The Orphan Clyde

 

The Orphan Clyde

by Pete Clemons

It's amazing where an article can lead you. I recently wrote a piece on Nuneaton bands and have since been provided with further valuable information. So I have tried to collate it all.

Max Hollyman needs little introduction to those who have followed the local music scene. For at least five decades Max, from Nuneaton, had either performed or promoted music.

One of Max's earliest bands were the Demons but this piece, first written during May 1967, documents another, The Orphan Clyde:

Note the name, The Orphan Clyde. For this Nuneaton pop group, made up of five local lads, is certainly going places. On Monday the Clyde, barely five months old, set off on what they hope will be the road to success.

For the ambitious five are turning professional and going to try their luck on the West German club circuit, which has been the foundation of many of Britain's top pop groups – including The Beatles.

The Orphan Clyde consists of Max Hollyman – vocalist, Barry Spruce – the organist, drummer Kevin Smith, lead guitarist – Dave Walbyoff and Mick Harris who is bass guitarist.

And already this bunch of young men have their sights focused on fame and glory. But who can blame them? For just look at what they have lined up in front of them.

Possibilities of television appearances and a recording session while they are in Germany.

• Holiday bookings in Skegness when they return home.

• They had a song written for them and are going to make a demonstration disc in Jack Jackson's studios, London, to send to the record companies.

• High hopes of a return visit to the German scene

The night when things really began to happen in a big way for the Orphan Clyde was two months ago when they played an audition for Darvill Entertainments of Nantwich, Cheshire. The agents liked what they saw and immediately booked them for the continent.

Since then the Nuneaton lads have never looked back. They have a manager, Alan Hale, 'who', says Barry Spruce, 'has been a tremendous help in organising the tour'. Hale used to be in charge of The Chuckles pop group and adds Spruce 'His experience has been invaluable'.

In fact Hale has been working very hard over the past few weeks to put the Clyde on their feet to success and has already been over to Germany to check and finalise arrangements and also fix up a return trip for the group.

When they leave on Monday the Clyde will be spending a month in Europe. They have fortnightly dates in both Berlin and Kiel. 'This is more or less the same circuit that The Jones's another, Nuneaton group, did a few months ago' said Max Hollyman. 'But they did Hamburg instead of Berlin'.

Since that night in Nantwich, everything has looked up for the Clyde. Their bookings have increased and also moved into a higher class.

'We do a lot of work around Birmingham and Leicester' said Hollyman. 'And a few weeks ago we played on the same bill as Dave Dee at the Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth'.

Hollyman continued 'We have also a good following from the Stockingford and Arley areas. About a month ago we did a show in Cheshire and their were a couple of dozen Nuneaton people there who had travelled especially to see us. And then we played Rugeley and again there were a number of our own followers in the hall'.

Only one member of the group, Mick Harris, has not had previous experience in the pop world. Hollyman has been vocalist with The Travellers, who went to Frankfurt three years ago, and The Demons and he have also recorded a single for EMI which was the English cover version of Elvis Presley's 'His Latest Flame'. But it was never actually released.

The Orphan Clyde existed between 1966 and 1968. They started out playing venues like The Arley Miners Welfare Club and The Nags Head in Nuneaton. One of the last dates I have recorded was at The Sportsmans Arms up on the Birmingham Road.