After leaving 'Hair' in May 1971, I hit the road with Caliban and our first gig was a three week tour of Denmark, set up by Abendsterne Promotions of Hanover Street, Liverpool. On our return we were regular features at Liverpool venues such as the Knightsbridge Club, the Moulin Rouge, the Ba Ba Lou, Dino's (ex-Peppermint Lounge), the Victoriana and so on.

In 1972 we made our re-appearance at the Cavern club and became regulars throughout the next year, replacing the Yardleys on the programme for the final night at the Cavern on May 27 1973. The bill also included Strife, Bilf Slat, Wardog, Harpoon, Hackensack - and the last band ever to play on the Cavern stage - Supercharge, a band which included in its line-up Ossie Hue, ex-guitarist with the Hideaways. It was a great night to remember.

With the old Cavern now closed, Caliban were invited by owner Roy Adams to appear at the official opening night of the New Cavern Club, to be situated on the opposite side of Mathew Street in the old fruit exchange. The programme for this event was to be headlined by Roy Woods' Wizard, supported by Caliban.

Caliban disbanded in 1975 and I did a stint with Chocory Tip ('Son Of My Father') after which I again joined a re-formed pop version of Caliban. This lasted in various formats up until 1981. A stint with a number of other pop bands followed before I decided to return to my roots and the music of the 1950s and 1960s.

Forming my present band Shooter on the lines of the Big Three and the Spidermen, over the years the line-up has featured Bill Good (who had appearances with the Lee Curtis All Stars in 1986 and more recently Geoff Nugent's Undertakers); bassist Steve Frankland, elder son of John Frankland, who was lead guitarist with Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes; Ritchie Talent (ex Pepperbox, Eric Haydock's Hollies) and Jimmy O'Brien (ex-New Image and Rocking Horse).

The present line-up consists of myself on guitar/keyboards/vocals, Stuart Lynch (ex-the Rigg and the Merseys' backing band the Fruit Eating Bears) on bass guitar/vocals and Simon Norton Ramsden on drums/vocals. Simon has toured America with 'The Beatles: A Musical Celebration' and has recorded at Abbey Road.

Based in Southport, Shooter play all the north west venues as well as touring the country for 1960s weekends, theme nights and general club nights. In 1992 Shooter recorded an LP cassette at Amadeus Studios, Liverpool, which was produced by Billy Kinsley. This was available at selected local record stores. At present we have two CDs available, 'Shooter' and 'The Legend Of The '60s'. The latter is taken from our touring stage show.

Of the members of the Rebels and Caliban, I am the only one who is still associated with the business. Roy Smith is a painter/decorator with his own business; Chris Kenny works in engineering; Ray Chapman, after trying his hand at being a publican, is pursuing a career as an artist. J.J. (Alan Grundy) married and emigrated to Australia; Kel Harrison was last heard of in Leeds and I am still in contact with Ricky Gleason (Derek Banks) who, after continuing on a part-time basis, worked for many years for a car parts manufacturer and, after taking early retirement, lives in Maghull.

Editor's note: Ormskirk was part of the area I decided on covering when I first launched Mersey Beat. It's on the outskirts of Liverpool - Marianne Faithful was brought up there during the early part of her life when her father worked on his doctorate at Liverpool University. The O.P.B. refers to the Orrell Park Ballroom. 'Scene At 6.30' was produced by Manchester-based Granada Television and was the programme on which the Beatles made their television debut.

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