​Back in Time
Burning Ambition 1969 - about 1977
Burning Ambition were formed in Rugby and were a hard working club band during their career which spanned from 1969 to 1977, playing many hundreds if gigs, mostly in the Working Men's Clubs in Rugby, Coventry, Hinckley and Leicester. Their very first gig however was in Rugby, entering and winning a local talent competition at the Rokeby Club and later auditioning for the TV series Opportunity Knocks hosted by Hughie Green, but despite always being on the verge of recording it never happened.
Burning Ambition members were Don Campbell - vocals, George Campbell - lead guitar and backing vocals, Frank Campbell - rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, Malc Baines - bass guitar and backing vocals, Gordon Campbell - drums. Gordon left the band after a few gigs and Richard Campbell (no relation) took over on the drums. Nick Smith from Hinckley later replaced Frank on rhythm guitar and vocals.
The band was originally formed in 1967 as Saturn 5 and their influences were 60’s pop, Elvis and The Shadows, all typical demands of the local club scene music during that time.
During their incredible thirteen years in existence from when they first got together as Saturn 5 through to their eventual demise in 1977 they had played in excess of 800 gigs on the local club circuit. Unfortunately by the late 70's and into the early 80's. the demise of working men’s Clubs was looming and working men’s and social clubs endured tough times through lack of support.
Burning Ambition enjoyed playing music and there was never any aspirations of recording contracts or playing professionally.
They finally called it a day in 1980 and soon after Malc Baines and Nick Smith joined up with the band Rhondo in Hinckley.
Don at Hinckley Carnival.
Does anyone know what year?
The Elvis Presley fan club met in the late 70’s early 80’s run by Bob and Joy Shaw.
Black business card
Red business card
Black business card
Lots more photographs of Burning Ambition. Use the forward and back arrows to run through the slide show and double click on any image to enlarge, or enlarge first and use the arrows to scroll through.
Nick Smith, rear left on vocals and rhythm guitar, Malcolm Baines, front left on Bass, Richard Campbell centre on drums, George Campbell rear right on lead guitar and Don Campbell front right on vocals.
Burning ambition with Blush providing backing vocals at Rugby Working Mens Club.
Formed in Rugby in 1969 from Saturn Five, except Nick Smith on the middle left who replaced Frank Campbell on rhythm guitar and vocals and Richard Campbell, drums, on the middle right who replaced Gordon Campbell. (no relation)
Another photograph at Hinckley Carnival. I,m not sure of the year so if you can help, please use our Contacts page and let us know.
