One of The Beat’s local Wiltshire musical legends, Ian Amey better known as ‘Tich’ in the 60’s chart-toppers Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich has died…
OBITUARY by Ian Woolley
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
The Wiltshire music scene in the 1950s was thriving, and many popular bands around that time included Ronnie Blonde & The Beatnicks, Big Boppers and Eddy and the Strollers (to name a few). The nucleus of which eventually formed Dave Dee & The Bostons and shortly after became Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich.
Trevor Davies (Dozy), then with the Beatnicks met Ian Amey (Tich) and persuaded him to leave his group Eddy and the Strollers to join the Beatnicks. Ian Amey (Tich) approached his schoolmate John Dymond (Beaky) who was also a member of the Big Boppers to join the band.
Tich told me how the group got their name. “Our name was given to us by our management at the time. Even all the DJs at the time had trouble saying it too including Kenny Everett who would stumble pronouncing it on purpose. I guess it helped us at the time”.
Tich (centre) with Beaky (left) and the Beat’s Ian Woolley in 2020. (photo credit Quiz Britain)
Interviewing both founding members of the group Beaky & Tich* outside their favourite coffee shop off the market square in Salisbury, most weeks it became a ritual that the two long-term band members and inseparable buddies would meet over a coffee to reminisce about those golden days when they were one of the most sought-after groups of the 60’s.
Make no mistake, songwriters Howard and Blaikley kept these boys near the top of the UK charts through the second half of the ’60s. They eventually achieved the top coveted slot in 1968 with “The Legend Of Xanadu”.
Beaky told me, “Before each gig, we used to get driven to the local police station and get taken in the back of a black Maria, left at the back of the theatre and they would disappear. Leaving after each gig was a real pain with hundreds of fans at the back and the front so we needed a plan. As Tich was the fastest runner in the band, he would casually walk to the front of the building and when the girls started screaming it would bring them all around from the rear of the building. He would then sprint back through and we’d all pile into the back of the van” chuckled Beaky.
Tich remembers well the heyday when they were in demand. “That is something I really miss, the big venues and concerts that we used to do. The last one we did was for Musical Express with the ‘Stones’ where we shared the dressing room with them”.
DDBMT
Although 79-year-old Tich didn’t play in the band anymore, he still came along to rehearsals” added Beaky. More recently, the band were considered for the ‘Legends’ stage at Glastonbury and until Tich’s passing, all three of the original quintet still lived in Salisbury. Only Beaky and Mick now survive.
Ron Cooper of the Zabadak magazine (DDDBM&T Appreciation Society posted, “We sadly report that Ian “Tich” Amey passed away peacefully on the 14th February (Tich was 3 months short of his 80th birthday). His forever supportive wife Sue (married to for 55 years) and his children were by his side. All of us are feeling empty, in complete shock, devastated & also at the suddenness. Tich was a fine guitarist, vocalist & gentleman…unselfish & always willing to answer any questions no matter how annoying they were, on or about his life, in a friendly & polite manner”.
“His guitar work for DDDBM&T was innovative & important as per ‘You Make It Move’, ‘Hold Tight’, ‘Help Me’, ‘Shame’, ‘The Sun Goes Down’, ‘Still Life’, ‘Bad News’, ‘Too Much’, ‘She’s A Raver’, ‘Rain’, ‘For The Use Of Your Son’, ‘In The Coven’, ‘Staying With It’, ‘Matthew & Son’. Tich was also key in doing the high harmonies on the band’s songs, plus lead vocals for ‘Double Agent’ & ‘Mystery Rider’. Tich joins Dave Dee, Dozy, Peter Mason, Alan Blaikley, Pete Lucus plus Jimi, in rock’n’roll heaven. Please light a candle, turn out the lights & listen to the 2 attached tracks ‘Help Me’ & ‘Rain’ for his guitar work & to take a moment to reflect upon Tich’s wonderful contributions to popular music. Sincere condolences Ron (Zabadak)”.
Pat of the Equals said on social media, “Everyone who knew Tich considered themselves lucky, myself included for over 55 years. In this sorrowful time, sending thoughts of comfort to his wife Sue, his children Leigh and Kristian and his immediate family, not forgetting his extended band family past and present”.
Finishing with the words…
“Thank you, Tich for your part in my journey. Fly high, shine bright, and go and jam with Dave and Dozy”.
*The full interview was published in the 2020 March issue of the Beat. Back copies are available from our website.