Motorhead and The Count Bishops – Hastings Pier 30th July 1977

ticket supplied by Eric Cawthraw

autographed poster supplied by Peter Houghton

Tim Bruce….Was my first proper gig too. Before i went my mum warned me to ne careful of loud music . “Yes mum”. Opening act…… Motorhead!

John Laidlaw….Hah! First gig I ever saw – brilliant stuff. So loud I ended up behind the PA stack stage left… it was quieter there.

Andy Gunton….Not wishing to be pedantic. But shouldn’t that be The Count Bishops? I know both bands were on the Chiswick label around that time.

Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason… Yes your right Andy. Should be Count Bishops but I don’t remember seeing them.

Dave Arnold….I roadied at the Hawkwind/Motorhead gig, an amazing night

Ken Copsey….I went to this gig with  Dave Blackman. I think there was only about 50 people there. Pretty certain The Count Bishops didn’t play. The Teenbeats later supported the Count Bishops at The Nashville . I can remember playing on stage and realising Gary  Moore was watching us. Ever so slightly intimidating for a 17 year old!

John Storer…..The Count Bishops definitely played that night and were so good that I went out a couple of days later and bought their first album (which was released on 10″ vinyl). I also seem to remember that Motorhead were exceptionally loud. I don’t remember it being that poorly attended, either, although this was at the time that my musical tastes had diverged from most of my mates who were dismissive of punk and pub-rock. I do recall that I had given all my pre-punk records (a lot) to my sister in exchange for her copy of the Ramones debut album!

Phil Gill… Stallion played an all-nighter at the Lyceum in September 1976, with Stray, Dirty Tricks and Motörhead. For whatever reason, we all shared a large communal dressing room. Lemmy was charming, funny, gregarious, generous and completely down to earth. Great fun, completely rock & roll and above all, the real deal.

Eric Cawthraw… I’ve just found the ticket to this gig in my Motorhead – Motorhead album.  What gets me is that it is made to look hand written and the ticket number definitely is. It looks very civilized – disco, booze and food. Food!? Crisps and peanuts more like – I don’t remember food! For Motorhead it should have been raw meat and Bourbon…..perhaps it was!

John Storer… Another great gig! Eric? Did you miss the canapes they were serving just outside the bar?

Mark Randall… Written on a ruler!

Eric Cawthraw… No John, I did’nt catch the canapes, I think you’re wrong about that – more likely to have been a can of peas, black eyed at that!

Jim Breeds… Does handwriting your own gig tickets still work in 2015? The possibilities are endless … 🙂

Jan Warren… Ohhhhh, love Motorhead, it was awful to lose Lemmy last year, I always thought he was invincible, used to share a pint with him in Portabello Road Market, back in the 80s and Girlschool played in our local pub, The 2 Brewers in Clapham, knew them all personally, they were called “Painted lady” when they first started out, remember going to Ronnie Scotts in the West End with Enid!! …….. happy days!!

Johnny Guitar… Yes, we played that night and were extremely pissed at them spelling our name wrong. And, yes, Motorhead were loud as f#ck but still excellent. Johnny Guitar of The Count Bishops.

Clive Richardson… Count Bishops were extremely good and Motorhead were LOUD and excellent.

Ken Copsey… Went to this gig with Dave Blackman but missed the Count Bishops. We ended up supporting them two years later at the Nashville when we were in the Teenbeats.

Mike Mitchell… I went to that gig at The Nashville . Gary Moore was there and jammed along with The Count Bishops. He also knocked my pint all down my suit and parka and didn’t even apologize let alone buy me another beer. I’m still annoyed by that!

Pete Houghton… When you see Motorhead, you expected it too be loud, still great to see them though.

Tony Court-holmes… think i was there

Matt Thomas… I was sitting in the bar when they played White Rock in the 90’s – bloody loud even from there!!!!

Wendy Weaver… Neary blew me out of my seat on the balcony. Great though

Alan King… They don’t make posters/tickets/flyers like this any more. Somebody on here must know whose handwriting that is.

Marcus J Lamb-Bentley… Is it hand painted?

Alan King… i believe it was a special commission from the guy who used to do all those Fillmore West posters for Billy Graham back in the day

John Gale… It worked,, I was there

Tim Moose Bruce… Same year I saw them at the pier supporting Hawkwind

Jim Breeds… Does anyone still write along the edge of a ruler like that?

Jeremy Harrison… They don’t make bands like this any more either!

Phil Gill… Well it wasn’t Lemmy.

Rob Ramsden… Crude but effective. I’m all for it

Jack Apps… My moma said one day your name will be in chalk

Mike Hatchard… Count Bishops. Sounds like Trump’s campaign after refusing to believe he’s lost a game of chess.

Alan King… they were a very good pre-punk R n B band – signed to Chiswick records

Mike Hatchard… if they’re not better known they can’t blame it on their name, I think it’s great. Like Lady Gaga, Count Basie, King Pleasure…both aristocratic and religious. .

 

3 thoughts on “Motorhead and The Count Bishops – Hastings Pier 30th July 1977”

  1. I went to this gig with Dave Blackman. I think there was only about 50 people there. Pretty certain The Count Bishops didn’t play. The Teenbeats later supported the Count Bishops at The Nashville . I can remember playing on stage and realising Gary Moore was watching us. Ever so slightly intimidating for a 17 year old!

    Reply
  2. The Count Bishops definitely played that night and were so good that I went out a couple of days later and bought their first album (which was released on 10″ vinyl). I also seem to remember that Motorhead were exceptionally loud.

    I don’t remember it being that poorly attended, either, although this was at the time that my musical tastes had diverged from most of my mates who were dismissive of punk and pub-rock. I do recall that I had given all my pre-punk records (a lot) to my sister in exchange for her copy of the Ramones debut album!

    Reply
  3. Yes, we played that night and were extremely pissed at them spelling our name wrong. And, yes, Motorhead were loud as f#ck but still excellent.
    Johnny Guitar of The Count Bishops

    Reply

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