Purple Haze

Welcome to the Official Purple Haze Web site!

You heard about them! Now read about them. This ambitious trio, Frank Newbold, Paul Varley and Peter Illingworth, from Preston in Lancashire who brought psychedelia to the North of England. Peter was the Harmonica Player and Lead Guitarist in the renowned UK 60's Rhythm and Blues Group David John and the Mood and this is Peter's version of the Purple Haze story.

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Purple Haze: Paul, Peter & Frank's now famous photo!

After about two and a half years, 3 singles, TV and Theatre Tours, Colleges and Clubs and lots of good times, one of what is now being hailed as the most innovative UK R&B Bands broke up, because of wranglings with short-sighted Managers and Agents. David John and the Mood was no more!

In disillusionment I went back to my old job in Atkinson Vehicles and at the age of 22 completed the 6 months remaining of my apprenticeship as a diesel Fitter. Feeling like a complete failure I found to my surprise that I was a minor celebrity, having toured with the Stones, Peter & Gordon and PJ Proby, and been on TV a few times. We'd backed Little Richard, John Lee Hooker and worked with some of the major Blues Artistes. All the guys were still doing what they’d done before I left and I had made the break and seen some wild times. However, everything was settling down and I became engaged to a girl Carol whom I’d met whilst in the Mood. When I graduated I was promoted to be in Charge of one of the Vehicles Assembly Lines where I also fitted the engines and completed the checks before the chassis went into the spray shop. Things were tightening up around me and my horizons were beginning to disappear. One of the men at the Factory had asked me to go and audition at a Working Men’s Club, The NUR Club (National Union of Railway Workers) in Friargate, Preston which I did, and I got the gig as resident Singer/Guitarist in the house band, along with an old girl who played piano (busking) and an old boy who played sort-of Salvation Army Drums. I used to get a couple of quid and as much as I could drink every night, usually Thursday, Friday & Saturday each week. So I consumed a fair quantity of beer and my fiancée used to sit at the table reserved for ‘Artistes!’ and became extremely possessive about me! My life was getting a wee bit claustrophobic, but I suppose I needed a bit of stability after the heady Mood days.!

DJ & the Mood Pete Atkinson, John Brierley, David John, Peter Illingworth & Fred Isherwood

Go to The Purple Haze Story

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This page was last updated on 06/08/00. You are visitor number