Portsmouth music scene

The Teenbeats



Meet the "Rock" groups No 17, Hats are part of their act

PRODUCING hats, which might be any thing from Cossack, Tyrolean or an old beret to Grandma's favourite feathers, is all part of, the musical entertainment provided by five Portsmouth teenagers.
The hats designed, made or collected by 16-year-old Don Ward, an electrical fitter apprentice in the Dockyard, are taken on and off to suit each musical slumber played by the Teenbeats rock group.
Don, the group's bass guitarist, who lives at 32, Abingdon Road, Southsea, now boasts a large collection , of hats of every shape 'n' size including a Panama for the "Saints" numbers, a beret (" it has a French flavour") for the Can-Can' and " a green one that looks like a tea cosy."
Mainly, however, the group - it was, formed five months ago - has a preference for beat numbers and the Twist as well as a number of compositions of its own.
Inspiration
"Inspiration" behind these are the group's leader, Brian Barons (19), an electric fitter apprentice at the Dockyard, of 14, Copper Street, Southsea, and his fiancee, 16-year-old June Ford.
Brian, who does not read music, is responsible for the actual compositions, June "who does, read music, serves as aid an advisor.
One big question mark for the group lies in the word "transport", For concerts, dances and socials, the members have either to get a car from a kind parent or uncle, or struggle on public transport to the appointed place clutching £500 worth of equipment, including amplifiers and guitars.
So inconvenient, in fact, are some of the longer journeys, that drummer Barry Briggs (18), an aircraft engineer apprentice, of 202, Lake Road, Buckland, jokingly said he would have to buy a trolly to push his equipment along the streets of Portsmouth.
It was an advertisement in the Evening News, for a drummer that resulted in Harry's joining the Teenbeats just two weeks ago.
Mainly ballads
Another member of the group who joined at the same time is singer Terry Leach (18), an armament fitter apprentice, of 55, Adames Road, Fratton, Terry, who sticks mainly to ballads, also plays the guitar.
Fifth Teenbeater - the four instrumentalists wear blue V-neck sweaters, white shirts, black bow ties and black trousers, and Terry a ' blue jacket 'and black tie - is rhythm, guitarist Pete Canlon (17) an apprentice scales mechanic, of 5, Fernhurst, Road, Southsea.

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