hastings pier

Ian Crawford and The Boomerangs – 9th May 1964

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Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin…..May moves on and here we are again at the doors of The Happy Ballroom, Hastings Pier to see what is on the bill for this week. Saturday 9th May 1964 – Ian Crawford and The Boomerangs, supported by The Alexanders.As one would guess, the name of the group has a “ down-under” connection, the lead vocalist – Ian Crawford, had emigrated to Australia at the age of 15 and had spent some time in the pop business releasing a couple of records and appearing on Australian TV [ No he was not the stunt double for Skippy] then decided to return to UK. With his group The Boomerangs he worked throughout the UK in the 60s and included several package shows supporting the Beatles. This was a feature of the scene at the time, when for about 5/- [25p] you could see a show with several chart acts together – we had several of these at the old ABC Cinema in the early 60s. Ian Crawford and the Boomerangs had their first release in 1964 on Fontana Records – “Don’t Let her be your Baby” it was a cover of the US Contours number. It did very little in the charts.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdYuw-LT2RM&feature=youtu.be

Supporting the show on that night were the popular regular visitor to the Happy Ballroom, from Eastbourne/Brighton The Alexanders, who during this period were building up a fine following in Sussex and the Home Counties.

 

 

Swinging Blue Jeans & The Confederates – Hastings Pier Sat 25th April 1964.

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Andre Martin…..This week’s History of The Happy Ballroom, is going to be much improved. Lets go to Saturday 25 April 1964, the top of the bill a band that had been doing great things in recent months were booked to appear – THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS .
Formed in Liverpool in 1961 as The Bluegenes, The Swinging Blue Jeans followed virtually the same path to success as many of their Merseybeat contemporaries during the early 1960s. After playing a succession of local dance halls and club engagements, including the Cavern Club, they travelled to Germany and appeared at the Star Club, Hamburg. The Jeans had their own ‘Tuesday Guest Night’ while they were resident band at the Cavern. One of the first bands they invited as their guests were The Beatles.
Their popularity was assured as by the time they appeared in Hastings in April, they had to their credit several singles, including these over a very short period of time, that had charted, “ Hippy Hippy Shake” / “Now I Must Go”, December 1963) – UK no. 2; “Good Golly Miss Molly” / “Shaking Feeling” March 1964) – UK no.11, and about to be released within days of this appearance, “You’re No Good” / “Don’t You Worry About Me” May 1964) – UK no. 3.
The Support act, booked for that night, should have been The Ramblers, who were from North London and who had appeared before in The Happy Ballroom, they were well known and had made several records under the direction of Joe Meek – what happened on that night is now picked up by the Hastings Observer – A local group The Confederates were asked at the last moment to stand in for the Ramblers and as you can see from the press cutting from the following Saturday, did a splendid job. Peter Millington, remembers the night well, as it was the first time they had played the venue, and it was somewhat larger than usual, as was the size of audience that the boys were used to working before.
The show went well, and as we will see very shortly, the Confederates were to headline The Happy Ballroom in their own right.

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all cuttings…..Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Peter Shaw…..The unfortunately late, but great sticks man Dave Saunders…fast hands and an excellent artist too! I have one of his signed crayon art works at home…and it’s of a beautiful woman…typically Dave!!  The band were a local big time outfit with a powerful presence…great memories!

Peter Millington….Thanks Pete, Praise from the master, All the product of Grove School (1961-1963) and a Regimental Sergeant Major with a Blue Van.

Tom Robinson & Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Hastings Pier gigs

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John Storer asks...

I wonder if anyone else can remember Tom Robinson Band with Eater in support around the time of 2-4-6-8 Motorway

The other was Dexy’s Midnight Runners around the time of “Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (my second favourite album ever) – a set even shorter than The Sex Pistols. There were a few National Front idiots at the front of the stage and Kevin Rowland took the band off-stage during the third number and refused to come back out. There may even have been some band / audience fisticuffs Dexy’s are one of my all-time fave bands but this was the only time I saw them live. What really annoyed me was that a lot of mates decided not to go see them at The Pier but to go to the band’s gig at Brighton Top Rank the following night. They all returned with rave reviews and one of them still swears to this day it was the best gig he ever went to!

Philip Meston…..Didn’t see TRB, but was at the Dexy’s gig. Gig was rather spoilt by beer can throwing and disruption, which was partly due to the band not wanting to play Geno as I recall. Other than that, they really could play!!

John Austin….I saw the Dexy”s gig ! spoilt by gobbing punks !

Pete Fairless…..The Dexys gig was brief, nervous and angry… In short, of course, exactly as it should have been! Not sure anyone saw TRB on the pier!

Martyn Baker…..Yep I was there. Kevin asked the audience if they’d bought tickets just to see them perform their hit record. When lots shouted “Yeah!” He quietly said “Ever been had?”.

Leigh Weiland-Boys…..I was there that night! Anyone & everyone that knows me has heard the story…I seem to recall a lot of spitting going on!

Pete Fairless….Eater supported The Stranglers, it may be that gig that John is thinking of. Eater were dire, probably the worst band I ever saw on the pier.

Alan Esdaile….It does look like Tom Robinson did not appear, unless anyone knows different? Could it have been The Crpyt?

Sarah Harvey….I have seen an advert for TRB but just need to find it. As i remember it wasn’t the biggest advert I have ever seen….could have been supporting someone else. Can’t remember actually seeing them.

Sonja Kristina – Curved Air – backstage Hastings Pier 1975

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Curved Air2

 photo by Mick O’Dowd

Curved Air 2

  photo by Mick O’Dowd

Tony Qunta….”One of my favourite singers/frontperson ladies from one of my favourite bands! Great photos!”

Dave Arnold….Was a roadie for them at Maidstone Art College gig:) great band & beautiful singer…

Andy Qunta….Great to see these pics! BIg fan of the band & Sonja!

John Alexander Wilde….”Daryl Way on violin”

Mick O’Dowd….She seemed very pleasant and friendly. Great meeting her.

Martyn Baker….”Great photo. I remember those weird fire-buckets too, and wasn’t she a Babe!”

Sarah Harvey…..She was such a beautiful lady.

Ralph Town….Still alive and still performing

The Frank Barber Band & Ted Crouch Band – Hastings Pier

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Frank Barber Band with Ted Crouch on drums

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all photos supplied by Janine Anne Hemsley  – The Ted Crouch Band

Terry Pack….I played a few gigs with The Ted Crouch Band in the early 1970s. On a plywood bass with no amp! Used to strap the bass to my mum’s shopping trolley and get the train to gigs. I often had to walk home, wheeling the bass along.

Geoff Peckham….Well there’s a thing, Terry. My dad played for him regularly in the 60s!

Terry Pack….Could the World get any smaller? I had actually forgotten Ted’s name until I saw this.

Geoff Peckham….I may possibly have played with him too as a 14 or 15year old. My dad was a depping bass player and when he was double-booked and thought I was ready he’d offer my services. I remember my first ever gig was at the Horseshoe Inn, Boreham Street in 1967. A dinner dance, I wore my dad’s spare dj and bowtie. When we played a slow modern waltz, Fred Wilkinson, the drummer (and my chaperone), leant forward to me and muttered “Steady, Geoff, steady”! My first lesson in strict tempo!

Bernard Jeffery….wow this takes me back my dad taught Ted to Play the Drums.

End Of The Pier Show – Repeated on BBC2

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Really good news!  ‘The End of the Pier Show’ featuring Hastings Pier and its amazing story is being repeated by the BBC in a network slot, in HD.

It’s a great advertisement for the project and why it is so worthwhile investing in it. If you know any waverers then please do encourage them to watch it. And for yourselves please watch it and enjoy being part of such a compelling enterprise.

It will be broadcast again on Sunday 16th March 2014 on BBC2 at 17.30.

Philip Meston….Made a change to see something in the media that is positive about Hastings too. Long may it continue!

Pier Band Ads – 1973/74

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all cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey….Some of my favourite bands seen on The Pier…..in order Oct 1973, Sept 1974 and December 1974. Be Bop Deluxe opened their set with ‘Fair Exchange’. Wonderful bands, all of them.

John Wilde….Be Bop Deluxe turned me around. Been a huge fan of Bill Nelson ever since.

Andy Qunta….Wow! We were so spoiled!

Mark Sims…..That poster for Be Bop De Luxe with support Clemen Pull. Clemen Pull was my old band. I was the drummer. www.clemenpull.com

Ken Dengate…..Still got a ‘flyer’ for the Tempest gig.

Mick O’Dowd….Nice work Sarah. Keep the ads coming as i’m trying to compile a pictorial list of Pier music. As I said before those of us that have been around since the 60’s have been really spoilt with the choice of bands both local produced and big names! Time for another Sanatogen!

Dave Nattress….Sarah, When I was in Samisen, we did “Ships in the Night” by Be Bop Deluxe at Ore Centre a couple of times, and rehearsed a couple of other tracks – Made in Heaven I loved/love still, but didn’t do them live.  I’ve got everything Be Bop did vinyl and CD and most of the stuff Bill Nelson did.  Also got a fabulous hardback book biography – Bill Nelson and Be Bop Deluxe.  Sunburst Finish album – just wonderful!!

Bobby Walker…..Remember jumping into the back of a transit to go see Be-Bop Deluxe at Folkestone. Shockingly uncomfortable journey, and we arrived to find we’d got the wrong night!