Reading Festival featuring Stallion 27th August 1976

Stallion photo supplied by John Wilde

Andy Gunton… I was there.

Phil Gill… Wow….40 years ago

Alan Esdaile… Do you remember seeing Stallion play, Andy?

Phil Gill… John Storer will. He was right in the front row shouting “‘allo Phil!”

John Storer… John Storer does indeed remember, Phil … was there with Kev Potter, Matt Brand, Mick Hurton and Matt’s cousin (who’s name currently escapes me). It rained …. a lot! Particularly remember Moon being awesome, (how I’d love to get my hands on their first album again) and great sets from Rory Gallagher and Ted Nugent. Remember Kev getting hit on the back of the head by a full can of Party Four, which we then proceeded to open and drink. By coincidence, had cause to mention Reading 76 several times during the last fortnight. One of my business partners went to Reading Festival last weekend and I was bemoaning the “gentrification” of rock festivals, telling him that a festival should not be about 5 star hotels and Radio 1 Dance tents, but about very cheap plonk, leaking tents and not changing your clothes for three days! Those were the days! A great weekend for £6.95!

Phil Thornton… ha ! I forgot the Enid played !! – also missed the Sadista sisters ( their drummer went on to form YMO who are one of my all time favourite bands !) – I did get to see AC/DC and Rory Galagher who were brilliant ! Supercharge were also great ! – the mighty diamonds had a rough deal getting bottled, they deserved much better from the audience.

Terry Pack… I think I was there. It’s such a long time ago. I was definitely there the following year. When I played there in 85(?), everyone got bottled. It was horrible: two litre plastic bottles full of urine being thrown at random, with the tops off so that it went everywhere. It was bad enough onstage in the early evening, where you see them coming, but I dread to think what it was like in the crowd and after dark. The crew were talking about chicken wire the following year, as in The Blues Brothers.

Phil Thornton… how did RJG react ?

Terry Pack… He told them not to be ‘naughty’, I think! That did the trick! At one point, Dave Storey beckoned me over: there was a crisp packet full of vomit next to his hi hat pedal! I lived the 1980s!

John Wilde… Camel! Stallion were excellent!

John Mann… My son and daughter went this year. I looked at the bands playing and thought, who they. Above is a list worth seeing. And as you say John, Camel!

Ralph Town… Interestingly,as a 16 year old Mk1 punk,I,d only be interested in seeing U-Roy 🙂

Nick Hill… looks good to me…proper music. acdc fantastic in 76

Phil Thornton… oh yes why did I not mention Gong !!!! – they were great and if my memory serves me it was the post David Allen 2 marimbas jazz fusion line up ! – still very spacy though !

Neil McGuigan…. Bloody Hell, Im Matts cousin but I dont remember being there! Wasnt it 1977 we went with Aerosmith etc? John Storer-yes -you were at the Pistols pier gig-one of only 6 or so of us there that “got it”

John Storer… Woke up this morning, Neil, and immediately remembered your name. How the hell are you? You are probably right … may have been 77 when you and Matt came. Now seem to remember it was Gary Peters and Mick Watson in 76. You must forgive an ageing man his memory. I do remember we spent the night before leaving for Reading in your flat. Earlier that night we were in the Pump House where I met, for the first time, a girl called Jo. We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary on Monday 🙂

Suzy Hill…  I was at this, but spent most of it asleep

Neil McGuigan… Thats nice news John, I thought I was going mad, not remembering.You must have stayed at Matts flat-by the station? I was still at home.  Do you remember the pistols on the pier?  You missed a treat then Suzy-did you wake up to watch Budgie?

Suzy Hill… yes caught them

Ann Gill… Perfect Phil, Elliot and I are going there tomorrow to watch Miles play. I will forward this to Miles. Thanks Alan x

Andy Qunta… How fabulous that Stallion played the Reading Festival, when it really meant something! Look at the other bands on the bill!

Mick Knights… The only thing I remember is having a flat battery and being towed out of the car park at that one!

Steve Kinch… Went to Reading festival a couple of times in the early 70s… can’t remember a single band :/ Break a leg, Miles 🙂

John Wilde… With you Gills in spirit

Gary Kinch… Was there in 74 and 75. I remember sod all as well. Here’s the reading archive website for 76.  http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-76.html

Alan Wood… I went to first Reading ,can’t remember year or bands ,can remember it was at Plumpton

James Turner… I was there, I nicked Jan’s rocket she had been saving, I let it of to a big cheer then I think it was Camel came on to the biggest firework display you can imagine gone was my moment of fame with my rocket.

Harry Randall.. Stallion photo, John Petri on guitar!

John Kitcher… Marvelous. I was there in the rain!

Jo Turner…  My first Reading

Phil Gill… I was there! It was a total joy to be side stage and watch Miles play there exactly 40 years later.

Tony Court-holmes… I was there one year cannot remember what year it was

Iain Cobby… Wow, that song still sounds top notch after all these years. I remember Stallion opening with this at the MM rock contest , at  The Round House when Damaris drove up there to support them. They blew the rest of the bands away on that hot night. Then drove back down to Hastings for drinks at Steve D’s. A night to remember.

3 thoughts on “Reading Festival featuring Stallion 27th August 1976”

  1. John Storer does indeed remember, Phil … was there with Kev Potter, Matt Brand, Mick Hurton and Matt’s cousin (who’s name currently escapes me). It rained …. a lot! Particularly remember Moon being awesome, (how I’d love to get my hands on their first album again) and great sets from Rory Gallagher and Ted Nugent. Remember Kev getting hit on the back of the head by a full can of Party Four, which we then proceeded to open and drink

    By coincidence, had cause to mention Reading 76 several times during the last fortnight. One of my business partners went to Reading Festival last weekend and I was bemoaning the “gentrification” of rock festivals, telling him that a festival should not be about 5 star hotels and Radio 1 Dance tents, but about very cheap plonk, leaking tents and not changing your clothes for three days!

    Those were the days! A great weekend for £6.95!

    Reply
  2. Woke up this morning, Neil, and immediately remembered your name. How the hell are you? You are probably right … may have been 77 when you and Matt came. Now seem to remember it was Gary Peters and Mick Watson in 76. You must forgive an ageing man his memory. I do remember we spent the night before leaving for Reading in your flat. Earlier that night we were in the Pump House where I met, for the first time, a girl called Jo. We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary on Monday 🙂

    Reply
  3. Wow, that song still sounds top notch after all these years. I remember Stallion opening with this at the MM rock contest , at The Round House when Damaris drove up there to support them. They blew the rest of the bands away on that hot night. Then drove back down to Hastings for drinks at Steve D’s. A night to remember.

    Reply

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