Tamworth Bands - History 1960-1990
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The Convention

The Convention
The Convention
(full-size image)

Photograph courtesy: Tamworth Herald

Formed: 1965 Split: 1967
Reformed: 1976 Split: 1977
Reformed: 1988

Line-up (1965-67 and 1976-77)
David Ford (lead guitar)
[Also in: Ledbelly]
Keith Chetwynd (vocals)
[Also in: Ledbelly]
Robert Riley (bass guitar)
Kevin Allbrighton (drums)

Line-up (1988 to date)
Keith Chetwynd (vocals)
Trev Cobby (lead guitar)
Jack Chetwynd (bass guitar)
Kevin Allbrighton (drums)

Additional Info:
Bass player from mid-1991 until December 1995 was Col Heard, later with The Suspects, now with Shattered.

Tamworth Herald Features
Tamworth Herald - 16/09/66
Polesworth Pop Group On Way Up?
Hoping they have their feet on the first rung of the ladder of success are "The Convention" - a young pop-group from Polesworth.

On Saturday at a Birmingham recording studio, the group made their first demonstration disc, entitled "I'm Leaving" to be sent to major record companies.

Formed about 12 months ago, "The Convention" have played in clubs and ballrooms in around the Tamworth district.

The line-up is: David Ford, aged 16, lead guitar; Keith Chetwynd, 17, vocalist; Robert Riley, 17, bass; and the youngest member, Kevin Allbrighton, 15, drummer.

They are pictured together with their two managers - Mr William Walker and Mr Michael Young.

All four group members have bought their own instruments and are self-taught musicians, practising in each other's homes. David Ford, of 10 Coronation Avenue, Polesworth, told the "Herald", "We taught each other." As far as the future is concerned, he added: "As far as we know, we expect to carry on playing for some time yet."

Tamworth Herald - 23/09/77
Musicbox - Convention going places – looking for new member

Local blues-rock band Convention is aiming high.

The Polesworth-based band has played a series of successful gigs in local clubs, but it’s members want more success…this time further afield.

And there’s a chance for a guitarist to make the grade with them. For Convention are on the look-out for a lead guitarist (blues orientated).

The band’s previous lead guitarist split with the band after a gig on Saturday night because of “musical differences.”

Said Dave Ford, a founder-member of the band: “We want a new lead guitarist – and quickly. The band is improving all the time and we feel we are going in the right direction.”

Anyone interested in becoming lead guitarist with the talented Convention should telephone Keith Chetwynd at Tamworth 892517 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day.

Gigs
18/04/66
The Convention
Polesworth Working Men's Club

25/06/66
Carnival Night Dance
The Zeros, The Inn-Sect, The Convention
Assembly Rooms, 8.00pm-11.30pm
Admission: 5/-

The Four XXXXs and The Convention23/09/66
The Convention
Polesworth Memorial Hall, 8.00pm to 10.45pm
Admission: 2/-

03/12/66
The Convention
Fazeley Parish Hall - Beat Night
Admission: 4/-

20/01/67
Beat Dance
The Four XXXXs and The Convention
Polesworth Memorial Hall, 8.00pm-11.30pm
Admission: 5/-

Big Beat Night - The Trend Men and The Convention24/02/67
Big Beat Night - The Trendmen and The Convention
Polesworth Memorial Hall, 8.00pm-11.30pm
Admission: 6/-

23/03/67
The Convention
Kettlebrook Working Men's Club

13/04/67
The Dimensions and The Convention
Kettlebrook Working Men's Club

27/05/67
Big Beat Night
The Convention
Polesworth Memorial Hall, 8.00pm-11.30pm
Admission: 5/-

24/12/76
Convention
Birchmoor Working Mens Club

26/03/77
Convention
Polesworth Working Mens Club

22/05/77
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

21/05/77
Convention
Atherstone Miners Welfare Club

03/06/77
Spread Eagle Disco
DJ Nij Redfern
Convention
Polesworth Memorial Hall

25/06/77
Convention
Polesworth Working Mens Club

03/07/77
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

08/07/77
Convention
Polesworth Working Mens Club

17/07/77
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

11/09/77
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

17/09/77
Convention
Polesworth Working Mens Club

01/10/77
Convention
Tamworth Working Mens Club

13/11/77
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

31/12/77
Convention
Tamworth Working Mens Club

26/02/78
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

25/03/78
Convention
Tamworth Working Mens Club

30/03/78
Convention
Polesworth Working Mens Club

20/04/78
Convention
Dordon Working Mens Club

01/07/78
Convention

Hurley Working Mens Club

02/07/78
Convention
Glascote Working Mens Club

15/07/78
Convention
Tamworth Working Mens Club

The Gallery

The Convention

The Convention line-up is: David Ford, aged 16, lead guitar; Keith Chetwynd, 17, vocalist; Robert Riley, 17, bass; and the youngest member, Kevin Allbrighton, 15, drummer. They are pictured together with their two managers - Mr William Walker and Mr Michael Young.

The Convention : Tamworth Herald Feature

Convention at The Robin in Brierly Hill in June 95

Convention at The Robin in Brierly Hill in June 1995.

Memories
The Convention of the 70s started in 1976 with exactly the same line-up as the 60s band to play the same material.

Bob Riley left, followed by Kev Allbrighton and we eventually metamorphosed into the blues band Ledbelly with Fran Ingley on guitar and Mick Burdett on bass (Detty was from 60s band The Fiends), eventually breaking up in 1980.

Convention are still playing, albeit rarely, having reformed in 1988 to play my 40th birthday (a one-off gig) and still continue to this day. Kev Allbrighton is still drumming with me today (is this a record - 42 years together in the same band!?). Trev Cobby is on guitar and we have my nephew Jack Chetwynd on bass (mojo stripe and little boy blue bassist).

Thanks to: Keith Chetwynd

If you have any further information about this band please email: info@tamworthbands.com


Copyright & Disclaimer © TamworthBands.com 2017 | Contact Us |
All photographs unless otherwise stated - courtesy of the Tamworth Herald.
Punk Poet - Edward ian Armchair
Return to the Tamworth Bands Home Page