1977 – SMART

Beez Neez – Reception 1st July 1977 & Bonfire Oct 1977

November 24, 2024November 24, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Mick O’Dowd

Mick O’Dowd… This is the Reception for Beez Neez in 1977 with one of the first line-ups containing the late Andy Leaney and Barry Upton. Lead singer Geoff Stevens and girls Julie Harris & Mandy Etherington.

Julie Findlay-Jones… hahaha car park 10p

Joaquim M P Filho… Is Barry Upton the same one who played with Brotherhood of Man?

Mick O’Dowd… Not as far as i’m aware. Over to you Barry Upton!

Barry Upton… I wish. On another note , why did they stop playing as a group ?

Mark Harris… I honestly can’t remember when we stopped playing, as for why, I think it was because we were all very young and struggled with commitment. Once Beez Neez finished, Split Image formed with some ex-Neez members, not me to start with, I left Neez because I had become self employed and was too busy. However, after a couple of years or so, I was approached to join Split Image as bass player (which was different because I was drummer in The Neez), which I did. At that time, I think the line up was Dave Miller, Steve Russell, Tony Dufton, Mick (drummer) and me. Being honest, between The Neez and Split Image, there were quite a few line up changes so it’s difficult to remember what happened and when!!

Dawn Leaney… Andy Leaney was my husband… but this is way before we were married. He often talked bout The Bees knees So nice to read this.

Kevin Burchett… My sister had them for her 21st birthday at Netherfield Village Hall many moons ago

Die Laughing ticket Carlisle – 19th August 1977

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

Ticket supplied by Andy Knight. Ad supplied by Sarah Harvey.

Phil Thornton…. Checked this out with Mick but I think this was before he joined the band ! – I have pics of me playing upstairs at the Carlisle and I think we only did that one time so it should be this gig !!

Tony Qunta….I seem to remember that Big Willy Promotions was Kevin Wood

Michael Mepham.…That’s right Phil, I think I followed your good self in November of that year.

John Wilde….I was at this gig and the guitarist was Mr Thornton. with your Flying V no less.

Phil Thornton….hurray ! it was me. a long forgotten chapter in my musical history ! twas in my beard short hair white boilersuit phase. it was a good thing that you took over Mick !!

Motorhead and The Count Bishops – Hastings Pier 30th July 1977

July 30, 2024July 30, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

ticket supplied by Eric Cawthraw

autographed poster supplied by Peter Houghton

Tim Bruce….Was my first proper gig too. Before i went my mum warned me to ne careful of loud music . “Yes mum”. Opening act…… Motorhead!

John Laidlaw….Hah! First gig I ever saw – brilliant stuff. So loud I ended up behind the PA stack stage left… it was quieter there.

Andy Gunton….Not wishing to be pedantic. But shouldn’t that be The Count Bishops? I know both bands were on the Chiswick label around that time.

Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason… Yes your right Andy. Should be Count Bishops but I don’t remember seeing them.

Dave Arnold….I roadied at the Hawkwind/Motorhead gig, an amazing night

Ken Copsey….I went to this gig with Dave Blackman. I think there was only about 50 people there. Pretty certain The Count Bishops didn’t play. The Teenbeats later supported the Count Bishops at The Nashville . I can remember playing on stage and realising Gary Moore was watching us. Ever so slightly intimidating for a 17 year old!

John Storer…..The Count Bishops definitely played that night and were so good that I went out a couple of days later and bought their first album (which was released on 10″ vinyl). I also seem to remember that Motorhead were exceptionally loud. I don’t remember it being that poorly attended, either, although this was at the time that my musical tastes had diverged from most of my mates who were dismissive of punk and pub-rock. I do recall that I had given all my pre-punk records (a lot) to my sister in exchange for her copy of the Ramones debut album!

Phil Gill… Stallion played an all-nighter at the Lyceum in September 1976, with Stray, Dirty Tricks and Motörhead. For whatever reason, we all shared a large communal dressing room. Lemmy was charming, funny, gregarious, generous and completely down to earth. Great fun, completely rock & roll and above all, the real deal.

Eric Cawthraw… I’ve just found the ticket to this gig in my Motorhead – Motorhead album. What gets me is that it is made to look hand written and the ticket number definitely is. It looks very civilized – disco, booze and food. Food!? Crisps and peanuts more like – I don’t remember food! For Motorhead it should have been raw meat and Bourbon…..perhaps it was!

John Storer… Another great gig! Eric? Did you miss the canapes they were serving just outside the bar?

The Damned plus The Adverts – Hastings Pier 21st May 1977

May 21, 2024May 21, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

ticket supplied by Mike Mitchell

ad supplied by Michael Wilson

Martin Curcher… Went to this

Ken Copsey… My first punk gig. Things were never the same again!

Steve Sampson… Ken, went to few about this time not sure which was the first … this .. The Stranglers … The Clash …Eddie and the Hot Rods etc… great times

Mark Johnston… neat neat neat. remember The Damned album cover miss print with Eddie and the hot rods on the back wish I still had it.

Steppin’ Out – Archery Tavern Dec 1977

December 23, 2023December 23, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

Wesley Magoogan, Kevin Hoad, Martin Baker, Roger Hubbard, Tich Turner, Pete Prescott, Ray Fenwick.

all photos supplied by Pete Prescott

Wesley commented….I remember that gig well cos while I was singing my teeth flew out my mouth into the audience and I had to quickly jump down to pick them up and carry on playing !

Aircraft – Carlisle Ocean Bar Hastings 1977

November 12, 2023November 12, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Roger Carey

featuring Will Thomson & Mick Tanner.

Tim Bruce….The Dave Henry Roadshow. They were one of the major local mobile discos back then.

Phil Thornton… I was at this gig – most excellent !

Ernest Ballard… I joined the band round about that time but don’t remember playing the Carlisle. I played the gigs in London. The one next to Putney bridge was good and had my first McDonald’s burger lol in Lewisham I think. We had a girl keyboard player called Lynn and a violin player her boyfriend I think called Drew .Will Thompson had a friend called Fred he was a magician. Ask him how he was and you got a 30 minute answer ha ha. Motorfly wAs one track I remember as being excellent. Will Thomson was a master on his les Paul and I got to get to grips with his superb song writing. Many a coffee was drank at his home and great conversation. lynn played a Fender Rhodes. Love that sound still which added to the band . Can’t remember the bass player but he played solid and melodic lines. Great band to cut my teeth into jazz rock. Mick Tanner loved France and had a Renault Van to put his congas in. I think he lives in France now.

Martin Richter… Dave Henry Roadshow – happy days

Reading Festival – 1977

August 30, 2022August 30, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

Photo of Teresa Bassett and plastic bread bags on feet! – see below

Nick Prince… Wow. What a line up.

Andy Gunton… was at this one too 🙂

Mick Knights… I’ve got photo’s of Hawkwind and Ultavox at this one, must dig the out sometime and post them.

Terry Pack… went to Reading as a punter in 1975 or 76, I can’t remember which, and wondered what it would be like to play to such a huge crowd. In 77, I found out. I don’t know how many people attended festivals in those days. Any ideas?

John Storer… Somewhere in the back of my mind, I seem to recollect that the average daily attendance at Reading back then was about 30,000. Anyway, THIS is the year I went with Neil McGuigan, Matt Brand, Mick Hurton and Kev Potter. Most vivid memory is Jayne (formerly Wayne) County & The Electric Chairs being canned off stage. The only other band I remember seeing was Ultravox (the John Foxx version). I must have seen others – would have definitely wanted to have seen Eddie & the Hot Rods, The Motors and SAHB, but cannot now remember seeing them

Mick Knights… Here’s a couple of Hawkwind

photos by Mick Knights

Chris Meachen…. Seem to recall being at this one, but it’s all a bit hazy now…

Mark Asseenontv Scutchings-Stevens… I went there !! Had my sleeping bag stolen on the last night 🙁

Teresa Bassett… This was my first festival. 4 of us drove from Lincolnshire in a mini for the weekend. one small ex army tent and no idea what to expect. I remember the mud . I remember Thin Lizzy even now – Dancing in the Moonlight. I remember the beer can fights. I remember the toilets. Only have one photo of the weekend – me in cheesecloth and jeans and plastic bread bags on my feet. (see top photo)

Paul Morfey… I was there!! Lizzy were amazing!!

Ella Hall… Borrowed my dad’s old transit van and drove to Reading from Derbyshire with some pals from college. The ground was too soddon to pitch our tent so we “moved in” to this seemingly huge army-style tent with dozens of other tentless teenagers. The mud was amazing! Inadequate wellies and a shortage of plastic bags led to us going barefoot. Remember watching Thin Lizzy while dancing in thick mud almost up to our knees – played at seeing how far of an angle we could lean, straight-legged, before we splodged over!!! Festival over, we spent hours towing various small cars off site before heading home. To the owner of the large, canvas khaki, Army-style tent -Thank you!

The Adverts 22nd Oct & The Clash 12th Nov 1977 – Hastings Pier

June 6, 2022June 6, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Peter Fairless Bands on Hastings Pier https://www.facebook.com/groups/196962362327/

The Adverts replaced Jim Capaldi who was originally booked…

Ken Copsey .…Remember the Voidoids walked off stage after their ‘bald’ lead guitarist was hit on the head by what looked like a full can of beer. Thank god that kind of age discrimination doesn’t go on nowadays or none of us would dare set foot on stage again!

John Storer…..The Clash in 77 was one of the best gigs I ever saw at the Pier, even though I had to stand at the back because it was the first gig I’d taken the future Mrs Storer to (She was a Genesis / Yes / Pink Floyd fan). We’d only been going out a couple of weeks so I had to be on best behaviour. Knew it was going to be a great gig as soon as they launched into “London’s Burning. “Their debut still stands the test of time and is one of the few albums from that era I still listen to occasionally. But only in the car … Mrs S still hates punk!

Andrew Clifton…. link for review of gig.

http://jeke13.blogspot.co.uk/2006/11/clash.html?spref=fb

poster for sale in Belgium…