Mike d’Abo brings the Sensational 60s back to Reading

An all-star lineup is coming to Reading’s Hexagon Theatre this May, as the Sensational 60s Experience returns. The annual showcase features some of the biggest names from the biggest decade in pop. 

Among them is Mike d’Abo, making his first return to Sensational 60s Experience in four years. Joining him on the lineup will be The Trems featuring Jeff Brown from The Tremeloes, The Fortunes, Spencer James from The Searchers, and Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. Also appearing will be Vanity Fare, who perform with Mike. 

While tribute bands aim to recreate the music, the opportunity to enjoy the real thing is always better. 

Mike is now 82, and showing no signs of slowing down. Deeply committed to his craft, he is preparing to release a new album and will come to The Hexagon to perform some of his biggest hits and music from The Manfreds, the band he joined as lead singer after Paul Jones left in 1966. 

“I’m happy to be a member of the Sensational 60s Experience: I’m one of the authentic stars, because I was there. I’m now rocking on a bit but still happy to do it. Vanity Fair, who accompany me, are a great band and I enjoy it,” he says. 

The singer, keyboard player, and songwriter, says of his determination to keep on performing: “If you have a love of music, which I do – as a writer, as a keyboard player, as a singer – it’s very hard to sort of get off the train really”.

The Sensational 60s Experience suits Mike: each act takes their turn in the bill, and the dates are spread out nicely. This gives him time to focus on solo projects and specific gigs rather than face the rigours of 40-date tours: “I miss my home. Well, I miss my bed for a start. I don’t ever sleep very well in other beds,” he admits. However, he remains enthusiastic about performing at The Hexagon: “I’ll be there along with other Sixties survivors, and hope to see a good turnout.”

With the help of Vanity Fair, d’Abo will perform several of the hit records from The Manfreds and his career, such as Semi-Detached Suburban Mr James, Ha! Ha! Said The Clown, and The Mighty Quinn. He will also perform classic songs he composed for others, including Build Me Up Buttercup and Handbags and Gladrags. 

The latter, which he wrote in his early twenties, Mike says he is proud of its lasting legacy: “I’m aware of that being the song that will be on my epitaph or on my grave, the guy who wrote Handbags. I’ll always be proud of that song and I’m always happy to sing it.”

Mike says his set is designed to deliver the best possible show: “I think people expect to hear the way they heard those records in the early days, and that’s what we give them, authenticity and entertainment,” he promises. “I can guarantee that I can give 100% and I’m sure the same goes for the other guys on the bill too”.

Mike’s passion for performance is rooted in the 1950s rock ‘n’ roll explosion, influenced by artists like Elvis, Little Richard, and The Everly Brothers. His musical path was chosen despite his family’s expectations. 

“My father was a former army officer and a stockbroker. (Being a pop star) was the last thing in the world that they wanted their son to do,” he recalls. While a student at Harrow School, he formed The Band of Angels in 1962, which turned professional in 1964: their fifth record was a minor hit and got into the Melody Maker charts. This, in turn, led to a “huge stroke of luck” as they performed on the same television show that led to his career-defining role with Manfred Mann. They were looking for a new lead singer to replace Paul Jones, and he happened to be the right voice in the right place at the right time.

The creative spirit continues with a new solo album, two years in the making and due for release around the time of his visit to The Hexagon. Working with a producer Mike describes as ‘clever’, he has been developing new material that blends his vocals and piano with full arrangements. 

“There’s no shortage of new songs – I’m writing all the time,” he says, though he admits to occasionally stepping back to ensure the quality is special. “I’ve come up with two or three songs I’m really pleased with, and I guess I’ll be doing it for some years to come.

“I didn’t think I’d be around with music for as long as this, but my love in life is making music, creating music, so why not still do it?”

Aside from the studio, the singer is looking forward to the local hospitality Reading offers, particularly the town’s diverse street food scene. 

“There are lots of late-night eating places with street food: Thai, Korean and all that exotic Asian stuff. I love some of those dishes you can get,” he says. 

He also has a fondness for real ale over “the gassy stuff,” citing London Pride and Brakspear among his favourites. “As long as it’s real ale, that’s the important thing. I’m not so good on the lagery stuff, the gassy stuff, the real ale is what suits me.”

One of the joys of The Sensational 60s Experience shows is the audience comprises all ages: it is not just the original fans who fill the seats at The Hexagon; Mike is delighted to see that the “spirit of hope” from the 1960s continues to attract younger generations. 

He notes that the era was a unique “explosion of rock and roll” that changed everything, driven by The Beatles’ influence. Because these songs are still played on the radio today, they have a “familiarity” that transcends age.

“It’s great to get younger ones coming along,” Mike says. “People bring their grandchildren along. They enjoy it because they probably know the songs. I mean, who doesn’t know ‘there she was just walking down the street’? It’s an anthem that everyone knows”. 

He is promising a night of entertainment: “I don’t think anybody leaves the theatre disappointed,” he says. “I think people expect to hear the songs the way they heard those records in the early days, and that’s what we will give them: authenticity and entertainment.”