Peter Oakman www.peteroakman.com

Born 12th December 1943 in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, England to parents Albert and Francesca.  Brothers, Tony born 1939 now deceased and Michael born 1950.
First public performance in 1953 at local talent competition with Tony, in celebration of the ascension to the throne of Queen Elizabeth 11.  I played guitar, Tony played banjo, I don't remember the song we sang.
1957 "The Spacemen" Skiffle group was formed by Tony and myself and some members of the Wanstead Aeromodellers Club of which Tony was a member. Dave Platz was on tea-chest, Chas Thomson on washboard, Bert Graham and Mike (can't remember his name) on guitar and another guitarist, whose name I can't remember.  In 1958 Joe Brown joined the group as lead guitarist.  Gradually the "Spacemen" changed members with the band consisting of Tony, myself, Joe, George Staff on guitar, Sid Rodwell on washboard and Gary Gleed on double bass.  Eventually Gary left and I became the bass player.  

1959 we became a backing band for impresario Larry Parnes, who was putting together rock 'n roll package tours.  The artistes on our first tour were The Viscounts, Vince Eager, Sally Kelly, Marty Wilde and Gerry Dorsey, later to become Englebert Humperdink.
Jack Good who was producing "Oh Boy", the T.V. music show featuring Cliff Richard, produced our first record for Decca "Darttown Strutters Ball" but we needed a new name.  Joe said to Jack Good "well, we are like bruvvers" hence the name "Joe Brown and the Bruvvers".   It was around this time that Gene Vincent made his first trip to the UK and it was Joe and the Bruvvers who backed Gene.  Gene was later to return with Eddie Cochrane in 1960, which ended with the terrible accident on the A4 killing Eddie.

Visit Peter's website at
www.peteroakman.com