Nero and the Gladiators
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | Mike O'Neill, Rod "Boots" Slade |
| Defunct | 1964 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Mike O'Neill, Rod "Boots" Slade, Colin Green, Laurie Jay |
| Products | Instrumental rock and roll music |
Nero & the Gladiators were a British instrumental rock and roll ensemble predominantly active during the early 1960s, fronted by keyboard player Mike O'Neill, known as "Nero". They gained modest chart recognition in the UK with their rock-infused renditions of classical compositions, particularly "Entry of the Gladiators" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King".
Born on 8 July 1938 in Lowton, Lancashire, Mike O'Neill relocated to London in 1958. His early career involved performing with Vince Taylor and subsequently The Cabin Boys, supporting vocalist Colin Hicks. In 1959, after touring Italy—where Hicks remained—O'Neill and bassist Rod "Boots" Slade obtained gladiator costumes originally used in the film Quo Vadis from Rome's Cinecittà studios.
Upon returning to the UK, O'Neill and Slade established Nero & the Gladiators alongside guitarist Colin Green and drummer Laurie Jay (Laurence Joseph Jacobson). Green was introduced to O'Neill through Georgie Fame. The group performed dressed as gladiators, with "Nero" donning a toga and laurel wreath. They secured a contract with Decca Records and released a rock version of Julius Fučík's circus march "Entry of the Gladiators," which featured a spoken-word introduction by Slade. This single peaked at No. 37 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1961 and was later adopted as the anthem for Leigh rugby league club.
Their next release was Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King," which climbed to No. 48 despite a BBC ban on pop adaptations of classical works. Guitarist Joe Moretti took over from Green, who joined Georgie Fame's Blue Flames. The band issued two additional singles: "Czardas" (1961) and "Tovaritch" (1963) under His Master's Voice.
In 1961, Laurie Jay departed to form The Echoes and was succeeded by drummer Tommy Brown. The lineup featured various guitarists over time, including Diz Disley. After supporting the Beatles at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, Slade left to join the Blue Flames; Jim Cannon replaced him on bass. In 1963, guitarist Mick Jones—later known for Spooky Tooth and Foreigner—briefly joined before being succeeded along with Cannon by Alan Bugby and Ralph Danks. The band dissolved following a tour in France in early 1964.
Following the breakup, O'Neill performed with The John Barry Seven, The Ivy League, The Echoes, and Head Hands & Feet. Slade became part of The Alan Price Set, while Green took on the role of musical director for Shirley Bassey.
In 1991, O'Neill and Green revived Nero & the Gladiators for nostalgia performances, appearing at London’s Pipeline Instrumental Rock Conventions in 1993, 1995, and 2000. They continued performing with various members until 2005.
Rod "Boots" Slade (3 September 1941 – 3 May 2013) passed away in Spain; Mike O'Neill died from liver cancer on 10 October 2013; Laurie Jay died on 5 March 2017.
Singles
| Year | Single | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "Entry of the Gladiators" | 37 |
| 1961 | "In the Hall of the Mountain King" | 48 |
| 1961 | "Czardas" | - |
| 1963 | "Tovaritch" | - |