FAMILY Mk I
Roger Chapman: vocals, tenor saxophone, harmonica, percussion
John ‘Charlie’ Whitney: guitars, keyboards
Ric Grech: bass, violin, cello, vocals
Jim King: tenor and soprano saxophones, harmonica, vocals, piano
Harry Ovenall: drums, percussion
1967
SUNDAY
01 JAN 1967
The Beachcomber
Bolton, Lancashire, England
MONDAY
02 JAN 1967
The Carlton
Warrington, Cheshire, England
WEDNESDAY
04 JAN 1967
The Place
Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
FRIDAY
13 JAN 1967
The Hermitage Ballroom
Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England
SATURDAY
14 JAN 1967
The Royal Lido Ballroom
Prestatyn, Denbighshire, North Wales
w/ The Raynes
- Advertised on the poster as Royal Lido, Prestatyn Saturday, Jan. 14th, Saturday, Jan. 14th Terrific Attraction!! From Leicester The Family group dressed from the early Chicago Gang Leaders of 1930 Plus your very own The Rayners.
SUNDAY
15 JAN 1967
The Astoria
Oldham, Lancashire, England
TUESDAY
17 JAN 1967
Blaises, Basement of the Imperial Hotel, 121 Queens Gate
Kensington, South West London, England
WEDNESDAY
18 JAN 1967
The Big L’ Discotheque, 122 Charing Cross Road near Soho Square
West Central London, England
- Advertised as The Roaring Sixties but I possibly had already changed their name to Family.
18 JAN 1967
The Speakeasy Club, 48 Margaret Street
Soho, West London, England
THURSDAY
19 JAN 1967
Unknown Venue
Connahs Quay, Flintshire, North Wales
FRIDAY
20 JAN 1967
The Hulme Hall
Manchester, Lancashire, England
SATURDAY
21 JAN 1967
The Pavilion
Matlock, Derbyshire, England
SUNDAY
22 JAN 1967
The Beachcomber
Bolton, Lancashire, England
MONDAY
23 JAN 1967
Unknown Venue
Baldock, North Herefordshire, England
23 JAN 1967
The Speakeasy Club, 48 Margaret Street
Soho, West London, England
WEDNESDAY
25 JAN 1967
Manchester University
Manchester, Lancashire, England
THURSDAY
02 FEB 1967
The Tiles, 79 – 89 Oxford Street
Soho, West London, England
THURSDAY
23 FEB 1967
The Country Club
Kirklevinton Village, North Yorkshire, England
FRIDAY
24 FEB 1967
The Beaconside Technical College
Stafford, Staffordshire, England
SATURDAY
25 FEB 1967 (early show)
The Evington Club
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
25 FEB 1967 (late show)
The Midnight City, underneath The Moat House
Digbeth, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
- as The Roaring Sixties…
SUNDAY
26 FEB 1967
Cosmopolitan Ballroom
Carlisle, England
WEDNESDAY
01 MAR 1967
Loughborough University
Loughborough, England
- as Family (The Family) from now on…
THURSDAY
02 MAR 1967
Swansea University
Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
SATURDAY
04 MAR 1967
Sheffield University
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
SUNDAY
05 MAR 1967
The Golden Torch Club
Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
MONDAY
06 MAR 1967
Unknown Venue
Baldock, North Herefordshire, England
WEDNESDAY
08 MAR 1967
The New Scene, The Corn Exchange
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
THURSDAY
09 MAR 1967
The Skyline Ballroom, Jameson Street
Hull, East Yorkshire, England
w/ Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Small Four (The Small Faces), The Strollers, The Mandrakes
FRIDAY
10 MAR 1967
Birmingham Univers
SATURDAY
11 MAR 1967
The Hollings College
Manchester, Lancashire, England
11 MAR 1967
Birmingham Univers
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
SUNDAY
12 MAR 1967
The Thing Club
Oldham, Lancashire, England
WEDNESDAY
15 MAR 1967
West Central London, Covent Garden, 48 Margaret Street, The Middle Earth
15 MAR 1967
The New Cellar Club, Thomas Street
South Shields, Northumbria, England
- Advertised on the ticket as New Cellar Club presents The Fabulous Family.
TUESDAY
21 MAR 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ Cream
THURSDAY
23 MAR 1967
Sibylla, 9 Swallow Street
Mayfair, West London, England
FRIDAY
24 MAR 1967
The Tabernacle Club, Hillgate
Stockport, Lancashire, England
plus The Powerhouse
MONDAY
27 MAR 1967
The Golden Torch Club, Tunstall
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
THURSDAY
06 APR 1967
The Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street
Camden, North West London, England
THURSDAY
13 APR 1967
The Skyline Ballroom, Jameson Street
Hull, East Yorkshire, England
FRIDAY
14 APR 1967
The English Electric
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
SATURDAY
15 APR 1967
The Rainbow Suite, above Co-op,
Central Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
FRIDAY
21 APR 1967
The Ritz Ballroom, Kings Heath
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
SATURDAY
22 APR 1967
The Britannia Rowing Club
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
SUNDAY
23 APR 1967
The Thing Club
Oldham, Lancashire, England
MONDAY
24 APR 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
THURSDAY
27 APR 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ The Herd
SATURDAY
29 APR 1967
The Birdcage Club, Eastney Road, near Bronsbury Park
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
SUNDAY
30 APR 1967
The Beachcomber
Bolton, Lancashire, England
MONDAY
1 MAY 1967
The Quaintways
Chester, Cheshire, England
w/ The Never Never Band With John Knowles And The Never Never Girls, Wall City Jazzmen
TUESDAY
2 MAY 1967
The Ritz
Bournemouth, Hampshire, now Dorset, England
THURSDAY
4 MAY 1967
The Steering Wheel
Weymouth, Dorset, England
FRIDAY
5 MAY 1967
The Bath Regency
Bath, Somerset, England
SATURDAY
6 MAY 1967
Southampton University, The Students Union
Southampton, Hampshire, England
SUNDAY
7 MAY 1967
The Beachcomber
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
WEDNESDAY
10 MAY 1967
El Cubana, 13 Toward Road
Sunderland, County Durham, England
THURSDAY
11 MAY 1967
The Winter Gardens
Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
FRIDAY
12 MAY 1967
The Evington Club
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
SATURDAY
13 MAY 1967
Aberystwych University
Aberystwych, Dyfed, Mid Wales
SUNDAY
14 MAY 1967
The Cromwellian
Bolt
MONDAY
15 MAY 1967
Unknown Venue
Baldock, North Herefordshire, England
TUESDAY
16 MAY 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
supported John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
FRIDAY
19 MAY 1967
The Oriel College
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
SATURDAY
20 MAY 1967
The Ben Memorial Club
Rugby, Warwickshire, England
SUNDAY
21 MAY 1967
The Thing Club
Oldham, Lancashire, England
MONDAY
22 MAY 1967
The Orford Club
Norwich, Norfolk, England
TUESDAY
23 MAY 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
supported Cream
WEDNESDAY
24 MAY 1967
The Night Owl Discotheque Club, 31 Newarke Street
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
- Advertised on the poster as The Midlands Best Rave Allnighter Scene. DJ All Sessions Owlin’ Robins.
FRIDAY
9 JUN 1967
The Co-op Hall
Worcester, Worcestershire, England
MONDAY
12 JUN 1967
The Peterlee Jazz and Folk Club
Peterlee, County Durham, England
w/ Jazzboard
FRIDAY
16 JUN 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ Legay (including Rob Townsend)
SATURDAY
17 JUN 1967
The Ceasers Club
Bedford,Bedfordshire, England
TUESDAY
20 JUN 1967
The Pavilion
Bournemouth, Hampshire, now Dorset, England
SATURDAY
24 JUN 1967
The Night Owl Discotheque Club, 31 Newarke Street
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
- Advertised on the poster as The Midlands Best Rave Allnighter Scene. DJ All Sessions Owlin’ Robins.
FRIDAY
30 JUN 1967
The George Hotel
Wilby Village, Northamptonshire, England
SATURDAY
01 JUL 1967
The Club A’Gogo, Percy Street
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, England
SUNDAY
02 JUL 1967
The Sportsmen Club
Wigan, Lancashire, England
MONDAY
03 JUL 1967
The Quaintways
Chester, Cheshire, England
w/ John Evans Smash, Bourbon Street Beats
THURSDAY
06 JUL 1967
The Black Horse
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
FRIDAY
07 JUL 1967 (early show)
The Tabernacle Club
Hill Gate, Stockport
07 JUL 1967 (late show)
Mr. Smiths, Samuel Ogden Street
Mancheste
SATURDAY
08 JUL 1967
The Maple Ballroom
Northampton, Northamptonshire, England
SUNDAY
09 JUL 1967
The Starlight Ballroom
Crawley, Surrey, England
09 JUL
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
MONDAY
10 JUL 1967 (early show)
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
also The Syn supported by Ten Years After [note: Marquee Club site lists only The Syn supported by Ten Years After]
10 JUL 1967 (late show)
Sibylla, 9 Swallow Street
Mayfair, West London, England
WEDNESDAY
12 JUL 1967
The Cellar Club
South Shields, County Durham, England
FRIDAY
14 JUL 1967
The Quarrington Hall
Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England
SATURDAY
15 JUL 1967
The New Century Hall, The New Century House, Corporation Street,
Manchester, Lancashire, England
SUNDAY
16 JUL 1967
The Southbank Jazz Club
Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
MONDAY
17 JUL 1967
The Quay Club, Dean Street
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumbria, England
WEDNESDAY
19 JUL 1967
South Wales, Glamorgan, Swansea, The Glanmore Jazz Club
FRIDAY
21 JUL 1967
St. Bernadettes, Withington
Mancheste
SATURDAY
22 JUL 1967
private party
Warminster, West Wiltshire, England
TUESDAY
25 JUL 1967
The Royalty Ballroom
Southgate, North London, England
WEDNESDAY
26 JUL 1967 (early show)
The Eel Pie Hotel
Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex, England
26 JUL 1967 (late show)
Sibylla, 9 Swallow Street
Mayfair, West London, England
FRIDAY
04 AUG 1967
The UFO Club, Basement of 31 Tottenham Court Road
Soho, West London, England
w/ Eric Burdon and the Animals
MONDAY
07 AUG 1967
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
supported by Cock-A-Hoop
SEP 1967 SINGLE RELEASE
- Scene Through The Eye of A Lens / Gypsy Woman
FRIDAY
15 SEP 1967
UFO at the Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road
Chalk Farm, North West London, England
10.30pm – dawn
w/ Soft Machine
SATURDAY
23 SEP 1967
The 5th Dimension
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
- Harry Ovenall’s final gig.
MONDAY
25 SEP 1967
The Quaintways
Chester, Cheshire, England
w/ Savoy Brown Blues Band, The Munchkins, Wall City Jazzmen
- Charlie Whitney, Ric Grech, Jim King, Roger Chapman, Rob Townsend
FAMILY Mk II
Roger Chapman: vocals, tenor saxophone, harmonica, percussion
Ric Grech: bass, violin, cello, vocals
Jim King: tenor and soprano saxophones, harmonica, vocals, tin whistle, piano
Rob Townsend: drums, percussion
John ‘Charlie’ Whitney: guitars, keyboards, mellotron, sitar
no images were found
WEDNESDAY
01 NOV 1967
Sibylla, 9 Swallow Street
Mayfair, West London, England
1st publicity appearance for industry audience including John Lennon, John Peel.
FRIDAY
03 NOV 1967
The Middle Earth, 43 King Street
Covent Garden, West Central London, England
w/ Herbal Mixture, Doctor K’s Blues Band
On November 1st, after six months preparatory work, FAMILY arrived. The place – Sibylla’s, the audience – 150 of the most critical music men in the business: John and Cynthia Lennon, Graham Nash and Tony Hicks (Hollies), George and Pattie Harrison, Brian Jones, Hapshash and the colored coat, The Heavy Metal Kids, and a good handful of top BBC producers not to mention the top DJ’s and special people like Leslie Caron and Viviane Ventura. The party was not a publicity gig, but an experiment to see if FAMILY could turn on such a varied group of people as they had their manager John Gilbert. The answer was an easy YES. Their lead singer is Roger Chapman who has a unique and immediately identifiable vocal quality; way back in a Leicester Ballroom he won a contest over the ten unknown Gerry Dorsey – now Mr. Humperdinck. He also plays the tenor sax and writes along with lead guitar and sitar player John Whitney. John has one of the few twin neck guitars around. Cream’s Eric Clapton once offered “as much loot as you want and all my guitars” for John’s 18-string dream. Ric Grech once played formal scenes with the Leicester Youth Symphony orchestra, and is now wired for sound on electrified violin, cello and bass. The great harmonica sounds, along with tenor and the seldom-used soprano sax, come from Jim King. Rob Townsend, the newest member of FAMILY, pulls the whole session together with his immaculate drumming. The sounds produced from this group are as unique and as individualist as the instruments they play. Their zeal and perfectionism show up on their first release on the Liberty label, “Scene Through The Eye of a Lens/Gypsy Woman,” and is just a taste of things to come. Liberty Records chief, Robert Reisdorf, expects a great reaction from U.S. record buyers on its next release – Advance orders for FAMILY’s next disc are already pouring in…
-Publicity leaflet, November 1967
MONDAY
20 NOV 1967
BBC SESSION: Top Gear
BBC Studio 1, 201 Piccadilly
St. James’s, West London, England
Broadcast: (Sunday) 26 NOV 1967
- Peace Of Mind
- Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens
- Voyage
- The Breeze
- Winter
Dave Mason, who quit the Traffic last week to go into record production, will produce the first single and LP by new British rave group, the Family. The Family -a five-strong outfit from Leicester consisting of Roger Chapman, John Whitney, Ric Grech, Jim King and Rob Townshend – have already received rave comments from the Beatles and Cream on their live appearances. Dave starts work on the album with Traffic producer Jimmy Miller this month. Traffic are currently working on new tracks for a single LP in the seclusion of their country retreat in Berkshire.
– Unknown Press, December 1967
FRIDAY
08 DEC 1967
The Middle Earth, 43 King Street
Covent Garden, West Central London, England
FRIDAY
15 DEC 1967
The Argus Butterfly
Peterlee, County Durham, England
w/ West Side Story
SATURDAY
30 DEC 1967
The Middle Earth, 43 King Street
Covent Garden, West Central London, England