Nottingham group 1966-70

John Herrod: Guitar
Wayne Evans: Bass, Ukulele, Guitar, Euphonium, Banjo
Pete Wagstaff: Guitar
Rich Ronson: Guitar: Harmonica, Vocals
Paul “Beano” Summers: Piano, Trumpet
Graham Fisher: Percussion

Formed as a school band, Wayne Evans played Ukulele, guitar, euphonium and five-string banjo in this 6 piece band. They played original music as well as folk and pop hits in a jug band style. Wayne knew Paul “Beano” Summers since he was 11. “Beano was a good player from an early age. Beano tapped me on the shoulder and said can you play an instrument. I said no. He said well you look like you should”. Inspired by Beano’s remarks Wayne practiced with some instruments and the group took shape.

Wayne Evans lived on the Ainsley Estate, tucked in between Western Boulevard and the River Leen near Radford and his childhood friends were brought in. The name of the group was inspired by the long name group titles like “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.

1968 TELEVISION APPEARANCE

In 1968 they appeared twice on national TV on “Come here often?” which was the fore-runner of “Magpie” on the ITV. They were having a battle of the bands type competition with a couple on a week and “The Tadpoles” followed up the competition advertised on TV and went to Birmingham for auditions which they passed. Paul Summers older brother hired a minibus and they travelled to London to take part in the finals. This was an adventure for the boys who were still only 14. Wayne smoked his first joint. The comperes for the programme were Sarah Ward and rugby player, commentator and “This Week” producer Cliff Morgan. Mick Robertson would replace Morgan towards the end of the show’s run, and would re-appear in the seventies in ITV’s “Magpie”.

It was a magazine programme aimed at older children with articles, sports and pop music. There was a jury made up of George Martin (Beatles producer), Spike Milligan (Comedian), Alan Price (former Animals keyboard player) and another. They appeared twice on the show getting through to the finals. It was all live! They performed a song written by Wayne Evans called “Suburban City Blues”. They were George Martin’s favourite and Spike Milligan liked them too and he autographed Wayne’s banjo too. In the changing rooms next to them were the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band who had a spot on the TV show “Do Not Adjust Your Set” at the same time. The Tadpoles visited them in their changing rooms and jammed along with them. It was a highlight for the lads who were only 14/15 at the time. Wayne also got his banjo autographed by Spike Milligan.

Drummer Graham Fisher was given an audio tape of their TV recordings. Maybe it still exists. All the group members were given a memorial album to remember the occasion by. It featured autographs and a photograph of each of the six groups taking part in the final.

On a forum discussing the programme someone recalls “I was 13 at the time. They also had a battle of the bands style pop competition at one point. two acts a week for several weeks. i know this because the older brother of a school friend was on it, singing a rather winsome song about taking O levels. There was a real mixed bag of acts in the competition, including as i recall a couple of fairly full on psychedelic acts with spooky back projections“.

He then added “I was inspired to go and dig out the original communication from Stephen Hinton (the older brother of the school friend) who appears on the show. Here is what he said to me in 2004″. “The show was come here often, rediffusion, not a music show as such, a young people’s magazine. ?Post card voting. Some girls at school who used to shun me actually started collecting postcards to vote! (Pulling power soon returned to normal low levels). ????I remember sending in a tape I think, and then being asked to come to the studio. The same program showed a science spot about mag lev trains. ?I sang live I believe! ?Two contestants per show and then a final ( I did not make the final). ??The producer assistant was Mick Jackson who went on to do some great stuff if it is the same man. ??I’m assuming it is the same future tv mogul! ??it went on the week before feb 28 1968. So there you have it. We can at least date Stephens appearance if not the whole duration of the talent show. Maybe someone here can dig deeper and find out who else appeared.
tonyrees“.

A reply states “Much appreciated Tony. If the competition went on till June 68 my contact must have appeared fairly early on. I do remember it going on for ages (or what seemed like ages to a 13 year old) and there being a very wide variety of acts on it, and as i say i have a clear memory of at least a couple of bands being on the psychedelic side of things. one had a name like the cats or the bats or ice or something. certainly a one syllable name, but that’s just guesswork and of no help to anyone. I wonder what became of that George Martin recording session. John Green“.

POST TV SUCCESS

Being seen on the telly was a boon to their group status and they could gigs easier.

The Tadpoles played folk clubs and school assembly’s. At one gig they were playing a school dance and a bunch of tough lads smashed the place up and knifed Wayne. They were the Bilborough crowd. Mickie Mann stabbed him in the face. Wayne stayed low for a while.

Lloyd Watkins known as Wocko was from the Beatnik era and he filmed The Tadpoles at his studio near the church in Hockley. “An old room we set up and we played and he filmed it”. This film is no longer in existence.

Later in 1969 they all left school and by 1970 the group had disbanded.

Wayne Evans, John Herrod and Richard Ronson would later form the first line up of Gaffa in 1972 along with drummer Mick Barratt. Paul “Beano” Summers joined up with Colin Staples in 1970. Pete Wagstaff went on to be a DJ at Radio Trent then at “Beacons” radio and “The Severn”.

Graham Fisher went to Leicester. Last time Wayne Evans saw Graham Fisher was when “Alright Now” was number 1 (1970).

Richard Ronson died in 2012 and Yetiboy Records run by Richard Kensington put out a small tribute with the pictures above.

Richard Ronson. 26th November 1952 – 26th August 2012

Yeti Boy Records are sad to announce the death of Richard Ronson. Guitarist, singer and songwriter, Richard was part of the original Gaffa line-up. He also sang and played guitar and harmonica with Wayne Evans and Paul Summers in the ‘Tadpole Lane and District County Council Charity Band’ on their TV appearance on the 60’s TV show “Come here often?”. Richard played an enormous part in Wayne’s early life and will be greatly missed as a friend and musical inspiration.