Detours L to R: Jim Phillips, Trevor Wright, Johnny Campbell, Paul Sargison and John Clinton
Detours
Detours L to R: Jim Phillips, Trevor Wright, Johnny Campbell,
Paul Sargison and John Clinton
Original Line-Up:
John Campbell (Lead Guitar / Vocals)
Michael Robinson (Bass Guitar)
Bob Barrett (Drums)
Paul Sargison (Rhythm Guitar)
Jim Phillips (Saxophone)
The Detours were a Christchurch based group around from 1962 to 1966. They started out life as The Torments.
In 1963, they entered Robbins Recording Studio and laid down three tracks, "April In Portugal", "My Blue Heaven" and "Murphy The Surfie".
The group had a number of residencies around the Christchurch area, Surf City, The Christchurch Teenagers Club, Laredo Nitespot and the Mecca Nitespot.
In early 1964, their first single was released on the Robbins label, it was "Murphy the Surfer"/"April In Portugal"
Trevor Wright then joined the group, replacing Michael Robinson on bass guitar, and John Clinton took over from Bob Barrett on drums.
The Detours secured some good residencies after Max Merritt & The Meteors moved up to Auckland.
When Jim Phillips left, they didn't replace him and morphed into a four piece group. Paul Sargison left and was replaced by Brian Bligh on Rhythm guitar.
Around this time, and acquaintance of Johnny's, an English vocalist, Johnny Franklin was looking to record a couple of demo tracks and he went into Robbins with The Detours and recorded "Jezebel" and "The Chapel In The Moonlight".
John Clinton was still at school when his parents decided to move away from their Christchurch home, forcing him to leave the group. He was replaced by Graham Hanham on drums. It was with this new line-up that the group got to play as one of the supports to the Rolling Stones tour of New Zealand.
Another session at Robbins Studio in late 1964, resulted in four more tracks, "My Girl", "I Just Can't Go To Sleep", "Carol" and "You Really Got Me". Two of them were selected for the next single that wasn't released until early 1965, "My Girl"/"I Just Can't Go To Sleep".
After the Rolling Stones tour, Brian Bligh left and was replaced by Larry MacKay on rhythm guitar. John Clinton also returned, reclaiming his seat on the drums. Two more tracks were recorded in 1965, "Walk With Me" and "Wake Up Little Suzie".
The Detours continued in Christchurch, before disbanding in July 1966.
In March 1997, to celebrate Jonny Campbell's 50th birthday, the group reunited and since then they have gotten together now and again to play various live concerts.
For a complete history of Johnny Campbell and the Detours, have a look at John Campbell's own site, which has to be one of the best presented individual group sites on the internet. Johnny Campbell and the Detours
L to R: Trevor Wright, Brian Bligh, Johnny Campbell, at back Graham Hanham
L to R: John Clinton, Trevor Wright, Larry McKay and John Campbell.
In 2021, a CD of their two released singles and all their recording sessions was released by Frenzy.
The Detours can also be found on the following compilations:-
