Aquarius – SMART

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

June 5, 2020June 5, 2020 by Alan Esdaile

Haze photo supplied by Robert Searle

Ticket supplied by Diane Leigh, autograph is on the back of the ticket

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.

Merv Kennard… that was a good night, so was the dlwp gig last December.

Marmalade – Aquarius 19th May 1973

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 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.

Saturdays Discotheque & opening night 1975 – George Street Hastings

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Hugh Beeching

Martin 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

Inside Saturdays Nightclub George Street Hastings 2019

April 30, 2020April 30, 2020 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Maureen Fuller Hastings Old Town Traders Facebook page.

Jill Lawrence… I remember it as Aquarius !

Jim Breeds… I remember it as both

Eugene Hughes… Me too. I can remember carrying Steve Maxted’s speakers up those stairs. Would need a conveyer belt today.

Martin Richter… I was assistant manager there in the 80’s – among other places !

Paul Bryant…

Martin Richter… Paul, name and shame

Sandra Bryant… I was there when it was the Aquarius

Alan Esdaile… Remember it well. Does anyone know what it is going to be now?

Maureen Fuller… spoke to builders today they are only repairing front of building as dangerous cliff is pushing front of building out not doing anything inside

Alan Esdaile… Thanks Maureen, its been empty now for ages and surprised no one has done anything with it.

Carol Arnold… saw Hot chocolate up there !

Leigh Wieland-Boys… me too! Worked up Aquarius as glass collector & Saturdays as cocktail waitress! Happy days

Tony Court-holmes… reopen? I was thrown down the stairs by a bouncer

John Beeching… I don’t remember it at all, but then there is lot about the seventies I don’t remember

Jacqueline Marsh… Is that the old roller skating rink I remember going there as a ten year old and learning to roller skate and dance on skates, my big achievement was skating backwards. Not sure if this was the same place? anyone remember the skating rink upstairs?

Maureen Fuller… Yes it was I used to go every Sat morning

John Busbridge… I remember it quite well, went there on my stag night in the snow! Half of my mates didn’t make it due to the snow! That would have been in February 1983.

Holy Mackerel & Genghis Khan – Aquarius 30th March 1974

March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 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.

Aquarius – Hastings Top Disco Scene January 1975

January 4, 2020January 4, 2020 by Alan Esdaile

Judy Atkinson… Used to go Thursday nights when Steve Maxted was on. Was doing O levels (1974) so my dad would pick us up at 11! I remember when it had the red plastic seating & a huge wooden dance floor. The boys would all do the “angel” to Status Quo & the whole floor would bounce

Nick Prince… Didn’t it close early?

Tony Court-holmes… I fell down the stairs

Bay City Rollers – Aquarius 6th November 1971

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019 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

Harry Waltons Duo plus Spyke 26th Oct 1971 & the uncensored Steve Maxted on the 28th Oct 1971 at The Aquarius

October 26, 2019October 26, 2019 by Alan Esdaile

Pete Millington… Remember those sessions well – SPYKE = Chris Sayer (Guitar+Vocals), Peter Millington (Bass+Vocals), Ian Williams (Guitar+Vocals) Terry Chedzoy (Drums+Vocals)