Sunstroke – 1970’s rock n roll group

supplied by Sarah Baggaley

Alan Esdaile… They were managed by Cy Whitfield Aaran International in Hastings and did loads of gigs. Anyone remember them and can give names?

Mark Hardwick… I remember them playing at The Royal Standard around 1977.(The same day a big Rock N Roll event was on the pier) Not sure of names though.  I also knew Cy Whitfield (sadly passed away now)

Tom Doyle… Hi Sarah I have a few photos of Sunstroke Kinds Regards Tom

photos supplied by Tom Doyle

Tom Doyle…  I saw them play in Hastings. The second photo was when they backed Ricky Valance.

Sarah Baggaley… Ah my dad isn’t in these, it’s a different bass player. Nice pics though!

Tom Doyle… The line up changed. Sunstroke broke up around 1978 and the piano player started a new group under the same name and still managed by Cy. The piano player was called Big Lou. The first line up, the lead singer was called Cochran after Eddie Cochran. I’m afraid that’s all I know about them and they broke up again in 1979

Tom Doyle… Hi again Sarah your dad could be on that record Alan displayed on his website (Hot Stuff Records) also Be Bop Bella might be able to help you out with your search for more info (if you could trace her), she did a lot of gigs with Sunstroke the first lot and the second lot your dads band was very good. Lou had a clash with the singer that caused the break up of the first band but remained friends with the drummer and your dad. He live in Milton Keynes, now if you could find a contact for him, he could tell you all about your dad. Be Bop Bella lives in Gloucester somewhere I hope that is helpful to you. Kind Regards Tom Doyle

Mark Hardwick… Be Bop Bella was a DJ as I remember..Also a band Cy managed who worked with Sunstroke regularly was Crepes and Drapes.Hope this helps.

Crepes’ n’ Drapes – Boogie Bop Dame...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQnZAPIdJbk&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2ZZ53EbP800MO-qzZbX6ZwZNSbjdmhjHfmjAEOoKWGZGeQGpvbmS6sYYk

Pete Dee… That first black and white promo photo on this page, I believe that’s my uncle (Danny Wild) in the gold suit! That Gretsch of his is unmistakeable. I’ve still got his copy of the Sunstroke 7″ he handed down to me. He left Sunstroke in ’78, then recorded a solo album and a couple of singles as “Danny Wild and the Wildcats”. I know he was playing guitar for Shakin Stevens for a while in the late 70s, anyone got any photos of that era of the Sunsets? The bassist in the top photo I believe is Geoff (Rawle?)

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Headlights, Be Bop Bella, Die Laughing, Sunstroke – Carlisle – 558 Entertainments – 12th Jan to 20th Jan 1979

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supplied by Mick Mepham

Mick O’Dowd… This was my first promotion at The Carlisle. I had previously promoted Headlights at The Caves and was very impressed with them. They came from London but that’s all I can remember about them. Can anybody else help out? As you can probably make out Be Bop Bella & Sunstroke were rock’n’roll acts and then there’s that other band that no one on this page has probably ever heard of. Die Laughing. Hi Mick, Lol & Tel!

Alan Esdaile…  Remember Sunstroke very well. Used to be managed by Cy Whitfield in Hastings. Very surprised we have not found any photos of the band so far. This is all I got.

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Mick O’Dowd… I now realise I promoted Headlights 3 times. They must have been good!

Jim Breeds… Was the audience mainly made up of transfixed rabbits? 😀

Sarah Baggaley… Hi, my dad played bass in a band called Sunstroke in the 70s. I have a pic of the band with a Hastings phone number on it so I guess it’s the same one?! Trying to find out a bit more about it as he died in 1997.

Alan Esdaile… Is Mick O’Dowd mad?

Tim Moose Bruce…  I remember Before The Storm, they were very young and new to the scene but every time I saw them ( Supporting bands like Die Laughing) they improved with leaps and bounds. I recall they changed their name to Billy Whiz later on.