hastings pier

The Big T Sound & Town Council – Hastings Pier 21st September 1968

all cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey

Chris Baker….Brian (Bear) Williams (Drums), Bob Shipway, (Bass), Pete Robertson (Vocals) and (Batty) Bill Willshire whose real name was Pete! Fun times! Bill joined after Steve Hersee left and we got Bob the bass player.

1901533_10151908604590264_1955605120_nsupplied by Chris Baker

Here’s Chris at his 18th birthday with the group Town Council. Harry the manager and Bob Shipway in the photo.

Chris Baker… I am not sure I’d quite developed the Rock God image at that point in my career!

Phil Gill… But the Hofner was too cool for school – do you still have it?

Chris Baker… I do indeed Phil. I had a Humbucker fitted and split to two leads for “stereo” many years ago. It can make more different tones than most! I also have a Strat which I love to bits

Mick O’Dowd… Went to school with “Bill” Wilshire and we used to get together at his place in OLd London Road that he called “Fat’s Pad”. We tried to form a band with me on vocals(ouch) , Trev Partridge on bass, Neil (can’t remember surname) on drums, “Bill” was going to be on keyboards when he could manage to buy one, Tim Purcell on guitar and I think Pete Shaw might have got involved near the end. Working name was The Thoroughbreds. First and last time I tried to be in a band so decded to become a DJ instead!

Chris Baker… Bill’s name was Peter really and Willshire not WilTshire.

 

Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five – Sept 19th 1964 by Andre Martin

              Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin… Back to Saturday 19th September 1964, we have one of our regular attractions in the Happy Ballroom tonight – making their final appearance during 1964 – Patrick Dane and The Quite Five, supported by The Beat Syndicate, all this for 5/- . It’s the start of the Winter Programme on the Pier, and the prices have been reduced to try and compete with the growing competition.Patrick Dane and the Quite Five and a group that hail from Croydon and the South London Circuit and have a following in the town, having appeared many times in the Happy Ballroom. The support band the Beat Syndicate, a five piece, was a Leytonstone based band that played a lot around North Kent. On the SMART website these if a little more information about the boys.Our Friday Night warm up would have been to RSG and on the show from London on that night would have been a classic line up including – –The Animals – “I’m Crying.” –Elkie Brooks –The Chants –The Hollies – “We’re Through.” –Dionne Warwick – “Reach Out for Me.” The Witch Doctor, was continuing with it 7 nights entertainment, including this week – Sat & Sun from Sheffield – The Knives & Forks, Wednesday – Peters Faces and Friday Dave Dee & The Bostons. Also being advertised – Wednesday 7th October Little Richard !                                     Andre Martin

Nicky Read… discovered this by accident while looking up about Patrick Dane & the Quiet Five. Used to see them play in a pub  called The Perseverance in South London

Genesis & Fruupp – Hastings Pier 12th Sept 1972

genesis 1

genesis-promo-300x225

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poster supplied by Iain Cobby              cutting supplied by Sarah Harvey

Nick Webb….I  was there yet again

Tony Court-holmes….i was there

Denesis… How some saw a concert that never hapened?

Alan Esdaile… I have emailed back and asked for more information but can anyone else confirm or otherwise that this took place on the 12th September 1972?

Gary Kinch… Genesis gig list here. Bottom of page. Although looking at the list it says Genesis played Hastings pier 3 times in 72 and that isn’t right surely.

http://www.genesis-movement.org/php/listtour.php?tourid=3

Alan Esdaile… Excellent, thanks Gary. The 3rd August was booked for Genesis but was cancelled for some reason(see below ticket) and replaced with Hawkwind. So I imagine then they rebooked to play September.

hawkwind

supplied by Sarah Harvey

Phil Thornton… 1st time I saw them – aged 16 !!!

Pete Fisher… I  was there too – 17!

Tony Court-holmes… SO WAS I

Read moreGenesis & Fruupp – Hastings Pier 12th Sept 1972

Tammy St John & The Trends – Sat 12th Sept 1964 – Hastings Pier by Andre Martin

supplied by  Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin… The nights are closing in, and the Happy Ballroom on Hastings Pier is in for a great surprise this weekend, Saturday 12th September 1964. Top of the bill tonight is north London vocalist – Tammy St John and her backing group The Trends. Plus support from Gene Bennett & The Initials.
Tammy St John was born Judith Coster and hailed from Hornchurch in Essex, east of London. She earned a recording contract with Pye Records at the age of just 14 and released four singles over a two-year period. Each showed a very different side of the young singer as her record company tried to find a winning sound.
Her first 45, Boys, was a decent debut, and featured Hey-hey-hey-hey, a cover of a song originally recorded by Little Richard, on the flip. Issued in August 1964, it was a raucous affair, with a distinctly American flavour, loud guitars and strong backing vocals. It also gained a release in the US, on the small Four Corner of the World label.
Although she had little record success in the UK charts at the time, in later years, she would build up a big following on the Northern Circuit and several of these 1960s releases being worth £100s on the vinyl market.
Gene Bennett & The Initials are another of the many groups that acted in support on the Pier, of whom no knowledge is available; all the usual research has come up with little that can link them with Hastings Pier.
Along the Promenade – The Witch Doctor, is consolidating his position, and is offerings a really good weeks entertainment . Saturday Night – From London Steve Marriott’s Moments, supported by Brighton’s own The Alexenders, Sunday was the R&B night with Victor Brox Blues Train. Wednesday London’s own Christians Crusaders featuring Neil Christian and Friday Parlophone recording group The Contrasts.
The Weekend would have started off for us with the Friday Nights RSG and this week would have featured – Scheduled guests: Bill Haley and his Comets -Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers – “One Way Love” -Adam Faith and the Roulettes -Tony Jackson and the Vibrations – “Bye Bye Baby” -Rita Bartok -Doug Sheldon.
So there you have another week of History of not just the Happy Ballroom, but other attractions in the town for the young at heart, I hope this has brought back some memories for you all………….

December 1971 Hastings Pier and Scalliwags 1976?

Supplied by Jon McCallion

Jon McCallion… Found these today under my floorboards Alan some old newspapers thought you might be interested in these two adverts. See you at the next meet

Kevin Burchett… Scalliwags wasn’t open til 1974

Jon McCallion… Could have been 76 as my house was built in 1975.