1973

supplied by Mick Mepham

Martyn Baker….Wonderful gig, that night. Mixed live in Quadrophonic sound too, as I recall, probably for the first and last time on Hastings Pier. What a fantastic Rn’B band they were

Terry Huggins….They were originally called the Tornadoes, but had to change their name as there was already a band by that name (The other band had an instrumental hit with Telstar). They became the Golden Earrings, but later dropped the ‘the’ and the ‘s’.

Jim Hobbs….I was there that night. Great gig in the very week they got to number one with Radar Love. I recall that the numbers were very low, which was a shame as they were amazing with great sound from their Quadrophonic sound system. Vanilla Queen (from Moontan) is still a favourite track. I wonder if their drummer still jumps over his kit on the last chords of Radar Love? Also saw them play Brighton Dome with Lynyrd Skynyrd in support (they stole the evening), some gig!

Mick Mepham….Hey Jim, I roadied most of that tour and that gig for sure. Silly sods in the Dome management wouldn’t allow the quad p.a. to be set up at the back of the theatre so there were 2 stacks on each side of the stage. LS were really good too and made GE play even better.

Kevin Carlyon….Bloody hell. I printed these at Berfort Reproductions and used to go out fly posting with promoter Joe Morowski!

Jim Hobbs…A Classic track

Karen Sweatman Was Blackman…..Radar Love was the first song I ever sang at karaoke – trouble was I forgot there was about half an hour in the song where there is no singing and I was standing in the pub looking like a twonk for the duration. On a lighter note, I did win a bottle of wine. Think it was for the karaoke, not looking like a twonk!

Lauren Gower… My Uncle Simon roadied for them.

Chris Giles… I think this was the loudest band I ever saw on the pier….I was deaf for days after….brilliant though.

Phil Thornton… An excellent gig !!!!

Eric Cawthraw… Yep at this one – stood by the mixing desk to enjoy the quad sound. I remember the guitar sounds circling in one direction and flute going the other way. It made you go boss-eyed! Mick, I seem to remember our mate Simon Pont helping to get all their gear on the Pier – he got given a very glittery Golden Earing t-shirt. When wearing it – it looked like he’d got shiny dandruff. Didn’t a wheel of their loader go through the pier – or an I mixing this up with someone else?

Dave Nattress… Yes, went to this one. Golden Earring had a great couple of years on the back of Radar Love. They are STILL going – have a look on their website, got several of their vinyls including of course Moontan and 2 versions of Moontan on CD – slightly different track listing. I saw them at Brighton Dome but unsure if they were headlining or support. I half think they were supporting Free at the Dome but the other half of my thinking says this was unlikely. It was a long, long time ago and all that. I also, bought the vinyl of the Nutz first album – still have it – interesting cover!! Think they came from Liverpool.

Ian Mantel… Now a certain Mr Graham How tells me they had a spot of difficulty with their transport when they backed it onto the pier….

Chris Coleman… I was lucky enough to be there working with Jon Royle and the Music Machine Disco

Stuart Moir… Wow just look at the entrance fee

David Norman… It was a great performance by the band,they performed a long version of Radar Love, brilliant

Simon Elder… I rather guiltily highly remember the poster for Nutz, can’t recall what the music was like though, I’ll have to search for a video.