Toomorrow's scene
By Valerie Mabrs
Benny Thomas talks to R.M.
“I THINK it’s going to be difficult to get people to accept us. It’s inevitable, when people hear the name Don Kirshner that they are sceptical about us.”
That’s the way Benny Thomas ultra-handsome, and yet very friendly, singer and guitarist with Toomorrow, views the group’s prospects. And that’s pretty much the way it is. So you can’t knock success, but you can feel a little sickened at the idea of another concocted group.
“I think you could say that all groups are manufactured, though,” said Benny. “Because all the members are selected, if only by the other group members. But it’s really all related to whether we play. In relation to someone like the Monkees, who really didn’t play on their first record, except for Davy Jones, who sang, then we’re musicians. But we’re not of course like the Beatles. As long as we continue to have a good working relationship I don’t give a goddam.”
Toomorrow weren’t in fact selected by each other, but were in fact out try appointed talent spotters working on Don Kirshner’s and Harry Saltzman’s behalf. And perhaps that only adds to the feeling of sour grapes, because everybody wants their potential recognised, even if it’s only for the great wife-or husband they’d make, or the greatest driver, or acrobat, or of course Star!
Somewhere along the line in the quest for a group whose members are representative of all types of young people “I’m not sure what I am, but Karl our drummer is a Bill Cosby type” least one young hopeful was severely disappointed.
A young Californian girl was selected for the group and flown all the way to London for a screen test and was forced to return home, presumably with a few dreams shattered. Over the next five months a further girl was selected, after auditions with over four hundred, and the line up fixed in November 1968.
The final group remains as (Livvy) Newton-John, Karl Chambers from America, Vic Cooper a Devonian by birth, and Ben, himself from Georgia, USA
Their film ‘Toomorrow’ which has just had its first press airing is described by Ben as a “space age musical”. The group perform several numbers in the film, only one of which takes place on stage. In the story they are called to another planet where their help is needed! Like wild!
Although Ben is obviously excited with the plans and possibilities open to Toomorrow, appearing on the screen or stage is not a new experience. “I’ve done several plays in the States,” he told me. “But it takes a lifetime to become what you call an actor. I’ve appeared in “Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ and ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and I think I can project something on stage, which helps.”.
The film was made at Pinewood Studios, and was co-produced by Harry Saltzman. After its premiere at the London Pavilion on August 27th, the film will go on general release on September 13th.
In the meantime there’s a single “You’re My Baby Now’ out on RCA, and an LP on its way. The soundtrack album of the film, has been recorded with the aid of Hugo Montenegro and numbers were composed by Mark Barkin, hit writer of “Pretty Flamingo, Manfred Mann’s big chart success.
Toomorrow are now based in England, and although they will be travelling back to America for any television or personal appearances that might occur, they will remain in Britain most of the time. Benny currently has a flat in Shepherd’s Market, and says he only knows London and parts of Ashford where a friend lives. But during their stay here he aims to see much more.
In his spare time, when he’s not reading plays, particularly those of Oscar Wilde, Benny says: “I like physical activity, though I’m not too keen on sports type games. I used to do a lot of caddying and I like golf, I understand all the different golf clubs and there’s a lot of golfing in Florida, but I did it mainly to earn a bit of extra money when I was a teenager. I’m not too keen on baseball, I find it boring, but I do like American football”
A wise thing to say, since the group could well find themselves in demand back in America for those TV dates.
TOOMORROW left to right: Karl Chambers, Ben Thomas, Olivia Newton-John, Vic Cooper