Muleskinners: Got Them Hounslow Blues Again
Colin Fulcher photograph Muleskinners in concert at Hounslow Town hall, maybe 1963.
Colin Fulcher photographs Ian McClagan , Dave Pether and Nick Tweddell of the Muleskinners 1963
Walkin down that High Street
Got no place to go
Walkin’ down the bus depot
Got them Hound slow Blues again…
The Twickenham art school formed band, The Muleskinners, photographed by Colin Fulcher for publicity, but destined by fate to never be used. The band went caput when Mac McLagan co-founded the Small Faces, and later joined the ‘Stones amongst other adventures. I thought he played keyboard, but is shewn here with a guitar (that may have been Fulcher’s, er, nah, it’s not). With Dave Pether, guitar; Pete Brown base, and the guy on harp who’s name escapes me. It is Nick Tweddell so he tells us. See comments. There’s another shot in this sequence, shot in ‘Ahnslow bogs with Paolozzi prints on the porcelain that I will up-dig soon. (1963.) See above. I have now found the Paolozzi Hounslow ‘bog’ picture.
John Donald, 
Nick Tweddell 12:29 pm on January 30, 2010 Permalink |
The guy on the harp is me – Nick Tweddell. Love to get copies of these. We the Muleskinners had a get together at Twickers last year still in touch. Mac did start playing guitar and still does a bit. Pete Brown and I played together for years untill about ten years ago. The record, Back Door Man has been released on CD by a few labels. I do remember you from Art School days, take care.
davidwills 4:47 am on February 1, 2010 Permalink |
Hi Nick
So cool you are still playing. Great you got in touch. Do you by any amazing chance still have a copy of the original two colour poster for the ‘Skinners? I’m sending all the pictures I have to RandM who will scan them. Got any Fulcher/Barney related stories? David
Nick Tweddell 1:28 pm on February 1, 2010 Permalink |
Hi David
Sorry no I don’t have an original Knockout R&B poster, sadly – had hundreds under the bed way back when. The only one I know of is the one ‘Chippy’ the Muleskinners drummer has; he is the guy who bothered to collect and save stuff from the Muleskinner days and has loads of bits and pieces. I believe his is the only known original and worth a bit. Incidentally to clear up the ‘THEM’ Muleskinners business, not as I think quoted in the book ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ – the poster was for the Muleskinners, a put up at any gig job (we put loads up outside venues all over the country on the day of the gig) and the THEM is not a band but them as in those Muleskinners.
I have many fond (but now slightly misty) memories of Colin, you AI Good Guyz and the (‘Leigh Court’?) days.
One memory and one that I would like to ask you about David: Pete Brown and I were at the flat, I was for some reason playing/singing a song that I had just written called ‘I am the maker of all things’ and Richard Neville who was also there decided to record it and include it as a ‘Flexi Disk’ in OZ Magazine – I think that ill fated OZ12? We did record it although I cant remember which studio was used. Colin I remember was at the studio and taking pics as ever, an American friend of Colin’s (poster designer?) played some percussion along with Chippy – all the Muleskinners played on the song in the end! But there was a legal problem I think with publishing the Flexi Disk (stamp duty had to be paid on records then?) and it never happened. I think the Flexi Disks were produced not sure though and I don’t know what happened to the master tape. Were you at the studio that day David? It was pretty busy there I remember, and do you know if any of the photographs have survived?
Hope this ramble isn’t too long for the system
Best wishes
Nick
davidwills 4:53 pm on March 3, 2010 Permalink |
Nick’s lost tape. Amazing what you can remember if you think about it: My files are busy recalling Leigh Court 1967 maybe in June(?). Confusion and other peoples lives relate in a way that I could probably recount in great detail. There’s a tape of the song being handed around, the idea was the song, with the band was to be avilable as a tape from Oz, by mail. Not to be. The band had disbanded. I do not know what happed to the tape,
davidwills 5:03 pm on March 3, 2010 Permalink |
More Muleskinners pictures to gasp at are on the way.
Ian McLagan 5:25 pm on May 29, 2010 Permalink |
Hi David, Nick, Pete, Dave and Mick, Great to see a picture of us in action, albeit one that I’m not in. Ha Ha. That’s me on guitar, but the picture is reversed, and I don’t know whose guitar that was, doesn’t look familiar.
mick 4:58 am on July 29, 2010 Permalink |
Hey great site, wonderful pics. Hope you dont mind me clarifying something, Im just helping. The biography at the top says the Muleskinners went kaput after Mac co-founded the Small Faces – not true – The Small Faces were already happening and in the charts with ‘whatcha gonna do about it’ with Jimmy winston on keyboards. Jimmy got sacked and then Mac jpoined in time to be on the second SF single ‘I’ve Got Mine’. cheers………………..Mick
Ian McLagan 3:55 am on July 30, 2010 Permalink |
Hey Mick, all correct up to the last statement. I joined in time to promote ‘I’ev Got Mine’, not to play on it, because Jimmy Winston played on the track, not me. It is a great site, and very heartwarming to see Colin/Barney honoured.
Chris Crisp 4:02 pm on August 27, 2010 Permalink |
Greetings all – Lost contact with Nick. Where are you? Do contact me at the email address supplied with this comment. Would love to get back in touch.
Nick Warburton 2:24 pm on September 4, 2010 Permalink |
My name is Nick Warburton and I am a UK-based freelancer. I am doing some research around Ealing/Twickenham bands from that time and was wondering if anyone has any information on Frankie Reid and The Casuals (Mitch Mitchell was original drummer and John Kerrison came in later who went on to Episode Six, plus Mick Liber – Python Lee Jackson), The Tomcats (aka The Thoughts with Speedy Keen) and Jeff Curtis & The Flames (members included Louis McKelvey and Malcolm Tomlinson) please?
Frankie Reid 1:44 pm on September 19, 2010 Permalink |
Hi Nick, this is Frankie Reid who originally was the lead singer with the Casuals from 1960 to 1965.
Then I formed the Power House from 1965 to 1974. Then formed Flying Fox up to 1979 when I immigrated to Australia.
Please contact me on my gmail address and we can have a chat.
Frankie Reid.
davidwills 4:20 pm on September 20, 2010 Permalink |
Hey, any you guys got recordings from way back, or now? Send and share here.
Nick Warburton 8:33 am on November 22, 2010 Permalink |
Here is an article on Jeff Curtis and The Flames, can anyone add anything that might know any gaps in the history. The same website will run a story on Frankie Reid and The Casuals next month
http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=JeffCurtisandTheFlames
Nick Warburton 1:27 pm on March 6, 2011 Permalink |
Just found out that this band evolved into the Kool who did two singles for CBS. Brian Hoskins the bass player was from Hounslow and had been in the All Night Workers who I believe opened for Jimi Hendrix at the Ricky Tick in Feb 1967. On that note, does anyone know when John Mansfield and Chris Welch’s book on the famous club is being published?
Nick Warburton 1:11 pm on December 1, 2010 Permalink |
If anyone has memories of playing or attending the Ealing club, can you contact me please at the email above?
Nick Warburton 12:12 pm on December 19, 2010 Permalink |
Hi there
I was wondering if you might be interested in leaving some recollections in the comments box here:
http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=EalingClub
I am aiming to build an interactive historical community if possible.
would be great if you could
best wishes
Nick
David Wills 2:39 am on December 21, 2010 Permalink |
Most certainly. If you would like to use any of the photographs you may use them too.
mick chippy carpenter 12:39 pm on January 10, 2011 Permalink |
hi flicking thru have found all above yes i was the drummer in the band from the start and i do have many original posters collected after gigs on way home be nice to keep in touch ps still playing and touring up and down the uk /ireland and denmark with the split whiskers band keep going whilst i can cheers chippy
mick chippy carpenter 3:10 pm on January 11, 2011 Permalink |
hi my name is chippy carpenter and i was the drummer since band started i sent info this week but not sure if it was recieved cheers chippy
Frankie Reid 1:59 pm on January 23, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Nick, this is my new gmail address if you need to write to me.
Thank you for doing all this research on my band, I have lots of photographs and memorabilia from 1960 to 1966 when my band then became Power House. All the best, Frankie
John Donald 9:15 am on February 12, 2012 Permalink |
Frankie, How are you ? I hope you are well and still singing. Hopefully we can swap email addresses and catch up after all this time. Best Wishes. John Donald.
Nick Warburton 9:20 am on June 28, 2011 Permalink |
Check this out:
http://www.ealing-club.com
They are looking for bands that were part of the scene to reform
Nick Warburton 1:50 pm on September 10, 2011 Permalink |
Been up to the British Newspaper library in Colindale and found some gigs for the Muleskinners plus The Roosters (Surrey Comet has tons from Sep-Dec 1964 when the latter was at the Cellar in Kingston on a regular basis).
I’ll just list the Muleskinners here:
19 June 1965 – The Artwoods and Muleskinners at Farnborough Technical College (source: Camberley News)
Let me know if you want me to post any others I have found
Ian McLagan 10:10 pm on September 10, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Nick, That’s a great source. I never knew it existed. Yes, post anything you can find please.
All the best,
Mac