From the many gigs had with The Hi-Fi’s, I have listed some of them with the stories that made them memorable. Including other happenings.
Aged 13. A vivid memory I have at a rehearsal, involved an amplifier that Ian Duncombe had made, he was like that, very handy, he had to make his own guitar because he was a left hander, electric guitars were rare, expensive and getting hold of a lefty was unheard of back then. Anyhow the amp blew up and filled the room with thousands of waxy snow-
The first gig I remember was at London University near Kings Cross station. Cramped onto a small stage Ian Duncombe accidently hit me on the forehead with his guitars machine heads, I had a very spotty face at the time and blood was all over the place, luckily a plaster sorted it.
Remembering one of the early gigs at Roger Newell’s sisters school in Wallington, a young Jeff Beck gazed at us all night, he had started learning to play the guitar and was fascinated with the home made, left handed guitar of Ian Duncombe’s and the Cliff Gallup styled solos of Ian’s, Jeff we found out later, was also a Gene Vincent/Cliff Gallup fan as he still is today.
Ian and I used to get together a lot, in his front room learning Gene Vincent songs amongst others, Cliff Gallup (his lead guitarist),ruled as far as we were concerned. We perfected a slow song, “Up a Lazy River” and persuaded singer Roger Newell to learn it also and then performed it at The Putney Ballroom (St Margaret’s Church Hall). Well that was a big mistake as the crowd started throwing money at us, they did not like it, but Ian saw it through to the end. When we finished he picked up all the monies and it paid for fish-
17th January. Cheam Public Baths on the same bill with Cliff Richard and The Drifters. “Move It” was number 1 in the charts and we learnt to play it, also the B side “Apron Strings”. We performed this on stage and The Drifters were behind the drawn curtains setting up. They were not amused, as they turned up their amps and made a racket, to register their disgust that a support band should play one of their songs. Anyway it did not result in trouble and they actually remarked how good we did it. What a sound they made on stage, it was fabulous. We were amazed, because Jet Harris had a 4 foot square speaker cabinet to put the bass through, it purred. The following day Len Ford & Malcolm Wright set about making one for us, we put 4 x 18inch speakers in ours. It not only improved our sound, it also doubled up as seat rest in the back of the van and stopped all the other gear moving forwards when braking.
Ed Waller, owner of The Park Lane Ballroom, hired the MV Royal Daffodil for a cruise from Tower Bridge to Gravesend or was it Southend-
We used to look forward to playing in Barnet (we played there at least 26 occasions). The small hall(name unknown) had a great sound, probably because the pub was a few doors down the road. Every visit we would play bar billiards and cribbage, challenging the elder local regulars, as well as having a good drink between sets.
1961-
Foolishly we had started leaving the gear stashed in the cloakroom, as we used to perform Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. It made life a lot easier, but I will never forget that disbelief that someone would nick it and the sick feeling in my stomach. Luckily a guitar was borrowed from somewhere. The next day we had a gig in Maidstone, luckily I had some money saved and I borrowed the rest from Mum. I became the proud owner of a Les Paul Gibson Junior with twin pick-ups in cherry red, I had a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece put on. Purchased for 90 guineas from Lew Davis’, in Charring Cross Road, London’s West End. I only just made it to the gig and of course I forgot to get a new strap, which should have come with the guitar. Had to use a neck tie.
Len Ford (lead guitar) and Alan Reynolds (bass) toured 4 TV stations backing Jackie Atom (aka; Trevor Peacock songwriter/actor) and Jack Good (producer of Oh Boy TV show). One of those was “Thank Your Lucky Stars” introduced by Brian Mathew. The record being promoted was "Hot Hiss of Steam" (is mentioned on Jack Good's Wikipedia page, without label details). The single was on Decca F 11387, issued 8th September 1961, as by Big Jim Sullivan Combo, with Jim on vocal as the A-
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A prestige gig, on the Isle of Wight at the aptly named Ventnor Winter Gardens. Departure of the ferry from Southampton was delayed, as the sea had a thick layer of ice from the bad winter weather, which had to be broken up before the ferry could dock. This should have prepared us for the fact that hardly anybody turned up. We only got paid expenses and had to spend a night in a cold B&B in Ryde, they opened up especially to put us up.
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An unforgettable night as far as Len Ford was concerned, as it must have been for the other lads, when Len collapsed on stage. This was the 8th and last appearance at The Pigalle Club Restaurant, Piccadilly, London, where we had previously backed Rolf Harris. The Hi-

The one with Len Ford & Brian Bennett left, is from a holiday at Butlins in Skegness, (we met Rory Storm & The Whispers, with Ringo Starr on drums). Len & Brian won the talent show heat and got a free return holiday for the finals, we did not win this. Croydon Advertiser press cutting
The Pigalle Club was Len Fords' last gig with The Hi-Fi's. He collapsed on stage during the gig. Diagnosed with a Plural Effusion (a wet pleurisy of the left lung which had a germ like TB)
He subsequently spent 6 months in the Hermitage Cottage Hospital, Upper Norwood. The Hi-Fi’s, Malcolm Wright and Brian Bennett visited to confirm the inevitable, that he could not return to the band. Where-on they told him that they had found a replacement lead guitarist; he went by the name of Duane Eddy. As luck would have it, his group The Rebels could not come to the UK, due to musician union exchange rules, and so Duane needed a backing band, The Hi-Fi’s got the gig. Liquorice Locking the Shadows & Marty Wilde's bass guitarist, also visited Len, as it turned out to try and convert him to become a Jehovah’s Witness, after he was informed that it was the wrong time and place, he was never seen again.
It took a further 6 months convalescing at home before Len was declared fit and recommended not to follow the musicians lifestyle and so joined the everyday work place.
The Hi-Fi's regrouped and in early November 1963 were engaged to back Duane Eddy on the tour with Little Richard. So you could say that Duane Eddy replaced Len Ford as lead guitarist in The Hi-Fi's.
148 500 THE SEARCHERS - I Sure Know A Lot About Love / Don't You Know
148 501 LITTLE RICHARD - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Goodnight Irene
148 502 THE RATTLES - Geh' Zu Ihm / Bye,Bye,Baby
148 503 THE RATTLES - Do Wah Diddy Diddy / BettyJean
148 504 LEE CURTIS & THE ALL STARS - Shot Of Rhythm And Blues / Exstacy (Ecstasy)
148 505 FATS DOMINO - Sally Was A Good Old Girl / If You Don't Know What Love Is
148 506 JAMES BROWN - Out Of Sight / Maybe The Last Time
148 507 JERRY LEE LEWIS AND THE NASHVILLE TEENS - High School Confidential / Lewis' Boogie
148 508 THE LIVERBIRDS - Shop Around / It's Got To Be You
148 509 JERRY LEE LEWIS -
148 510 FATS DOMINO -
148 511 MILLIE & Orchestra Sid Dale -
148 512 THE RATTLES -
148 513 JERRY WILLIAMS & THE VIOLENTS -
148 514 IAN & THE ZODIACS -
148 515 MICHAEL & THE FIREBIRDS -
148 516 THE BLIZZARDS -
148 517 MAMA BETTY's BAND -
148 518 THE RIVETS -
148 519 THE EYES -
148 520 RAY CHARLES -
148 521 THE CRICKETS SHOWBAND -
148 522 THE RATTLES -
148 523 WAYNE FONTANA AND THE MINDBENDERS -
148 524 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 525 LITTLE RICHARD -
148 526 THE LIVERBIRDS -
148 527 THE MAGGOTS -
148 528 THE LIVERBIRDS -

148 529 THE FOUR RENDERS -
148 530 THE LONDONERS -
148 531 GERMAN BONDS -
148 532 TEAM BEATS BERLIN -
148 533 WAYNE FONTANA & THE MINDBENDERS -
148 534 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 535 IAN & THE ZODIACS -
148 536 THE RATTLES -
148 537 NO RELEASE -
148 538 THE RIVETS -
148 539 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 540 THE ESCORTS -
148 541 THE RATTLES -
148 542 LEE CURTIS AND THE ALL STARS -
148 543 IAN & THE ZODIACS -
148 544 TEAM BEATS BERLIN -
148 545 THE RIVETS -

148 546 THE RIVETS -
148 547 THE IN CROWD (THE RATTLES + Ingfried Hoffmann,org) -
148 548 IAN & THE ZODIACS -
148 549 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 550 THE PHANTOM BROTHERS -
148 551 THE ODD PERSONS -
148 552 REMO FOUR -
148 553 LEE CURTIS & THE ALL STARS -
148 554 THE LIVERBIRDS -
148 555 THE RATTLES -
148 556 THE FACES -
148 557 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 558 THE MINDBENDERS -
148 559 THE MERSEYS -
148 560 NO RELEASE -
148 561 THE RIVETS -
148 562 THE COUNTRY STARS -
148 563 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 564 THE CHEETAHS -
148 565 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 566 PAUL NERO BLUE SOUND & DAVY JONES -
148 567 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 568 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 569 THE KING PINS -
148 570 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 571 THE RATTLES -
148 572 IAN & THE ZODIACS -
148 573 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 574 THE RIVETS -
148 575 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 576 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 577 THE REMO FOUR -
148 578 THE HI-
148 579 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 580 JERRY LEE LEWIS -
148 581 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 582 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 583 THE RATTLES -
148 584 THE HI-
148 585 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 586 THE SCREAMERS -
148 587 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 588 THE WALKER BROTHERS -
148 589 THE RIVETS -
148 590 LEE CURTIS -
148 591 JOHN WALKER -
148 592 SPANKY & OUR GANG -
148 593 THE ONES -
148 594 HERBERT & BIRGIT -
148 595 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 596 THE PRETTY THINGS -
148 597 DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH -
148 598 COPS AND ROBBERS -
LP 111 371 Informationsschallplatte -
158 000 Star Club Show 1 -

158 001 Star Club Show 2 -
158 002 Star Club Show 3 -
158 003 Star Club Show 4 -
158 004 Star Club Show 5 -
158 005 Star Club Show 6 -
158 006 Kings Of Beat 1 -
158 007 Star Club Show 7 -
158 008 Kings Of Beat 2 -
158 009 Kings Of Beat 3 -
158 010 Star Club Show 8 -
158 011 16 Original R&B Golden Hits -
158 012 Game Of Love -
158 013 Hurra, die Rattles kommen -
158 014 Kings Of Beat 4 -
158 015 Sonny Boy Williamson & The Yardbirds -
158 016 International Beat Festival -
158 017 It's Lee -
158 018 Star Club Scene '65 -
158 019 Yes,It's Time -
158 020 Listen To Ian & The Zodiacs -

158 021 More Of The Liverbirds -
158 022 Sweet Beat -
158 023 Greatest Hits -
158 024 It Serves You Right To Suffer -
158 025 Ich bin ein Deutscher -
158 026 The Walker Brothers -
158 027 LP Dave Dee Dozy Bicky Mick + Titch: "Dave Dee Dozy Bicky Mick + Titch" Fontana
158 028 Portrait -
158 029 Locomotive -
158 030 If Music Be The Food Of Love -
158 031 Remember Finale Ligure -
158 032 Images -

158 033 That's Me -
158 034 Smile -
158 035 Snakes & Hifis -
158 036 Emotions -
158 037 Golden Hits Of... -