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Head On promotion leaflet supplied by Digger

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Supplied by Digger

Steve Kinch, Steve Demetris, Tony Qunta, Andy Qunta.

Andy Qunta… Ha ha! Those were the days! The pics were all taken in Alexandra Park, btw. FYI, here’s an exclusive – there’s a Head On album currently in the works! Better late than never!

John Wilde… Head On were special. A great line up.

Andy Qunta… John, Thanks! Big compliment from someone of your caliber!

Tony Qunta… Thank you John!

Kevin White… I remember seeing you guys in the late seventies in Hastings, you were a fantastic band and are great musicians. I look forward to hearing the album,will Laurie be the drummer?

Tony Qunta… Hi Kevin, Laurie wasn’t the original drummer. As well as Steve Demetris we had Mark Thirsk, who unfortunately also passed away some years ago at quite a young age. For the album we mostly have Roger Batting on drums and percussion, who I have played with a lot in various bands. There are also a couple of special guest drummers! (Spoiler alert! ).

Kevin White… thanks for the info, I like a bit of intrigue!! Look forward to hearing it

Steve Kinch… Always a good look, walking with folded arms Good times

Andy Qunta… & some of us with platform boots, big flares & giant mustaches!

Leigh Mitchell… Andy, spot on trend at the time

Jon McCallion… Remember it well, I printed the Head-On four-page leaflet for the band. I think I may well have some still now.

 

 

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!

Nutz – Hastings Pier 30th April 1977

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all cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey

Ticket supplied by Peter Houghton

Bizarre billing for the original support!

Sarah Harvey……Nutz first appearance on 30th April 1977 plus Stephen Turner’s preview of the gig. Also a quick return 3 months later on July 16th. Note the forthcoming gig with Head On and Steppin’ Out on the following Thursday.

Alan Esdaile… The lead singer Dave Lloyd was the voice of .. only the crumbliest flakiest chocolate ad.

Pete Prescott… Although I still lived in north Kent I visited Hastings that weekend and went to this gig.

Dave Weeks… Nutz. Yes I was one of the very few there. Good night though and good fun band.

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

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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.

Hastings College Dance – Head On, Hollywood Killers & Ritz – 22nd April 1978

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22nd april 1978 - head on

Andy Qunta…  I remember it well! Not really, but I’m sure it was a fun time! 3 good bands, in my humble opinion!

Bernard Goffredo… I do remember playing that one Pier gigs were always fun

Jim Penfold… Happy days! Where have all the good times gone!

 

Die Laughing, Head On, Plastix – Hastings Pier 16th February 1978

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ad – Sarah Harvey     ticket – Mick Mepham     Head On Andy Qunta, photo David Mmirb.

Phil Thornton….I remember this one ! the plastix had to play on the floor due to the stage being full of gear. They were excellent ! I had forgotten that DL were headlining !!! ( I think it may have been my last gig with them ?) Head On were great of course !!!

Alan Esdaile…..Bizarre to see Soul Fever 78 tour, as that was the tour I put together when I managed Delroy Williams. I can’t remember putting this on at the pier but think we change venue to Emmas(below Queens Hotel) as not enough tickets were sold.

Phil Thornton…..no no no ! not my last gig with Die Laughing ! but it was Mick Mephams first Hastings gig with them ! I must have been there to cheer him on !!!

Mick Mepham…..I think it might have been Phil as I think I joined in late ’77. That billing is a bit dicey though!! Head On were excellent and the Plastix weren’t too shaky either ….

Janine Anne Hemsley… ”Remember this night lol”

John Wilde…  I was there. It was a great night. Plastix won the night.

Phil Thornton… its official …. the Plastix stole the show !!

Peter Fairless… Plastix, a St Valentine’s attraction?

Mike Mitchell… That well known Welshman….Die Laughing

Phil Thornton… …. and no it was not the sex pistols in disguise !

Kev Carlyon… 80p to get in!

Head On – Tony Qunta & Mark Thirsk in action

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supplied by  Tony Qunta

Phil Gill…..Great pictures. Nice to see that Roland guitar again, Tone – and young Mark Thirsk.

Andy Qunta….Wow, now you’re talking! Tone, Mark & the Roland guitar synth! Great times!

Pete Fisher….wow!

Tony Qunta….Used to love all that guitar synth shennanigans!

Martyn mh… Played with Mark in his first band Hi way on bass in 1972 -4 fantastic guy.

Andy Qunta… Hi MARTYN MH, I think this might be a different Mark. The Mark that played in Head On would have been 15 and still living in Leeds in ‘72.

South Coast Ska Stars – Head On 1980

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Ray Fenwick, Pat Keane, Tony Bird, Andy Caine,Terry Pack,Kevin Hoad .

Michael Mepham….Good player Pat. Drums, bass, guitar – all good.

Tony Bird….the guy in the front is Andy Cunningham and I’m standing behind him, photo taken about 1981 at the manor barn Bexhill

Terry Pack…..Just read your comment about the wallet, Phil. I think I’m more concerned about the dodgy intentions of the John Lennon lokkalike behind me! Andy Caine is practising his Sting look. What does Fenwick look like?

Andy Knight… Really?

Terry Pack… I’m pretty sure that these tracks were recorded at Tony Bird’s studio in Ninfield on his 8 track, which I think was one inch tape, meaning that the sound was excellent, especially the bass end. I just listened to the track (for the first time since 1981). I’d forgotten how averse Ray was to variation and development. The only thing that changes during its 3 minutes is Wesley’s saxophone. The rest could have been programmed or copied and pasted from the first 12 bar sequence. I remember a different song on which I started in the middle register so that when I dropped down the octave later in the tune, it would sound heavier. Ray’s response was to ask me to overdub a second bass part down the octave from the top, thus losing the effect altogether.