Die Laughing, Johnny Mason – Speakeasy Club Hastings 1970’s

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supplied by Mick Mepham

photos supplied by Clive Richardson

Yvonne Cleland….Nice shirt, Mick.

Ken Copsey…Great picture. What year is this? I think Mick is playing the AC30 I later bought off him and used in the Teenbeats.

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Andre Martin talking on the whereabouts of The Speakeasy….Back in the 1970s, if you walked on the pavement side from White Rock Pavilion going west, you would have passed the old Veruum Building, information centre/students centre – built in the 1930s in the same style as the WRP. The temporary car park was on the site of the Grand Hotel, that was demolished in1965 – to clear up the site because the Queen would be coming down in 1966. Next to this was Beachcomber Café and then a few doors further The Saraceno Italian Restaurant – where we took GG after his Carnival Show in the Park – Paul and I often used this for meals, next door was the Casablanca Club.

Peter Pursglove…..I worked at the other Speakeasy in Kings Road Alan, and Tramps Disco under the Malborough Hotel,both were packed with students during the summer.

Mick Mepham….. I used to wash dishes in the Saraceno Andre! Next door to that was the Lido, used to go in there quite a bit too…. We (Die Laughing) had some great gigs in the Speakeasy and I’ve still got some pix somewhere …..

Martin Richter… speakeasy – those were the days ! joe (wossisname?)

Die Laughing ticket Carlisle – 19th August 1977

Die Laughing Ticket

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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 !!

Die Laughing review P.S.S.T! newspaper October 1981

Kaye French… OMG! Those were the days!!

Huw Gruffydd… *throes*

Bookham Ally… The use of ‘throws’ instead of ‘throes’ certainly threw me for a moment.

Stevie Simpson… That’s the Die Laughing I remember. Always a good night out.

Willie Wicking… Great days and nights with the band remember going to a gig with them at the Hexagon in Reading and using 6in nails to fix Lols drum kit to the stage. A gigs I. The caves where you’d be death for a week and have a head full of sand Mick was born to play the guitar he used to air guitar with a cricket bat at school. Still got their first single You Got The Power

Alan Esdaile… Willie, so have I!

Jo Turner… Great memories

 

Die Laughing rock The Carlisle 1st November 1980 & Melody Maker Rock Contest The Venue 1st July 1979

all posters supplied by Mick Mepham

Tim Moose Bruce… went to the venue for that one. the bit i remember was £1.70 for half a lager!. DL did a good show. went to the area heat final at the Marquee. that was a great nite. Bite the pillow won it. splodges came 4th i recall. dont know what came of bite the pillow afterwards.

Colin… My pals Bite The Pillow won. What a glorious night it was. We all bussed down from Glasgow and a wonderful celebration was had after this somewhat unexpected triumph. The band went their separate ways shortly after. Russell went on to become lead singer and guitarist with Positive Noise and the others formed Dance Walesa, which is when I joined them on percussion and string machine. We had a great time together and disbanded shortly after our last minute cancelled gig supporting Yazoo at Glasgow’s “Tiffany’s”. The disappointment was obviously too much for us and we did the honourable band thing and called it a day!!

Tim Moose Bruce… Max Splodge got best bum award after their performance of Michael Booths Talking Bum… And Die Laughing’s gig van didnt blow up its engine like it did on the area heat final a few weeks previously.

Harry Randall… Mmmmmm must ask Terry Corder about that?

Alan Esdaile… early heat…

John Bryson… Colin? Colin Clark? Chanced upon this random entry and thought “I was there too, and I know that guy” Or may be “knew” is more accurate. Probs not seen you since early/mid 80’s??? Hope you’re doing good.

Rab Kerr… Just stumbled across this. I was the singer (Rab Kerr) with Rabies. We shared first spot in Scottish heats with Bite The Pillow. We shared a dressing room with Splodge. What a week-end that was. Only one of our entourage got arrested…lol We actually got a hand written letter from Sting a few weeks later. Said he thought we were great and to keep at it. In true rock and roll fashion we folded soon after.

Melody Maker Rock Contest 1979 finalists advert and photo with Die Laughing

Jo Turner… Remember piling into old vans with a gang of us following the bands in the melody maker competitions. Brilliant fun

Tim Moose Bruce… Went to this one and the area heat final at the Marquee a few weeks earlier. Was in one of the old vans. I remember Splodgenessabounds came 4th, and Max Splodge got the best bum award after they performed Michael Booths Talking Bum. Area heat was good, talking to Paul Gambochini and Sting at the Judges table. And who remembers the Blown Up Band Van incident on the Sevenoaks bypass? Also remember the Venue charging £1.70 for a half pint of beer. That was a ripoff..

Pete Prescott… I was in a band called Village. We were in it two years running in the mid 70’s. One year with a band called Stallion from Hastings.

Phil Gill… Pete, I remember Stallion, didn’t they win the MM contest in 1976? Had a great bass player.

John Wilde… Halcyon days.

Judy Atkinson… Max Splodge used to drink at the Royal Sussex Arms & did a gig there one Christmas back in the late 90s

Kev Towner… Judy, I remember it well.

Kev Towner… Is that the Vixen who used to play The Carlisle regularly? I’ve still got one of their demo tapes.

Gerry Fortsch… The infamous Hippo band entered a few of these for a laugh we never did very well but we got very drunk and had a gas.

Tony Pettifer… Gerry, Not to memtion Littlehapton

Gerry Fortsch… Tony, yea that was a cracker, what ever happened to Gerald’s Country Giants?

Dave Nattress… Damaris entered twice. Second time was eventually won by Stallion and they deserved it 100%. Not only Hastings, not only mates but so good. The bass player Mr G held it together for them. The 5 guys were all so good and who could not notice the performance of John. Unique from those days. Well done all – great memories.

Phil Gill… Dave, thanks for the name check but holding it together was a two man job. Steve Demetri served up the groove to me and we nailed it to the floor together.

Mark Randall… Bite The Pillow won. I saw them at Reading when they were first on the bill; the same night as The Cure, The Tourists, Motörhead and The Police

John Wilde… Dave, yes thank you for sharing. They were great fun times. Lots of great local bands back then.

 

 

Die Laughing at The Marquee – 1st July 1979

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supplied by Mick Mepham

additional photos by Clive Richardson

Melody Maker Rock Contest 2nd Head.

Andy Qunta… That’s a great pic! Rock n Roll!!

Ernest Ballard… Mick Tez and Lol. You guys rocked. Great pic and sure a lively memory

Joe Knight… 67 68 69 use to go there plus Wardour St (upstairs down stairs)

Tim Moose Bruce… I was there. Great day. And they got through to the final. Remember chatting to one of the judges. A guy called Sting…

Pete Houghton… Yes what a great photo of the band

Willie Wicking… Great memories Always Remember the gig in the caves came out with a head full of sand & ears ringing for days

Terry Corder… I remember it because Lol and I walked 4 miles each carrying the gear in. Worth it though for a fantastic night.

Pete Brazier… Photographer must have been right behind me or there abouts!

Hollywood Killers & Die Laughing – Hastings Pier 4th March 1978

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supplied by Mick Mepham

Mick Mepham….It’s Christmas in Haiti in March …. I remember it well Alan, it was the year after 1977 …..

Phil Gill… You sure Mick? I thought we went straight to 79. I tend to be a bit vague around then.

Mick O’Dowd… I’ve got this down as 1978.

Bernard Jeffery….”this takes me back”, I remember playing this one

Terry Pack….Dick Rowley and I used to take terrible liberties with Jim’s songs: ‘arranging’ them in weird and wonderful ways.

Ralph Town…. A Christmas Show in March….sounds about right 🙂

Mick Mepham… Definitely 1978 Phil, honest….

Phil Thornton… I have a vague memory of this one …. was I in the band (Die Laughing) at this point ?

Philip Meston… Wasn’t Ashley Pepper on keyboards? I just checked, Ashley Pepper was the keyboard player in 1976. I just didn’t know the dates! 🙂

Mark Randall… Ex Be Bop Deluxe?

Jim Penfold…. I …..Charlie Tumahai from Be Bop Delux was in the band around 1979/80t was part of our Xmas Tour in March 1978 great to see this again….Hollywood Killers are back in action at the moment……would be great to play in Hastings again www.hollywoodkillers.com

Bernard Goffredo… Yes that would be good to see

Mick Mepham…. I don’t think so Phil, I joined in about August of ’77. Hi Jim, I think I have several posters, flyers etc of you guys. Would you like copies?

John Wilde… WE want the Hollywood Killers HERE!

Ralph Town… If its at all poss,I think The Killers should play at the pier opening….deffo.

Jan Warren… Die Laughing!! – yeah, I did and hope I will, thanks guys! 🙂 

Conan Howard… I remember Ralph and me (Conan) LEN .. Samisen / going to see you Bernie at Covent Garden in the 70s .. keep well old chap… Len..

Ralph Town… Man I must’ve been pissed.I don,t remember any of it!! LOL I used to help load gear with Jim Penfold and the Hollywood Killers from 1976 to 78.I was working with Ashley Pepper at the time.I DO remember doing a gig at Oxford rag week and getting chatted up by Zoe Ashcroft,famous Playschool presenter….good times.

 

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.