mark thirsk

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!

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.

A Minute Passed & Prospect Place – 1982

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supplied by Roger Carey

Mark Thirsk drums, Tony Qunta guitar & vocals, Roger Carey bass & vocals.

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cutting supplied by Tony Qunta, photo supplied by Roger Carey

Roger Carey… (second photo) in London. A Minute Passed were a jazz rock group formed by Tony & Roger and Head On drummer Mark. Band ran from late 1980-1982

Phil Gill….Mark Thirsk, bless him. Proper nice guy.

Peter James Shaw….Mark Thirsk nice guy and a good cool player…I liked his style!!!

Andy Qunta….Great band, great musicians, great guys! A Minute Passed were frighteningly good! Unbelievable musicians, all of them!

Steve Kinch….Wot they said. All thoroughly nice geezers! Mark was a fabulous player.

Pete Prescott…yes a stunning player.

Carol Ann Bolton… (photo 2) You could wear that now and not notice it was from another decade, unlike the ’70s.

Phil Gill… (photo 2) Tone appears a trifle confused as to the tie/collar interface configuration.

Geoff Carter… Played with Mark in his first band up in Yorkshire before he moved down to London. Awesome guy. We all miss him.

 

 

A Minute Passed

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Ric Hool has asked if anyone remembers the band ‘A Minute Passed, as they were one of his favourite Hastings bands  featuring Tony Qunta, Roger Carey , Mark Thirsk. Anymore info or photos?

Andy  Qunta….Yes indeed! What an incredible band! More musicianship in that band than anyone has a right to! I have the cassette, and it still blows my mind! Those 3 guys! Phew!

Pete Fisher….guess I missed them…would love to hear some tracks!

Ric Hool….I’m very excited at the prospect of this group’s profile being raised. I have two cherished and much-listened cassettes by ‘A Minute Passed’. Musicianship aside, and I absolutely concur with Andy’s appraisal, this group stood their ground and THAT COUNTS.

Terry Pack….I heard them once at The Chatsworth. Mark was a fine drummer. He and Tone shared a house in Tulse Hill when I lived just up the road in Brixton, and Tone and I were playing together a lot. He damaged the tendons(?) in his wrists by practising too long and then playing. I think he had to stop playing. The last time I saw him, he was working in a shop which specialised in super hi-fi recordings of classical music.