The Lost Boys – 1990’s

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Pete Prescott… The Hamsters were angry with us. We put them on last. We had a good set, there were about 600 there, when we finished the guitarist was livid. He said we are a three piece blues band and cant follow that ! He was right. As good as they were 300 people walked out after a few songs.it was near the end of The Lost Boys good years. Best fun band i was ever in.

Rock Night 6 – The Hamsters plus The Lost Boys Marina Pavilion 20th April 1996

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poster supplied by Pete Prescott

Jim Breeds… The Hamsters were very good. Shame they packed it in – I went to one of their last gigs. Think it may have been their very last gig.

Pete Prescott… I remember that gig well. They were not happy with us. We went on first, it was our crowd. A few hundred walked out after a few songs. Shame as they were a great band.

The Selecter – The Crypt (anyone know the year?) & The Hamsters chat.

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supplied by The Crypt Archive Facebook Page.

Anyone confirm the year?

John Storer… I’m guessing somewhere between 1991, when Pauline Black rejoined the band (after having left in 1982), and 2006 when she left again. During that period, they were always billed as “The Selecter with Pauline Black”. They reformed again this year, and start a tour next week.

An aside: When she left in 82, she was replaced by Stan Campbell but nothing was ever recorded. Stan went on to record with The Special AKA and is the singer on “Free Nelson Mandela”. Life has been cruel for Stan, who is currently detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act. However, if you ever get a chance to hear his 1986 solo album, do so – it is truly one of the great forgotten recordings

A further aside: Their first single, the eponymous “Selecter” (B-side of The Specials’ “Gangsters”) is the ringtone on my phone!

Jim Breeds… Wednesday Sept 8th. So one of the following years. 2010, 2004, 1999, 1993, 1982, 1976.

Peter Fairless…. 2010 John.

John Mcewen… Does anyone remember the Hamsters at The Crypt? With Slim playing pool with his guitar whilst belting out a Hendrix number?

Karen Sweatman Was Blackman… The Hamsters always used to play a lot of Hendrix and used to finish their set with Z Z Top’s Le Grange

John Mcewen… Top band. Their version of Mercury Blues was brilliant!

Yvonne Cleland… I think I saw them the first time they played the Crypt. They were excellent, but a coachload of fans from London were there and moshing so enthusiastically that I was scared I’d get hurt!

Jim Breeds… I saw them last year (not in Hastings). Almost their final ever gig.

Dave Nattress… Hamsters – fabulous. Saw at Brighton Dome long ago supporting The Blues Band with Hoax on the same bill and also on the seafront near the pier in Brighton – can’t recall venue name – small, sweaty place. Got 2 x double CD’s, “The Jimi Hendrix Memorial Concerts – 1995” and “10 Years of Rodent Rock” – great albums.