Compiled from books, articles, press clippings, liner notes, interviews (numerous radio/TV/press audio/video interviews with relevant information have yet to be transcribed), contracts (and private correspondence) too numerous to cite properly. Most of these materials are of public record, though located only through extreme diligence, while a scant few come from private correspondence with individuals who had first-hand documentation/knowledge/experience of these events. August 31, 1963 is the earliest specifically noted date, Van's 18th birthday, celebrated in Heidelberg, West Germany while on tour with "The International Monarchs". Them had, from best accounting, 15-16 working lineup changes before Van Morrison departed circa August 1966. This document is anti-copyright, to be freely copied and distributed for information and research purposes. Criticisms, corrections (doubtless there are many, as all primary source material contained discrepancies throughout...help with UK geographics especially appreciated), ADDITIONS, and verifications are greatly encouraged. I can be contacted at:
[email protected] ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ VAN MORRISON / THE MONARCHS / THEM CHRONOLOGY 1956-1967 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ **** 1956 **** ?? Smithfield Market Belfast N. Ireland (Turner: "That year his father took him to buy his first acoustic guitar", with Solly Lipsitz; 11th birthday present?, August 31st; Lonnie Donegan's Leadbelly cover "Rock Island Line" was in the charts in March) *********