Martin Richter… is Brian Pollard still about ?
Electric Light Orchestra – Hastings Pier 27th April 1973
ad supplied by Sarah Harvey
Alan Esdaile…..I did the disco for this. They had so much gear that I ended up doing the disco from the balcony and before anyone says it my stage gear at that time was make up, blonde wig and black cloak!
Andre Martin….Memories of that night, must have been another that Paul and I spent in the Balcony with the best views. Have a vague recollection that Shirley on form as well that night !!
Mick O’Dowd….Nice one Sarah! Great band!
Chris Sambrook….Sarah or Alan you might be able to correct me but I have a feeling that Darryl Way’s Wolf supported. The drummer at the time Ian Mosely, much later joined Marillion.
John Austin… Did Electric Light Orchestra ever play at the White Rock Theatre ?
Alan Esdaile… I think a ELO2 played the White Rock in recent years (anyone confirm?) and ELO tribute bands but not Jeff Lynne.
Chris Giles… Only remember them playing on the pier. Good concert.
Mick O’Dowd…Yes ELO II did play the White Rock. I was there and I think i’ve still got the programme.
Jeff Chuzz Balcombe… yeah I remember them on the pier.
Jon McCallion… Got Out Of The Blue vinyl, full volume.
Dennis Torrance… God I missed it was 19 can’t think why I missed it kicking a football a lot then.
Clive Garrard… I remember buying the single Showdown
Peter Thomson… Fabulous night. Apart from the concert, I still have it in my head that this was the night that the Albert Memorial was alleged to have “burnt down”. Yet I and others were in the town centre after this gig and witnessed no inkling of a fire or anything unusual, only to read of the event afterwards. Like others my age, I can’t remember why I went into the kitchen these days but this stays with me. Can anyone corroborate?
Andy Maby… One of my first live bands, but in 1978 and at Wembley! Loved ’em!! They rose up out of a ‘hamburger’ (spaceship), with green lazers flashing up to the ceiling and back walls! First time I’d seen lazers too! An amazing sight!!
Martin Richter… oh yes – out of the blue tour ? the Empire Pool ? I seem to remember 2 spaceships on wires came down at the end ? mr blue sky was in the charts at the time
Gerry Fortsch… My wife at the time fell asleep and missed the guitar cock up at the beginning of roll over Beethoven, I think he may off improved since then.
Roy Penfold… The Albert Memorial suffered the first arson attack the night after on the 28th of April, then a subsequent one on the 18th of June
Tony Court-holmes… missed it
Alan Esdaile… Remember doing the disco for this. ELO had so much equipment that I set up in the balcony at the back. Complete with blonde wig and black cloak!!! Pity no photos, or maybe just as well!
JS Bythesea… I might have been there but I used to spend a lot of time in the early 70s sitting and crying on the counter in the ladies’ toilets for some reason or other, so I can’t say for sure. Whatever it was, I’ve got over it now.
Christine Giles… JS, hose ladies toilets were a nightmare so crowded out ..girls fighting or crying …I didn’t really enjoy having to go in there at all
Who else was born at Fernbank Old London Road Hastings?
3rd March 1977
Ian Cramp… My kids were born at The Buchanan
Steve Cooke… Oh yes, I was. Photo explains a lot about me I feel. Very Hammer House!
Steve Mann… Me
Paul Crimin… Why does a book by Charles Dickens leap to mind when I look at the picture of this building?
John David Martin… And me
Terry Corder… No me, I was born in St. Helen’s Hospital, but I used to pass Fern Bank twice a day going to and from school.
Samantha Blake… I was in 1967 x
Andrew Blake… I was in 1969 and so was my other half in 1973
Alan Esdaile… apparently the nurse dropped the scissors with me, when the chord was being cut.
Pauline Richards… Am not admitting to the year!
Ann Graves… My daughter was born there in 1969
Chris Meachen… My birthplace in 1955… Dad was a bus conductor, & would get his driver to stop in old london road, then run up to give mum flowers or chocs..
Stephanie Blackledge… My sister Nicky Dann
Nicola Dobson… I was born there in 1952
Tony Davis… I was
Margaret Trowell… Husband was born there in 1945.
David Edwards… Yep!
Sam Rosewell… My brother was born there in 1972 and I remember being taken there to see him and my mum! I think my dad may also have been born there in 1949
Duke Ellington In Eastbourne – celebrating the 50th Anniversary – 12th October 2025
https://ellingtonlive.blogspot.com/
recorded in NYC, January 9, 1962
Mike Vawdrey… You may already have heard about this but there’s going to be a special day in Eastbourne on October 12 to commemorate the Duke Ellington concert there on December 1 1973, which was DE’s penultimate appearance in the UK. The event was recorded and partially issued on LP although so far as I know the full tapes have never come to light. There is a linked local history project trying to find people who attended the concert and who may still have related memorabilia. Fans would travel any reasonable distance to see The Duke back in the day – I did myself – so there must be a fair chance that some of your members/participants either were there themselves or at least know somebody who was. DESUK(Duke Ellington Society UK) – www.dukeellington.org.uk – is helping to coordinate feedback although you might be able to track down the local organisers in Eastbourne. I hope this is of interest – will be intrigued to see if anything comes up ! BTW I’m a remote subscriber in Crewe, Cheshire but I never fail to look at your always interesting postings which have often led in unexpected directions. Keep on keeping on ! – best wishes – Mike
Did anyone go on the Magic Bus coach trips in the 1970’s?
Leigh Mitchell… No – but I’d go on one now at those prices
Rebecca Roach… What a memory – delighted to find this – I went on the Magic Bus to Athens from Kings Cross station in 1972/3 (?) stayed at The Funny Trumpet hostal in Athens – that was an experience!
R Stene… Yes. London to Athens in 1978. I was the oldest person on the ride (36) and best dressed it turned out. No head rests for three days and a memorable toilet stop for two girls on the side of the road in Yugoslavia in the snow. Lots of interesong smoking going on in the back seats.
Mike Curtis… No. Cos it was “too much”
John Wilde… Yes twice to Amsterdam.
Vicki Campbell… Yes, Athens to Amsterdam 1975. Yugoslavia we broke down near Skopje. Pretty rough travel but the price was right! I remember how happy everyone was to cross into Austria! The fresh produce in Yugoslavia was the best anywhere.
Heather Sidery… Yes.. France and back. We we’re stopped in UK, and searched by police. Nothing found…..
Julie Findlay-jones… My uncle used to drive for them in the 70s.
David Hamblett… Went to Athens 1979, it cost £28,Should have been 3 days but took 4 as Yugoslavia police stopped the bus and took away the driver, Fantastic
Amanda Darling… David, I was on that bus too! My son was conceived on the roadside in Yugoslavia when the bus driver was taken off by the police!
Joan Hicks… I (a Kiwi) traveled Athens to London 1976. Alan was the lone driver. He had his kids Claire and Roger with him. Alan had a kidney stone attack in the Alps, so the whole busload baby sat until he came back. Also got stuck at the Yugoslavian border, the border guards demanding $200 US for a Visa I already had. Also got an unplanned day in Amsterdam. Brilliant trip. Made some good friends and still keep in touch with a couple of them. Traveled on with Alan down to Cornwall and stayed with him and his wife Flora for a few days. Happy days!
Meryl Gay… Yes, I took the 3day trip in 1975 from London via France, Italy over the ferry at Brindisi to Greece down to Athens. What a adventure. We had a puncture in France! Had many happy memories.
Peter Ellingworth… I didn’t myself but my youngest cousin Moira, sadly no longer with us having succumbed to cancer, and over from Australia at the time (1975-8) on their traditional overseas rite of passage, did so with her Canadian flat mate she lodged with in Shepherds Bush…..and ended up in Athens marrying a Greek. Did the bus go from the old coach station half way up Pentonville Rd., (now an upmarket restaurant) or from outside King’s Cross Rail station itself, most likely in York Way ?
Expandis – Hastings Pier 3rd July 1982 & promo photo
poster & ticket supplied by Mick Mepham, photo supplied by David Miller.
Yvonne Cleland… The DLWP should book Expandis!
Phil Thornton….Many thanks to Mick Mepham for finding this old poster ! This brings back happy memories of a fine evening on the pier ! – we (EXPANDIS) had the ballroom about half full (over 600 people)
we had a few guests that night … Min on Sax, the ‘Foxx’ dance troop and of course the ‘Bag ladies’ !
Kev Towner… It’s like a trio of Trevor Horns!!
Alan Esdaile… I always thought they would be great on Later with Jools Holland. What is that in John’s hand?
Phil Thornton… its a mk 3 sonic disruptor. when we were all on the mothership John was usually on ‘shotgun duty’
John Wilde… we came from the future……
Phil Thornton… ……… and crash landed in Bexhill (the cosmic AA have been called)
David Miller… It seems like only yesterday…..
Hastings United Spectacular 2nd July 1978
Anyone remember this?
Pistols At Dawn – Malcolm McLaren, Sex Pistols & Hastings Pier 3rd July 1976 by Barry Taylor
Copy of the handbill for Budgie/Sex Pistols gig that Barry handed out around the town to create interest.
PISTOLS AT DAWN – Malcom McLaren, Sex Pistols and Hastings Pier by Barry Taylor
Malcolm McLaren was the visionary who invented ‘Punk Rock’ to the shock and delight of 70’s Britain. He emerged from an art college background. During this time he became fascinated by the ‘Situationists’ , a group of French artists and intellectuals and went on to apply their ideas to his own career. At Goldsmith College he met up with Vivienne Westwood, they open a boutique in Kings Road, Chelsea which eventually became ‘Sex’ and a flagship for the punk moment.
At this point Mclaren began to ‘assemble’ the Sex Pistols. John Lydon, for example, auditioned in the boutique, by singing along to ‘Schools Out’ on the jukebox. Then, he was joined by messrs Jones, Cook and Matlock and this was the line up which graced Hastings Pier ballroom in July 1976.
I had booked the ballroom for a series of concerts, having kicked off with 50p admission, featuring up and coming groups supported by local talent but this was not a great success. One of the best performances was by ‘The Stranglers’ as a support act! Casting around for a support for heavy rockers ‘Budgie’, I noticed the winds of change heralding the arrival of punk rock from the direction of London.
I managed to somehow contact Malcom Mclaren at his HQ and duly booked the Pistols for a modest sum. Prior to the concert, I was asked to arrange a PA system for them, as they didn’t possess one! I will never forget the shock waves when Mclaren and his motley musicians arrived at the pier on July 3rd. Compared to us hippies, they were a bunch of aliens, with their spiky hair and clothes held together with saftey pins but they were nevertheless, quite friendly. I am not sure what the Budgie fans made of the Pistols shambolic, yet exciting set. It was an incongruous pairing of bands, to put it mildly.
I remember there was an unpleasant scene after the gig. John Lydon was not impressed with the P.A, provided by a local musician and expressed his displeasure. I appreciated Glen Matlock’s intervention as peacemaker, as a fracas loomed but there was an intimidating aura surrounding the Sex Pistols at the time.
I tried to rebook them but Mclaren did not return my calls! The famous Bill Grundy TV interview was December 1976 so fame and notoriety was beginning to whisk the Pistols away. McLarens maverick style of management owed something to Andrew Oldhams guidance of the Rolling Stones and he proceeded to sweep all before him. Malcom negotiated a lucrative recording deal with EMI, who didn’t realise what the Sex Pistols were about! After releasing ‘Anarchy In The UK’ he engineered the sacking of the band from EMI but kept the advance and promtly switched them to A&M. That didn’t last and they ended up with a more sympathetic label in Richard Bransons ‘Virgin Records’. All of this, 3 record contracts, in a very short space of time and plenty of money!
By 1977, cracks were appearing within the Pistols and Glen Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious, generally acknowledged as a mistake by Mclaren. By early 1978 it was over but he left his mark on rock management and influenced others who came later with a similar disregard for civilised behavior at the time! Like Alan McGee who steered Oasis to success in the 90’s.
Malcolm reinvented himself as an artist and had a hit with ‘Buffalo Girls’ .. but will always be remembered for the Sex Pistols.
Barry Taylor
Morten Of Norway…I attended the Pistols/Budgie gig. I was 15 year old language school student, from Norway, visiting England for the first time. I knew Budgie, but had, of course, never heard about Sex Pistols. Been addicted to punk rock ever since!
King’s Country Club Eastbourne – 1975
Martin Richter… impressive line-up !
Patricia Lloyd… Loved kings
Julie Morris… Often went on a Thursday night – loved it!
John Scaife… Peter Gordeno -Commader & The Pilot of Sky 1 (Submarine in UFO)
David Edwards… Imagine Ella Fitzgerald like a diamond atop a pile of also tans, Kings certainly pulled out all the stops there!
Jim Hobbs… Fair comment, but to give them their due, the others on the line up were big UK stars in their day.
Tony Court-holmes… Andre and i worked there
Cliff Bennett… What a programme!!!!????
Colin Creagh… Just look at the names
Terry Pack… The sad thing is that most ‘entertainment’ in Eastbourne is unchanged in 45 years. The Devonshire Theatre has pantos and Agatha Christie, the Congress has bands from the 60s, comics from the 70s and orchestral music from the 1800s, and the Bandstand has tribute bands all Summer. The idea that a musician like Ella could do a week long residency these days… if only.
Richard Cripps… Mum and Dad owned a chalet there, spent so many memorable years there from the age of 8 [1971] until it closed. Had the opportunity to see sooo many stars of the time there… and then across the road to the disco. Any one remember Nan on reception? or Barry the house drummer?
Michael Williams… I lived at Kings, as my father was public relations officer, I remember him introducing the acts on stage including Sandie Shaw, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck , Dusty Springfield and loads more. My father had an album with him shaking hands with all the stars before he introduced them on stage. That would have been the sixties.
Robert Searle… Clark-Elsom Collection,who remembers them? What ever happened to Graham Clark, the bass player?
Perri Ann Haste… I used to go there in the Mid to late seventies – always had a great time! – happy days… those were the days eh
Sam Tripp with Allan Turner on vocals & Ollie on drums – 1970’s
supplied by Hastings Groups from 1958 to the present
Allan Turner, Jeff Hobson, Ollie, Bob Shipway.
Chris Sambrook….The same Allan Turner from Rediffusion from 1970/1971. Had a band called Artus in 1971. On bass John Davies and on keyboards Nigel Banks. Would be nice to see him again
Mick Mepham… You there, Turner, man up and be more forceful this instant!! Don’t you just love write-ups? At least it was positive …
Chris Baker… Didn’t know Bob Shipway was with them. Lost touch when he moved to Bexhill. Love to know where he is now.
Allan Osbourne… Can anyone help with any information regarding the members of Sam Tripp and where they might be now. I was the front man for the band back in the early seventies. Bob Shipway bass, Ollie drums, Jeff on telecaster and myself , then Allan Turner as lead singer. I would be gratefull for any info as to present whereabouts of the others . My E mail address is Bacarooda@hotmail.com Thank you.
Allan Osbourne.. Thanks to people who were kind enough to respond concerning Sam Tripp and Arktuss. Bob Shipway is living in Scotland and married and Nigel Banks is living in New Zealand. If anyone knows the whereabouts of John Davis or Jeff Hobson , please contact me on Email Bacarooda@hotmail.com any information would be greatly appreciated. Allan Osborne of both Sam Tripp and Arktuss. Thanks!
Iain Cobby… Great band! remember Bob who switched from his fantastic Burns Bison bass to guitar. Remember jamming along with them in Battle. Hope you guys are all well and happy!