johnny mason

Medicine Head and Factory – Hastings Pier 12th March 1976

by

medicine-head-ticket-2

medicine head

medicine head 12th march 1976

10175979_841731249305667_2443136498213052874_n

ticket supplied by Mick Mepham,          review supplied by Sarah Harvey.

Tony May… A personal appeal here for some help from you all. I am looking for pictures of the band Medicine Head which appeared in the local newspapers from their Hastings pier gigs during the 1970’s. One particular picture is said to include my friend, Simon Griffiths (otherwise known to a lot of you as Karl) who was a bouncer on the pier for a short time in the background. I do not have many pictures of Simon (only those from the Bexhill Observer of 1977) so would really appreciate any of him from any time period. If anyone here can help I would be very grateful.

Andy Qunta… Wow! 40 years to the day! I don’t really remember this gig, but I’m sure I wasn’t thinking that 40 years from now, Factory will be about to release their first album!

Steve Kinch… I don’t recall ever playing with Medicine Head… then again, I don’t remember what I had for breakfast.

Peter Fairless…. As well as the 12th March 1977 they played in September ’74, too. What a great band!

Jim Munday… Yes, but not very good at sums… 

Chris Meachen… Nice blokes, one of the very few acts that bought us a drink for dragging their gear on…

Gerry  Fortsch… That was a bloody long haul to get your gear on the pier, I remember it well.

Chris Giles… Medicine Head great group …enjoyed watching them and their music brilliant …had forgotten I’d gone and seen them

Stallion – introducing the band 1974 & Stallion poster 6th November 1973.

by

supplied by Mick Mepham

1376539_10151715292208511_674483190_n

supplied by Phil Thornton

Alan Esdaile… Great find Phil.  Stringer Jones, was a duo with Martin Stringer and Malcolm Jones.

Martyn Baker… Malcolm Jones was the other half of Stringer-Jones with Martin Stringer in Hastings (1975-6). I kind of re-met Malcolm again when we both worked for Capital Radio in the 80’s. Martin now lives in the west of Ireland. Both top geezers.

Harry Randall… RIP Vic/Tony and Steve gone to young! Sadly missed I’m sure by all who new them!

Leigh Wieland-Boys… My that takes me back. Fond memories of Steve D, rest in peace dear friend.

Martin Stringer… Crikey.

Phil Thornton… wow ! Great pic. Don’t think I’ve seen the one above before. SSV&T !!!

Linda McDuffie… Cottage! Blast from the past!

 

Die Laughing, Johnny Mason – Speakeasy Club Hastings 1970’s

by

295644_10151368368363710_2088117910_n

supplied by Mick Mepham

photos supplied by Clive Richardson

Yvonne Cleland….Nice shirt, Mick.

Ken Copsey…Great picture. What year is this? I think Mick is playing the AC30 I later bought off him and used in the Teenbeats.

img509

Andre Martin talking on the whereabouts of The Speakeasy….Back in the 1970s, if you walked on the pavement side from White Rock Pavilion going west, you would have passed the old Veruum Building, information centre/students centre – built in the 1930s in the same style as the WRP. The temporary car park was on the site of the Grand Hotel, that was demolished in1965 – to clear up the site because the Queen would be coming down in 1966. Next to this was Beachcomber Café and then a few doors further The Saraceno Italian Restaurant – where we took GG after his Carnival Show in the Park – Paul and I often used this for meals, next door was the Casablanca Club.

Peter Pursglove…..I worked at the other Speakeasy in Kings Road Alan, and Tramps Disco under the Malborough Hotel,both were packed with students during the summer.

Mick Mepham….. I used to wash dishes in the Saraceno Andre! Next door to that was the Lido, used to go in there quite a bit too…. We (Die Laughing) had some great gigs in the Speakeasy and I’ve still got some pix somewhere …..

Martin Richter… speakeasy – those were the days ! joe (wossisname?)

Wooden Lion and Storm Crow – Hastings Pier 31st August 1974.

by

img657

Chris Meachen… Don’t remember wooden lion, but I paid a visit to stormcrow’s lady vocalist in bromley before heading to an ELP gig..

Peter Fairless… Was that disco any good?

Alan Esdaile… Probably wooden like the band Pete.

Peter Fairless… Did you keep set lists?

Alan Esdaile… The only thing I would have definitely played at the start of every Rock gig, would have been In A Gadda Da Vida by Iron Butterfly. Always went down well and guaranteed to get people asking what it was and I know The Disc Jockey and Stylus used to sell loads of it.

Reg Wood… Blimey Alan weren’t we still at school when that came out!

Roy Penfold… Would that have been the full 17 minute version?

Alan Esdaile… I’m pretty sure I first heard In A Gadda Da Vida down the Hi Fi Club, High Street, mind you trying to work out the dates I was probably only 14 when I started going down the HiFI. Mum & Dad just going round a friends house to do my homework! Yes Roy, the full album track to start. Mind you most people popped in, asked what time the support are on, do I know if they are any good and then made their way to the bar.

Shaun Pont… Wooden Lion here http://www.woodenlion.com/woodenlion.php

Clive Richardson… I remember the unusual start to Wooden Lion’s set with the vocalist behind a psychedelic piece of Perspex and the synth guy vcs3 synth, wearing flying goggles, it was a really interesting set. Another band that deserved more success. I seem to recall one of the band had played in Hawkwind at some point . I saw this band 3 times including Watchfield free festival -1975 I think.

Matt Thomas… Sorry I couldn’t make it, I was only 5

Pete Houghton… Yes Wooden Lion put on a good show

Sparks & Pilot – Hastings Pier 23rd Nov 1974

by

1724251_411698208975642_1225925852_n-300x241

317422_10150361300164287_1755674452_n

sparks

sparks_-_toppop_1974_07

ad supplied by Sarah Harvey. Group photo: Sparks in AVRO’s TopPop (Dutch television show) in 1974. Source: Beeld En Geluid Wiki – Gallerie: Toppop 1974

sparks-bombscare-alert

Chris Meachen….The older brother in Sparks was just SO weird…. (In real life too, not just an act..) All I can say of Sparks is the taller one was the weirdest & most unresponsive individual I ever encountered backstage on the pier.. He just stared, without speaking,with a look that suggested you were something he just stepped in… Even backstage he maintained the emotionless, slightly manic stare that I’d imagined was just his public persona.. very creepy guy…

Alan Esdaile….Yes agree agree agree, one of the weirdest guys I ever met. The other brother was fine and had a good chat but when his brother appeared I spoke to him and all I got for a reply was an icy stare and his head moving from side to side, the same as he appeared on Top Of The Pops. Well creepy!

Mick O’Dowd….Biggest egotists going. Bomb scare half way through Pilots act(they were actually higher in the charts that week than Sparks) wouldn’t come back to Pier. Had to keep audience amused until they did. Very scary! Pilot were brilliant that night. After the bomb scare cleared the Pier Pilot insisted on finishing their set when play resumed,It gave time to coax the dynamic duo back from their hotel where they had been since the bomb scare was first announced.

Bernard Jeffery….I went to this gig I thought sparks were very ordinary, the support band was Pilot I think, they had a hit with January and were the better band. Magic! that was the single January was later

Read more

Gypsy & Dragonmilk – Hastings Pier 11th October 1974

by

28233_386890854286_855883_n-2

Clive Richardson… Gypsy were excellent. Really good sound. They had no roadies, no manager at the time and did the sound themselves. Paul Casson was very impressed and was interested in managing them.

Peter Thomson… Sure I was at that one but don’t remember the support act, unfortunately.

Tramps Disco Club Warrior Square. 1976/1977

by

img629

img631

img635

img633

img634

img632

img630

Pete Fairless…..I’m in shock! These belong in the museum, anyway. What a great bit of social history. Not one over eighteen, I’ll bet!

Joe Knight…..looking good Alan!!!!

Eve Neuke….How many nights did I spend there as a foreign 16-year-old student!

Jim Breeds….Whatever happened to Go-Go girls? 🙁 Gosh, Tramps. I didn’t go there very often but that’s another memory bank nudged.

Mick O’Dowd….They went! Always remember you playing Van McCoy’s The Hustle and I have never heard it sound better than at Tramps!

Jeanette Jones……Great memories:)

Peter Pursglove…..That was my last Venue with Paul Casson RIP , we used to pack them in there

10392335_10203201071565647_51069494663183967_n

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin…..Just look what you could get for 40p – great value eh Alan ! from Hastings Observer Autumn 1977

Dawn Leaney… Loved Tramps! The 2 girls nearest the camera in the photo in the middle are Karen and Lynn and they were in my class at school at the time this was taken! We were about 15/ 16 ! 🙂 good times!

Read more

Easy Street – Hastings Pier 24th May 1974

by

easy street

It should read Easy Street!

Robert Searle… I’ve got to admit,I dont remember doing that gig.As you know I was bass guitarist in Easy Street with Dave Easton on lead vocals. I remember supporting The Glitter Band with Easy Street .Great night that was. I think we were booked to cover for somebody else, that’s why I haven’t seen any notices for that show.

Alan Esdaile… I’m thinking it could have been the 4th June 1976 gig, Bob????