Waiting in line were four other musicians, Bob Allen, Dick Underwood, Frank Howard and Roger Buck. David joined them and became the Burrowing Ticks. They later changed their name to the Annoying Mosquitos, then the Stinging Sand-flies and finally The King Bees.
David searched for a manager, 'I'd call a record company and say "This is Davey Jones of the King Bees", there would be this laughing on the other end and then they'd hang up'
He was eventually referred to Les Conn, an agent manager and beekeeper who decided to take them on. Conn soon got them a recording contract with Vocalion-Pop, In June 1964 they released their first single 'Liza Jane'.
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Super freaky cool hip music monthly - I didn't listen to it
David was now sufficiently close to hitting the big time that he was offered a spot on 'Gadzooks! It's All Happening' in February 1965. He refused to go on however when they demanded he shave his way too long pubic hair. Decca (Vocalion-Pop) dropped him like a red hot steaming brick. David blamed the The King Bees and joined another band, The Manish Boys. A strange title because none of them came from Manish.
His next single was released through EMI, 'I Pity the Fool' written by Mr T. The song had been bought by Duke-Peacock Record boss Don Robey for a mere $5.00, and overall it made a small profit. 'This single had one of my very first compostions on it as a B-side, "Take My Tip", unfortunately when playing live the audience would take it literally, we never made any money'
David blamed The Manish Boys for "sucking too much to make me rich" and decided to join a Mod band known as Davie Jones and the Upper Third. After several rehersals this was modified to Davie Jones and the Middle Third, then as their talent became obvious, Davie Jones and the Lower Third.
Les Conn lost interest in Davie Jones after an extended period of non-bee related music. His new manager, Ralph Horton, an ex-roadie for the Moody Blues got them gigs at the Marquee alongside The High Numbers (later The Who). 'The Who really wanted a band that would make them look good in comparison'.
The lower third would travel to gigs and live in an old battered ambulance, just like in Ghostbusters, except without the plasma rays and ghost traps.
'We had an ardent following of about 100 Mods, 30 Glips, and a dozen or so Zloops. Those guys really sucked ass by the way'
Ralph Horton, trying desperately to unload The Lower Third onto some other poor bozo, called Kenneth Pitt, who had been involved with Manfred Mann, The Kinks, Judy Garland and a bunch of other people. Horton got him well plastered, introduced him to Jones, and ran for his life.
While in New York, endlessly fantasising about Davy Jones, he met another Davy Jones (of the Monkees) who was well pissed off about all the Davy Jones's about the place these days. He called Davy Jones and told him to cut out all this Davy Jones business and pick a proper name.