Meanwhile Carlo Little had joined an Irish showband called Chris Lamb & The Universals that toured the south of England between late 1965 and July 1966, and then evolved into the Circles, recording “Take your Time”(1) on Island records produced by Guy Stevens, prior to becoming the new Savages during Summer’ 66. This band led by trumpettist Chris Lamb also featured John Lawson on bass, Brian Keith on Trombone and Paul Raymond on Organ.
Their lead guitarist Bill Parkinson presented some original material of his own such as "Lost Soul" which would eventually become one of their opening numbers. Later Deep Purple covered it on their first LP as “Mandrake Root”.
Their lead guitarist Bill Parkinson presented some original material of his own such as "Lost Soul" which would eventually become one of their opening numbers. Later Deep Purple covered it on their first LP as “Mandrake Root”.
Obviously, according to Bill Parkinson, Screaming Lord Sutch was very tight as far as money was concerned.The musicians only received £5 a night no matter where the gig was.
They often used to travel in one car and to sleep in the same room while Sutch drove in his own car and had a bed to himself (3).
Their first night as Savages was a double gig, the first was in Ware, the 2nd in Stevenage.
Bill Parkinson:“Little would use my Ford Consul car to transport equipment and 8 Men and Woman to each venue to save him hiring a van, while Sutch travelled in his own car.
The gig at Ware started to a packed hall with Screaming Lord Sutch nearly setting fire to the curtains during the song Great Balls of Fire, the music was fast and furious Rock and Roll, very loud, half way through the next number he was dragged off stage by the crowed and seemed to float on a sea of people and ended up out the front door, Carlo and others chassed after him thinking that he was going to be set upon by the local hard men, John Lawson the bass player and myself continued to play on stage after a few minutes Sutch suddenly appeared back on stage and said were the F… is the rest of the band, he somehow had got free and made his way back to the stage, Carlo returned a few minutes later saying they had got him not realizing that he was back on stage ready to continue, We finished the show with fantastic applause, we then carried on to the following gig in Stevenage to complete the eventful night.”
They often used to travel in one car and to sleep in the same room while Sutch drove in his own car and had a bed to himself (3).
Their first night as Savages was a double gig, the first was in Ware, the 2nd in Stevenage.
Bill Parkinson:“Little would use my Ford Consul car to transport equipment and 8 Men and Woman to each venue to save him hiring a van, while Sutch travelled in his own car.
The gig at Ware started to a packed hall with Screaming Lord Sutch nearly setting fire to the curtains during the song Great Balls of Fire, the music was fast and furious Rock and Roll, very loud, half way through the next number he was dragged off stage by the crowed and seemed to float on a sea of people and ended up out the front door, Carlo and others chassed after him thinking that he was going to be set upon by the local hard men, John Lawson the bass player and myself continued to play on stage after a few minutes Sutch suddenly appeared back on stage and said were the F… is the rest of the band, he somehow had got free and made his way back to the stage, Carlo returned a few minutes later saying they had got him not realizing that he was back on stage ready to continue, We finished the show with fantastic applause, we then carried on to the following gig in Stevenage to complete the eventful night.”
They toured throughout England, recording such gems as Saturday Club with Brian Matthews on the BBC (2), and then played the Olympia in Paris and Les Oubliettes, Rouen, France (3) - at the time Ronnie Harwood had replaced John Lawson on bass.
Notes:
(1) The Circles: Take Your Time/Don't You Love Me No More (Island WI 279, 1966)
(2) BBC Light Programme Saturday Club #399. May 28 1966 - Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, Freddie & The Dreamers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, The Truth, Barry Mason, Twice as Much, Gary Benson, The Ted Taylor Four, The Johnny Arthey Band
(3) Bill Parkinson:
“One gig that reminds me of the madness of Screaming Lord Sutch was when we got a plane to Paris to do a show at The Olympia, Upon exiting the plane, Lord Sutch thought it a good idea together with Brian Keith to get out 2 real swords, they started sword fencing down the aeroplane steps as a publicity stunt for the television cameras, All hell broke loose when the police arrested him and put him behind bars, we never thought he would do the gig that night, but somehow he managed to make it right with the police and with only minutes to go arrived at the Olympia to great the audience which was mostly full of Beatniks, the show was as usual a great success, suffice to say, Sutch’s generosity came to the fore once more, and we slept top to tail, 7 of us together in one bed while he probably had a bed to himself.
The next day we drove to Rouen, 8 in 1 car, did the gig, then back to the airport, 8 in 1 car, What a nightmare!”
(3) Bill Parkinson:
“One gig that reminds me of the madness of Screaming Lord Sutch was when we got a plane to Paris to do a show at The Olympia, Upon exiting the plane, Lord Sutch thought it a good idea together with Brian Keith to get out 2 real swords, they started sword fencing down the aeroplane steps as a publicity stunt for the television cameras, All hell broke loose when the police arrested him and put him behind bars, we never thought he would do the gig that night, but somehow he managed to make it right with the police and with only minutes to go arrived at the Olympia to great the audience which was mostly full of Beatniks, the show was as usual a great success, suffice to say, Sutch’s generosity came to the fore once more, and we slept top to tail, 7 of us together in one bed while he probably had a bed to himself.
The next day we drove to Rouen, 8 in 1 car, did the gig, then back to the airport, 8 in 1 car, What a nightmare!”
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