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1969 and, Heatwave: John Fellows ~ bass & vocals (Norwood); Terry Shea ~ rhythm guitar & vocals (Peckham); Richard Steen ~ lead guitar & vocals (Liverpool), were auditioning in south London yet again for a drummer. Martin Samuel ~ drums & pyrotechnics (Mombasa) was signed on and the band took shape with lead vocals shared by Terry and John plus a few songs from Richard.
In the winter of '69, John Edward Entertainment Agency was looking for bands and, having auditioned, they were asked to sign that night. Touring the country as a four-piece, they became a very tight vocal harmony band with a solid dance beat while also earning a large fan following.
The band's stage gear was made just off Carnaby Street by The Carnaby Cavern, owned by Danny Benjamin / managed by very good friend Colin Wild. A stage act was suggested whereupon, Martin turned up the heat with a pyrotechnic display of fire eating!
John Edward suggested recruiting a lead vocalist and Peter Allatt ~ lead vocals & percussion (Mansfield) was offered the position. Heatwave continued enlarging their following by playing one night stands around the country. Three of the many favourite venues were: The Pheasantry (London), California Ballroom (Dunstable) and The Cavern Club (Liverpool) ~ where a brick with the Heatwave name proudly sits in the Cavern Wall of Fame.
Heatwave became one of the most-oft heard 'live' bands on BBC Radio One between 1969 and 1970 and, 16th October 1970, released 'Sister Simon (Funny Man)' b/w 'Rastus Ravel (Is A Mean Old Man)' on Penny Farthing Records.
25th January 2012, Paul Stiles played both sides of the single on his Radio Seagull Midweek Madness show and, word on the web is, the funkier B-side is still played in clubs in the U.K. and Japan today.
John now performs on the C&W circuit under the name, John Tracy. Terry has retired from all form of toil and trouble and travels the world. Martin is a successful game designer and keeps his hand in as a lyricist when not sailing the seven seas. Richard plays the occasional gig in a group known as Spiny Norman and Pete often sings karaoke – but only in Bulgaria when on holiday there.
http://www.heatwave.n.nu
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