Shots

In Yorkshire, England, the Shots first assembled during 1965, their lineup consisting of Mick Rowley on vocals, Mal Luker on guitar, Phil Peacock handling rhythm guitar, John ‘Zeke’ Lund on bass, and Geoff Gill behind the drums. A spot on a package tour fronted by P.J. Proby soon came their way, after which the band relocated at the urging of millionaire manager Alan Brush to a mansion in Essex, where he installed both a marquee and dedicated p.a. system solely for their rehearsal use. Columbia Records released the group’s only single that same year, the punchy, garage-style ‘Keep A Hold Of What You’ve Got’/‘She’s A Liar’, which Monty Babson produced; lacking sales, the record prompted the musicians to part ways with their patron and head back to Yorkshire. By 1966, with Peacock no longer present, the remaining members resumed working with Babson, now operating under the name the Smoke.