Line-up included:
- John Larner - lead guitar, lead vocals
- John Pulford - bass, vocals
- John Hawkins - Lowery organ
- Richard Coughlan - drums ( - Sept 1965)
- Ian Austin - drums (Sept 1965 - )
Thanet Beat & Blues group The Rojeens had a line-up of John Larner on lead guitar, lead vocals (b. 1946), John Pulford on bass (b. 1947), John Hawkins on Lowery organ (b. 1947) and Richard Coughlan on drums (b. Tuesday, September 2, 1947, Herne Bay, Kent, England d. Sunday, December 1, 2013, The Queen Victoria Hospital, Herne Bay, Kent, England of pneumonia).
The Wilde Flowers from Canterbury, east Kent were influenced by The Rojeens.
The Rojeens were popular at The Beehive, 52 Dover Street, Canterbury, Kent and their favourite group was The Wilde Flowers.
Coughlan was educated at The Frank Hooker School, Knight Avenue, Canterbury. He first learnt to play the mouth organ at 10 and by 16 had his own drum kit. He also joined The Rojeens. Then the next significant thing in Coughlan's life was he met Hugh Hopper (b. Hugh Colin Cooper, Sunday, April 29, 1945, Whitstable, Kent, England d. Sunday, June 7, 2009, Kent, England of leukemia) the bass player in The Wilde Flowers who washed cars in a local garage where Coughlan used to go to see his friend Colin Middleton who had been in the sea cadets with him.
He used to hang around at Wilde Flowers rehearsals and gigs and picked up tips from their drummer Robert Wyatt (b. Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, Sunday, January 28, 1945, Bristol, Somerset, England).
When Wyatt moved over to lead vocals in September 1965 Coughlan joined as their new drummer.
The Wilde Flowers had formed in October 1964 in Canterbury. Coughlan later trained as a dental technician, but this career did not last long as he was later in Caravan (formed in Jan 1968 in Canterbury).
With Coughlan leaving in September 1965, he was replaced by 16-year-old drummer Ian Austin (b. 1949).
Pulford was a photographer; Hawkins was a trainee technician, who hoped to go to university.
In The Kent Herald of Wednesday, November 16, 1966 there was a small article on the band. Austin the youngest member of the group, talked about the band during a break from playing at The St. Thomas' Hall, Canterbury Lane, Burgate, Canterbury, Kent on Saturday, November 12, 1966. Austin talked about the fact the band loved pure Blues and pure modern Jazz. Austin also talked about the fact the group liked Cream and Pulford only liked pure Blues. He also talked about the fact the group would like to turn professional.
Later on, John Larner and his brothers Frank and Gordon Larner were in Zobe with Brian Hooper (b. Brian L. Hooper, Sunday, January 3, 1943, Herne Bay, Kent, England), who was also in Beggers Farm (1969 - May 1970).
Some Rojeens concerts:
Sunday, April 16, 1966: The Beehive, 52 Dover Street, Canterbury, Kent, England, 8pm - 1am
Sunday, November 6, 1966: The Beehive, 52 Dover Street, Canterbury, Kent, England
Also on the bill: The Wilde Flowers.
Saturday, November 12, 1966: The St. Thomas' Hall, Canterbury Lane, Burgate, Canterbury, Kent, England
In a break from playing The Rojeens were interviewed by The Kent Herald.
Info courtesy: John H Warburg October 2024