Lead guitarist Robbie Milne wants to restart Opal Butterfly

Robbie Milne, 74, has been playing lead guitar after teaching himself since the age of 15.

He has played in several bands but most notable was Opal Butterfly who was signed by CBS and released three records between 1968 and 1970.

(Left to Right) Alan Love - Richard Bardey (top) - Simon King - Robbie Milne - Tom Doherty

Mr Milne, from Blewbury, now hopes to restart the band to play gigs around Oxfordshire and is appealing for musicians to join.  He needs a second guitar player, drums, bass, keyboards and a vocalist.

“I’ve been trying to join a band for about two years but covid started,” he said. “Now it seems that it has gone enough that bands are playing again and playing loudly which is something I’d like to be doing.

“I do miss playing - it does get into your blood. I’ve done a lot of practice and I’m probably half better than I was in the Sixties.”

The band were signed by CBS.

Mr Milne’s first two bands were called Screw Tapes and Rip Van Winkle and the Monsters before he joined Cardboard Heaven which gigged around Oxfordshire.

He said: “We were really busy and were playing probably twice a week in pubs. I then left an apprenticeship to be an electrician, much to my parents dismay, to join Opal Butterfly in 1968.”

He moved to London with the band which consisted of Richard Bardey, Tom Doherty, Simon King and Allan Love. A later member included Lemmy Kilmister, of Motörhead.

Their record "Beautiful Beige/Speak Up" was released in 1968

Their records included “Beautiful Beige/Speak Up”, “Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand/My Gration Or?” and “Groupie Girl/The Gigging Song”.

“We were really moving as it were,” said Mr Milne. “Then it grounded to a halt in 1970. So I joined a band called Fine China based in Germany and we toured Europe.

“But I decided I couldn’t keep doing it as I didn’t live there and I haven’t been in a band since.”

Fine China, a German band.

Mr Milne, who lives with his wife Pat, then became an electrician before retiring in 2013.

He said: “I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t get anyone to join me but I don’t want to give up. I’m 74, if I don’t do it now, I never will.

“I don’t think we’ll go national but I certainly think we’ll make some noise locally. I just want the odd gig here and to have fun. I don’t want to get paid, just a couple of pints. I’m really dedicated, and I need to try this once more.”

He has been playing since he was 15 after teaching himself

For more information, or to apply, email Mr Milne at robbiemilne1@hotmail.com