CADILLACS, THE (1)
Last updated: 08-08-2021
More Info Required
- Ricky Southern & The Cadillacs
- Malcolm & The Cadillacs
- The Cadillacs Rhythm Group
Basic Information
- Norwich, Norfolk, Uk
- 60s Rock'n'roll
L1958 - E1963
Musicians
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Lead Vocals: Stewy McIntosh (2)Peter Read aka Ricky Southern (3)Malcolm Hooper
Vocals, Keys: Derek Bugsy Shephard
Vocals,Guitar: John Zagni (2)John Tuddenham
Guitar: Ivan Zagni (2)Rodney Kidd
Bass: Micky Woodcock > Drums (2)Frank Zagni
Drums: Frank Zagni > Bass (2)Micky Woodcock (3)Dennis Denny Royal (4)Michael Luke Watson
It was the combination of The Zodiacs and the backbone of The Jailbirds SG that formed Norwich rock ‘n’ roll outfit The Cadillacs. A chance meeting at Butlins Holiday Camp brought members of the two groups together.
The starting point for the band appears to be staggered, we first see adverts for the band in December 1958, performing at The Kit Kat Club, Hunstanton but their debut in Norwich is listed much later in November 1959, when they perform at the inaugural Sunday Night Rock Café at The YMCA, Nch, backing resident Lads Club band The Thunderbirds. Permission for the nights had been granted on the strict instructions there was to be no dancing or drinking! The group also played at the club a week later, amidst rumours that the BBC cameras would be in attendance.
The early line-up of the group formed around the Zagni brothers, who all worked for the family Asphalting company, as did guitarist Woodcock at the time. Woodcock recalls, “You might have thought it was easy getting away early for gigs with this situation but old man Zagni kept a close eye on us. He’d make sure the work was done first and done properly, although I think he was secretly proud of the boys and the band really.”
Anecdote2: Mick Woodcock recalls trying to get away early to go to a gig one night. "I was working with the Zagni brothers at the time, John would drive for his father and would also often nip off early as well. We had skipped off early this one night to get to this airbase. Were were setting up, when in walked Frank [Johns father aka Old Man Zagni] and he gave us an earful for not finishing a job, he stayed for the gig though." Mick laughs about another incident whilst playing one American airbase "I was trying to repair my amp and asked the guy at the airbase if he had a screwdriver. He went away and came back with a cocktail!"
Vocalist McIntosh moved on and was next seen in The Emperors, his place was taken by Read aka Ricky Southern, becoming Ricky Southern & The Cadillacs. Read had been fronting The Jetblacks after the split of his unit The Big Beat Four. Ironically it was the spilt of his former band in early 1962 that kept The Cadillacs going, as they merged around the time Ivan Zagni left to join The Continentals.
In June 1962 you would have seen adverts for Malcolm & The Cadillacs as Hooper covered for Read. Hooper then went on to front The Jetblacks. The Cadillacs were struggling by Christmas 1962. Ad hoc gigs were performed at The Orford Cellar over the New Year with The Continentals, who were suffering their own personnel problems - see The Condillacs. The band appeared to stagger into 1963 but disappeared around early May; two groups seem to have evolved from the split, Terry Kaye’s Classics and The CBO Incorporated.
Selected advertised supports:
02/06/62 Dham Memorial Hall - Len Baldwins Dauphin Street Six
27/10/62 Grosvenor BR, Nch - Brian Bentley & The Kingsmen
03/11/62 Grosvenor BR, Nch - Bobby Shafto / Duffy Powers & The Searchers
10/11/62 Grosvenor BR, Nch - Dave Eden & The Chessmen
24/11/62 Grosvenor BR, Nch - Nelson Keene & The Chequers
08/12/62 Grosvenor BR, Nch - The Eagles (UK) From the movie Some people
Mediography:
Teenage café opens EEN 12/11/59
NB: The Cadillacs was a popular name for groups in the sixties so its been hard to pin down exact performance details for the band other than those credited to Ricky Southern & The Cadillacs or Malcolm & The Cadillacs. We also believe there may have been other local acts using the moniker which overlap the lifespan of the group. Sometimes incorrectly spelt as Cadilacs.
Notes: Brief appearance of Malcolm Hooper in June 1962. RS in August 62 at Attleboro In November 62 backed movie band the Eagles.] unconfirmed
(Southern - The Jetblacks) The Jailbirds Skiffle Group / The Zodiacs <
> (Woodcock - The Classics) (I.Zagni - The Continentals) (Southern - CBO Inc)
