hastings

supplied by Dave Nattress

Andy Leaney guitar, Dave Nattress vocals, Mick Bridgeland drums, Robin Heggie bass.

Dave Nattress… After Samisen split, Mick Bridgeland and I teamed up with Andy Leaney and Robin Heggie on bass. We set about writing a set load of post-punk, abrasive, incisive shortish tracks. I don’t think we did any covers. We played quite a few gigs around Hastings as The Prisoners, The Yorkshire Grey, The Yelton, (as was), Chatsworth, and Crypt etc.

Mo Blackford… Thanks Dave for posting. My first real friend and great influence was Robin Heggie. He was a very cool chap, who introduced me to Paul McCartney among other people. He had engineered a couple of Paul’s albums and had previously played bass in The Hollywood Killers. Anyway. we formed my first band in the UK together. Initially called Red Shoes, we changed the name to The Stand (cerca ’82) and did loads of gigs around Hastings. The Stand also included Bernard Jeffrey (Hollywood Killers) on drums and Kevin O’Connor on vocals.  I’ve tried on a number of occasions to locate Robin. Maybe somebody knows something! It would be much appreciated. Cheers!

Alan Esdaile… Does anyone remember The Prisoners and know of the whereabouts of Robin Heggie? I did search but if he is the Robin that lived in Milton Keynes  then not good news. Can anyone help? Could do with some good news.

Mark Gilham… Sorry Alan. Not good news at all. Robin passed away a few years ago now. 🙁

Andy Knight… I didn’t know that, Robin and I played in Missing Persons together I know it is v late but RIP

Mike Mitchell… and whatever happened to Mick Bridgeland? Least I heard he had moved to Amersham…

Martin Richter… sad news about Robin – he was a lovely guy.

Dave Nattress… Sad to have it confirmed about Robin, but I must admit I was thinking the worst. He was a great guy and bass player, lreally looked the part and we all had a frantic and great time getting The Prisoners going. Also, of course, Andy Leaney. Andy and I had a great connection also, smiles on the face as I remember these 2 old friends our fun times going for it, the stupid band names that Andy particularly liked to come up with that we all rejected!! Great sadness and regret that they’ve gone – like so many more on the local scene, and nationally and internationally all connected through the music. So many people who were the bricks in the huge wall that was built up over so many years. Some of the bricks have crumbled away, but then, more are being added all the time.

Dawn Leaney… I’m Andy Leaneys wife. . How lovely to see this old photo of The Prisoners.  Andy enjoying his passion, and so nice he is remembered with fond memories by many. Thank you so much for sharing this. You musicians give so much pleasure to so many! 🙂 xxx

photo supplied by Kevin Burchett

Mo Blackford… Thanks Alan for your time and effort in trying to locate Robin. Obviously the confirmation of his passing comes as a bit of a shock. I’m wondering if anyone could throw a shred of light on the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise?

Dave Nattress… Brilliant, you found the Pete Breaks Out cutting. You know, going back we (or so many of us anyway), just did not record/photograph so many of our activities and it’s marvellous that you found this. It’s partly why this website is so very, very valuable to all of us, that stuff like this turns up that we’d lost, (or like I say not got a copy of ourselves), or just plain forgotten!!  These days as you well know everything, good, bad or indifferent can be recorded – I mean audio and visually, still or video etc. and everyone has the capability of so doing – smart-phones mainly I guess.  Back then, it was a BIT different!! The Prisoners: we were not a bad outfit, almost all our own songs and quite a few gigs around the area.  We didn’t get to make any criminal records as such, but I have some cassette recordings I must try and find – usually rehearsals, and OK, another gag, it’s not true, we were OK,  a tight unit, people said we should have been locked up making the sounds we did!!