MAY 30, 1964 was a Saturday.

It was on this day that Basingstoke’s Galaxy Club launched its first event:   Tony Colton & the Crawdaddies supported by the Fingernail Five at the Town Hall.

The Club was to stage regular gigs at various venues in the town until June 20, 1966.

There were to be some remarkable names among the acts it brought, including David Bowie, the Moody Blues, Lulu, the Animals, Stevie Wonder and Jimmy Cliff.

Many of the groups were incubating future stars such as Rod Stewart (in Long John Baldry & the Hoochie Coochie Men), Jeff Beck (in the Tridents) and Van Morrison (in ‘Them’).

Eric Clapton played for the Galaxy Club once with the Yardbirds and as many as six times with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

The Galaxy’s first headliner was drummer Tony Colton (real name Anthony George Chalk) who was to return to Basingstoke (with the Crawdaddies) in October 1964 and again in August 1965 when his band became Tony Colton’s Big Boss Sound.

He went on to write and produce in partnership with Johnny Harris. They recorded with artists such as Richard Harris and Shirley Bassey. In 1971 Colton formed Heads, Hands & Feet with guitarist Albert Lee and bass player Chas Hodges, later of Chas ‘n’ Dave.

Among Colton’s writing credits is the song Country Boy which has been covered by many artists including Ricky Skaggs.

The Galaxy Club advertised all its events in the Hants & Berks Gazette. Its ads had a familiar logo which was yet to appear in this, their very first.

All the 1960s gigs at the Galaxy and Ticky Rick Clubs are listed at razrazzle.wordpress.com where you can also find or contribute information about the Basingstoke scene across five decades.

Raz Razzle