Dave Anthony’s Moods

the group has been formed in Bournemouth, Dorset in 1965, from the union of musicians previously members of the Trackmarcks (whose drummer was the legendary Lee Kerslake - later with the Gods and Uriah Heep), and Dave anthony & The Ravers; and is actually known as a R&B/Soul combo of the British scene. Personnel of Dave Anthony’s Moods comprised singer Dave Anthony (real name Tony Head, who had played with local hero George “Zoot” Money), guitarist Tim Large, bassist Bill Jacobs, organist Bob Michaels, saxophonist Pete Sweet, trumpeter Andy Kirk, trombonist Graham Livermore and drummer John Devekey. They moved to London in the beginning of 1966, managed by Ken Pitt and than signed a deal with the famous Rick Gunnell Agency; played at the Flamingo, The Marquee, The 100 club, The Bag O’ Nails, The Cromwellian’s and The Ram Jam Club. In April was released their first single, published by Parlophone: “New Directions / Give It a Chance”; both sides are innovative tracks, with a combination between Soul and Beat. After few weeks Pete Sweet was replaced on sax by Bob Downes and Dave Anthony left the band (he surfaced in mid 1967 with The Fleur De Lys and than in duo with Sharon Tandy);the replacement was found in singer Roger Peacock previously with The Cheynes (alongside with Peter Bardens and Mick Fleetwood), and The Mark Leeman Five; than in late 1966 also Bob Downes quits, and the group decided to not replace him. Between the abandonment of Tony Head and the arrival of Roger Peacock, David Bowie (at the time leader of the Lower Third with his real name David Jones), it has sung with they at Leatherhead R&B Club; someone rumoured also that in a pair of gigs Elton John sat at the piano with the group. After some gigs in London in the end of the year, D.A.M’s moved to Milan, Italy in January, and famous manager Leo Watcher assure they a contract with the Italian label Joker who published during 1967 two excellent singles: “My Baby / Fading Away” and “A Whiter Shade Of Pale / Talking To The Rain”, with the production of David Pardo; all the B-sides are amazing, showing example of powerful R&B with an injection of jazz, mixed with a primitive psychedelia. The band played at The Rieti Beat Festival in May, together with some Italian groups like The Delfini, The Rolls 33, The Giganti and the New Trolls; and received good reviews. In 1968 personnel changes: Bob Michaels was replaced by organist Chris Dennis and singer Roger Peacock quits to join The Trip (an Anglo-Italian group, and later the Primitives); without their leader D.A.M’s supported Italian singer Maurizio Arcieri at the “Disco Per L’Estate” (a well-known Festival); with the song “Cinque Minuti e Poi..” and the following year also John Devekey left the band and came back to England, replaced by an anonymous Italian drummer. After their contribution with a cover of the Bee Gee’s song “Jumbo” on a compilation edited by Italian RCA, finally the group splits at the end of 1969...DISCOGRAPHY: New Directions/Give It A Chance - Parlophone R 5438 (1966) My Baby/Fading Away - Joker M 7000 (1967) A Whiter Shade Of Pale/Talking To The Rain - Joker M 7001 (1967)
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