A retired guitarist wants to perform live music again and revive his old 60s psychedelic rock band.
Robbie Milne, 74, plays lead guitar after being self-taught since the age of 15.
He played in several bands, but the most notable was Butterfly Opal who was signed to CBS and released three records between 1968 and 1970.
(Left to right) Alan Love – Richard Bardey (top) – Simon King – Robbie Milne – Tom Doherty
Mr Milne, from Blewbury, is now hoping to revive the band to play gigs in Oxfordshire and is appealing for musicians. He needs a second guitarist, drums, bass, keyboards and a vocalist.
“I’ve been trying to join a band for about two years, but covid started,” he said. “Now it looks like it’s worked out enough for the bands to play again and play hard, which I would love to do.
“I miss playing – it gets in your blood. I’ve done a lot of training and I’m probably half as good as I was in the 60s.”
The group was signed by CBS.
Mr Milne’s first two bands were called Screw bands and Rip Van Winkle and the Monsters before joining cardboard paradise who played in Oxfordshire.
He said: “We were very busy and probably played pubs twice a week. I then left an apprenticeship as an electrician, much to the dismay of my parents, to join Butterfly Opal in 1968.”
He moved to London with the band consisting of Richard Bardey, Tom Doherty, Simon King and Allan Love. A later member included Lemmy Kilmister, from Motörhead.
Their record “Beautiful Beige/Speak Up” was released in 1968
Their records included “Beautiful Beige/Speak Up”, “Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand/My Gration Or? and “Groupie Girl / The song that fidgets”.
“We were really moving,” Mr Milne said. “Then it stopped in 1970. So I joined a group called Fine bone china based in Germany and we have toured Europe.
“But I decided I couldn’t keep doing it because I didn’t live there and haven’t been in a band since.”
Fine China, a German group.
Mr Milne, who lives with his wife Pat, later became an electrician before retiring in 2013.
He said: “I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t convince anyone to join me, but I don’t want to give up. I’m 74, if I don’t do it now I never will.
“I don’t think we’ll go national, but I definitely think we’ll make some noise locally. I just want a gig here and have fun. I don’t want to be paid, just a few pints. I’m really dedicated, and I have to try one more time.
He has been playing since the age of 15 after learning on his own
For more information or to apply, email Mr. Milne at [email protected]
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