hastings
Man Friday – New Broom early 80’s
photo by John Austin …. Dennis Wootton, Paul Austin, Roger Carey & John Wilde on drums.
card supplied by Roger Carey and photo when they formed in 1974 from Paul Austin
John Austin… Anyone Remember Man Friday ? aka Paul Austin, Roger Carey, Dennis Wootton, Think John Wilde was the drummer, use to play The New Broom, back in the day
Chris Baker…..Dennis Wootton! Now there’s a blast from the past!
Yvonne Cleland…..Will plays with him from time to time. He’s still about!
John Wilde… Not me folks.
Paul Austin… Dennis and me played guitar, John Wilde (not the one above) played drums and later on, Roger joined us playing bass guitar.
Peter Thomson… The New Broom, back in the day(!) was my local, and Graham Barrett’s. Don’t ever remember seeing a band in there but then we used to avoid it if we could…
Pete Millington… Roger Carey I remember “lusting” after that Gretsch Bass when I first saw it at St Helen’s Hospital Social Club – must have been about 1975/6.
Martin Richter… are they xmas jumpers or am I having a flashback ?
Barry French… Saw Man Friday several times, great band. Since Man Friday Paul went on to play in an early Slam lineup. Dennis has continued to play in many bands on a variety of instruments (Drums,Bass,Saxophone & Guitar). Den & I often bump into Paul & talk about the old days.
Barry French… I have recently had the sad news that vocalist/guitarist Paul Austin has recently passed away. During the 1970s Paul played with Man Friday & more recently he played guitar in an early Slam line up. Paul also performed solo singing & playing his guitar, he was also instrumental in organising some gigs at the Tivoli Pub along Battle Road, which consisted of six or seven of us getting together under the banner of “The band with no name” Paul was a great supporter of local music & was often down the Old Town cheering on the local talent. Always an unassuming Gentleman, Paul will be much missed .
Remembering Alan Jensen Disc Jockey Record Shop – by Tony May for Hastings Town Magazine
Remembering Alan Jensen (‘Big Al’ And The ‘DJ’).
In the early 1970’s a local businessman-Johnny Hodgson, owned a record shop in the Old Town of Hastings entitled ‘The Disc Jockey’. The shop was doing very well but Hodgson had other business interests (like the promotion of bands on Hastings Pier) and these were beginning to take up more and more of his time. Johnny decided to put an advert in the local paper for someone to help him run the shop. Alan Jensen (at this point working for Courts) applied for and got the job. Hodgson and his wife (who ran a hairdressers shop in the Old Town) were well known locally and Johnny had political ambitions. In 1972 those political ambitions became a reality when Johnny was duly elected as a Hastings Councillor. Seeing his chance, Alan Jensen offered to buy Johnny out of the shop. His offer was accepted and the pair went their separate ways.
A larger than life character and a born showman, Alan soon managed to make a success of ‘The DJ’ (as it became more commonly known) and swiftly set about moving premises to a more central position in Hastings at the bottom of Queens Rd. For a short time, the shop was renamed ‘The Disc Jockey +1’ but Jensen had another way in mind about how to stamp his personality upon the shop… the invention of ‘Big Al’ – a caricature ‘mascot’ of Jensen himself (the medallion around the ‘creatures’ neck featured the words ‘I Like Big Al’).
‘Big Al’ was a massive success and gave the shop a unique (and very memorable) image. ‘Big Al’ appeared in all the shops newspaper advertisements and on all of the shops printed bags. With his beautiful and glamorous wife Sue at his side, Alan swiftly established ‘The DJ’ as the most popular and trendy place to buy your records in Hastings. A chart of the DJ’s best selling singles and albums appeared weekly in The Hastings Observer and regular ‘competitions and give-aways’ ensured that another smiling picture of Alan (along with the latest winner/s) was frequently in print. In short, Alan Jensen was not just a flamboyant and confident character he was a fine businessman.
Then of course there was the shop’s staff. As conclusively proven by his wife Sue, Alan was definitely a man with an eye for the ladies and invariably the shop would have a bevy of beauties behind the counter. While in today’s day and age such a practice might be frowned upon, (like the similar period practice of offering ladies free entry to nightclubs) it certainly ensured that the DJ was frequented by most of the young male record buyers in the town… including me!
It is worth mentioning here also that in the 70’s and 80’s competition to The DJ was fierce and there was at least 8-10 places (not including second hand outlets) in Hastings town centre alone where you could buy records, tapes (and latterly cd’s)..
The Record Shop Hastings photo by Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland
photo: Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland
Matt Thomas… Can’t see George Benson
Danny Howells… Matt, my first thoughts too. Either he’s out of shot or this was taken pre-Benson. Oh yeah check the car, defo pre-Benson.
Matt Thomas… George Benson came from us over in Masons Music, one of our promo displays that Jack took a liking to lol
Alan Esdaile… We thought it was more for his customers than ours and I think it must have been in his window for over 10 years!
Nadia Compagnone… Worked in Sussex Stationers in Queens Road in 1977. Such lovely people who worked in the shops, and customers. Great times.
Paul Foster… Loved it
Jane Collins… Ah. The record shop. Memories!
Heidi Millett… Jack and Sonia London owned it
Jacky Mattelaer.. Heidi, my godparents
Andre Clifton… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yfSYkZCZBo
Laura Valentine… My mums godparents owned the shop. Remember them very fondly
Audrey Huggins… Remember them both lovely couple
Vince Ray… Wow, Sewing Centre is still next door
Caroline Gurden… My brother Steve loved this shop and made me order really obscure records as Christmas presents!
Kevin Carlyon… Remember it well.
Roger Simmonds… Remember it well !
Ian Cramp… Loved this place in the 70’s
John Mcewen… Bought my first record in there. Space Oddity.
Polly Okeefe-Brookes… Happy days.x
Alan Mitchell… Yes I remember this shop weIl good Albums. Also had A Doctor further up the road
Marilyn Haddock… Bought my first records there and we were allowed to listen to them before we bought them.
Freddie Starr White Rock Pavilion Hastings 1st May 1983
Barry Newton… I seem to remember going to this, great laugh
Dawn Leaney… I went to this , l was only 22 and had front row tickets. I spent the whole show hoping that he wouldnt pick me out for ridicule
Colin Bell… One of the funniest guys i ever worked with, it was impossible, he made me crack up multiple times every time i went to speak!
Jacquie Hinves… What a super nice man Freddie was. X
Peter Thomson… Saw him just a year or so earlier at Kings. One of the funniest shows ever.
Nick Tutt… I was at this one. Amazing bloke. Kept my head down when he looked my way. Current gf wore a bright pink leopard spot dress… he seemed to miss it thankfully lol
Matt Thomas… I remember working the bar at his performance at White Rock 89/90? He did two shows in one evening (both sell outs), both bars open and even the rarely opened spot bar that was situated inside the auditorium. A big performer who knew how to entertain.
Courtneys Discotheque Hastings opening 1981
Evie Rose… Love it.
The Breathers – Jim Bell’s photo & cutting collection 4
Supplied by Jim Bell
Haze 13th Jan and Sweet 20th Jan – Aquarius 1973
Haze photo supplied by Robert Searle
Ticket supplied by Diane Leigh, autograph is on the back of the ticket
Robert Searle… Back left is Robert Searle on bass, Les Harding guitar,Colin Rotheroe guitar. Front is Les Pennock vocals Bernie Marchant vocals and Dave Funnel drums. Bob, Les Harding and Colin Rotheroe backing vocals. Got my trusted Fender bass in my right hand. Hated those steps at the back of Aquarius where we bought the gear up but had a great night. We also did the Cobweb before the Aquarius opened. John booked us.
Robert Searle… Saw the Sweet at the Aquarius.Ive heard bad reports of the Sweet but that night , they were brilliant.Their playing was just as good as say Deep Purple ,their vocal harmonies were fantastic. That night at the Aquarius proved how good they were.A great rocking group with great vocals.
Alan Esdaile… I was at that Sweet gig and we were packed in like sardines. They were very good.
Leigh Wieland-Boys… I was there too, remember it like it was yesterday!
Robert Searle… A real great thumping backing ,great musicians.Vocals were fantastic with Andy Scotts high vocals were unbelievable, real professionals.
Chris Giles… I saw Sweet at the Aquarius …my friends dragged me along…. I wasn’t keen to see them… I was shocked they were brilliant one of the best acts I’ve seen.
Barry French… I was knocked out by Sweet at the Aquarius, I was expecting a pop band, & if my memory serves me correct I think they opened up with a WHO medley.
Matt Thomas… Too young but got sweets autographs
Ian McGilvray… Great Band. My favourite
Ronald Burgoyne… That must be when we saw them Mac
Ian McGilvray.. I think it was Ron. Great band with excellent harmonies.
Merv Kennard… that was a good night, so was the dlwp gig last December.