December 3, 2018

supplied by Ron Tennant

Ron Tennant… I am probably the most tip top fan & friend of singer P.J.Proby. In the 1990’s I was his sort of manager, which I did as a favour. But after about 4 years P.J. found himself ,at last,a professional manager & I was pleased. 25 years ago he quit “boozing” & that has made his career go on & on & on, November 6th recently he was 80! WOW! I have the world’s best Proby collection & I’ve been featured in a few magazines & newspapers over the years. P.J. recently said that he has no intention of ever retiring & he’s bursting to get lots & lots of gigs in 2019. My photo collection of P.J. numbers about 7000 & plenty of the U.K. music magazines request pics from me to add to their occassional Proby articles. I’ll see if I have any photos or articles that connect P.J. to the Hastings area. A pic is enclosed of P.J. very recently celebrating his 80th birthday up in Newcastle. He was up north as part of the “60’s Gold” tour. He has been absolutely brilliant onstage. Only three more dates to go…..Nov. 28th in Brum, 30th in Manchester & the final one on the 2nd December in Carlisle. Brummie Ron Tennant (who has lived in Belgium for 40 years.)

Joe Knight… Hope he doesn’t split his trousers again

Mick O’Dowd… Perhaps we ought to club together and get him a new pair of non-split trousers!

Jan Walker… I remember seeing him on the pier.

Pete Prescott… I read that he sang on a lot of demos that were sent to Elvis. which is why they sound similar. Elvis learned the song from his vocal.

Colin Fox… We, ‘Spooks’, supported him way back in the 1960’s at the White Hall East Grinstead. I think he could make a major comeback if he split his trousers today.

Mike Fyfe… My wife worked in EMI records in Manchester in the early sixties. PJ visited one day with his arm in a sling said a dog bit him. Billy cotton junr had a black eye round about the same time was it a bully dog that he hit. We love PJ Proby whenever he is in Inverness or Perth, go and see him better than Tom Jones.

Leigh Wieland-Boys… I would love to see PJP! My favourite is “Can’t make it Alone’ I have it downloaded & play it at least once a week – such a brilliant track

Richard Turner asked… anyone remember the box a rehearsal room in silverhill ?

photo Chris Meachen

Steve Demetri, Tony Qunta, Phil Gill, Ashley Pepper and others at The Silverhill Tavern after a recording session.

Pete Prescott.…first place i sang in in hasting with steppin out sep 77.tich wes kevin hoad roger hubbard martin baker and a guitar player i cant remember.played loads there.met ray there.he was producing the band.met andy caine there.the toilet didnt work.it was full to the brim with s#+t.the smell ! loved it there ha ha !

Diane Knight… That takes me back !!!!

Phil Gill… This pic above was after one of the pre-studio rehearsal sessions for Charlie Hutchinson’s “Feels Like Rain” album. No recordings were done at The Box in Hastings, it was recorded in Poole during January 1980. L-R, it’s Allan Thorpe (producer), me, Steve D, Tony Q, Charlie H and Ashley P. Here’s a pic (below) Chris took during the rehearsals which illustrates the seductive and glamorous inside world of rock & roll….

Pete Fisher… Great photo Phil! Especially the shadows behind you! Luxurious rehearsal space too…not!

Phi Gill… Have to say that if I’d had any inkling in 1980 we’d now have the internet, I’d probably have tried to avoid standing next to graffiti of a giant flying penis insect when the camera was about.

Nick Webb… blimey that takes me back too , Charlie and I where good friends often stayed at his place in Cornwallis Terrace .

P J Proby celebrates his 80th birthday and looks forward to more gigs in 2019

Silverhill Tavern – after recording at ‘The Box’ studios.