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THE FRENZ
Wigan
Alan Dwyer: Guitar. Mick Hannan: Lead Vocal. Jimmy 'Thurston' Hannan: Bass Guitar.
Phil Maiden: Drums, Mitch Mitchinson: Keyboards - Harmonica.
The Frenz formed when Alan Dwyer and Mick Hannan left The Trakkers to pursue other musical interests. Initially the band was a four piece group with Phil Maiden on drums and Jimmy Hannon on bass - Jimmy's first name was Thurston.
After a few Gigs Michael 'Mitch' Mitchinson - pre Ipso Facto - joined the band as keyboard and harmonica player. They played around Wigan and could be seen on numerous occasions at the very popular Room At The Top Club, Wigan. Sadly, Jimmy and Alan passed away at early ages, leaving Mitch, Mick and Phil as surviving members.
Charity at the Monaco
John 'Wokky' Watkinson: Guitar. Michael 'Mitch' Mithchinson: Guitar.
Mick Hannon: Lead Vocal. Phil: Frenz drummer.
Barry Hammond: Bass. Oggie: Guitar.
Also see The Trakkers
"In 1964 I joined The Frenz who were already a very good group. I'd seen them at Room At The Top in Wigan and was very impressed. I initially joined as harmonica player then guitar as I improved. We were booked as support for The Kinks at Preston Top Rank ballroom and the place was packed with screaming young ladies. I can remember we were supposed to play after The Kinks. It was a Saturday afternoon show and at around 4.00pm The Kinks still hadn't arrived, the crowd were restless so they asked us to go on first."
"The Kinks were late - so..."
We donned our brand-new suits with frilly shirts and new cuban-heeled boots and stepped onto the revolving stage. We opened with 'Dont Bring Me Down' by the Pretty Things which featured harmonica. The stage had only rotated about a third when the crowd, thinking we were The Kinks, dragged me onto the dance floor .
My harmonica was halfway down my throat when Mick the singer landed on top of me! The bouncers stopped the show and I dont think we played one song! Funny thing is, someone
had nicked one of my new boots while I was on the dance floor and I had a big hole in my sock and my big toe was sticking out! Me mam went mental at me for losing me boot."
Michael 'Mitch' Mitchinson April 2010 | 
