FORMER boy band musician Anthony Todd has great memories of the days he was a member of "The Planets" rock group.
Band members were Chris Mewis, rhythm guitar, Albert Bailey, bass guitar, Eric Longley, drums, and Anthony Todd, lead guiitar. The band was later re-named The Seldom Four.
The lads attended Littleworth Secondary Modern School, except Chris Mewis who lived in Cemetery Road, Barnsley.
"We used to practice at the miners' welfare, courtesy of Monk Bretton Colliery. We had a road manager called Gerald Hubbard and a fantastic music teacher Cleveland Atkinson who taught me to play the guitar. We had a great time and played many venues."
Anthony recently spotted a Chronicle report about the Wombwell-based Detroit Soul Band with which he had a close connection.
Alan Falkingham was the band's lead guitarist and Anthony used to take his guitar round to his house. They played Beatles' music with another band member Brian France in the old garage at the back of the house.
"The drums were old barrels, I wonder if they remember this? Happy days."
By coincidence, Memories also heard from Brian Falkingham's sister Liz (now Cottrell).
She said in 1967 the Detroit Soul Band had a chance meeting with American Geno Washington, the greatest exponent of "soul" and "rhythm and blues" after he accepted an invitation by the band's manager, Brian Hawcroft, to watch the band at a rehearsal at the Greasborough Club.
They didn't expect Geno staying very long as he was on a tight schedule, but he stayed two hours listening to the band and singing along with them.
The band line-up then was: Derick Emson (keyboard), Paul Jackson (drums), and Brian Haywood (vocalist) all of Wombwell, Brian France (bass guitar) and Alan Falkingham (lead guitar and keyboard) of Monk Bretton, Trevor Snowden (tenor saxophone) of Newhill, Wath, Robert Ward (alto-saxophone) of Lundwood and Ian Harris (trumpet) of Barnsley.
"The lads practised at our house at Burton Road, Monk Bretton, and through listening to their music I became a soul and mowtown fan myself and still enjoy listening to the sounds to this day," said Liz.
The band recently re-formed after 40 years to celebrate the ruby wedding of keyboardist Derick Emson.
When he married Pamela Bowley the rest of the band formed a guard of honour with their instruments and to celebrate the occasion Derick and Pamela, of Darfield, managed to get the band reunited and they turned up for the bash at Brooklands Hotel.
Band members present are seen on a photograph made into a poster especially for the band's reunion. They are, left to right: Brian Harris (trumpet), Dave Mitchell (trumpet), Alan Falkingham (keybord and guitar), Derick Emson (keyboards), Trevor Snowdon (sax/keyboards), Paul Jackson (drums), Brian Haywood (vocals), Rob Barraclough (guitar/keyboard) and Brian France (bass).
The only former band member missing was Robert Ward who died.
