When Bradford Rocked

06/08/2026

Geoff and the Prosecutors featured in the T&A 05/08/26

In 1963, a rock ’n’ roll group was formed by local lads who had seen most of the top rock ’n’ roll artists at the Gaumont Theatre and decided this was the life for them! Two school friends, Mick Duffy and Paul Young, bought themselves guitars and practised at each other’s houses. After learning a small repertoire, they did a spot at the John Dillon Club in Little Horton Lane – like a modern karaoke where people got up on stage and sang, accompanied by a resident pianist. They enjoyed this and had some acclaim, which gave them a little more confidence and resulted in their decision to form a group, with Paul on lead and Mick on rhythm guitar. They advertised in the Telegraph and Argus for a drummer and bass guitarist, and along came bass guitarist John Waite and drummer Ian Greenwood.

A name was required for the group, and it was Paul’s sister who came up with the unusual name The Prosecutors. The lads seemed to gel from the outset, and with constant practice they soon had a good assortment of rock ’n’ roll numbers under their belt. As there was no regular vocalist, John Waite sang most of the pop numbers, with Mick and Paul covering with backing vocals. They were soon playing on the local pubs and working men’s clubs circuits, including the Old Vic on Holme Top Street, Belle Vue, Manningham Lane and the Listers Arms on Manchester Road. They even ventured into the Leeds area, appearing at the Star and Garter in Kirkstall.

The Prosecutors were now doing well, but were beginning to feel that a good vocalist was required, so they placed another advert in the local paper. This paid off when the very talented Geoff Cowler (late of Geoff and the Fairlanes) joined them. Their name was changed to Geoff and the Prosecutors to reflect this. Geoff, being somewhat older than the others, soon brought his experience to bear, and they were soon noticed as no mediocre group – gaining better bookings at the local dance halls, and larger venues such as Bradford University’s annual dance, where they supported Wayne Fontana, The Kinks and Long John Baldry at the Queens in Morley Street.

Geoff and the Prosecutors’ popularity brought them to the notice of Garth Cawood’s popular Top Twenty Club in Idle, where they appeared many times.
Soul music and r&b were now part of the music scene, but Geoff and the Prosecutors kept with rock ’n’ roll, which was still thriving. For nearly two years the group were at the forefront, until they parted company in 1965 mostly because of their careers.

06/08/2026

One of the latest group biographies on the website and from the T&A. 05/08/26.
Seeds of Tyme
In 1964, towards the twilight days of rock ’n’ roll, a new group came along that introduced itself as Tony and the Fadeaways. Within three months, after much discussion, the group’s name did fade-away, and the Seeds of Tyme sprang to life. The two lads who formed the group were colleagues working for the Midland Bank in Market Street – Keith Alred, lead guitar and vocals, and Paul Coleman, rhythm guitarist and backing vocals. Soon they were joined by drummer Tony Butterworth, who was not only a talented drummer but also a good rock ’n’ roll vocalist, quite an addition to any group. The bass player was Bruce Wilson, affectionately known as Stan by the other group members.
Rehearsals were held in a hall at the Synagogue Spring Gardens and the Belle Vue Hotel on Manningham Lane. Their repertoire was largely rock of the 1950s and ’60s, with pop chart music added, and a few country and old time numbers for the club circuit. Favourites were Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, The Shadows, The Kinks, The Animals, The Searchers and Chuck Berry.

By 1965 the Seeds of Tyme were well established, with a manager, and agents Harry Morris and Mark Jordan were finding them more than enough bookings. Such was their demand that double bookings had to be resolved on occasion! It was a busy time, and the list of venues played 1965 and 1966 ran into hundreds, on the working men’s club circuit and also at clubs and dance halls, including (in Bradford) the Mecca Locarno, Lyceum Rainbow, Connaught Rooms, Fountains Hall, Excel Bowling Alley 2, the Top Twenty, Shipley Bowling Alley and almost every Bradford C&IU affiliated working men’s club, as well as social and sports clubs, including North Bierley, Birkenshaw, Hepworth and Grandage Social Club, Homewood Social Club, with the comedian Ken Platt, Lidget Green Social Club, Windhill Cricket Club, and many more – spreading out into the old West Riding of Yorkshire.

The group’s transport was provided by a milk van driver called Ludwig and his co-pilot wife April. The cost to the group was always 10s irrespective of mileage: 100 miles or 1 mile was the same! Ludwig had to get up for milk deliveries at 3.30 am after driving the group home, sometimes only finishing in the early hours of the morning, and he only broke down once in two years – quite a record.

In 1967, as suddenly as the Seeds of Tyme had sprung up, the lads split up to go their own ways because of work commitments. Another Tyme, another place, who knows? This was another group of talented lads who loved their music but did not quite make it. As founder member Keith Alred said, ‘It was the buzz every night we played of being up on stage enjoying ourselves, and hopefully everyone listening was enjoying it too.’ There was sadness when they took their last bow and the applause died down, when they knew that they had achieved as much as they had hoped for, and more than they had expected.

29/07/2026

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www.whenbradfordrocked.co.uk
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22/07/2026

Explore the enduring legacy of Bradford's rock n' roll history. Visit our website to explore the stories of the groups, their concerts in and around the city of Bradford. Discover how this vibrant music scene continued to inspire new groups all looking for 'stardom'. Learn more and connect with the heritage of a city that once rocked.