By Peter Illingworth, Guitarist and Harmonica player with David John and the Mood, Singer / Guitarist with Purple Haze, Little Free Rock and The Fabulous Falcons

  Welcome to our Web Site!

Here is all you wanted to know about this innovative three piece from Preston in Lancashire, who nearly made the big time, but not quite.      From humble beginnings in little more than skiffle groups, this is the story of the progression through the youth clubs and local hops that was the learning ground for so many of young enthusiastic musicians in the early sixties.

In the beginning...........

It is probably all Lonnie Donegan’s fault. I was going to school at Kirkham Grammar School in Lancashire, and I used to hang out with some of the residential boarding guys, and particularly a guy called Graham Haworth. I spent some great summer weeks at his house in St Annes on Sea, and had some fumblings with the local girls. He had amongst other things an Everley Brothers LP which used to blow my tender young mind with those great early songs like Poor Jenny, Leave my woman alone etc……..

It was during this time that we went to see Lonnie Donegan and his band at the Blackpool Palace Theatre, and it was absolutely amazing. The most exciting thing I had every seen!

Then I booked some guitar lessons and did two before I realised that I could probably do better myself. My Instructor asked for my money, gave me a tutorial and sent me home to do the first lesson. Next week he said ‘OK play it!’ then he said ‘Give me your money and go home and do the next lesson! So I thought I’d do it myself. However, I started learning chords from Graham, who was an excellent pianist, and listening to what the guys where playing on the records I was listening to.

Sadly my Mother died from a brain haemorrhage just before my 15^th birthday in rather tragic circumstances in the bath, and I found her. My older brothers and sister tell me that I became very introvert and didn’t speak to anyone, probably caused by the shock. I wasn’t aware of this, but my schoolwork went by the board, and I made a complete mess of my GCE exams. I lost all direction so to speak, so when I left school I went to the Employment Bureau, and they said, "What do you want to do?". I said ‘I don’t know!’. They said, "Go to this Interview". I went to Atkinson Vehicles and they asked, "When can you start?" I said ‘Monday!’. They said, "OK". I said ‘What am I?’ They said "An Apprentice Diesel Fitter!"  This was now my passport to the Music Shop and the Hire Purchase Companies.

Picture provided by John Soeberg

Paraparaumu, New Zealand