The Honeycombs

Martin Murray b. 7 October 1941; London: guitar Alan Ward b. 12 December 1945; Nottingham: guitar, piano, organ Denis D'ell b. Denis Dalziel; 10 October 1943; London): lead vocal, piano, guitar, harmonica. John Lantree b. 20 August 1940; Newbury, England: bass Ann "Honey" Lantree b. 28 August 1943; Hayes, England: drums   1963   [MM 21-22, DD 19-20] November. In the heat of the beat boom, Martin Murray (hairdresser, skiffle/rock guitarist) persuades fellow north London hairdresser, Ann "Honey" Lantree (drummer by hobby) to form a band.

Ann's brother, John, joins to play bass and brings Alan Ward (guitar, keyboards) and Denis D'ell [Denis Dalziel] (vocals, harmonica) into the ensemble. The band originally performs under the name the Sheratons (or Sheritons or Sherabons). (See Joynson 1995:260; also Romanowski and Warren-George 1995:449.)

1964   [MM 22-23, DD 20-21]

Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley hear The Sheratons playing at the Mildmay Tavern (Islington) looking for a band to record demos of their songs. They hire Joe Meek to be the producer and eventually sell the recording to Pye Records through its managing director, Louis Benjamin.

Benjamin renamed the group "The Honeycombs" after the song of the same name by Jimmie Rodgers, with the red-headed hairdresser, Honey, a convenient explanation. (See Larkin 2002: 267-68.) July. "Have I the Right" / "Please Don't Pretend Again" (Pye) UK #1 With the success of "Have I the Right," Howard and Blaikley became the band's managers. October. "Is It Because" (Howard and Blaikley) / "I'll Cry Tomorrow" (Pye) UK #38 "Eyes" (Howard and Blaikley) / "If You've Got to Pick a Baby" (Pye)   1965   [MM 23-24, DD 21-22] "Don't Love You No More" / "I'll See You Tomorrow" (Pye) April. "Something Better Beginning" (Davies) / "I'll See You Tomorrow" (Pye) UK #39 August. "That's the Way" / "Can't Get through to You" (Pye) UK #12 "This Year, Next Year" / "Not Sleeping Too Well Lately" (Pye)

The Honeycombs were never able to capitalize on this hit. A series of misfortunes impede their ability to sustain their hits. First, Martin Murray broke his leg and his wrist in a fall from the stage leaving him unable to perform for a lengthy period of time. When they could tour, Howard and Blaikley sent them to Europe and Asia; but the Honeycombs lost not only money, but their home fan base. Howard and Blaikley were unable to repeat their success and turned to Ray Davies. Finally, Joe Meek, in a fit or rage, murdered his landlady and then commited suicide. Having lost their momentum and their producer, the Honeycombs eventually disbanded in 1966 only to resurface as two different versions of the band, one led by Honey Lantree and the other by Martin Murray.

The Ivy League	Schedule	London
	28-mar-16