Time flies when you having fun...!
The New Untouchables Mod/60s team was set up to maintain the standard of earlier groups, with a new spirit of openness and approachability, welcoming an array of interested people. In 1997, the Britpop music movement was at it's apex and people who had become interested in music through this very modern genre often found themselves interested in Mod. Having done the research into the influences Britpop was inspired by-such as 1960s Beat groups, and further along, the Rhythm and Blues artists that had inspired said groups. The time was just right for a new surge of Mods and 1960s fans and The New Untouchables were there to encourage them with newsletters, club flyers, club nights, national and international weekenders, scooter runs, clothes and record markets and the relatively new medium of the internet. The best thing about the NUTs was the constant good humour. Even when ill-will and mini-disasters loomed, the high spirits and laughs never ebbed. This has kept the good nature going to the present day. The NUTs have never been afraid to try new ventures. Locations were changed from time to time, coastal resorts changed and even dropped in favour of London weekenders, the coastal constant being Scarborough in the North and the August bank holiday event changing from The Isle of Wight, to Margate then to Brighton. New bands and DJs have been actively encouraged and supported. New Year's eve events have been held in London and at coastal weekenders. The media has been assisted when the inevitable Mod stories have been the flavour of the month, the scooter flag was kept flying, extras have been rounded up for period productions on TV and in films-The NUTs have even helped in modernist scene weddings!
A brief history of a very Nutty time:
1997, New Untouchables established by Rob Bailey and Jason Ringgold after split with Untouchables first event an alldayer at the Dragon cave club with Downliners Sect, Voodoo Boiler and the Aardvarks live plus the ever present DJ team of Pid, Lee Miller, Speed, Gav Evans, Nick Hudson and Mark Ellis. Paul Owers joins early 1998. John's Children play for the New Untouchables at the magnificent Notre Dame Hall, London.
New Untouchables Newsletter begins circulation.
Yardbirds play at Hastings.
Regular London club nights Purple Pussycat, Hipsters and the Mousetrap spawn a new generation of young Mods and 60’s fanatics.
1998-Doug Bannon joins. New Untouchables tongue-in-cheek nickname 'NUTs' coined.
Rob secures the services of THE ACTION to play at the Isle Of Wight, 750+ scenesters get through door in just over an hour to see first complete Action line up play since 1967. Yardbirds also play, with NUTs DJ team supporting and legendary show by The Bloodhounds at the afternoon session.
Rupert's People play at Hastings and in London, Circle records release a Rupert's People compilation.
Brian Auger plays in London.
NUTs newsletter circulation increases-reports begin to take on life of their own, as do deliberate spelling and grammar mistakes and fake ads placed to catch people out.
New Untouchables co-promote Euro-yeye in Gijon, Spain with Spanish 'Trouble and Tea' 60s organisation, convoys drive from England with vans and scooter escorts. These rallies are a great experience, like minded people from all over the World meeting in sunny Spain for allnighters, live bands including the Downliners Sect, The Action, P.P Arnold, James Taylor Quartet, Billy Childish, Masters of Groove, Crazy World of Arthur Brown and many more. Many feel this is the best international event of the year. In the UK the Isle of Wight ambience was the pinnacle of weekender Mod rallies before the scooterist invasion arrived.
NUTs co-promote 'Autumn Stone' Mod rally in Cattolica, Italy with Smart Drivers Mod organisation. Not as frantic as the Euroyeye. A far smoother affair but equally enjoyable in both cases.
1999-NUTs promotes '6699' rally in San Diego USA with John's Children, Quant, The Chocolate Watchband and local US groups.
Rallies and events are held at Hastings, Brighton, Bournemouth, Scarborough, Birmingham, Clacton, Weston-Super-Mare and in London, NUTs DJs also support events across the UK and Europe.
'Welsh' Steve Garland joins NUTs team.
2001, Jason Ringgold returns to USA. Mary Boogaloo joins NUTS team and takes over the magazine. New Year 2000/2001 celebrated in Clacton-on-Sea with a cameo appearance from
NUTs’ Paul Owers as Elvis singing a raucous version of ‘Suspicious minds’ and ‘Bossa nova’ with the Elephant band.
James Quinlan joins NUTs team.
Big Jon Godden joins NUTs team.
Zoot Money Big Roll Band plays Isle of Wight Rally. Herbie Goins and The Night Timers also play IOW rally, incredibly well received by audience.
Nick Rossi Set and The Elephant band play 2000 IOW rally, Two bands of totally different styles, yet equally appreciated by punters.
The usual Xmas fancy dress night extends to Thames River cruise-hilarious outfit’s order of the day.
The 2002-Isle of Wight rally replaced by Margate weekender, featuring allnighters and hotel doubling as the venue. Herbie Goins and The Creation are among the bands.
Mary Boogaloo returns to Italy and Barry and Denise of Pip! Pip! assist with ideas, events’ design, co-promotion, media, website and newsletter. Dickie Lewellyn and Angie Smith also join NUTs team.
London events begin to replace coastal weekenders.
The 2004 - Margate replaced by Brighton with new approach-differing venues throughout the weekend, Brighton being the symbolic destination of Mod-the original annual pilgrimage. Ellie and Bertie all join the NUTs team.
Modstock on Whitsun bank holiday 2004 was the NUTS most significant event to date with Pip! Pip! driving the creative strategy behind the scenes and co-promoting. The first event celebrated in Saarbrucken, Germany ten years earlier. The London event held at the Rocket celebrating ’40 years of Mod’ not from its birth but a pinnacle year in its history. Over four thousand people attended the weekend from all corners of the World.
Live acts included the Action, The Creation, the Prisoners, the Pretty Things, the Aardvarks, Solarflares, Les Cappucino’s (Japan), Gene Drayton Unit, Fur Delux and the Apemen (Germany). Allnighters with international guest DJ’s with 3 dancefloors. Guest club nights, a fashion show and film tailored for the event ‘Ready steady sew’ by Sean Wilson, Angie Smith and Pip! Pip!, and scooter run, vintage market and the Actionettes dance troupe. Three days on non-stop partying in the capitol of Modernism.
A compilation album of rare underground 60’s dance club winners was tailored for the event called ‘Le Beat Bespoké’ out on Sanctuary records complied by NUTS DJ and head honcho Rob Bailey to critical acclaim from major magazines and radio station DJ’s. Volume two came out on Circle records in 2006 with both volumes selling very well. A third will be ready for Le Beat Bespoke 4 event Easter 2008.
In 2005 a New London event was born, Le Beat Bespoké (again with Pip! Pip! frimly on-board creatively) followed closely along the lines of Modstock but with a wider variety of vintage musical tastes catered for. The legend Arthur Lee played his last ever London show accompanied by fellow Love legend Johnny Echolls in a magnificent show. Other bands included another legendary US garage band the Chocolate Watchband plus the Fuzztones, Yardbirds, Billy Childish and the Loons to name a few. Over four thousand music lovers came from all over the World, yet again to enjoy one of the most enjoyable events to date so far.
Carla joins the NUT’s team and starts the New Untouchables myspace page www.myspace.com/the_newuntouchables
‘Le Beat Bespoké 2’ saw the Remains from Boston, USA play the first ever show on UK soil. The Remains picked by Sir Paul McCartney to support the Beatles on their last ever tour, playing venues like Shea stadium done a great show. Weekend bands included Mastica (Italy), The Horrors, Circulus, Doll squad (Australia), the Victorians (Italy) and the Frank Popp Ensemble (Germany).
Le Beat Bespoké 3 saw seminal 70’s punk rock band The Buzzcocks headline with Vincent Vincent & the Villans, the Sugars, the Ripps, Five Aces, the Urges, thee Exciters, Dutronc and the Hollywood Sinners live at new Central London location. The Venue at the International student house opposite Regents park, and home of leading London club night Crossfire.
Crossfire was born at this venue in January 2003, bringing together the promoters of 60’s London club nights a couple of times a year for a gigantic party celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of the London scene. Each event attracts hundreds of music lovers from all over the UK and beyond making the pilgrimage to this very popular night.
Our new years event at the same venue offers the wildest NYE in town with 3 rooms of partying to a capacity crowd including two sixties rooms covering all the musical genres and a 50’s and 60’s rock n roll room.
'Le Beat Bespoke 4' almost definitely the biggest and best NUTS event to date. The first ever performance outside of their native America garage gods the SONICS rocked London and brought all the tribes together for one incredible three day party in London over Easter 2008. Other artists included the Horrors, the Jaybirds, the Staggers, the Excellos, the Phantom Keys, the Good Time Charlies, Los Chicos and the Branded! Plus a DJ line-up from around the globe spinning discs from dusk until dawn.
'Le Beat Bespoke 5' was another super success, more on that to follow soon!
You can keep up to date with all plans for 2009 and beyond on this website.
We will continue to offer an exciting wide range of retro events and club nights, along with new ideas.
A short film is in the pipeline for 2010 along with a brand new club night and weekender. A book is promised for 2009? Watch this space?
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved down the years helping out and apologies to anyone I may have forgotten:
Jason Ringgold, Paul Owers, Doug Bannon, Steve Walsh, Walshie, Mary Boogaloo, Horst R Friedrichs, James Quinlan, Big Jon, Dickie Lewellyn, Barry & Denise at Pip! Pip! for new website and total brand design, Roberto Russo, Angie Smith, Stevie B, Ellie Eames, Carla Alvardo. All those who stuffed thousands of newsletters in envelopes Jayne Pountain, Clara, Karin Johansson, Jack White, and anyone else that has assisted over the years...
you are all stars.
Cheers Rob Bailey
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