AS THE Rolling Stones mark 50 years since they first started touring, a man who had his finger on the pulse within Chester’s thriving music scene has been recounting memories of that time.

Gordon Vickers earned the nickname ‘Mr Chester’ as a result of running the Monday Wall City Jazz Club night at Quaintways, Northgate Street.

He recalls the music business was very different back in the 1960s, when big-name bands would receive a modest fee for performing in the city.

Among those were the Rolling Stones, who performed two gigs at the ABC Theatre on September 15, 1964.

Mr Vickers, now co-owner of the Mill Hotel and Spa, said: “I never got round to booking the Rolling Stones, but they would have been available for about £10. Those days will never happen again, Chester had all the big names back then.

“The most famous band we had at our place was with Long John Baldry (who had earlier played with members of the Rolling Stones). He had Rod Stewart on vocals and Elton John on keyboards.”

Other acts who featured at the club included Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, who supported the Beatles and the Rolling Stones on tour in the 1960s and were booked for £2.50, the Temptations, the Undertakers and Leo Sayer, who at the time was being managed by Adam Faith.

But one act which was turned down by Mr Vickers was the Beatles.

“I turned them away because they were too scruffy,” he said. “I was offered the chance to book them for £10 but rejected it. I always thought (Manchester band) the Hollies were better than the Beatles, but the latter had Brian Epstein managing them.”