hastings pier

Andre Palfrey-martin collection. Ticket supplied by Pete Millington

Andre Martin….Here is something from 50 years ago – The Hollies playing the Happy Ballroom on 7th March 1964 + The Strangers Five, all for 6/-

Andy Qunta…. Would have loved to see that! Big Hollies fan, then & now!

Terry Pack….I played with Bobby Sansom’s band at The Top Rank Club in Brighton for six months in 1982/3. He was a great singer

and from Top Of The Pops – Just One Look

Margaret Cullingworth… Along with friends I went to see The Hollies on Hastings Pier that night. There I met for the first time the nice young man I was destined to marry. ‘Just One Look’ is definitely on the play list for our Golden Wedding anniversary party next month as that is all it took!

Peter Millington… I was there, the sound of Eric Haydock’s Fender VI through a Fender Bassman 2×12 Piggy Back Amp was stunning, never got over that and the harmonies. The drummer for that visit was Don Rathbone who left shortly after this gig and was repalced by Bobby Elliott.

Margaret Cullingworth…My husband and I go to Hollies concerts whenever they are in our area. We went to Eastbourne and Brighton on the last tour. I was pleased to know the name of the support group, The Strangers Five. I wonder if any of them went on to find fame!

Andre Martin…. The Strangers Five, were from Southampton and appeared regularly on the Pier over the years – here is a quote from their website Sometime after that, we formed the “Five Strangers”. The band comprised of me, ‘Fred Funnel’, Brian Fisher, Roy Bridle and Bill Yaldren. We did some great gigs at that time. I remember ‘The Candlelight Club’ at Woolston, and the ‘Empire Hall’ at Totton. One of the best was the Saturday morning “Gaumont Show”. Quite a few of the local bands did the show and it was just fantastic…To be 17 years old and playing on a big, real theatre stage with an audience of several hundreds screaming for more at the end of each song did make us ‘Feel Good’. Sometimes there would be 2 groups on and sometimes they might have us, plus a guest singer, such as ‘Tex Roberg’. Well….. It was just wonderful.  This group later changed their name to Wishful Thinking.

Peter Millington…Saw The Hollies twice – life was never the same after that….Yes it was 1964 although The Hollies came to Hastings Pier on 24th August 1963. Seeing them for the second time in 1964 made me appreciate just how good they were. The first time I just glazed over in amazement at the precision high harmonies. They seemed to be better than their records although live performances give you a “feel” particularly with Eric Haydock pounding out his speedy bass lines with a Fender VI through a Fender amp. There was a time in 1963/4 where all the big names were using kit that we could only see on TV or in brochures. Getting any gear locally was impossible. Eventually we (The Confederates) managed to get a full line-up of Vox gear and a shiny set of Premier drums by going up to the Vox factory and Musicland in Bexleyheath. We came back with the mother of all HP debts. Well you got to haven’t you. To quote a local musician who shall remain nameless “Well that’s showbusiness Dad”

Jon McCallion… I still print the Hollies progs every year when they are on tour. Still a good band, saw them two years ago, fantastic. They are still big in New Zealand.

Andy Qunta… Big on my iPod too!

Mick Knights… At the Crosby and Nash concert at the Albert Hall a couple of years ago, Alan Clark made a guest appearance and sang ‘Bus Stop’ to probably the loudest applause of the whole evening.

Gerry Forsch… Is this the night that the Hollies had a crash in Robertsbridge?