmill rd. There is a little door there now which is a fire exit from the upper floors. Through that door there is a straight flight to the first floor. That was the lounge, cloakroom and toilets. On the next floor was the main stage area with the stage over and above where the turnstiles are now. The stage corner was a grand piano (no legs) and it was small. Behind the stage was the dressing room. It was essentially a landing on the 'fire escape' Just in front of the stage was a hole in the floor above. Quite a large hole with a balcony where you could look down on the stage. That was where the coffee bar was, at the far end above the entrance door.

Legend has it that the who and hendrix both played there, but I'm not sure if that's 'urban legend' material.

Even tho it had been empty for years it had a lot of 'atmosphere'. Perhaps because it had been empty for years.

The fire escape was a ridiculous open treaded wooden thing pitched at about 50-60degrees - a veritable death trap. Most people who used it fell down it, rather than going down normally.

The fire officer and the engineer during the leadmill construction both were 'punters' in their day.

That's all folks!

Well if any one want to have a guided tour as it is now contact Darren@leadmill.co.uk
You can tell me whats original and whats not
The stairs look very old!

Can anyone remember The Esquire Club on Leadmill Road in the 60's..It was owned by a chap called Terry Thornton..I understand he is now in prison for life for trying to murder his Ex with a bomb..but we used have some great nights at the club...I saw a young "Rod Stewart" sing there with the long John Baldry Band
Before the club shut down it had a brief period where it was called "Styles" or "Stiles",I can't remember which.Perhaps someone else can remember this period.

I remember seeing Rod Stewart at the Esquire Club in the early sixty's, he came with a dynamic London band called "Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions", incidently the white Jauguar belonged to Jimmy Powell. Never heard of him again. Jimmy Powell was really awesome on stage.

Never went myself. Missed out there but have 6 tracks recorded there live by Joe Cocker with his Avengers. His voice was superb then. Apparently the tape with these tracks on lay in someone's greenhouse until discovered in 1999. Tracks were copied to a CD from which a mate of mine copied to tape and posted me a copy.

thanks tony land for the mention of jimmy powell ikeep in touch with jp since seeing him with rod at the esquire but to me jimmy was the true star . he could hold and still can the audience in his hand with every song he does i saw him last year on stage and his voice is still amazing you feel that every song he does its the first time hes done it and he really gives a100% and hes still the genuine nice guy he was at the esquire if you go on google or ask jeeves its the full story on jimmy plus on ebay jimmys 2 cds keep coming up if you have any stories on jimmy please put em on and ill send them to him from maggidees old man

ps you will find the real answer to who played harmonica on my boy lollipop wasit jimmy look on geeves or google

This thread brings back memories, I found my old Esquire club membership card a couple of years ago in an Old Holburn tobacco tin. I used to go to the Esquire just about every week. I saw a lot of great bands there. Stand out ones were The Graham Bond Organization who were regulars at the club, Long John Baldry, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Screaming Lord Sutch, Pretty Things. I also to knew Joe Cocker and his band. He used to call himself Vance Arnold and the Avengers and then it was the Grease Band, he used to play the Methodist Church Hall and the Rugby Club dances at Dore before he was famous and he still played air guitar back then. :) The all nighters at the Esquire were great, there used to be a tiger skin on the wall upstairs and the stairs were rather narrow and rickity. Does anyone remember the Sidewalk a cafe on a little alley in Fargate? I also used to go the the Mojo Club which was a mod hang out, that also did all nighters and had great bands. Pete Stringfellow was the owner then.

This thread brings back memories, I found my old Esquire club membership card a couple of years ago in an Old Holburn tobacco tin. I used to go to the Esquire just about every week. I saw a lot of great bands there. Stand out ones were The Graham Bond Organization who were regulars at the club, Long John Baldry, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Screaming Lord Sutch, Pretty Things. I also to knew Joe Cocker and his band. He used to call himself Vance Arnold and the Avengers and then it was the Grease Band, he used to play the Methodist Church Hall and the Rugby Club dances at Dore before he was famous and he still played air guitar back then. :) The all nighters at the Esquire were great, there used to be a tiger skin on the wall upstairs and the stairs were rather narrow and rickity. Does anyone remember the Sidewalk a cafe on a little alley in Fargate? I also used to go the the Mojo Club which was a mod hang out, that also did all nighters and had great bands. Pete Stringfellow was the owner then.I played at both Terry Thorntons clubs in the 60s(Club 60 ,Esquire) with a band called Scott William Combo.Dave Hawley(father of Richard Hawley )on lead guitar, various drummers including Kenny Slade,Myself Nick F on bass and Scott on guitar Vocals.
We opened for lots of famous bands already mentioned at the all nighters.
I could write a book on those days.Most of the bands used to meet in the Stonehouse Pub and then down to the Sidewalk for coffee on Saturday afternoons,then into a 15cwt van to gig who knows where.General pay for a gig in those days about 3 quid a man (GROSS).!!!!!!before stoppages!
If anyone is doing a project or book on those times ,feel free to contact me for any info I may be able to assist you with,I have a great memory !!!.By the way,I lost contact with Scott ( alias Bill Goudie) years ago, if anyone should know of his current whereabouts please let me know.
Thanks !

Does anyone know what happened to the Scott William Combo,who often opened for such as Baldry and good ole Vance Arnold and the Avengers?

Does anyone know what happened to the Scott William Combo,who often opened for such as Baldry and good ole Vance Arnold and the Avengers?

Sorry I do not. I knew Kenny Slade the drummer, but have lost contact with him. He also played with Joe Cocker for a while and then was booted when Joe got famous. We were all ****** off about that.

Kenny Slade is alive an well and is a drinking partner of mine up Walkley, Any nice messages that you want me to pass on please pm me

I also work at The Leadmill in the offices which funnily enough are on the 1st floor of the old Esquire, all thats left is the metal posts that all the bands used to scratch their names on and the old rickety woodn stairs where you all used to queue to get in, I showed a husbad and wife couple who met at The Esquire around last week - They were quite emotional, I'd be happy to show anyone else around if they wished

Were you there the night the Walker Brothers appeared, and some one organized for the guys in audience to form a barrier around the stage, just to keep the girls off Scott Walker.

And when Joe Cocker played there, did you try and get to The Truro during the interval, before Joe made it.
Did you also go to the folk nights at the Highcliff at Greystones? and the Disco nights at the Blue Bell in Hackenthorpe,and Shades on Ecclesall Road.
I saw John O Hara and the Playboys there, not my scene at the time,but they put on a great show.

Hi, yes I used to go to the Highcliffe Arms every Friday, was it? Shades was also a spot I visited quite often especially when it first opened. I remember seeing John Martin at the Highcliffe he was something of a regular there along with Bert Jansck. The Highcliffe was always a pretty good evening.

Message as follows:
--------------------------

To whom it may concern.

I read an article on your news page asking did anyone remember the Esquire Club on Leadmill Road and the Club 60 down on West Bar.

Well here's a blast from the past for your older city (60's vintage readers), I was the manager of the Club 60 in a quantra deal done with Terry Thornton, which incidentally he never backed up in times of need, just took the money when times were good.

But that's not the story, the story really is on the number of up and coming groups that played at the Club 60 in the mid 60's, for what I might ad in those days was a very small fee. Some of the notable groups we had
were: Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Jimmy Crawford and the Ravens (whatever happened to him ?, his real name was Ron Lyndsay, he was a champion school boy swimmer), Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Rockin Berries, Frankenstein and the Monsters, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Fortunes and many more. We nearly booked the Rolling Stones in their very early years, but Terry Thornton said they hadn't received very good reviews from down South, so we didn't bother (bugger).

The big problem with the Club 60 was you could only get about 350 people in, and in a three cellar complex that was mighty crowded when full. The club worked well for a while, but unfortunately when the River Don rose in the winter, the cellars were suseptible to seapage, and manys the day that we had crews mopping three inches of water out for a Saturday night openning, and the damp smell left behind was not pleasant. But the club enjoyed success for a couple of years, but then as with all small venues the crowds went to bigger and better clubs, and we really needed to spend a heap of money on it, which (I) did not have at the time.

The main rivals were the Esquire Club, which eventually covered three floors down on Leadmill Road, and Pete Stringfellow's Mojo Club, which also did very well at that time, and as they say the rest is history.

I actually went to to old Grand Hotel (now long since gone) to pick up Sonny Boy Williamson, who was quite fluid at the time for a performance at the Esquire Club in it's hayday. He was not quite sure where he was, but I remember his performance that night, and he never missed a beat on stage, as they say he was one of the old masters. The same thing happened with Lightning Hopkins when he came to the Esquire, but they were old pro's and the music was pure soul.

Well there you go, we had a lot of faithful followers in the old days, and I'm sure many of them may still have a fond memory or two of the old Club 60 down on Shail Road. Funny enough I can't remember the name of the pub whose cellars we used, perhaps you could research that for me.

PS: Dave Berry and the Cruisers are playing in Queensland this coming weekend, and I believe Frank White is still with him, they go back a long way.

Best Regards: Tony Land, an old Handsworth boy



Came across this old leaflet - should bring back a few memories. Is that Terry Thorntons wife in the foreground ??

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/Elmambo_bucket/scansclub602.gif

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/Elmambo_bucket/club60004.jpg

Were you there the night the Walker Brothers appeared, and some one organized for the guys in audience to form a barrier around the stage, just to keep the girls off Scott Walker.

And when Joe Cocker played there, did you try and get to The Truro during the interval, before Joe made it.
Did you also go to the folk nights at the Highcliff at Greystones? and the Disco nights at the Blue Bell in Hackenthorpe,and Shades on Ecclesall Road.
I saw John O Hara and the Playboys there, not my scene at the time,but they put on a great show.
Never made it as far as the Truro-used to go to the Rodley on the corner of Leadmill & St. Mary's. I remember the Walker Bros. concert, but my enduring memory is seeing Jimmy Witherspoon, set me up as a Blues fan for life, though Baldry always gave a good show. Remember Terry T. setting up trips to the Cavern as well.I never made it as

Hi All! I'm a writer from Holland, looking for someone that has witnessed Joe Cocker as Vance Arnold playing support act for The Hollies and The Stones in '63 in Sheffield! Anyone?
Leo Blokhuis

I remember all the good times at the Esquire and Club 60. All the blues legends and the up and coming acts before they were well known. Attended Terry's fancy dress parties at Christmas dressed as cat and was taken home by Dave Berry. Was there when Ray Stuart fell off balcony and bit through his tongue. Loads of mods there but don't recall any teds. Club 60 did used to niff a bit at times but what great nights. Wouldn't get away with it now with health and safety rules - ha-ha! Terry Thornton was locked up for sending nail bomb to his former girlfriend. The lady who ran Esquire with him went on to run a market stall in Bakewell I believe. Any more memories from anyone - remember all nighters at Mojo, and Twisted Wheel in Manchester?

Hi All! I'm a writer from Holland, looking for someone that has witnessed Joe Cocker as Vance Arnold playing support act for The Hollies and The Stones in '63 in Sheffield! Anyone?
Leo Blokhuis
Saw Vance Arnold and the Avengers playing locally many times. The concert you mention, was it at the City Hall? I think I had a programme for that until a few years ago when we had a flood in the house and I lost my memory box :(

Never went myself. Missed out there but have 6 tracks recorded there live by Joe Cocker with his Avengers. His voice was superb then. Apparently the tape with these tracks on lay in someone's greenhouse until discovered in 1999. Tracks were copied to a CD from which a mate of mine copied to tape and posted me a copy.

Joe Cockers original stage name was Vance Arnold and the Avengers......He copied a lot of Ray Charles numbers and also plyed piano as well as drums. He played at the Green Gate Inn in the early days, He was born in Beigton and a friend of my brother.

I thought he was born on Tasker Road, Crookes.

mikeG - think you're right. He came from a Crookes family, my mother knew his father quite well as they were in the same class at Western Road School in the 20's. And if memory serves Joe was in the year behind us at Lydgate Lane.

[,,,] He was born in Beigton and a friend of my brother.
Are you getting him confused with Dave Berry? Dave's family lived in Beighton. Joe was a Crookes lad.

[QUOTE=mikeG;3832453]
I thought he was born on Tasker Road, Crookes ?

He was Mike, no 38 to be exact, born May 20th 1944, he lived opposite me & was my best mate growing up, still see him when he comes down under, he is still the same old Joe.

Timbuck, the pub at Pagehall might have been the Cannon Hall at Firvale, that's where they had the battle of the bands in the 60's.

mikeG - think you're right. He came from a Crookes family, my mother knew his father quite well as they were in the same class at Western Road School in the 20's. And if memory serves Joe was in the year behind us at Lydgate Lane.

Well Robian, he was in the year being me at Lydgate too. I was in Mr Savile's class 1953/54. You may have been too, or in Mr Aynsworth's. My surname is George.

I thought he was born on Tasker Road, Crookes.

Quite right. He is from Tasker Road, Crookes, a gas fitter by trade.

Kenny Slade the drummer also played with Joe Cocker for a while and then was booted when Joe got famous. We were all ****** off about that.

Unfortunately greystones, that's the pro music industry for you, poor old BJ Wilson, Cliff Goodwin, Howie Hersh & the rest of the band got the boot too after many faithful years of service, I was rather sad about that, as I had spent many happy hours with them on their tours down under.

I remember both the Esquire and Club 60 on Shalesmoor so well.I always prefered the Club60 but had some great Sunday nights at the Esquire.There was a group called the Scot William Combo who played there on many occasions.We thought they were brill and I often wondered what happened to them.After reading a previous posting I,ve now found out.Another one up for the Sheffield Forum

I remember seeing the Rolling Stones at the City Hall in the 60s. The Hollies and Dave Berry were supporting acts. Great concert. Been to many Stones concerts over the years.

I remember seeing Rod Stewart at the Esquire Club in the early sixty's, he came with a dynamic London band called "Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions", incidently the white Jauguar belonged to Jimmy Powell. Never heard of him again. Jimmy Powell was really awesome on stage.

I saw the Five Dimentions at the Gaumont in Barkers Pool circa 1963, they were backing the main act, Chuck Berry. Also on the bill were The Moody Blues and a great group called The Graham Bond Organisation, they had a bit of a drummer called Ginger Baker at the time. :hihi:

It cost £1.00, a veritable fortune when you are on £5.00 per week. :o

Hi everyone! I used to DJ at The Esqure, cicra 65-67, and for the short time it was renamed as Stiles, 1967. Some of these posts have me recalling some great times down there, with Barrie Campbell. Here's a few more bands for people to try remembering.

The Small Faces - who remembers them calling in, after being paid-off somewhere else, getting a spot for gas money to get back to London?
The Outer Limits - this band feaured John Christie who later had a hit with 'Yellow River'.
Herbie Goins & The Nightimers - I forget who he was formerly with. If I remember, they were something like a cross between Cliff Bennett's Rebel Rousers and Geno Washington.
Wimple Winch - they were just signed with Fontana. Check out Nuggets for their old single.
Shape Of The Rain - aka Riley, Riley, Wood & Waggett. If anyone's got their RCA singles or their album on Neon, you're sitting on a fortune.
Who doesn't remember Frank White with his white Gibson twin-neck? Jimmy Page gave that to him, so I believe. That guy is respected everywhere.
The Pitiful Souls - I stll have fond memories of these guys. They lived on Burngreave Road, a few minutes walk from another club.
Delroy Washington - if I remember, he lived around the corner from The Pitiful Souls, Melrose Road? That area.
Jimmy Powell!! - how many times did he come! You could always guarantee Jimmy did such a great show. He had a knack of talent-spotting with various players, as someone remembered with Rod The Mod.
Wynder K Frogg - Mick always used a Farfisa Organ, ALWAYS said the next time he'd come with a Hammond. He got that once he signed to Island Records. His album still sounds great even now. Sunshine SuperFrog - anyone got it?

The Who - who remembers the stage being completely wall-to-wall with Marshalls? Moon's kit JUST fitted in front of that famous pole! Their first number was a MASS of noise! Then..... nobody realized they'd finished it! The sound still rings in your ears when you remember that night. They sprinted over from doing Top Of The Pops, when 'My Generation' reached something like No.2. Their van had a huge dent in it from a collision coming over The Snake.

There used to be a Roll Of Honour in the old TV room. That read like a Who's Who. Terry had a knack of getting bands prior to having their hits. Read recently about Sister Rosetta Tharpe (or Thorpe) passing away.

For info - Barrie went on to do The Pendulum (Rotherham), The Heartbeat (Wednesday nights), The Blue Bell (Hackenthorpe) and a mobile disco. I used to be his eyes as he couldn't see where to pt the needle on the record. Fond memories of those times!

Bill Coopland - aka Willie.

[QUOTE=Elmambo;2134601]Came across this old leaflet - should bring back a few memories. Is that Terry Thorntons wife in the foreground ??

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/Elmambo_bucket/scansclub602.gif

[IMG]http://i152.photobucket.com/

Yes that is Audrey Thornton, lovely lady!

[QUOTE=Elmambo;2134601]Came across this old leaflet - should bring back a few memories. Is that Terry Thorntons wife in the foreground ??

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/Elmambo_bucket/scansclub602.gif

[IMG]http://i152.photobucket.com/

Not sure if Pete has seen that but he did use club60 for this
http://absolutelyscooters.com/photgal/albums/userpics/normal_15.jpg
we are both way to young to have gone there more KGB lads.

The Who - who remembers the stage being completely wall-to-wall with Marshalls? Moon's kit JUST fitted in front of that famous pole! Their first number was a MASS of noise! Then..... nobody realized they'd finished it! The sound still rings in your ears when you remember that night. They sprinted over from doing Top Of The Pops, when 'My Generation' reached something like No.2. Their van had a huge dent in it from a collision coming over The Snake.

I remember the Who gig Monday night i think? 7 shillings and sixpence to get in.
Keith Moon bouncing his drumsticks off the bass drum and the audience fighting over them and the noise.
Does anyone remember seeing a band called The Origators Creed? 66 i think it was, they were a bit like the Who, the guitarist kept hitting the pole with his guitar.
Saw many great bands at the Esquire, one of my favorite gigs was the 1965 new years eve all-nighter, with The Pretty Things, i was only fourteen at the time.
Great club,great times

Truly the GOLDEN age of clubbing.....not just in Sheffield but a great time across the whole UK for the emerging club scene...when rules were few and far between and you could just do up a basement, call it a club and open the doors...well not quite that simple, but a million times easier than it is today...

Great club The Esquire, I was in one night when it got raided by the police, maybe because of the purple hearts that were getting passed round at that time, I dont know.

Anyway, the police made every body give them there name and address, including there neighbours name.

The big mistake was, loads gave false names, and before you could get out of the club, they had a copper checking from a Kellys dictionary, if it did not match, you were in trouble.

There were three to a cell in West Bar that night.

Happy days.

i was there to first time i had been me and my mate got kept back for hours happy days

The esquire was a great place to play; not just for out of town bands/grouips but local as well. I remember the atmosphere when playing there with our band.
Another great venue that followed was the Black cat club which was more accessable due to not being a city centre venue; we supported Screaming Lord Sutch there although I don't with agree with Pete Stringfellow that 'Peter Green' (Fleetwood Mac) was in the lineup.
The Memorial Hall Hillsborough was another of our regular gigging spots.

Myself and my Friend Roy Bennett were in the Cathedral gardens as early mods when we were appoched by Stevie Marriot that day following their pay off from the Working Mens Club. We had drinks with them in the Albert Hotel and then the Howard Hotel before taking them down to meet Terry and Audrey Thornton at the Esquire. They played free of charge as they were skint, stayed over and then we took them to meet Pete Stringfellow at the Mojo the following day and another booking. We would always claim that we started the Small Faces on their Northern Road to fame and despite claims from Mojo followers, the Esquire was where it all started...Jon B

Hi everyone! I used to DJ at The Esqure, cicra 65-67, and for the short time it was renamed as Stiles, 1967. Some of these posts have me recalling some great times down there, with Barrie Campbell. Here's a few more bands for people to try remembering.

The Small Faces - who remembers them calling in, after being paid-off somewhere else, getting a spot for gas money to get back to London?
The Outer Limits - this band feaured John Christie who later had a hit with 'Yellow River'.
Herbie Goins & The Nightimers - I forget who he was formerly with. If I remember, they were something like a cross between Cliff Bennett's Rebel Rousers and Geno Washington.
Wimple Winch - they were just signed with Fontana. Check out Nuggets for their old single.
Shape Of The Rain - aka Riley, Riley, Wood & Waggett. If anyone's got their RCA singles or their album on Neon, you're sitting on a fortune.
Who doesn't remember Frank White with his white Gibson twin-neck? Jimmy Page gave that to him, so I believe. That guy is respected everywhere.
The Pitiful Souls - I stll have fond memories of these guys. They lived on Burngreave Road, a few minutes walk from another club.
Delroy Washington - if I remember, he lived around the corner from The Pitiful Souls, Melrose Road? That area.
Jimmy Powell!! - how many times did he come! You could always guarantee Jimmy did such a great show. He had a knack of talent-spotting with various players, as someone remembered with Rod The Mod.
Wynder K Frogg - Mick always used a Farfisa Organ, ALWAYS said the next time he'd come with a Hammond. He got that once he signed to Island Records. His album still sounds great even now. Sunshine SuperFrog - anyone got it?

The Who - who remembers the stage being completely wall-to-wall with Marshalls? Moon's kit JUST fitted in front of that famous pole! Their first number was a MASS of noise! Then..... nobody realized they'd finished it! The sound still rings in your ears when you remember that night. They sprinted over from doing Top Of The Pops, when 'My Generation' reached something like No.2. Their van had a huge dent in it from a collision coming over The Snake.

There used to be a Roll Of Honour in the old TV room. That read like a Who's Who. Terry had a knack of getting bands prior to having their hits. Read recently about Sister Rosetta Tharpe (or Thorpe) passing away.

For info - Barrie went on to do The Pendulum (Rotherham), The Heartbeat (Wednesday nights), The Blue Bell (Hackenthorpe) and a mobile disco. I used to be his eyes as he couldn't see where to pt the needle on the record. Fond memories of those times!

Bill Coopland - aka Willie.

I bought a record by The Outer Limits (around 1967 I think) it was called "Just One More Chance" - is this the same band?Lost the record along with a load of other excellent 45s when I was at Uni 1969 -72 - I would lend them out & never see them again.I regret it now,some of those old 45s are worth abit!

Jonceebee - that was a great story re Steve Marriot. Out of interest do you know which Working Mens Club they performed ?. I believe it was their first northern booking. I saw him at the Pheasant years later. Frank White said he was one of the most under-rated lead guitarists. He told us he was off to the US with Peter Frampton. Sadly he was to die soon after his arrival home.

Message as follows:
--------------------------

To whom it may concern.

I read an article on your news page asking did anyone remember the Esquire Club on Leadmill Road and the Club 60 down on West Bar.

Well here's a blast from the past for your older city (60's vintage readers), I was the manager of the Club 60 in a quantra deal done with Terry Thornton, which incidentally he never backed up in times of need, just took the money when times were good.

But that's not the story, the story really is on the number of up and coming groups that played at the Club 60 in the mid 60's, for what I might ad in those days was a very small fee. Some of the notable groups we had
were: Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Jimmy Crawford and the Ravens (whatever happened to him ?, his real name was Ron Lyndsay, he was a champion school boy swimmer), Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Rockin Berries, Frankenstein and the Monsters, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Fortunes and many more. We nearly booked the Rolling Stones in their very early years, but Terry Thornton said they hadn't received very good reviews from down South, so we didn't bother (bugger).

The big problem with the Club 60 was you could only get about 350 people in, and in a three cellar complex that was mighty crowded when full. The club worked well for a while, but unfortunately when the River Don rose in the winter, the cellars were suseptible to seapage, and manys the day that we had crews mopping three inches of water out for a Saturday night openning, and the damp smell left behind was not pleasant. But the club enjoyed success for a couple of years, but then as with all small venues the crowds went to bigger and better clubs, and we really needed to spend a heap of money on it, which (I) did not have at the time.

The main rivals were the Esquire Club, which eventually covered three floors down on Leadmill Road, and Pete Stringfellow's Mojo Club, which also did very well at that time, and as they say the rest is history.

I actually went to to old Grand Hotel (now long since gone) to pick up Sonny Boy Williamson, who was quite fluid at the time for a performance at the Esquire Club in it's hayday. He was not quite sure where he was, but I remember his performance that night, and he never missed a beat on stage, as they say he was one of the old masters. The same thing happened with Lightning Hopkins when he came to the Esquire, but they were old pro's and the music was pure soul.

Well there you go, we had a lot of faithful followers in the old days, and I'm sure many of them may still have a fond memory or two of the old Club 60 down on Shail Road. Funny enough I can't remember the name of the pub whose cellars we used, perhaps you could research that for me.

PS: Dave Berry and the Cruisers are playing in Queensland this coming weekend, and I believe Frank White is still with him, they go back a long way.

Best Regards: Tony Land, an old Handsworth boy

I think it was The Acorn.

Hi everyone! I used to DJ at The Esqure, cicra 65-67, and for the short time it was renamed as Stiles, 1967. Some of these posts have me recalling some great times down there, with Barrie Campbell. Here's a few more bands for people to try remembering.

The Small Faces - who remembers them calling in, after being paid-off somewhere else, getting a spot for gas money to get back to London?
The Outer Limits - this band feaured John Christie who later had a hit with 'Yellow River'.
Herbie Goins & The Nightimers - I forget who he was formerly with. If I remember, they were something like a cross between Cliff Bennett's Rebel Rousers and Geno Washington.
Wimple Winch - they were just signed with Fontana. Check out Nuggets for their old single.
Shape Of The Rain - aka Riley, Riley, Wood & Waggett. If anyone's got their RCA singles or their album on Neon, you're sitting on a fortune.
Who doesn't remember Frank White with his white Gibson twin-neck? Jimmy Page gave that to him, so I believe. That guy is respected everywhere.
The Pitiful Souls - I stll have fond memories of these guys. They lived on Burngreave Road, a few minutes walk from another club.
Delroy Washington - if I remember, he lived around the corner from The Pitiful Souls, Melrose Road? That area.
Jimmy Powell!! - how many times did he come! You could always guarantee Jimmy did such a great show. He had a knack of talent-spotting with various players, as someone remembered with Rod The Mod.
Wynder K Frogg - Mick always used a Farfisa Organ, ALWAYS said the next time he'd come with a Hammond. He got that once he signed to Island Records. His album still sounds great even now. Sunshine SuperFrog - anyone got it?

The Who - who remembers the stage being completely wall-to-wall with Marshalls? Moon's kit JUST fitted in front of that famous pole! Their first number was a MASS of noise! Then..... nobody realized they'd finished it! The sound still rings in your ears when you remember that night. They sprinted over from doing Top Of The Pops, when 'My Generation' reached something like No.2. Their van had a huge dent in it from a collision coming over The Snake.

There used to be a Roll Of Honour in the old TV room. That read like a Who's Who. Terry had a knack of getting bands prior to having their hits. Read recently about Sister Rosetta Tharpe (or Thorpe) passing away.

For info - Barrie went on to do The Pendulum (Rotherham), The Heartbeat (Wednesday nights), The Blue Bell (Hackenthorpe) and a mobile disco. I used to be his eyes as he couldn't see where to pt the needle on the record. Fond memories of those times!

Bill Coopland - aka Willie.

Hi found this thread after googling 60s DJ Willie.Basically I bumped into a lady at a Carboot sale in Stevenage Herts.I had an armfull of records and she mentioned that she had a box of old records that had been left by a DJ at a club she owned or ran in Sheffield in the 60's,and that she needed to sell them to make some space.So I went to her place on an Airbase in Bedford and purchased about 100 45's mostly Soul on Stax Atlantic etc...Many of which have a small hand written sticker on the label with a number and the name Willie.I've often wandered about the History of these 45's which I love and DJ with myself now.I like the Leadmill connection too as I was a touring Musician for most of the 90s and played the Leadmill on several occasions .

and despite claims from Mojo followers, the Esquire was where it all started...Jon BThe Mojo was well down the line of local venues although it did have some great acts it certainly wassn't the first venue to do so.

In 1980 I took over a premises which formed the corner of Leadmill road and Suffolk road but directly behind the pub. the premises was a second hand electrical parts warehouse (more like a junk shop) and I bought it over from a man called Byron Wright (now there was a character!). one day there was a young guy came to the door and said 'can you look at our electrics next door?' well, I didn't know what was next door and he took me in to what was being converted into 'The Leadmill'. we went up stairs and there was the remains of the 'Esquire' and it just looked like it had been open the night before and everyone had just left! he then showed me the new stage they were building which was, at that time in an open courtyard. he said 'I live there' I said 'where?' he said 'there under the stage!' he opened it up and sure enough he had a bed and all his clobber!
would have loved to have been at the Esquire but was just a little too young but did get to the Heartbeat above Silver Blades every week

Message as follows:
--------------------------

To whom it may concern.

I read an article on your news page asking did anyone remember the Esquire Club on Leadmill Road and the Club 60 down on West Bar.

Well here's a blast from the past for your older city (60's vintage readers), I was the manager of the Club 60 in a quantra deal done with Terry Thornton, which incidentally he never backed up in times of need, just took the money when times were good.

But that's not the story, the story really is on the number of up and coming groups that played at the Club 60 in the mid 60's, for what I might ad in those days was a very small fee. Some of the notable groups we had
were: Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Jimmy Crawford and the Ravens (whatever happened to him ?, his real name was Ron Lyndsay, he was a champion school boy swimmer), Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Rockin Berries, Frankenstein and the Monsters, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Fortunes and many more. We nearly booked the Rolling Stones in their very early years, but Terry Thornton said they hadn't received very good reviews from down South, so we didn't bother (bugger).

The big problem with the Club 60 was you could only get about 350 people in, and in a three cellar complex that was mighty crowded when full. The club worked well for a while, but unfortunately when the River Don rose in the winter, the cellars were suseptible to seapage, and manys the day that we had crews mopping three inches of water out for a Saturday night openning, and the damp smell left behind was not pleasant. But the club enjoyed success for a couple of years, but then as with all small venues the crowds went to bigger and better clubs, and we really needed to spend a heap of money on it, which (I) did not have at the time.

The main rivals were the Esquire Club, which eventually covered three floors down on Leadmill Road, and Pete Stringfellow's Mojo Club, which also did very well at that time, and as they say the rest is history.

I actually went to to old Grand Hotel (now long since gone) to pick up Sonny Boy Williamson, who was quite fluid at the time for a performance at the Esquire Club in it's hayday. He was not quite sure where he was, but I remember his performance that night, and he never missed a beat on stage, as they say he was one of the old masters. The same thing happened with Lightning Hopkins when he came to the Esquire, but they were old pro's and the music was pure soul.

Well there you go, we had a lot of faithful followers in the old days, and I'm sure many of them may still have a fond memory or two of the old Club 60 down on Shail Road. Funny enough I can't remember the name of the pub whose cellars we used, perhaps you could research that for me.

PS: Dave Berry and the Cruisers are playing in Queensland this coming weekend, and I believe Frank White is still with him, they go back a long way.

Best Regards: Tony Land, an old Handsworth boy

Great post, we must have known each other, I knew Scott William, Kenny Slade, Dave Green, Pete and Geoff Stringfellow, to name but a few. I recall the Graham Bond Organisation appearing at the Esquire, Ginger Baker was on the drums, I had a chat to him during a break, he's a top guy. I can't believe that Terry Thornton is still in prison, I didn't know him but knew his son Phil.

What great days they were, now look at us, posting on a bloody forum. :(

Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry Scope View Post
I have been working with Terry Thornton, the former owner of Club 60 and the Esquire on a much revised book about the great days of the early 60s when Terry brought a host of international stars to Sheffield, and also promoted Joe Cocker, Dave Berry and a load of other promising local musicians....regrettably Terry passed away on 10th January and the book will now be a tribute to his early successess...if anyone has any other memories of the club scene from that era or who knew Terry, please respond.
Thanks
Is this the man who used to go with eileen caulton.
If so just google his name.
The terry thornton I remember got locked up for nail bombing a woman.
__________________
I remembered this post from 2010 regarding Terry but there was no follow up information so I am not sure whether it is correct
.

Here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=283104)

Thanks for that but it's not the post I was quoting from, I found this one in the entertainment chat dated 16.01.2010 Re: Loss of Terry Thornton - and early 60s club life but I'm not as clever as you, I haven't a clue how you do that 'link' thing

Yeah, and I think his pianist that you saw was a young Elton John.

Great post, we must have known each other, I knew Scott William, Kenny Slade, Dave Green, Pete and Geoff Stringfellow, to name but a few. I recall the Graham Bond Organisation appearing at the Esquire, Ginger Baker was on the drums, I had a chat to him during a break, he's a top guy. I can't believe that Terry Thornton is still in prison, I didn't know him but knew his son Phil.

What great days they were, now look at us, posting on a bloody forum. :(I was bass player with Scott William Combo in those days,and I well remember Supporting Graham Bonds Organisation one night when they were there.(Gingers eyes were somewhere on planet Zep!).

I was bass player with Scott William Combo in those days,and I well remember Supporting Graham Bonds Organisation one night when they were there.(Gingers eyes were somewhere on planet Zep!).

Does anyone remember or know what happened to Al Wood (with the moustach) who played bass double base trad at club 60?

I was bass player with Scott William Combo in those days,and I well remember Supporting Graham Bonds Organisation one night when they were there.(Gingers eyes were somewhere on planet Zep!).

Did you also play bass for Cocker, and have coffee in the Concourse Suite (ABC cinema) with Scott and Kenny? When I mention Kenny drinking coffee, you will recall that the pubs didn't open until 7:00 pm on Sundays in those days. :hihi:

My mate and I booked the Scott William Combo at the YMCA in Fargate, I had to go searching for them and finally managed to prise them out of the Brown Bear, I recall a certain drummer and a bass player who could hardly stand, but still played very well, any comment? :o

Did you also play bass for Cocker, and have coffee in the Concourse Suite (ABC cinema) with Scott and Kenny? When I mention Kenny drinking coffee, you will recall that the pubs didn't open until 7:00 pm on Sundays in those days. :hihi:

My mate and I booked the Scott William Combo at the YMCA in Fargate, I had to go searching for them and finally managed to prise them out of the Brown Bear, I recall a certain drummer and a bass player who could hardly stand, but still played very well, any comment? :oI was the first bass player to join Scott alongside Dave Hawley and Rick Elsom.I eventually left to join Frank White and Dave Green took my place! There were four drummers while I was with Scott,so I do not know the drummer that night.the bass player would have been me or Dave Green(either would have been a candidate)............I only played once for Joe at the student union as a dep,for Dave Green,alongside Dave Memmott and Dave Hopper.I think we were on with Screaming Lord Sutch.

I was the first bass player to join Scott alongside Dave Hawley and Rick Elsom.I eventually left to join Frank White and Dave Green took my place! There were four drummers while I was with Scott,so I do not know the drummer that night.the bass player would have been me or Dave Green(either would have been a candidate)............I only played once for Joe at the student union as a dep,for Dave Green,alongside Dave Memmott and Dave Hopper.I think we were on with Screaming Lord Sutch.

I was just digging mate, I was beginning to think that you were Dave Green. I have obviously seen and heard you play, but sadly can't nail the performance/s, I really rated Dave and Kenny, you must have been good to play where you played.

I was the first bass player to join Scott alongside Dave Hawley and Rick Elsom.I eventually left to join Frank White and Dave Green took my place! There were four drummers while I was with Scott,so I do not know the drummer that night.the bass player would have been me or Dave Green(either would have been a candidate)............I only played once for Joe at the student union as a dep,for Dave Green,alongside Dave Memmott and Dave Hopper.I think we were on with Screaming Lord Sutch.

Did you play with Steve Denton?

Did you play with Steve Denton?I certainly did!

I was just digging mate, I was beginning to think that you were Dave Green. I have obviously seen and heard you play, but sadly can't nail the performance/s, I really rated Dave and Kenny, you must have been good to play where you played."Greenie" is a good friend of mine,"Sladie" was one of the drummers in the Scott William Combo at the same time as Phil Crookes and myself.After leaving the Combo, I had two seperate stints with Frank White before taking over from Ronnie Coy in the Vantennas for a couple of years!I still have Scotts original 1964 Vox Ac30 amp.(for sale to a good home).

I certainly did!

gotcha, are you N.F.??

"Greenie" is a good friend of mine,"Sladie" was one of the drummers in the Scott William Combo at the same time as Phil Crookes and myself.After leaving the Combo, I had two seperate stints with Frank White before taking over from Ronnie Coy in the Vantennas for a couple of years!

When you next see the two reprobates, please jog their memories with the YMCA gig, and the Brown Bear, I bet that they both knew the landlord, Ron Gall, he would put up with drunken folk if they minded their manners, I'm speaking from experience. :hihi:

gotcha, are you N.F.??Well!........I wouldn;t say yes, and I wouldn't say no,...............would I know you?

When you next see the two reprobates, please jog their memories with the YMCA gig, and the Brown Bear, I bet that they both knew the landlord, Ron Gall, he would put up with drunken folk if they minded their manners, I'm speaking from experience. :hihi:Certainly will,...........Dave was never really a reprobate but Kenny was a champion repro. I have many tales and memories of him.

Well!........I wouldn;t say yes, and I wouldn't say no,...............would I know you?

No but you might remember my other half

Certainly will,...........Dave was never really a reprobate but Kenny was a champion repro. I have many tales and memories of him.

That night prior to them kicking off, Kenny fell off his drum stool, and Dave decided to lean on this wall, that actually was the stage curtain. :hihi:

No but you might remember my other halfBest not dig any further then !!!

Best not dig any further then !!!

I hope you don't mean what I think you mean, my other half is my husband, should I be worried??

I hope you don't mean what I think you mean, my other half is my husband, should I be worried??Well.......you know the swinging 60s!

Well.......you know the swinging 60s!

My very good, now late, mate couldn't remember anything about them due to alcohol, it's a wonder any of us got out alive. :o