The Koobas

From Wikipedia:

The Koobas were an English beat group from Liverpool. Their music, and their early history, is similar in some ways to that of fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles, though they never achieved widespread popularity.

History

The group was founded in April 1962 in Liverpool by members who had previously played in local outfits such as the Thunderbeats and Roy Montrose and the Midnighters. They used both the spellings “Kubas” and “Koobas” at times. Late in 1963 they began playing at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, doing a three-week stint there.

Tony Stratton Smith signed them to a contract in 1964 and brokered them a deal with Pye Records. In 1965, they were to appear in the film Ferry Cross the Mersey (a Gerry & The Pacemakers vehicle), as the losers in a battle of the bands, but this footage was cut from the film’s final release. Their first single was “I Love Her” b/w “Magic Potion”, which did not make the chart, but the group opened for The Beatles on their last British tour to support the single.

In the summer of 1965 they played, as resident group, in the Rock Ballroom at Butlin’s Ayr, Scotland.

Following the dates with the Beatles, the group did club tours of England and attracted much positive press, but further singles failed to catch on with the public. In 1966, they moved from Pye to EMI Columbia Records, and the following year played with The Who at the Savile Theatre and performed alongside Jimi Hendrix in Switzerland. […]

The Koobas were among the support acts for The Beatles’ 1965 UK Tour, sharing the bill with the Moody Blues, Beryl Marsden, Steve Aldo, the Marionettes, and the Paramounts.

the koobas

Exciting young Liverpool group—three guitars, drums, and massive vocal harmonies—already big on the Northern scene, now readying for a breakthrough on record with Pye. Knock-out stage presentation. Limited availability through till Christmas 1965.

Koobas line-up: Tony O’Reilly, drummer, aged 18, ex-Liverpool College of Art; Stewart Leathwood, aged 20, rhythm guitarist, ex-Birkenhead College of Art; Roy Morris, aged 20, lead guitarist, ex-Wallasey Art School; Keith Ellis, aged 19, bass-player with seven G.C.E.’s. Educated boys with an educated act—and all born under the sign of Aries!

From the Beatles’ 1965 UK Tour Programme

Tours The Koobas supported