Name
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Monty Dick |
 |
Born
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Shepherd's Bush,
London |
Early influences
 |
Got the drum bug
at about 14 years old.
Remember playing along
on the furniture to Route 66 by the Stones. Lived in Goldhawk Road, went to Goldhawk Road Social Club every Friday and Saturday from 14 years old. Saw history being made! but didn't realise it. Saw The Who at least 4 times, English Birds (Ronnie Wood), Steve Marriott's Moments. The Clique. The Yardbirds (avec Clapton) Sonny Boy Williamson turned up that night and joined in on harp. Moody Blues, John Mayal's Blues Breakers (before Clapton). The Action. |
The Mod Years
|
Needless to say i was a Mod. Lambretta TV175 Parka etc. Saw Geogie Fame/Geno Washington at the Flamingo on Wardour St, The Who again in Pontic Putney, Spencer Davis. Ten years after (at the Marquee) i was in the right place at the right time, five of us even went to the Marquee on a cold Monday night cos it was Free. We arrived to find out there was a £2 door charge. We said "thought it was free?" "thats the name of the band you twats!" |
| The New Yardbirds |
Definitely at the right place in 1968, the Marquee for the New Yardbirds, yes i was one of the privilaged 400 to witness their first live performance. Amazing!! Went back two weeks later, they changed their name to Led Zeppelin. I remember the PA was 4 Marshall columns (remember the encore vividly that night, Plant said "thanks very much, we are off to America tomorrow (we know what happened there) Please bear with us for this next song, we are not sure of it yet" Jimmy Page cranked up Jeff Becks, Paisley Telecaster and they played Communication Breakdown, definitely never heard anything like that before. Stood beside Moon. Long John Baldry and Madeline Bell (a lig or what?).
Led Zeppelin played soon after at Richmond Athletic ground, didn't fancy it. Seen them twice already and after watching Pink Floyd playing Richmond the previous week on the floor, terrible accoustic and 40 people, we went somewhere else. Talk about spoiled for choice! Also saw Zep at Earls Court (Wednesday Eve), The Albert Hall, and the Bath Festival. So there! I had seen Bonham up close, unknown and dangerous and with a lot to prove.
Remember the Marquee gig in 68, there was no albums, no photos, no promo, just word of mouth. Jimmy Page's new band with 3 newcomers. That gig changed my approach to drumming totally. I understood the concept of moving air. Jesus!! I just had my hair parted by Bonham up close, very close... so from then on it had to be. Big Drums. Big Sticks. Move Air!!
Since then i have always been known as a bit of a whacker!! |
1st Pro Band
|
Joyce Bond Revue
10 piece soul band (Trojan Records) a la Aretha-James Brown |
Band History
|
Lots of BBC sessions & good gigs, was earning more at 16 than the old man.
Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue: Award Winning Beatles musical John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert. Barbara Dixon sang the songs.
Dirty Tricks (see Dirty Tricks page)
Grand Prix with Bernie and Phil (now Heep)
Scarlet (Germany) with Steve Ellis (Love Affair, Ellis and Widowmaker)
Eric Bell (Lizzie) and Johnny Fehan (Horse Lips)
Lion Heart with Dennis Stratton.
Curtis Knight (USA), Hendrix used to play in his band before he was famous
Fast Eddie Clark, played with Curtis as well. |
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