hat trick

Head On plus Missing Persons – Queens Hotel 1st December 1979

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supplied by Mick Mepham and Pete Prescott

featuring Pete Prescott, Andy Qunta, Tony Qunta, Steve Kinch and Mark Thirsk.

Pete Prescott… I remember this gig. I was very nervous. They were amazing players. Nice guys as well.

Andy Qunta… I vaguely remember it too! Pete did a great job! Unfortunately I think it was the last gig we did. Couldn’t fight punk rock with prog rock! Fun while it lasted though!

Tony Qunta… I remember it too. A line up with great potential!

Ernest Ballard… Great band saw them a few times before I started playing drums (wink wink ). Long time ago now

Pete Prescott… We played a gig at a boutique in London. After the gig I got really drunk on punch (dangerous stuff). We got back to Hastings in time for me to go to work. The green cross code man was there. Huge guy. That was (I think) the last gig. Mark was an amazing drummer. Brilliant players. I felt out of my depth. I remember loving Tony’ s voice on “only you”. I’ve still got a tape of songs like “the burning of Atlanta” it was great being in the band with guys like that. And they were so funny.

Steve Kinch… Yes Pete, absolutely agree, Mark was a fabulous drummer with a great sense of humour.

Tony Qunta… Great memory Pete! Yes the green cross code man – was he in Star Wars or something? Thank you for your lovely comments about the band. Your vocals were fantastic with the band – it’s a shame the band didn’t keep going!  ‘Dinosaur Promotions’!

Steve Kinch… David Prowse – He was only Darth Vader!!!!  Great times! Hastings in the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s was the pefect environment for young musicians learning their craft. With hindsight, the late 70’s wasn’t exactly a good time to be attempting to get a “prog” band off the ground

Andy Qunta… True, Steve, but it was fun trying! Listening to the old tapes makes me feel it was well worth it! Pretty darn good stuff!

Hat Trick – Ore Centre Sept 1978

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Photo supplied by Roger Carey. Write up supplied by Sarah Harvey

Barry French, Dennis Wootton & Roger Carey . (and David Cash not in photo)

Andy Qunta….Saw them several times! Great stuff!

Sarah Harvey…..There is one member missing from this picture…I think it was Dave Cash and this is probably a picture of their last gig with this line-up (See article dated Sept 9th, 1978 attached)…..they did continue however although I have no idea who joined them! 😉

David Cash…. Hello David Cash here, 1978 member of Hat Trick till I moved to London to go to College. I’m a keyboard player and Music teacher now at Northbrook College (Worthing) and ICMP (London). Still bump into Roger Carey from time to time at Liane Carroll gigs.

Barry French… Very fond memories of my time with Hat Trick.
Den & I are are currently playing with SLAM, & we bump into Roger from time to time & reminisce about the old days. So pleased to hear that Dave Cash has done so well for himself (Great musician but he’s the only guy I know could get drunk on half a shandy) Perhaps sometime we will all get together & play a few tunes (Stranger things have happened).

Sarah Harvey… How lovely to hear from Barry again……I was gutted when he left Hat Trick. A wonderful person and always remember him playing in a band with Den’s brother Del. Can’t remember for the life of me what they were called. Help me someone! Remember them playing at St.Helens Youth Club on the Ridge and at The Regent.

Barry French… Hi Sarah good to hear from you too. The band that Denis & I were in was 1st Emotion. Together with Den’s Brother Clifford, we had a resident spot at the Regent Hotel (About 1972 ) Later my Sister Jenny joined the band & we played the Caravan site & club circuit for about 2 years. Den & Cliff left to form a rock band called Butch (Which I believe played the Pier & The Aquarius) while Jenny & I formed Amethyst with Paul Hugget & Will Powell ,we played the club circuit until the break up of the band in 1977.

Lucy Pappas… Den and Del! I was in a band with them! Lived on Chown’s Hill? We rehearsed in their garage, I think!

Sarah Harvey… I remember all of those band names and I always remember you playing Yellow River….just can’t remember which band that was, but its funny the things that stick in your mind. I think I always came to see you with Roger Carey or Kevin Potter. I have to say that Roger is coming on really well as a bass player 🙂 and haven’t seen Kevin Potter in over a decade.

Lucy Pappas… Sarah, we used to sing ‘Yellow River’ at St Helens Youth Club. Some T Rex, too, not sure what else. I loved being part of the band but did we even have a name?

Redstar Richter… who scored the goals?

Barry French… Hi Lucy I also remember those day’s rehearsing at Chowns Hill. We originally were going to call the band Typhoid but good taste prevailed & the name was changed to “Iron -Stone”.The line up was your good self, Diana Smith, Den, Cliff & Me. I think we did a couple of gigs at St Helen’s Youth Club, & yes I too remember Yellow River. (Magical times!!!) Really amazing to hear from you.

Lucy Pappas… Aw, Barry, I wish I could recall those days more clearly! We were called ‘Iron Stone’? Who knew? Where is everyone these days? Maybe we need a reunion gig? xx. I don’t think I have any pics of the band. Roger Carey gave me some of us with Phil Gill a while ago but I don’t think I have any of youth club days 🙁

Footloose and Hat Trick – Hastings Pier 15th April 1978.

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april 78?? from barry french

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cutting supplied by Barry French,  photo supplied by Roger Carey

Tim Moose Bruce… Footloose were great. Loved their versions of Foreigner and Boston songs.

Iain Cobby… nice bass Rog, but I can’t remember the gig? Thank you TMB we had a great time as Footloose. God bless Tony Bridger. Harry Randall (I was on 2 bands after you on Beatles Day for Mania’s last gig) and my old friend Brian Setchfield who I haven’t seen for over 20 years.

Dave Nattress… Hi Iain, Brian is alive and well and we often bump into each other and talk about old times – and music of course, whilst walking our dogs along Cooden sea-front.

Head On and Hat Trick – Hastings Pier 16th February 1979

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head-on-copy

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flyer supplied by Mick Mepham, poster supplied by Roger Carey, ad supplied by Sarah Harvey, photos by Chris Meachen, Hat Trick playlist Roger Carey.

Head On featured – Tony Qunta, Mark Thirsk, Steve Kinch and Andy Qunta and Hat Trick featured Barry French, Dave Shirley, Roger Carey and Dennis Wootton.

Andy Qunta….those pics do look like they could be from that gig! Can’t believe my moustache! That was a great night, as I recall! I especially like the travel arrangements at the bottom of The Hat Trick playlist.

Geoff Peckham… Thought that was the encore!

Steve Kinch….I can’t believe my hair!

Pete Prescott….you could pick up radio 4 on those haircuts.you didnt look like that when i was in the band.do you remember falling off the front of the stage at a gig andy ? when you told me the story i nealy wet myself ! over to you. . .

Sarah Harvey… One of those moments when I suddenly remembered playing in a gig! This time with Hat Trick supporting Head On! Doh! This is the set list for ‘Hat Trick’ when supporting ‘Head On’ at the Pier…. ‘The Rooter’ was a progressive rock song about derelict railway steam engines (Roger described it is an epic) …. would have appealed to Mr. Cooksie. Opening number ‘Maybe Now’.

Conan Howard… here’s to all you boys that never left Hastings in your lives.

Bands For Kelly event The Carlisle 23rd July 1986

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The Edge – photo supplied by Barry French

Neil Cartwright…  ‘Bands for Kelly’, event was to raise money for a young girl called Kelly who had a medical condition. The bands who played were: Hat Trick, The Havaiians , Electra Blitz, Sprayman and the Teenage Idols and The Edge. I have audio recordings of everybody.

Barry French… The event was organised to raise funds for a young girl called Kelly Smith who was very sick. Supported by family & my two great friends Dennis Wootton & Neil Cartwright we proceeded to get the wheels in motion to play a few tunes & raise some cash. As always in Hastings,other musicians kindly offered their services & Bands For Kelly was born. Roger Carey, Den & I also played a short impromptu Hat Trick set. It was a great evening for a lovely cause.

Ritz with Hat Trick and Samisen – Ore Centre 8th July 1978

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supplied by Roger Carey

 Sarah Harvey… My artwork….. on my birthday. I organised all of the Ore Festivals in the 1970s and created the posters during my lunch-hours at work. I was a design draughtsperson in Battle. Also played in Samisen on the night.

Alan Wood… Wow !!

Mike Mitchell… I went to that one. I was obviously very keen. 75p entry and I was only earning 50p an hour at Dickies Discount at the time.

Hat Trick – Maybe Now recording and history by Sarah Harvey

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Hat Trick featured Barry French, Dave Shirley, Roger Carey and Dennis Wootton.

Sarah Harvey… ‘Hat Trick’ when supporting ‘Head On’ at the Pier…. ‘The Rooter’ was a progressive rock song about derelict railway steam engines (Roger described it is an epic) …. would have appealed to Mr. Cooksie. Opening number ‘Maybe Now’.