The Tremors and the Vampires were a couple of rival Clacton based rock/pop bands in the late 50’s.

The Vampires:
My first real band was The Vampires (the origin of the name escapes me) – formed probably around 1959 – comprising Dave Atkins (whose parents owned the chippy in Holland on Sea) on lead guitar, myself on bass, another local lad called Tony Virgo (whose parents owned a guest house in Fourth Ave, Clacton) on rhythm guitar and the drummer was Julian Catchpole. Julian’s dad Maurice owned a hairdressing salon opposite the gas works in Old Road and Julian was learning the trade. He eventually became a very successful stylist in Paris. He currently lives with his wife in Austin, Texas. Tony was later replaced by Dick Gunnell. (and who eventually followed Dave and me to the Tremors after we had turned pro)

The Vampires -1959 The Vampires -1959, with Tony Virgo Dave Atkins (pre 'Curtiss' days)

We gigged around the local area (mainly Clacton, Walton, Dovercourt) in competition for the available gigs with The Tremors – who had the better following, and a couple of Colchester bands – mainly Jimmy Pilgrim and the Classics.

The Tremors:
The Tremors at the time were Jack Jacobs on lead guitar, Barry Revett on rhythm guitar, Roy Cribb on bass and Vic Brown on drums. The singer was Russell Loader. (Roy, Vic and Russ are sadly no longer with us)

As well as an accomplished guitarist Jack was a TV/Electronics engineer. His knowledge of electronics was put to good effect and he produced a great sound in those early days playing an early Burns Weill electric guitar with home-made tremolo arm, an echo unit – adapted from a reel to reel tape recorder – and a De Armond volume/tone ‘wah-wah’ pedal. (This home-made echo unit was eventually replaced by a Binson)

The Tremors did some great gigs, including ‘Rock Across the Channel’ on the ‘Royal Daffodil’ (which used to operate no passport trips from Clacton Pier across to Calais) supporting The Shadows in 1960.

I cannot recall the circumstances how or why the Vampires split up, but I left to join The Tremors just after their ‘Rock Across the Channel’ appearance.

Original line-up of The Tremors

The Tremors - 'Rock Across The Channel' aboard the Royal Daffodil

The Shadows - Rock Across The Channel The Tremors with Russell Loader - 1960

Loading the van on the Ferry, for the Holland tour - 1960 (no roll on-roll off ferries in those days - they craned them on!)

In Holland Not our car!! Posing by another limo... Holland again Holland again - one of the few colour shots....

Dave Curtiss joined, replacing Russ

The line-up until we turned pro

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At the time The Tremors were managed by a guy named George Quinell, and who had a sidekick named Frank who roadied for us in a Bedford Dormobile van – the two of them were always arguing! My memories of George are as a bit of a crook but that might be unfair. He did at least organise our first gigs abroad to the Netherlands – around Rotterdam – hence the photos of the band posing in front of windmills and big American cars!

In 1961 Russ was replaced by Dave Atkins  – who then became Dave Curtiss – I suppose ‘Atkins’ was not sounding ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ enough at the time. Russ then became lead singer with a Colchester band – the Classics – for a while. (He was eventually replaced by Jimmy Pilgrim). After he went solo he had a minor recording career, recording two singles on the Columbia label in 1965, and also featured on a couple of World Record Club compilation LPs with covers of various hits of the day in 1966.

For a semi-pro band we were very successful and locally had quite a following. We were often the main act at local dances, and sometimes supporting big acts like Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, Shane Fenton (later to become Alvin Stardust) and the Fentones and Screaming Lord Sutch. Jack recalls Lord Sutch upsetting Harry Thompson, the entertainments manager at Clacton Town Hall. After an intro from Sutch’s band, Sutch was brought on stage in a coffin with a toilet seat around his neck. The audience loved it, but Harry Thompson was disgusted. The last straw was when he lit a fire on the hall’s brand new Grand Piano! Harry rushed on the stage with a fire extinguisher and told Sutch to get off and go home…. and got us to play again.

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(Page last updated on 5th April 2023)