The Moments (English group)
Encyclopedia
The Moments were a rhythm and blues
English group from London
, England, formed in late 1963 by Steve Marriott
age 16, after giving up a promising early film acting career.
(both meeting whilst pupils at the Italia Conti Academy
) share vocals with him on duets. Their early musical style was heavily influenced by Buddy Holly
whom Marriott was a big fan.
The Frantiks recorded a cover version of Cliff Richard
's song "Move It
" with former Shadows
drummer Tony Meehan
who was brought in to help with production. Despite the single being hawked around the major record companies no one was interested and the song was consequently never released. It was at this point that original members Dennis Thompson and Johnny Herve quit the group and Marriott changed the bands' name to Steve Marriott and The Moments. The new line-up now had Barry Hewitt on bass, Tony McIntyre on drums, Steve Marriott on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Johnny Weider (ex Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
) on lead guitar and Allen Ellett on keyboards and vocals. They soon became more R&B influenced and found a manager, Tony Calder
(who several years later established the Immediate
label with Andrew Loog Oldham
. The band were each earning a wage of £30 a week (£10 more than Marriott would later be paid by Don Arden
in Small Faces).
The band performed concerts as often as six nights a week, including spots at The Flamingo and London's 100 Club
. As a result, they achieved a loyal mod following; particularly around their hometown the East End of London
and Essex. The band started to write their own material, a blend of soul
with fast and furious R&B. Their next recording endeavour was called "A Touch of the Blues", written jointly by Marriott and Ellet, the song was in the same vein as The Dave Clark Five
's hit at that time "Glad All Over
" in that it had a heavy distinctive drum beat. Andrew Loog Oldham (ex Rolling Stones manager) who had seen the band play was impressed with Marriott's strong vocal performances, and produced the record, however for reasons unknown the recording has never seen the light of day. For a short period in March 1964 Marriott briefly changed the name of the band again, this time to the Wondering Ones, a month later he changed it back to The Moments this is noted by Mark Lewisohn
who was The Beatles
chronicler. At a gig at The Albion in Rainham
, Marriott first viewed his future Small Faces songwriting partner Ronnie Lane
who was appearing with his band The Outcasts. In 1964 The Moments were asked by the World Artists label to provide a cover of the Kinks hit "You Really Got Me
" for American release only, with a b-side "Money Money", the song however bombed and Marriott's fellow songwriter Ellet left the band.
In October 1964 The Moments told Marriott he was no longer wanted in the group, they wanted someone older to represent the band, and so Marriott was given his marching orders. Former member Ellet pointed out that the group were often called Steve Marriott's Moments making them appear as if they were just a backing band and this had started to grate on the other members and may have been a contributing factor in their decision.
The Moments never hit the big time, however original founding member Steve Marriott did, early the next year in 1965 with Small Faces.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
English group from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, formed in late 1963 by 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...
age 16, after giving up a promising early film acting career.
Career
The Moments started out being called The Frantiks or the Frantik Ones later changed to Steve Marriott and The Moonlights, shortened later still to finally become The Moments. Due to Marriott's hyperactive nature, he had a habit of changing the group's name at this early time, until the success of later band Small Faces made it commercially unviable to do so any more. The original Frantiks line-up included Marriott, Johnny Herve, Tony McIntyre, Colin Green and Dennis Thompson. Marriott would sometimes have his girlfriend, English actress Adrienne PostaAdrienne Posta
Adrienne Posta is an English film and television actress and singer, prominent during the 1960s and 1970s. She adopted the surname Posta in 1966. She recorded a number of singles. She is now semi-retired and works as a teacher in the Midlands and at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts...
(both meeting whilst pupils at the Italia Conti Academy
Italia Conti Academy
The Italia Conti Academy is a theatre arts training school based in London. It was founded in 1911 by actress Italia Conti...
) share vocals with him on duets. Their early musical style was heavily influenced by Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
whom Marriott was a big fan.
The Frantiks recorded a cover version of Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
's song "Move It
Move It
"Move It" is a song recorded by Cliff Richard and the Drifters . Originally intended as the B-side to "Schoolboy Crush", it was released as Richard's debut single on 29 August 1958 and became his first hit record. It is credited with being one of the first authentic rock and roll songs produced...
" with former Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
drummer Tony Meehan
Tony Meehan
Daniel Joseph Anthony "Tony" Meehan was a founder member of the British group The Shadows with Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch...
who was brought in to help with production. Despite the single being hawked around the major record companies no one was interested and the song was consequently never released. It was at this point that original members Dennis Thompson and Johnny Herve quit the group and Marriott changed the bands' name to Steve Marriott and The Moments. The new line-up now had Barry Hewitt on bass, Tony McIntyre on drums, Steve Marriott on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Johnny Weider (ex Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates were an English rock 'n' roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. They scored numerous hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, including the rock & roll classics 'Shakin' All Over' and 'Please Don't Touch', but their influence far outshines their chart...
) on lead guitar and Allen Ellett on keyboards and vocals. They soon became more R&B influenced and found a manager, Tony Calder
Tony Calder
Tony Calder is an English rock and roll record manager, impresario, talent-spotter, Promoter and Public Relations agent...
(who several years later established the Immediate
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:...
label with 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:...
. The band were each earning a wage of £30 a week (£10 more than Marriott would later be paid by Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
in Small Faces).
The band performed concerts as often as six nights a week, including spots at The Flamingo and London's 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
. As a result, they achieved a loyal mod following; particularly around their hometown the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
and Essex. The band started to write their own material, a blend of soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
with fast and furious R&B. Their next recording endeavour was called "A Touch of the Blues", written jointly by Marriott and Ellet, the song was in the same vein as The Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five were an English pop rock group. Their single "Glad All Over" knocked The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the UK singles charts in January 1964: it eventually peaked at No.6 in the United States in April 1964.They were the second group of the British Invasion,...
's hit at that time "Glad All Over
Glad All Over
"Glad All Over" is a song written by Mike Smith and recorded by The Dave Clark Five. In January 1964, it became the British group's first big hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. In April 1964, it reached number 6 on the American U.S. pop singles chart, becoming the first British...
" in that it had a heavy distinctive drum beat. Andrew Loog Oldham (ex Rolling Stones manager) who had seen the band play was impressed with Marriott's strong vocal performances, and produced the record, however for reasons unknown the recording has never seen the light of day. For a short period in March 1964 Marriott briefly changed the name of the band again, this time to the Wondering Ones, a month later he changed it back to The Moments this is noted by Mark Lewisohn
Mark Lewisohn
Mark Lewisohn is an English author and historian, regarded as the world's leading authority on the English rock band The Beatles.-The Beatles and related subjects:...
who was 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...
chronicler. At a gig at The Albion in Rainham
Rainham, London
Rainham is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan and is surrounded by a residential area, which has grown from the historic village,...
, Marriott first viewed his future Small Faces songwriting partner 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...
who was appearing with his band The Outcasts. In 1964 The Moments were asked by the World Artists label to provide a cover of the Kinks hit "You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
"You Really Got Me" is a rock song written by Ray Davies and performed by his band, The Kinks. It was released on 4th August 1964 as the group's third single, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart the next month, remaining for two weeks...
" for American release only, with a b-side "Money Money", the song however bombed and Marriott's fellow songwriter Ellet left the band.
In October 1964 The Moments told Marriott he was no longer wanted in the group, they wanted someone older to represent the band, and so Marriott was given his marching orders. Former member Ellet pointed out that the group were often called Steve Marriott's Moments making them appear as if they were just a backing band and this had started to grate on the other members and may have been a contributing factor in their decision.
The Moments never hit the big time, however original founding member Steve Marriott did, early the next year in 1965 with Small Faces.