Leicester Blues Rock group 1969-1970.

There was another band called Ned Ludd who were from Nottingham and working during 1974-1977. See their page here.

Ned Ludd from Leicester were led by Mick Pini who would go on to make a career in music as a blues rock guitarist. Check his website here. They evolved out of the “Hydro Elastic Blues Band” who had in their ranks Nigel Payne. I’m unsure of the exact line up of Ned Ludd but some members could have been:

Mick Pini: Guitar
Tom: Bass Guitar
Dave: Drums
Nigel Payne
Arthur
Romeo

Ned Ludd were on the books of Friars Agency of Coventry and shared the late 1969 rock scene with Leicester group Black Widow who were formed in September 1969 from the ashes of Pesky Gee!, the club soul act who were part of the mid sixties scene. Guitarist Jim Gannon led the new group towards the theme of Black Magic which gave them plenty of publicity and a deal with CBS and subsequent album releases put them in the early 70’s progressive blues rock camp. Other late sixties rock groups around Leicester were Soop, Magnus Pyke, Hard Rock, Aries who later became Agony, The Money Jungle, The Spring, Moth, Barabbas and Choise.

A big part of the Leicester rock movement was Circa, a project started by Bill Brown in 1969 who wanted to provide a platform for local artistic talent. The headquarters were on King Street, Leicester housing a shop, a leather workroom and a graphics department. Brian Plews, a former art student, ran the graphics department and was producing all manner of advertisements, slogans and posters. Photographer Bill Parks and sculptor David Seymour were also part of the Circa team.
Brian Plews colourful psychedelic posters were an integral part of the burgeoning progressive rock scene in Leicester at a time when groups were breaking away from the singles market and finding a a new voice with greater artistic credibility.
Posters for local artists like Black Widow, Aries, Moth and Ned Ludd went alongside posters for bigger names playing Leicester like Joe Cocker.

Brian Plews was involved in the production of the logo and launch of Black Widow, the rock band formed out of Pesky Gee! in late ’69. Pesky Gee! had been around since 1966 on the club soul circuit and like many at the end of the sixties reinvented themselves with the new progressive blues jazz rock sounds taking shape in a post psychedelic Britain. Brian also put on a few gigs and produced a poster for a very early Ned Ludd gig in Kirby Muxloe with Agony and Travelling Tunes also on the bill.

ARTICLE ABOUT CIRCA

A double page spread in the Leicester Chronicle, March 27th 1970, which I have split into 4 sections.

PESKY GEE & BLACK WIDOW

Listen to Peksy Gee’s album on YouTube

Listen to Black Widow’s 1st album on YouTube

More photo’s from the free festival on the Recky. Photos John James Sutherington from a facebook post by his son Nik with the following info.

“Nik Sutherington October 31, 2021 · Welford Road Recreation Ground, Leicester. Free Concert 1969. Photos by my Dad, John James Sutherington. Bands pictured: Aries, Pesky GEE & drummer from Family,
Mick Pini & Nedd Ludd”.

BELOW: NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS OF NED LUDD & BLACK WIDOW AND A FEW OTHER LEICSTER ROCK GROUPS OF THE PERIOD.

Sept 1969

Oct 1969

Nov 1969

Dec 1969

Jan 1970

Feb 1970

March 1970

Apr 1970

May 1970

By 1971 Ned Ludd had run their course and Mick Pini joined Marble Orchard.

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Here are some memories of Mick Pini’s Ned Ludd from Kenny Wilson’s website.

POSTED JUN 2, 2015 AT 12:53 AM BY NIGEL PAYNE
Hi, I was a member of Ned Ludd with Mick, Arthur, Romeo and Tom in the 60’s. Loved the article and of course the references to local bands around at that time. Yes, they were great times! I’ve often wondered what happened to Pete Gumley. Pete will recall that we met on a bus to London, as a result of which he joined my band at the time called Hydro Elastic Blues Band, which evolved into Ned Ludd. Three of us got together in 1990 to form Behind the Bikesheds. Sadly Romeo was too busy playing with Showaddywaddy to join us.
Just like to say ‘hi’ to everyone who remembers us and supported us at some great gigs around Leicester and beyond. Our highlight was probably playing the Cavern in Liverpool on 14.2.70. Let me know if you’d like any more memories! Regards, Nigel Payne.

POSTED OCT 16, 2014 AT 9:16 AM BY DAVID SHAW-PARKER
Kenny, this is all just wonderful. Whenever I visit my mother in Leicester, I make a point of walking back to the station via Pocklington’s Walk in the hope that The Chameleon might suddenly spring back to life. I remember that Ned Ludd did stunning versions of Walk in My Shadow and Rock Me, Baby. Your blog is brilliant; keep posting!

POSTED JUN 3, 2015 AT 8:51 AM BY DAVID
Ned Ludd! I genuflect with deep respect. I saw your band, Nigel, at the Welford Road Recreation Ground in 1969 and at the Leicester Poly. I was and remain a fan. Tom was the bass player. wasn’t he? I remember the version of Walk in my Shadow you used to do and Mick Pini’s solo. Romeo Challenger is a great drummer and I had the lucky experience of having a jam with him at a huge house party in Evington in about 1970/71. Ned Ludd receive a mention – for what it’s worth (a lot to me, actually) – in my book about Van der Graaf Generator. Please excuse me, even at 60, I remain a star-stricken school-kid and Ned Ludd will always be right up there in the firmament…Kenny, your blog is terrific.

POSTED FEB 17, 2014 AT 9:57 PM BY DAVID SHAW-PARKER
Oh, Wow! Kenny, i don’t think we met but I’m loving your blog. I became a huge Mick Pini fan after i saw his band Ned Ludd play at Welford road in 1969 with… yes, Litchfield reciting poems and chanting his own take on Hare Krishna. The Spring also played and a drum solo was given by a twelve year old Mark Stuart with whom I played at Il Rondo in 1973. Great days, The Chameleon, The Arts Centre and Pat’s Pantry were places I knew and lament the passing of, you though I was at the time [13/14] I bought my joss sticks at Bric-a-Brac in New walk. Hotcha! Great work, Kenny…

POSTED NOV 7, 2015 AT 9:33 AM BY STUART LANGFORD
I hope David is reading this…Mick Pini of Ned Ludd fame is of course still playing the blues, and will be at The Musician in Leicester in April 2016…I have the pleasure and pride of calling Mick my friend, and we have designed two recent CD sleeves for him, including his newest release Happy with the Blues. He was, is, and remains one of the finest guitarists we have, a man totally devoted to his music, and completely accessible to his fans and admirers, of whom there are many thousands. David, go and say hello when he’s at The Musician, mention my name too, and enjoy a night of great live music. Stuart Langford stuart.langford@gmail.com

POSTED JUN 2, 2015 AT 8:07 PM BY NIGEL PAYNE
Hi Stuart. Ha ha, yes indeed – a Bell amp! The only other person I saw with the same amp was John Mayall who was playing his organ through one. Must have been very painful! His guitarist was a certain Eric Clapton who one night at the Il Rondo took the time to sit on the edge of the stage and show my mate and I some chords etc. I saw Mick Pini about 5 years ago at the Musician. He spotted me in the crowd, got me upon stage, handed be his old Strat and left me to carry on where he’d left off! As for Pete, it must be almost 45 years since I last saw him. I see Romeo from time to time at the Wheatsheaf in Woodhouse. Ned Ludd singer Arthur died on the golf course about 10 years ago. So sad. I’m still doing the odd gig and treated myself to a Gibson 335 earlier this year. If only I’d bought one in the 60’s! Keep in touch mate. Regards, NP.