ASTROBEATS, THE

Lead Vocals: Dave Taylor

Lead Vocals: Willie Boughen am

Guitar: Stuart Bunton

Bass: Chris Taylor

Keys: Stuart Whitcombe am

Sax: Dave Smith am

Sax: Peter Smith am

Drums: Adrian Pollyn

In late 1963 The Avengers became The Astrobeats. The band set out to make their name under the watchful eye of manager Jim Taylor a local builder and the father of the Taylor brothers. An early addition to the group circa 1964 was keyboard player Whitcombe who was still at school but had been recommended by the group’s booking agents Portass & Carter. That same year the band auditioned for Anglia TV’s Junior Angle Club but it is unclear if they appear on the show!

In 1965 Boughen joins from the local group FBI to strengthen the group's vocals. Convinced of the band’s impending success Jim gave them three years to realize their ambitions and built a dedicated rehearsal room for the group on the side of his home in Terrington St John.

In 1966 The Astrobeats entered the enaugral Melody Maker National Beat Comp and qualifying heats were held at The Regents BR, Brighton. They progressed to the semi-finals on 19 June 1966 and from there to the finals at The London Palladium on Sunday 7 August 1966. Unplaced on the night, the group were well supported and announced they were just glad to have made the final out of the original 160 entries.

Later that year the band turned professional and became a limited company, acquiring a Rolls Bentley so they could arrive at their performances in style. Recording equipment was added to the rehearsal room. "We brought in the Smith brothers from Gorefield on brass to give us that soul sound everybody was playing at the time." Said Bunton The band comes to an abrupt end in late 1967.

Bunton was later seen in Rabbit and The BBC Gas Quintet with Whitcombe, who later joined King’s Lynn band Nimbus.

NB: The only other East Anglian group to be taking part in the 1966 Melody Maker National Beat Contest final were The Versions from Norwich also unplaced on the night. The winners were the Welsh band - Eyes Of Blue.

Discography:

7Act Can’t Think b/w Substitute  c66

7Act Can’t Think b/w ??  c66

Selected advertised supports:

20/08/66 Boston Gliderdrome - Nyla & The Esoterics

Supports: The Rick ‘n’ Beckers / The Small Faces / The Alan Price Set / Them / Marmalade / Riot Squad / The Applejacks / The Cheatin Hearts / Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

Mediography:

Astrobeats are certainly a family concern UP Udat[ ]

Astrobeats take on another singer UP Udat[ ]1965?

Astrobeats are through UP -/-/1966[ ]

Astrobeats for the Palladium UP -/-/1966[ ]

Here’s wishing the Astrobeats all the best UP -/-/1966[ ]

Teen Page - Meet The proficient Astrobeats UP Udat [ ]1966

Teen Page - Astrobeats Unplaced LNA Udat[ ]1966  

The Avengers (Boughen - FBI) <> Rabbit (Whitcombe - Nimbus)