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BOB PEARCE

King of the Blues!

If you have read my own biography page as well as my memories of the Southampton pop group scene of the early Sixties on Call Up the Groups  then you might wish to learn about Bob Pearce. He is good pal of mine whose own career was influenced by the R&B boom around 63/64 which was heavily influenced by the likes of the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and other similar British bands that were playing electric blues. The Beatles had also been playing obscure American R&B covers for some years mixed with their usual output but the 'new wave' of blues influenced bands introduced us to the gritty earthy US artistes such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf and many more.

Around the time of my own first group - the Abdo-Men, I also got to know of Bob Pearce and his own first band called The Footprints formed around 1964 and the 'Southern Roots' (SR) information shows this lineup:

                                     Bob Pearce          Voc/harmonica

                                     Paul Beard           Gtr

                                     Denny Witt           Gtr

                                     Bob Stone             Bass gtr

                                     Colin Harriot        Drums

I have been pals with Bob since those days and he has recently sent me some info plus some old photos including this rare faded photograph below!

  Bob Pearce     Dennis Witt     Bob Stone

                                     Paul Beard    Terry Gilmore

FOOTPRINTS 63/64?

This picture was taken at the Carousel Club, a well known venue near Bevois Valley Southampton and Bob gives this lineup as indicated on the photo.   Prior to Terry Gilmore, the drumstool was vacated by Colin Herriot and Mick Pink according to Bob and the SR notes.

Aldermoor School- old Nissen Huts still used as temporary classrooms and Youth Clubs!

Mick Pink (drums) Bob Stone (bass) Paul Beard (gtr)  Denny Witt (gtr) Bob - top right

Avenue Artistes Datesheet

Just look at the massive fees charged by the Footprints!  Split 4 or 5 ways after the 10% agency commission

Less petrol costs, roadies, condoms,drinks, late night burger van etc etc. 

Rare Avenue Artistes 1967 groups listing

The Footprints were a terrific driving R&B sound and Bob Pearce being the perfect frontman with terrific blues harmonica skills - it was just something that we both picked up and were able to bend notes plus knocking out extended solos mixed in with the usual ad-lib improvised guitar breaks.  Bob left the Footprints when being 'poached' by another well known band Quik, a splinter band of the top local MeddyEvils as documented on my other group pages.  Bob rehearsed with this new band at the old Waterfront Club at the Cliff Hotel Woolston near the river Itchen and old 'floating bridges' that clanked their way across the water to Southampton centre etc.  After a week, Bob wasn't too happy with the change  of direction and returned to the Footprints where he was more at home with the blues based sound.  SR lists one record made, but not released: - 'Pretty Thing/It Ain't Necessarily So' a driving Bo Diddley track coupled with the old standard showtune that many bands did at that time (along with Summertime etc) Bob may have regretted this, as shortly after- the Quik went on to tour Europe and release some very worthy singles although they didn't crack the record charts.  

After more Footprints times,  Bob moved across to manage a new band who were formed out of the old YoYos and called Brother Bung (a type of sweet pickle!) and featuring this lineup in SR:

                                          Mike Barfoot         Lead vocals

                                          Bob Gorman          Gtr/Vocal

                                          Kevin Francis        Bass/Vocal

                                          Roger Chantler     Drums

BROTHER BUNG

                                                                                               Roger              Bob   P                         Kevin                                    Bob G

During 1967/1968, the music scene was gradually changing from R&B into more 'progressive' sounds and Brother Bung, like many others, were being influenced by the new wave of 'supergroups' like Cream and Traffic etc.  Bob groomed this new band into a three piece after sacking Mike Barfoot, but then taking over as new lead vocalist as requested by the other lads.  However, there was some eventual friction as Bob was then treated as 'one of the lads' by the other musicians and his authority as manager became sidelined.

SR lists one 45 made, but not released:

'Mister You're a Better Man Than I/She Belongs To Me' in 1968.  This was a cover of a Yardbirds single, coupled with the Bob Dylan song (?)

Things came to a head, when the lads refused to listen to any advice from Bob and so the friction built up, as well as musical differences before resulting in him leaving the band. Shortly after, history was repeated when Brother Bung transformed into Fresh - a new band that had some degree of success on the university circuits.   Fresh also released two acclaimed LPS on the RCA label in 1970/71 before breaking up and seeing the musicians going onto join other local bands over the next few years.  It was great to have met up with Roger on last year's Brownhills Stamp Duty reunion bash and he is still drumming up a storm after all these years!

Bob's first love was and still is blues-based and his main musical output has not wavered over the last forty years and you may wish to take a look at this other fan website to learn more about his musical success over the years. He has appeared with many of the top R&B stars and in several countries so take a look at this link to find out more about this very talented musician whom I am proud to call a friend and musical colleague.

Just click on this record label below, which will give you a basic outline of what Bob has been up to in recent years as one of the most respected musicians in the business.  His dedication to the blues is well known and documented - just do some internet searching and you will find quite a few references to Southampton's own King of the Blues!

Havic Records website

Follow 'artist information' to Bob's listing

By the way- doesn't he look like a young Anthony Quinn!!  Also, they do say that 'behind every great man is a woman'  In Bob's case, he has had the love and support of his lovely wife Brenda over the decades - it's not easy putting up with the likes of us entertainers and musicians as we are not like other people (civilians)   Apart from his amazing harmonica skills, blues tinged voice he also plays superb open tuning guitar plus bottleneck slide technique as well although he has tended to wind down his appearances of late.

I will add more info and pictures in due course - Bob has promised to raid his loft and dig out some old stuff like many other musicians over the last few years of my website!

FOOTPRINTS REUNITED!   2008

                                                               Bob Stone (bass)  Bob Pearce (voc/harm)   Paul Beard (leadgtr)  Denny Witt (rhytgtr)

Saturday 20th September 2008 - Press release and poster for a special night. 

*STOP PRESS!   NOW REPEATED 20 JUNE 2009- SEE BELOW*