The Paramounts

In Stafford, UK, 1964

In 1964 many provincial towns in the UK longed to replicate the success of The Cavern in Liverpool. One such was Stafford, where, in November, a new nightclub named 'The Garrett' was launched. Perhaps the name was intended as a kind of punning corollary to 'The Cavern' ... the attic, as opposed to the cellar, of a typical dwelling-house. The Paramounts, invited to launch the club, were billed as a thrilling London-based group, and these rarely-seen pictures are apparently all that survive from that evening in November. 'Another group appearing on the same bill was called The Presidents, with a vocalist named Larry Avon,' writes Stafford-based journalist Terry Guilder, who sent them to BtP, where they appear by kind permission of The Staffordshire Newsletter.

Gary Brooker singing. Since this picture is taken pretty-well front on, it's a fair bet that he's playing a small, low instrument, probably the Hohner Pianet
Behind him, drummer Phil Wainman, BJ Wilson's short-term stand-in while he played with Jimmy Powell

Drummer Wainman, a youthful eighteen year-old, signs an autograph for an attentive dolly-bird, apparently with his eyes closed.
Please write in and say hello if you are, or perhaps were, the dolly-person in question

Diz Derrick, bass guitar, in a curious pose. Quite a high action on that bass

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