Day: 1 September 2023

Die Laughing – broken van & supporters (part 1 of 2)

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supplied by Mick Mepham

In picture carrying gear is Kev Sayers ‘Sage’, on the way to the Marquee.

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photo by Chris Meachen

Folk on the way to The Marquee. With Clive Richardson, Steve ‘Bill’ Balkham , John Veness and others.

Mick Mepham……Ended up with the gear going on the coach ….

Phil Gill…..Always best to put the gear on the coach – the van’s the first place they’ll search.

Tim Bruce……I was on the coach. Going up a hill, and the visibility getting worse due to smoke across the road. It was the van creating said smoke! The coach overtook the verry sick van, Tel driving and the centre seat up so that Tel’s passenger, (cant remember who) was pouring oil into the engine…

Andy Qunta……Maybe not so funny at the time, but a great story now! Good times…! 😉 Has there ever been a band without a broken-down van story? Curse those rascally wheel-ed things!

Mick Mepham……The first time we played in Gravesend I think we had the same van. Going up Bluebell Hill, Maidstone, it started to smoke. Made it to the top, then the roundabout as it used to be. We went round the r/about which disappeared altogether and thought we should stopCars were hooting at each other etc. Dodgy!!!! Went and phoned the venue from a call box and told them we might be a tad late. Started then van again and it was perfectly ok!!!! On we went. V small stage there and a sort of lunchtime audition. Got to the end of a song, did the usual burn-up and fell of the stage flat on my face and guitar (a Fender Strat). Everyone there P****** themselves laughing including the band. Ice broken! Job done. The rest is history …… Red Lion at Northfleet, great gig and still there and going strong. Hurrahh!!!!

Phil Thornton…..Die Laughing+Van=Drama !

Jan Warren… Great pics guys!!!

Pete Brazier… I remember it as if it was yesterday, good pic of John and Bill and can just about see Clive at the back, but afraid my memory falters on the others lol. Sorry to everyone else

Willie Wicking… Remember going with John Veness on the back of my Honda 400 4 to set up Die Laughings gig at the Hexegon Reading great memories remember knocking Lols drum kit into the stage as he always tried to be Kieth Moon

Simon Sayers… The top picture is a long lost picture of my dad! (Carrying the box). He passed away 5 years ago, it’s great to see the photos ! Thank you!!

 

Die Laughing – broken van & supporters on the way to The Marquee photos from Clive Richardson

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All photos supplied by Clive Richardson

Pete Brazier…  I knew of their existence but the first time I have Seen Them😁 Better late than never lol

Kaz Brazier… was just going to say I just spotted my dad

Terry Corder… I remember it well. Oh how we laughed, not at the time though. Brilliant photos!

Diane Leigh… could you name the girl on first photo with blonde hair think its someone I knew she died day after her 24th birthday if its who I think it is.

Tim Moose Bruce… Terry, I remember the coach going past the van up that hill. You were driving. The centre seat was lifted to access the engine and I think it was Lol pouring oil into the smoke machine, er , I mean, engine. I was on the coach. Remember going up the hill on Sevenoaks bypass when it became very foggy. The fog coming from the van exhaust.

Terry Corder… Tim, used to do that a lot you know.

Ken Hatch… Looks like a “Derritron” outing

Ken Copsey… Great pictures!

Chris Meachen… Chris Rudge prominent in first photo, along with Annie.

Pete Brazier… It was a great Show too! (Still think Die Laughing should have won! (Outnumbered by the more Punk Orientated Groups! The only other group that stood out to me was a band that had a song “Worlds one And only Talking Arse!” The singer kept trying to look like he was singing out of his backside! A move to be made popular in the future by Jim Carey in Ace Venture Pet Detective.

 

Lew Lewis Reformer, The Teenbeats plus more – Rye Festival 1st September 1979

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supplied by Teenbeats Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Teenbeats-193261605554/

Peter Fairless… That was great, if a little odd… The Photos were good!

poster supplied by Ken Copsey

Ken Copsey… Aggro with the skinhead contingent which wasn’t very Greenpeace. Looking at the list of promoters at the top of the poster I wonder if that is the Andy McConnell the glass specialist who lives in Rye now?

Tony Ham… The name I remember is Blast Furnace and the Heatwaves, think they only had two as the ice cream van got tipped over by skinheads.

Ken Copsey… Blast Furnace was Charles Shar Murray’s band. Lee Lewis was always great. We played with him again in Swansea.

 

 

Chas & Dave house full at The White Rock Pavilion Hastings – September 1983

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Matt Thomas… Good old Roger Dennett there as well

Sheila Maile… I was there

Clive Garrard… I met Chas Hodges at Radio Caroline. A lovely fella, very down to earth and i really liked him. A much more talented musician than he was given credit for

Angela Jordan… Think my mum and dad went to this

Peter Stacey… I was there I met them both at the venue as a guest. I’d been supplying Dave with old blues records at the time as my job was at Flyright/ Swift records. Dave particularly liked the Blind Lemon Jefferson Tee Shirt I gifted him.

David Wilkinson… Chas and Dave appeared at Uckfield during the Festival 2004 or 5.