Woody Allen and the Challengers
by Pete Clemons
Much has been written in the past about the then unique dual guitar style of Woody Allen and the Challengers. But that style once won them the district finals of a national beat contest held at the Locarno Dance Hall.
Winning this contest meant that Woody and the boys went forward to the Midlands area heat held in Birmingham. The winners of that heat then went to the London finals where a £1000 prize and a recording test was on offer.
During their early years the Challengers bands line up had included: vocalist Woody Allen, Bob Saunders, John Zetterstrom, John McLinden, Neil Hawkins, Ted Bean and Barry Bernard. And the Challengers were the last of the four groups to appear. It was said that 'their original treatment of currently popular up tempo rockers brought considerable applause'.
Woody Allen and the Challengers it seems were very adept at performing the 'big record of the moment'. At one time that record was 'Twist and Shout' which was being requested everywhere, 'from Monday night record sessions at the Locarno to national radio's 'Housewives Choice' programme'.
'When one of Leamington spa's best known beat groups, Woody Allen and the Challengers, appeared at The Walsgrave Woody was apparently besieged with requests for 'Twist and Shout'. He kept everyone, except the rather startled barman, happy. With sweat pouring down his face he belted out the number several times. The Walsgrave was crowded with young people and off beat vehicles such as 1950s Cadillacs, modified three wheel Messerschmitts and a converted ambulance filled the car park'.
But back to the competition. The judges on the evening of the 1964 contest included Dennis Detheridge editor of Midland Beat magazine and Mr L. Reed manager of the Record Centre, Coventry who agreed that the Challengers created the most commercial sound of the evening.
The Challengers version of The Beatles LP track 'Roll Over Beethoven' was judged to be better put over than were Beatles numbers performed by the other groups. These bands being Peter Trent and the Travellers, The Chequers and the Phantom Four.
A media report mentioned that 'Peter Trent and the Travellers, from Stoke on Trent, were very popular with the Locarno's beat hungry twangers. Not content with clapping and cheering for the Challengers, the audience shrieked and screamed for Trent and his men – especially when Peter was almost dragged off stage by a female fan'.
A few minutes after their performance Locarno manager, Michael Lyons, had booked the Travellers for a return visit to the ballroom.
The report continued 'The other two groups put up a brave performance. The Phantom Four, a Coventry group, must be congratulated for writing their own variations to the tunes they played. The Chequers, from Tamworth, were full of vitality. The beat contest was organised by Walls Ice Cream manufacturer'.
Woody - whose real name was Allan Wood sadly passed away almost 10 years ago aged 67.
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