Sixty years ago a popular West Cumbrian group headed to London to try and break through into the big time.
Marshall Scott and the Deputies didn’t take the capital by storm but they had their moments, working with some of the biggest names in the business – including sharing a studio with the Beatles.
George Reid was the drummer in the four-man band with George Pod Scott the singer; John Armstrong, lead guitar and John Holden on bass guitar.
They got to record at the famous Abbey Road studios and appeared on Pathe News after a promotional shoot at Woburn Abbey for their first record Same Old Feeling.
Kiki Dee and Madeline Bell were in a girl backing group on one track; they were in a show with Tom Jones and Cat Stevens; played alongside The Move and Billy J Kramer, and toured Germany and Switzerland.
They also had to shorten their name to Marshall Scott Etc as the record company considered Marshall Scott and the Deputies was too long.
Eventually, though, the lads returned home although singer Pod remained in London and is still singing there – coming up to his 80th birthday on Christmas Day.
Cumbria Crack’s John Walsh caught up with George Reid to reminisce about those years in London and their bid for stardom.
