Heavyhead Records, Madison Square Gardens and squash with Leonard Rossiter

Here are some of my diary notes from various 2nd weeks of February over the years.

1963
A busy week for Denny Laine and the Diplomats, with several gigs around the Midlands --- The Manor House Youth Club in Aldridge, Knowle Village Hall, The Brum Beat Tavern in Birmingham city centre, The Staffordshire Volunteer Pub in Woverhampton and the rather posh Regency Club in Warwick.

1968
Recording at Olympic Studios near London, finishing off The Move's debut album and put down a version of Eddie Cochran's "Weekend", featuring Trevor Burton on lead vocals. Also a gig at Southlands College in Wimbledon.

1969
Rick Price made his Move stage debut on a short tour of Ireland, then back to London for photo shoots for magazines "Top Pops" and "Fabulous 208". A TV show in Leeds, miming to "Blackberry Way" and gigs in Stafford and Chippenham.

1971
I opened my "Heavyhead Records" shop in Sparkhill, Birmingham. Celeb guests at the grand opening were John Bonham , Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Jeff Lynne, Rick Price and Raymond Froggatt.

1973
ELO tour of Scandinavia ended with shows in Odense and Copenhagen. The Ferry back to Harwich a lot smoother voyage than the one going out. Drove to London to appear on BBC TV shows "Top of the pops" and "Crackerjack", to promote new single "Roll over Beethoven".

1974
ELO recording at De Lane Lea Studios in London, plus a gig at Canterbury University.

1976
On a three month tour of the USA and Canada with ELO. In Los Angeles to appear on nationwide TV rock show "Midnight Special" and performed "Evil woman", "Strange magic" and "Nightrider". Also a gig at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento and two sold out shows at Winterland in San Francisco.

1977
In the States with ELO and a great thrill to play for the first time at the legendary Madison Sqiuare Gardens in New York City. After show party guests included World heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier, Monty Python star Eric Idle and guitar hero Peter Frampton. On then to Philadelphia and two sold out shows at the Spectrum.

1978
ELO's Australian tour continues with second and third nights at a beautiful amphitheatre in Melbourne,. Next stop Adelaide and a big show there at the cricket ground to a crowd o around 20,000.

1982
On a European tour with ELO . Great gig in Amsterdam to 10,000 strong crowd and presented after the show with gold albums for the "Time" LP. Short drive the next day to Brussells and another sell out. On to Frankfurt for two shows there, with lots of American servicemen and women amongst the audience.

1983
I was invited to the Lyceum in London to present Best Group award to Duran Duran at the BBC Rock and Pop Awards. Chatted with fellow Brummie Toyah Willcox, Ultravox's Midge Ure, newscaster Sue Lawley, singer Mari Wilson and DJ's Dave Lee Travis and Mike Read.
Next day I played in a celebrity squash match in Diss, Norfolk , along with Jasper Carrott and Leonard Rossitter.

1984
On tour in the USA with Black Sabbath. Flew from Houston to Dallas to play a show there , then it was an old turbo prop flight to get to Beaumont, Texas, Next stop was Little Rock, Arkansas for a concert to around 4,000 noisy fans. Three flights the next day - Little Rock to Dallas, Dallas to Memphis and Memphis to Orlando, Florida.

2005
Gig at the Metropole Hotel in Birmingham for The Bev Bevan Band with special guest Roy Wood, singing half a dozen Move numbers.

2006
Bev Bevan Band gig at Saga 106.6 fm gig in Kegworth, hosted by David Hamilton.

2007
Bev Bevan Band gig at Cox's Yard in Stratford upon Avon.

2008
"Bev Bevan's Move" gig at JB's in Dudley,( next to the zoo. ).