No 2 of a series featuring the "Rock" groups, Meet "The Rivals" - All aiming for success
ONE of Portsmouth's younger rock 'n'roll groups is The Rivals formed less than a year ago by a I7-year-old- shop assistant Rodney Watts, of 20 , Wisborough Road,
Southsea.
Since its formation the group
has had a large change round in
membership but it is now -a five-man team, four instrumentalists
and a vocalist who are really
determined to make a go of it.
Rodney who, has been with
the group all the time, plays lead-guitar. his brother-in -law, Frederick Wildsmith (23) at 6, Forest Road, Denmead, is bass
guitar. He works on his father's pig farm. Eighteen-year-old, Tony
Alton, of 36, Hampshire Street, Buckland also a shop assistant
is the rhythm guitarist.
On drums is Roy Wells (24), of
is also a shop-assistant. The
vocalist is Ricky Rickwood (18),
of 149, Walmer Road, Fratton,
who works at a dairy. Ricky
found that "Rickwood" was too
much of a mouthful over the
micophone so he has a stage
name Ricky Dene.
None of the group, except
the drummer, had any experience of playing rock 'W roll.
music when they decided to
join The Rivals. Rodney, who
acts as the Group's manager,
said the could read just
enough music to get by, ties.
but we do not really need it, for we get all our new
numbers straight from the
latest dlscs.
The Rivals do not have a set uniform but when ever they appear they always wear black
trousers, white shirts, and red ties.
During the short space of time
the group has been going they
have arranged a few rock n' roll
numbers of their own. including
their own signature tune.
Practice is one thing The Rivals
take very seriously and they try
to spend at least two nights a
week hard at work.
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