Sixties
reunionSouthend band the Paramounts, who toured with the Beatles in the Swinging Sixties, got back together for the first time in nearly 40 years.
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Sixties
reunion
Southend band the Paramounts, who toured with the Beatles in the Swinging
Sixties, got back together for the first time in nearly 40 years.
They played a packed reunion gig at the Riga Music Bar at the Cricketers, Westcliff, supported by an Essex group with an even longer rock’n’roll pedigree, the Rockafellas.
The Paramounts boasted the original line-up of Gary Brooker on vocals and keyboard, Robin Trower on guitar, Mick Brownlee on drums and Chris Copping on bass. Copping had flown in from Australia to do the show.
In
their heyday the Paramounts tasted chart success with Poison Ivy and supporting
the Beatles. They also had a stint as Sandie Shaw’s backing group.
After they disbanded, Brooker and Trower formed Procol Harum and had a massive hit with A Whiter Shade of Pale. The audience at the Riga included many of their original fans who used to see the Paramounts at Shades coffee bar on Southend seafront in the early Sixties.
Photo caption: back in Southend – Mick Brownlee, Chris Copping, Robin Trower and Gary Brooker
Picture: Anna Lukala