Tony Holden - Tom Jackson (RIP) - Mike Kemp - Tony Crane - Dave Gange

                                                with Colin Penny

The Story So Far

Looking Back: Golden years of Midnights music

From The Visitor published Wednesday 14 May 2014 

In 1964 a pop music band was formed and 50 years later they are still going strong.

Tommy J and the Midnights (TJM) was born out of the friendship of Tom Jackson, Tony Holden, Bill Houston and Eric Darwent through their common interest in playing the music of the era.

Lead guitarist Bill and drummer Eric had just finished a stint with the Don Whitfield Trio and were looking for a singer.

Eric, an auto-electrician at Chapmans, was going out with Tom’s sister, Joan, (they eventually married) and used to visit the family farm where he heard Tom singing as he worked. He was so impressed Tom was signed up on the spot. Rhythm guitarist Tony Holden worked with Bill at Gilfilms, and so the band was formed.

Bill was a well known photographer, moving on to open Regent Studios. After playing with TJM he joined another local band, Ring Of Fire. He passed away in September 2012.

Tony is still the mainstay of TJM, spending a lot of his spare time in the small recording studio he built for himself at the bottom of his garden.

The band played their first concert at The Globe Hotel, Overton on March 28 1964.

They went on to play at The Redwell Inn, Hunting Hill Lodge, The Jubilee Club and also at many farm barbecues around Stodday for the Lancaster Agricultural Show.

A vivid memory of the 60s, was a trip to Wray by the group in Tom’s Farm Bedford Van to play and help raise funds for the disastrous flash flood which inundated the village on August 8 1967.

They continued playing every week until 1968, then had a 20-year break.

In 1988 TJM held a sold-out reunion charity concert at The Jubilee Club.

The lads asked bass guitarist Garry Pugh, who currently plays with the Paul Hayes Collection, to join them.

For the next few years and into the 90s they were joined by Andy Jarvis as lead guitarist and Andrew Turner as drummer.

Also during that time Tony Crane, who had played with The Vagrants, Nemesis, Devious Soul Machine and Coaster, began playing bass guitar.

After a while Christopher Holden took over on drums and they played at venues including Ocean Edge Club, Thurnham Hall, Calder Vale Club and The Carleton Inn.

Eventually experienced drummer Charlie McMahon joined TJM and continued with the group until he passed away in 2009.

Not long after Charlie joined, Dave Gange, who had played with The Senators, The Shud B Band, The Survivors, the West Coast Wailers and the Agents, joined as lead guitarist.

After being helped out by local drummer Mick Edmonson, the band welcomed Mike Kemp as their latest recruit.

TJM have decided to commemorate their 50th birthday by holding a charity concert at Morecambe Golf Club on Saturday, May 31. Tickets will cost £5 and the proceeds will go to St John’s Hospice, Lancaster. Tickets are available from band members or by telephone 410233/email dmg1947@hotmail.co.uk.

The evening will be hosted by entertainer and ex-Mayor, Paul ‘Woody’ Woodruff’.

The band are currently working on a CD, "Midnight Gold", sales of which (£5 each) will also go to St John’s Hospice.

Legendary 60s pop group which wowed Lancaster and Morecambe fans is back on the road

From The Lancaster Guardian published 11 July 202

A legendary pop group formed nearly 60 years ago is back on the road after fears it might never be heard again.

The Midnights is respecting the philosophy and traditions of the original group, Tommy J and the Midnights, which wowed thousands of youngsters in the Morecambe and Lancaster area with hits from the 60s.

Tommy J and the Midnights launched in 1964 through the friendship of Tom Jackson, Tony Holden, Bill Houston and Eric Darwent.

The group was an instant hit and enjoyed decades of success, playing venues throughout the district.

There was a 20-year break from 1968 but in 1988 they organised a sell-out reunion and, after continuing to perform, celebrated the group's 50th birthday in 2014.

The pandemic raised questions about the future, while in June last year the group suffered a tragic blow following the death of Tom Jackson, whose singing voice had done so much to ensure the group's cult status.

Over the years group members have changed but rhythm guitarist Tony Holden, now 76, is still there, just as keen as he was day one.

He will be playing alongside other vintage Tommy J and the Midnights members - Mike Kemp, 75, drummer, with the group 12 years; Tony Crane, 76, bass guitar, 31 years with the group; and Dave Gange, 76, lead guitar with 23 years behind him.

Without a singer to replace Tom the future remained in doubt, but the group have been fortunate to link up with Alastair Robinson, a successful solo performer singing under the name Al Robbins, which he will continue to do as The Midnights take their audiences through 50s, 60s and 70s music.

Alastair said: "I have never sung with a group before. I haven't sung for a number of years and it's a real challenge but it is giving me a lot of confidence. It is an honour to be taking the place of Tom."

Tony observed: "It's been a bit of a whirlwind but we are all looking forward to playing in public again. We might be a bit rusty but hopefully we are now there and ready to go."

The Midnights, who have just completed their first engagement, at Hornby, have recorded a special CD of instrumentals in Tom's memory. With the title 'For Tom', it costs £5, with proceeds for CancerCare and St John's Hospice.

Details are on the group's website.

Unfortunately Alastair has decided he cannot continue with the Midnights, but luckily another vocalist, Colin Penny, has agreed to step in. Rehearsals and his first gig have proved to be extremely enjoyable.

Pete Ross remembers Morecambe's music scene in the 60's

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