The Fairies (British band)

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The Fairies were a British rhythm and blues band from Colchester, England, active from 1963 to 1966. They started as Dane Stephens and the Deep Beats and later became the Fairies. The lineup included Dane Stephens (vocals and blues harp), John Akky Acutt (lead guitar), Mick Weaver (rhythm guitar and fiddle), John Freddy Gandy (bass), and John “Twink” Alder (drums).

In late 1964 they released the single “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” on Decca. Around this time they also made headlines when members were arrested for climbing a statue. Twink later said Stephens was a powerful singer with a great blues voice, and the band seemed close to breaking through.

Stephens was involved in a fatal accident while driving the band van without a license or insurance and served time in jail. He was replaced by Nik Wymer from Nix Nomads. The group was about to break big with producer Mickie Most, a single out and more to come, and were being booked widely.

In 1965, with Wymer as the singer, they recorded two more singles, “Get Yourself Home” and “Don’t Mind,” for His Master’s Voice. “Get Yourself Home” was written by their road manager Johnnie Dee; Dee’s song “Don’t Bring Me Down” had been rejected by the Fairies but became a hit for the Pretty Things in 1964. Wymer’s arrival led to comparisons with the Pretty Things’ Phil May. Stephens briefly returned, Wymer then left, and the band tried to recreate what they had lost.

Wymer briefly joined an early group formed by ex-members of Them in late 1965. There are reports that Stephens swapped to become the singer for Cops ’n’ Robbers late in 1965 and may have sung on their final single “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.”

The Fairies split before 1967, with Twink already leaving to join the In-Crowd in August 1966. The In-Crowd evolved into Tomorrow, and Twink later joined the Pretty Things and the Pink Fairies before pursuing a solo career. Stephens released records as Zion De Gallier for Tomorrow’s producer Mark Wirtz. Freddie Gandy joined Bluesology with Long John Baldry and Elton John (Reggie Dwight), and later worked with Sam Gopal and Hookfoot in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Twink later reunited with Stephens and Weaver on his 1991 album Odds & Beginnings. The Ipswich-based Nik Wymer Band released the album Time Will Tell in 2009.