It is said that April is the cruelest month. But for fans of the The Dave Clark Five, February is a real bitch. Two members Rick Huxley (bass) and Mike Smith (vocals,keyboards) died in February. Huxley, 72, died from emphysema this past February 11. Smith, 64, died of a chest infection in February of 2008.

There was a time in my teens when I was a bigger fan of The Dave Clark Five than The Beatles. The Five’s propulsive energy and hard edge was a heavier alternative to the Beatles’ sweetness. Mike Smith’s vocals were tough, aggressive and soulful. Huxley in tandem with drummer Dave Clark created a massive back beat. Tom toms and bass: a marriage made in rock ‘n’ roll heaven.

Here’s a video clip of The Dave Clark Five performing one of their lesser known tunes, “Inside And Out.” It’s not characteristic of their signature sound (it’s downright Beatlesque), but it features Smith’s singing at its finest and a tasty bass line by Huxley.