A  Statement from John Stokes
Founder Member of the Original Bachelors

The Bachelors now, are about to embark on a seventh tour of Australia and expect that it will be as highly successful as the previous six. Unfortunately, we have found out that one of the venues is considering cancelling one of the shows, due to an email sent to the venue by Dec Cluskey, a former colleague of mine, and a member of the original group, who is hinting that possible legal action would take place if the venue were to continue with the engagement. He is distributing three pages of an alleged agreement that was signed and submitted to the high court in May 1984. This agreement I believe is one of possibly many draft documents which was passed between solicitors and is not signed or endorsed by the high court.

He goes on to say that I was dismissed from the group by his brother Con and himself, which is totally untrue. They did try, but I brought an action against them in the high court and I was awarded judgement. I would bring an action against slander, but this would be rather costly as I believe them to be men of straw and with very little substance.

His email begins "My emails are written with good humour and should be read with a smile."

I have to admit that when I read it I chuckled out loud.

To think back to the break up of the group in the high court in London in May 1984 when they (Con and Dec Cluskey) signed an agreement that they would never use the name "The Bachelors" again. "The Bachelors" was very dear to me, and a big part of my life for twenty three years. But for a consideration, I agreed to allow them to use the name "The New Bachelors." I agreed to this as we had an agreement with Bernard Delfont to headline the summer season show at Eastbourne that summer.

This they carried out as "The New Bachelors" but soon after in a summer season at the North Pier Blackpool, not as top of the bill I might add, they reverted back to "The Bachelors." I wrote to the promoter, Mike Hughes, complaining about this, but it was too late, as all the advertising was out.

The agreement was ignored through the years and I felt as far as they were concerned, the agreement no longer existed. They even went as far as re-recording most of our hits which included me in the inlays and these recordings were released on the unsuspecting public.

A county court action on 10th July 2006 was brought against myself and Brick Lane Music Hall, the venue where we fulfilled a weeks engagement in April 2005, by Dec Cluskey. His claim was struck out and costs were awarded to myself and Brick Lane Music Hall. His costs were not paid within the allotted time so an order was filed to make him bankrupt. I do not know why he should make such costly and vexatious claims as he knows that we have been working as "The Bachelors" for almost eleven years with great success. I have brought The Bachelors back to where we should be, Top of the Bill.

To quote from their website, "I like John Stokes, a great pal and fun to be around. Con and I always wish him the best in luck in everything that he attempts."

They forget to add, as long as his attempts are not successful.

In my case, the facts speak for themselves:

1 - Starred for six summer seasons in seven years at the UK top resort, The North Pier Theatre, Blackpool. (It would have been seven as one coincided with the Australian tour)

2 - Six highly successful Australasian tours, mostly returning to the same top venues.

3 - Australia National TV. Four years in succession on Bert Newton "Good Morning Australia," plus the Carol Anne show in Sydney.

4 - Thirty eight appearances in "A Night at The Music Hall" at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

5 - Eight years cruising with Page & Moy and other companies like Enjoy Travel.

A LONG LIST OF GREAT SUCCESSES

This brings me back to the Dec Cluskey email implying all these great agents, promoters and club owners are being conned. I think this is an insult to their intelligence.

It is common knowledge that there is not a pop group from the 60s that still contains the original line up that they started with.

However, I believe that the standard of entertainment from any act should improve and it did dramatically when I reformed "The Bachelors" and I firmly believe that I brought the act back to life.