The Music

It began when I used to help run the Stirchley Youth Club together with my mate Brian Baker, and a guy called Johnny Flyng. I was the D.J amongst other things and loved the old Rock'n Roll records. Both myself and Brian had bought guitars but Brian was more at home on drums as he used to play in the boys brigade.

A guy named Dennis Rylands was brill on guitar and played for a short time with the Rockin' Berries. He gave me a few lessons and tips and said that I should take proper tuition, which I did. I learnt to read and play chords that I never knew existed but it enabled me to play all the genre of music.

Johnny Flyng was an accomplished pianist and suggested we get together and play at his local pub for fun. This we did and from that came a few wedding gigs etc; We increased the band to take in a trumpet player and saxophonist/clarinetist, donned evening dress and named ourslves 'The Tempos'

The Tempos. From L -R. .Johnny (Piano), Jackie (Trumpet), Brian (Drums), Tony (Sax & Clarinet) Barry (Guitar & Steel Guitar)

After a couple of years Johnny left and I got together with cousins Pete and Paul Kelsall. We rehearsed in our gran's front room with blankets over the walls and windows to muffle the sound. We did a spot at the 'Pines Cricket Club' function and went down really well, so we canvassed a few pubs and got some gigs, playing for the proceeds of the 'hat' being passed around.   My father Harry Hyett said he would manage us and help us get better gigs, our first one being a marathon 6hr job in Ashted, Birmingham, for a wedding  <Left.  Our 6hr Wedding stint. L-R. Barry, Peter, Paul, & hidden on drums, Tom.

We added a string bass (Chas) and a drummer (Tom) to help broaden our repertoire and started to write a lot of our own material, most of which we also recorded on demo-discs. After a short while, Tom and Chas left the band and were replaced by Malcolm Hyett on bass gtr and Stan on drums, and subsequently Brian Kelsall on bass gtr and Alan Nicholls on drums We got a lot of social club work and became a registered charity to raise funds for a kidney dialysis machine, a mini-bus, electric chairs, and TV sets for hospitals. We played regular gigs around the Midlands, supporting such bands and acts as The Batchelors, Julia Foster, Jimmy Ruffin, Bruce Channel, The N.D.O, The Johnny Lamb Orchestra, Status Quo, Fleetwood Mac, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Jimmy Tarbuck, Noel Gordon, and many others. We were the first group to record at the BBC Pebble Mill Studios when we canned about a dozen tracks for Radio One Club.

Early Hykells. L-R Malcolm, Peter, Stan, Paul, Barry.   St Martins in the Bull Ring One of our first outings to raise money towards our charity. Note the distinct lack of gear.

On the pitch at St Andrews, BCFC

On the left, one of our gigs at St Andrews. We beat Ipswich Town 1-0 in the F.A Cup Qtr finals, sadly we were not allowed to play at Hillsborough in the semi-final. We lost 1-0 to Fulham in a replay.  On the right, presentation of the Kidney machine to the Q.E hospital, made by the B'ham City F.C manager Freddie Goodwin.

Kidney Dialysis machine presentation

''Trigger'', Barry, & Paul in Caberet Brian and Pete in Cabaret - E57 Club.  Paul on banjo playing George Formby .   We were a very versatile group and could play gigs consisting of entirely Strict Tempo, Rock/Pop music, Cabaret, Comedy, Drag, or any combination of them. Numerous gigs were performed for B'ham Council and Parks Dept at the outdoor festivals that they organised. Outfits were changed often and the equipment updated. As time went by the personnel changed often, but the basic programme format remained the same. We had a short spell whereby we managed ourselves before Dads brother George took over. I have listed some of the venues that we played at on a separate page You may have seen us! if so you are welcome to e-mail me.

Hykells with fans at Yardley Wood Social Club

With Jimmy Saville at Broadmoor

A gig at Drayton Manor. l-r Richard Mcdonald, Alan Nicholls, Paul Kelsall, Barry Hyett