Brian Poole founded the group in 1959 in Dagenham, Essex. They began their career as Buddy Holly mimics, Poole going so far as to wear spectacles of the type worn by Holly.
The band built up a following playing at US airbases and dancehalls. Their first big break came in '61 when they turned professional and were booked by the BBC for the popular radio show "Saturday Club" that summer. That appearance led to them becoming regulars on radio. Towards the end of that year, they were offered an audition by Decca. The audition was held on New Year's Day 1962. The producer of the session was informed that he could sign one of the two groups who were vying for a contract that day. He chose Brian Poole & The Tremeloes. The band to miss out was The Beatles.
They scored several hit records between 1963 and 1965, beginning with a cover of The Isley Brothers' "Twist And Shout", which, ironically, had also been covered by The Beatles on their debut album. This was followed with another "dance" song, a version of The Contours' "Do You Love Me", which went to the top of the charts and outsold a rival version by the Dave Clark Five. Other notable covers included Roy Orbison's "Candy Man"and the Strangeloves' "I Want Candy".
After the hits dried up Poole left in 1966 for a solo career which was to prove unsuccessful and he soon retired to work in the family's butcher business.
Contrary to expectations, The Tremeloes prospered without him and carried on making successful records until 1971.
The Tremiloes I (1959)
Brian Poole - guitar/vocals - b. November 3, 1941, Barking, Essex, England. Alan Blakely - drums - b. April 1, 1942; d. 1995; d. June 10, 1996. Alan Howard - sax Graham Scott - guitar
The Tremiloes II (1959 - 1961)
Brian Poole - vocals Alan Blakely - guitar Alan Howard - bass Graham Scott - guitar Dave Munden - drums - b. November 2, 1943, Dagenham, Essex, England.
The Tremeloes III / Brian Poole and The Tremeloes III (1961 - January 1966)
Brian Poole - vocals Alan Blakely - guitar Alan Howard - bass Dave Munden - drums Richard Westwood (aka, Rick West) - guitar - b. May 7, 1943, Dagenham, Essex, England - formerly with Joe and The Teens, and Tony Rivers and The Castaways.
Albums: "Big Hits of 1962" (1963) "Twist and Shout" (1963) "It's About Time" (1965)
The Tremeloes IV(1966 - 1974)
Alan Blakely - guitar Dave Munden - drums Richard Westwood (aka, Rick West) - guitar Len "Chip" Hawkes - bass - b. November 2, 1946.
Albums: "Here Comes My Baby" (1967) - Single: "Silence is Golden" "Even the Bad Times Are Good" (1967) "Suddenly You Love Me" (1967) "58/68 World Explosion" (1968) "Shiner" (1974)
The Tremeloes V(1974 - 1975)
Alan Blakely - guitar Dave Munden - drums Richard Westwood (aka, Rick West) - guitar
The Tremeloes VI(1975 - ? )
Dave Munden - drums Richard Westwood (aka, Rick West) - guitar
The Tremeloes VII(1987 - Present)
Dave Munden - drums/vocals Richard Westwood (aka, Rick West) - guitar Joe Gillingham - keyboards/vocals - b. Bournemouth - formerly with Spencer Mac and country-rock band Mojo Hannah. Davey Freyer - bass/vocals - formerly with You, Voyager, Irish folk group Waterfall, Cushion, and Sabotage.
Compilations:
"Do You Love Me" (1991) "The Best of The Tremeloes" (1992) "Very Best" (2-CD box set) (1997)
Singles
Jan '63 Meet Me Where We Used To Meet/A Very Good Year For Girls Decca F 11567
Mar '63 Keep On Dancing/Run Back Home Decca F 11616
Jun '63 Twist And Shout/We Know Decca F 11694 UK#4
Sep '63 Do You Love Me/Why Can't You Love Me Decca F 11739 UK#1
Nov '63 I Can Dance/Are You Loving Me At All Decca F 11771 UK#31
Jan '64 Candy Man/I Wish I Could Dance Decca F 11823 UK#6
Apr '64 Someone, Someone/Till The End Of Time Decca F 11893 UK#2
Aug '64 Twelve Steps To Love/Don't Cry Decca F 11951 UK#32
Nov '64 The Three Bells/Tell Me How To Care Decca F 12037 UK#17
Apr '65 After A While/You Know Decca F 12124
Jul '65 I Want Candy/Love Me Baby Decca F 12197 UK#25
Nov '65 Good Lovin'/Could It Be You Decca F 12274
LP's
L.P.s
1963 Twist And Shout - Twist And Shout/Twenty Miles/If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody/You Don't Love Me Anymore/Meet Me Where We Used To Meet/Don't Be Afraid Little Darling/We Know/Alley Oop/Baby Work Out/Over The Mountain/Twist Little Sister/Da Doo Ron Ron/Run Back Home/South Street/Peanuts/Keep On Dancing
Decca LK 4550
1964 It's About Time - Time Is On My Side/Someone, Someone/You Can't Sit Down/I Could Make You Love Me/Rag Doll/After A While/Chills/Times Have Changed/Hands Off/Uncle Willie/Michael Row The Boat Ashore/What Do You Want With My Baby?/Song Of A Broken Heart/Heard It All Before/Well, Who's That?
Decca LK 4685
Brian Poole Singles
1966 Hey Girl/Please Be Mine Decca F 12402
1966 Everything I Touch Turns To Tears/I Need Her Tonight CBS 202349
The Tremeloes Singles
1966 Blessed/The Right Time Decca F 12423
1966 Good Day Sunshine/What A State I'm In CBS 202242