Alan Esdaile

Better known as international disc jockey Johnny Mason. Currently re-living his mis-spent youth through this web-site.

Chain Reaction – Battle Memorial Hall & The Railway Club St Leonards 1964/1965

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supplied by Harry Randall

John Petrie lead guitar, Phil Booth vocals, Roger Messier bass, Harry Randall rhythm guitar and Archie Pelham on drums.

Yvonne Cleland… Aaaah – Battle dances. Those were the days!

Jacqueline Marsh… Yea, we did a few gigs out there and I went there earlier this year for a meeting, and so many memories came flooding back. This was one of the first places my mum and dad ever saw me performing with the Debs and my mum said, Jacqueline, your a different person when your up on the stage, never forgotten it, bless her.

Harry Randall… John was using a Selmer Zodiac,Roger the good old treble and bass and me Harry a certain triangular Watkins I’d give my right arm to own now I then moved onto a Selmer Thunderbird thirty the one with those brass legs that got caught on everything when wheeling it about!

Virginia Davis… I remember they used to have a disco every Friday night back in the 70s

Peter Gladwish… Never realised I had shared a stage with such illustrious company Harry. This was also around 1964 at the Railway Club. (P.S. I played lead guitar in those days)

Geoff Peckham… Is that Andy Franks I see, Pete?

Peter Gladwish… It certainly is Geoff. I believe we’ve had this conversation before!

Geoff Peckham… Yes, I remember. Just wanted to put his name out there again. I’ve just started what will inevitably be the lengthy process of compiling a cd’s worth of songs and tunes we played together in Uncle John’s Band. I’ll send you a copy when it’s done – but don’t hold your breath!

Peter Gladwish… I’d love to hear it Geoff. Please let me know if you ever manage to get it together. Andy was certainly one of the ‘gooduns’ taken far too soon. There must be a fanastic band or three up there by now!

Harry Randall… Roger Messier I think was from another band Roger Messetter was the Bass player in The Chain Reaction I see his name comes up in Smart 29 in a band called Country Air -early 70’s Carlisle asking who was the bass player? Well I bet it was him.Lived in Sedlescombe RIP!

Paul Huggett..Wow, Roger Messetter was an old mate of mine, he always played rhythm guitar in the bands we were in. Good ol’ boy, we had some capers. I was bass player in Country Air!

Harry Randall… Well I never knew ! I always thought he was just a Bass player .That is Roger from Sedlescombe ? Just wondering if that’s my old Selmer Thunderbird thirty Peter Gladwish, I sold it to someone who lived in the old town I think up George Street?

Paul Huggett… I don’t remember Roger (Messetter) playing bass? I was in a few bands with him always on guitar.. And that looks as though the bass player is left handed, which he wasn’t. Must be another Roger!

Peter Gladwish… Sorry to disappoint Harry Randall but the Selmer amp was brand new. Bought from Alan Jensen at the Disc Jockey and paid for by Mrs Mastin (owner of Mastin’s department store). She was the Grandmother of our singer.

Harry Randall… Mine had those horrible fold up brass legs everyone chucks in the bin

Iain Cobby… Hey Harry, bet there still in the loft like the rest of your 100 plus guitars and amps and keys. Love you old friend!

Harry Randall… No I don’t believe it!

John Gale… What a great little venue the Railway Club was? Had many a night there watching my late dad, drum there, great photo…

Gerry Fortsch… That takes me back.

Ken Copsey…. Great picture including the ubiquitous Watkins Rapier 33.

Richard Downer… John Petrie lived up near me on Harold Road. I’m sure his dad had a fish and chip shop in the Old Town.

Harry Randall… yes he had the Lifeboat fish and chip shop and John took it over when his dad retired

Graham Sherrington… The Lifeboat had the best Plaice and Chips in town well back in the early 60’s bread and butter smashing place. Is it still there?

 

 

Herbie Flowers 19th May 1938 – 5th September 2024

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photo Lorraine Bowen

Pete Prescott… I loved watching him at St Mary in the Castle when he did the Jazz Breakfast’s with Mike Hatchard. A wonderful player and funny guy.

Jacquie Hinves… Such a sad week for music.  Herbie may you rest in eternal peace.

Colin Norton… RIP Herbie Flowers.

Jeremy Peter Harrison… He played the bass on ‘walk on the wild side’ epic!

Claire Melhuish-Durkin… RIP Herbie. I remember take a walk on the wild side.

Sharon Sellens… Oh dear, Herbie was such a talented musician, great performer, funny man and all round lovely bloke. His musical legacy will last forever

Susie Prescott… Sorry to hear this.

Ralph Town… I’ve shared a few videos of Herbie’s playing. The bass players Bassist.  Genius. Did you know he only ever owned one electric bass guitar? The blue Fender P bass.

Iain Cobby… What a sad week for musicians, Mr Bass will be sadly missed. The bassists bassist, gone but what a legacy.

Bernard Jeffery & Charlie Tumahai from Be Bop Deluxe late 70’s

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bernard jeffreyscharlie tumahai

supplied by Bernard Jeffery

Bernard Jeffery…..late seventies rehearsals with Charlie Tumahai From Be Bop Deluxe in The Box Hastings. The Hollywood Killers.

charlietumahai

© milesago

http://www.milesago.com/Features/tumahai.htm

Bernard Jeffery… Above, great piece about a great musician and a great bloke.Mentions the time I played with him in the Hollywood Killers back in the late seventies.

Tim Phillips… Interesting article. Be Bop Deluxe was one of my favourite bands in the mid 70s. I can remember riding my motorbike to Eastbourne to see one of their gigs with my then girlfriend (who went on to be lead singer of The Mobiles). I think the gig was at The Congress. The ride back to Hastings to take Anna home was one of the coldest motorbike rides I can remember smile emoticon

Bernard Jeffery…  I loved all of their albums and saw them live many times so it was a real buzz to play with Charlie and meet the rest of the band at Hollywood Killers gigs

Dave Nattress… Be Bop Deluxe were fabulous – I have all their stuff on Vinyl and CD and love Sunburst Finish and Modern Music.  Samisen – where’s Sarah H, do you remember we did “Ships in the Night”.  Indeed Tim, it was the Congress as I was there.  I do remember they were really, really loud.  RIP Charles, your contribution holding the bass down whilst Bill Nelson went off on his space-missions was vital.  I stumbled across a great Bio of Bill Nelson and Be Bop Deluxe, published in 2008, written by Paul Sutton Reeves – “Music In Dreamland”  “Bill Nelson and Be Bop Deluxe”.  A long read but worth it.

Tim Phillips… Yes, I agree that Be Bop Deluxe were really loud at The Congress. I had a motorbike with straight through exhaust pipes which sounded incredibly loud (probably made me quite unpopular in Bexhill). On the ride home I couldn’t hear my bike because my ears were still ringing from the concert lol.

 

The GT Strokers – 58 Club Winchelsea Beach – 1967

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supplied by Tony Lambert

l to r: Andy Webster (very good rhythm and arranger),  Tony Lambert (now singing ?), Paul Freeman (on his Ludwig drums who was the best drummer around here) Revelle Stockdale (very talented) and  far right Graham Kent (good bassist and arranger).

Tony Lambert…  here is the GT Strokers about April ’67…. 58 club Winchelsea Beach. We had the Friday night spot for a while then took over from King Rod and co. on Saturdays, as they went touring.
This was before the flower power look took hold later in ’67, best time for many that year the summer of love! Bill who ran the 58 club didn’t like our new flower power look so we we left. When we broke up later that year Paul, Rev and i joined King Rod for a while but left and went our own ways. Tried several other bands but didn’t work out, pity because we were progressing very well as the GTS.

Geoff Peckham… I never saw The GT Strokers, but I’d certainly heard of them. A lady my mum knew, Blanche Adams, a retired governess and concert violinist took an interest in my musical progress and helped me buy some equipment. She was also Andy Webster’s landlady, and she introduced me to him as I think he was getting married and was selling some gear. He was really friendly and taught me “My Girl” among other songs. He also sold me the Leeds Chord Dictionary, which I still have! This was around ’68/’69.

Robert Searle… Great to see a picture with Paul Freeman on his Ludwig drums and Rev Stockdale on guitar.

Carol Arnold… aaa, loved the 58 club.

Mark Randall… Where abouts was the 58?

Alan Esdaile… It was behind The Ship Pub, Mark.

Tony Lambert… Paul Freeman’s cousin was Mick Taylor who played with the Stones after Brian Jones left us, so quite a talented family. I always encouraged Paul to go pro, with his talent and connections it could have come about…what a pity he missed out. When the GTS was in the flower power mode we used oil slide projection backgrounds and incense sticks with synchronized flashing lights,which most enjoyed but it was rather too much for some to bear especially at the 58 club !…..we always tried our best to entertain, we tried to learn at least 2 new numbers a week, not easy when doing a full time job.

Colin Fox… Rev Stockdale, Kevin Hoad, Chris Howard, Kate Honey and me when we played in the 80’s as ‘Elite’, at the Fishermens Club Eastbourne. Bob Searle and I used to lodge for a while at Paul Freemans house in the early 70’s in Windmill Hill. We had some great times, (I think), as we were always pissed.

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supplied by Colin Fox

Cliff Wootton… I remember a drum kit that dad bought home and put in our music room which had the GT Strokers artwork on the front. I have a picture somewhere which I’ll dig out and post here. I know he worked with Tony around that time so they must have made a deal or swop.