The Wild Angels rock 'n' roll band was formed in the summer of 1967. The original members were Mal Gray (vocals), Mitch Mitchell (bass), John Hawkins (lead guitar), Bob O'Connor (drums) and John Huggett (keyboards). Mitch had met Mal and Bob some two years earlier when he placed an ad in "Melody Maker" for "Musicians wanted - Rockers only", but although a group called the Rockin' Gold Stars had come out of this, they never did any gigs.
Originally, Mal had wanted to use the name "Wings Of Leather" for the band (from the lyric of Eric Burdon's "San Francisco Nights"), but Mitch noticed that the film "Wild Angels" starring Peter Fonda had just been banned in the UK by censors and thought that the band would get extra publicity from this. Five years later, "Melody Maker" ran an article on group names and reckoned that The Wild Angels was one of the best ever, as it really told you what sort of music they played.The band's first gig was at The Nightingale Café in Biggin Hill in Kent..
and in 1969 one of the most rock 'n' roll bands appearing on BBC Radio 1 when it went commercial - I remember seeing this band for the first time on the Radio Roadshow for a week amongst many other chart stars of the time.....converted me into Rock 'n' Roll - really not appreciated enough for the actual work they did in getting Rock 'n' Roll to the public....
rockingpolly 8 months ago
Woo hoo!
treefrogdemon 9 months ago
Thanks for putting this up. I'm the one on the left of the picture (I had hair then!!) My new band The Rockin' Gold Stars can be found on YouTube.
Keep Rock Rolling - Mitch
MrDagwoodBumstead 9 months ago
I was there, followed them around quite a bit when they toured with Vincent, Hailey etc.. Did brilliant Cochran covers, funnily enough just dug their LP out out and transferred it to CD. Many happy nights at the 'gale .As Paul1966 said one of the best R&R groups ever.
CarlosBuddie 11 months ago
Quite agree Paul, saw them many times, just had the edge over the Houseshakers & Shakin Stevens & The Sunsets, glad you put it on YT!
hyeresman 11 months ago
one of the best rock'n'roll bands ever
paul1966england 11 months ago