The Breathers graffitti, in Minder TV series 1980 & Intake Tour dates

supplied by John Wilde

Could be The Marquee?

David Miller… He don’t minder the noise

The Breathers Intake Tour 1980

James Bell… sh#### that was intense!!!

Ric Hool… I recall most of the gigs vividly and for very different reasons. At The Green Tree, Bathgate the group turned up early to set up and sound check, our usual modus operandi, to be met by three beautiful women with trays of tea and fruit scones. That sort of welcome was not rare – it was absolutely unheard of ! The Breathers, as usual, were starving and got through several stacked trays of fare. The Green Tree, Bathgate was immediately earmarked, ‘must play again’. Sadly we never did. Elsewhere, Scotland took in The Breathers with open arms. People hosted us and gave us accommodation.
We were ‘strangers in a strange land’ but beautifully so, whilst the UK became hardened to the ‘dog eat dog’ climate of the Thatcher administration. For the night of the Herriot Watt Uni gig, we were put up by wonderful people who had every cupboard, and there were many, hung not with coats but huge bushes of drying cannabis. It was there I heard the Dire Straits’ lyric: ‘Rock away, rock away / From Cullercoats to Whitley Bay’. Raised in Cullercoats, I felt the full impact of location: being ‘of’ a place and coming ‘from’ that place. A lot further south, in Shrewsbury Music Hall, The Breathers played in an upstairs ballroom where the group and the audience shook the floor up and down. What a night ! We stayed in a beautiful loft at John Wilde’s mum’s house. The next day, returning to Hastings, the van engine seized…

Jeanette Wilde… Ric, brilliant piece thanks for sharing. Mum had loved putting you all up! Watched some awesome Breathers gigs.

John Wilde… What wonderful memories.

Osibisa – De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill – 1975

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supplied by Mick Mepham

Mick O’Dowd…….Brilliant band! Anybody got any pics/info on The Famous Rondini Brothers. They were so famous I can’t remember them!

Peter Pursglove……Did security for Osibisa at the De la warr ,excellent night but a sitting down concert just did’nt seem to work for me. We also did a gig for Paul Casson and Joe Devito up in Sussex or Kent with Curved Air they were really good.

Alan Esdaile…..That was Chatham Town Hall, Peter and you probably also did Baker Gurvitz Army at the same venue?

Peter Pursglove……One of the bands was either German or Dutch and they were good too.

Alan Esdaile….The dutch band your thinking of Pete, might have been Thijs van Leer, the guy that was in the band Focus? I remember seeing someone playing a hammond organ literally throwing it around the stage as he played it and panic set in a couple of times when it looked like it was going to roll into the audience.

Julie Morris… Even mentions Supertramp – one of my favourite shops. Talk about blast from the past! Think it was in Robertson Street.

Alan Esdaile… Well remember Julie. Yes it was in Robertson Street, a few doors along from what was Hall’s the shoe shop

David Ramsey… I remember playing for The Famous Rondini Brothers at The Marquee, I was asked to stand in last minute as they had misplaced their drummer !!!!!!! We supported some fusion rock outfit from Italy that was the band The Musical Express was raving about at that time, was a great evening and rounded off with being introduced to John Coghlan the original drummer with Status Quo by Jackie Lynton. Sit down gig that night, but the Rons went down so well with the audience that everybody was on their feet giving it large. 
Fond memory xxx

Marquee – London – Poster with chat on Gerry Lockran & Johnny Silvo, Tony Rivers, Gary Farr & the TBones

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supplied by Mick O’Dowd

Mick O’Dowd… This is the sort of line-up we had at the Pier and Witchdoctor one time. Oh those were the days my friend we thought they’d never end! Whoops! burst into song then. Must be the age thing.

Paul Dengate…Gerry Lockran and Johnny Silvo both played at the Black Horse Folk Club a number of times.

Joe Knight… Use to go there in 67 also up stairs down stairs i great clubs

David Kent… Gary Farr was a very fine singer and was the son of boxer Tommy Farr. GF’s “In the mud” is an old favourite of mine and I first heard it on a compilation which was called “Rock Buster”. “In the mud” featured Richard Thompson on guitar. I saw Johnny Silvo several times at The Black Horse, he was great fun.

Mick Knights… Tony rivers played the witch doctor quite a few times, they did very good beach boys covers including, I seem to remember, good vibrations.

Andre Martin… Tony Rivers was a class act, and he is still playing today and pulling the crowds.Here is one of my all time favourites of his, Another great person to work with.http://youtu.be/LxEWvxQGiXU – watch out for next weekends blog of Bands that we’ve seen on the Pier – its Saturday 31st October 1964 in the Happy Ballroom.

Alex Chapman… Not Hastings I know! This is a Group that I started some time ago in memory of Cliff Aungier a very close friend of mine who sadly died before I moved here. He and Gerry Lockran were close friends until Gerry’s death. I have neglected to update the group, much to my shame but there are some great photos on there which some of you may enjoy seeing?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=132671293426589&set=o.127886773898196&type=3&theater

Philip John… Saw Gary Farr and The T Bones at The Marquee with Keith Emerson on organ. Even back then Emerson was beating the living daylights out of it. Exciting show.

Mick O’Dowd… I agree Dave. My fave track was( Won’t You Give Him) One More Chance on Columbia if I remember rightly

Andre Martin… From 1965 – great number that used to be played at the Witch Doctor a lot –http://youtu.be/JeRxsW94Yeo

Mick O’Dowd… Thanx Andre Palfrey-martin. Got their cd with this on. Been in touch with Tony Rivers through his page and he confirmed my memory that Tony Rivers & The Castaways did perform Good Vibrations live on stage long before the Beach Boys attempted it. Just goes to show what a talented outfit they were and as you say they are still performing today.

Andre Martin… Yes Gary Farr was one of those great records. brings back lot of memories for me.

David Kent… Thanks Mick, I’ll check that song out.