Martyn Baker… I was 16 and was very impressed with this gig.
hastings pier
Felix 30th April, Seventh Heaven 15th May, Damaris 22nd May, Glitter Band 4th June – Hastings Pier 1976
all cuttings Sarah Harvey
Sarah Harvey…..Some Pier adverts featuring local bands… Felix and Damaris from April and May 1976 respectively.
Phil Thornton…..Damaris, were a great band, they supported Stallion a few times.
Yvonne Cleland….Felix! Great band!
Andy Qunta….I remember Felix – they were excellent!
Chris Meachen…..Seventh Heaven came from the Isle of Wight, they were kind of early jazz funk
Mick O’Dowd…..Keep ’em coming Sarah!
Kev Towner… “Juvenile Fashion Parade” – how things have changed!!
Chris Boorman… Pretty sure I was at the Glitter Band gig!
Claire Triance.. How things change best summer hot
Richard Lavender… Remember the news of the world fishing comp. Won several rods over the years in that.
Dave Lelliott… Packed out at the Glitter Band
Nick Webb… Nice to see the Poster with my friends band Damaris on
Robert Searle… We supported The Glitter Band at the Pier when we were Easy Street,can’t say it was this date though. By the way, they were brilliant.
Iain Cobby… Nice to hear from Nick Webb, was that the Damaris we used green house pellets as smoke bombs and sent the audience of french students back 10 feet coughing and choking? I’m sure that was the gig that I have a recording of………………….
Dave Nattress… Iain, we definitely tried some pyrotechnics a few times – quite possibly your idea old chap or maybe Paul’s. Nick I remember you very well – best regards after 40 years!
Nick Webb… Cheers guys those where the days or night lol
Barron Knights – 13th May 1966 Hastings Pier
Stuart Huggett… Oh yes, my first gig (White Rock, sometime early 80s). “There’s a dentist in Birmingham…”
The Levellers – Hastings Pier 11th May 1994
ticket: Simon Morrison
Tim Bruce… Was at this one. Loadsa crowd surfing… Brilliant night
Shaft promo photo Rock A Nore Road and Hastings Pier Ballroom
This is a promotion photo for Martin Casson Agency, taken at Rock A Nore Road. I think the car belonged to the photographer?
Shaft on the stage at Hastings Pier – Early 70’s photos supplied by Andy Knight
Andre Martin (commenting on the last photo) That is a really excellent shot of the Happy Ballroom – and of Andy when he had plenty of hair -Hah Hah
Andy Knight… Shaft (son of Freeway) on the Pier
Nick Shute… wow!! a sound city pa and the hofner bass….looks like a lot of my old gear up there!!!
Len Smith… Colin Pierce, Jim Beadle, Andy Knight, Bob Shipway, Dave Shaw
Ross Holter… Great band
Mark Gilham… Is that a Marcos?
Ralph Town… Yes Mark.
Robin Hughes… (To Mark Gilham) – that certainly is a Marcos and that presumably means that the photographer in question was John Sweet who was based at the top of London Road in Silverhill
Mark Gilham… Great British car, as was the TVR.
Robert Searle… Dave Shaw on the right
Robin Hughes… A photo very similar to this, taken at same time but different expressions and head positions, appeared in the Hastings and St.Leonards Observer in the Spring of 1972 above an article about the Carnival Queen’s contest. The subject line of the photo said ” Shaft, the up-and-coming pop group who will be at Bonita’s on Monday when the Carnival Queen contest will be decided”.
Argent – Hastings Pier 23rd February 1974
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
Geordie plus Bitch or Moonstone?? and Colin Bell – Hastings Pier 26th October 1973
poster supplied by Mick Mepham
Pete Prescott….after Brian Johnston left the reformed Geordie to join ac/dc i was briefly in the band that struggled to continue (with a different name – the DUDES ) they tried terry slesser from crawler.i replaced him.i recorded three tracks with them at Luxembourg studios.they wanted me to re locate to newcastle.i couldn’t do that.nice guys.
Yvonne Cleland….Great band, Geordie! Saw them on the pier! it was a good gig!
Pete Fairless….The best Slade record Slade never made!
Pete Prescott….i sang love if you want it another night in the city and the last one escapes me.i think i have the versions of terry slesser singing them as well as mine.brian sang nutbush city limit at the ac/dc audition and got the job instantly.i was told he is a nice guy.
Andy Qunta…..singer of Geordie was Brian Johnson, who later joined AC/DC, and still with them now! After Factory’s gig with them in Torquay, I met him in the motorway services Gent’s (accidentally, not pre-arranged, before your minds start working overtime!). He was very flustered! He had been driving their truck, it was one of those where the cab tipped forward to get to the engine. After checking the oil or something, apparently the cab wasn’t locked properly, so when he got to some traffic lights, the whole cab tipped forward, and he was properly freaked out! Geordie almost lost his liggy!
Peter Howard… I know one of Bitch
Colin Bell… Always handy to know what i was doing 48 years ago tonight! I remember Brian (Johnson) being a really nice guy, sadly i don’t remember Bitch.
Nazareth plus Mike Hugg Band – Hastings Pier 9th May 1975
cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey
Mike Hugg Band photo taken on the night by Clive Richardson
Flyer supplied by Roger Carey
Andy Qunta….Pretty sure I saw Nazareth on the Pier! Can’t be sure it was this gig though. Did they play the Pier more than once?
Geoff Peckham…..We (Factory) supported them too, didn’t we? Was it Folkestone, Andy?
Andy Qunta….Think you might be right, Jaffa! As you may know, I have a diary of all the gigs we did up to Aug’73, but it must have been after that. Lost the 2nd diary unfortunately! Btw, planning to make you a copy!
Geoff Peckham….Great, look forward to reading the diary! I get Nazareth mixed up with Geordie (remember them?) We played with one of the at Torquay Town Hall – massive place full of foreign students, some venturing backstage. Geordie had their wives with them so locked their dressing room door. We didn’t!
Steve Kinch….Having played with them many times over the years, Nazareth have become ‘on the road’ buddies. Sadly, Dan was taken seriously ill last year and has now retired from live work.
Climax Blues Band plus Joe’s Blooze Band – Hastings Pier 9th May 1998 – poster & review
photos by John Kenward supplied by Hastings Music Files – Phil Little http://www.littledrum.co.uk
David Evans… Looks like the photographer tried to get the whole band in the photo but couldn’t get it right.
Alan Esdaile… Nice one David.
Colin Fox… Johnny Sax live just up the road from me here in Spain. He used to play with Climax Blues Band. Very popular in the clubs and bars.
photo Colin Fox
Ken Russell… Great band.