The Manfreds

The Manfreds

By Pete Clemons

They say that great music lasts a lifetime. And, any band that can sell out 1000 seated venues, with regularity and with ease, must have had something going for it at some point. What is even more remarkable is that the band in question have been in existence for more than 55 years and each of its core band member are now in their 70s. But I am talking about the music of Manfred Mann.

One of the earliest memories I have is one of receiving a 45-rpm record by Manfred Mann back in 1964. I know that as I still have it and I wrote on the sleeve the date I received it. I was captivated by it. More so the B side of the record, as I remember it though.

Little did I know back then but all these years later and I would still be getting to at least one Manfred’s gig per year. Honestly, it is one of the highlights on my gig going calendar. And I am clearly not alone as the loyalty of those who follow The Manfred’s is really, quite staggering.

The band itself began as The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers, playing The Wine Lodge (aka Tally Ho, Tudor Rose and now Philip Larkin) during 1963. An ever-evolving group, The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers has an interesting history all its own. And it was during mid 1963 that the band became known as Manfred Mann and gained a recording deal with the HMV record label.

Below is a reproduction of a revealing article from early 1964, that contains an interview with Manfred, and touches on the bond that developed between the band and our city………….

"Manfred Mann is to appear at Coventry’s Matrix Hall soon and what a crowd will be there to see him, or rather them, because Manfred Mann is more than one person.

In the bleak wintery days of early 1963, the five members of Manfred Mann, the rhythm and blues group who have established a large following in Coventry were so hard up that they all slept in one room.

This was the only room in their South London flat they could afford to heat, drummer Mike Hugg mentioned.

Existence depended on pooling resources and, from the bond which developed among the group, has grown a strong co-operative alliance. Although it takes its name from pianist Manfred Mann it acknowledges no leader. This alliance is paying off now the groups growing popularity is bringing regular well-paid work.

They are contracted to Southern Television for a new series and their recording ‘5-4-3-2-1’ was written at the request of producers of Associated Television’s ‘Ready Steady Go’ who were looking for a new signature tune.

Manfred Mann work with the future in mind and after a job, draw only £3 each, the bare minimum to cover everyday expenses. The rest goes into the bank with the result that the latest recruit, bass player Tom McGuiness joined, he was immediately equipped with a new £155 instrument.

During the last year the group estimate they have spent £1600 on such items as a van, equipment and uniforms. And they still claim to have £900 in the bank.

The group was formed in 1962 by Manfred and Mike Hugg who played drums and vibes after a summer season at Butlin’s Clacton where they had been playing in the same dance band. It was at this time that the two founder members began to be noticed by Coventry youth as there was a party of local lads and lassies at the camp at that time.

The boys formed a modern jazz combo which provided rewards neither financial nor artistic, shrugged Manfred. We became steadily more disenchanted with the scene. It wasn’t just that there was little money to be made, but wherever the band played it was always in competition with audience conversation.

‘They didn’t participate. But gradually we drifted into rhythm and blues where we found that the audience were participating in something-alive. In a way rhythm and blues is the music of today – it is modern folk music, inasmuch as modern folk dig it’. At this point Manfred broke off to stroke his long hair away from his eyes.

‘Our idea is to play rhythm and blues, but not as most people think it should be played, as an imitation of an American sound. We want to create some sounds which are different and original to us. Our interest is not short term and we feel that turning out our own material will pay us in the long run’.

Originally known as the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers the group change their name just before their first disc ‘Why Should We Not’ was released.

Explained Manfred ‘when we started recording it was impressed upon us that we were using a name that was not commercial. I agreed to the new one on the understanding that it refers to us all. We work as a team and I don’t want to be singled out for special attention’.

The full line up of this interesting group with the interesting sound that is soon to rebound from the ceilings of the Matrix Hall, Coventry is Mike Hugg drums and vibes, Manfred Mann piano and organ, Paul Jones singer, Tom McGuiness bass and Mike Vickers alto sax, guitar and flute. "

Incredibly today’s Manfred’s still contain at their core, three members of the band from those early days, namely Hugg, Jones and McGuinness. In fact, when the band reconvened for Tom’s 50th birthday during 1991, Mike Vickers was also a part of it all. The current band also features vocalist Mike d’abo who was successor to Paul Jones when Paul left the band during 1966 to begin a solo career. And together The Manfred’s set is generally made up of songs from the entire Manfred Mann spectrum along with a few surprises.