Danny Cannon and The Ramrods playing farewell gig

In 1959 rockers Danny Cannon and The Ramrods was born. Now, more than 50 years, on

chats to the band members about their final concert.

More than 50 years since they first played together, Danny Cannon and The Ramrods are bringing it all back home to Bilston, for a final concert.

And just to show how much times have changed, the band's show tomorrow (Wednesday, November 16, 2011) is at Robin 2, one of the country's most prestigious and multi-award-winning rock venues.

It was very different back in 1959 when five pals from Etheridge Secondary Modern school, devastated by the death of Buddy Holly, decided to form a group.

The back rooms of a few pubs and youth clubs were Bilston's only rock venues until singer Danny Robinson, lead guitarist Len Beddow, drummer Alan Lacey, bassist Pete Walton and rhythm guitarist Ken Hooper persuaded the Saturday night dance band at the Town Hall to let them play a few songs in the interval.

Says Len: "That launched the place for rock music. It got really popular, and the manager we had then said we'd do Friday nights ourselves, and if you weren't in that queue by 6 o'clock on a Friday night – which went all the way round the town hall – you wouldn't get in."

Jokes Danny: "So let's hope for the last one they'll be just as keen."

In various rare appearances over the past 30 years the band has sold out venues and raised a substantial amount for charity. The last show, seven years ago, raised £2,600 to help victims of the Asian Tsunami and this time the proceeds will go towards Cancer Research.

The band hadn't considered another show after the Tsunami concert, but earlier this year Danny phoned Len and asked him: "Do you think we've got one more gig left in us?" and Len said: "I think we have."

Says Danny: "I suppose there will be a feeling of sadness when it's all over, but at some time you've got to call a halt. I once saw a film that Laurel and Hardy made, when they were way past their best, and I thought: 'They shouldn't have done that.' It's best to go while we are still capable of turning out a reasonable performance, with fervour, and for the punters to remember us how we were.

"We did achieve a lot, got quite a large fan base, made records, wrote songs, and played great venues."

Says rhythm guitarist Mike Taylor – "the original interloper," from Dudley, who replaced Ken Hooper 45 years ago – "We are all good friends, we still see each other socially, and enjoy each other's company."

There is further poignancy, too, in that Ricky Burns and The Vibras will also be playing. Although Ricky, better known as ELO bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt is sadly no longer with us, his son Chris will play in his place, alongside his late dad's fellow rockers Terry Garvey, lead guitar and vocals, Les Willis, rhythm guitar and vocals, bassist Jimmy Groucutt (no relation) and drummer Barry Fletcher. The band, also originally from Bilston, quickly formed in the wake of the Ramrods' success.

Completing the bill will be The Heavily Brothers, alias Len Beddow's sons Ian and Lee.

And so will end an enthralling career for a band which won the first of Wolverhampton Gaumont 's Saturday Big Beat contests, played at the Royal Albert Hall, came fourth out of 3,000 entries in a song writing contest, and came equal first in talent contest at Liverpool's Cavern Club.

Later, with new bassist Pete Stevens, from Cannock, the Ramrods became Herbie's People, cut three well-received records including a Top 40 hit, performed frequently on Radio One and television, and featured in the film Poor Cow with a song called Residential Area, written by Danny and Mike.

Says Pete: "I joined the band when I was 17. Next thing I know I'm going down to London with these guys, playing and recording. We played with top stars including The Animals. I look back on it as a fantastic time."

One of the band's most-repeated stories is of recording a song called Semi-Detached Suburban Mr Jones then having it "stolen" by Manfred Mann, becoming a massive hit after the Manfreds changed the name from Jones to James, so not be perceived as having a pop at recently departed vocalist Paul Jones.

Rubbing salt into the wound, the writers, Ken Lewis and John Carter, then wrote Let's Go To San Francisco for the band, but liked it so much they took it back and recorded it themselves, getting a hit as The Flowerpot Men.

After Herbie's finally disbanded these five men went on to make their mark in other careers.

Danny became a lecturer, Len ran a successful gaming business then became a top juke box engineer, and Mike has written nine novels.

Pete became a journalist (working at the Express & Star for a while), and Alan, now retired, played drums in a variety of bands.

Not bad for the Bilston boys, who were dismissed as factory fodder when they left school.