Shane Fenton and the Fentones

Shane Fenton and the Fentones were an English group fronted by Shane Fenton. There were actually two Shane Fentons. But, when the first Shane Fenton aka Johnny Theakston suddenly died, he was replaced by Bernard Jewry who assumed the Shane Fenton identity. They had four top hits with Jewry as their lead singer. The history of the group goes back further than Jewry's joining the group. Jewry would later find fame as Alvin Stardust.

Shane Fenton and the Fentones
OriginEngland
GenresRock and roll
Years active1960 - 1964
LabelsParlophone
Associated actsJohnny Theakston with his Beat Boys
Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes
Past membersBill Bonney
Mick Eyre
Tony Hinchcliffe
Bernard Jewry
George Rodda
Johnny Theakston
Jerry Wilcock

History

Beginnings: Johnny Theakston aka Shane Fenton

The original lead singer of the group was Johnny Theakston who was born in 1944. When Theakston was a child, he contracted rheumatic fever.[1] Prior to playing rock'n roll, Theakston was playing skiffle. When the popularity of that genre faded, he switched to the more popular one.[2]

The group's roots can be traced to the Diamond Skiffle Group and Roger Lymer and his Crusaders. Following the break up of the two groups, some members from each of them ended up in a group called Johnny Theakston with his Beat Boys. The group's name was changed to Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes. In the late 1950s, the newly named group took part in, and won a talent show at the Mansfield Palais. Also at the show was a young Bernard Jewry. He would then join up to Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes as their roadie. Occasionally Jewry would perform with them onstage.[3] Around 1960 / 1961 Johnny Theakston decided that the group needed a more commercial name.[4] He had given himself a more American image and adopted the name Shane Fenton. The Shane part was from the film western, Shane. The Fenton part came from a local printing firm. The group had been doing well in the Nottinghamshire area, attracting more attention as they continued playing.

The group recorded a demo tape around 1961 which was sent to BBC. At the time the group consisted of Johnny Theakston on vocals, Jerry Wilcock and Mick Eyre on lead and rhythm guitars, Graham Squires on bass and Tony Hinchcliffe on drums. As a result of the tape being heard, they were offered an audition. Just days before the audition was due to take place, Jewry who was a friend of Johnny Theakston's walked over to his house for a rehearsal. His mother said that Johnny had become ill and was in hospital. Two days later Jewry went back and Johnny's mother told him that her son had died at seventeen years of age. The cause of death was rheumatic fever.[5][6] After the death of Theakston the group were going to call it quits. But because the BBC had responded to the audition tape that had been sent in, the band were invited to play on the Saturday Club radio pop show. Theakston's mother asked that they keep the group going as a tribute to her son as well as keeping the original name. Jewry took Theakston's place as Shane Fenton.[7][8] According to an article in The Independent, Theakston's mother told Bernard Jewry that Johnny would have wanted him to take his place as Shane Fenton.[9]

Bernard Jewry aka Shane Fenton

Now with Jewry as Shane Fenton the group had become regulars on Saturday Club. Tommy Sanderson who was the MD for the show became their manager, and they got a recording contract with EMI's Parlophone label. In September 1961, their debut single "I’m a Moody Guy" was released.[10] Spending eight weeks on the chart, the single peaked at 22.[11] Not long after the success of the single, the group was soon touring on rock'n'roll package show events.[12] The next single was "Walk Away" which got to no 38.[13] They made an appearance in the Michael Winner directed film, Play It Cool, which starred Billy Fury.[14] The next single "It's All Over Now" peaked at no 29 in April 1962. The last single, "Cindy's Birthday" made the top 20 and peaked at no 19 on 18 July 1962, spending eight weeks in the charts.[15]

The last single for the group was "Hey Lulu" in 1964. After that the last time the group appeared together was on Saturday Club. They then broke up.[16]

Recordings

Released recordings
Shane Fenton and the Fentones singles
Title Label, cat Year Notes
"I'm A Moody Guy" / "Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue" Parlophone 45-R 4827 1961
"Walk Away" / "Fallen Leaves On The Ground" Parlophone R 4866 1962
"It's All Over Now" / "Why Little Girl" Parlophone R 4883 1962
"Cindy's Birthday" / "It's Gonna Take Magic" Parlophone R 4921 1962
"Too Young For Sad Memories" / "You're Telling Me" Parlophone R 4951 1962
"I Ain't Got Nobody" / "Hey Miss Ruby" Parlophone R 4982 1963
"Hey Lulu" / " Do, Do You" Parlophone R 5131 1964
Shared singles
Act & Title Label, cat Year Notes
A Shane Fenton And The Fentones - "Sparkling Brown Eyes"
B Ken Baxter - "I Go For You"		 Blakey BUS 1 2004
A Adam Faith - "Carve Up"
B Shane Fenton And The Fentones - "Sparkling Brown Eyes"		 Blakey BL 828
Shane Fenton and the Fentones EPs
Title Label, cat Year Notes
A "I'm A Moody Guy", "Walk Away"
B "Cindy's Birthday", "It's All Over Now"		 EMI 2696 1977 [17][18]

Unreleased recordings
  • Demo tape recorded in 1961 featuring Johnny Theakston[19][20]

Members
  • Johnny Theakston aka Shane Fenton - vocals
  • Bernard Jewry aka Shane Fenton - vocals
  • Jerry Wilcock - lead guitar
  • Mick Eyre - rhythm guitar
  • Bill Bonney aka Bonney Oliver - bass
  • Tony Hinchcliffe - drums
  • George Rodda - drums[21]
  • Bobby Elliott

References
  1. Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door, By Nick Talevski - Page 173 Shane Fenton (Johnny Theakston)
  2. Tales from the Woods, December 2014 - Page 9
  3. Our Mansfield and area - Shane Fenton, From Bernard Jewry to Alvin Stardust, Bernard William Jewry
  4. The History of British Rock and Roll: The Forgotten Years 1956 - 1962, by Robin Bell - -
  5. Vintage Rock, June 2016 - Page 48 SHANE FENTON By Jeremy Isaac
  6. Our Mansfield and area - Shane Fenton, From Bernard Jewry to Alvin Stardust, The original shane Fenton - johnny Theakston
  7. Nostalgia Central - Music - 1960s Shane Fenton (& The Fentones)
  8. Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door, By Nick Talevski - Page 173 Shane Fenton (Johnny Theakston)
  9. The Independent, Thursday 23 October 2014 - News›Obituaries, Alvin Stardust: Singer who made a minor splash in the rock'n'roll era then resurfaced to hit the top of the charts in the early 1970s
  10. Nostalgia Central - Music - 1960s Shane Fenton (& The Fentones)
  11. Official Charts - SHANE FENTON & THE FENTONES
  12. The Independent, Thursday 23 October 2014 - News›Obituaries, Alvin Stardust: Singer who made a minor splash in the rock'n'roll era then resurfaced to hit the top of the charts in the early 1970s
  13. Official Charts - SHANE FENTON & THE FENTONES
  14. The Independent, Thursday 23 October 2014 - News›Obituaries, Alvin Stardust: Singer who made a minor splash in the rock'n'roll era then resurfaced to hit the top of the charts in the early 1970s
  15. Official Charts - SHANE FENTON & THE FENTONES
  16. Adiebarrett.co.uk - SHANE FENTON and the Fentones, Part 3: Hey Lulu, It's All Over Now
  17. 45Cat - Shane Fenton And The Fentones - Discography, UK
  18. Discogs - Shane Fenton & The Fentones
  19. Sump Magazine, October 2014 - Alvin Stardust: 1942 - 2014
  20. Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door, By Nick Talevski - Page 173 Shane Fenton (Johnny Theakston)
  21. Nostalgia Central - Music - 1960s Shane Fenton (& The Fentones)
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