Brian Stanley Innes was born on May 4th 1928, in London, England. The son of Stanley and Laura Innes, he graduated from King's College, London, with a B.Sc., in 1949. He also attended Chelsea School of Art, the Central School of Arts and Crafts, and London School of Printing. At Christmas 1955, Innes co-founded 'The Temperance Seven' at the Pasadena Cocoa Rooms, Balls Pond Road, North London. The other founder members were Paul McDowell (trombone), and Philip Harrison (banjo).
Innes himself was the percussionist. Gradually, the band evolved into a nine-piece ensemble, with a light-hearted and humorous performing style, although they were all serious musicians. However, a now-married Innes (to Felicity Wilson in October 1956) was already putting his art/printing school background to good use, working for publishers Paul Hamlyn as an art director from 1960 to 1962, and then becoming a director of Animated Graphic and Publicity Designers, London, from 1963 to 1965.
From 1965, he became the proprietor of Immediate Books, and also worked as production consultant to Bancroft & Co., Ltd. (who published the four books in his "The Book of....." series from the late 1960s) and as a design consultant to BPC Publishing Ltd. Following their No. 1 hit in 1962, the '1920s dance band' pastiche "You're Driving Me Crazy" (featured here), the 'Seven' entered an intensive round of concert and cabaret appearances.
These included broadcasts and films, such as Richard Lester's first feature film, "It's Trad Dad! in the same year. Although Innes continued as the beatman for the 'Seven' until 1965, from that point on he found that he had neither the time nor inclination to continue with what he increasingly viewed as a 'novelty' act. The group was finally dissolved in 1968, although Innes retained the name under copyright.
By the end of the 1960s, 'The New Temperance Seven' were formed, with new drummer Dave Mills leading the way, and they continue to this day, in one form or another. As for Innes, he had formed a company in 1961 called "The Temperance Seven Limited", of which he was still director and publishing consultant at the time of his death, to handle all his work as a musician, publicist and author.
Brian Innes died at his home in the south of France on July 14th 2014, aged 86. Twice divorced, he had three sons, and, by request, was cremated to the sounds of Benny Goodman's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/28/brian-innes
7 Comments (since 31 Jul 2014)
rest_in_peace
Brian Stanley Innes was born on May 4th 1928, in London, England. The son of Stanley and Laura Innes, he graduated from King's College, London, with a B.Sc., in 1949. He also attended Chelsea School of Art, the Central School of Arts and Crafts, and London School of Printing. At Christmas 1955, Innes co-founded 'The Temperance Seven' at the Pasadena Cocoa Rooms, Balls Pond Road, North London. The other founder members were Paul McDowell (trombone), and Philip Harrison (banjo).
rest_in_peace
Innes himself was the percussionist. Gradually, the band evolved into a nine-piece ensemble, with a light-hearted and humorous performing style, although they were all serious musicians. However, a now-married Innes (to Felicity Wilson in October 1956) was already putting his art/printing school background to good use, working for publishers Paul Hamlyn as an art director from 1960 to 1962, and then becoming a director of Animated Graphic and Publicity Designers, London, from 1963 to 1965.
rest_in_peace
From 1965, he became the proprietor of Immediate Books, and also worked as production consultant to Bancroft & Co., Ltd. (who published the four books in his "The Book of....." series from the late 1960s) and as a design consultant to BPC Publishing Ltd. Following their No. 1 hit in 1962, the '1920s dance band' pastiche "You're Driving Me Crazy" (featured here), the 'Seven' entered an intensive round of concert and cabaret appearances.
rest_in_peace
These included broadcasts and films, such as Richard Lester's first feature film, "It's Trad Dad! in the same year. Although Innes continued as the beatman for the 'Seven' until 1965, from that point on he found that he had neither the time nor inclination to continue with what he increasingly viewed as a 'novelty' act. The group was finally dissolved in 1968, although Innes retained the name under copyright.
rest_in_peace
By the end of the 1960s, 'The New Temperance Seven' were formed, with new drummer Dave Mills leading the way, and they continue to this day, in one form or another. As for Innes, he had formed a company in 1961 called "The Temperance Seven Limited", of which he was still director and publishing consultant at the time of his death, to handle all his work as a musician, publicist and author.
rest_in_peace
Brian Innes died at his home in the south of France on July 14th 2014, aged 86. Twice divorced, he had three sons, and, by request, was cremated to the sounds of Benny Goodman's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/28/brian-innes
leejohnson
Oh wow. I love the man's sense of humour, even in death! That's how I want to go!!