Mersey Beat - Solomons Mines

  

Solomons Mines - L to R 'Dunney', Tony, 'Chunky' and 'Livo'

 

 

 

Formed in Norris Green in the early 1960's as teenagers, the original line-up was, Allan Devon on bass guitar and vocals, David Livingstone on lead guitar, Tony Owen on drums and Allan Dunn on rhythm guitar.
The group played at various venues such as The Cavern, The Iron Door and the Silver Blades Ice Rink in Old Swan.

Their brick  in Mathew Street

Playing at a wedding reception in 1966

Del Robinson replaced Tony Owen on drums when he left for Scotland to work as a scaffolder, the occupation also of Alan Dunn who had worked on the construction of the Anglican Cathedral in 1964/65.

In the years 1966-68 the line-up had changed, mainly due to the break up of 'The Deans' who disbanded in 1966 and was now was,
Allan Devon on bass guitar and vocals; Eddie Williams ( from 'The Deans' ) who had now replaced 'Livo' on lead guitar;  John Sankey ( from 'The Deans' ) who had replaced Del Robinson on drums but was then himself succeeded by John Sorsky; Jimmy Humphreys was an additional bass guitarist with the band and Tommy Flude ( from 'The Deans' ) was now on keyboards. Tommy Flude remembers those nights at the Cavern, " We never had a bad night at the cavern except when we shorted the lights doing a Hendrix number. You had to get up close the those Reslo mikes and sometimes you would get a little belt of it. You could sense there was a break in the electrics. I was meant to be singing 'Excuse me while I kiss the sky' but I sang 'Excuse me while I kiss this guy' and I leant over and kissed the bass player for a laugh. We were both sweaty and we ended up in total darkness. It took half an hour to get the lights back on.", but apart from being almost unconscious and with a severe lip burn, the show went on!!
The reformed band not only took part in a talent competition called 'Search for Sound', they also won it. They also took part in a beat competition organised by a chain of ice rinks at the Silver Blades Ice Rink in Old Swan. Although they won their heat they lost out to 'Mud' in the final and became disillusioned.
In late 1967 they all decided to break up which was a shame because they were a good band.

Eddie Williams went to live near Lake Taho in the USA.

See also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2019/06/pool-of-sound-after-beatles.html