The Classmates formed in 1963 in Strood, Kent with a line-up of Keith Rossiter on lead vocals, Colin Kelly on lead guitar, Bobby Gibbs on bass (b. Robert Gibbs d. in a road traffic accident) and Luce Langridge on drums (b. Stuart Langridge).
The Classmates had started out as Keith Rossiter and the Teen Beats, but had to change their name when they signed for Decca in 1963.
All the band were classmates from The Temple Secondary Modern School, Strood.
Line-up included:
- Keith Rossiter lead vocals (1963 - )
- Colin Kelly lead guitar (1963 - )
- Robert 'Bobby' Gibbs bass (1963 - )
- Stuart 'Luce' Langridge drums (1963 - )
Discography
On Friday, September 13, 1963 The Classmates released their first single 'Let's Get Together Tonight (Gordon Rees, Ian Grant) and 'It's No Game' (Gordon Rees, John D. Sullivan, Bobby Gibbs) on Decca F 11736. It was produced by K.P.M.
On Friday, November 22, 1963 The Classmates released their second single 'Go Tell It On The Mountain' and 'Give Me A Girl' (Gordon Rees, John Turner) on Decca F 11779. It was produced by K.P.M. And the A-side was arranged by John Turner (b. James John Turner Phillips, Monday, July 7, 1902, Islington, North London, England d. Wednesday, April 14, 1982, Brighton, East Sussex, England).
On Friday, January 10, 1964 The Classmates released their third single 'In Morocco' (Osterwald, Benoit) and 'I Feel' (Farley, John Turner) on Decca F 11806. It was produced by K.P.M. And the A-side was arranged by Charles Blackwell (b. Charles Vincent Ramsey, Monday, May 20, 1940, Leytonstone, East London, England d. Wednesday, August 14, 2024).
On Friday, December 11, 1964 The Classmates released their fourth single 'Go Away' (Alan Hawkins) and 'Pay Day' (Artie Caplan, Matt Maurer) on Decca F 12047. It was produced by John D. Sullivan.
Gibbs sadly died in a road accident driving back from a gig.
Known gigs
Friday, January 10, 1964: Ready, Steady, Go!, Television House, Kingsway, Holborn, West Central London, England
Also on the bill: Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Manfred Mann, Helen Shapiro.
It was recorded at a small studio in Rediffusion's headquarters in Television House.
Saturday, January 11, 1964: The California Ballroom, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Downs, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Also on the bill: Rocking Henry and the Hayseeds, Bern Elliott and the Fenmen (Erith, Kent).
Saturday, January 18, 1964: Long's Ballroom, North Street, Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, England
Also on the bill: The Cheetahs.
Saturday, May 2, 1964: The Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
Also on the bill: Unit Four Plus Two, The Sound Trekkers.
Saturday, May 9, 1964: The Gaiety Ballroom, High Street, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, England
Also on the bill: The Drumbeats.
Friday, September 25, 1964: The California Ballroom, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Downs, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Also on the bill: The Applejacks, The Moquets.
Friday, October 2, 1964: The Dungeon Club, 6 Stamford Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Saturday, October 10, 1964: The Dungeon Club, 6 Stamford Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Saturday, January 16, 1965: The Witch Doctor, Hastings Pier, St. Leonard's, Hastings, East Sussex, England, 7.30pm - 11.45pm
Also on the bill: The Lancastrians (Altrincham, Cheshire).
Advertised as Witch Doctor Hastings Pier Marine Court St. Leonards Saturday, January 16th Pye Recording Artists The Lancastrians Plus one of the South's Top Groups The Classmates 7.30-11.45 p.m. 6/-.
Sunday, January 17, 1965: The Dungeon Club, 6 Stamford Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Friday, January 29, 1965: The California Ballroom, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Downs, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Also on the bill: The Takers, Eddie Falcon and the Fournotes.
Saturday, January 30, 1965: The Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
Also on the bill: The Cavaliers.
Friday, February 26, 1965: The Wheelhouse, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire now Dorset, England
Sunday, March 28, 1965: Le Disque A Go! Go!, 9 Holdenhurst Road, Lansdowne, Bournemouth, Hampshire now Dorset, England
Friday, April 30, 1965: The California Ballroom, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Downs, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Also on the bill: Johnny Flood and the Trespassers, The Kingsnakes.
Wednesday, July 21, 1965: The Pontiac Club, Zetta House, Putney, South West London, England
Also on the bill: Group Survival.
Friday, July 23, 1965: The California Ballroom, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable Downs, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Also on the bill: Trendsetters Ltd, The Saracens.
Tuesday, August 3, 1965: The Pavilion Theatre and Ballroom, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire now Dorset, England
Also on the bill: Roger and the Rallies.
Information courtesy Stuart 'Luce' Langridge and John H Warburg December 2024