The Temperance Seven

The Temperance Seven was founded at Christmas 1955 by students at the Chelsea School of Art,[2] though the band mythologized its foundation as dating from 1904 at the fictitious Pasadena Cocoa Rooms, Balls Pond Road, North London. The three founder members were Paul McDowell (who originally played trombone), Philip Harrison (who originally played banjo) and Brian Innes (drums).[2] Gradually the band evolved into a nine-piece ensemble with a light-hearted and humorous performing style, although they were all serious musicians. The name "Temperance Seven" was suggested by Dougie Gray, of the Alberts fame. The Alberts were cult figures in the art scene in the mid 1950s and were forerunners of the sort of humour that became Monty Python. (This was not the band's only link with Monty Python; see below). The Temperance Seven was a subtle play on words – the number seven being "one under the eight". That there were nine members or "one over the eight" implied intemperance.

In 1960, they recorded "Ukulele Lady" with vocal refrain by Peter Sellers, produced by George Martin. It was featured on Parlophone PMC 1131, a 12-inch album called Peter and Sophia (Loren).[3]

In 1961, the Temperance Seven achieved a UK number-one single with "You're Driving Me Crazy", arranged by Frank Skinner and produced by George Martin.[2] It was followed by "Pasadena", which reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] They toured the UK widely that year, often in shows promoted by their manager Ralph Peters, and their performances acquired a set routine beginning with the last few bars of "Pasadena" (which became their signature tune) and ending with the stirring strains of the "Gaumont-British News". By the summer of 1961, their fame was such that they appeared at the London Palladium for a two-week top of the bill performance. This was arranged by Peters in combination with an appearance at that year's Royal Variety Performance.

Between 1962 and 1963, the Temperance Seven provided musical interludes for The Arthur Haynes Show on the BBC Light Programme. [5]

Before the band became known nationally, Paul McDowell had also been a member of the Experimental Theatre Club revue, with Ian Davidson, Robin Grove-White and Doug Fisher. At the time, they had been performing their show, called **** (Four Asterisks), at the Edinburgh Fringe, but after the success of "You're Driving Me Crazy", McDowell left the group to tour with his band. This prompted Davidson to look for a replacement, and he found Terry Jones, future Monty Python member, who thus obtained his first chance to be part of the revue.

The Temperance Seven came to popularity during the resurgent trad-jazz era of the early 1960s. Their unique sound, coupled with their musicianship and ingeniously humorous compositions, set them apart from their contemporaries; however, they arrived at the cusp of that era and, as popular tastes changed with the emergence of the Beatles, the Temperance Seven gradually slipped into obscurity, although the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band attempted to wear their mantle for several years whilst claiming no affiliation.[2]

The Temperance Seven is also listed as the band for Spike Milligan and John Antrobus' stage play The Bed-Sitting Room,[2][6] which opened at the Mermaid Theatre on 31 January 1963,[7][8] with a subsequent production opening on 3 May 1967 at the Saville Theatre.[7]

The original Temperance Seven were dissolved in the mid 1960s, but the band was resurrected in the latter part of that decade by drummer Dave Mills, who had replaced Brian Innes in 1966 and led the band for several years, firstly as The New Temperance Seven, and was instrumental in arranging their appearances in Hong Kong and Bahrain, where he eventually settled, to be replaced by Ian Howarth. The band continued to perform with new personnel and, from time to time, original members made guest appearances. During the 1980s, Chris Hook took over leadership of the band. The personnel has not changed since that time and the band continues to work around the UK. Many members of the original band reunited for a BBC Radio programme about the group in 2003.

The Temperance Seven dressed in a manner appropriate to the style of music they played.[9] Some members also went under preposterous pseudonyms emphasised by the wearing of a minor yet conspicuous item of clothing – Colin Bowles a dog collar and John R.T. Davies a fez.[10] "Josef Kronk", who supposedly arranged The Temperance Seven 1961 LP, was the collective pseudonym for the band. The early personnel included:

• Clifford Bevan (tuba [on first recording on Argo RG117], piano, trombone)
• Joe Clark (clarinet)
• "Canon" Colin Bowles (piano, harmonium)
• Alan Swainston Cooper (clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, phonofiddle, pedal clarinet, Swanee whistle) (15 February 1931 – 22 August 2007)[11]
• John R.T. Davies "Sheik Haroun of Wadi el Yadounir" (trombone, second trumpet, alto saxophone) (20 March 1927 – 25 May 2004)[12]
• Martin Fry (sousaphone) (pseudonym: Franklyn D. Paverty)
• John Gieves-Watson (banjo, spoons)
• Phillip "Fingers" Harrison (banjo, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone)
• Cephas Howard "Captain, cashiered" (trumpet, euphonium) He died in France in 26 September 2021, aged 86.[13]
• Brian Stanley Innes "Professor Emeritus" (percussion) (4 May 1928 – 14 July 2014)[14]

• "Whispering" Paul McDowell (trombone, vocal refrains) (15 August 1931 – 2 May 2016)[15]

Later members included:

• Ted Wood (vocals)
• Melvyn Robinson (trombone)
• Ray Whittam (clarinet, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, tenor saxophone)
• Bobby Mickleburgh (trombone, trumpet)
• Bill Greenow (clarinet, alto saxophone, penny whistle)
• Mac White (clarinet, alto saxophone)
• Malcolm Everson (baritone saxophone, alto saxophone)
• Will Hastie (clarinet, penny whistle)
• Geoff Simkins (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone)
• Bert Murray (piano, trombone)
• Chris Hook - (aka Chris Buckley) (sousaphone)
• Dave Mills (percussion)
• Ian Howarth (percussion)
• Graham Collicott (percussion)

• It's Trad, Dad! (1962)
• Take Me Over (1963)
• The Wrong Box (1966)
• The Temperance Seven in Hong Kong (1976)

• Pasadena Roof Orchestra

• The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4
• The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons, 2003, Orion books, ISBN 0-7528-6425-4

• Official Temperance Seven website
• The Temperance Seven at IMDb
• David Christie's Doo Dah Diaries includes John Gieves-Watson's performances with The Bill Posters Will Be Band