Gaye Brown and her two brothers grew up on their parents farm in
Clevedon, just south of Auckland. They all studied music and began to play
together before adding another local, Milton Lane to their line-up. Milton
played rhythm guitar while Gaye Brown played bass and they called themselves the Clevedonaires. After a few months, Rob Aicken took over from Milton. Playing
lightweight folksy music, they did covers of the Seekers, Donovan
and the Byrds. Most of the time they played at church halls and school
dances around the South Auckland area.
By 1965 they had changed their style and were then covering hits
by the Who, the Small Faces and the Beatles. Gaye had now
started playing organ, which allowed Rob to take over the bass guitar. Work was
soon found in the city and they started playing their way around the club
circuit. In 1966 they released their first recording on the Impact label
called "How You Lied"/"Rooftops And Chimneys". 1967 saw two
more singles, "He's Ready"/"Lost Women" and "Funny How
Love Can Be"/"Don't Ask Me What To Say". To promote them, the
band appeared on TV shows, "The We Three Show" and "C'Mon". A final single, "Sunny Godge Street"/"In The
Wooden Hills Of Bedfordshire" was released in 1968, just prior to the group
departing for Australia.
On arrival in Australia they shortened their name to the Cleves.
There was plenty of work around Sydney and during the next three years they were
working solidly around Australia, at one stage having Vince Maloney (ex Bee
Gees) in their line-up. From 1968 to 1970 they recorded three singles, "Tintookies
2000"/"Endings Happy", "Sticks And Stones"/"Don't
Turn Your Back" and "You And Me"/"Cassie" for Festival,
along with two EP's, "A Taste Of Energy" and "Music From
Michael" in 1970 and an album "The Cleves" in 1971.
The band moved to England in 1971, at which point Graham decided
to return to New Zealand and was replaced by Aussie drummer Ace Follington (ex
Chain and Country Radio). At this time they renamed themselves Bitch.
They recorded three singles while over there and regularly promoted their
songs with tours
throughout the UK and Europe. The three singles were
"Laughing"/"House Where I Live" in 1971, "Good Time Coming"/"At
The Party" in 1973 and "Wildcat"/"I'm Gonna Love You"
also in 1973. Gaye also recorded a solo single "Let A
Little Love Come In"/"Minstrel Song" on the Anchor label in 1974.
