Aquarius – SMART

Saturdays Discotheque & opening night 1975 – George Street Hastings

November 5, 2018November 5, 2018 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Hugh Beeching

Redstar Richter…. saturdays

Clare Bennett… I remember dancing a lot in Scalliwags

Jules Stretton… Hastings seafront my parents used to party there ! X

John Storer… Definitely Saturdays …. we had our joint Stag & Hen night there in August 79

Yvonne Cleland… Reminds me of Bonitas or Aquarius…

Margaret Fletcher… Not Saturday

Rilka Brignall… Looks like saturdays to me

Peter Millington… Could that be Chris Glazier spinning plastic – Scalliwags perhaps?

Kevin Burchett… its definitly not scalliwags its saturdays

Alan Esdaile… Thinking now this could be Aquarius which was what Saturday’s was called previously in the 70’s.

Kevin Burchett… Its Saturdays because of the lights no one had lights like that in Hastings then or now

Phil Gill… Could be the one at the back of Wellington Square that’s now a curry house. It was always too loud for meaningful conversation, so I just used to listen to the music. If you listen carefully, you can spot the little disco funk references Steve and I worked into some of the Stallion songs. It’s very subtle, but it’s there. We were very cheeky. Well, two that spring to mind…listen to the bass and drums on Arsony in the UK, which is basically sped up disco funk followed by a 50s doo wop chorus. And on the live version of Cobra, we referenced Oops Upside Your Head.

Alan Esdaile… Was the club in Wellington Square called Courtneys?

Supplied by…. Leigh Wieland-Boys via Kevin Burchett

Kevin Burchett… heres another pic from the opposition Saturdays lol.its a promo pic from the 1975 opening. with the lovely Leigh Wieland-Boys

Peter Millington… I recognise the waitress – anyone know her name?

Leigh Wieland-Boys….It’s me Peter! Lx

Suspect and King Rod – Aquarius – 30th September 1972

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 by Alan Esdaile

Tickets available from The Golden Egg!

Robert Searle… Played in both groups.

Peter Millington… I had just joined Suspect when we did this gig. My first bass note whilst tuning up shut down the power to the stage. Not loud but the early days of decibel control just didn’t work. Great venue at the time later converted to Saturdays Disco – progress?

Harry Randall… I remember it as Suspect 4? Named after the Watkins Suspect 4 guitar.

John Bridger… I was there. Roadie for KR.0

Tony Court-holmes… happy days i wish i had a pound for every beer i had in there

Olivier Chateau… Great nights

Robert Searle… Played with Suspect 70/71 for about three months,there was Dave Easton,Stuart Moir,Trevor Spears,and Graham Putland,later with Les Harding.
Also did one gig with King Rod when Rod couldn’t do it,at the Carioca? at Worthing.

Marmalade – Aquarius 19th May 1973

May 20, 2018May 20, 2018 by Alan Esdaile

Mike Guy… Did they ever play any jam nights? I bet they are well-preserved!

Pete Fisher… spreading rumours??

Jim Breeds… Did they ever cover Toast?

Mike Guy… Let’s keep the posts Seville!

Tony Davis… Perhaps they should orrange a reunion

Dave Nattress… Very good chaps!! No I mean it. Remember them from Top of the Pops, great band. I have a greatest hits CD.

Holy Mackerel & Genghis Khan – Aquarius 30th March 1974

March 30, 2018March 30, 2018 by Alan Esdaile

posters supplied by Mick Mepham

Mark Randall… I had this album! And I know Roger’s son Marty Siggery now has it! I was always told by my brother who knew Terry and Roger, that the HM track ‘we got it nailed down’ was about contracting a ‘social disease’. Was this true?

Jenny Tyler… Steve Maxted (who was on on Thursday) was the best. Happy days (sigh). I was only 25 then.

Haze 13th Jan and Sweet 20th Jan – Aquarius 1973

February 7, 2018February 7, 2018 by Alan Esdaile

Haze photo supplied by Robert Searle

Ticket supplied by Diane Leigh

Robert Searle… Back left is Robert Searle on bass, Les Harding guitar,Colin Rotheroe guitar. Front is Les Pennock vocals Bernie Marchant vocals and Dave Funnel drums. Bob, Les Harding and Colin Rotheroe backing vocals. Got my trusted Fender bass in my right hand. Hated those steps at the back of Aquarius where we bought the gear up but had a great night. We also did the Cobweb before the Aquarius opened. John booked us.

Robert Searle… Saw the Sweet at the Aquarius.Ive heard bad reports of the Sweet but that night , they were brilliant.Their playing was just as good as say Deep Purple ,their vocal harmonies were fantastic. That night at the Aquarius proved how good they were.A great rocking group with great vocals.

Alan Esdaile… I was at that Sweet gig and we were packed in like sardines. They were very good.

Leigh Wieland-Boys… I was there too, remember it like it was yesterday!

Robert Searle… A real great thumping backing ,great musicians.Vocals were fantastic with Andy Scotts high vocals were unbelievable, real professionals.

Chris Giles… I saw Sweet at the Aquarius …my friends dragged me along…. I wasn’t keen to see them… I was shocked they were brilliant one of the best acts I’ve seen.

Barry French… I was knocked out by Sweet at the Aquarius, I was expecting a pop band, & if my memory serves me correct I think they opened up with a WHO medley.

Matt Thomas… Too young but got sweets autographs

Ian McGilvray… Great Band. My favourite

Ronald Burgoyne… That must be when we saw them Mac

Ian McGilvray.. I think it was Ron. Great band with excellent harmonies.

Kiki Dee – Aquarius 2nd February 1974

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 by Alan Esdaile

promo photo trade ad for – I got the music in me

Jenny Tyler… Kiki Dee was so good. Brilliant singer.

Mick O’Dowd… Highly underated talent. She was once signed to Motown and released an album on that label. One of the few “white” artists on their actual Tamla Motown label as most were found on Mowest etc.

Clifford Rose… I saw her at Hyde Park in 1976 and she was excellent, even though she used a cardboard cutout of Elton John when she performed ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’.

Bay City Rollers – Aquarius 6th November 1971

November 7, 2017November 7, 2017 by Alan Esdaile

cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey…..I know we were all fans

Tim Phillips… Eric Faulkner lived a few doors down from me in Cooden Drive in the early 90s.

Mark Gilham… We used to go (sea) fishing together. Great bloke.:)

Peter Millington… SPYKE – Chris Sayer, Peter Millington, Ian Williams and Terry Chedzoy – still trying to be under 21 except Chris RIP

Alan Esdaile… Bay City Rollers with Les McKeown are at The White Rock Theatre on the 3rd Dec 2015 and The Rubettes are booked for 6th Oct 2016.

Phil Thornton… not the real thing without Eric ……

Tony Court-holmes… thank god i missed that

Peter Fairless… Was it a S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night?

Robert Searle… The original lineup

Clem Curtis and The Foundations – 20th September Aquarius 1973

September 21, 2017September 21, 2017 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Nick Prince

Sandie Carlyon… Saw Sweet and Screaming Lord Sutch at the Aquarius. Went there often. Happy days.

Wild Turkey – 7th March 1973 Hastings Pier (changed from Aquarius), also 18th August 1973

August 18, 2017August 18, 2017 by Alan Esdaile

Aquarius flyer supplied by Roger Carey, pier flyer supplied by Iain Cobby.

poster supplied by Mick Mepham

Aquarius or Hastings Pier 1973? One handbill and one poster, same date, two different venues, now confirmed as Hastings Pier.

Andy Qunta…. did see Wild Turkey at the Pier, but I don’t remember the date. Another great band! (Seemed to be so many then, not so much now!)

Pete Prescott….i saw them in sittingbourne around 73/74 with leo sayer and judas priest ! great band ! gary pickford hopkins was the singer, he was wonderful. He sadly died last year.he sang with ashly holt from warhorse in the rick wakeman band (i just got a warhorse cd signed by ashly for my birthday).i remember bernie marsden was in wild turkey in 73/74.glen cornick wore some pretty strange clothes.i also saw them supporting black sabbath at the albert hall in (i think ) 71.

Clive Richardson…. Wild Turkey did play the Pier and not Aquarius. Also on the August date ‘Leo Sayer band’ did not turn up.

This the other gig they did in 1973 with Leo Sayer Band & Daisy

poster supplied by Mick Mepham and cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey

Tony Davis… Saw them at The Dome in Brighton on tour with Black Sabbath – think it was the Master of Reality Tour. They were a great band – that’s Turkey and Sabbath

Phil Thornton… Great gig !!!

Andrew Freeman… I love seeing these posters from both the nostalgia point of view and because they remind me of my son who lives in Brighton and plays with a band called Rough Hands, playing gigs all over and in Europe. I like to think one day, maybe one day they will play Hastings Pier, who knows

Doctor Marigold’s & Grundy – Aquarius – 15th August 1973

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 by Alan Esdaile