Cassmusic Grove Road Eastbourne 1974

Simon Frankau, Jeff Frost and Pat Chapman

Terry Pack… I bought two excellent bass guitars from Cass. An Ibanez ‘lawsuit’ Rickenbacker in 1974 and an actual Rickenbacker in 1975.

Mike Cramp… Spent many Saturday afternoons in their in the early 80’s

Kevin White… I bought my first custom Gretsch drum kit from Cassmusic in the late 70’s,always regretted selling that baby!!……

Mick O’Dowd… Remember going in there. They had a record dept if I remember.

Nigel Barker… Loved their shop near Seaside Road. Bought loads of stuff over the years. Really friendly people

Robert Searle… Haven’t seen Pat Chapman for years. We did a recording session at CBS studios in London with Pat, Pete Shaw, the late Chris Sears, and the late Rev Stockdale. Pat was always laughing.

Barry French… I bought a green Baldwin Burns double six guitar for £45 from Cassmusic during an old stock clearance sale (I think 1974) Bargain.

Ad from 1981…

Stevie Simpson… I bought a few basses, amps and cabs from them during the early eighties, first from their shop in South Street then when they moved to Seaside. The Traynor amp, which was my first, I later swapped back with them in a deal to have my Aria Pro 2 bass made fretless. I spent many an hour on Saturdays there, chatting with Paul Tanner who worked there and eventually ended up in a band with him, Ernie Ballard and Mark Freeman. For me, Cassmusic was an Aladdins cave and I’ve probably a lot to thank them for.

Mark Bailey… I remember you Steve the bass player for Slave you gave me a run home on back of your bike from Hastings in 1983 I think

David Kent… Bought my trusty Aria Pro II there in the late eighties. Still have it, still love it, since added another Aria to my guitar family.

Mike Smith… Remember nervously going in the yellow South Street shop to look at electric guitars. Simon popped up from behind the counter and gave his signature “hello matey !” greeting. I came away with a CMI Telecaster Deluxe copy that set me on my journey. Jeff sold me a Custom Sound Trucker Duo combo amp and the rest is history. Still play in a band today, thanks guys.

Mark Bailey… I bought loads of gear from there always in there on a Saturday looking at there Gibson guitars and I bought a trainor amp for £50 great shop in early 80s also bought a 70s jedson les Paul which belonged to Jim who worked there all the guys worked there were good

 

Them in Club Continental Eastbourne in 1966

shared from David McLean

David McLean… 1966 Them in Eastbourne. I think this was after Van Morrison had quit.

Anne Wells… I was there at the gig Eastbourne Continental in February 1966 and up close to Van Morrison who was definitely fronting the group. Later same year same club there was another gig with rival Them without Van Morrison

Anne Wells… The photo shows the 2nd gig with McCauley Bros and without Van Morrison

Deep Purple – The Happening Club around 1967

The Happening.

supplied by Peter Horton  at The Happening Club Kings Road

The local ‘Deep Purple’ around 1967 with original singer ‘Kevin Clark'(who was later replaced by Tich Turner). So I think the rest of the band are Peter Horton, Tony Bird, Ian McGilvray & Len Benton.

Joe Knight….WOW!!!!

Mick O’Dowd….This pic was taken at The Happening in Kings Road St.Leonards the home of Jon Wilde!

Geoff Peckham….I saw them several times in Bexhill. Enjoyed a bit of faux-fame because of their namesakes and even covered “Hush”. Loved Mac’s drumming. Eventually changed their name to Whiskey Mac.

Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason….When I first started going to gigs I think every band played ‘Hush’ and ‘Knock On Wood’.

Geoff Peckham….I played those and Midnight Hour, Hold On, etc. in my early bands too. But when I first heard the Bexhill Deep Purple playing Hush, I asked Mac if it was his band that had the single; he just put his finger to his lips and went “ssshhhhhh”!

Tonny from Cornwall…..Any idea how long the Bexhill Deep Purple existed? I’m trying to work out if some info I have about ‘Deep Purple’ supporting Kippington Lodge end of May 1968 in Goudhurst, Kent relates to ‘your’ Deep Purple or the more famous later version who were just back from a tour of Denmark.  Kippington Lodge were on Parlophone records; so were ‘Deep Purple’ of ‘Hush (and more) fame….

Andre Martin….If it helps in the calculation – Friday 27th September 1968, they had their first public appearance as Whisky Mac at the Tackleways Boys Club in Hastings. Kippington Lodge were one of the “back-up” bands for Hastings Pier, when John Schofield ran the Sat & Sun nights, they would appear almost at a moments notice. They were still playing a Deep Purple up to April time, I have some reference to this at the Regent Hotel. I have posted this picture before – in the write up it mentions that they will be playing the Witch Doctor – or the newly renamed club the Cobweb, that did not open until the end of February 1968 !

1908040_10202154705047138_538491146_n

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin….The group played in Eastbourne – The Continental in October 1967 – billed as The Deep Purple

Battle Memorial Hall November 1967

Ken Copsey… Great picture

John Wilde… Wonderful to see these images. I was there in my Fathers club The Happening.

Paul Sleet… I remember seeing them at Woodlands Girls school if memory serves me right. Must have been around 1968 or 69.

Sundowners Club Eastbourne Programme

Supplied by John Busbridge

1975 advert

John Busbridge… Who remembers the Sundowners Club? Great place to go on a Friday night back in the day. Can anyone date this?

Alan Esdaile… Sundowners was great. Thanks for posting John.

Kevin Sherwood… I saw Showaddywaddy over there before they were in the charts so it was around 1973.

Robert Searle… Nice to see my old group there, Haze, for two nights too. Great days. It was their first gig,although unofficial, at the Sundowners, comprised of two groups, Choise and Golden Hammers, great night. I was there too.

Chris Chantler… Guess this was 73 …. great place, saw Showaddy there several times (and Mud) and met my husband there too!

Pete Millington… We (SPYKE) used to zip over to The Sundowners every Friday night after playing at the Alexandra Hotel in Hastings. So many good groups played there. Dating the programme is tough but Showaddewaddy we’re formed from two different groups who played there, can’t remember their names. So I would guess this programme is from 1971/2

Willie Wicking… Remember seeing Showaddwaddy there must have been one of their 1st gigs

Peter Thomson… I’ve always been convinced we saw Karl (Carl?) Douglas there but without a band. Don’t remember it being advertised and we were surprised when he appeared on stage. Whoever it was either mimed or sang along to backing tapes, quite early on in the evening. No, not everyone was Kung Fu Fighting.

Tony court-Holmes… went there often

Sheila Maile… Used to drive over in our mates Robin Reliant after the local pub shut in 1977

Keith Veness… Great place to go car full of people good times

Leigh Mitchell… Went there a lot in the 70s

Dennis Torrance… I went to Sundowners a few times and enjoyed it there

Colin Bell… DJ’d there in the 70’s, always a good gig i enjoyed doing.

Read more

Andy Williams Congress Theatre Eastbourne 16th October 1981

Wendy Bolton… I was there and took my mum to that one. Will see if I can find the programme for it in my collection of Andy’s memorabilia. This was the closest he ever got to Hastings but he did the Brighton Centre a few times and he loved playing the Royal Albert Hall in London which is where I saw him the last couple of times. I am in touch with many of his fans and we meet up sometimes so will see if any have photos of that event. I met Andy a few times and he was very friendly down to earth.