After two flops, the Primitives were feeling the pressure and reacted the way that many young bands do when this happens: They broke up, but they then reformed around a new lead singer, MAL RYDER. Ryder was already established in the British scene to some extent, having released four singles, so the band was redubbed Mal and the Primitives. In this new incarnation, John E. Soul stayed on for awhile as rhythm guitarist, and Jay Roberts became the bass guitarist, though Ryder indicates that Roberts began using his birth name Jeffrey Farthing; they were joined by Stuart Linnell on lead guitar and Mick Charleton on drums.
The Primitives was the winner among 30 rock bands who tried out with the Piper Club in Viareggio, Italy; after a short stint in France, they became the house band for the club beginning in July 1966. However, the two new bandmembers, Stuart Linnell and Mick Charleton both left the Primitives before they made the big move to Italy; Mark Sumner became the new lead guitarist.
The next two drummers for the Primitives made a name for themselves in later years. Dave Withers took Mick Charleton’s place in the band when they moved to Italy; according to Mal Ryder, he played on all of the early records that he made with the Primitives. He had the nickname Pique or Pick by then; Withers returned to England in 1969. In the late 1970’s, Pick Withers became the founding drummer with the British rock band Dire Straits, playing on their first four albums, including their #4 hit “Sultans of Swing”.
(May 2015)
