The Bo Street Runners
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 in Harrow, England |
| Founder | Gary Thomas, Bob O'Brien, Nigel Hutchinson, Dave Cameron, John Dominic |
| Defunct | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Harrow , England |
| Products | Singles, extended play record, retrospective album |
The Bo Street Runners were a British R&B ensemble established in Harrow, England, in 1964. They issued four singles alongside an extended play record and gained prominence after triumphing in the Ready Steady Win! band competition. The lineup notably included future Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood and vocalist Mike Patto.
Early days
Initially formed in 1963 under the name The Roadrunners, the group adopted the name The Bo Street Runners to distinguish themselves from another UK band with a similar title. The founding members were Gary Thomas on lead guitar, Bob O'Brien handling keyboards, Nigel Hutchinson on drums, Dave Cameron playing bass, and John Dominic as vocalist. Their name paid homage to Bo Diddley’s musical influence. They cultivated a local fanbase through frequent performances at Harrow’s Railway Hotel.
Success in competition
During spring 1964, they participated in the Ready Steady Win! contest, which targeted unsigned bands presenting original songs and offered a £1,000 prize plus a recording contract with Decca Records. On 8 September 1964, they secured victory with their track "I'm a Bo Street Runner." This success resulted in a Decca single release—their sole record with the label—featuring "I'm a Bo Street Runner" backed by "Tell Me." Although it sold over 20,000 copies across the UK, it did not achieve national chart placement. Furthermore, 99 copies of an EP were pressed for sale at live shows. Around this period, the band opened for prominent artists such as The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones.
Singles, change of personnel, and Mick Fleetwood
Following their debut single and EP, Decca transferred the band's contract to Columbia Records in 1965. Internal disputes over musical direction led to several lineup changes; only Thomas, Dominic, and Cameron remained from the original roster. They were joined by London-based jazz musicians Roy Fry (keyboards) and Glyn Thomas (drums). This formation recorded their second single, a rendition of James Brown’s "Tell Me What You Gonna Do," which failed to achieve commercial success. By mid-1965, Tim Hinkley took over keyboard duties and Mick Fleetwood joined as drummer after responding to an advertisement in the Melody Maker, quickly becoming an active member.
Further singles and a final tour
Their subsequent single "Baby Never Say Goodbye" showcased a stronger jazz influence than blues and received favorable reviews along with regional airplay success, reaching number 36 on the Radio London Fab Forty. Although expected to enter national charts, distribution was hampered by limited production caused by a workers strike at the pressing plant. After this release, both Fleetwood and John Dominic exited the group. In 1966, the band released a final single featuring Mike Patto on vocals—a soul-inflected cover of The Beatles' "Drive My Car", which was Patto’s only recording with them.
The Bo Street Runners embarked on one last tour before disbanding in October 1966 due to insufficient commercial achievements. Following the split, Mick Fleetwood went on to attain significant recognition as a member of Fleetwood Mac.
Retrospective album release
On 17 November 2014, Cherry Red Records issued Never Say Goodbye: The Complete Recordings 1964-1966, a comprehensive collection comprising all of the band's recordings including the EP single version of "I'm A Bo Street Runner," the track that won them the "Ready Steady Win!" contest.