Title:
Popular music: Peter Searles
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
CHELMSFORD AND ESSEX MUSEUM
Level: Sub-Fonds
Oral history recordings
Level: Series
Popular culture
Scope and Content:
Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford.
Side A
[1] Early life; early interest in music; pop stars of the 1950s; Dace's music shop in Chelmsford; Lonnie Donegan - skiffle; first group (in Danbury): The Ghosts (1958)
[2] First gig in Maldon; Elvis Presley; group changed to Rock 'n' Roll and changed name to The Bluetones; old radio used as amplifier; won competition - played in Birmingham; band members; gigs in village halls, fetes, working men's clubs; nerves
[3] Early gigs; nerves - feeling and being sick; reaction of audience; practicing; views of parents; covers of hit songs; U.S. versions and British versions; name change to The Strangers; line-up changes
[4] Transporting equipment; first Rock 'n' Roll gig in Latchingdon; fans - fan club (based at County High School for Girls); photographs; won competition at YMCA - prize was recording at BBC; Carol Eavis Show at Finsbury Park Empire; venues in Chelmsford
[5] Payment for gigs; promoters; famous artists for whom the band performed as support act: Joe Brown, Lord Sutch, Tony Meehan, Bert Weedon, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates; The Who; Shire Hall
[6] Corn Exchange; Marconi Gala Day - annual event in marquee; gave up music in 1969; things constantly changing during 1960s; Hatfield Peverel pram race day; halls being closed - advent of Disco; other local groups: Ray Ford and the Statesmen, Lee Scott and the Roulettes, Dave Stephens and the Deep Beats (from Colchester)
[7] Local groups; competitions
[8] Local groups; meeting pop stars: Johnny Kidd, Joe Brown, Alan Price; The Animals; The Kinks; clothes, The Strangers (from Colchester); name change to Mark Shelley and the Deans; hair
[9] The Mooche (Chelmsford band) - made a record; The Fairies; guitar shop in Tottenham Court Road; unable to take up offer of playing in Hamburg; Cecil Gee's clothes shop in Tottenham Court Road; Chelmsford music scene
Side B
[10] Top bands which appeared at the Corn Exchange and Odeon in Chelmsford
[11] Chelmsford Spectacular; old bands still playing on nostalgia circuit; opinion of modern bands; feelings on closure and demolition of the Corn Exchange; description of the Corn Exchange
[12] Dancing; coffee bars
[13] Coffee bars: The Orpheus, Wainwright's; Dace's music shop - learnt words to songs by listening to records at Dace's; level of fame and success
[14] Stage names; reasons for break up of group; other members of the group - what they went on to do; current band; lack of venues
[15] Elvis Presley tribute; current venues; playing in pubs.

Dates of Creation:
2004
Extent:
74 minutes 4 seconds
Creator Name:
Chelmsford and Essex Museum
Physical Characteristics:
CD-R [copied from cassette using Dolby B]
Originals Location:
Chelmsford and Essex Museum
Related Unit of Description:
Recordings by Mark Shelley and the Deans are catalogued as SA 15/2/1/4/1.

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Music Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford, 2004
Subjects Musicians Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford, 2004
Subjects Popular music Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford, 2004
Personal Names Peter
Searles 		Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford, 2004
Place Names Chelmsford Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford, 2004
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Peter Searles about his experiences in pop groups and popular music in Chelmsford, 2004