The Boll Weevils / The Bo-Weevils / The Soul Sect / 3AM Blues Band

The Boll Weevils / The Bo-Weevils / The Soul Sect / 3AM Blues Band.

by Pete Clemons

Some time ago I wrote an article about Coventry group The Boll Weevils. The article was more of an overview of the band. With the help of some notes made by the late Tim James I have added some more meat to that article also including Tim's musical path up until the end of 1967.

The Boll Weevils were formed during 1963 as an R n B outfit. They featured Tim James on harp and vocals, Steve Bentham on guitar and vocals, Barry Smale on bass and Joe Craner on Drums. This was Tim's first band with numbers being arranged by himself and Steve Bentham. Apparently this was done while walking home from parties at about 2 in the morning in the inevitable early morning rain.

The band had an older guy, about 30 years old, called Roy working for them. Roy would wade through a spaghetti like mess of wires and cables to get his 30 watt PA system working. After Roy left Tim borrowed fifty pounds from his father and bought his own PA. Neither did we make it, but played original music with balls in the process of failing.

The bands name was changed name to The Bo-Weevils during 1964 in order to avoid confusion with a London group. Kev Dempsey, later the guitarist for Dando Shaft, replaced Joe Craner on drums. With Fred Liggins being added on Tenor Sax. The Bo-Weevils gravitated towards the more soul orientated sounds of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and James Brown as public tastes changed.
By 1965 and with the addition of Greg Taylor on tenor sax, Gordon Wood on baritone sax, Lenny Barratt on guitar, Frank Lazarus on bass, who introduced 'Lenny' to the band a jazzier influence had arrived. This coincided with interest from Pye records.
Tim James remembered 'I can't deny that we were very popular and played well - but we simply covered, rather than re-interpret and re-arrange, the current soul and R&B hits. We were no longer unique, we were just another band rolling along with the commercial flow. The essential component for a record deal was writing our own songs, which were absolutely awful and, to me, embarrassing. To me this was the essential reason for getting out'.

During 1966, and till 1967, Tim moved to The Soul Sect on vocals and blues harp. Completing the band were Reg Sparkes on bass, his brother Rick on drums, Tony Warner on rhythm guitar and Colin Williams on Gibson stereo guitar. After Tim left the band carried on as 'Into the Sun', and, in Tim's words 'played better music at better gigs now featuring the blistering Williams guitar'.

The 3AM Blues Band had formed during 1966 and were heavily influenced by John Mayall and Cream. They were managed by Rodney Joyce, who also played congas, and also comprised of Derek 'Beck' Wilson on Fender Telecaster guitar, Nick Hawkeswell on Gretch bass and Jim Longworth on drums.

Tim James joined 3AM on harmonica & vocals during 1967. He remembers that the band had 'No van but travelled in Rodney's enormous Pontiac saloon, which was just as good ... when it worked'. 'The group are strongly opposed to the current soul music trend' said manager Rodney Joyce in early 1967. Derek Wilson left 3AM during February 1967 replaced by Joe Beale. Eventually 3AM moved to London and finally split in late 1967.

Boll Weevils. Bill Campbell was also a bass player with the band. later with the Eggy and Coconut Mat.

Three AM  - below

Tim James with Ra Ho Tep - avant garde jazz c 1967 - 70 - alto-sax, tenor-sax, clarinet, electric-piano, harp and vocals 
Joe Craner - drums, trumpet and vibes
Phil Porter - bass-guitar, string-bass and acoustic-guitar