1974 – SMART

The Kinks – Hastings Pier 23rd March 1974

December 14, 2022December 14, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

(1) supplied by Mick Mepham, (2) & (3) supplied by Roger Carey

Yvonne Cleland….Great gig, and with the legendary beer can on head routine………

Chris Meachen….Remember this one particularly fondly;- After the gig, I asked Ray Davies about harmonica playing; He made me a present of two blues harps,( which I still have) then sat down & gave me a half-hour lesson in blues harmonica.. Thoroughly nice bloke!

Martyn Baker….Victoria! Victoria!! (I think they opened with that). Knocked me out too.

Graham How….I had the honour of introducing them on stage. They were a very friendly band and the roadies were great too! Fabulous night. They came down to Hastings on a chartered National Express coach. Hastings was the only gig they had done for ages and not part of a tour. Ray said they did it because they fancied playing on a pier!

Gary Kinch….Remember it well……First wage packet I bought 2 singles, Ape Man being one of them. I seem to remember Ray throwing beer into the audience.

Andre Palfrey-martin….Kinks first played Hasting Pier in July 1964- HCFE Summer Dance.

The Kinks – The Midnight Special

John Alexander Wilde….Wonderful!

Peter Fairless… …and, yes, the pier gig will have been the one where Ray Davies helped Jo Brand get her No.6 out of the machine!

Robert Searle… March Hare, Peter Skellern on lead vocals.

Jim Breeds… Ah yes! I was there, but I don’t remember the support band – not that I remember the support bands from many of the gigs. I think we always stayed in the pubs until just before the main act.

Yvonne Cleland… Huh! That was for posh people. The rest of us stayed in the pier bar!

Sally Blackman… This was the very first gig i went to.

Phil Thornton… another great gig ! – the audience was at least 1.5K over capacity !! (I guess Health and Safety must have been somewhere else !)

Jane Hartley… I was there

Terry Haddon… And so was i.

Fusion Orchestra – Hastings Pier 7th December 1974

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Mick Mepham

photos taken at the gig by Chris Meachen

Dave Nattress… I didn’t know Be Bop Deluxe did the pier. Anyone know what year. I have virtually all their stuff on vinyl and CD and saw them at Eastbourne Congress in 1976/1977 and I’ve said before in these pages, they were seriously loud at Eastbourne. They definitely had Sunburst Finish out at Eastbourne which was released in 1976 I think and maybe Modern Music – 1977. Guess the pier gig would be a year or more earlier?

Tony May… What a provocatively sexy pic this is! I bet Jill was an amazing front woman to watch live!

Mick Knights… That would be ‘the’ microphone stand then!

John Wilde… Be Bop Deluxe! Excellent Gig.

Steve Rolls… I was in Hong Kong for this gig but saw them at least 2 other times on the pier and also a couple of times in the junior rates mess HMS Mercury (now closed but was right up in the south downs between Clanfield and East Meon in Hampshire).

Jan Warren… Oh Alan, this is great!! – pics of the lovely Jill Saward, the amazing lead singer of Fusion Orchestra – I loved this band, went to loads of their gigs!! – Thanks for posting these pics!:) xx

Alan Esdaile… Yes great photos Jan and takes you right back, again thanks go to Chris Meachen for the photos.

Mark Sims… My old band Clemen Pull supporting Be Bob Deluxe

Martin Casson Agency – Hastings Pier Gigs Nov/Dec 1974

November 21, 2022November 21, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

leaflet supplied by Michael Mepham

Kevin Sherwood… Went to all of them.

Phil Meston… Went to the first three!

Yvonne Cleland… Went to all but Leo Sayer.

Tony Court-holmes… only Curved Air for me

Bob Lloyd… Interestingly Steve Maxted ran a Wednesday night disco at Woodville Halls in Gravesend in the early 1970s

Dave Weeks… I think I went to all of them apart from Leo sayer. Happy days.

Julie Morris… I saw Leo Sayer and Sparks – and always there for Steve Maxted!Happy days indeed Dave!

Roy Winchester…I saw Leo Sayer what a voice if i remember it right he was dressed as a clown.

Fusion Orchestra – Aquarius 2nd November 1973

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

photo by Chris Meachen

supplied by Sarah Harvey

Barry M Dyke… I think I recognise the girl, the chappy behind her and the bloke to his left.

Alan Esdaile… Jill Saward has been in touch and trying to track down some good quality photos of Fusion Orchestra and Shakatak for a new project, can you help?

Jill Saward… Yes, thanks guys, Fusion Orchestra news in the pipeline….

Alan Esdaile… I did ask Jill for any memories of Hastings Pier and she said… so long ago and we were on the road 350 days of the year! I do remember it being freezing cold but the audience were going pretty mental!! xxx

Tony May… This band and their legendary gigs on Hastings Pier and in town have been an indelible part of my life story since Simon (Karl) died. Would love to have seen them play. ‘Talk To The Man In The Sky’ was part of the soundtrack to the film I had in mind for the story of his life. Ironically, its his 16th anniversary in two days time. R.I.P. buddy…

Chris Meachen… Think I’ve probably got some stuff, will see what I can find..

Jan Warren… Brilliant, always loved them, went to many of their gigs!!

Mick Knights… You could count the number of times I was at the Aquarius on one hand, but this was one of them!

Keith Veness… Great Band was there

Magma, Esperanto with Keith Christmas – Hastings Pier 8th March 1974

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

poster supplied by Mick Mepham. photo source http://magmamusic.org

Signed poster supplied by Peter Houghton

Geoff Peckham….I was there that night. I was knocked out by Magma. They’d thrown away the rule book. The singer (Christian Vander?) even sang in his own made-up language. The perfect antidote to Eurotrash!

Terry Pack….I was at that one, too. Magma were amazing. I got to meet Keith Christmas during the 1980s. He lived in Kingston near Nick Magnus, with whom I used to write songs around that time.

John Wilde…. I was there also, Greatly impressed by Magma and the singing in tongues.

Mick Mepham….. They’re my favouritest band in the whole world! Saw them in ’73 supporting someone I can’t remember, then this one and loads subsequently. They’re still going and are utterly awesome (I don’t use that word lightly). The language Vander wrote is called Kobaiian and it suits the music well. The best drummer I’ve ever seen (apologies to all others) and some of the most intriguing music ever. They wipe me out whenever I see them, though I don’t think they play here anymore so I haven’t witnessed a gig for several years now. Have a look at their show at the Trianon in Paris on their 30th anniversary. Excellent! etc etc sorry …..babbling now. Esperanto were also a really good band and Keith Christmas too. Ahhhhh those were the days hahahahahahahha …..

John Wilde… Excellent gig. Wish I had this poster Mick.

Terry Huggins… Magma are still around aren’t they? Their last album, Félicité Thösz, was only released a couple of years ago.

Peter Fairless… Still putting out CDs, Terry

Mick Mepham… Magma were and still are my favourite band. Awe-inspiring live and good recorded. They’re still pretty big in Europe. Too “out-there” to be commercial but a great band. Hurrah!!John, I’ll send you a copy…..

Phil Thornton… another gig I was at ! – both bands were great !! – not that I understood it all, but I still knew it was great !

Tony Court-holmes… that is a very worrying photo.

Peter Houghton… That was a great night both bands played great set’s and I was introduced to the amazing Keith Christmas and i went out and brought his Brighter Day Album

Alan Esdaile… I remember seeing him live and the track Robin Head.

David Alan Roberts… Sadly, I declined to go to a Magma gig when at university: financial constraints forced me into selecting the gigs I could attend! Of course, friends of mine who attended the gig wouldn’t shut up about how good, goofy and original they were…to my chagrin. Circa 1974, this was. However, a few years earlier, I remember being totally spellbound by Keith Christmas’ acoustic guitar technique at the (fairly) well-known Les Cousins club in Soho. He was a solo performer at that time.

Stallion – introducing the band 1974 & Stallion poster 6th November 1973.

April 2, 2022April 2, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Mick Mepham

supplied by Phil Thornton

Alan Esdaile… Great find Phil. Stringer Jones, was a duo with Martin Stringer and Malcolm Jones.

Martyn Baker… Malcolm Jones was the other half of Stringer-Jones with Martin Stringer in Hastings (1975-6). I kind of re-met Malcolm again when we both worked for Capital Radio in the 80’s. Martin now lives in the west of Ireland. Both top geezers.

Harry Randall… RIP Vic/Tony and Steve gone to young! Sadly missed I’m sure by all who new them!

Leigh Wieland-Boys… My that takes me back. Fond memories of Steve D, rest in peace dear friend.

Martin Stringer… Crikey.

Phil Thornton… wow ! Great pic. Don’t think I’ve seen the one above before. SSV&T !!!

Linda McDuffie… Cottage! Blast from the past!

Zzebra & Highway – Hastings Pier 29th June 1974

June 29, 2022January 29, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

poster supplied by Mick Mepham. Cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey.

Autographed poster supplied by Peter Houghton

Gary Kinch…..Saw them at Reading in 75 and probably saw them on the pier but like so many of those gigs, I really don’t remember.

Yvonne Cleland….I think I went to see these at the Marquee.

Sarah Harvey… June 29th, 1974. Zzebra with Highway supporting. Following on from my previous Auf Wiedersehen themed post….on July 8th (my birthday 🙂 )the same year, Gary Holton with The Heavy Metal Kids.

Paul Owen… The Heavy Metal Kids were amazing, poor poor Gary Holton, I loved his voice, even as Wayne in Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Gypsy & Dragonmilk – Hastings Pier 11th October 1974

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

Clive Richardson… Gypsy were excellent. Really good sound. They had no roadies, no manager at the time and did the sound themselves. Paul Casson was very impressed and was interested in managing them.

Peter Thomson… Sure I was at that one but don’t remember the support act, unfortunately.

Factory – Hope & Anchor 1974

September 22, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Roger Carey

Yvonne Cleland….I remember Tony’s tasselled waistcoat, but don’t remember him wearing nothing else

Steve Kinch….Friggin’ eck…! Gonna have to check these guys out

Pete Prescott….when i was on the london pub scene in the 70’p we used to hear about this amazing band that played jig a jig ! never saw them.wish i had.and to end up playing with them years later !

Michael Mepham……. Jig a Jig?

Andy Qunta….Wow! I’d love to play in a band like that!

Martyn Baker….This was inspiring stuff to the teenage me.

Phil Thornton….lamp post lil ?

Geoff Peckham….Hi Philip. I believe we went to the same sunday school! Yeah, Lampost Lil. I think Andy and Tone will remember that when we recorded it at Daltrey’s place, it set off a debate about our musical direction. The guys in the control room (Paul Waldron, our then manager, John Jansen and others) were shocked at the way Lil started gently and then went off ‘at a tangent’. They said we should be playing more ‘laid back’ music a la West Coast bands like Little Feat and the Eagles. We didn’t agree. That band in the picture doesn’t look as though they’re playing Tequilla Sunrise. I also remember, when recording Lil, getting on my knees to play the Hammond bass pedals. I’d love to hear it again if anyone has a copy.

Phil Thornton….Hi Geoff – ha ! sunday school ! – I havent heard lampost Lil since the Greyhound/King and Queen days !! – watching Factory was such a big inspiration !

String Driven Thing and Stallion – Hastings Pier 7th September 1974

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

poster supplied by Mick Mepham. pier photos Chris Meachen.

Tich from Stallion at the pier gig supplied by Roger Carey

Here’s a great recording of ‘Circus’ venue unknown.

Wesley Magoogan…. Those Observer adverts were the center of some of our lives then.Whomever was on the advert for the pier were that week’s big deal !

Phil Gill… I was there, it was a brilliant gig.