Biography
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Years Active
1967 – 1969 (2 years)
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Founded In
London, England, United Kingdom
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Members
- Barry Creasy
- Chas Wade
- Dave Church
- Eileen Woodham
- Gerry Wade
A British pop group in the late 1960s who hailed from East London. They recorded three singles and one album for the Decca label.
Signed to manager Don Arden, the various band members were:
Stuart Attride (Guitar/Keys, Vocals)
Gerry Wade (Bass, Vocals)
Steve Maher (Guitar, Vocals)
Barry Creasy (Drums, Vocals)
Chas Wade (Drums, Vocals)
Eileen Woodman (Hammond, Vocals)
Dave Church (Vocals)
Pete Hole (Guitar, Vocals)
Previously as The Rush they had recorded two singles with Decca: Happy / Once Again, and Enjoy It / Make Mine Music. Prior to that, various personnel had played in Tommy Bishop's Ricochets (for one single on Decca) and Easy Come Easy Go (previously known as Dave & The Strollers).
In 1968, members of the band worked with Jeff Lynne. Lynne's song Follow Me Follow was demoed. Lynne's first proper band The Idle Race released their version on their debut album in 1968. Tinkerbell's Fairydust recorded a proper version as the B-side to their third and final single, Sheila's Back In Town.
After the name change to Tinkerbells Fairydust they recorded the single Lazy Day, produced by Vic Smith, who went on to produce The Jam and Black Sabbath. They never had any chart success in the UK. They did however make the charts in Japan where Lazy Day reached number two (only held off the top spot by Hey Jude). Their second single, 2010, was a Bach-inspired minor-keyed piece of harmony psych, with wah-wah vox organ, Mellotron flutes, Spanish style guitar, and choir-like vocals. The lyrics alluded to the year 2010 (still 43 years away in 1967) and where the world would be then "2010 is three and forty years away, will we still be walking together, will we still have something to say…". Despite finding great favour with John Peel, it was a commercial flop. Their third single, Sheila's Back In Town, was released in January 1969 in the UK. It made the top ten in Japan.
The band also backed Gene Latter at a session at Lansdowne Studios, Holland Park, resulting in his Mother's Little Helper single. They also acted as session backline vocalists at Decca West Hampstead studios for the "Tommy Bishop Rock and Roll Revival Show" recordings.
An eponymous Tinkerbells Fairydust album was prepared, using four of the tracks from their singles and a number of cover versions. Some test pressings were made, however it was never properly released.
The extreme rarity of this album has pushed up its collectability rating to where, in 2007, a very shabby scratched copy was sold on Ebay for £1,200. It is regarded by collectors as one of the most valuable pop albums. In 1998, a CD and LP reissue circulated with alternative artwork. In 2009, it was reissued again on LP while a CD is being released on Cherry Red's psychedelic imprint, Grapefruit, with various bonus tracks and the band's approval.
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