Born in Doncaster in 1948. Moved with his parents to Nottingham while still a child.
1963 Buying a guitar his first band was formed while still at school in 1963 called The Electrons. Impacted by The Beatles like everybody else they did a version of Roll Over Beethoven Beatles style. Apart from the Christmas do the first gig The Electrons played was at the “Oxclose” in Arnold one Sunday afternoon in 1963. They passed the hat round at the end of the gig and got half a crown each. Big money in 1963. Al Gascoigne and Wayne Ford were also in a band at the same time playing at the Maid Marion pub in Arnold.
1964 Leaving school Drac’s next band was The Rapiers.
Ray Sharpe (Netherfield).
Alan Yeo – Drums / Vocals. Alan – Started playing drums in the very early 60’s, practicing by playing along to many of the songs that Revival now perform. His first stage appearance was aged 15, sitting in for the drummer in a local band ‘The Rapiers’ for two nights.
Drac and Chris met at school. They both did the beatnik trail at St Ives.
Drac knew Paul Mountain in the early days of the Beatmen a pioneering Nottingham beat group who signed to Pye records and released a couple of singles and later one on Decca as The Midnight Shift.
1965 Drac recorded with ???????, a novelty record “??????????” which was succesfull. It paid well and Drac bought a Rickenbacker guitar.
Mid 60’s – Orlovus Incorparated were a five piece group featuring They were a house band at the Sherwood Rooms in the 60’s supporting such names as The Kinks, The Pretty Things and Screaming Lord Sutch. They did covers of American RnB mainly including “Walkin the dog”. Drac G, Clive “Sutch” Lynch vox, 2nd guitar, bass, drums. Clive Lynch was also in Mothers Worry, Lambs of the World & The Tiddlewinks
They recorded some songs at Codolar Studios, based on High Pavement next to where a wine bar is now on corner of Weekday Cross. Clive Gamble recorded many bands there and took the tapes to Radio Nottingham and hosted his own show ‘Scene Around’ where he became a local Brian Matthews type I guess. BBC Nottm didn’t have a studio of its own back then when it started so that was the set up. *Greg remembers Clive mentioning Orlovus when he spoke to him 15 yrs ago.
1967 Chris shared a flat with Clive and his girlfriend Gloria on Magdela Road. Drac, Christine, Chris and co took over a rundown club and started a psychedelic club. The Tabla. Drac had the walls painted psychedelic.
Sugar Pyg – late 60s – Spencer Davis, Doors and other psych stuff
During 1970/71 Drac was in a prog band called Today. They got a recording contract with Orange records but it came to nothing. Denmark Street studio. Moved into a Chislehurst place to be near the studio. Pete Townshend came in once. He had something to do with “Orange”. Line up – Trevor Dicken, Paul Dicken, Andy Dr, Drac
Drac later went on to be in Desperate Dann (74-79) with Tim Disney in the 70’s. The original line up was Tim Disney (vocals, harmonica), Al Gascoigne (lead guitar), Stevie Otter (drums), Mick Wheat (bass guitar). Drac joined later on Bass.
Gigged with Nick Turner, Wayne Evans, Mick Gorman
Impro gig at Clifton 70s – Drac, Wayne Evans, Mick ……, Nick Turner, Mick Gorman
The Drains. 1979-1982 – Drac, John Beeton, Dave Johnson, various drummers
Toured Holland with Sugar Pie (John Beeton)
Harry and the Atoms – Wayne, John, Drac, although Wayne and Drac weren’t in at the same time
Bogus Bob – 80’s with Tim Disney – Dylan stuff
Revisited – 80’s with Tim Disney – Dylan stuff
Nick Turner and the Frogs
Nick Turner, Drac – Supported Nik Turners ICU at the Ad Lib
Drac then became a sound engineer with the likes of Blur and Darts. Dare with Brian Cox.
Big Bandit