The Top Ten Club

The Top Ten Club was a music club in Hamburg, Germany owned by Peter Eckhorn. The address in the Hamburg district of St. Pauli was: Reeperbahn 136.

Musicians who have played here

The Top Ten Club's former entrance on Reeperbahn (2011)

The Club was being managed at the time, by Ricky Barnes a kind of 'eminence grise' among expatriate musicians in Hamburg. Also on the bill that month were the Summer Set among whose members was Les Humphries who went on to 'discover' Boney-M, marry a Yugoslav princess and lead the South German equivalent of a James Last Band. Feb 1966 one of the bands was allegedly Bluesology, according to what was carved into the woodwork, everywhere, featuring a keyboard player named Reg Dwight who grew up to be Elton John.

Also performing were a surfer type band called "The Summer Set" whose leader was Les Humphries. It is believed to be his first band since leaving the Royal Marines. He subsequently stayed in Germany and founded the "Les Humphries Singers."

• The Jets Iain Hines (Founder/Keyboards) Pete Wharton (bass), Colin Melander (guitar), Tony Sheridan (guitar), Rick Hardy (guitar).^[1]
• The Beatles, between March and July 1961. The Beatles lived in the attic above the club, and backed Tony Sheridan in their first official recording sessions during this period.
• Next of Kin South Wales Rock Group (Ebbw Vale) Frankie Allan (vocals) Robert Evans (bass) Dai Johns (Lead Guitar) Mike Ashman (Rhythm Guitar) Alan Snell (drums) played there 1965 lived in the attic above the club
• Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
• 1968 Cherry Blossom Clinic. Blackpool Band. Mike Proctor ( organ and vocals ) Colin Hartley (Guitar and vocals ) Stewart Bain ( Frontman,Rhythm guitar ) Mike Bain ( Bass ) Tony Morley ( Drums )
• The Blackjacks Pat Harris (Vocals), Don Callard (Lead Guitar), Robbie Williams (Rhythm and Vocals), Bob Wilkinson (Bass) and Pete James (Drums) - March, 1963 then Moved onto Top Ten Club, Hannover.
• Universe. South-Wales rock band. Played 5 residencies at the TOP TEN between May 1970 and August 1971. Members: Michael Blanche(YouTube aka HOLLOPOP), Steve Finn, John Healan, Mike Lloyd-Jones and Rob Reynolds.(Pete Hurley, Steve Keeley, Phil Summers)
• Still Earth (Bristol,UK): Phill Crowther (Drums), John Pearce (Vocals), Dave Pratt(Bass), John Cannon(Sax), and two other members on guitars. The bands dormed at the Atlantic Hotel annex at that time. Ricky Barnes was still managing the club. Still Earth played around April/May 1970 along with the Birmingham band *Aarons Rod.
• Strawberry Dust (later became Racing Cars) South Wales rock band, February 1971. Members: Morty, Graham Williams, Jack Bass and Dicky Owen.
• Quicksand South Wales rock band. 1971. Members: Phil Davies, Jimmy Davies, Jeff Hooper, Anthony Stone and Rob Collins.
• The Mastersounds - Liverpool R & B Combo - Mal Jefferson (Leader/ Bass/ Vocals), Adrian Lord (Vocals), Tony Cockayne (Guitar ES.175), Mike Price (Drums), Gerry Stewart (Tenor Sax), usually augmented by Ricky Barnes (In-House Tenor Sax Player) and Isobel Bond (In-House Vocals). Occasionally augmented by Iain Hines (Keyboards) and Jimmy Doyle (Drums). August 1964. Sweet Marriage 1969 Tony Merrick, Alan Doyle, Tony Macdonald, Ronnie
• The Smokeless Zone (Formerly also known as "The Jets") “Plum” Hollis (vocals), Deke Leonard (guitar), Martin Ace (bass), Beau Adams and later Terry Williams (drums), with guest appearances by Tony Sheridan ^[2]
• Oswald Orange. South Wales rock band. February 1971. Members: Alice Ennis(guitar)Jeff Smith(guitar) Pete Smith(bass,vocals)John Russon(drums)
• Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds. South London rock band. Played from 1st Nov, 1961 to Jan, 1962. Wayne Gibson (vocals), Mick Todman (lead guitar), Ray Rogers (bass), Pete Gillies (rhythm guitar) and Larry Cole (drums).
• Mustard Cheshire rock band 1971. Members : Alan Williamson,Rick Shaw,Alan Hopkins(16yrs), Melvyn Allen, Kenny Jones.
• The Berkeley Squares Leicester rock Band played The Top Ten in Autumn 1967 and stayed in The Auto Park Hotel 5 minutes walk away. Members were Barry Wade (vocals), Ray Martinez (lead guitar & vocals),Dave Eldredge (keyboard,guitar & vocals), Leigh Catterall (bass guitar & vocals) & Terry Abbs (drums).
• The Frank Sheen Sound 1966 March. Frank Sheen (vocals), John Cushen (bass), John Herridge (drums), Jeff Condon (trumpet), T.J. Huggett (organ).

The John Mcflare Band a Scottish Band based in Birmingham played here in 69 and 70 Band members were Denis Mcnulty (guitar & vocals) John Mcnulty (Bass guitar & vocals) Eric Mcnulty (tenor sax) Robert Sweryda (tenor sax) Mick Mcnulty (drums) other band on one occasion with us for fortnight was Colour Supplement a band from Stoke lead vocal was Hutch. Ricky Barnes was the guy running the club at that time.

CATS EYES (Evesham Rock/Harmony Group) Played at the club in August 1970 with Universe from South Wales. Ricky Barnes was still the manager. Group members:- Fil Filby (Lead Vocals), Dave Busby (Lead Guitar/vocals), Roy Banks (Bass Guitar/vocals), Doug Alcock (Drums/vocals), Roger Banning (Saxophone/Flute). Stayed in the annex at the Pacific Hotel.

Trivia

• Each member of The Beatles were to be paid 35 deutschmarks.^[3]
• The Mastersounds met Sean Connery and the Krupp Brothers in the club. They also were recorded by the secret in-house studio operated by Iain Hines. The songs were released on 45 rpm singles and they had a number of German Juke Box Hits including a No. 1 with 'Ooh My Soul!' - vocal by Mal Jefferson. The records were released on the club's own 'Top Ten' record label.

Notes

1. The Jets, The Beatles And Hamburg
2. Leonard, Deke (2000). Maybe I Should’ve Stayed in Bed? (1st ed.). Borden, Hants: Northdown Publishing Ltd. p. 62. ISBN 1-900711-09-5.
3. Goldsmith, M. The Beatles Come to America, p. 64

External links

• http://www.music.indiana.edu/som/courses/rock/hamburgclubs.html
• http://www.beatlesource.com/savage/1961/61.03.27%2007.02%20top%20ten/1961topten.html

Coordinates: 53°32′59″N 9°57′34″E / 53.5498°N 9.9595°E