Mersey Beat - The Cheetahs

Widnes Weekly News pic of 'The Cheetahs' rehearsing in Ray Jones' front room

The Cheetahs were formed in early 1961 and were all members of the 10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group.
The founder members of the group, all from Widnes, were Ray Jones on lead guitar, Dave Preece on drums, John Ashton, who eventually became the bass player, in those days played a six string guitar with slackened strings. Rhythm guitar players were Derek Grice and Rod Arrowsmith. Rod didn't stick around with the group for long.

Ray Jones Lead Guitar. John Turner Lead Vocal. Dave Preece Drums, John Ashton Bass Guitar and Derek Grice Rhythm Guitar

They originally began as an instrumental-only group intending just to represent their Scout Group at the Gang Show at the Queens Hall. Heavily influenced by 'The Shadows', covering most of their early singles, it was here they gained early experience by playing also at local Youth Club dances, but as their popularity grew they realised that they needed a vocalist. The first was Bill Quirk, then Tony Clare, then Ronnie Ince, who left to join another group and finally John Turner, who had been singer with 'The Addicts'. He was without a band at the time, so they gave him a tryout and found out that he was brilliant.

At the Wigan Empress Ballroom supporting the Rolling Stones

They stayed together until 1966 with only the bass player changing a couple of times during that period. Bass player John Ashton left about 1963/64 and was replaced by Paul Mash (ex-'Addicts')  for a short time then he was replaced by Phil Clancy. George Harrison's brother managed them for a time which is maybe how Dave got these autographs?

 

Initially they played mainly around the Widnes area, but as they gained experience and a good reputation they started to travel a little further afield and played at The Cavern twice, first time with 'The Undertakers' and a second time with 'Freddy Starr' and also played The Iron Door once.

They played Northwich Memorial Hall regularly and played on the same bill as 'The Spotnicks', Billy Davis, 'The Mersey Beats', and 'Gerry and the Pacemakers'. They also supported 'The Hollies' at Shrewsbury Town Hall and 'The Rolling Stones' at Wigan's Empress Ballroom - later The Wigan Casino. They also played regularly in St. Helens, Runcorn, Warrington, Llandudno, Leigh, West Derby, Southport, covering a good part of the North West in their time.

 

They had an unexpected revival in 2013/14 when, with much encouragement from Bill Hart and all the Lanky Kats gang, they were invited to play at Lanky Kats club in Standish for the 50th Anniversary of the Rolling Stones visit to Wigan in November 1963 ( see poster above ).

 

 

 

 

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

see also http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2016/09/mersey-beat-gerry-de-ville-city-kings.html