Wandering John Reunion Concert 2010

Wandering John Reunion Concert 2010.

The main site for Wandering John, formed in Coventry 1969 HERE

Wandering John, the popular and charismatic but short lived blues / rock band formed in 1969 and by 1971 had gone but the band made a huge impact on the Coventry Music Scene, so much so that 40 years later when they reformed for a one off gig, the venue was packed!

The concert, recorded for DVD and Youtube by Nomad, Gordon Smith of Lyme Regis TV was in memory of their manager Dave Sullivan and the proceeds went to Macmillan Cancer Care. Organised by Julie Sullivan and featuring guests who had been associated with the band in the past,such as Neol Davies (later of The Selecter),Tim James of Ra Ho Tep, Tim Healey on Mixing desk, Cliff Wagstaff on set up, John Westacott (of Whistler and Urge) on harmonica with Last Fair Deal, and Trev Teasdel with performance poetry and introductions.

Pete Clemons from his 2010 Coventry Telegraph article - 

Article by Pete Chambers

Wandering John back on to stage for Dave
EVERYONE seems to be reforming nowadays – giving music lovers the chance to see a band that they may have missed.

Well, one band I never thought I would ever get to see is the fabled 70s band Wandering John.

As luck would have it, these guys too have caught the come-back trend and on September 4 (doors open at 6.30pm); they reform for a one-off gig at The Sphinx Club in Stoke.

The gig is organised by Julie Sullivan in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care. Her husband Dave was the band’s manager, and his funeral was the spark that reunited the legendary Coventry band.

Julie said: “It was at the funeral of my husband, Dave Sullivan, last September. Ade Taylor, the bass player suggested to friends that the band should get together again in Dave’s memory.

“The gig will be for the Macmillan charity who helped us when Dave was ill with mouth cancer. Dave also wrote a poem that Wandering John developed and played regularly – Image of Ezra.”

The band held court in the area from the late 60s to the early 70s, as many local bands went through the motions these guys took it for real, playing blues infused rock.

They played their last gig at the Lanch in 1970, it was recorded, but because of the sound quality it has never seen the light of day.

A new live recording is promised for the 4th. Three of the original members will take part at the gig, that’s, Ade Taylor (bass), John Alderson, (lead guitar, playing currently with the Travelling Riverside Blues Band) and John Gravenor (singer) with replacement drummer Paul Hayes from Coventry.

I asked Ade Taylor about his Wandering John memories.

He said: “May 16, 1970, we were offered a gig in Walsall supporting Black Sabbath. Alas the gig was cancelled, so we played the Woolpack, Rugby instead! It would have been a prestigious gig, if it had come off. Then we played in the old Cathedral ruins. A sort of mini-festival, August 29, 1970.”

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So what can we expect on the night of September 4th?

Ade said: “The audience are in for a treat. Proper music, Blues, Blues/Rock. A mixture of covers and Wandering John’s penned songs. “Our splinter band called Last Fair Deal, will be performing some acoustic, Delta type Blues, during the interval. Guest musicians who have been invited include Trev Teasdel, Tim James of Ra-Ho -Tep fame, and, Neol Davis of Selecter fame.”

Wandering John Set List 2010

Here is the concert on youtube thanks to Nomad,Gordon Smith.

Part 1

Last Fair Deal - Country Blues - 

With Neol Davies of The Selecter

Rehearsals

Julie and Dave Sullivan -managers

Dave Sullivan

John Gravenor

John Alderson

Wandering John 1969

John Gravenor

Last Fair Deal

Ade Taylor

At the concert. The band and friends on the right John Alderson and Trev Teasdel

DVD Cover

Nomad - Gordon Smith - who filmed the concert

Trev Teasdel with performance Poetry - photo by Pete Clemons