Bev Bevan: The birth of The Move and other entries

By Bev Bevan on Jan 22, 10 11:44 AM

This is what I was up to at this time of year in, days gone by.

A few "Third weeks of January" dary entries .

1963
With Denny Laine and the Diplomats did gigs at Wednesbury Youth Centre and the Frank Freeman Dance Club in Kidderminster.

1966
First ever rehearsal for The Move, formed when all five of us "Moved" from various Birmingham groups - Roy Wood left Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders, Trevor Burton left Danny King and the Mayfair Set and Carl Wayne, Ace Kefford and myself left The Vikings.1969
Busy week. The Move flew from Heathrow to Amsterdam to appear on a Dutch TV pop show, along with The Tremeloes, Love Affair, Marmalade and Timebox. Back to London the next day to record BBC TV "Top of the pops", with "Blackberry Way" at number 16 on the charts. Next day flew to Hamburg and played the legendary Star Club along with The Tremeloes. On to Bremen and a double header, The Jaguar Club and The Tambourne Club. Trevor Burton announced to Carl Wayne, Roy Wood and me that he was quitting the band. Following night was an appearance on German TV pop show "Beat Club", along with Status Quo and The Tremeloes.

1970
Move gigs at Weston Super Mare Winter Gardens and Coventry Flying Club, then flew to Ireland to do shows in Dublin and Cork.

1971
Went to see The Kinks at The Belfry in Wishaw. Also some recording at Phillips Studios near Hyde Park.

1973
Just the one ELO gig this week - at Northampton cricket club.

1975
Recording with ELO at De Lane Lea studios in London.

1976
ELO rehearsals and an appearance on BBC TV "Midlands Today". Went to see my old chum Jasper Carrott starring at the London Palladium.

1977
Start of an ELO tour in the USA, kicking off in Phoenix, Arizona to a crowd of around 9,000. Next stop Denver, Colorado, where the very good, 11 piece Elvin Bishop Band opened the show. On to Tuscon, Arizona, where the excellent Journey were opening act.

1978
In Los Angeles. Watched the Superbowl on TV, Dallas Cowboys defeating Denver.
Went to see the musical "Beatlemania"at the Shubert Theatre and bumped into Mick Fleetwood there. Some shopping at my favourite shoe store, The Brass Boot.

1994
On tour in Poland with ELO Part 2. Flew to Amsterdam from Birmingham, then connecting flight to Warsaw. Show the following night at a lovely theatre. Then long and bumpy coach ride to Katowice. Next stop Wrocklow, the show televised to local TV. Another bumpy coach ride after that, to Pozman, where we were joined on stage by the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, the show televised on national television. Sold out show to around 4.000 people.

1996
Along with Tony Iommi drove to Monnow Studios in Monmouth, Wales, to meet up with acoustic guitarist Gordon Giltrap, bass player Neil Murray and keyboardist Don Airey. Over 3 days we recorded a version of The Shadow's "Wonderful Land" for the Hank Marvin tribute album "Twang".

1998
On USA tour with ELO Part 2. Gig at the historic Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa ,
( the last venue that Buddy Holly played before the tragic plane crash in February, 1959 that killed him, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens.). On then to Chicago and a show at the impressive Rosemont Theatre along with the Alliance Orchestra. Next night it was Philadelphia with the American Pops Orchestra at The Academy of Music. Flight from there to the much warmer San Diego for a gig at the Pointsettia Ballroom.

1999
Gig with ELO Part 2 in the beautiful Russian city of St Petersburg and found time for plenty of sight seeing.