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Someone suggested to me a while ago I should put a pick up on the homepage of myself so for anyone who didn't know me already they would know who I was.

So for better or worse I have added the above pic!

A Brief Tremeloes History

When UK chart-toppers Brian Poole And The Tremeloes parted company in 1966 no one really know, how things would turn out.

Then the realisation that they could continue came when in the summer of 66, when Len 'Chip' Hawkes had joined the group and the fact that they now had another great vocalist within the group who could co lead sing along side Drummer Vocalist Dave Munden.

Chip was a very familiar face to the guys in their previous incarnation of Brian Poole And The Tremeloes as he had been a fan for a number of years and was a regular at their shows in the early years.

He was also in the line up for a short while before Brian parted company with the boys.

This was very soon became the classic "Hit Making Line Up "line up of The Tremeloes in their own right

Many years later in 2006 they reunited for their 40th Anniversary Tour.

Also sharing the stage with them for the first time in 40 years was their former lead singer Mr Brian Poole.

They were to receive rave reviews were ever they went on this and many were saying on the 60s Internet forums they sounded like they had never been away.

The only sad note for this classic line up reunion was the fact that original Guitarist/Keyboard player and founder member Alan Blakely would not be around to enjoy it, as he had very sadly passed away in June 1996.

However his spirit goes on in the music that these guys make,
his footprints he made while been in The Tremeloes are still very evident in their live shows.

TREMS PAY TRIBUTE TO ALAN On their reunion tour in 2006 they paid respect to Alan Blakley. As part of the show recite the line that Alan used to say when he would introduce this song at the end of their shows "Good Night, God Bless, we are going to love you and leave you with this one" as they then launch into a haunting rendition of Silence Is Golden and dedicate it to the memory Tremeloes Co Founder member they always refer to quite simply as Al.

Tremeloes Line Up

Ricky Westwood Rick’s, original role In The Tremeloes Lead Guitarist/Backing Vocalist. Rick also sang a major part on the original single Silence Is Golden. However during the stage act these days he plays lead guitar and leaves the vocals to the other guys in the band

A lot of people don't know that Rick joined The Nashville Teens for a short while, during a time when The Tremeloes were all of doing other things.

A few years back Chip Hawkes informed me that there was a time when Rick took on the Role of Tremeloes Bass player for a short while, as he thought the other guitarist in the band were technically better than he was

He is a classic guitarist who’s name for me sits alongside all the greats.

Dave Munden Role In The Tremeloes is Drummer and Co Lead Vocalist. Dave is a founder member of The Tremeloes and is a great performer who really knows how to relate to an audience. Chip Hawkes once told me that in his view, Dave Munden is finest ever Drummer Vocalist.

Following a performance The Tremeloes had done a gig at Blackpool's Grand Theatre, it was during a conversation with Dave Munden that I learnt the sad news that Alan Blakley had died.

To which I replied, I was sorry, I didn’t know and I couldn’t recall reading it anywhere.

He explained to me it was in line with the family's wishes that not to much fuss was made at the time.

Alan Blakley A founder member of The Tremeloes was the groups Co Songwriter, Rhythm Guitarist, Keyboards, and Backing Vocalist. I asked Chip Hawkes a short while ago, how the song writing partnership between Blakley/Hawkes worked. Chip said that he wrote the songs mainly and described Alan as his mentor in the completion of the songs.

Chip Hawkes Role In The Tremeloes was Co Songwriter Bass Guitarist/Keyboards/Co Lead Vocalist. Chip very much enjoyed The Tremeloes recent original members reunion in during the reunion tour in the autumn of 2006 and commented to me that it felt just like the old days except for the fact that Alan was sadly now longer around to join them.

Nowadays Chip has his own group called Class Of 64,who have done very well for themselves over the last 5 years since their formation.

Jeff Brown Jeff Brown a former member of Andy Scott's "SWEET" joined The Tremeloes fold in early 2005 as Bass Guitar and vocals. However on The Tremeloes reunion tour he also played percussion and Rhythm Guitar His stage presence projects like he has always been in the line up as he fits in so well alongside original/long term members of The Tremeloes.

He joined the band after been put forward for the position by Chip Hawkes.

Jeff told me when I last caught up with him last year at Burnley Mechanics, that he was really enjoying his time so far in The Tremeloes and he described them as a real band.

Joe Gillingham Joe Gillingham joined the band in 1987, however the first time the wider British public saw him was his appearance on 25 years of Top Of The Pops and ITV Telethon. Having now been in the modern day line up for 20 years now, it almost seems like he has always been a member of The Tremeloes. In the 70s Joe had was what you could term one of the most famous unknown faces on TV. He was the actor who played “Wellington” of The Wombles.

He is a fantastic musician and is always acknowledges a familiar face as soon as The Tremeloes walk out on stage.

Dave Freyer Davey told me that his role in the band came about when he replaced Chip after he had done 25 years on the road with The Tremeloes. He then went onto stay with the band for the next 18 years as their Bass player and joint lead vocalist. After which time he retired from the band and then Jeff Brown took over in 2005.

Davey still speaks very highly of The Tremeloes recently commenting to me "It’s really good for all of us also to know that the band is still out there still playing the songs,and that audiences still come out and enjoy it.

I still would love to have done tracks like Hello World and Right Wheel live on stage, when I was with the boys, maybe one day they will do them as I think they are really good Tremeloes songs, not to let fade away!"

THE TREMELOES BBC Sessions This was a fantastic release from 2003 and it features the Tremeloes original 1960s recordings I feel these recordings really give everyone an insight to what The Tremeloes really were like as a groups and the reason why so many people liked their brand of music.

During a conversation with Chip Hawkes a few years ago around the time this CD was released, he me that the sound engineers at The BBC used to be constantly tell them to "Turn it down,Turn it down". He went onto explain that the microphones which the BBC used to use, would rip very easily if the sound was too loud.

However all these years down the line Chip was delighted to hear those recordings again and was very pleased that they had been released.

Alan And His Life

A Celebration Of The Life Of Al Blakley

This section has been created to celebrate the life of Alan Blakley.

Well as you all know this forum is about celebrating all things Tremeloes and Tremeloes related past present and future. Everyone I have ever spoken too about Alan can instantly can recall story’s about him with a smile. By all accounts its just the person he was and the way he would like to be remembered.

So with this in mind I thought I would start a bit of a thread here, where people can recall happy memories of Alan Blakley who was of course one of The Tremeloes original and founder member of the group back in the 50s alongside Brian Poole and Dave Munden, when they of course set out on the road to stardom as Brian Poole and The Tremeloes.

He alongside Len "Chip" Hawkes wrote many of The Tremeloes classic hits including, My Little Lady, (Call Me) Number One and me And My Life but to name a few.

Although I myself have been a Tremeloes fan now for what’s getting on to 25 years. It is only within the last 7 years that I have got to meet/know members of The Tremeloes, some better than others.

But I really wish I had have had the pleasure of meeting Alan as from what I have heard from people who knew him he was a lovely bloke.

I’m sure Chip Hawkes wont mind me saying that once during a telephone conversation he and I had a few years ago he described Alan as his mentor once he joined The Tremeloes in every kind of way.

Bren a life long Tremeloes fan
Remembers the Alan she knew.

A life long Tremeloes fan Bren very kindly sent to me via e-mail a recollection of the Alan Blakley that she knew.

Hi Martin,

Really appreciate you doing this site.
The Great Alan Blakley

Alan was (and still is) a very special person. He was like a ray of sunshine and I am honoured to have known him.

I started to like the Trems back in 1970 (Me and My Life) and soon caught up with much of their history, buying singles and LPs.

On the back of one of the LPs was a comment of Alan's along the lines of "Chip our lead singer is a nice bloke but he cannot sing"..... or something like that.

Being 12, I was not impressed - "How dare he put Chip down!!" (I took everything so seriously). Then Alan and Chip (who I prefer to call Len but will write Chip for this) appeared at Radio 1 Club. "My Sweet Lord" was playing as my friend Sharon and I made our way to the front. It was she that spotted Chip and Alan in the wings.

I made up my mind that I did not want Alan's autograph because of how awful he was to Chip. When he asked for my book to sign I would not give it to him, he was most concerned and asked me why. When I told him, his face broke out into that lovely smile of his and he told me that it was not meant the way it had read.

He thought "Chip was a great bloke and of course he has a great voice, otherwise he would not be in the band".

I thought about what Alan said and it made sense. So I gave him my book to sign and once he had, he said "Friends Now?". I agreed that we could be friends.

Then I got to know the Tremeloes and Alan told me he remembered that moment. Such a small moment in time but something Alan took notice of.

He was aware that he had 'upset' a fan without meaning to and he wanted to put it right.

That was so Alan, he cared about his fans/friends and always wanted to know they were doing' okay.

I remember how he referred to many of the fans as Mrs. He would always greet girls/women with "Alright Mrs?" - whether they were married or not. It was never "Thank You" but "Cheers"

Given the choice, he chose to sit cross-legged on the floor. He said that chairs were so uncomfortable.

I have a few memories of all of the boys, but this one I thought you might like to have me share with you.

Speak again soon.

All the best
Bren.

A short while ago Terry who is a good friend of Dave and Andree Munden joined The Tremeloes Forum here. He very kindly recently hooked me up with Dave Munden via e-mail for a comment on his old band mate especially for this feature.

Dave Munden "Hi Martin, As you know from Terry I am busy at the moment packing for a Swedish tour". "Well about Alan Blakley. He was one of my best mates a really nice guy, he always had a smile for everyone. Alan was the man who got me in the Tremeloes.

We had some fantastic times together both in and out of the band, without Al there wouldn't have been the Tremeloes. I miss him a great deal.

Cheers
Dave Munden.

Davey Freyer
Remembers Alan

I was very grateful to recently receive an e-mail from former Tremeloes member Davey Freyer

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your interest in my part in the history of the band.

I replaced Chip after he had done 25 years on the road with them, and stayed myself with the band for 18 years. I retired, and then Jeff took over.

It was great that you had done some nice pictures and memories of Alan.

When he passed away it was a really sad time for all of us. We had been a five piece for a long time and had recorded so many songs together, and played many concerts. But we had to carry on, sort out things and get on with it because that’s what he would have wanted. So we continued as a four piece.

I think you did a really good job with your site, and I cannot add much too what you have said, only to say that Alan was a great professional, and always kept the band on it toes and aware of changes in the music business. He would always keep on giving advice to me when I started, and I learnt a great deal from him. He was also one of those who, when you went to visit him, you always came away feeling better for the visit. The energy he had for the music business was inspiring to all of us. He was always very happy and peaceful in the studio making music, and recording new ideas.

I am very grateful to have been involved in of that side of Alan and to remember some of his production skills, of which he had endless ideas and creativity to make better tracks.

When I first came in the band he also taught me a great deal on live performing, and on the TV shows we did, and to keep my eye on the right camera to look in, and with each show I always learnt from him of how to be always good, and always consistent on the stage show.

Alan will always be missed by everyone who was connected to or believed in the band. He was the founder member of the band, an original at the start of it all and, in my time, a really great musician to have known.

Good luck with the web site Martin and for your continued interest in the band.

Cheers
Davey Freyer

Alan In Photographs

Another lifelong Tremeloes fan Britta, sent me these photos below of Alan doing what he loved most.

Having a good laugh and playing his heart out for a great audience.