Flintlock (band)

The group began under the name The Young Revivals, but after two years changed their name to Flintlock. The band was formed by Summerton and Holoway. The earliest version of the band included a female member (role in the band unknown) called Shirley White and a bass player called Miles Ridding.{{Cite web |title=John Summerton - Guitarist and Vocalist with Flintlock & The Rubettes |url=https://www.talktotheband.com/john-summerton-interview/ |access-date=28 April 2024}}https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwis9ApLp9p/ Summerton replies to a comment that includes Shirley and Miles' surnames After seeing another band playing that included Derek Pascoe and Jamie Stone, John and Mike asked them to join the band, and Shirley and Miles parted ways. Soon after, they hired Bill Rice on keyboards. After a concert in the early 70s, they were approached by Roger Price, who had been in the audience. He liked how they played and asked them to be on television.

They came to national attention in the mid-1970s through regular appearances on the British children's television programmes You Must Be Joking and Pauline's Quirkes, the latter hosted by the then teenage actress Pauline Quirke. Flintlock also appeared on programmes such as Blue Peter, Magpie and Top of the Pops, and their own programme Fanfare.

Holoway also became known as an actor in the children's cult TV drama programme The Tomorrow People,{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=879}} in which Flintlock made a guest appearance in the Series 5 story The Heart of Sogguth. As a result of the band having a one-hit wonder status and having many television appearances to their name, Summerton has described Flintlock as a "TV band", comparing them to The Monkees.

Flintlock had one Top 30 hit single in the UK Singles Chart, "Dawn", in the summer of 1976.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 205}} The song peaked at number 30 on the UK singles chart.{{Cite web |date=1976-05-29 |title=FLINTLOCK |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15754/flintlock/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}

For the fourth and final studio album (Stand Alone, released in February 1979), vocal problems caused Derek Pascoe to play a more instrumental role. His place on lead vocals was taken by Jimmy Edwards (born 18 April 1949). Edwards had been a friend of the band since producing and composing some of the material on the band's early recordings. He had been a solo artist recording under the name James Arthur Edwards for Pinnacle Records during 1976 before fronting New Wave band Masterswitch. He would return to a solo career in 1979, making records as Jimmy Edwards & The Profile for Warner Bros through 1979 before fronting Sham 69.

After two small tours of Japan in 1980 as a five-piece, Flintlock disbanded.{{Cite web |title=Band Members – Herman's Hermits |url=https://hermanshermits.co.uk/band-members/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |language=en-GB}} According to Summerton, the main reason for the band's sudden end was due to the rise of punk music.

A one-off reunion concert took place in 2007.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The four studio albums released by Flintlock between 1976 and 1979 were re-released as a box set in 2022. An accompanying booklet brought the story of the band and the subsequent careers of its members up to date.

Mike Holoway released a couple of solo singles for Bell Records during 1981. He then concentrated upon his acting career and had a long career in musical theatre, including spells as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in London's West End. In early 2018, Holoway announced the impending release of a new 13-track album. The lead single, "Tides of Love", was released on 9 February 2018. He has also collaborated with Bernie Taupin and co-written several hit songs for Tiffany, Sonia, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna.

Derek Pascoe moved to Australia and played saxophone in various jazz/experimental projects, as well as teaching. He was described as being "among the leading free improvisers in Adelaide" by the Australian Music Centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/event/derek-pascoe-saxophone|title=Derek Pascoe, saxophone : De La Catessen : 14.Apr.09 : Event : Australian Music Centre|work=australianmusiccentre.com.au|accessdate=21 September 2015}} His daughter Sara (born 1981) is a comedian and actor.

John Summerton went on to play guitar and sing for The Rubettes until at least September 2020,{{cite interview | title=Guitarist and Vocalist with Flintlock & The Rubettes | website=Talk to the Band | date=21 September 2020| format=audio + transcript| first=John| last= Summerton | url=https://www.talktotheband.com/john-summerton-interview/ | access-date=16 August 2024}} then Gerry's Pacemakers (2022),{{cite web | last=Ryder | first=Tom | title=A little bit of everything as Retunesday returns for July session | website=Bishop's Stortford Independent | date=18 July 2022 | url=https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/whats-on/a-little-bit-of-everything-as-retunesday-returns-for-july-se-9264479/ | access-date=16 August 2024}}{{cite web | last=Woolley | first=Ian | title=One Tremendous Night Out | website=Beat Magazine | date=19 October 2022 | url=https://www.beat-magazine.co.uk/2022/one-tremendous-night-out-the-60s-gold-tour/ | access-date=16 August 2024}}{{cite web | title=John Summerton – Gerry’s Pacemakers | website=Gerry's Pacemakers – continuing the legacy of Gerry & The Pacemakers | date=25 February 2021 | url=https://gerryspacemakers.com/john-summerton | access-date=16 August 2024}} and subsequently joined Herman's Hermits as vocalist and guitarist, where he remains {{as of|lc=yes|July 2024}}.{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Mal | title=Towers Party raises an incredible £80,000 for charities | website=Isle of Wight Observer News | date=19 July 2024 | url=https://iwobserver.co.uk/towers-party-raises-an-incredible-80000-for-charities/ | access-date=16 August 2024}}{{youtube|3zCJi8Sxq5g| This is Hermans Hermits in 2023}}. 20 Mar 2023.

Jamie Stone in 2022 was heading a global cyber-security company, while Bill Rice was working in IT.

Jimmy Edwards died on 13 January 2015, aged 65.

• "Learn to Cry" (August 1975)
• "A Little Bit of Lovin'" (February 1976)
• "Dawn" (April 1976) (UK Peak 30{{Cite web |date=1976-05-29 |title=FLINTLOCK |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15754/flintlock/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Official Charts |language=en}})
• "Sea of Flames" (July 1976)
• "Russian Roulette" (November 1976)
• "Carry Me" (March 1977)
• "Anything for You" (September 1977)
• "Mony Mony" (February 1978)
• "(Hey You) You're like A Magnet" (January 1979)

Three further singles were released in Japan:

• "Amorous Lady" (1977)
• "Taken All Away" (1978)
• "Get With The Boys" (1979)

• On the Way (December 1975)
• Hot from the Lock (December 1976)
• Tears 'n' Cheers (October 1977)
• Stand Alone (February 1979)

A greatest hits album was also released in Japan and Germany.

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Category:English pop music groups