Cracks start to show for Denny Laine And the Diplomats

For me though the final straw was when Denny had his hair dyed black - so that no one would be left in any doubt just which one of the band was the leader, Denny Laine. Personally, I had never liked being a peroxide blonde and regularly Brylcreemed my mop of hair to make it look darker. So it didn't take me long to persuade my best pal in the group, Phil, that we too should get our hair died black as well. That night we turned up , in the van, at a gig in Nuneaton - our hair sleek, shiny and black. When Denny laid eyes on us I thought steam was going to come out of his ears.

"You - you've gone and had your hair dyed black !"
"Yes", I replied nonchalantly, "So what ? You did the same thing last week".
"But, but, but ", Denny spluttered, "I'm the leader of the group - I'm Denny Laine and you're just the band !"

Then he turned on bass player Steve, who ever loyal to Denny, had remained blonde. "You, you're the real prick Steve !" he exploded.
"Who me ? what have I done ?" replied a stunned Steve.
"You're the only blonde now - everyone's going to think that you're Denny Laine !"

Within 24 hours Steve Horton too joined the ranks of black haired wannabee pop stars.

Following our stint as backing group for Nicky James, we found ourselves doing a similar job at our Monday night residency at Solihull Civic Hall, when we were persuaded by the manager there to back his latest find - Solihull schoolgirl Christine Holmes. It was hardly an ego boost to our flagging career. Christine Holmes later became Christine Sparkle and I believe that she went on to become a successful songwriter, including writing "Devil Woman" for Cliff Richard.

As a band we were now being represented by "Ralph Horton Enterprises", a business that occupied a first floor office of a rambling ,old Victorian building in Wake Green Road, opposite my old school, Moseley Grammar. An advert in "Midland Beat" magazine announced "Promoters ! Phone now and book the Midlands top groups for your sessions"

DENNY LAINE AND THE DIPLOMATS
MARK STUART AND THE CRESTAS
LEE STEVENS AND THE SATELLITES
FRANKIE WILLIAMS AND THE HIGH CARDS
JOHNNY NEAL AND THE STARLINERS
KEITH POWELL AND THE VALETS
CAL DENNY AND THE CIMARRONS
THE GRASSHOPPERS
THE CLIMBERS
THE CONGRESSMEM

Your enquiries invited - Phone SOUth 4097 - ( 2 lines ! )

Another Birmingham band around at that time, and making quite an impression , were The Spencer Davis Group, featuring the precocious talents of 15 year old Stevie Winwood. We went to see them perform at the Golden Eagle pub in Brum and we also shared the bill with them at a gig at Birmingham University.

The Spencer Davis Group were indeed a terrific little band, but unlike virtually every other beat group around, did not play songs by the Beatles or Cliff Richard and the Shadows. Instead they concentrated on a mix of blues and soul music.

We were well impressed, but Denny was more than impressed - he was gobsmacked. To him The Spencer Davis Group were a revelation and, virtually overnight Denny Laine fell in love with "the blues" and was soon making plans to leave his pop group and get into a more serious mode of music.

We often played at Rob Prykes "Moathouse" club in Birmingham and it was apparently at a bonfire and fireworks party at the Pryke's impressive country mansion in Earlswood, that Denny told singer Danny King and Avenger's drummer Graeme Edge of his plans to leave the Diplomats and form a new blues band.

It was some weeks later when he told us of his intentions. I don't think any of us were too bothered as there were plenty more "fish in the sea" musician wise around the area.

At least we agreed that our two yeat career of ups and downs should finish on a high note and Denny Laine and the Diplomats last ever show was on March 25th at the prestigious Birmingham Town Hall, opening the show for the Rolling Stones.