hastings pier

Man and Deke Leonards Iceberg Hastings Pier 24th October 1973

October 24, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Mick Mepham

Sarah Harvey… I have a number of Man’s albums on vinyl although their album count goes into the 20s. I featured a Man track from ‘Back Into The future’ album the 2nd Pier show and Deke Leonard’s Iceberg will feature in the third Pier Show later this month. I really liked Man. Lots of good bands came out of Wales in the 70s.

Mick Mepham… Great stuff

Here’s a copy of the rare poster, handled out at the gig on Hastings Pier.

poster supplied by Chris Sambrook

Geoff Peckham….Is it just me but whenever we (Factory) played at a Miner’s Social or Rugby Club in South Wales – and we played a fair few – didn’t someone always come up and say “Have you heard of a group called Man?” You’d say yes and he’d tell you he used to roadie for them.

Pete Fisher….missed them at the Pier, but saw them at the Roundhouse in London in 75 – brilliant!

Geoff Peckham….Yep. I seem to remember after one long engrossing piece one of the band strolled to the mic and announced: “We may not be the best band in the world, but we sure smoke the most dope!”

Kevin Sherwood… A great night still a big fan.Deke Leonard is a surburb author, Maybe I should have stayedin bed? and Rhinos, whinos & lunatics are wonderful tales if life on the road in Man and Iceberg.

Phil Thornton… I was there !

Glenn Piper… I worked this gig

Jim Breeds… Damn, I wish I’d seen them!

Jan Warren… 2ozs of plastic with a hole in the middle!! – Brilliant album by Man!! 🙂

Phil Gill… I was there.

The Konrads and The Silhouettes – Hastings Pier 24th October 1964

October 24, 2021October 24, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Andre Martin

Did Bowie appear?

Peter Fairless… Err… no!

James Johnson… from a great pier to the plank

Lloyd Johnson… The Konrads had George Underwood and David Jones/ Later Bowie as members…

Peter Fairless… David left the Konrads in December 1963. In October 1964 he was playing as Davie Jones & The Manish Boys. Indeed, they played the Witchdoctor on 13th November ’64.

Alan Essex… Just read some stuff from the Guardian newspaper and The Konrads with Bowie did some recording at Joe Meeks studio but they weren’t one of his bands.

Mick O’Dowd… One member of The Konrads , Graham Samson, lives in Bexhill now and Alan Dodds( a retired priest) lives in Devon,, Other members were Neville Wills(deceased),Mick Milo, lives in Rye, Andrew Baldock, bass, and singer George Underwood.

Cindy Goodhand-Knight… Bowie

Gary Kinch… I notice Mr Knights as the manager, how long was he the manager? He was certainly still there in the early 70’s

Peter Fairless… Andre will know!

Lloyd Johnson… George lives in Uckfield and is a mate…

Mick O’Dowd… Source of info…

Jimi Hendrix Experience – Hastings Pier Sunday 22nd October 1967. One official, one fake poster.

October 24, 2021October 24, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

official poster supplied by Peter Fairless

Autograph poster listed as £15,000.00 in Record Collector December 2017

Mick O’Dowd… the second poster is a fake. Note the date. He played on SUNDAY at the Hastings Pier Sunday Club.

Peter Gladwish… I remember this event very well. Jimi was straddling his guitar on the stage about 6 feet in front of me, when he poured lighter fuel on it and set it alight. Not being able to afford a ‘Strat’ at the time, I remember thinking, “What a ****ing waste!”

Chris Farley… Well done with tracking down detailed event of Hastings Pier & jimmy hendrix on Oct 1967. – I was there as a teenager still at Bexhill Grammer School – never heard of the Experince or MR J Hendrix at age 17y …

Grimey Wilks… I was there too. I clambered onto the stage and took a few photos before being bundled offstage by a security guy. Before the gig Jimi stood at the bar quietly talking with his team untroubled and unmolested. I recognise the left hand poster but I too believe the other to be a fake.

Graham Ellis… I was there too, also a student from Bexhill Grammer School, what a night! Chris, did l know you ? I was leaning against the stage front and remember the lighter fuel burn and the sexy groupie next to me making eyes with Jimi all night. She rushed backstage as soon as he finished playing.

Mick O’Dowd… Supporting programme was Orange Seaweed. Any info on them?

Peter Fairless… Google tells me… The Orange Seaweed – Biography. Psychedelic band from Hastings, England who formed out of cult Freakbeat act The Kingpins who recorded some acetates on the mega collectable Oak label. Ray Neale – Guitar / vocals, Keith Neale – Bass, Les Warren – Drums

Paul Morfey… How much would we pay to go back 50 years and be there on that night??!!?

Peter Fairless… Hey, join the queue for that time machine!

Jan Warren… Wow!!

Bob Laurie… I recall that his wah-wah kept cutting out during Burning of the Midnight Lamp. I think that he started with Foxy Lady and finished with Purple Haze – everything else was a bit blurred!

Clive Wiltshire… I was there too!

Bob Shipway… It was an amazing gig. I remember being very close to the front of the stage. The showmanship and musicianship were on 11 that night! One of my all time Pier gigs.

Paul Coleman… I was there too – with Chris Farley. Where are you now Chris – Wolverhampton? Paul Coleman, Bexhill. pacman22@hotmail.co.uk

Jan Warren… My (late) sister-in-law was there!

Jim Breeds… I’m just comparing the Graham Nash autograph with the one that I have from a couple of years ago.

supplied by Jim Breeds

Alan Esdaile… Completely different. The G starts similar but I can’t see someone changing their autograph this much.

Jim Breeds… That’s what I was thinking. I didn’t want to say so in case of influencing the subject. I know mine is genuine.

Colin Bell… I was backstage that night and have no recollection of Graham Nash being there at all im sorry to say.

Mick O’Dowd… Why would anyone want to sign as Graham Nash? He never appeared onstage and in postings recently on another page another lady also got the autograph complete with Graham Nash! Strange! I know that I once signed a certain silver clad singer’s autograph (GG) behind the stage door but at least he was there and went onstage.

Jim Breeds… Perhaps it is a slightly different name? Or a different guy with the same name? (Seems unlikely, I know).

Tim Purcell… I was there, near the front when he went into his smashing up the guitar routine – although immediately before he tossed his good guitar over the speaker stack and a stage hand threw back an already battered one! Rock and roll with a cost conscience!

Grimey Wilks… Tim, Absolutely right! When he humped the speaker cab it was a Marshall cab with no speakers in. Smoke and mirrors! Still the greatest though and SO glad I was there.

Tony Bird… I was there!

John Byrne… I represent 99.99999999999999% of the human race that wasn’t there !

Hastings Pier ad Jim Capaldi 22nd October 1977 – not a good week for spelling!

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

Beki Milton… Stanglers

Peter Fairless… They didn’t have spell check then, though!

Michael Wilson… I wonder ‘What ever Happened To’ the Stanglers

Jane Hartley… I’ve heard of Jim Capaldi but not Cabaldi!

Chris Jolly… Must be Gari baldi’s brother!

Andy Qunta… I notice Pot Black managed to get his name spelt right!

Chris Jolly… More luck pot luck I would think!

Stuart Huggett… The Stanglers: almost as good as Siouxsie & The Bashees or The Damed.

The Adverts 22nd Oct & The Clash 12th Nov 1977 – Hastings Pier

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Peter Fairless Bands on Hastings Pier https://www.facebook.com/groups/196962362327/

The Adverts replaced Jim Capaldi who was originally booked…

Ken Copsey .…Remember the Voidoids walked off stage after their ‘bald’ lead guitarist was hit on the head by what looked like a full can of beer. Thank god that kind of age discrimination doesn’t go on nowadays or none of us would dare set foot on stage again!

John Storer…..The Clash in 77 was one of the best gigs I ever saw at the Pier, even though I had to stand at the back because it was the first gig I’d taken the future Mrs Storer to (She was a Genesis / Yes / Pink Floyd fan). We’d only been going out a couple of weeks so I had to be on best behaviour. Knew it was going to be a great gig as soon as they launched into “London’s Burning. “Their debut still stands the test of time and is one of the few albums from that era I still listen to occasionally. But only in the car … Mrs S still hates punk!

Andrew Clifton…. link for review of gig.

http://jeke13.blogspot.co.uk/2006/11/clash.html?spref=fb

poster for sale in Belgium…

sourced from Stefaan Delarue. Punk Memorabilia For Sale or Trade Facebook page.

Clash ticket supplied by Lynn Gale

Lynn Gale… My hubby found , may be of interest.

Shaun Wright… I went to that Clash gig…..😎

more Clash ads...

Ozric Tentacles, Mandragora, Felo-De-Se – Hastings Pier 20th October 1990

October 20, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Alex Chapman

Phil Thornton… this was a good one ! I was on the synths with Mandragora !! all the bands and the audience had a great night ! all sorts going on – lots of stalls, jugglers etc. – can’t remember what year it was though. I didn’t play with Mandragora till around 1990 and the last live gig was around 2005 ( I think ! )

Mark Richards… I was at this.. its 89 or 90

Mick O’Dowd… October 20th 1990.

Martin Richter… Felo-de-Se!!

Siouxsie & The Banshees – Hastings Pier 20th October 1978

October 20, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

poster 1 supplied by Mick Mepham & poster 2 supplied Mick O’Dowd

‘Human League’ didn’t play nor did Nico.

Pete Fairless….No, they did not. Support was from the Gang Of Four.

Mick Mepham….Gang of Four were excellent as were Siouxsie and the Banshees, can’t remember Spizz Oil. If I remember rightly, the singer wore a bin liner and by the end of their set he was plastered with gob …. yeeeuch.

Pete Fairless….I thought GOF were a bit boring, Spizz were fun, and Siouxie & The Banshees were fantastic

John Storer… The Human League did not play their first live gig until June 1978 (Sheffield Hallam University has a plaque commemorating the date and venue, which is now a computer room). They did tour with Souixsie that year, but not until December The Mark II line-up are still gigging for all they are worth, and never fail to surprise the crowd with how good they still are. First saw them in December 81 when “Don’t You Want Me” was No.1. Last saw them in 2012 and they were better … and doing stuff from both “Reproduction” and “Travelogue”

Alan Esdaile… Remember seeing The Human League in 2003 with John Foxx support and they were very good.

Coloured Raisins & DJ Marshal Scott – Hastings Pier 29th June 1968

October 18, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Mick O’Dowd.….What an excellent band they were. I remember seeing them and being well impressed. Impressed enough to buy there one and only album(I believe) on Major Minor label? They dropped “The Coloured” tag a bit later but does anybody know what happened to them after that.

Andre Martin…..I think it was on the way home from this gig, they were involved in a road accident and one member of the band was killed, when a badly packed speaker cabinet moved a hit one of them on the head .Here is the Observer write up from that Saturday 29 June 1968.

Tia Mara… Research Black Velvet Band in which 4 members continued as the band.

Marcia Coke… I’m looking for Brian if anyone know’s of his whereabouts.

Pete Fisher… Found this in a blog…they started as the coloured raisins in London ’66.BRANDIS vcls(a.k.a. Brian Clarke /Clark),DAVID & KEITH GAMPORT gtrs,PETER NELSON org & LONDON STEEL dr all came from the west indies & enlarged their line-up to an 8 piece. With the help of HONEY DARLING, KING OSSIE & EARL GREENE vcls & under different names such as The coloured raisins w. King Ossie Show & Honey Darling they re- portedly became 1 of the most booked up London outfits during ’67/68. Anyway, by autumn ’67 they had shortened their name just to the Raisins & finally became Black Velvet in June ’69. However, they still released records under the coloured raisins moniker & also occasionally teamed up w. a guy called RAM JAM HOLDER.

Mike… Saw the coloured raisins when I was about 15/16 . Saw them a few times after that absolutely brilliant. I’m pretty sure I first saw them at the alphabet club but not 100per cent sure of that . I was from Hampshire but used to go all over up west down the coast ( shoreline club) . Loved the mingo, tiles the subway and the twenties . What times.

Jim Breeds… Did Coloured Raisins had a secret life as the Sultanas of Swing?

Sham 69 and The Cimarons – Hastings Pier 25th November 1978

October 18, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Sarah Harvey

Jon Nurse….Remember that night

Peter Fairless… ‘The one where Jimmy bought me a coke…’, anyone else remember this one?

Neil William Michael McGuigan… was there, it was a riot, literally

Peter Fairless… Nah, just a bit of good natured fun! Compared to some other Sham gigs around that time, it was very mild.

Tony Ham… I saw Sham 69 a few weeks ago with Angelic Upstarts, still great live.

Will Dando… I was there. Still playing Cimarons today.

The Worrying Kind & The Confederates – Sat 17th Oct 1964 by Andre Martin

October 17, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin… Something is going to happen – I just know it will, but until then, we find ourselves in the Happy Ballroom on Hastings Pier, on Saturday17 October 1964, and what a month this has been, do you realise that we have just had a General Election? Thursday last, when Harold Wilson and the Labour Party won, buy a whisker – if I recall only a 3 seat majority. But enough of that, the first thing I want to address is about last week, several people have asked me, did I have the correct listing, based on the Pier advertisement in the Observer, I would have said yes, but on further research, I do feel they were wrong and it should have been Guy Darrell & The Midnighters as top of the Bill. But that will remain one of life’s little mysteries.
This week should be clearer – Top of the bill – from the North-East – The Worrying Kind, supported by our own The Confederates, 7.45pm – 11.45pm and all for 5/- – what value.
The Worrying Kind had made several visits to the Happy Ballroom in the past, the last was in July of this year, and they had been well received with their mix of Soul, R&B and what we would today call chart covers. The group had been known at one time a Brian Howard & The Silhouettes but changed to Worrying Kind a couple of years ago, they had had a couple of releases and it was rumoured that a Jimmy Page had played on these sessions, although there is little mentioned, he glosses over many of the bands he played sessions with in his autobiography so we can neither confirm or deny. The Confederates, a likely bunch of local lads, under the watchful eye of “ Spike “ Millington – that Pete’s dad, if you did not know, giving their best for the patrons of the Happy Ballroom. So this was another good night, OK not any name attractions, but good all-round entertainment and giving the patrons just what they wanted. Rumour was that Spike and Bob Knights – The General Manager of the Pier, would spend most of the evening putting the world to rights in the Long Bar !
So let’s have a look at what else is keeping the young people of the town entertained during this week, we would have had Friday nights – Ready Steady Go which this week included an interview with – Mick Jagger by Ellen Grehan. Scheduled guest:–Dionne Warwick – “Reach Out For Me. Obviously Mick Jagger was being given plenty of air time on that Night.
At The Witch Doctor – on Saturday Night it was 4+1 backed by Second Thoughts, Sunday Club that week would have been a cracker featuring Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. And to end the week – Friday nights offering – Shane & The Shane Gang.
I thought that I would also have a quick look at what was on BBC – Saturday Club [BBC Light Programme] Matt Monro, The Pretty Things, Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Rockin Berries and Spencer Davis Group – all introduced by Brian Matthews. Sunday Swing [2.00pm] features Lulu & The Luvvers, Clinton Form, Julie Grant and The Fortunes.
BBC TV that Saturday night on Juke Box Jury Des O’Connor, Mary Wells and Jimmy Young plus one other panel member, and in the chair David Jacobs.
Later that evening – The Billy Cotton Band Show – featured Matt Monro and Gerry and The Pacemakers.
And not to be left out – Radio Caroline was flying the Pirate Radio Flag out there off the Frinton Coast, with at least one household name having survived the weather, after 3 months Tony Blackburn was still broadcasting – it was believed that he had taken a break at some point to gather breath !!
So you can see it had been a interesting week. One thing that I have forgotten to mention, is that the Pier is starting to run generic advertisements for the Ballroom being available for Hire…………so what have they up their sleeves…..time will tell. Andre Martin

Jim Breeds… Always fascinating 🙂

Peter Millington… Remember it well