70’s

Head On plus Missing Persons – Queens Hotel 1st December 1979

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supplied by Mick Mepham and Pete Prescott

featuring Pete Prescott, Andy Qunta, Tony Qunta, Steve Kinch and Mark Thirsk.

Pete Prescott… I remember this gig. I was very nervous. They were amazing players. Nice guys as well.

Andy Qunta… I vaguely remember it too! Pete did a great job! Unfortunately I think it was the last gig we did. Couldn’t fight punk rock with prog rock! Fun while it lasted though!

Tony Qunta… I remember it too. A line up with great potential!

Ernest Ballard… Great band saw them a few times before I started playing drums (wink wink ). Long time ago now

Pete Prescott… We played a gig at a boutique in London. After the gig I got really drunk on punch (dangerous stuff). We got back to Hastings in time for me to go to work. The green cross code man was there. Huge guy. That was (I think) the last gig. Mark was an amazing drummer. Brilliant players. I felt out of my depth. I remember loving Tony’ s voice on “only you”. I’ve still got a tape of songs like “the burning of Atlanta” it was great being in the band with guys like that. And they were so funny.

Steve Kinch… Yes Pete, absolutely agree, Mark was a fabulous drummer with a great sense of humour.

Tony Qunta… Great memory Pete! Yes the green cross code man – was he in Star Wars or something? Thank you for your lovely comments about the band. Your vocals were fantastic with the band – it’s a shame the band didn’t keep going!  ‘Dinosaur Promotions’!

Steve Kinch… David Prowse – He was only Darth Vader!!!!  Great times! Hastings in the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s was the pefect environment for young musicians learning their craft. With hindsight, the late 70’s wasn’t exactly a good time to be attempting to get a “prog” band off the ground

Andy Qunta… True, Steve, but it was fun trying! Listening to the old tapes makes me feel it was well worth it! Pretty darn good stuff!

Original 70’s platform shoes

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Supplied by Mo Elms

Terry’s original 70’s platform shoes. Purchased from True-Form Queens Road Hastings.

Peter Houghton… That’s a great picture!

Dave Nattress… Looking back – how awful.  Had several pairs some from Huckells (I think), Fab Boutique, maybe covered completely by overlong, far too wide Lionel’s, Ben Sherman button down, the smart leather jacket, not a bikers type, the smooth phase after years of weekend hippy.  Discovered more chicks in the Hastings Clubs hence being smart.  Hair horrendously long though. Now, Wife’s just done my customary US Marine number 1.  Great days and bad ankles and the balls of your feet hurting.

Mark Randall… Ox blood shoe Polish

SinkySnap… Great condition although I know from personal experience that 70s shoe glue is mostly rubbish and falls to pieces rapidly

Graham Matthews… Haha, I had a pair similar to that, bought in Hastings but no idea where

Chris Meachen… I owned a couple of pairs back in the 70s, even rode a motorcycle with them on which proved their end as the heels hit the ground on corners. How ridiculous we must have looked …

Sharon Sellens… Chris, blimey, they must have made you about 7′ tall!!

Jo Turner… I still like them

Jacquie Hinves… Blimey , I had a pair similar to those , but bought at Russel and Bromley in St Leonards. They were orange , brown and red! Hideous things. Didn’t do any favours for my high jump record at St Richards!!!

Disco – Conduit Hill, Rye 70’s

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photo © Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith… Does anyone remember these two, they used to put on Discos every Friday night at the hall at the bottom of Conduit hill in the early 70s it was always a great night hardly ever any trouble, great days a long time ago, & no we weren’t DC disco he was another guy around at the same time.

Colin Winn… Nope.

Franky Appleman… no… but the lad in the right looks like the guy who plays Jay in the Inbetweeners

Kevin Williams… Left is Steve Smith and right is Phil Hays. Both lived in Camber.

Stuart Moir… There was no trouble because we were all adults and appreciated all the effort the guys put into entertaining the crowd with their collection of 45s

Elizabeth Murby… I don’t, but I grew up in Northamptonshire , bangin the middle of Kislingbury a village itself in the middle of Northamptonshire, a county itself in the centre of England

Ralph Town… I well remember DC disco. Used to help Alan with his gear. Pretty sure he’d be gone by now. Nice guy.

Shaft promo photo Rock A Nore Road and Hastings Pier Ballroom

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This is a promotion photo for Martin Casson Agency, taken at Rock A Nore Road. I think the car belonged to the photographer?

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Shaft on the stage at Hastings Pier – Early 70’s photos supplied by Andy Knight 

Andre Martin (commenting on the last photo) That is a really excellent shot of the Happy Ballroom – and of Andy when he had plenty of hair -Hah Hah

Andy Knight… Shaft (son of Freeway) on the Pier

Nick Shute… wow!! a sound city pa and the hofner bass….looks like a lot of my old gear up there!!!

Len Smith… Colin Pierce, Jim Beadle, Andy Knight, Bob Shipway, Dave Shaw

Ross Holter… Great band

Mark Gilham… Is that a Marcos?

Ralph Town… Yes Mark.

Robin Hughes… (To Mark Gilham) – that certainly is a Marcos and that presumably means that the photographer in question was John Sweet who was based at the top of London Road in Silverhill

Mark Gilham… Great British car, as was the TVR.

Robert Searle… Dave Shaw on the right

Robin Hughes… A photo very similar to this, taken at same time but different expressions and head positions, appeared in the Hastings and St.Leonards Observer in the Spring of 1972 above an article about the Carnival Queen’s contest. The subject line of the photo said ” Shaft, the up-and-coming pop group who will be at Bonita’s on Monday when the Carnival Queen contest will be decided”.

Hastings Records Shops by Tony May for Hastings Town Magazine

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As regular readers will know, I have a very soft spot for all things musical and have written a number of articles for H.T. about local record shops and characters associated with them.

Well, I’m delighted to inform you this month that a new website called ‘The British Record Shop Archive’ has been set up by another such enthusiast, Leon Parker.

The aim of the website is not just to record for posterity the name of every record shop to ever open its doors in the U.K. but to also make sure that the social interaction, culture and day-to-day way of life that was buying a physical music product from a real person over a counter is documented and remembered.

Having been in more record shops than Sir Richard Branson over the years I have been having a whale of a time contributing photos, memories and memorabilia to the site and you will be glad to know, have personally made sure that Jack & Sonia London’s ‘The Record Shop’ webpage has been royally decked out and the part they played here in Hastings for 44 years properly recorded.

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In fact, Hastings Town has played quite a large part in helping me to see that Hastings record outlets are not forgotten. As well as my article on Jack London, I have contributed my article ‘Remembering Alan Jensen’ about the man we knew and loved as ‘Big Al’ of The Disc Jockey and submitted the photos our sadly missed friend, Ron Fellows, sent me of Stylus Records.

Being a true ‘anorak’ I also sent in photos of a few old local record shop bags I found stored away in the loft as well.

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Its sobering to think now that at the height of the popularity of vinyl records in the 1980’s there used to be thousands of independent record shops in the U.K. In 2009 that figure had dropped to just 269 (according to The Independent newspaper).

Read more

The Plastix Hastings 77 punks photos by Kadir Ozenir and David Peacock

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photos by Kadir Ozenir and David Peacock

John Gale… Huggy Leaver

Shaun Pont… He wasn’t the original vocalist. That was Mick Cook.

Jo Turner… yeah one pic is Huggy isnt it

John Gale… Jo, I actually think he’s in all but the first photo. I message him occasionally,,,,, i’ll ask him next time we speak.

Martyn Baker… White Dopes on Punk”?

Pete Prescott… I saw these on the pier. They were supporting Head On. Huggy was amazing ! All anyone talked about was him and the band.

Phil Thornton… Pete, yup I was there ! They set up on the dance floor ( not allowed on the stage ) a great night out !!

What was or is your favourite record label?

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photos: https://issuu.com

Jimmy Kent… Decca

Tim Harris… Stiff

Tony Ham… Crass

Stuart Huggett… Factory

Steve Thorpe… Chrysalis

Tony May… Bell

Yvonne Cleland… Tuff Gong!

Geoff Mcintosh… Decca

Chris Meachen… Most of them…

Mike Vawdrey… Blue Note for a committed jazz fan – but only in it’s glory days

Will Cornell… Two that don’t get that much notice: 4AD and Enigma/Restless.

Alan Esdaile… 4AD was very popular here Will.

Pete Prescott… Island

Alan Pepper… Tamla Motown (early TMG 500 to 600 series) Thanks to the Funk Brothers !

Nick Bloomfield… Immediate.

Chris Jolly… Harvest

The Beez Neez – Help Our Pop Group – 1977

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Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin…This will get a few people thinking – from Hastings Observer July 1977

Chris Pook….This was an ad for the group that became The Beez Neez. Julie was one of the singers and we used to practise at Nutrition House in the health food shop which was owned by her family! Her brother Mark was the drummer and the lead guitarist joined the Mobiles and featured on their hit singles and was also on ToTP! Mr O’Dowd was our manager. I played bass guitar.

Peter Millington….This may have resulted in Beez Kneez being launched

Chris Pook….It definitely was Peter. the group was started by Roy Harris and had his son Mark on drums, and daughters Julie and Tracey as singers. The guitarists chopped and changed and the singing line up varied from a lead singer with three backing singers to just a lead singer. We gigged extensively in town and all over the South East, even going as far as south Wales!

Mick O’Dowd….I answered this add and became their manager.

Mark Harris….good days!!!!

Andre Martin…..Here is a flashback to those days –

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Lance Collins… Just found this site. Remember Chris well. Loading up gear from Nutrition House. Supported them a few times with my disco. Shooting Star Roadshow. Happy days

Julie Bowles… Loved these days. We should have a reunion. All the best. Julie (was , Harris)

SMART coffee meet 25 – Friday 15th January 2016.

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SMART COFFEE MEET 25. The next SMART coffee meet is Friday 15th January 2016 – 3.30pm till 6.00pm in The Seafront Room, White Rock Hotel, Hastings.

Please bring any photos, cuttings, records etc that would be interesting for others to see or just bring yourself and please mention it to other like minded people.

Mick O’Dowd… Thanx for all the birthday wishes from all my fabulous fans. Without you I would be nothing. I’d also like to thank my manager and hair stylist without whom I could not appear in public.I shal be making a rare public appearance at The SMART Meet on Jan 15th and will be willing to sign autographs for you for a small consideration. No seriously folks all best wishes have been gratefully received. Thank You. xx

Jim Breeds… The hair stylist deserves an award!

Andre Martin… Colin, Alan -I think that we will have to check the small print on this character, age can have a profound impact on their state of mind

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supplied by Jim Breeds. photo source: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/409546159835798885/?fb_ref=486107490937755471%3A6922f48072591f09496dcfc

Jim Breeds… photo above of the The next SMART meet up?

Andre Martin… This is a very acurate image of ” the Gangs All Here” so lets make it a great first for 2016 as a thanks to Alan for his preception and perserverance over the years, and even if the weather is cruel then we must all remember that rule ” THE SHOW GOES ON…..”

Jeanette Jones… Hope y’all have a great meet;-)

 

 

Looking For More Photos

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Thank you for visiting our site and hopefully you are finding it interesting. We are always looking for more photos, cuttings etc from the 60’s onwards with a connection to the Hastings area. Especially groups we have not featured before. If you have anything please email it over with as much information as possible.