Biography
Southend gave rise in 1966 to the Fingers, among the first pop and rock groups to embrace the psychedelic label and among the earliest rock ensembles—if not the absolute first—to feature a bassist who also handled cello duties. Keyboards and horns fell to Alan Beecham, lead guitar to Maurice Dunn, rhythm guitar to David Grout, bass and cello to John Bobin, drums to Bob Clouter, and vocals to Rick Mills. EMI Columbia placed the band under contract that same year, resulting in exactly two singles; the track “Circus With a Female Clown” later surfaced on the compilation Psychedelia At Abbey Road 1965-1969 and has retained currency among collectors of psychedelic rarities. Melodic fluency marked the group’s playing, and their spaced-out pop approach reportedly gained considerable force in live settings, where the stage entourage even included a monkey billed as “Freak Out.” Commercial response remained negligible. John Bobin and Mo Witham, the latter of whom served only briefly with the Fingers, both went on to join Mickey Jupp’s pioneering pub-rock band Legend.
Albums
Singles
