Pep's history with the Cats

A potted history of the Catacombs and my part in it 

The venue first started playing (mostly) black music in 1967. According to my late wife Helen, who first attended when she was 14, the first DJs were guys nicknamed the 'Saint' and 'Gibbo', although that may not have been on a Saturday. I believe the Catacombs and Fraser's were both owned by the same couple: the Dobsons. Initially the music was not soul/r&b, but more of a Jazz/BeBop format. A guy named Rick Tymoscuk suggested a switch to the increasingly fashionable Discotheque music, and provided his record collection for the purpose. Dancefloor stalwart Keith Samuels and a friend took over for that first night in 1968 and the rest, as they say, is history. Barry Willmore, a Wheel devotee became involved and provided some of the earliest discoveries on Saturdays and Sundays when Radio One's Mike Raven was an occasional guest DJ. Very shortly afterwards Farmer Carl (Dene) was recruited and can rightly be regarded as the Catacombs' first resident DJ to play 'discotheque soul/r&b'. Even then he was known to have a great collection of sounds, and was a regular at the Wheel. He remained installed at the Cats for a short while, but was then replaced by local boy Alan S(Smith) and (Major) Robert Crocker. I knew and associated Carl more with the Chateau and Jazz Club in Dudley, circa 1969, but that's another story. Other movers and shakers from the early period included Allan Price and Frankie Baggott who, before becoming doorman, was very much a knowledgeable record hunter, often 'competing' with the aforementioned in the search for that new monster.

The dynamic Bob Crocker and his foil Alan S took the venue to a whole new level of supremacy through the turn of the decade, until, in fact, Crocker was killed in a fatal head-on collision. Apparently this occurred whilst on a trip to buy records in Leicester... utter dedication until the saddest of ends. Alan S survived Bob, and continued to spin the sounds. Froggy (Taylor) and Blue Max were recruited shortly afterwards and the resident DJ roster consisted of the three. Froggy bore quite a resemblance to Graham Warr, a great friend of Alan's. He went on to make his name as an 'Atlantic Crosser', bringing records back from the USA. Whilst a reluctant DJ who did the odd set when he returned from the States, the effervescent Mr Warr was an important cog in the wheel of success - bringing some excellent 'firsts' to the Cats. Another well known sound finder in the 'English Label Era' and influential Cats regular was Steve Glover.

Around this time the Catacombs started running its iconic Blues & Soul adverts, displaying some of its biggest sounds and exclusives. Froggy left before the Cats closed prior to changing hands in 1972. After re-opening under new owners Astra (of Club Lafayette fame) the club was extended and given a lick of paint... literally, and mostly red! Alan S. and Blue Max were in the DJ booth then, although the number was boosted in the Autumn by Burton-on-Trent's Alan Day a former guest DJ. My personal place in this was just as a dancer (pre 1971) and record finder/dealer post 1971. I came to the fore as a key supplier of tunes sourced from Soussan, Koppel, Ray Avery, the Harlow Boys and others. I did get into the 'booth' eventually around December 1972, however I was still more of a dealer than a DJ at the time and rarely kept anything good for more than a couple of weeks, choosing rather to sell them on to the Torch. In early 1973 I decided to find/keep/collect in earnest and soon acquired an excellent 'play box' of sounds. I continued to do it every week, without pay, until one night in early 1973 I decided to go to Blackpool Mecca. I was the one with the Invitations, the number one sound of the day, and other top spins. Some people came JUST to hear this. The following week onwards I got paid. Of course, it was more principle than financial - I think I got £6.

All this, however, came to an abrupt end when my 'box' was stolen and everything went. It was very hard to come to terms with, and I almost threw the towel in there and then, but I didn't. The only two records that survived from the 'box' were the Velours and Jerry Williams - only because these two exclusives were sent ('loaned') to the Mecca for the night, and sent up to Blackpool with Mick (Smith) and Clive. I dug deep into the records at home and built a new play box, which included the likes of Jimmy McFarland, etc. Fortunately we were in a time when oldies were rarely played and sounds were dropped the minute they were re-issued. That meant there was a whole new set of big records every 6 months or so. That enabled me to put my loss behind me fairly quickly.

I should mention that after the Cats re-opened in 1972, West Midland DJs Carl Dene (again) and Oscar Michael (Hollis) were given mid-week sessions on Thursdays and Fridays respectively. Max also did a popular Wednesday session which attracted a lot of younger ones who, from late 1973, used it as a 'dance practice' night in readiness for Wigan on Saturday. The Catacombs always suffered when a big AllNighter came along, and the most successful period I can remember was the Summer of '73, when it was at its absolute best in both number and music terms. VaVa on Friday, followed by the Catacombs on Saturday was an unbeatable combination.

Alan Day left in early/mid 1973 and Alan 'S' followed later that year to follow a career selling clothes in Manchester. That left just me and Max with occasional guest DJs, mainly on Max's Wednesday nights when local DJs including the likeable Bill Baker and 'Chunky' Phil graced the decks. Guests like Basil (Paul Grainger) and Niel Rushton were also included on the occasional Saturday/AllNighter in 1974, but nothing could reverse the negative impact of Wigan Casino.

The quality, and eminence, of the music being played right through until July 1974 ensured the Catacombs remained the leading finding and sounding board for sixties Northern Soul until its demise. Just listen to the soundtrack of films like Soulboy to hear just how influential it was on the Wigan playlist.

I am very proud to be associated with this great, legendary venue in my capacity as a Saturday "Rarest Of The Rare" Night resident DJ. My 20 months there were the greatest months of my life, and I pay tribute to my great forebears Farmer Carl, Major Robert Crocker, Alan 'S' and Blue Max, the majority of whom are no longer with us.

This is, like I say, a very brief history which, as one would expect, highlights the period in which I was actively involved. My knowledge and memory prior to this is also pretty vivid and accurate, as a keen regular on its dancefloor from 1969.

I have hundreds of anecdotes and a big list of my and the venue's firsts and exclusives. That is something of a book, which I'll leave for another day.

The Catacombs... where I met and got engaged to Helen, and danced to the soundtrack of my life.

The CATACOMBS Rhythm, Blues & Soul Club - R.I.P.

PS. Happy to amend any of the earlier (60s) history if you were there and know different. Just message me with your citation. Regards, Ian.(DJ Pep)

The DJ rosters are well known between - July 1974. 1968

I DJ'd on Saturdays from late 72 up to and including the last night in July 1974. Originally alongside Alan Smith, Blue Max and Alan Day. Then just with Alan S and Max from June 73 after Alan Day was sacked. Alan S. left in December 73 and wasn't replaced although there were a few guest DJs on Saturdays in 1974. Several local DJs guested on Wednesdays alongside Max. Another notable occasional Saturday DJ was Graham Warr who would take to the turntables when he returned from his Stateside jaunts with new 'sounds'.

Carl Dene was the first recognised Saturday DJ but was replaced soon afterwards by Alan S and Bob Crocker. After Bob's untimely death, Blue Max and Froggy held the fort. Alan returned after a spell in hospital, and it was the three of them until it closed in April 72, although Alan Day did a 'Final All-Nighter' before it closed (temporarily).

When it reopened under Astra management in the summer of 73, Max and Alan S were Saturday residents, although Carl Dene returned for a couple of months on Thursdays, and Oscar Michael (Hollis) on Fridays. A little later Max started Wednesdays which proved to be successful right up until it closed in 1974. Alan Day joined Max and Alan S after after 'Up The Junction' in Crewe closed.

Famous early guest DJs included Mike Raven of Radio One fame.

A number of people contributed to the music on opening Saturday 'soul' night, including Keith Sams and Barry Willmore. The rest as they say is history. 

I attended around 300 times over its lifetime, sometimes attending on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in a single week; as a dancer until late 72, and both dancer and DJ thereafter. My late wife Helen was also 'part of the woodwork' throughout its history.

Other notable 'music finders', not already mentioned, included Steve Glover and Paul 'Basil' Grainger.

Rest In Peace Max, Alan (S), Bob and 'Froggy'. 

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