The Bo Weevils

The Bo Weevils

by Pete Clemons

Coventry band The Boll Weevils (as originally called) burst on the scene in 1963 when R & B made headway on the London scene and later the charts. Their music reflected several styles, from blues, soul to jazz. A leading light in the band was Tim James - later of Ra Ho Tep and known to many on the music scene on Coventry. 

Coventry group The Boll Weevils can be traced back as far as 1963, when it is believed they were formed. It was a challenging time for a group to be forming then because trends and tastes were changing rapidly.

As such the group changed considerably, both stylistically and in personnel since the time they formed when R 'n' B first exploded onto the scene. The Bo Weevils were never an easy group to categorise, especially in those early days. They began by playing traditional R 'n' B with an unlikely front line of alto sax, harmonica-vocalist and a lead guitar.

By 1964 they had changed their name to The Bo-Weevils when Freddie Liggins joined. The group built up a solid following with frequent appearances at the Hotel Leofric Jazz Club, Birmingham's Whisky A Go Go and Manchester's Twisted Wheel clubs.

The Bo-Weevils named American rock and soul performers like Otis Redding, James Brown, Bobby Bland and Ray Charles as their chief influences while instrumental performers like blues oriented jazzmen Jimmy Smith and Jon Patten were also noted.

Not that there was anything traditional about the way they played it. The jazz influence was very marked, however, and the group, apparently, bore a marked resemblance to Alexis Korner with his Charlie Mingus oriented treatment of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker material.

The more progressive audience found their efforts raw but very interesting, while the blues puritans labelled them as rubbish.

By early 1966 things changed dramatically for the Bo-Weevils. The jazz influence was less marked, except that it had clearly increased the confidence and competence of their playing. And, crucially, the band had become Coventry's only 'soul band' and had tagged the definitive term 'Jump Band' onto the end of their name.

Only the groups leader, alto saxophonist Freddie Liggins and vocalist Tim James, who by then, rarely featured his talented harmonica blowing, remained from the original group.

And also, by then, there was a sax line behind Liggins and James who had been joined by tenor Gregg Taylor whose diminutive size bellied his big fat tone and baritone Gordon Wood had also joined the group. Another new band member was lead guitarist Len Barratt, the groups fourth attempt at finding the right man for the job. This time though, things seems to be working, and hopes were high for the group.

By February 1966 it seemed certain that the band were on the cusp of signing up with a Manchester based agent and promoter. This brought with it recording possibilities. Additionally the band had entered the 'Melody Maker National Group' contest, a very important competition as the more successful entrants usually received huge countrywide exposure.

Freddie Liggins spoke about the groups future plans. 'Obviously a record is very important, but there are problems. For a start we would have to be prepared to alter our style slightly to try for a hit. But when you are a soul group working mainly in the clubs, it is a little chancy to go too commercial. We would aim for a hit provided it didn't require us changing our accepted style too radically. For instance, The St Louis Union are a soul band but they entered the charts last week with a Beatles number 'Girl'. Nothing like their normal style and, in the long run, might do them more harm than good'.

But all the promises and expectations shown during early 1966 soon evaporated as, sadly, the band broke up during July of that year. It seems as though some of the band members were unconcerned about music as a career, and all that brought with it. They were just happy to play locally.

............................

Additional material from the Hobo Coventry A to Z of Coventry bands.

The BO WEEVILS (Boll Weevils)

circa 1963-6 R&B / Blues group

Line up: Tim James (vocals, harmonica) (also with Acme Patent Electric Band / Ra Ho Tep / Last Fair Deal), Steve Bentham (guitar, vocals), Barry Smale (bass), Joe Craner (drums).

Kev Dempsey (later guitarist with Dando Shaft / Side Effect) replaced Craner on drums. Fred Liggins on Tenor Sax

Formed around 1963 as Boll Weevils as an R&B outfit. Changed name to above in 1964 to avoid confusion with London group and Kev Dempsey replaced Craner on drums.With Fred Liggins on Tenor Sax they Eventually gravitated towards the more soul orientated sounds of Otis, Pickett, Brown etc. as public tastes changed. Jazzier influence arrived with addition of Gordon Wood and Greg Taylor on Baritone and Tenor sax respectively added in 1965, this coincided with interest from Pye records.

Tim James left early 1966 and Steve 'Tiny' Bentham took over. Eventually split July 1966. Dempsey later played guitar in Dando Shaft. 

Tim James said  " I made my first public performance with newly formed blues band, the Boll Weevils at Willenhall Youth Club. A week later we played Trinity Hall, Pool Meadow, Coventry City Centre, the big time at last. We then did the rounds and learned the ropes for a few months but our most successful regular gig was the Coventry Gauge & Tool Social Club - you may laugh but they were a hip audience and about the only crowd who didn't want us to play chart material. But we dreamed of playing the big local gigs such as the Locarno, Matrix and so on. Our opportunity came via school colleagues, Colin Towe and Dave Taylor, who took over our management, and Fred Liggins who joined the band on alto sax. Before long we were playing all of the above places plus the Leofric Jazz Club and The Birmingham Marquee, making us the only local band to get anywhere near these gigs, the rest having never got past merseybeat. Our sound was unique, featuring alto sax and harp riffs, more jazzy than most but still funky, too good to last ... and it didn't.

We were soon locally famous and touring the Northern & Midlands R&B circuit. Drummer Joe Craner was mercilessly replaced by Kev Dempsey and ,soon after, all of the originals except me had gone. We were now playing soul music, were known as the Bo-Weevils, and everyone in the band now had the ambition of being rich & famous ... except me ... all I wanted to do was play the blues ... naive idiot! So when I left school (in 1966) I left the band. I was offered a recording contract with Columbia which I turned down, because no way was I falling into the usual cesspit of singing Tony Hatch songs. I would rather get a day job to earn money and play music for enjoyment, which is exactly what I did."

"And the Boll Weevils illustrate, more aptly than anyone else in the poll, the shift in the pop music business. They are jazz-based, short haired and very mod. An alto-saxophonist, Fred Liggins, is the often frighteningly proficient lead instrumental voice. Vocalist-harmonica player, Tim James frequently throws pop music convention to the wind and begins skat-singing." From Coventry Express, Friday May 28th 1965 Citybeat by Paul Connew .