Shaun Corrigan - Guitar
​
Shaun, a former Searchers and Rebounds member along with Dave , was also the guitarist for the Essex band the Symbols, two hits in the uk singles charts, 'Bye Bye Baby' & 'The best Part Of Breaking Up'
Symbols bassist Mick Clarke left the group to join the Tremelos where he introduced an
old Symbols repertoire number called 'Silence Is Golden' Clarke then later returned to
the symbols. Shaun toured the USA six times playing with the likes of the WHO and
Vanilla Fudge.
Shaun whilst in the Symbols supported the WHO at their infamous performance at the
Boston Glyderdrome,also happened to be in the next studio when the WHO cut their f
irst single 'I Can't Explain'. Shaun has also played for the Beatles, when the Symbols were
booked as requested by John Lennon to be the live band for their 'magical mystery tour'
release party.
​
The Symbols began in the early 1960s as Johnny Milton and the Condors, and they
released two singles, including "Cry Baby" on the Fontana label. In 1965, they
changed their name to The Symbols, and their initial line-up included John Milton
(vocals), Mick Clarke (bass guitar), Shaun Corrigan (lead guitar) and Clive Graham
(drums). Their debut single under the Symbols name was produced by
Mickie Most. However, "One Fine Girl", was a commercial failure. The follow-up
single was their cover version of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", but after lack
of mainstream success, by 1966 they were released from their recording
contract. They had been regular performers at the California Ballroom,
Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
Clarke left them to join The Tremeloes and was replaced on bass by
John Bachini (AKA John Baccini), then Adrian Gurvitz. Clarke introduced
The Tremeloes to a track that The Symbols had played in their
repertoire, "Silence is Golden". Clarke later returned to The Symbols,
who experienced other changes in their line-up with John Bachini
(bass and vocals) who left to join The Robb Storme Group - who later
changed their name to the Orange Bicycle, and Chas Wade (drums),
variously playing with the group.
Edward Kassner launched President Records in the UK in 1966,
and signed The Symbols, initially to cover a US hit,
"See You in September". The gamble did not work as the record
failed to reach the UK chart. However, Kassner persisted in trying cover
versions of previously successful US releases, and The Symbols next effort,
"Bye Bye Baby", a version of The Four Seasons' song, spent three weeks in
the UK chart in August 1967, peaking at number 44. The song found more
lasting notability in the UK when the Bay City Rollers reached number 1 in
March 1975. The Symbols themselves followed with "The Best Part of) Breaking Up", originally recorded by The Ronettes, which was their second and final UK chart success. It reached number 25 in early 1968, spending twelve weeks in the chart. Subsequent singles failed to chart.
In late 1972 Corrigan was replaced on guitar by Trevor Mee, who had resigned from the Send, Surrey, band Unicorn, just before David Gilmour became interested in them and started to produce them. Clive Graham, who was known in the band as Cleve Gooham because his name was mis-spelled on a hotel reservation form, was replaced by Phil Chesterton. Corrigan and Graham went on to form another version of The Symbols. At the beginning of 1973, Mee left the band and was replaced by Brian Gill. The Symbols continued to play colleges, clubs and the Northern cabaret circuit, and did a summer season on the Costa Dorada, Spain. In 1973 they worked on what would probably have been a single called 'Something Crazy's Happening', written by Phil Chesterton, had the band not been overtaken by events. At the end of 1973, Clarke left to join The Rubettes and was replaced by Dave Guscott on bass. At the beginning of 1974 Milton left to join Sparrow and despite him being the last original member, attempts were made to keep the band going by Chesterton, Gill and Dave Guscott. A suitable singer could not be found, they disbanded. The other Symbols band formed by Corrigan and Graham, however, carried on working.