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In the 60's, on a Friday, Saturday or Monday night the place to be was .... at The Hop.

The Cortinas on stage at the Hop in December 1964. Photo provided by Paul Griggs

The Cortinas Info provided by Paul Griggs http://www.p.griggsy.btinternet.co.uk/

The Cortinas 1967 Paul Griggs (gtr) Nigel Griggs (bs gtr), Rick Williams (gtr), Gary Whinyates (dr). Nigel and I both handed in our notice, so the Civil service had to carry on without the Griggs brothers, (I don't know how they managed). On 18th November 1967 we turned fully professional, it was Nigel's 18th birthday. Our first professional gig was one of our regular bookings at The Community Centre (The Hop) Welwyn Garden City, but we soon started travelling much further afield.

On 11th October 1967 we had an audition for Mecca Ballrooms at The Lyceum Ballroom in London which we passed, and while we were packing away we were approached by a guy called Grahame Dee from Polydor Records who asked if we would go for a recording test. On Tuesday 17th October 1967 we turned up at Polydor Records in Sratford Place, London and recorded four of the songs from our act for our recording test in Polydor's own 4 track studio which had a great sound. We passed the test and a few weeks later signed our first recording contract.

We started rehearsing some of Grahame Dee and Brian Potter's songs for our first single. One of them was called "I Can Guarantee You Love". One day Grahame said that he had given the song to a new act Polydor had just signed called TONY RIVERS AND THE CASTAWAYS. I have never let Tony forget he stole our song. On 10th May 1968 our first record "Phoebe's Flower Shop" was released (or escaped) receiving a few plays on the new Radio 1 but unfortunately did not set the charts alight. That was our first and last release on Polydor.
 
In November 1968 THE CORTINAS name was really old hat and out of date so after much thought we decided to change our name to "OCTOPUS".

In June 1969 another change in lineup. Gary decided to get married and hang up his drum sticks, so in came Brian Glasscock, who with his brother John Glasscock had been in local band "The Juniors" with Alan Shacklock and Mick Taylor.

Nigel had been writing songs for some time and on our first recording session for "PENNY FARTHING RECORDS' at "CHAPPELL STUDIOS we recorded two of his songs "LAUGH AT THE POOR MAN " (written with the help of myself and Nigel's girlfriend Jackie Stewart) and "GIRLFRIEND ", which he wrote with our Guitarist Rick Williams. 

"LAUGH AT THE POOR MAN" was released on 7th November 1969 to favorable reviews. It received several plays on Radio One and on 26th November we travelled down to Exeter to be interviewed on "RADIO ONE CLUB". Once again we didn't set the charts alight but it was a good starting point and over the next few weeks we began recording more of Nigel's song with the view to putting an album together.

"The River" / "Thief" was chosen as our next single. It was a very basic rock track that had some of it's inspiration from "Canned Heat". The record was released on 1st May 1970. In November we discovered that "The River" had been a top ten hit in Italy and we ended the year doing a television appearance in Pisa on New Years Eve.

In April 1971 we had our final change in personnel, Malcolm Green our drummer was replaced by Tim Reeves and in the same month our first album "Restless Night" was released on "Penny Farthing Records" PELS 508. It sold well in the areas we performed in and Larry Page did a good job in the promotion of the record. Today the album is a collectors item and is currently listed in catalogues as being worth between £150 to £200 for an original copy in reasonable condition. It was re - released on CD "Restless Night ...Plus" a few years ago by "See For Miles Records " number SEE CD 328.

For the rest of 1971 we continued constant gigging but by November there was a general unrest in the group, we all felt stale, nothing was happening record wise and we were in a rut. We had a group meeting and in the end decided to call it a day, agreeing to fulfil our remaining bookings which meant we would split in a couple of months.

On Friday 14th January we performed at St. Albans college of Further Education, with guest appearances from various ex. members, and that was it. OCTOPUS were no more.

A couple of months later John and Tim both joined Mungo Jerry, Nigel joined an American flamenco rock band in Hollywood and then on to a band in France before finally ending up in New Zealand Band "SPLIT ENZ", and a couple of years later I (Paul Griggs) changed direction completely by joining "GUYS n' DOLLS".

The Hop 1965-1969 Dances

On Thursday & Sunday Nights The Cherry Tree was the place to be.

The entrance to the Cherry Tree Ballroom, to the rear of the Cherry Tree. Photo (c) DNB

Thursday's was Soul Disco night (Rock Steady with The Judge), but on Sunday evenings a live Tamla Soul Band and Disco  entertained in the Cherry Tree Ballroom, Bridge Road, Welwyn Garden City (pictured above).

Led Zeppelin performed here on Tuesday 08 April 1969 7.30-11 pm, playing most of the tracks from the albums 'Led Zeppelin (I)' and 'Led Zeppelin II'. Tickets for the concert were 7/6d (37½p). The band were just unbelievable live. I stood in the front row right up against the small, low stage in front of Robert Plant. He appeared to be very shy, but, once he started singing however, he became a giant. Although using just two Marshall 4x12 columns his stunning vocals shone through - what an amazing vocal range he has. Their live version of "Dazed And Confused" was incredible, as was John Bonham's drum solo in "Moby Dick", using his bare hands as well as drum sticks. Led Zeppelin were so 'tight' and powerful. One of the finest live performances I've ever seen and heard.

Coda's Colin Frechter actually assisted John Paul Jones join Led Zeppelin. Colin had a Dance Band gig in the Continental Restaurant in Bush Hill Parade, Enfield and John stood in on Bass guitar. John had asked Colin if he could help find some arranging jobs. Later Mickie Most had asked Colin if he could do a string arrangement for a Herman's Hermits song (possibly "I'm Henery The 8th"). As Colin was too busy at the time he recommended John Paul Jones. At Mickie Most's office, John met Peter Grant, the future Led Zeppelin manager, and the rest is history.

Incidentally, it was vocalist Terry Reid who recommended both Robert Plant and John Bonham for Led Zeppelin. Terry had been offered the job as band vocalist, but, decided to pursue a solo career instead.

Acts to appear at the Cherry Tree Blues Club were

Melody Maker advertisement kindly provided by Paul Griggs.

In 1968 the Welwyn Garden City Council organised a "Holiday Week", erecting a large marquee in The King George V Playing Field, Homestead Lane, Welwyn Garden City. The following artists entertained:-

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The Stevenage Locarno. Photo (c) DNB

Locarno - Stevenage 1965 - 1967 Dances

The Rolling Stones performing in Stevenage 01 April 1964. Photo provided by Gary Howman.

Links To Other Top Local 60's Band Pages
| The Cortinas | The Mixed Bag | The Trekkas | Bumps In The Night |

Links to other similar sites
| Cortinas (Octopus) | Radio London 266 |

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