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Millionaire Penguin first saw the light of day in 1974 when Warren Jung and Phil Robertson (nee Jock) started making noises with a cheap bass and a home-made electric guitar.
Phil Robertson recalls : "with the advent of a reel to reel, Stylophone and a cassette recorder (and a real musician in the shape of Colin Young) we became a bit more capable. Having only acoustic guitars we found ourselves going folky. Jam sessions with Graham Drydale on mandolin, Michael Bantick on bass and Russ Holden on vocals/harmonium were arranged. We set about learning songs by the then popular Steeleye Span, Eagles and Lindisfarne"
One evening during rehearsals chez Drydale, an old plastic 'Beatles' snare was unearthed and together with the banjo skin a makeshift drum kit was assembled. This chance find nudged the Penguins away from their folky inclinations and set them on course for a new musical direction.
Phil Robertson bought a 12 string and swapped his banjolele for a Fender Telecaster copy. Russ Holden got a P. A . and brought along his mate Paul Vure from Park Lane on yet another guitar "(and a bloody good Marshall amp/stack for the bass)".
The band began to gather a reputation on the local circuit but played only occasional concerts during the next two years:
75 Bardsey Village Hall
75 Linton Village Hall
75 Janice Shinkins' 18th at Wetherby Borstal
75 Tockwith Village Hall
75 Wetherby Town Hall
75 Royal Oak Knaresborough (twice)
75 Crown, Boston Spa
76 Park Lane College (actually an audition)
Colin Young was a respected guitarist, grade 8 classical at 12, and could actually find the time to be in two bands, the other being Barracuda with his mates Pete Honeyman, Steve Kay and Ivor Waterhouse.
The Penguins were 'rolled and bunned' off stage at the Shinkins Shindig, refusing to play "Smoke on the Water'...but things picked up and they turned in a successful second half.
Best shows were Linton for the laughs (but not for Dave "Samantha" Byrom and the fire-hose), Tockwith where Colin Young leapt off stage during 'Remake, Remodel' and the second Crown date with Russ and Gor White's mock fight during 'Heartbreak Hotel'."
The split was inevitable and finally happened in early 1976 due to musical differences and various levels of competence...Phil Robertson resurfaced as Sam Granite and most of the Penguins went on to become Big Dogs
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