The Backbeats in Penarth in the early 60's.
(Rockin' Louie on the right)

The Backbeats, a local Penarth hard driving rock and roll band, usually sporting immaculate silver lamé jackets, regularly gigged in the dockland pubs around Cardiff in the late 50's.
Among their Ely fans was a young kid called Michael Barratt (later to become Shakin' Stevens) who used to ask them if he could come up on stage during their gigs at the Church of Resurrection and St David's Hall to perform a couple of Chuck Berry numbers.

The Backbeats played around Cardiff throughout the sixties, crossing paths with teenager Michael Barratt many times - not only did he jump up on stage with the band frequently when they played the Church of the Resurrection Hall of at St David's, but later, when he began to play in his own bands, he found himself support spots with his heroes.
He even earned the nickname of "Rockin' Louie II" from the Backbeats because of his worship of their drummer/vocalist Robert Llewwllyn (better known as "Rockin' Louie").
Little did Louie know that he would one day become Shaky's drummer.

Shaky (left) with Rockin' Louie (centre).
Sorry about the poor quality of this picture, it is a photocopy of a newspaper cutting.
I would be interested to here from anyone who has the cutting.

mark@forevershakin.co.uk

www.forevershakin.co.uk