THIS is the story of a band.
It may be small potatoes if you care to compare it with the history of the Beatles, Stones or Queen, but bear with me.
There's plenty of interest here - and it has the beauty of being hooked closely to Huddersfield.
In 1958 Bill Kaye was playing bass guitar with the original Phantoms of Golcar.
Roy Atkinson was singing with Chris Allen and the Crestas of Linthwaite.
Bob Wood and Peter Irving were drummer and lead guitarist respectively with Ricky Vincent and the Rebels, also of Linthwaite.
Peter Irving takes up the tale.
"For one reason or another these four came together as Danny Vern and the Vulcans. You could say they were the first Huddersfield `super' group."
Huddersfield? Supergroup?
"After numerous gigs at Marsden Youth Club they became the resident band at the Salisbury Hotel at Mumps Bridge, Oldham every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"They did regular Wednesday nights at Tommy Smith's Savoy Ballroom, also in Oldham, and occasional Sunday nights at the Minders' Arms in Shaw," continues Peter, unabashed.
"Several Huddersfield groups later played the Salisbury. The Vulcans split in 1960 and Roy Atkinson had plenty of success singing with Dave Hesp's Phantoms."
Well, that's it, then. Old news.
Not a bit of it.
Fast forward 46 years to April 1, 2006, the Gas Club, Huddersfield.
The occasion was Bill Kaye's 65th birthday party and his wife Susan's 60th.
The group appearing was Rod Stevens and the New Phantoms.
The line-up was vocalist Roy Atkinson, Tony Edwards on lead guitar, Charlie Fairbanks on bass and Graham Rushworth on drums.
Linchpin Roy gathered his old Vulcan muckers together - Pete, Bob and Chris - and the Vulcan were back on stage after 46 years.
"We got the biggest cheer of the night," says Pete. The Vulcans performed three numbers and a good time was had by all."
I bet.
