The Rockin' Vickers were a 1960s English Rock and Roll band from Blackpool. They were originally called Rev Black and The Rockin' Vicars, then abbreviated to The Rockin' Vicars, but in order to have a chance to get more gigs or even a record contract, they changed their name to "Rockin' Vickers". The band is most notable for having Lemmy, who went by the name Ian Willis at the time, later of Hawkwind and more famously Motörhead, as a guitarist (Lemmy did not start playing bass until joining Hawkwind). Their last single "Dandy" was produced by Shel Talmy.

History

Formed in 1963, the band built their reputation as did many other beat groups of the era, by covering R&B and Beat standards, but soon became known for their unusually intense live shows and outlandish stage costumes, dressing as vicars and Sami. Although mainly popular as a local act around Blackpool, England, the Vicars also toured mainland Europe, being one of the earliest British rock bands to perform behind the Iron curtain when they played in Yugoslavia in the summer of 1965. They were particularly popular in Finland, where they recorded a single, a rocked up version of Zing Went The Strings of My Hearts. They released four single records. The band split in 1967.

In 1967, expatriate Blackpool musician Dave Rossall (ex-Bruce & The Spiders), carrying on the tradition of the English band, formed his own Australian band called Rev Black and the Rockin' Vicars (1967-1969). The Australian band went on to release 4 singles in its own right, toured extensively around Australia and made the Brisbane Top 40.

Members

• 1963-1964: Harry "Reverend Black" Feeney: lead vocals
  • Alex Hamilton: guitar
  • Peter Moorhouse: bass
  • Cyril "Ciggy" Shaw: drums
  • Ken Hardacre:lead guitar
• 1964-1965: Harry Feeney: lead vocals
  • Ian Holdbrook: guitar/harmonica
  • Nicholas Gribbon: guitar
  • Stephen "Mogsy" Morris: bass
  • Cyril Shaw: drums
• 1965-1967: Harry Feeney: lead vocals
  • Ian "Lemmy" Willis: guitar
  • Stephen Morris: bass
  • Cyril Shaw:drums

Discography

Singles

• "I Go Ape" b/w "Someone Like You", Decca F11993, 1964, UK
• "Stella" b/w "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart", Decca SD5662, 1966, Finland
• "Stella" b/w "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart", 1966, Ireland
• "It's Alright (Townshend)" b/w "Stay By Me", CBS/Columbia (EMI) 202051 , March 1966, UK
• "Dandy (Davies)" b/w "I Don't Need Your Kind", CBS/Columbia (EMI) 202241, October 1966, UK
• "Dandy (Davies)" b/w "I Don't Need Your Kind", Columbia 4-43818 1966, U.S.

Compilation album

• Its Alright: The Complete Rockin' Vickers, RPM Records CD196 1995, UK

I Go Ape/ Someone Like Me/ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/ Stella/ It's Alright/ Stay By Me/ Dandy/ I Don't Need Your Kind Of Love/ Baby Never Say Goodbye/ I Just Stand There/ Say Mama/ Shake Rattle & Roll/ What The Matter Jane/ Little Rosy (Ray Davies) (+ rehearsal extract)

External links

• Manchester Beat
• www.wangdangdula.com - The Rockin' Vickers
• The Australian Rev Black & The Rockin' Vicars Web Site