15/01/2023
Following the sad news that Ray Sheene formerly of the Blue Rondos has passed away. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family.
The BLUE RONDOS were a teenage band from North London’s Caledonian Road area, fronted by 17-year old Mickey Stubbs (vocals rhythm guitar, harmonica), with Roger Hall (lead guitar), John Tobin (keyboards), Billy Pitt-Jones (bass), and Ray Sheene on drums.
They cut two 45s for maverick Indie producer Joe Meek, notably the throbbing, Roy Orbisonesque ‘Little Baby’, which many RGM fans consider to be one of Meek’s finest productions. Issued by Pye in November ’64, it came within a whisker of making the charts.
The B-side, ‘Baby I Go For You’, became mildly notorious during the 70s when it was included on a couple of Jimmy Page bootlegs, following an ill-informed homage to Joe Meek in Melody Maker, by editor Richard Williams. It seems Williams thought that Roger Hall’s lacerating, Freakbeat guitaring “sounded as though it must be Jimmy Page”, and subsequently wrote that it was. ROGER DOPSON
arwoldee2 hours ago I love this - my favourite RGM track!
