BIRMINGHAM BAND THE BOBCATS 1960s

Welcome to the Official Bobcats Web site

The Bobcats were formed in Birmingham in 1965

Signed to Pye Records 1967 Band members were David Cowley Lead guitar Vocals, Paul Willington Rhythm guitar vocals,

Gary Hedges Bass/Lead Vocal and Les Fortnam on Drums

The Earliest Known Photograph of the Bobcats taken at the Oscott club in Birmingham 1965

 

 

 

 

Three of the Band members were pupils at Alderlea School in the shard end district of Birmingham Also attending the same school but older than the boys was Jeff Lynne of ELO fame, Les Fortnam was a pupil at Alston School Bordesley Green  Birmingham.

 

The bands first gig was at the Tyseley Workingmen's Club on the Warwick Road Birmingham at the time Fred Cowley Dave's father was there manager seen on the left in the picture below

Winner's of Battle of the Bands locarno Birmingham 1966

In 1967 the bands new agent (John Singer) from Carlton Johns Entertainments secured a record deal with Pye records  the deal was helped along by the national press publicity machine after John informed them he had secured the Bobcats a staggering £20.000 of work which in 1967 was a fortune, Their single called  Can't see for looking' C/W' let me get by' was to be there only release The band made appearances  on the David Frost Show (LWT) and Blue peter (BBC) in December 1966 Can't See For Looking was written by Jim Holden and Roger Hill both from The Ugly's another well known Birmingham Band

 

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                       The Bobcats at Pye Records in London                                                          Hollick And Tayor Studios Perry Barr Birmingham

Many Thanks to Gary Hedges, Les Fortnam and David Cowley for there help in compiling this information and a special thanks to Rene Willington for the additional photographs, if you can help with any additional Bobcats pictures or stories please contact email below

  

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Copyright @ The Bobcats 1966

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