STILL making waves more than 40 years after they split up, an obscure Bournemouth band of the 1960s is the subject of a new book being researched by Italian journalist Aldo Pedron and music fan Luca Mathmos.

Dave Anthony’s Moods (DAMs) released a solitary single on Parlophone in 1967 before moving to Milan where they were acclaimed as “Italy’s Beatles” in some quarters, recording two more singles, including a version of the Procul Harum hit A Whiter Shade of Pale.

“The group was more famous in Italy than England,” says Luca, who recently visited Bournemouth to research the book.

“The reason we decided to write a book about the DAMs is that actually there is a new interest in lesser known bands who played in Italy in the sixties. The DAMs are surely the best – all good musicians and probably the first English group in Italy to introduce the use of horns and the Hammond organ.”

Italian music legend Lucio Battisti was a fan, says Luca.

“He was a good friend of the band and went to many of their gigs at the Piper in Milan in 1967-68.”

Dave Anthony was the stage name adopted by in the early 60s by fondly-remembered Bournemouth singer Tony Head, who died in 2006.

Tony joined a local group called The Furies in 1960 alongside guitarist Al Kirtley (who had previously been in The Stormers with Zoot Money and Andy Summers, later of The Police), John “Jet” Berryman on bass and Howard “Eddie” Parsons on drums.

The group changed its name to Tony & the Ramrods and then Dave Anthony & the Ravers, developing a sound based on The Shadows and landing a management deal with the notorious Radio City pirate radio owner Reg Calvert, who was shot dead in self-defence by Radio Caroline owner Oliver Smedley in 1966.

The Ravers became The Rebels and landed a residency at the Downstairs Club in Bournemouth as Jet and Eddie were replaced by Mike and Pete Giles, later to find fame and fortune with Robert Fripp in King Crimson.

When Al Kirtley left to join Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, the Rebels split only for Al and Tony to work together again in The Sands Combo before Tony left to replace Reg Matthews as singer in Robert Fripp’s League of Gentlemen, who had a residency at the Majestic Hotel in Bournemouth.

In mid-1965 Tony assembled Dave Anthony’s Moods with members of local band The Trackmarks, whose line up included Lee Kerslake on drums, years before he played with Uriah Heep and Ozzy Osbourne.

The first DAMs line-up was guitarist Tim Large, bassist Bill Jacobs and Bob Michaels on keys with John DeVekey on drums. The horn section featured Pete Sweet (tenor sax), Graham Livemore (trombone) and Andy Kirk (trumpet).

Pete Sweet was later replaced by Bob Downes, who had been with the John Barry Seven and Chris Dennis came in for Bob Michaels on organ.

The band moved to London early in 1966 and joined Georgie Fame, Zoot Money and others at the Rick Gunnell Agency, playing such famous venues as the Flamingo, The Marquee, The 100 Club, The Bag O’ Nails, The Cromwellian and The Ram Jam Club.

By the end of the year Tony had left, later to resurface with the Fleur de Lys and then launch a solo career, to be replaced by Roger Peacock just as the band relocated to Milan where their blend of R&B, soul, jazz and psychedelia was an instant hit.

“There is a rumour that between Tony leaving and the arrival of Roger Peacock, David Bowie sang with them; also that Elton John sat in on piano with the group, but they’re not true,” says Luca.

Dave Anthony’s Moods split up in 1969, but Luca and Aldo hope to see the group take what they see as their rightful place in the pantheon of British beat history when their book is published next year.

l If you think you may be able to help Luca and Aldo with news of the former members of Dave Anthony’s Moods or memories of the band’s time in Bournemouth, please contact luca.mathmos@alice.it or aldobeach@tin.it