Brian was born November 2, 1941. Raised in Barking, he met the other Trems at his school, Park Modern, and also in Dagenham. They became a popular musical group, so popular that when Brian was waiting for his "A" level results and pondering whether to enroll at the University of London, the band was offered a 21 week stint at Butlin's Ayr camp. Since their parents were so supportive, Brian decided to "go pro." The Tremilos (as the band spelled it then) were soon on the popular BBC "Saturday Club" radio show. Much has been written about the infamous New Year's Day 1962, when the Beatles auditioned for Decca on the same day as Brian Poole and the Tremiloes, and Decca turning down the former. Beatle fans often take potshots at Brian and Co over this. However, it may be a Beatle Urban Legend. I found this interview with Brian in the June 1996 issue of "Record Collector."
"John (Brian's optician) got in touch with another of his clients, Mike Smith, a Decca A&R man who lived in Ilford. Mike came to see us...and gave us a studio test. This was sometime in 1961, not, as it says in a lot of books, on New Year's Day, when the Beatles did their sudition for Decca. You check the release dates. Our first LP was Big Hits of '62-the first ever party/dance compilation mix, by the way, with all the tracks run together-which came out in the summer of '62. There's no way we could have done an album for Decca in those days unless we'd already recorded several sessions for them. In fact, the Beatles were still in Germany when we were working at EMI studios-though for Decca-as a backing vocal group."
Ricky West, a classically trained guitarist, joined the band last, replacing Graham Scott. Alan Blakley dropped the nose flute (don't ask) and switched to rhythm guitar, Dave Munden took over drums (with his boxing-strengthened arms!) and Alan Howard completed the group on bass.
The band became popular on BBC Radio's "Saturday Club" and released an LP without any previous singles (quite an achievement for those days) titled "Big Big Hits of '62." Twist and Shoutgave them their first hit in 1963, but Do You Love Me? shot them to the top in the fall of that year. Someone Someone, Candy Man, and I Want Candy all established them, and they made appeared in several movies: "Just For Fun", "Africa Shakes", "A Touch Of Blarney", and can be seen in concerts like the New Musical Express Poll Winners Concert '64. But The times wera a'changing by 1966. Brian wasn't into the Tremeloes' new look and image; he preferred leather! Plus, he says, they were "getting on each others' nerves." He made some singles on his own, so the Tremeloes did so as well. Brian released a few singles with the Seychelles at the end of the 60s and later helped out occasionally in the family's butcher's shop, though he didn't exactly go back there "full-time" as has been printed. In 1989 he did a record called Ain't Nothin' But A Houseparty" with the Corporation. The Corporation (aka The Travelling Wrinklies) was Brian, Clem Curtis, Searcher Mike Pender, Merseybeat Tony Crane, and Trogg Reg Presley.
Brian is also a published author! He wrote a book called Talk Back about British slang and Cockney rhyming speak. Brian brought a copy for me to the show and it's a great read, lots of fun, especially if you like studying the English language. Brian is also touring the UK and other parts! He, along with Gerry Marsden, Mike D'Abo, Dave Berry, and Mike Pender, is treating people to great tunes with their "Reelinandarockin' Show" which is going on now! I'm planning on seeing the one on March 12 in Leamington Spa. This summer they have loads of dates in, where else, Blackpool. Reviews have been great, and they say the crowd is out of their seats, dancing away!

Did you know that those two beautiful girls who make up Alisha's Attic are Brian's daughters? If you haven't heard their CDs, do so. The music is wonderful and really unique.