The Mark Four, hailing from Hertfordshire, England, emerged as one of the top local bands in the early 1960s, captivating audiences around North London and Hertfordshire. Karen written by Robert Pryde features amongst their releases. The band’s roots trace back to Jimmy Virgo and The Bluejacks, which underwent several personnel changes in 1962. Jack Jones replaced Pete Wilson on drums, Michael “Spud” Thompson took over rhythm guitar from Fred Wilkinson, and Jimmy Virgo left the band mid-year. The band briefly used a singer from Welwyn Garden City before auditioning Kenny Pickett in late 1962. This marked the beginning of a new era, and the band renamed itself Kenny Lee & The Mark Four.
In January 1963, Eddie Phillips joined the band as the lead guitarist, completing the lineup. The Mark Four quickly established themselves as a hardworking band, performing five or six nights a week. Their dedication and talent led them to tour Germany in March 1964, where they played at the newly opened Big Ben Club in Wilhelmshaven. This experience was invaluable, as they honed their skills by playing eight 30-minute sets, seven days a week.
The band’s first single, a cover of “Rock Around The Clock,” was recorded in March 1964 and released in May. They followed up with another cover, “Try It Baby,” in August 1964. It wasn’t until August 1965 that they released their first original song, “Hurt Me If You Will,” written by Pickett and Phillips.
However, by the end of October 1965, both Spud Thompson and John Dalton decided to leave the band. Their last gig was at The Witchdoctor Club in Hastings on October 31, 1965. Shortly after, the band changed its name to The Creation, marking the end of The Mark Four’s journey but the beginning of another legendary chapter in British rock history.
