Emperor Rosko – Hastings Pier 9th July 1976

Peter Fairless… ‘R’ to the ‘O’ to the ‘S’ to the ‘K’ to the ‘O’…

Tony Davis… When I worked at the Aquarius the Radio One Club with Rosko, came there. I was on the radio as part of the panel reviewing new releases. He is a nice guy, unlike DLT who I also met at The Aquarius on a different night

Marky Heselwood… You can hear Emperor Rosko on CHR Conquest Hospital Radio on Saturday Morning 12am till 2am. And Monday 12am till 2am

Lynne Smith… I remember DLT coming to the Aquarius

Alan Esdaile… I used to book DLT all over the country from a garden shed in Emmanuel Road!

Mick O’Dowd… Used to love “The Emperor”. His ad tune was a take on Jamo Thomas’s “I Spy For The F.B.I” which he altered to “Rosko For The F.B.I.” Played some good music as well.

 

Spencer Davis Group & Factory – Hastings Pier 7th July 1973


  

supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey….July 1973. Remember them playing ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ and it was superb played live. Loved ’em. And of course a great band in support!

Phil Gill….I was at that gig, watching Ray Fenwick, It was the “Gluggo” tour, and “Catch You On the Rebop”, the single form the album was all over the radio. I really liked it – here it is.

Phil Gill….I was then 17. Fast forward seven years and Steve Demetri, Andy Caine and I end up playing on When The Boys Happy by Jo Jo Laine & The Firm with Ray Fenwick, Funny old world….

Terry Pack….I  saw Ray with Fancy, supporting 10cc at The Dome in 1975. He was excellent, as were Mo, Les and Annie.

Andy Qunta….I  just checked my diary, & it says Factory got a tremendous reception & did 2 encores! Wish I could actually remember it! Always liked the SDG & supporting them was very exciting!

Bernard Jeffery….I did see the original band probably one of their last gigs as I was very young and later met Steve Winwood when I was recording with his brother Muff producing at Island studios

Dennis Torrance… Another great band Steve Winwood and band. Also Factory brill band still are.

Jacquie Hinves… A very young Ray Fenwick. Gorgeous as ever.

Peter Houghton… Yes it was a great night and seeing Stevie Winwood

Roger Carey… I saw this gig as did Sarah who has sent this in… Don’t want to be contradictory but Stevie Winwood was long gone from Spencer Davis’ band by this time. It did feature the late great Ray Fenwick as pictured here; I was impressed by his stylish guitar work, he of course became part of Hastings music scene some years later…. Pete York , a very good drummer, and Ray would do a instrumental duo feature, I have some of this band on a radio broadcast I taped same year… Eddie Martin was principal lead singer as I recall and “Catch you on the Rebop” is a memorable song… And of course “Factory” one of the best bands based in Hastings, were on great form at this concert- they were always on great form -still going to this day!

Tony Qunta… Remember that gig very well!

Pete Prescott… I’d love to have seen that

Tony Macdonnell… Me too!

 

UFO & Supertramp – Hastings Pier 7th July 1972

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cutting supplied by Sarah Harvey

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Supertramp in 1971. Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:21stCenturyGreenstuff  Supertramp Mark II. L-R: Roger Hodgson, Frank Farrell, Rick Davies, Kevin Currie, and Dave Winthrop.

Sarah Harvey…. what a line-up!

Andy Qunta…..Just what I was thinking, Sarah! Wow!

Alan Esdaile…..Surprised to see Supertramp were supporting UFO. A few months later and it was probably the other way round.

Mick O’Dowd….Who’d have thought Supertramp as being a support band. Listen had a better write up in the ad and were 3rd on the bill!

Pete Fisher…..remember being mesmerised by Michael Schenker!

Chris Sambrook… I remember UFO playing on Hastings Pier organised by Hastings College 1969 [i believe]. This was the time they were still with the original Guitarist, Mick Bolton on Beacon Records and who were doing  very well in Japan. The Following gig on the Pier was in in the early  70’s. If memory serves me well the following  line up with Michael Schenker and Bernie Marsden. Then the 3rd time  without  Bernie Marsden. Correct me if i’m wrong on each count.

Iain Cobby… Can I say that opening act Xerox was myself, Tony (Vic) Bridger and Steve Demetri. God knows how we got the gig, but I know we played several Rory Gallagher tracks and Steve put a pile of talcum powder on his floor tom so that it shot into the air and choked me when he first hit it (where did he get the idea?) Other memories of the night were walking past UFO’s open dressing room to see them cozzing up in glitter and spandex and some great platforms. I watched Supertramp from the side fill. Cant remember anything of Listen or UFO, but a great night to remember.

Mick O’Dowd… Wasn’t Robert Plant a one-time member of Listen?

Al Hudson and The Partners – Hastings Pier 8th December 1979

Terry Tollan… Can i just say . Many bands played on our pier over the years but it and who will never beat T Rex live fantastic gig. Just saying. We saw them all .

John Wilde… we (Stallion) had the great privilege of supporting T Rex that very night. It was packed!

Terry Tollan… John, I saw you many times over the years .

 

Electric Light Orchestra – Hastings Pier 27th April 1973

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27th Arpil 1973 ELO

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ad supplied by Sarah Harvey

Alan Esdaile…..I did the disco for this. They had so much gear that I ended up doing the disco from the balcony and before anyone says it my stage gear at that time was make up, blonde wig and black cloak!

Andre Martin….Memories of that night, must have been another that Paul and I spent in the Balcony with the best views. Have a vague recollection that Shirley on form as well that night !!

Mick O’Dowd….Nice one Sarah! Great band!

Chris Sambrook….Sarah or Alan you might be able to correct me but I have a feeling that Darryl Way’s Wolf supported. The drummer at the time Ian Mosely, much later joined Marillion.

John Austin… Did Electric Light Orchestra ever play at the White Rock Theatre ?

Alan Esdaile…  I think a ELO2 played the White Rock in recent years (anyone confirm?) and ELO tribute bands but not Jeff Lynne.

Chris Giles… Only remember them playing on the pier. Good concert.

Mick O’Dowd…Yes  ELO II did play the White Rock. I was there and I think i’ve still got the programme.

Jeff Chuzz Balcombe… yeah I remember them on the pier.

Jon McCallion… Got Out Of The Blue vinyl, full volume.

Dennis Torrance… God I missed it was 19 can’t think why I missed it kicking a football a lot then.

Clive Garrard…  I remember buying the single Showdown

Peter Thomson… Fabulous night. Apart from the concert, I still have it in my head that this was the night that the Albert Memorial was alleged to have “burnt down”. Yet I and others were in the town centre after this gig and witnessed no inkling of a fire or anything unusual, only to read of the event afterwards. Like others my age, I can’t remember why I went into the kitchen these days but this stays with me. Can anyone corroborate?

Andy Maby… One of my first live bands, but in 1978 and at Wembley! Loved ’em!! They rose up out of a ‘hamburger’ (spaceship), with green lazers flashing up to the ceiling and back walls! First time I’d seen lazers too! An amazing sight!!

Martin Richter… oh yes – out of the blue tour ? the Empire Pool ? I seem to remember 2 spaceships on wires came down at the end ? mr blue sky was in the charts at the time

Gerry Fortsch… My wife at the time fell asleep and missed the guitar cock up at the beginning of roll over Beethoven, I think he may off improved since then.

Roy Penfold… The Albert Memorial suffered the first arson attack the night after on the 28th of April, then a subsequent one on the 18th of June

Tony Court-holmes… missed it

Alan Esdaile… Remember doing the disco for this. ELO had so much equipment that I set up in the balcony at the back. Complete with blonde wig and black cloak!!! Pity no photos, or maybe just as well!

JS Bythesea… I might have been there but I used to spend a lot of time in the early 70s sitting and crying on the counter in the ladies’ toilets for some reason or other, so I can’t say for sure.  Whatever it was, I’ve got over it now.

Christine Giles… JS, hose ladies toilets were a nightmare so crowded out ..girls fighting or crying …I didn’t really enjoy having to go in there at all

Expandis – Hastings Pier 3rd July 1982 & promo photo

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poster & ticket supplied by Mick Mepham,    photo supplied by David Miller.

Yvonne Cleland… The DLWP should book Expandis!

Phil Thornton….Many thanks to Mick Mepham for finding this old poster ! This brings back happy memories of a fine evening on the pier ! – we (EXPANDIS) had the ballroom about half full (over 600 people)
we had a few guests that night … Min on Sax, the ‘Foxx’ dance troop and of course the ‘Bag ladies’ !

Kev Towner… It’s like a trio of Trevor Horns!!

Alan Esdaile… I always thought they would be great on Later with Jools Holland. What is that in John’s hand?

Phil Thornton… its a mk 3 sonic disruptor. when we were all on the mothership John was usually on ‘shotgun duty’

John Wilde… we came from the future……

Phil Thornton… ……… and crash landed in Bexhill (the cosmic AA have been called)

David Miller… It seems like only yesterday…..

Pistols At Dawn – Malcolm McLaren, Sex Pistols & Hastings Pier 3rd July 1976 by Barry Taylor

Copy of the handbill for Budgie/Sex Pistols gig that Barry handed out around the town to create interest.

PISTOLS AT DAWN – Malcom McLaren, Sex Pistols and Hastings Pier  by Barry Taylor

Malcolm McLaren was the visionary who invented ‘Punk Rock’ to the shock and delight of 70’s Britain. He emerged from an art college background. During this time he became fascinated by the ‘Situationists’ , a group of French artists and intellectuals and went on to apply their ideas to his own career. At Goldsmith College he met up with Vivienne Westwood, they open a boutique in Kings Road, Chelsea which eventually became ‘Sex’ and a flagship for the punk moment.

At this point Mclaren began to ‘assemble’ the Sex Pistols. John Lydon, for example, auditioned in the boutique, by singing along to ‘Schools Out’ on the jukebox. Then, he was joined by messrs Jones, Cook and Matlock and this was the line up which graced Hastings Pier ballroom in July 1976.

I had booked the ballroom for a series of concerts, having kicked off with 50p admission, featuring up and coming groups supported by local talent but this was not a great success. One of the best performances was by ‘The Stranglers’ as a support act! Casting around for a support for heavy rockers ‘Budgie’, I noticed the winds of change heralding the arrival of punk rock from the direction of London.

I managed to somehow contact Malcom Mclaren at his HQ and duly booked the Pistols for a modest sum. Prior to the concert, I was asked to arrange a PA system for them, as they didn’t possess one! I will never forget the shock waves when Mclaren and his motley musicians arrived at the pier on July 3rd. Compared to us hippies, they were a bunch of aliens, with their spiky hair and clothes held together with saftey pins but they were nevertheless, quite friendly. I am not sure what the Budgie fans made of the Pistols shambolic, yet exciting set. It was an incongruous pairing of bands, to put it mildly.

I remember there was an unpleasant scene after the gig. John Lydon was not impressed with the P.A, provided by a local musician and expressed his displeasure. I appreciated Glen Matlock’s intervention as peacemaker, as a fracas loomed but there was an intimidating aura surrounding the Sex Pistols at the time.

I tried to rebook them but Mclaren did not return my calls! The famous Bill Grundy TV interview was December 1976 so fame and notoriety was beginning to whisk the Pistols away. McLarens maverick style of management owed something to Andrew Oldhams guidance of the Rolling Stones and he proceeded to sweep all before him. Malcom negotiated a lucrative recording deal with EMI, who didn’t realise what the Sex Pistols were about! After releasing ‘Anarchy In The UK’ he engineered the sacking of the band from EMI but kept the advance and promtly switched them to A&M. That didn’t last and they ended up with a more sympathetic label in Richard Bransons ‘Virgin Records’. All of this, 3 record contracts, in a very short space of time and plenty of money!

By 1977, cracks were appearing within the Pistols and Glen Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious, generally acknowledged as a mistake by Mclaren. By early 1978 it was over but he left his mark on rock management and influenced others who came later with a similar disregard for civilised behavior at the time!  Like Alan McGee who steered Oasis to success in the 90’s.

Malcolm reinvented himself as an artist and had a hit with ‘Buffalo Girls’ .. but will always be remembered for the Sex Pistols.

Barry Taylor

Morten Of Norway…I attended the Pistols/Budgie gig. I was 15 year old language school student, from Norway, visiting England for the first time. I knew Budgie, but had, of course, never heard about Sex Pistols. Been addicted to punk rock ever since!

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Budgie and support from Sam Tripp – Hastings Pier 30th June 1972

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Andy Qunta… Yeah, Budgie could really squawk! Great stuff!

Nigel Ford… I woz there!

Chris Meachen… This could have been the time they came round mine afterwards for coffee & sarnies.. (They went to Clive’s one time as well..)

Janette Clare Morfey… I was there.

Martin Waghorne… Missed that one, got the album though ‘Squawk’.

Chris Baker… Budgie were great!

Paul Owen… I saw Budgie back in Brum, I think the headline band that night was Osibisa, now that was a band

David Broome… Budgie were my 1st gig saw them in Maidstone. Had some great song titles. I made the rookie mistake of standing too near the speakers. My ears rang for days.

Alan Esdaile… It was worse with Motorhead and Nazareth David.

Neil William Michael McGuigan… got that Sqawk album, brilliant