The Fingers

Formed in Southend in 1966, the Fingers were one of the earliest pop/rock outfits to identify themselves as a psychedelic act, as well as one of the earliest, if not the very first rock act, to have their bassist double on cello. Their personnel included Alan Beecham on keyboards and horns, Maurice Dunn on lead guitar, David Grout on rhythm guitar, John Bobin on bass and cello, and Bob Clouter on drums, with Rick Mills handling the vocals. The group was signed to EMI Columbia in 1966 and released a total of two singles, of which "Circus With a Female Clown" has achieved some staying power in the field of psychedelic obscurities, appearing on EMI's Psychedelia At Abbey Road 1965-1969. They had a good sense and command of melodic playing and a spaced out pop sound that was, reportedly, much more intense on stage (their performing contingent included a monkey named "Freak Out"), but the public never responded with record sales. John Bobin and guitartist Mo Witham (who was aboard for a brief time in the Fingers' history) later played in Mickey Jupp's pioneering pub rock outfit Legend. ~ Bruce Eder