Manfred
Four press photographers went to the Locarno recently to take pictures of one MANFRED MANN.

Manfred refused because the group was in a hurry to return to London.

"Can't we just have a quick informal shot," asked our photographer, politely. "It'll only take a couple of minutes."

The group posed very formally - and the photographer asked them to relax. He asked one to pick up his instrument - and the musician did.

"No pictures like that," insisted Manfred. "Only our faces - that's what people want to see."

The photographer asked one of the group could he take a portrait - and the man readily agreed.

Again Manfred stepped forward and very forcefully refused to allow the picture.

"I said no individual pictures," he snapped.

He was unpleasantly firm in refusing any further pictures to the obvious embarrassment of the rest of the group - and the four Pressmen were unimpressed by his lack of manners.

Possibly a little blame could attach to the Pressmen concerned - but it is surprising that a group leader who has barely attained the charts can afford not to have his picture taken or such bad public relations generally.

Door
It's fame at last for the Iron Door Club! In other words it's GEORGIE FAME, the Manchester-born so-called R&B exponent now knocking 'em sideways in London with his group THE BLUE FLAMES and he's coming on May 12.

Also lined up to provide Southern Beat at the new kingsize Iron Door is BRIAN POOLE with THE TREMELOES, and they'll be in town on Friday May 22nd.

Gene
I was sorry to see GENE VINCENT looking so jaded at the Birkenhead Majestic recently.

The old numbers like 'Be-Bop-A-Lula', the old black leathers, the mike-clutching - they were all there, but where was the fire?

"I've been on the road five years," Gene murmured with a wry smile, "and I'm tired."

He's just come back from France and he hopes to return there for a short spell at the Alhambra in Paris during the summer.

One of the small, select 'greats' or rock 'n' roll, Gene, at 28, says he's got a disc coming out soon.

But Gene, without his old BLUE CAPS is only half the figure he once was. And that's a very great shame.

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