Jokers Wild in Cambridge

Jokers Wild were a Cambridge based band which performed from 1964 to 1966 and included Pink Floyd's David Gilmour as a band member.

Below is a list of the full band and some of the locations they performed.

Band Members

David Gilmour – Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica

David Altham – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

John Gordon – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Dick Perry – Saxophone, Trumpet

Tony Sainty – Bass, Vocals (Left the band in Early 1966)

Clive Welham – Drums, Vocals  (Left the band in Mid 1966)

Peter Gilmour – Bass Guitar, Vocals (Joined the band in Early 1966)

Rick Wills – Bass Guitar  (Joined the band in 1966)

Willie Wilson – Drums  (Joined the band in Mid 1966)

Some of Their Performances

1964

14^th October – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

1965

13^th, 20^th & 28^th January – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

30^th January – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge,

13 February – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge, 

19^th February – Valentine Ball - Caius College, The Guildhall & The Corn Exchange, Cambridge,

22^nd February – Old English Gentlemen, Cambridge,

24^th February – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge,

26^th March – The Racehorse, Cambridge,

5^th , 12^th & 19^th May - Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

2^nd June - Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

5^th June – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge,

15^th June – Peterhouse College May Ball, Cambridge,

30^th June - Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

3^rd July – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge,

6^th July - Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

1^st & 8^th September - Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

12^th November – Bassingbourn Village College, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire,

19^th November – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge,

26^th November – Comberton College, Cambridge,

Their only releases were a privately-pressed, single-sided album catalogue number (RSLP 007) and single (RSR 0031), of which only  fifty copies were made of each. The recordings were made  at Regent Sound studio, in Denmark Street, London.

The album featured the five songs: 

                                                      "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"

                                                            "Walk Like a Man"

                                                             "Big Girls Don't Cry"

                                                              "Beautiful Delilah"

                                                     "Don't Ask Me (What I Say)"

         The single was  "Why Do Fools Fall in Love".backed with "Don't Ask Me (What I Say)"

These articles may also be of interest: Pink Floyd's Cambridge Roots  
                                                                The Beatles in Cambridge 

Pink Floyd's Cambridge Roots

Pink Floyd

The name Pink Floyd is known all over the world as one of the most recognised bands of the Sixties and Seventies. The group produced hits like 'See Emily Play' 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Money' and albums like ' The Dark Side of the Moon' and 'The Wall'.

But it wasn't always like this because, before they hit the big time, members of the group played gigs all over Cambridgeshire including school and village halls.

This is a little bit about how the Pink Floyd began from Cambridge roots.

At the age of 16 Syd Barrett joined his first band, Geoff Mott and the Mottoes, where he played guitar, He was joined in the band by Geoff Mott on Vocals, Tony Santi on Bass and Clive Welham on drums.

Clive Welham went to play drums with Jokers Wild along with Tony Santi on bass, and another future Pink Floyd member David Gilmour, but more on that in a moment.

Geoff Mott and the Mottoes like most bands at that time only performed for fun and had no plans to turn professional. The band mainly performed Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran hits.

After getting a good reception throughout Cambridge their luck wasn't to last and they soon split.

David Gilmour on the other hand, at about the same time Syd Barrett was with Geoff Mott and the Mottoes, was playing with the Group The Newcomers.

This group consisted of Ken Waterson on bass, Johnny Barnes on guitar, Willie Wilson on Drums and David Gilmour on Guitar.

Within a Year Glimour left The Newcomers and Joined Jokers Wild. He was joined by former Geoff Mott and the Mottoes members Tony Sandi and Clive Welham. Other members included Dave Altham and Johnny Gordon on guitar.

Jokers Wild was a blues style rock band.

The group did produce privately- pressed single sided LP's and Singles, of which maybe only 50 copies were made at one time.

They also recorded what as meant to be the UK version of Sam and Dave's ' Hold on I'm coming' but it was never released, so the Joker's Wild version went unheard.

David Glimour left Jokers Wild and joined Bullet with Ricky Wills on bass. Ricky had played with groups like the Small Faces and went on to play with the groups Roxy Music and Foreigner. They were joined by Willie Wilson on drums who come from the band The Newcomers.

After his time with Bullet David Gilmour then joined a new group already up and running. The members included former Geoff Mott and the Mottoes member Syd Barrett on guitar, Nick Mason on drums, Richard Wright on keyboard and Roger Walters on bass. The group was Pink Floyd and as they say the rest is history.

Pink Floyd - Arnold Layne

Released 11th March 1967 in the UK and 24th April 1967 in the US

This was Pink Floyd's First Single Release

These articles may also be of interest: Jokers Wild in Cambridge

                                                              The Beatles in Cambridge