NEWS     BIO     TOUR     ARCHIVE     ALBUMS     THE BAND     FREDDIE     GUESTBOOK & LINKS     CONTACT The Archives KILLING FLOOR - JULY 2005 Photo by Pete Buckland From the vaults, courtesy of Stuart McDonald, Killing Floor's first promo shoot - taken in Palace Rd. South London, 1968. Left to right, if you're confused.. Lou Martin, Mick Clarke, Bazz Smith, Bill Thorndycraft, (Mac) McDonald Photo from the original photo session for first Killing Floor album cover.. Decca Studio, London 1969 Freddie King with Killing Floor at the L.S.E. London,1969. Behind Freddie .. Bazz Smith, drums, Paul Taylor (bass player at the time), Mick Clarke, Lou Martin. Right:Original itinerary for the first tour with FREDDIE KING, showing rehearsal at the Pied Bull, Islington, 29 May 1969, and dates at the California Ballroom, Dunstable, Free Trade Hall, Manchester (with Howlin' Wolf) and others. Killing Floor at the Hamburg Easter Rock Festival, Ernst Merck Halle. Mick and Bill rock Germany, 1970. Killing Floor at Dagenham Roundhouse, London, 1971. Right: Killing Floor immortalised in brick at the site of the Cavern Club, Liverpool. Thanks to Holly and Kevin Jones. Killing Floor's first ever record.. a demo recorded at R.G.Jones' studio in Morden, South London, in 1968, featuring versions of "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" and Willie Dixon's "Same Thing". The record was never released commercially, but helped to launch Killing Floor's gigging and recording career. Mick at L'Enclume, Bandol, South of France, 1970. When we were young.. KF in Bandol, 1970. L-R Bazz, Mac, Bill, Mick. Photos by courtesy of our friend Ian from the band Gully Foyle. A review from 1969 of the Howlin' Wolf gig that never was. It was reported at the time that Wolf had had to cancel due to exhaustion. In fact he was never booked for the date.. it was a money making exercise on behalf of the agent. Freddie King and Killing Floor played the whole evening.. the review is reproduced here without comment. (By courtesy of Jaybee at the California Ballroom site). Dunstable Gazette 6 June 1969 Despite the absence of Howlin' Wolf and John Dummer at the California last week, the evening was a success. Between them Freddie King and Killing Floor tore the house apart. Killing Floor opened the show with a set which was far too loud for anyone to appreciate. But then the King came on. Right from the first number, he had the audience in the palm of his hand. He tortured his guitar into producing sounds I didn't think were capable of coming from strings. Surprisingly, Killing Floor toned right down while backing him and except for a few whines, Freddie came over with great clarity. Only after the audience had been persuaded that Freddie had another gig following would they let him off the stage, but we didn't know that even better was to come. Wolf was supposed to play the next sets with John Dummer, but various conflicting rumours spread around the hall, saying he would or would not be playing. In the end, the rumour with the most following was that Wolf had collapsed after a gig in London. I later found out that Wolf was physically exhausted by his British tour and as he had three dates left, he decided to miss one out. The "Cali" happened to be the unlucky one. Wolf instead went straight to Manchester. Killing Floor played another set, again too loud, but this time gaining a more enthusiastic reaction. The first half had been incredible, but it was nothing to what was to come in Freddie's second set. His guitar work was so superb that it made Clapton's look like the first lesson in the Bert Weedon Guitar Primer. Most people would have been quite happy to listen until the proposed finish at 2 a.m., but Freddie was already an hour late for his next date and the show closed down just after midnight. I was rather disappointed with the size of the crowd. There was room for a lot more people. It was a tremendous evening which makes British so-called blues look very anaemic. It will be many years before the British scene gets anything remotely similar to this standard. KILLING FLOOR TOUR DATES 1968 - 1972 This is a complete list of live shows and other significant dates taken from contemporary sources from the band's inception in 1968 to it's final performances of 1972. 25.05.68        Middle Earth, London (with Captain Beefheart) 13.07.68        Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate 20.07.68        Hermitage Halls, Hitchin, Herts 03.08.68        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with The Symbols) 08.08.68        North London Blues Boat, Pied Bull, London (Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirk jammed) 23.08.68        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Ten Years After) 04.09.68        British Rail Beat Cruise, Portsmouth (with The Toast) 05.09.68        North London Blues Boat, Pied Bull, London (Shakey Vick and Cliff Charles jammed) 06.09.68        Fishmongers Arms, London 13.09.68        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Timebox) 14.09.68        La Grange, Monchaux, France 15.09.68        La Grange, Monchaux, France 20.09.68        Grand Hotel, Felixstowe 28.09.68        Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge 02.10.68        Bedford College, Regents Park, London 04.10.68        Private party, Hampshire 06.10.68        Cooks Ferry Inn, London 11.10.68        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Chicken Shack) 12.10.68        Garibaldi Club, Great Yarmouth 25.10.68        Kings College Hospital Medical School, London 01.11.68        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Jethro Tull) 02.11.68        Private party, Dorset 10.11.68        Norwich Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk 19.11.68        Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (with Alexis Korner) 21.11.68        Steering Wheel, Weymouth 22.11.68        Silver Blades, Streatham, London 23.11.68        Silver Blades, Streatham, London 24.11.68        Hermitage Halls, Hitchin, Herts 29.11.68        Banbury Tech, Banbury, Oxfordshire 30.11.68        St Anthony's Youth Club, London 04.12.68        Thing-me-Jig Club, Reading 07.12.68        RAF Waddington, Lincs 14.12.68        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Cupids Inspiration) 15.12.68        Manor House, Ipswich 19.12.68        Blues Attic, Banbury 20.12.68        Blues Loft, High Wycombe (with Duster Bennett) 21.12.68        Gunnersbury Grammar School 22.12.68        Hesdin Youth Club, London 24.12.68        Fishmongers Arms, London 27.12.68        Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth 03.01.69        Hurlingham Club, Putney, London 10.01.69        Albion Club, Walton-on-Naze 11.01.69        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Junior Walker & the All Stars) 18.01.69        Stax Club, Cirencester 22.01.69        Toby Jug, Tolworth, London (with Love Sculpture) 24.01.69        Blues Loft, High Wycombe 28.01.69        Marquee Club, London (with The Nice) 01.02.69        Nags Head, Wollaston 08.02.69        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with Georgie Fame) 10.02.69        Kings Head, Romford, Essex (with Spooky Tooth) 14.02.69        Metropolitan Police Ball, London (with Cyril Fletcher) 15.02.69        59 Club, Paddington, London (with The Wild Angels) 23.02.69        Silver Blades, Streatham, London 23.02.69        Bluesville 69, Manor House, Ipswich 24.02.69        Kings Hall, Romford, Essex 10.02.69        Klooks Kleek, Hampstead, London (with Freddie King & Steamhammer) 27.02.69        Red Lion, Leytonstone 01.03.69        California Ballroom, Dunstable (with The Herd) 07.03.69        Blues Loft, High Wycombe 08.03.69        Regent Street Polytech, London 12.03.69        Marquee Club, London (with Yes) 14.03.69        St. Ives Youth Club, St. Ives 15.03.69        Hatchetts, London 18.03.69        Wood Green 21.03.69        Kings College Medical School 23.03.69        Bottleneck Blues Club 26.03.69        Pavillion Ballroom, Hemel Hempstead (with Black Cat Bones) 28.03.69        Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze 29.03.69        The Village, Dagenham (with Mick Abrahams Band) 02.04.69        Cat Trap Club, Norwich 05.04.69        Pavillion Ballroom, Bournemouth 02.04.69        Top Spot, Ross on Wye (with Duster Bennett & Black Cat Bones) 02.04.69        Toby Jug, Tolworth 16.04.69        BBC Radio session for Alexis Korner R&B Show, World Service 17.04.69        Blues Attic, Banbury 19.04.69        Alex Disco, Salisbury 24.04.69        RAF Lyneham (with The Fortunes) 26.04.69        Kingston College 02.05.69        Blues Loft, High Wycombe 04.05.69        Toby Jug, Tolworth 09.05.69        St Ives Youth Club 10.05.69        Tin Hat Club, Kettering 11.05.69        Bottleneck Blues Club 16.05.69        Grand Hotel, Felixstowe 22.05.69        Stonehenge Club, Oxford 24.05.69        Bookham Youth Club 25.05.69        Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton 27.05.69        100 Club, London 30.05.69        California Ballrooom, Dunstable (1st tour with Freddie King) 31.05.69        Manchester Free Trade Hall (with Freddie King & Howlin' Wolf) 01.06.69        Black Prince Bexley (with Freddie King) 02.06.69        Sheffield City Hall (with Freddie King) 03.06.69        The Place, Stoke (with Freddie King) 04.06.69        Blues Loft, High Wycombe (with Freddie King) 05.06.69        Club Lafayette, Wolverhampton (with Freddie King) 06.06.69        El Rondo, Leicester (with Freddie King) 07.06.69        Polytech, London (with Freddie King) 07.06.69        Flamingo Club, London (with Freddie King) 09.06.69        Cedar Club, Birmingham (with Freddie King) 10.06.69        Klooks Kleek, Hampstead, London (with Freddie King) 11.06.69        Toby Jug, Tolworth (with Freddie King) 12.06.69        Annabels, Sunderland (with Freddie King) 13.06.69        El Grotto, Ilford (with Freddie King) 25.06.69        Durham University (with Freddie King) 15.06.69        Boat Club, Nottingham (with Freddie King) 17.06.69        Cherry Tree, Welwyn Garden City (with Freddie King) 19.06.69        Marquee Club, London (with Freddie King) 20.06.69        Ritz, Bournemouth (with Freddie King) 21.06.69        Sheffield University (with Freddie King & Otis Spann) 22.06.69        Newcastle City Hall (with Freddie King & Otis Spann) 22.06.69        Middlesborough Town Hall (with Freddie King & Otis Spann) 27.06.69        Mistrale, Beckenham 29.06.69        Hesdin Youth Club 30.06.69        BBC Radio session at Camden Theatre for Johnny Walker Show, Radio One 03.07.69        Blues Attic, Banbury 04.07.69        Abbotsfield School, Hillingdon 05.07.69        Crown Hotel, Marlow 06.07.69        Kimbles Ballroom, Southsea 10.07.69        Factory, Birmingham 13.07.69        Tricorn, Portsmouth 14.07.69        BBC Radio session for John Peel Show, Radio One 21.07.69        Meridian Youth Club, Royston 22.07.69        Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, London 30.07.69        Beat Cruise 02.08.69        Van Dyke Club,Plymouth 03.08.69        Pavillion Ballroom, Bournemouth 15.08.69        Hemel Hempstead Pavillion (with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch) 16.08.69        Alex Disco, Salisbury 20.08.69        Cat Trap Club, Norwich 30.08.69        Tin Hat Club, Kettering 31.08.69        Pavillion Ballroom, Bournemouth 20.09.69        Birdcage, Harlow 27.09.69        Factory, Birmingham 28.09.69        Rainbow Rooms, Birmingham 04.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 05.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 07.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 08.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 09.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 10.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 11.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 12.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 14.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 16.10.69        PN Hit House, Munich, Germany 17.10.69        St. Ives Youth Club 26.10.69        Crown Hotel, Marlow 29.10.69        BBC Radio Session, Alexis Korner R&B Show, World Service 30.10.69        Jimmy's, Brighton 31.10.69        Lancaster University (with Freddie King & Howlin' Wolf - 2nd Freddie King tour) 01.11.69        Boston Gliderdrome (with Freddie King) 02.11.69        Redcar Jazz Club (with Freddie King) 04.11.69        100 Club, London (with Freddie King) 04.11.69        Bag of Nails, London (with Freddie King & Howlin' Wolf) 05.11.69        Norwich Industrial Club (with Freddie King) 06.11.69        Club Lafayette, Wolverhampton (with Freddie King) 07.11.69        Annabells, Sunderland (with Freddie King) 08.11.69        Guildford Civic Hall (with Freddie King) 09.11.69        Boat Club, Nottingham (with Freddie King) 10.11.69        Kings Hall, Romford (with Freddie King) 11.11.69        Oxford Town Hall (with Freddie King) 12.11.69        Toby Jug, Tolworth, London (with Freddie King) 13.11.69        Marquee Club, London (with Freddie King) 13.11.69        Speakeasy, London (with Freddie King) 14.11.69        El Rondo, Leicester (with Freddie King) 15.11.69        London School of Economics (with Freddie King) 16.11.69        Black Prince, Bexley (with Freddie King) 17.11.69        Bull, Richmond (with Freddie King) 21.11.69        Reading University 24.11.69        Aurora Hotel, Gillingham 30.11.69        Frank Freeman's, Kidderminster 01.12.69        Clarence Pier, Southsea 16.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 17.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 18.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 19.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 20.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 21.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 22.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 23.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 25.12.69        Palace, Mulhouse, France 26.12.69        Palace, Mulhouse, France 27.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 28.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 29.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 30.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 31.12.69        Aaron, Zurich, Switzerland 31.12.69        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 01.01.70        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 03.01.70        US Base, Augsburg, Germany 04.01.70        Palace, Mulhouse, France 16.01.70        Powerhouse Blues Club, London 16.01.70        University of Kent, Cantebury 01.02.70        Hades, Ravensburg, Germany 05.02.70        Hades, Konstanz, Germany 05.02.70        Scotch Club, Zingen, Germany 06.02.70        Konstanz University, Germany 07.02.70        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 07.02.70        Schweighof, Zurich, Switzerland 08.02.70        Palace, Mulhouse, France 08.02.70        Beat Club - Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland 14.02.70        The Star, Croydon 17.02.70        Leeds University (with Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup) 24.02.70        100 Club, London 07.03.70        West Norwood College, London 14.03.70        Temple, London 29.03.70        Hamburg Easter Festival, Germany (with The Nice, Steamhammer, Groundhogs) 30.03.70        Hamburg Easter Festival, Germany (with Black Sabbath, Steamhammer, Groundhogs, Alexis Korner) 11.04.70        Sportspalast, Berlin, Germany 01.05.70        Cosmo Club, Carlisle 02.05.70        Durham University 16.05.70        Roundhouse, Dagenham (with Mott the Hoople) 19.05.70        Walford Youth Club 06.06.70        Yeovil Blues festival (with Yes, Savoy Brown, Rare Bird) 25.06.70        Tunbridge Wells College, Kent (with Spirit of John Morgan) 30.06.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 01.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 02.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 03.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 04.07.70        Festival St. Tropez, France 04.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 06.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 07.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 08.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 09.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 10.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 11.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 12.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 13.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 14.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 15.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 16.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 17.07.70        L'Enclume, Bandol, France 18.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 19.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 20.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 21.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 22.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 23.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 24.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 25.07.70        Lou Magnan, St. Tropez, France 23.08.70        Knighton Festival, Radnorshire (with The Move, Alexis Korner, Pete Brown's Piblokto) 23.08.70        Burtons, Uxbridge 02.10.70        College, Wandsworth Town Hall, London 07.10.70        Gun, Croydon 14.10.70        Plymouth Polytech, Devon 16.10.70        Wickford Youth Club 23.10.70        Maidstone College, Kent 24.10.70        Bluesville, St. Helens 28.10.70        Canterbury College of Art, Kent 01.11.70        Cloud 9, Peterborough 04.11.70        Radio One Club, (Live interview on BBC Radio One with Annie Nightingale) 14.11.70        Trent Park College 17.11.70        Molineaux Hotel, Wolverhampton 20.11.70        Church Hall, Presteigne, Radnorshire 21.11.70        Wisbech College (with Alan Bown) 27.11.70        Edinburgh University, Scotland 04.12.70        The Temple, Wardour St. London 05.12.70        Bourne Corn Exchange 10.12.70        Ellesmere Port F.C. 11.12.70        Tomorrow Club, Wallasey 12.12.70        Alex Disco, Salisbury 19.12.70        Tunbridge Wells College (with Steamhammer) 09.01.71        BBC Television for Disco 2, BBC2, Television Centre, London 15.01.71        Red Lion, Leytonstone 17.01.71        Horn Hotel, Braintree 11.02.71        Blues Attic, Banbury 12.02.71        Tunbridge Wells College, Kent 13.02.71        Tamworth 19.01.71        Maidstone College (with Barclay James Harvest) 20.02.71        Redhill College 24.02.71        Pig Market, Wigan 26.02.71        Cavern Club, Liverpool 27.02.71        Birdcage, Hoyland 20.03.71        Huddersfield Polytech 02.04.71        Kay Club, Birkenhead 03.04.71        Oakengates College(with Chicken Shack & Supertramp) 29.04.71        Leek 04.05.71        Bumpers, London 08.05.71        Edinburgh University (with Hawkind) 13.05.71        Experience, London 14.05.71        Averlee College, Eltham 16.05.71        Horn Hotel, Braintree 21.05.71        Hatfield Polytech 30.05.71        Norwood Tech, London 23.05.71        Marquee Club, London 26.05.71        BBC Radio Session for Mike Raven R&B Show, Maida Vale 28.05.71        Kington, Radnorshire 30.05.71        Greyhound, Fulham 02.06.71        Harlow 03.06.71        Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green 09.06.71        Cafe des Artistes, Earls Court, London 11.06.71        Pig market, Wigan 12.06.71        Alex Disco, Salisbury 14.06.71        Deal theatre, Kent 18.06.71        Cavern Club, Liverpool (with Cochise) 19.06.71        Cavern Club, Liverpool 20.06.71        Peterlee Jazz Club 24.06.71        Greyhound, Fulham, London 26.06.71        Neptune Hotel, Dymchurch, Kent 01.07.71        Clouds, Derby 08.07.71        Basingstoke 09.07.71        Thinge-me-Jig, reading 11.07.71        Albemarle 23.07.71        Nags Head, Wollaston (with John Peel & Nick Pickett) 24.07.71        Neptune Hotel, Dymchurch 25.07.71        Wisbech College 27.07.71        Southall College 04.08.71        Colchester 08.08.71        Speakeasy, London 19.08.71        Ystradgynlais Rugby Club 20.08.71        Canaervon 29.08.71        Rock Festival, St. Neotts 03.09.71        Sports Club, Nuneaton 18.09.71        Colchester 21.09.71        Leeds College 01.10.71        Primrose Ballroom, Bebington 23.10.71        Speakeasy, London 28.10.71        Locher College, South Wales, (With Renaissance) ??.11.71        American College, London 04.02.72        Marquee Club, London (with J.B.Hutto) 18.02.72        Bath University 25.02.72        Marquee Club, London (with Lightnin' Slim) 01.03.72        North London Polytech (with Skid Row) 03.03.72        North London Polytech 11.03.72        Plymouth Polytechnic 28.03.72        Greyhound, Croydon 28.03.72        Bumpers, London 24.04.72        Cafe des Artistes, Earls Court, London 28.04.72        Speakeasy, London 05.06.72        Bumpers, London 06.06.72        Bumpers, London 07.06.72        Bumpers, London 08.06.72        Bumpers, London 09.06.72        Bumpers, London 10.06.72        Bumpers, London 11.06.72        Bumpers, London 20.06.72        Corby Bowl 22.06.72        Cafe des Artistes, Earls Court, London 29.06.72        Cafe des Artistes, Earls Court, London 30.06.72        Huntingdon College There then followed a short break..the next Killing Floor show was at the Open Air Gross Lindow, Germany, 19 August 2006. Details in the Tour Diary.