Johnny Mars Band – Chatsworth Hotel Hastings 2nd Feb 1982 and Terry Pack’s memories of touring.

img092

supplied by Pete Prescott

Pete Shaw… Peter “Shore”….Just because I live by the sea….!

Phil  Thornton….another great band !!

Yvonne Cleland….I seem to remember Johnny Mars playing a lot in Cherries too.

Pete Shaw….Great gigs at Mr Cherries…packed house, Chris Cozens on keys and sometimes trumpet, Ray Fenwick, Terry the Pack, Johnny and moi on drums…we enjoyed it and had a blast…usually it was during a “South Coast “weekend…Six Bells Chiddingly, Mr Cherries and back to Chiddingly Sunday……!!

Promotional video from 2012

Pete Prescott… I remember singing a song of his on the forcefield album called “fire in the city” he used a word in the song that doesnt exist (hellness) it still made sense.great player.nice guy.built like a brick s*@t house !

Terry Pack… Johnny has a talent for inventing new words! We recorded several different versions of Sonny Boy Williamson’s ‘Don’t Start Me Talking’ (album, TV, radio, etc) and he never sang the same thing twice in one of the verses. I once asked him what he was singing, and in typical Johnny Mars style, he said, ‘I don’t know. I listened to Sonny Boy a hundred times, and I still don’t know what the hell(ness) he was singing!”

Read more

Paul Farnborough Tribute – Chatsworth Hastings 11th September 1990

supplied by Pete Prescott

Peter Shaw….At the beginning, Paul took a risk using the Tuesday night slot in deference to his fathers wishes…when his dad saw the £1000 takings early on the following Wednesday morning, Tuesdays at the Chatsworth became a regular slot and for Jim Jim and The Jims a fun residency…..this particular night was an emotional journey for all including Paul’s beautiful wife and all staff…..I was delighted to be involved playing for both Johnny Mars and of course, the Jims. RIP PF.

Pete Prescott….sweet guy, didnt know him that well.when my first daughter was born he came out at the chats with a bottle of champs.very nice thought. I remember this night well. Sadly Ray wasn’t there so we had a short set. But it was a good turnout for Paul. Nice guy !

Phil Gill….Have that poster on my dining room wall – great night, top bloke. Paul made Tuesday nights a lot of fun.

Wesley Magoogan….Paul was a real gentleman.

Johnny Mars….Hi, the good old days!!

Terry Pack talking about memories at Mr Cherrys….I nominate Chris Cozens’ one and only trumpet solo on ‘Jealous Woman’ at Mr Cherries!

Kevin Burchett… he was a great guy and he was a regular at Scalliwags and a friend of Derek Reades so had a complimentary entrance everytime he came

Johnny Mars Band – recording the album ‘ Life On Mars’

10441462_10203959496410448_1127392446989805638_n

supplied by Colin Fox

Terry Pack……Colin. You’re a star! Got any more from this session? That’s Nick Magnus on Hammond. I recommended him to Ray. John Acock engineered: he, Ray, Les Binks and I had just returned from Nice, where we recorded an album with Dick Rivers (Deek Rivairs) in Mick Jagger’s old house, which I coveted. Pete Shaw was on drums, Bimbo Acock played saxes and Steve Sidwell played trumpet. It was live in the studio with a couple of overdubs: vocals and horns, (hence the title) and mostly first and second takes. Recorded at Eddie Hardin’s place in Ascot, where we also recorded with Sam Fox (Zack Starkey played drums on that session). “Life On Mars” serves to exemplify Ray’s song writing technique, which is commonly employed in the rock/blues genre. This is to take a common or garden phrase (often something Johnny said that caught his fancy), write a series of loosely connected (or unconnected) rhyming couplets and attach these to a chord sequence from a well-known or little-known song. Compose a ‘melody’ based on a minor pentatonic lick and let the singer improvise on it. Famous examples of this are most )if not all) lyrics by John Wetton, David Coverdale, John Bon Jovi and most of the output of The Eagles.

Colin Fox……Terry, I only have another photo of Peter and another of Johnny in the studio. I keep looking for old photos that I believe I have, they´re tucked away all over the place. I know there is one of Pete Prescot somewhere doing his dance routine with the Harry R girls. Just been watching a short video on youtube with Johnny Mars, Terry Pack and Enrico Pinna who´s a bit good on guitar, oh and so are you Terry.