supplied by Sarah Baggaley
Alan Esdaile… They were managed by Cy Whitfield Aaran International in Hastings and did loads of gigs. Anyone remember them and can give names?
Mark Hardwick… I remember them playing at The Royal Standard around 1977.(The same day a big Rock N Roll event was on the pier) Not sure of names though. I also knew Cy Whitfield (sadly passed away now)
Tom Doyle… Hi Sarah I have a few photos of Sunstroke Kinds Regards Tom
photos supplied by Tom Doyle
Tom Doyle… I saw them play in Hastings. The second photo was when they backed Ricky Valance.
Sarah Baggaley… Ah my dad isn’t in these, it’s a different bass player. Nice pics though!
Tom Doyle… The line up changed. Sunstroke broke up around 1978 and the piano player started a new group under the same name and still managed by Cy. The piano player was called Big Lou. The first line up, the lead singer was called Cochran after Eddie Cochran. I’m afraid that’s all I know about them and they broke up again in 1979
Tom Doyle… Hi again Sarah your dad could be on that record Alan displayed on his website (Hot Stuff Records) also Be Bop Bella might be able to help you out with your search for more info (if you could trace her), she did a lot of gigs with Sunstroke the first lot and the second lot your dads band was very good. Lou had a clash with the singer that caused the break up of the first band but remained friends with the drummer and your dad. He live in Milton Keynes, now if you could find a contact for him, he could tell you all about your dad. Be Bop Bella lives in Gloucester somewhere I hope that is helpful to you. Kind Regards Tom Doyle
Mark Hardwick… Be Bop Bella was a DJ as I remember..Also a band Cy managed who worked with Sunstroke regularly was Crepes and Drapes.Hope this helps.
Crepes’ n’ Drapes – Boogie Bop Dame...
Pete Dee… That first black and white promo photo on this page, I believe that’s my uncle (Danny Wild) in the gold suit! That Gretsch of his is unmistakeable. I’ve still got his copy of the Sunstroke 7″ he handed down to me. He left Sunstroke in ’78, then recorded a solo album and a couple of singles as “Danny Wild and the Wildcats”. I know he was playing guitar for Shakin Stevens for a while in the late 70s, anyone got any photos of that era of the Sunsets? The bassist in the top photo I believe is Geoff (Rawle?)
Mark Hardwick… I have an album Danny Wild and The Wildcats (Wild in The Country) I think?.. looks like the same Danny Wild and not sure someone told me He,s related to Marty Wild,is that true?
Pete Dee… Correct on the album, incorrect on the relation. Here’s Danny (on left in white suit) with the Sunsets. Sarah, what was your Dad’s name? My Mum (the singer’s sister) looked at the top photo and reckoned the bassist was called Geoff, and used to be a tailor when he wasn’t playing music.
Sarah Baggaley… Hi, my dad’s name was Adrian and the top photo is mine, I sent it to Alan in the hope it would jolt some memories! Since then, Ray the drummer has been in touch with me which has been amazing. My dad played bass with Sunstroke from 1974 to 78ish. Maybe your mum is thinking of one of the bass players in Tom’s photos in the comments.
Tom Doyle… I was having a clear out and came across a couple more photos of Sunstroke.
Nick Lucock… Big Lou Pantlin, piano. Barry Reynolds, bass. ‘Dave the rave’ (Danny Wilde) and myself (Nick) on drums were the original Sunstroke. I quit in around 76/77 to go sidecar racing. At that time Adrian was bass player , he replaced another guy who took over from Barry in around 74/75. As i remember Adrian was with the original Procol Harem. Dave /Danny was a rare character and had been around a long time in bands like ‘Moggy’, ‘Memphis Bend’ etc. He played a pre-cbs strat and a gretch ‘chet atkins’/workshop. used a fender bandmaster amp. Lou was one of the old Harrow Rockers and had also been around in the music game for years with the ‘magic rock band’ and Johhny Quantrell and the Confederates. I was just a very young bum hammering out rock’a’billy. The USAF bases all around south of England were our most common gigs.
Mick O’Dowd… Promoted them at The Carlisle along with Be Bop Bella(DJ)
Sara Bernard… Hi Pete, yep that’s definitely your Uncle! I should know he’s my Dad! Hope you are well, love, your cousin. In reply to Nick… Danny Wild is definitely a rare character! I should know, he’s my father and I couldn’t be prouder! He gave me my love of the English language, my love of history and of course my love of music! Finding his Wild in the Country album on iTunes seemed a bit odd but again I am so proud. My cousin Pete who commented further up was right the Gretsch was unmistakable.
Rose Churchill… Bella is my Grandma and she does live in Gloucestershire. I am currently trying to find articles and posters from her dj-ing days, I have a few newspaper clippings from the Citizen. I think she opened for Shakin’ Stevens at some point. The posters/tickets you have included above are great! She often opened for Crepes and Drapes, my Grandad played bass in the band for some time. Thank you for this thread!
Sara Bernard… Rose I would love to know if she has any photos etc of my Dad – Danny Wild or Dave the Rave as someone else correct my referred to him as. I am trying to build a collection of pics etc for my daughters. Finding Dads later album Wild in the Country on iTunes was a very odd moment I must admit but I am so proud of my father! We are all very lucky in that we have this stuff to remember and look back on. As I’ve always a said to my husband (funnnily enough a drummer) and my daughters, we will always have his voice to listen to. In that respect we are truly blessed
Sara Bernard… Pete, on close inspection the bass player appears to be Geoff Jollife (not sure on spelling) but Dad always said Geoff was an absolute demon when he bent over his bass and really went for it. Not sure what happened to him but there was a brief reunion about 20 years ago.
Lynn Whitfield… Hi Everyone, All this is really interesting to me and has brought back many many happy memories. Cy Whitfield was my husband from 1968 till he very sadly had a fateful heart attack in 2003. Sunstroke was a great band and we shared many happy times.
Pete Dee… Sorry to inform you Sara Bernard (my cousin, and daughter of Danny Wild) passed away on Sep 10th.
Alan Esdaile… Sorry to hear Pete. My thoughts are with you and her family and friends.
Pete… Hi Lynn, I was the drummer with Sunstroke when we played at the Royal Standard Hastings.lead singer was Mick Cochrane, Louis on the piano, Mick on the bass. We had piggy back fights outside with members of Matchbox. Remember Cy with fondness he was always good to us
John Robert Raven… ha ha saw this great days with Danny Wilde vocals Andy Baggaley bass Lou Pantlin piano and me Ray Raven !! on the drums now under my real name and on facebook as John Robert Raven RAY WAS MY NICKNAME !! and i am still living in Watford Herts. I saw a reminder by Lynn Whitfield Cys wife. Cy was our manager and i recall with much pleasure those rocking days and staying with Lynn and Cy at their house in Hastings St Leonards rings a bell. A GREAT COUPLE i recall The Standard pub and Jempsons club in RYE also Battle, Robertsbridge and Hastings services club and an amazing gig on the sea front for the fishermen it was rammed that day i am still a TED and really have not changed and yes i still play drums but not pro.
Hi Sarah I have a few photos of sunstroke Kinds Regards Tom
Hi Alan not sure how to send photos of Sunstroke I can send them by text if that will help you out Kinds Regards Tom
Hi again Sarah your dad could be on that record Alain as display on his website hot stuff also be bob Bella might be able to help you out with your shearch for more info ,she done a lot of gigs with sunstroke the first lot and the second lot your dads band was very good Lou had a clash with the singer that cause the break up of the first band but remained friends with the drummer and your dad he live in Milkeans now if you can contact him he could tell you all about you dad and be bob Bella she live in Gloucester some were I hope that is helpful to you Kinds Regards Tom Doyle
That first black and white promo photo on this page, I believe that’s my uncle (Danny Wild) in the gold suit! That Gretsch of his is unmistakeable. I’ve still got his copy of the Sunstroke 7″ he handed down to me. He left Sunstroke in ’78, then recorded a solo album and a couple of singles as “Danny Wild and the Wildcats”. I know he was playing guitar for Shakin Stevens for a while in the late 70s, anyone got any photos of that era of the Sunsets?
Hi Pete, yep that’s definitely your Uncle! I should know he’s my Dad! Hope you are well, love your cousin.
Hi Allen I was haveing a clear out came accross a couple more photos of Sunstroke I will send them to I have lots Moore of other group but none played in Brighton Kinds Regards Tom and Happy New Year
Big Lou Pantlin, piano. Barry Reynolds, bass. ‘Dave the rave’ (Danny Wilde) and myself (Nick) on drums were the original Sunstroke.
I quit in around 76/77 to go sidecar racing. At that time Adrian was bass player , he replaced another guy who took over from Barry in
around 74/75. As i remember Adrian was with the original Procol Harem. Dave /Danny was a rare character and had been around a long time
in bands like ‘Moggy’, ‘Memphis Bend’ etc. He played a pre-cbs strat and a gretch ‘chet atkins’/workshop. used a fender bandmaster amp.
Lou was one of the old Harrow Rockers and had also been around in the music game for years with the ‘magic rock band’ and Johhny quantrell
and the Confederates. I was just a very young bum hammering out rock’a’billy. The USAF bases all around south of England were our most
common gigs.
Danny Wild is definitely a rare character! I should know, he’s my father and I couldn’t be prouder! He gave me my love of the English language, my love of history and of course my love of music! Finding his Wild in the Country album on iTunes seemed a bit odd but again I am so proud. My cousin Pete who commented further up was right the Gretsch was unmistakable.
Bella is my Grandma and she does live in Gloucestershire. I am currently trying to find articles and posters from her dj-ing days, I have a few newspaper clippings from the Citizen. I think she opened for Shakin’ Stevens at some point.
The posters/tickets you have included above are great!
She often opened for Crepes and Drapes, my Grandad played bass in the band for some time.
Thank you for this thread!
Rose I would love to know if she has any photos etc of my Dad – Danny Wild or Dave the Rave as someone else correct my referred to him as. I am trying to build a collection of pics etc for my daughters. Finding Dads later album Wild in the Country on iTunes was a very odd moment I must admit but I am so proud of my father! We are all very lucky in that we have this stuff to remember and look back on. As I’ve always a said to my husband (funnnily enough a drummer) and my daughters, we will always have his voice to listen to. In that respect we are truly blessed.
Pete, on close inspection the bass player appears to be Geoff Jollife (not sure on spelling) but Dad always said Geoff was an absolute demon when he bent over his bass and really went for it. Not sure what happened to him but there was a brief reunion about 20 years ago.
Hi Everyone, All this is really interesting to me and has brought back many many happy memories. Cy Whitfield was my husband from 1968 till he very sadly had a fateful heart attack in 2003. Sunstroke was a great band and we shared many happy times.
Hi lynn
I was the drummer with sunstroke when we played at the royal standard hastings.lead singer was mick cochrane.louis on the piano.mick on the bass we had piggy back fights outside with menbers of matchbox remember cy with fondness he was always good to us