John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson leaves the Buzz

David Bowie’s guitarist with the Buzz, John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson, left the band on Wednesday 15 June 1966.

Hutch had become frustrated with the lack of a regular income, and chose to return to his family in Yorkshire.

The Buzz held auditions for a new lead guitarist, and played several shows without a replacement before recruiting Billy Gray before the end of the month.

My new wife was pregnant, and though I had enjoyed my first taste of London’s rock and roll world and I did still have faith that David Bowie would eventually succeed, I was broke and a little homesick and so I decided to return to Scarborough and get a proper job once again. A job that paid.

I knew that in my home town I should stand a reasonable chance of making a living and finding an affordable place to live, and so in June 1966 I said goodbye to David, Ralph, Chow, Dek and Ego. Very sadly I would never see four of these five old band mates again and three of the guys, Ralph Horton, Dek Fearnley and Chow Boyes have since passed on. We had a great time together, great days that I will never forget.

David Bowie and The Buzz were to soldier on without me for the remainder of 1966. My replacement for a short time was a Scot called Billy Gray, who the management of course duly nicknamed ‘Haggis’.

In 1968 Hutch reunited with Bowie in the trio Feathers, which also featured Hermione Farthingale. The following year the two men worked as a duo, known as David Bowie and Hutch.