Apostolic Intervention
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Intervention were a British
rock
band in the mid-1960s, who are best known for their 1967 single
"Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)".
The band originally formed in Hertfordshire
in Late 1965 as The Little People, and comprised Angus Shirley (lead guitar), Peter "Dino" Dines
(organ, vocals), Bob Argent (bass), and Angus' younger brother Jerry Shirley
(drums). They began by playing covers
of American
R&B records, and emulated the music of their heroes, The Small Faces
. After they supported the latter band on a local bill, Steve Marriott
became their mentor, and persuaded Andrew Loog Oldham
of Immediate Records
to sign them in early 1967. Marriott wanted them to change their name to The Nice, but Oldham insisted on them using the name The Apostolic Intervention, giving the name The Nice
to another band instead. Marriott offered the band a song that he and Ronnie Lane
had written, "Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)", producing their single and playing bass
on the record in preference to Bob Argent. The record failed to make the charts, and the song was soon recorded by The Small Faces themselves on their album Small Faces (issued in the US in a different form as There are But Four Small Faces). Further attempts at recording The Apostolic Intervention were unsuccessful, and the band split up before the end of 1967. Dines and Jerry Shirley joined Tim Renwick
in a band known variously as Little Women and the Wages of Sin. Dines later joined the Keef Hartley Band and T. Rex
, while Shirley played sessions before joining Steve Marriott in Humble Pie
in 1969.
"Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)" by The Apostolic Intervention has subsequently featured on several compilations of British psychedelic music
, and has been described as "as solid a single as Immediate released from a new act in its history, catchy and filled with hooks, as well as showing off some superb playing."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band in the mid-1960s, who are best known for their 1967 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)".
The band originally formed in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in Late 1965 as The Little People, and comprised Angus Shirley (lead guitar), Peter "Dino" Dines
Dino Dines
Dino Dines was a keyboardist best known for his work with T. Rex. He also worked with The Apostolic Intervention, The Keef Hartley Band, P.P. Arnold and The Hollies. Dino died of a heart attack in 2004.-External links:*...
(organ, vocals), Bob Argent (bass), and Angus' younger brother Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
(drums). They began by playing covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B records, and emulated the music of their heroes, The Small Faces
The Small Faces
The Small Faces were an English rock and roll band from East London, heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues. The group was founded in 1965 by members Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, although by 1966 Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan as the band's...
. After they supported the latter band on a local bill, Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
became their mentor, and persuaded Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham is an English producer, talent manager, impresario and author. He was manager and producer of The Rolling Stones from 1963, and was noted for his flamboyant style.-Biography:...
of Immediate Records
Immediate Records
Immediate Records was a British record label, started in 1965 by The Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham and Tony Calder and concentrating on the London-based blues and R&B scene.-History:...
to sign them in early 1967. Marriott wanted them to change their name to The Nice, but Oldham insisted on them using the name The Apostolic Intervention, giving the name The Nice
The Nice
The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
to another band instead. Marriott offered the band a song that he and Ronnie Lane
Ronnie Lane
Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed "Plonk", – and, after losing the band's frontman, Faces, with two new...
had written, "Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)", producing their single and playing bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on the record in preference to Bob Argent. The record failed to make the charts, and the song was soon recorded by The Small Faces themselves on their album Small Faces (issued in the US in a different form as There are But Four Small Faces). Further attempts at recording The Apostolic Intervention were unsuccessful, and the band split up before the end of 1967. Dines and Jerry Shirley joined Tim Renwick
Tim Renwick
Timothy John Pearson 'Tim' Renwick is an English guitarist.-Career:Renwick started playing guitar in the 1960s. He performed with many bands, including Little Women, Wages of Sin, Junior's Eyes, The Hype, Quiver and Lazy Racer...
in a band known variously as Little Women and the Wages of Sin. Dines later joined the Keef Hartley Band and T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
, while Shirley played sessions before joining Steve Marriott in Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
in 1969.
"Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)" by The Apostolic Intervention has subsequently featured on several compilations of British psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
, and has been described as "as solid a single as Immediate released from a new act in its history, catchy and filled with hooks, as well as showing off some superb playing."