Month: April 2023

Trapeze – Hastings Pier 2nd April 1977

by

1620970_421596924652437_1574351150_n

  Trapeze0021

 Trapeze001

ad supplied by Sarah Harvey. ticket and sleeve supplied by Eric Cawthraw.

Eric Cawthraw…..Anyone else there who stayed to see Trapeze on the pier when they finally turned up late?

Andy Qunta….Love Trapeze! Don’t think I saw them though. Don’t know why!

Eric Cawthraw….The gig was held on the Pier Pavilion as it was then called. The date: Saturday 2nd April 1977. I can’t remember who was the support on the evening, but I do remember being at the bar and a whisper going around that Trapeze couldn’t make it. I’m not 100% sure if it was formally announced that they had cancelled, but ultimately most of the large crowd drifted away. They were definitely the headline. The ticket says Trapeze plus support and Disco. A few of us hung on [probably to sink another ale or two] and we then got word that they were turning up after all. As you know, in those days the big trucks drove right on to the pier and their’s was pretty big as I remember – especially as they were only a 3-piece by then. They had done big tours in the US, so playing to so few must have seemed weird. The thing is, the band treated it as a bit of a party and the atmosphere was great – a real buzz. The set was mainly based on the ‘You Are the Music, We’re Just the Band’ album. I think their guitarist – Mel Galley died a year or two ago….yep, we’re all getting older! My old mate John Storer was there that night, he may want to add to this – or put me right if I have got part of this wrong. My memory is pretty good, but it was 37 years ago!

John Storer ….I have only the vaguest memory of this gig, Eric, but definitely remember that you persuaded me to go. This was 1977 and I was only listening to punk by this time LOL. Do remember thinking the band were great and I do now have three Trapeze albums (two of which are both called, confusingly, “Trapeze”). Must dig them out to have another listen. This post does suggest to me another thread …. bands that never turned up at the Pier … Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers and Thin Lizzy immediately spring to mind.

Clive Richardson… Also no support band turned up but Trapeze where fantastic. Are you still in contact with Simon Pont, Eric?

Steve Kinch…. Glenn Hughes, most definitely the greatest voice in rock. And Trapeze, one of the most underrated funk/rock bands. MMEB were on the same bill as GH a few years ago – even though he was suffering from a throat infection – he sounded tremendous. Never got to see Trapeze though.

Mick Mepham…..Missed them….. I now have most of their albums and am thoroughly hacked off that I never saw them. Black Country Communion are/were excellent with Glenn Hughes on vocals and Joe Bonamassa on guitar, but I would love to have seen Trapeze. Hey ho ….

Eric Cawthraw…. (see above) the first is the concert ticket for Trapeze – with part of the LP cover, as this shows the set that they played; the second is just the ticket on its own. I see that there is now a promotional poster on your website as well. Clive says the support didn’t turn up either that night – that rings a bell, probably why I don’t remember one!

Chris Meachen….. must have been there, but remember little or nothing of this gig.. Think I must have been in the bar too long before they arrived….

Tony Court-holmes… rings a bell

Who remembers having a knickerbocker glory in Fortes?

by

Wendy Weaver… They always looked lovely but my mother couldn’t afford things like that. When I had my own money I never got around to buying one😋 We had several large Forte establishments in Bournemouth including The Barbecue where Ted Heath, Edmundo Ros, Mantovani played. Charles Forte lived in Bournemouth for a while.

Matt Thomas… They still do them in Rainbow Restaurant

Alan Wood… Yes, was a Grans treat for me, very occasionally in Hastings

Nicola Barfield… Omg yes and they used to do the extra large brandy glass with Eccles cake in bottom so many other cakes with ice cream then loads of cream

Eric Harmer… Free one from Phil ? I think , as my mum worked there

Dennis Torrance… Yes and also lime ice cream sodas

John Coleman… Had one yesterday! In Liverpool! WTH cookie dough & salted Caramel!

Charlie Ball… Yep

Steve Thorpe… Nice ones in Dimarcos!

Jan Warren… Fortes on Bexhill Seafront opposite “Ags” amusement centre, we all used to hang out there in the 60s/early 70s!!

Lyn Humphrey… Yep, and also had one last month in Simply Italian at E/B Harbour!

Pauline Richards… Banana split was my favourite

Monica Bane… No way as good as they use to be with jelly and real cream not cheap at over a fiver!

Mike Guy… My goodness, you were rich!

Dave Nattress… In Bexhill as Jan Warren said we had the Forte’s Ice Cream/knickerbocker glory/coffee bar on the seafront on the corner of Wilton Road opposite the amusements, round the corner from the Wimpey bar in Devonshire Road, and along from the Continental cafe/restaurant and basement club. Used to gravitate from one to another. Across the road by the amusements was a little late night club – drinks after hours – forget the name now – was it the Arcadian? Could have made that name up. There might even have been another little place along from that one for a short while. On the corner the RAF club. Further along was the Bexhill club – far too straight for a bunch of long-haired weekend hippies, no way would we have got in there, or wanted to. It was for people back then who were at the age I am now – which is very old! We were never gonna be that old. Never thought about getting old or anything like, being young was going on forever and in many respects you bet, it has. You know the old gag, went out with a girl the other night but it was all knickerbocker(s) and no glory!! Had to lower the tone!! The Criterion – one in Western Road the other (think it was also The Criterion opposite the DLW did knickerbocker glories and all sorts of ice-cream. The old type with little chunks of actual ice – remember those? Hastings seemed to have many more ice ream parlours.

Read more

Hastings Embroidery – White Rock Pavilion 1970’s

by

Pauline Richards… And wasn’t it on the pier at some point?

Alan Esdaile… Pauline, yes and The Town Hall.

Jane Hartley… Pauline, in the triodome.

Judy Atkinson… So sad this is not on display

Douglas Palmer… I remember when the Triodome on the pier first housed the embroidery. I was 18 yrs old and worked in the Borough Treasurers dept. Every Sunday (double time!) I would ride shotgun with the guy who drove to the car parks and other council attractions to collect the days takings. One of our stops was the Triodome and it gave me the opportunity each week to view it. It was a marvellous achievement and a big attraction. Thank goodness is wasn’t there when those brats burnt down the pier.

Graham Sherrington… maybe asked this before where is it and why is it not in the Hastings Museum get a fund going build a round hall to house it.

Alan Esdaile… Graham, I’m not sure but hope we are not still paying for storage, as it should be on display for all to see. I think a few panels were shown in Rye awhile ago. The ideal place for it would be St Mary In The Castle, if it ever reopens.

Polydor Records letter to Bryan Ferry

by

source: Neil Mellor https://www.facebook.com/neil.mellor.77

Neil Mellor… Well Polydor fucked that one up….

Derek Clemans… WOW. I must save this for my archive. Thank you.

Graham Bradley… Fucking Brilliant, I hope Hugh Smith is still rocking to James Last.

Chris Cozens… If this is an April Fool it’s brilliant, even down to the BMus!

Roland Clarke… it’s got to be a spoof, though a funny one. In my limited experience, if they don’t like something they don’t often bother replying outside of a standard rejection.

Andy Hemsley… We include a cassette of James Last’s latest album’ – hilarious!

Colin Bell… This made me laugh so much, its so indictive of Polydor then. I was in there very often in this period. There main source of income was (in the UK) Slade & The New Seekers (and soon after The Who) but being a German Company they never quite understood us Brits, shades of Fawlty Towers! Chris Blackwell at Island must have pissed himself if he read this

Rick Startin… To be fair, the first album is very odd indeed.

Leigh Wieland-Boys… So funny! Got to be a spoof!

Mike Guy… & the wonderful Walter Carlos has been the wonderful Wendy Carlos for decades.

Martyn Baker… Pah! Even my band managed to get a £250,000 deal from Polydor…… I think Roxy Music were ultimately more successful though!

Darren Rose… Quelle surprise.

Tony Davis… Still At least they got a James Last tape. We would all kill for that

Jason Stainer… Nice, free James Last tape. What more could anyone want?

Janice Irving… April Fool!

Elaine Roberts… That is priceless!

Neil McGuigan… Must be fake. A free James last album?

Colin Gibb Black Lace… Definitely fake, when we where signed to EMI in 1979 I asked how many sent in demo tapes are actually listened to? The answer was: ‘None, they are too many and record companies just don’t have the time, to get a listen you need an appointment and you may get 5 minutes’

Pete Fisher… Just to inform the doubters, the guy whose post I saw it in, Andrew Kilderry, is an old friend of Ed Bicknell, who used to manage Bryan. Andrew sent it to Ed, who passed it on to Bryan, who in turn confirmed that it’s genuine, and would like to get hold of the original. The letter belongs to Roxy Music’s first agent, but was posted on Twitter by the drummer from Talking Heads, who has an Eno connect. Cheers, Pete

Alan Pepper… I think you can safely say they were ahead of their time. That letter is hilarious

David Nattress… Fabulous – I so hope it’s true, but if it’s a spoof it’s great. But how could you contemplate sending a James Last tape to Bryan and the Roxy guys to listen to, to maybe inspire a different songwriting technique to bring wider appeal? Class!! I so remember the first time I heard the first Roxy album. Like “what is this”. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. Let’s just say it was a very interesting trip. Heard “An Electric Storm” by The White Noise in the same session.

Iain Cobby… Hey , just covered 2 HB from the 1st Album , with Zem Audu (plays with Springsteen) on Sax. Watch this space., still under construction.

John O’Brien… This is 100% a spoof, I know the guy who wrote it. I have worked on the potential of a For Your Pleasure Deluxe Edition and the reference of it on there could not be further form the truth at this point in time.

Martin Richter… but – what happened to the cassette of James Last …?

Elaine Roberts… Had to share this – it’s just priceless!

Chris Hoskins… But to be fair, “Polka-Party” is a classic.

Tony Barrell… (In reply to David Nattress), I’m glad you enjoyed it, David. I wrote the letter.

Reid McDuffie… Got a free James Last tape though!

Alan Devine… Reid, got to wonder if they got a copy each

 

 

Early photo of Colin Bell on a dog? on Hastings Pier!

by

supplied by Colin Bell

Angie Pilbeam… I remember that..not Colin…..the ‘dog’. I think theres one of me somewhere on if not that dog..another one. I’ll hunt through some photos in the week.the other thing was a photographer taking photos & then hoping your parents would buy the pictures.in my case it was grandparents.

supplied by Angie Pilbeam

Stephanie Blackledge… so do I! Photo opportunity? there’s definately one of me on a similar dog

Andy Qunta… Adorable!

Janet Rennie… Side saddle

Pete Brazier… That dog was originaly an elephant!

Chris Jolly… Lockdown diet!

Pete Brazier… no damage from years of kids pulling it’s trunk and ears. This is the one from the 50’s, will post the one of me on the early 60’s one that was turned into the dog when I find it lol!

supplied by Pete Brazier

Elaine Stock… So Animals lived on the pier before!

Martin Stoggell… t’s the feet a dead giveaway.

Chris Jolly… Can you make a trunk call to confirm that?

John Sydes… Much better than a gold lion, much more tasteful.

Colin Gibson… So this is where Gulzar got the idea

Maggie Geary… Very strange looking dog indeed ….. ha ha

Mick O’Dowd… Oh dear I remember these. Was the donkey situated near the Sun Lounge (now Azur) on the top prom? I had a pic taken on it in the 50’s. I think it was Gifford Boyd.

Sparrow Baker… I remember it. Bugger !!!

Colin Doherty… Sparrow, me too!

Chriss Hollinrake… Ha!! But you can’t remember what you went into the kitchen for

Chris Baker… Riding sidesaddle, posh!

Jim Breeds… Q: Why would you put a Bell on a dog? A: So the cats can hear it coming. Thank you very much – I’m here all week!

Colin Bell… Jim, I’m not doggone sure…from my expression i didn’t look particularly keen on getting on the thing in the first place!