friendz disco

Argent – Hastings Pier 23rd February 1974

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poster & flyer supplied by Mick Mepham

Andy Qunta….I remember seeing Argent at the Pier. Not sure if it was this date or another time. Anyway, they were great! Bought their album too! Factory used to do a version of their song “Be Free”, which I still love! Also, at the end of their set, Russ Ballard threw his guitar up about chin-high and then caught it on the last note! It inspired me to try the same, and before long I was throwing my electric 12-string as high as whatever ceiling we were playing under, and catching it. Except for the one time I almost dropped it! I wasn’t really in the mood that time, but I thought I would do it anyway, but that was a mistake apparently! Oh yeah, did I mention Argent was great? That Rod Argent – a monster on the Hammond!  Russ Ballard of course is also a great songwriter! Wrote so many hits for so many artists, including Rainbow’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” etc etc etc….

Geoff Peckham….I remember this gig for not going! Stayed in and baby-sat with a mate while his wife and my girlfriend went to pier. Said girls returned after midnight with Rod Argent and (I think) Russ Ballard. Don’t know who was more surprised to see whom.

Henry Mann…..Went to this and still listening to their live double album.

Mervyn Kennard… I was there brilliant night. The only time i saw the ballroom covered with seats.

Lloyd Johnson… They were good customers of mine back then, they bought loads of clothes from us….

Martyn Baker… Yep. I went to this one. I loved them!

Mark Gilham… Great songwriter, Russ Ballard

Ernest Ballard.. Great name too

Mark Gilham… Part of the outstanding Ballard heritage

Ernest Ballard… Le Creme de la creme. Ha ha

Lucy Pappas… A bunch of us were there, too, Andy. Sarah? Roger? Phil? The usual crew, no doubt x

Phil Gill… Yup, I was there

Chris Meachen… As was I.

Glenn Piper…. And I

Chris Baker… Saw him in Milton Keynes not long ago! Still rocking!

Jennie Tocock… I was there too!

Jan Warren… Love Argent!

Willie Wicking… Was at that Gig

Tony Court-holmes… i think i was there but mind you the early 70s are a bit vague

Pete Houghton… That was a great night and was able to talk to the band before they went on stage

10cc – Hastings Pier 22nd December 1973

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cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey            

photo source: Beeld En Geluid Wiki – Gallerie: Toppop 1974. Licentie afbeeldingen Beeld en Geluidwiki

Wall Street Shuffle from a BBC recording in 1974…

Jim Breeds… Rubber Bullets and Rubber Band. See what they did there? 🙂

Alan Esdaile… Its art for arts sake Jim.

Richard Brimm… Kevin Godley of 10CC lives in Tenterden I’ve seen him several times in the summer at Beany,s farm shop buying cherries

Jan Warren… … and Rubber Band!! 🙂

Tony Pettifer… Jan, I remember it well

Gypsy and Alias – Hastings Pier 21st July 1973.

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supplied by Sarah Harvey

Flyer supplied by Roger Carey

Sarah Harvey… This day July 21st, 1973 on Hastings Pier. American progressive band Gypsy. I have a lot of their music in my library and it is really worth a listen.

Alan Esdaile…  Alias were signed to Martin Casson Agency and sure Andre has memories of them.

Pete Fisher… ust by the way here, seeing Status Quo billed for July 28th, my diary tells me I was at their pier gig on 2nd March that year, one of those gigs where I really did think those wooden floorboards were going to give way under the bopping masses any minute! Date confirmed on this page, which gives you an idea of the gruelling touring schedule bands had back in the day…https://www.quogigography.net/92.html

Pete Fairless… Shows what a major venue the ballroom was! 1973 was the year Quo really took off, you can see from the link, they put the work in!

Louis Comfort-Wiggett.. Isn’t this the band Gypsy (from Leicestershire I believe) rather than the US lot?

Clive Richardson… Gypsy were excellent. Really good sound. They had no roadies, no manager at the time and did the sound themselves. Paul Casson was very impressed and was interested in managing them.

Pete Houghton… I saw Gypsy on pier and it was a good concert and my fav track is per me take you home and is one of my fav track’s

Leo Sayer and support Ice Cream – Hastings Pier 13th July 1974

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poster supplied by Mick Mepham.

photo AVRO’s TopPop (Dutch television show) in 1974.  http://www.beeldengeluidwiki.nl/index.php/Gallery:_Toppop_%281974%29

Alan Esdaile… I worked with Leo Sayer and he was really polite and a genuine nice guy. I sure Chris Meachen will agree .

Chris Meachen… Yep, thoroughly nice guy;- one of the few that insisted on buying the helpers a drink…

Jim Hobbs… Leo Sayer Live – one of the best gigs seen on Hastings Pier

Glenn Piper… I worked on this gig. Leo himself was a really nice guy

Matt Thomas… I’m reading Tom Watkins Autobiography at the moment and he mentions the band he was managing in the 70’s Ice Cream and that they supported Leo Sayer on Hastings Pier. Anyone remember these?

Alan Esdaile… I think they melted away Matt.

Matt Thomas… According to the book they turned into Giggle

Alan Esdaile… They sound like a joke to me.

Carl Ridley… I don’t know if you know but Tom Watkins owns the ship pub in Winchelsea beach just up the road from his house.

Matt Thomas… part owns.

Jenny Tyler… I was there too. X

Keith Veness… I was there too

Blackmore Merv… me too

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Chicory Tip & Horslips – Hastings Pier 23rd June 1973

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poster supplied by Mick Mepham,         handbill supplied by Iain Cobby

Kev Towner… I remember seeing Chicory Tip in more recent years in The Standard – they were awful!!

Yvonne Cleland… My memories of them were that they were awful all the time in everything they ever did anywhere, as it goes, Kev!

Kev Towner… Oh no, I loved songs like Son Of My Father, Good Grief Christina and What’s Your Name. When I saw them they didn’t even have a synthesizer!!

Wendy Weaver… We saw them at a private do about 3 years ago playing mainly covers plus their hits. I think they are still going

Mick O’Dowd… Horslips were the better band and they are still going.

Chris Giles… Horslips we’re the they a Canterbury based band ?

Alan Esdaile… They were based in Ireland as far as I know Chris.

Mick O’Dowd…. Yeah your right  Alan.

Gary Kinch… I’m sure I’ve seen Horslips but I definitely wouldn’t have gone to see Chicory Tip. Did they appear more than once on the Pier?

Mick Burt… I saw Horslips in 1978 . Great band. They supported Thin Lizzy, A great folk rock band from Ireland

 

Edison Lighthouse – Hastings Pier 10th August 1973.

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supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey… This day August 10th, 1973. Hastings Pier. Edison Lighthouse are widely regarded as a one-hit wonder, with only two songs entering any chart worldwide: “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” and “It’s Up to You, Petula.

Alan Esdaile… Tony Burrows sang with lots of other groups and also charted with Brotherhood Of Man and White Plains.

Mick O’Dowd… Aah Edison Lighthouse. I’ve been to countless shows where there is someone who claims to have been in Edison Lighthouse from Butlins to Spain. If all were true they must have been a very large group!

Sue Beattie… Oh I loved Love Grows by Edison Lighthouse

Mick O’Dowd… Love grows on my rosemary’s nose was the alternate lyrics!

Dave Nattress… “Love Grows” just a wonderful pop single.