Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
Encyclopedia
Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers were a British
instrumental
beat group in the early 1960s. Their biggest hit, "Can Can 62", was produced by Joe Meek
and reached the British singles chart in 1962. The group toured with both The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones
before disbanding in 1966.
, Norfolk
, England
. Peter Jay formed the group while studying at Norwich College
. He played drums; other band members were Pete "Buzz" Miller
(lead guitar - previously a member of rival local group the Offbeats), Tony Webster (rhythm guitar), Mac McIntyre (tenor sax and flute), Lloyd Baker (piano and baritone sax), Geoff Moss (acoustic bass) and Johnny Larke (bass guitar). The group was unusual in featuring both acoustic and electric bass. From about 1962, the group were also noted for their use of coordinated Vox Phantom
guitars on stage.
Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers signed a recording deal with Decca Records
in 1962. Their first record, a rocked-up version of the can-can
music from Offenbach
's Orpheus in the Underworld
, produced by Joe Meek at Decca's studios in Hampstead
and entitled "Can Can 62", rose to # 31 after entering the UK chart in November 1962. The group released several further singles on Decca in 1963 and 1964, but none became hits. Nevertheless, the group were a popular live act and were chosen as a support act to the Beatles on their UK tour in November and December 1963. They also appeared on national TV shows including Ready Steady Go!
and Thank Your Lucky Stars
.
The group moved to Piccadilly Records in 1964 and released several further singles, with little commercial success. Miller left in 1965, and was replaced by guitarist Terry Reid
. After further personnel changes, and billed as "Peter Jay and the New Jaywalkers", the group continued to appear on bills with leading bands of the time, and were included on a package tour with the Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner and the Yardbirds starting at the Royal Albert Hall
in September 1966. Following the tour, the group split up.
in Great Yarmouth, and gradually restored it as a theatre and circus
venue with a circular performing area which could be lowered to reveal a swimming pool. He also took over the lease of the Tower Circus in Blackpool
in 1983. Since his father's death in 1985, he has continued to own and manage the Yarmouth Hippodrome, and has published an autobiography, Jaywalking.
Pete Miller became a solo artist, releasing the single "Baby I Got News for You" (credited as "Miller") in 1965, with backing by Peter Frampton
and other members of The Herd
. He then concentrated on songwriting and worked as a session musician
, before re-emerging as "Big Boy Pete" in early 1968 with the single "Cold Turkey", a track which was later anthologised as an example of "freakbeat
" and covered
by The Damned. Miller moved to San Francisco in the mid-1970s, and has since recorded with his band, the Wildcats, as well as collaborating with other musicians in ventures such as "Shig & Buzz".
Terry Reid continued his career in music, becoming a widely respected singer and musician.
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...
instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
beat group in the early 1960s. Their biggest hit, "Can Can 62", was produced by Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
and reached the British singles chart in 1962. The group toured with both The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
before disbanding in 1966.
Origins and career
The group was formed around 1960 by Peter Jay (b. 1944), the son of Jack Jay who owned and managed the Windmill Theatre together with several cinemas and nightclubs in Great YarmouthGreat Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Peter Jay formed the group while studying at Norwich College
City College Norwich
City College Norwich is a college of further and higher education which is located on Ipswich Road, in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The college has a second site at St Andrews House in Norwich city centre, which is also home to the National Skills Academy for Financial Services. Founded in 1891,...
. He played drums; other band members were Pete "Buzz" Miller
Peter Miller (musician)
Peter Miller , also known as "Big Boy Pete", is an English singer, songwriter, recording engineer and record producer. Born in Norwich, he has lived in San Francisco, California, United States since 1972...
(lead guitar - previously a member of rival local group the Offbeats), Tony Webster (rhythm guitar), Mac McIntyre (tenor sax and flute), Lloyd Baker (piano and baritone sax), Geoff Moss (acoustic bass) and Johnny Larke (bass guitar). The group was unusual in featuring both acoustic and electric bass. From about 1962, the group were also noted for their use of coordinated Vox Phantom
Vox Phantom
The Vox Phantom is an electric guitar, originally released in 1962 by the Jennings company. It is unique for its distinctive, pentagonal shape, which became part of the iconic representation of the British Invasion...
guitars on stage.
Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers signed a recording deal with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1962. Their first record, a rocked-up version of the can-can
Can-can
The can-can is a high-energy and physically demanding music hall dance, traditionally performed by a chorus line of female dancers who wear costumes with long skirts, petticoats, and black stockings...
music from Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
's Orpheus in the Underworld
Orpheus in the Underworld
Orphée aux enfers is an opéra bouffon , or opéra féerie in its revised version, by Jacques Offenbach. The French text was written by Ludovic Halévy and later revised by Hector-Jonathan Crémieux....
, produced by Joe Meek at Decca's studios in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
and entitled "Can Can 62", rose to # 31 after entering the UK chart in November 1962. The group released several further singles on Decca in 1963 and 1964, but none became hits. Nevertheless, the group were a popular live act and were chosen as a support act to the Beatles on their UK tour in November and December 1963. They also appeared on national TV shows including Ready Steady Go!
Ready Steady Go!
Ready Steady Go! or simply RSG! was one of the UK's first rock/pop music TV programmes. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the producer. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966...
and Thank Your Lucky Stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars (TV series)
Thank Your Lucky Stars was a British television pop music show made by ABC Television, and broadcast on ITV from 1961 to 1966. Many of the top bands performed on it, and for millions of British teenagers it was essential viewing...
.
The group moved to Piccadilly Records in 1964 and released several further singles, with little commercial success. Miller left in 1965, and was replaced by guitarist Terry Reid
Terry Reid
Terry Reid is an English rock vocalist and guitarist. He has performed with high profile musicians, as a supporting act, a session musician, and sideman.- History :...
. After further personnel changes, and billed as "Peter Jay and the New Jaywalkers", the group continued to appear on bills with leading bands of the time, and were included on a package tour with the Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner and the Yardbirds starting at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in September 1966. Following the tour, the group split up.
Later activities
In the late 1970s, Peter Jay, together with his father, purchased the HippodromeHippodrome (disambiguation)
A hippodrome was an ancient Grecian horse and chariot racing course and arena.Hippodrome may also refer to:* Hippodrome of Constantinople* Hippodrome de Longchamp* Hippodrome de Montréal* Kensington Hippodrome...
in Great Yarmouth, and gradually restored it as a theatre and circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
venue with a circular performing area which could be lowered to reveal a swimming pool. He also took over the lease of the Tower Circus in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
in 1983. Since his father's death in 1985, he has continued to own and manage the Yarmouth Hippodrome, and has published an autobiography, Jaywalking.
Pete Miller became a solo artist, releasing the single "Baby I Got News for You" (credited as "Miller") in 1965, with backing by Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
and other members of The Herd
The Herd (UK band)
The Herd were an English psychedelic rock group, founded in 1965, that came to prominence in the late 1960s. They launched the career of Peter Frampton and scored three UK top twenty hits.-Biography:...
. He then concentrated on songwriting and worked as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, before re-emerging as "Big Boy Pete" in early 1968 with the single "Cold Turkey", a track which was later anthologised as an example of "freakbeat
Freakbeat
Freakbeat is the name used for rare, collectable, and obscure British Invasion records, particularly from 1966 and 1967. Elements of the freakbeat sound include strong direct drum beats, loud and frenzied guitar riffs, and extreme effects such as: fuzztone, flanging, distortion and compression or...
" and covered
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...
by The Damned. Miller moved to San Francisco in the mid-1970s, and has since recorded with his band, the Wildcats, as well as collaborating with other musicians in ventures such as "Shig & Buzz".
Terry Reid continued his career in music, becoming a widely respected singer and musician.