In 1960, Tamworth Magistrates Court told a fifteen year old trainee miner to stop shrugging his shoulders like a pop singer and a local solicitor claimed that playing of a juke box in a snack bar opposite his offices would make it impossible for his firm to continue its legal practice. This gives you a hint of attitudes to popular music at the time. In Tamworth you could see The Rebels every Friday night at Fazeley Parish Hall for 2/- (10p) or dance to The Modernaires at the Assembly Rooms for 2/6 (12.5p).

By early 1975, the only bands you were likely to see in Tamworth were Magna Carta or Magnadaw playing at Tamworth Football Club or possibly Andy Dwyer playing his 12 string acoustic at the Unicorn Folk Club, Orton on the Hill. There were very few venues, no studios and hardly any bands! By 1990 this had changed dramatically, dozens of venues, hundreds of bands, several studios, successful recording artists and a vibrant history littered with successes and failures.

Welcome to the history of Tamworth bands and the Tamworth music scene in general. This web site will record in precise detail the growth of the music scene that developed in Tamworth between 1960 and 1990. Each band will be listed, with photographs, details of band members, songs, recordings, gigs. Take a look at the A to Z of Bands added so far and a sample of how a Band Page will look. Local personalities will be highlighted in all their gory glory. Memories, however hazy will be recalled.

But...to achieve this, you, those band members themselves, need to submit your band details to build the database of bands. Already there are over 350 bands listed - add your band to complete the jigsaw!

Many thanks,

Edward ian Armchair
info@tamworthbands.com

Here's a small selection of Band Names from the 1960-1990 period. See how many you can remember!