Day: 1 December 2018

SMART 46 report

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The sun was shining for our last meet of the year. Lots of newbies including the mayor Nigel Sinden, John Parnell, Deborah Mould, David Smith and John Busbridge.  Nigel Sinden was chatting about the Hastings Friendship Group and the new cd from One Hastings Many Voices. He also confirmed that he will be live on Conquest Hospital Radio on Christmas Day 12.00 til 2.00 on the Chris Gentry show, reminiscing about Christmas past. John Parnell was talking about the changing face of Hastings and The Grove school and Deborah Mould and David Smith were remembering The Specials on the pier and chatting with Mick O’Dowd about the Jimi Hendrix gig. John Busbridge had a pile of 7” singles and a whole album of photos, cuttings, membership cards etc mainly from the 60’s. Including The Scotch Club, The Flying Machine, Sign Of The Fish Coffee Bar, The Fiesta Club, Witch Doctor, The Hi-Fi Club, The Nest Club, Kavemen, The Sound Casters and more. Pete Prescott arrived with a bundle of old gig posters, as well as leaflets for the Christmas Soul Party at St Mary In The Castle on Saturday 8th December. Barry French had a bag full of interesting books and bits and pieces including Gene Autry stories, Lone Ranger 1967 book, Silverhill Tavern cutting, the boxer Freddie Mills autograph, Leisure Music leaflet, certificate of the opening of the channel tunnel, The Regent Hotel postcard, sheet music and more.  Mick O’Dowd had with him a surprise find, when he visited the St Michaels Hospice shop in Ore, of a photo of him at Sandown School in 1961.  This is just a very small bit of what I remember, anyone who wishes to add anything interesting you were talking about, then please feel free to do so.

Mick O’Dowd… Great Meet some nice newbies there!

Josie Lawson… Very interesting

Jan Warren… Amazing stuff going on here, I just hope one day soon I can re-join your meetings xx

The Mars Fenwick Band – Ash Ain’t Nothing But Trash! 1986

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supplied by Pete Prescott

Featuring Johnny Mars, Ray Fenwick, Pete Shaw, Terry Pack & Chris Cozens.

Terry Pack…I don’t have a copy of this, but I remember shooting the video on a freezing cold day in an alleyway in Wapping. The place was covered in ash and treacle (to represent tar, yuk!) and one of the extras was Nick Mason, the drummer from Pink Floyd, who spent the day dressed in rags and covered in ash because the director was his friend. I met Nick recently and we talked about this shoot. He said he had a tape of it, and would make me a copy. I don’t have it yet, but I bet Pete Shaw has it (he has everything!)..I don’t remember the session either, but I’m guessing from the cover that we did it at Park Gates(?)

Alan Esdaile….It would be great to see a copy of the video. According to Pete Prescott this track was featured on the Esther Rantzen show for the anti smoking campaign. Interesting to know if any of the band were smoking at the time!

Terry Pack….John used to smoke cigars when I first met him in about 83, but he’d quit by the time we did this. Chris had been a smoker at college, but quit in his 20s. I’ve never smoked, and I suspect that neither Ray nor Pete ever have.

Pete Fairless…..I think this it is, guys!  Anette Lyton being, of course, Mrs Nick Mason…

Pete Shaw…..Quite an exciting time being involved in this….recorded at Park Gates, video recording in both a Thameside redundant warehouse and a studio….three dancers from our Harry R and Jumpjet girls…Including Kathy (later Fenwick)…fun with Warren Mitchell who played the office caretaker in the video, Annette who arrived all in black on a motorcycle following fiancé Nick Mason in his black 5 litre Porsche 928, lunch whilst all still in “costume” in a pub right on the Thames, and later TV showings and much publicity….and Terry was right, none of us actually smoked nor had a lighter to start the burning wreaths of fags on the Cadillac Hearse! And yes, I have a copy of all!! Plus, we still don’t smoke coz… “Ash ain’t nothing but trash……!!” Haha…

Terry Pack…..just watched the video. I don’t remember any of the studio stuff, or the girls. That must have been shot on a different day(?). All I remember is the stuff in the alley, and how cold it was! I have a very brief moment on camera, looking about 18! (Dave Cottrell please take note: you’re not the only one who looked 10 when aged nearly 30). I like the bass sound on this, and the playing. My Fender Jazz (back pick up only) straight into the board.

Pete Shaw was talking about this record and song on my radio show for CHR… https://www.mixcloud.com/sarahharvey7737769/johnny-mason-60s-and-70s-show-on-chr-with-pete-shaw-291118/

Pete Prescott… I’ve got the single. on the Forcefield album,  the vocal was removed and I sang on the same backing track with a different lyric. It was called fire in the city. I think this was shown on the Esther Ransom show.