A Tribute To The Late Colin Manley
by Gary Jackson of the My Generation website

The Colin Manley (left) line-up of The Swinging Blue Jeans

official photo for the Colin Manley (third from left) line-up
Colin Manley (left in the picture) was to coin a phrase, simply the best in his field. From his days in The Remo Four, to his award winning performances in The Swinging Blue Jeans anyone who saw Colin play knew Colin obviously loved his work. What they also knew was that at the same time as he was playing the fool on stage he was playing some guitar licks that most guitarists can only dream of playing.
Colin could have been aloof. He could have been distant from his fans. Many lesser musicians are. In fact he was neither. He was justifiably one of the best-loved people on the sixties music scene. He always had time for a chat with any of his many fans and fellow performers.
How good was he? Well, it's a well documented quote. The Beatles once said "If we're going to make it, we'll have to be as good as the Remo Four".

Colin's death was quite sudden and unexpected. Despite being in shock and worried about how his wife and family would cope, it shows the type of man he was that when he knew he wasn't going to be able to perform again, he recommended Alan Lovell to Les Braid as his own replacement.
Alan Lovell is now The Swinging Blue Jeans' lead guitarist, and filling some very big shoes superbly.

Gary Jackson - My Generation 60s music site.