Johnny Mason DJ

70’s disc jockey presenter, record reviewer, booking agent and promoter

Medicine Head and Factory – Hastings Pier 12th March 1976

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medicine head 12th march 1976

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ticket supplied by Mick Mepham,          review supplied by Sarah Harvey.

Tony May… A personal appeal here for some help from you all. I am looking for pictures of the band Medicine Head which appeared in the local newspapers from their Hastings pier gigs during the 1970’s. One particular picture is said to include my friend, Simon Griffiths (otherwise known to a lot of you as Karl) who was a bouncer on the pier for a short time in the background. I do not have many pictures of Simon (only those from the Bexhill Observer of 1977) so would really appreciate any of him from any time period. If anyone here can help I would be very grateful.

Andy Qunta… Wow! 40 years to the day! I don’t really remember this gig, but I’m sure I wasn’t thinking that 40 years from now, Factory will be about to release their first album!

Steve Kinch… I don’t recall ever playing with Medicine Head… then again, I don’t remember what I had for breakfast.

Peter Fairless…. As well as the 12th March 1977 they played in September ’74, too. What a great band!

Jim Munday… Yes, but not very good at sums… 

Chris Meachen… Nice blokes, one of the very few acts that bought us a drink for dragging their gear on…

Gerry  Fortsch… That was a bloody long haul to get your gear on the pier, I remember it well.

Chris Giles… Medicine Head great group …enjoyed watching them and their music brilliant …had forgotten I’d gone and seen them

Hollington Youth Club – Johnny Mason early 70’s

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Pete Fairless… Looks like the vertical hold has gone on that sign!

Chris Boorman… I’d love to see some photos of Noggin’s Deluxe Disco in Tackleway Hall!

Pete Houghton… What great photo of you and your decks. How young you looked and you had some hair.

Cindy Adams… Ann Parnell and Donna moon !! I think that is me in the photo too !!

Diane Leigh…Think I see Jane

Adlehied Hoohaa Welsh… Brilliant.

Carole Strawson… I was thinking the same for me in photo 2 at the back blond hair

Rosalind Morton… Wow earliest memories of my ‘disco’ days

Jeff Belton… Those were the days , 🤣😂. Great photos , I have ones like them when I was doing discos.

 

Die Laughing, Johnny Mason – Speakeasy Club Hastings 1970’s

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supplied by Mick Mepham

photos supplied by Clive Richardson

Yvonne Cleland….Nice shirt, Mick.

Ken Copsey…Great picture. What year is this? I think Mick is playing the AC30 I later bought off him and used in the Teenbeats.

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Andre Martin talking on the whereabouts of The Speakeasy….Back in the 1970s, if you walked on the pavement side from White Rock Pavilion going west, you would have passed the old Veruum Building, information centre/students centre – built in the 1930s in the same style as the WRP. The temporary car park was on the site of the Grand Hotel, that was demolished in1965 – to clear up the site because the Queen would be coming down in 1966. Next to this was Beachcomber Café and then a few doors further The Saraceno Italian Restaurant – where we took GG after his Carnival Show in the Park – Paul and I often used this for meals, next door was the Casablanca Club.

Peter Pursglove…..I worked at the other Speakeasy in Kings Road Alan, and Tramps Disco under the Malborough Hotel,both were packed with students during the summer.

Mick Mepham….. I used to wash dishes in the Saraceno Andre! Next door to that was the Lido, used to go in there quite a bit too…. We (Die Laughing) had some great gigs in the Speakeasy and I’ve still got some pix somewhere …..

Martin Richter… speakeasy – those were the days ! joe (wossisname?)

Dartford YMCA – Johnny Mason, The Gobstopper, Mighty Machine, Christie, Sabotage, Chris Gentry – January 1973

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Mick O’Dowd… All together now Y-M-C-A…!!!!! Is Chris Gantry an alias of Gentry.

Peter Fairless… A top DJ, clearly, Mick.

Mick O’Dowd… I think it’s Chris Gentry in disguise Pete. More to the point who are THE Christie?

Peter Fairless… Something to do with THAT Yellow River?

Mick O’Dowd… Don’t they hail from San Bernardino?

Andre Martin… Bloody Printers never could spell !

 

Mud & Chicory Tip – Hastings Pier December 1973

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Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

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ticket supplied by Mick Mepham, mud photo TopPop (Dutch television show) in 1974 Beeld En Geluid Wiki – Gallerie: Toppop 1974

Mick O’Dowd….I remember both of these well. Not very large attendences but Chicory Tip did hand out some cheap bubbly at midnight!

Titus Luxor… Just been listening to Chicory Tip. Some good stuff. Some songs sound really dated (of course) but a very interesting band especially with the Giorgio Moroder element.

Gill Harrod… Shirley, did we go to these? I know I did, I think it was with you and Eileen!

Jan Warren… ………. and, again, Rubber Band are supporting act!! – we got to know them really well as my hubby was resident DJ in the hotel before it became “Scalliwags”, and he was like a “roadie” to MUD when they played at “Dreamland” in Margate – I remember “Rubber Band” well, they released a single called “Moonwalker”, the singer (Dave?!) was very “Bowie-type” and I think they lived in Forest Row (near East Grinstead) in Kent, I remember us driving them home after a gig??!! – has anyone got any pics or news of Rubber Band?? – I’d love to know??!! 🙂 xx

Andre Martin… When we first signed the group they were known as Black Raven and from Forest Row – I will see what cuttings I have in the archive and forward to you.

John Coleman… I was there! That was a long time ago! Utterly brilliant bands on the Pier! Will never forget !

Tony Pettifer… We were from Forest Row we were Black Raven before Andre & Paul had us change names.

Johnny Mason Wye Collage 1974, Gloucester 1976

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Matt Thomas….you still going to the gym? LOL

Yvonne Cleland….Bring back the hair!

Mick O’Dowd….Thank goodness you’ve ditched the haircut(like most of us from that period)!

Tony May…..Great pics and I expect great memories for you. The Brian Jenner mentioned above – was he the one who went on to record with ‘Talisman’? If so I often see him on the bus – we have spoken loads of times about their ‘Sounds In Our Minds’ single and LP. Both of those would be rarities now…