Nottingham beat group 1964-66

Line up:
Alan Richardson: Guitar
John Parker: Guitar
Roger Reno: Vocals
David Lockwood: Drums
Chris Black: Bass guitar

Manager: Steve Clayton (1964)
Manager: Richard Michael Slater (1965-66)

Dave Lockwood’s son Paul helped me with some background.

“He (Dave Lockwood) was born in Clifton and went to Mundella school. He was the drummer in his first band (The Sidewinders). Gerald was also in the band who I think was Alan’s brother. In later years my dad was into a lot of bands. Mainly prog rock but also Fleetwood Mac, Al Stewart and Barclay James harvest. And Chris rea”. 

The Rattlesnakes first manager was Steve Clayton with an address on Derby Road. For a while they were with the “Carloo Variety Agency” who were based in Mansfield using the “Carlsbro Sound Equipment” address. They were unusual in that they formed a limited company with parents and friends and had an office at 37 Talbot Road, Nottingham. Their manager then was Michael Slater, who was an organist and a columnist in “The Stage” newspaper. The group used Fender guitars, Vox Amps and “Rogers” drums. In 1965 it was reported that he was trying to get them a tour in Germany. “Germany never happened. Sadly their second manager ran off with the money according to my mother and left them with a HP for drums my dad never saw”. 

Dave Lockwood and Chris Black had both played in a band prior to the Rattlesnakes called the Sidewinders with front man Ray Burns.

Ray Burns, born in London of Russian ancestry as Reuben Klot, was a British singer who had a singing career in the 1950s and had a top five single in 1955. In 1949 Burns had landed a role in the band “Ambrose”, a dance band led by Benjamin Ambrose who was highly acclaimed in the 1930’s. Burns then became a singer with the BBC Dance Band led by Nottingham born Cyril Stapleton. Burns played the Empire in Nottingham in 1955.
As the music scene changed he gradually played smaller cabaret performances. In 1964 he had a band called the Sidewinders who played a few times in Nottingham. In that band were Dave Lockwood and Chris Black. Both Dave and Chris would become part of Roger and the Rattlesnakes, a Nottingham beat group. Ray Burns last appeared on television in 1999, singing a duet with his daughter on the “Barrymore” show.

The Sidewinders:
Alan Richardson: Guitar
Gerald Richardson: ????
Dave Lockwood: Drums
Chris Black: Bass

After the Rattlsnakes came to an end in the spring of 1966 Dave Lockwood settled down to raise a family. Chris Black continued his music career with such groups as Fresh Aire, Mike Penders Searchers and Sons and Lovers at some points. Roger Reno played with The 5 Images and The Revels in 1966 and 1967. Dave Lockwood would resume his musical interests around 2000 playing in a group called Limelite. There is a little about them on the Bob Todd page right near the bottom.

ROGER AND THE RATTLESNAKES NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS

1964

1965

1966

Roger Reno left the Rattlesnakes and joined The Five Images. It’s possible the Rattlesnakes carried on for a few weeks but in April their company was wound up.

By 1967 Roger Reno was fronting a group called The Revels.