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Mr Lucifer

Hi everyone.

I 'm doing research for a book and exhibition on the rock group Smile (who later became Queen). They often played with Mr Lucifer who were from Cambridge and was hoping someone who comes to this site might have some ideas as to how to get hold of them...any little clues would be helpful: names or contacts for band members or friends of band members would be ideal...

Theres more information on the project at www.queenincornwall.blogspot.com

thanks...please email queenincornwall@gmail.com or leave a message here or both!!!

Rupert

Published by jossiejojo at 2:02pm on Wed 13th October 2010. Viewed 13,681 times.

By the way we're talking 1969 ish here...Mr Lucifer played in the Free Festival that year...

Published by jossiejojo at 2:04pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Which free festival?

Published by joosypigeon at 2:09pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Published by joosypigeon at 2:16pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

*paging Ted*

Published by Old Rocker at 2:16pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Queen's first concert was at Imperial Union I believe which I used to enjoy when I drank there. The college would not allow a statue of Freddie to be built though - a continual battle through the ages.

Published by Baboomboomtish at 2:57pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

When I was at university the SU bar was called Freddie's, cus he went there for art school

Published by Rocket Dog at 3:16pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Yes it was that Cambridge Free Festival (where Dave Bowie sang)

And hate to split hairs but the first gig Queen played was actually in Truro in Cornwall (thats what the band say anyway) though the first time they played billed as Queen was Imperial.

I'm looking at the gigs etc they played in Cornwall as Smile...

So anyone got any leads for Mr Lucifer???? Could just be someone that was involved with bands in Cambridge in the late 60s/early 70s

Cheers

Published by jossiejojo at 4:03pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Im going to a Strawberry Fair meeting tonight . . . I'll ask.

Published by joosypigeon at 4:12pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

I know that Queeen, as Queen was at Imperial. I used to be a bit of a buff back in the day. Always one for Sheer Heart Attack.

Published by Baboomboomtish at 4:19pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Mr Lucifier were a 3 piece when I saw them, Hammond organ, bass and drums.

I saw them at the Cam pop festival in 69 and with the Iveys (later Badfinger) at Bishop's Stortford in June 69...

Around the same time as other Cambridge bands Tuseday's Children, Story Book, Little Women, Horn, Henry Cow, Mellowing Gray (the late Dave Collins was guitarist who started MM and C Audio), Toby Jug and Washboard band (Trevor Vincent still about), Committee (Soul Committee)

you may want to try Tim Renwick, he was in Cambridge bands Little Woman and Wages of sin + others and knew those guys so he may recall some names. (later Quiver, Al Stewart and played in the live band with Pink Floyd)... he lives in the West country now but a search will get an email.

there is an event on at St Pauls Church Hall Cambridge on 30th October that has bands involved in that era (50s-60s) a reunion... The Redcaps, Jokers Wild, Forever Amber, Soul Committee...not all playing but members present... the organisers may be able to help. There's a poster in front of St Pauls Church with a web link on it.

It'd been muted that Billy Gray (brother of Andy Gray, Andy's Records) was the drummer of Mr Lucifier... no, I see Billy regularly still. He was in the last version of Smoke ('My friend Jack eats sugar lumps' fame) and The last minute put Together Boogie band that was on the same bill as MC5 and Barrette's 'Stars' band at The Corn exchange.

there's a guy called David Lindsey in Cambridge that was about then and I think still is. He knew a lot of the bands and printed the posters for the '69 free festival a lot of those bands played at.

I'll get Graham to ask his dad Derrick Buxton (he was in Forever Amber) if he knew anyone in Mr Lucifer and it's worth asking John Arnold (Mark Arnold 5 and others) if he remembers any faces.

Published by happyted at 5:18pm on Wed 13th October 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 5:44pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Thanks Happyted...there are some good leads there.

The event at St Pauls Centre is called the Cambridge Rockers Reunion...they should be advertising on this website should nt they?? Also I ve sussed out that Tim Renwick is now living near me in Cornwall...

I'll let you know if I get anywhere with the others. Meantime if anyone else has any ideas please let me know!!!!

Thanks again...

Published by jossiejojo at 5:28pm on Wed 13th October 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 6:04pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

I can tell you the agent(s) acting for Mr Lucifier in '69 was Rufus Manning Associates (past association...), 47 Glisson Road Cambridge... Seems to still be a company? RUFUS MANNING ASSOCIATES LIMITED Registered Number. 00988340... or a long lasting online record.

Rufus Manning Associates also had Terry Ried, Mighty Baby, Tuesday's Children, Reflection, Audience, Sir Charles babbage, 1984 and Mellowing Grey.

links here to Tuseday's Children via Manning. A few names there.
http://www.czar.org.uk/5.html

Millers in Cambridgr had an agency back then and Barry Robinson may know a few names...

EDIT:
guitarist from Little Women, Tim Renwick now down in your neck of the woods, Pentewan, Cornwall,
http://www.myspace.com/timrenwick

Published by happyted at 5:39pm on Wed 13th October 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 5:46pm on Wed 13th October 2010.

Is Millers the music shop? Does Barry work there?

Thanks

Published by jossiejojo at 7:52am on Thu 14th October 2010.

Bit of an update - partly to bump topic - but I ve found a chap in Cornwall called Tony Cousins who was in a band called Easy Moses also from Cambridge who moved down to Cornwall to live for a while - which apparently is what Mr Lucifer did too.

They had a drummer called Willie Wilson - but there were apparently two Willie Wilsons playing drums in Cambridge and one of them had something to do with Pink Floyd...

Published by jossiejojo at 6:55pm on Thu 21st October 2010.

the Willie Willson I know was in Jokers Wild with Gilmore and then Quiver with Tim Renwick. Tim was the extra live guitarist with the Floyd for the 2 post Waters albums and tours.

before all that he was in a band with Nick Barraclough who I still see regularly and play in a couple of his bands.

Published by happyted at 7:04pm on Thu 21st October 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 7:05pm on Thu 21st October 2010.

happyted, i can only imagine that you've done no recreational drugs in your life whatsoever, because if you had, you wouldn't remember any of this stuff.

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 7:24pm on Thu 21st October 2010.

well well happy ted i think we may well know each other as it is Rufus Manning here and so pleased to see that some of the Cambridge residents are still around. Mr Lucifer were originally a four piece band as I still have a small promotion poster of theirs where the black and white image was turned into a reversed out positive image, very striking at the time. I also have some b/w negatives which I shot of the band when we were managing them. Do you remember that their mode of transportation for gigging was an old ambulance. A noticeable gigging van if ever I knew. Those heady days in the late sixties/early seventies of running all the different venues in and around Cambridge as well as managing and acting as agent for so many of them I have failed to remember any of Mr.Lucifers names. I do also remember that they had a previous name but I cannot remember what that was either can anyone help me with what that previous name was please ?

Published by rufus manning at 4:29pm on Fri 22nd October 2010.

^ see, he was definitely there. Happyted can remember too much. ;)

Published by arthurCRS at 5:07pm on Fri 22nd October 2010.

John 'Willy' Wilson

I'm one of the two Willie Wilsons who were drummers in sixties Cambridge. I was Willy with a 'y'. I played with Nick Barraclough and Bryan Carling, but not with Tim Renwick (other than clarinet lessons at school) I also played in The Fen Four, The Utopians, Easy Moses and The Silver Street Blues Band. In 1969 I moved to the Frozen North. People are always mixing up Willie and Willy when they write rock histories of Cambridge. In July 2008 we had a Barraclough Carling Wilson reunion gig in Cambridge performing under our original name The Swinging Vibros. Picture attached. Video clip on Youtube.

Published by Willydrummer at 10:15pm on Fri 22nd October 2010.

Blimey, I'm surprised Ivan Carling isn't on this thread yet!

Published by splattergrabs at 10:39pm on Fri 22nd October 2010.

I just found this thread and have to admit, it's all fascinating but more importantly,can any of you remember the Cambridge rapist?

Published by JazzRTC at 9:51am on Sat 23rd October 2010.

"can any of you remember the Cambridge rapist?"

I've got their first E.P. somewhere.

Published by splattergrabs at 4:18pm on Sat 23rd October 2010.

^ I'm suffering a humour by-pass here.

Published by DeFrev at 5:21pm on Sat 23rd October 2010.

it was 2009 Willy at the haymakers...

Published by happyted at 7:53pm on Sat 23rd October 2010.

mrlucifersmall2

This is a picture of Mr Lucifer...Anyone recognise any faces? Or haircuts...

Published by jossiejojo at 1:43pm on Sun 24th October 2010.

Groovy!!

Published by Dr Rhythm at 6:17pm on Sun 24th October 2010.

The guy on the right looks like a young Mick Jagger ;-]

Published by daggg at 8:27pm on Sun 24th October 2010.

mick

the guy in the front has a Mick Farren style about him (from the Deviants same era)

Published by happyted at 8:49am on Mon 25th October 2010.

Blimey Ted, I'd almost forgotten Mick Farren. I have his Watch Out Kids book somewhere in the attic. Ever read it? Great 60s counter culture stuff. Unbelievably, he and Germaine Greer were once an item...

Published by DeFrev at 10:06am on Mon 25th October 2010.

Now we're talking - I did some work on a Mick Farren anthology a few years ago but I would highly recommend this for an overview of UK counter culture stuff - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cries-Midnight-Circus-Ladbroke-1968-1973/dp/B0...

Published by Dr Rhythm at 1:09pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

Germaine Greer had great legs for a feminist back in the day ;-]

Published by daggg at 1:12pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

^ the Pretty Things album with Cries from the Midnight Circus on is absolutely brilliant.

Published by sam i at 1:44pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

I've got a great 45 single by Mick Farren and the Deviants called 'Let's loot the supermarket (while it burns)'... b- side. I always think of mill Rd and the Tesco protests when I play that... saw them play a few times. They were at the Cam Pop festival in '69.

Published by happyted at 2:36pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

just been listening to Pretty Things Parachute and SF Sorrow...

Published by happyted at 2:37pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

It's always mystified me how they made those two albums, which are great, and then an unmitigated string of absolute cack through the Seventies.

Published by sam i at 2:39pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

I have the Social Deviant's 45 of Play With Fire somewhere, plus Farren's autobiog, Give the Anarchist a Cigarette (or summat like that). He and Birchill had a thing going at the NME too.

Published by DeFrev at 2:49pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

Just so nobody can say I ignored this....

(grin)

Published by ivansc at 6:16pm on Mon 25th October 2010.

Mick Farren has a very similar face but a different skinnier build...Can anyone going to the Rockers Reunion please ask about Mr Lucifer?? Thanks

Published by jossiejojo at 8:35am on Thu 28th October 2010.

It is really starting to piss me off that I cannot remember who was in Mr. Lucifer and the photo posted here is not showing up either.
It is conceivably possible that Dave Hurst played in this band.

The Roots of Cambridge Rock gig was a bit weird as many of the old stagers who are still alive didnt make it.
Apologies and good wishes from Dave the Rave, though.

(grin) Not a lot of people know this, but I gave Willie Wilson his first proper job as a drummer! Seem to remember him being about 14 at the time....

Published by ivansc at 4:37pm on Thu 18th November 2010.

Yep, I'm p***d off that I've drawn a complete blank. I used to see their ambulance driving round town a lot. Did Willie live on Arbury do you know? (The photos only show up for me when I log in.)

Published by nuttyprof at 5:23am on Fri 19th November 2010.

Yep, I'm p***d off that I've drawn a complete blank. I used to see their ambulance driving round town a lot. Did Willie live on Arbury do you know? (The photos only show up for me when I log in.)

Published by nuttyprof at 5:24am on Fri 19th November 2010.

Hi since posting this I ve been asking around in Cornwall...the band relocated to Cornwall in the very late sixties I think...

My contact down here remembers one definite name and three other possibles and a link to Switzerland. This is what he has said to me:

They all played and recorded in Switzerland. Paddy Sargeant, bassist, married a Swiss girl, Doris which is why he returned to work there. I think 2 came from Cambridge and the others from London suburbs originally. My memory is that the others were Will on drums, Stewart vocals, and Joe lead guitar.

Published by jossiejojo at 8:16pm on Thu 2nd December 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 7:50pm on Fri 3rd December 2010.

I think Paddy may be the one that looks like Mick Farren but is not Mick Farren....

Published by jossiejojo at 8:17pm on Thu 2nd December 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 8:19pm on Thu 2nd December 2010.

^^ He'll be wonderfully well placed when the world is ready for a Mick Farren and the Social Deviants tribute act.

Published by DeFrev at 9:17pm on Thu 2nd December 2010.

OK - Just looked at that M. Lucifer piccy and one of them is definitely Dave Hurst, who was at the rockers revival thingy.

I`ll give it a further scrute but I suspect one of the others just might be Gary Butcher.

And re the OTHER Willie Wilson that I gave his first job, he was living with his mum and dad in girton when I encountered him first.

Oh and I was stand-in for the missing lead guitar player at the Swinging Vibros reunion featuring my brother Brian, Nick Bara and John Wilson.

Seeing all the old lags at that do really got the memory working better....

I didnt find out that it was me leaving The Sundowners that turend Rick Wills into a bass player!
Apparently I buggered of elsewhere (probably for more money) and Bubs White went and got Rick a Fender Jazz, stuck it in his hand and said "you`re the bass player now"

Published by ivansc at 8:30pm on Tue 7th December 2010.

Dave Hurst....it would be great to make contact with him...anyone have any ideas how to get hold of him???

Thanks

Published by jossiejojo at 12:50pm on Mon 13th December 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 12:51pm on Mon 13th December 2010.

might be Gary Butcher. ivansc

obviously not the whippersnapper Gary Butcher that was in Transista...

Published by happyted at 3:15pm on Mon 13th December 2010.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 1:47pm on Tue 1st February 2011.

The drummer from Mr Lucifer was will wright and still lives localy

Published by ADS121 at 12:58pm on Tue 1st February 2011.

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 1:03pm on Tue 1st February 2011.

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 1:04pm on Tue 1st February 2011.

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 1:04pm on Tue 1st February 2011.

ffs

Published by Boudicea Bambaataa at 1:04pm on Tue 1st February 2011.

Members of Mr Lucifer
Will Wright (drummer), Paddy Sargeant, Mick Sharpe and Dave Hirst. Will is now the landlord of the White Horse in Swavesey and we along with some other bands are playing there May 6th Sunday from early afternoon onwards. Will's bank holiday bash. Free entry etc... I believe Will also played way back then in the Animals.

A bit on Mr Lucifer here.
http://queenincornwall.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/mr-lucifer-will-wright-a...

and here

http://rprest.adsl24.co.uk/kernowbeat/lucifer.html

Published by happyted at 12:35pm on Fri 4th May 2012.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 12:36pm on Fri 4th May 2012.

Mick Sharpe was living in Histon a few years back. Roger Smith (Jack)'s brother was the drummer for Zebedees.

Published by nuttyprof at 5:44am on Sat 5th May 2012.

Hi I was a good friend of Mick Sharpe, before & after Mr Lucifer. Mick came back to Cambridge, and sadly died two years ago, of alcohol related problems. Will owns & runs the Pub in Swavesey Cambridge, Saw him recently and had a chat about the old days of Lucifer. Paddy i don't know about.
Hope this answers a few questions!! Richard Knowles

Published by richardknowles at 6:29pm on Mon 18th March 2013.

why can't I fix this page?

Published by arthurCRS at 12:13pm on Tue 19th March 2013.
This reply has been edited, last edit at 12:14pm on Tue 19th March 2013.

Work of the Dark Lord Lucifer ;-]

Published by daggg at 12:45pm on Tue 19th March 2013.

If anyone has any contact details for Paddy, I'd be very grateful for them.

Thanks!

Published by RichardSharpe at 10:26am on Tue 30th August 2016.

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