DAVID JOHN AND THE MOOD – “Diggin’ For Gold” / “She’s Fine” (Parlophone R 5301) July 1965

One of Great Britain’s most popular stage groups, David John and the Mood, are almost certain to make the charts, even if in the lower regions, with their latest release, “Diggin’ For Gold”. It’s not a brilliant number and there is too much background noise, but I feel that with a few more plugs they could achieve the lower forties with the song.

It’s catchy enough, and I believe that the boys have built themselves up a large following and these extra fans could just shove the disc into the charts. I hope so anyway because they deserve success. (Pop Weekly, 14/08/65)

DAVID JOHN AND THE MOOD – “Bring it To Jerome” / “I Love To See You Strut” (Parlophone R 5255) March 1965

Despite the fact that their first record was definitely an R & B number, originally recorded by Bo Diddley, David John and the Mood are not, (and they are emphatic about this), an “ordinary run of the mill R & B group.” On stage they play all sorts of numbers – in fact, Just whatever they feel like playing.

They’ve been together for about a year now, although they have known each other for longer than that. They were all playing in groups of one sort or another, but none of them felt really happy until they Joined up together.

They’ve played all over the country since forming, and have built up a large following, especially in the North, where they are very well known although they are not a Northern group.

Individually, they area:-

DAVID JOHN: who sings. He’s nineteen and hails from Bradford, in Yorkshire. David is a fan of Christmas, which he feels is especially noteworthy for the warmth that people display at that season. He confesses to two weaknesses: bad eyesight and a passion for making omelettes.

MALCOLM ISHERWOOD: another nineteen year old, is the drummer. Among his likes he lists cheese, tea, the colour grey, Margaret Rutherford and sweeping carpets which are clean. The reason for this last is, he explains, because it is easier than sweeping a carpet that is dirty! His biggest break is 31 pairs of drumsticks in one year.

JOHN BRIERLEY: the bass guitarist. He’s a Mancunian and proud of it, and was once an employee of the government although he cannot say in which department. He likes horror films and soap powder commercials. His reading matter consists mainly of either science fiction or James Bond. He would be happiest, he says, in a world in which nobody wore clothes since he’s more comfortable when naked.

PETER ILLINGWORTH: guitarist and harmonica player. He comes from Lancashire, and claims that he is a methylated spirits addict, although he occasionally drinks milk! His favourite clothes are pin-stripe pyjamas and suede ties, although he seldom wears the two at once. His hobby is collecting beermats, and wants to be able to say that he has succeeded in everything that he’s attempted.

PETER ATKINSON: guitarist, comes from Runcorn in Cheshire, and was once in the R.A.F. If you ask him who his favourite singer is, he replies that he “likes all singers who sing like I like them to” which makes sense, even if it doesn’t tell you anything. His religion, he says, hasn’t got a name, but he is nonetheless an earnest devotee of it.

The group as a whole got their chance when they wrote to Joe Meek and asked for an audition. Meek, who has produced many hits in his time (Tornados, Honeycombs, Heinz), liked their sound and decided to give them a chance. The boys took full advantage of it! (E.M.I. Press Office)