A local  village hall gig c. 1962
trepolpen

A local village hall gig c. 1962

This is the original line-up of Ricky and the Layabouts: Ricky Barnes (lead singer), Kit Knight (lead guitarist/vocals), Tim Knight (rhythm guitarist/ vocals, David Wallis (bass guitarist) and Dave Pryor (drums). The band played their first gigs in the Winter Gardens and had a minor residency in the club in New St. called the El Greco.
My parents did not like me going to the El Greco! Can't remember why but I think it was thought to be where Beatniks hung out!
 
Pardon my saying so but wouldn't you have been rather young to have gone there while it was going, TG? Even I didn't go there!!:eek:
 
Never went inside the place TPP! Always wanted to but I was forbidden on pain of not being allowed out for the rest of my teenage years! This gave the place even more allure! There were two places I was not allowed to set foot in - El Greco and Dazzies. Anyone remember Dazzies (I think that's how you spell it). Down the bottom of Market Jew Street next door to where the Longboat is now. It was a coffee bar with a less than stellar reputation for some reason. I never found out what the problem was but it was a no go area as far as my parents were concerned!
 
I remember Das's (Sp. ?) rather later as a bar rather than a coffee house though I think it may have started out as an eating house. The owner was a respectable Indian, I believe. There were at least two sons and one daughter that I remember. One son is no more sadly but the other I see around in Penzance from time to time and also his sister. They are well-established Penzancians! I am also unable to get name of the same premises 'the Riviera' out of my name though who owned what and when is muddled in my mind nowadays. The El Greco, at the bottom of New Street, was a night club and I think one of my brothers had something to do with it. The Druids used to play down there and a few jazz-oriented folk too.
 

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PENZANCE 60s ROCK BAND - RICKY & THE LAYABOUTS
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