supplied by Mick O’Dowd
Mick O’Dowd… This is the Reception for Beez Neez in 1977 with one of the first line-ups containing the late Andy Leaney and Barry Upton. Lead singer Geoff Stevens and girls Julie Harris & Mandy Etherington.
Julie Findlay-Jones… hahaha car park 10p
photos by Marie-Louise. supplied by Colin Norton
Colin Norton… I lived in Switzerland between 1975 and 1996… On one of my trips back to the UK in June of 1979 I met up with a bunch of old mates in a Pub. After a little ‘liquid refreshment’ we decided that it might be fun to put together an instant band and play a couple of gigs. We found a willing venue (The Adur Pub in Portslade) and the next weekend we played two gigs playing mainly rock’n’roll stuff that we all knew (Just as well because we didn’t have time to rehearse). Anyway, here are a couple of photos from that event. The line-up was: Colin Jenner – Vocals/Guitar, Ken White – Vocals/Piano, Tony Langford – Bass/Vocals, Steve Denyer – Lead Guitar, Colin Norton – Drums. On a sad note … I am the last surviving member of this line-up which was known as The Valiants for the gigs on June 15th and 16th. They were all dear friends and I miss them.
Patricia Maslin… you speak of Tony Langford on bass. Is that the same Tony Langford who was in The Black and Tan Group. I’m asking on behalf of his son as Tony (his dad) has now passed away, and I wondered if the photos you posted were of him with the beard. It would be nice to show Chris (his son) if it was the same Tony Langford.
Colin Norton… Yes, it is most certainly the same Tony Langford that was in the Black and Tan. In fact, I met Chris Langford in September so I am pretty sure that he knows about these photos.
supplied by Bob Shipway
Bob Shipway… As it’s Tony’s birthday, what better time than to share our ‘walkerprints’ poster of the relatively short-lived band called Tarquin (after Tony’s horse what else!) The photo was taken early-ish on a Sunday morning with all of us the worse for wear from our gig the night before. After the photos were taken we adjourned to the pub where Andy and I met two young women one of which, in due course, became my first wife! Good days – good times!
Graham Burfield… I remember that picture from when I worked in his shop think it was on the wall somewhere
Mike Waghorne… Is that the Bob Shipway that I was at Hastings College with in the late 60’s/ early 70’s doing electrical engineering course ?
Bob Shipway… Hi Mike, I suppose like a lot of us inwardly I feel no different from the time we were at college but outwardly I’ve been raced and rallied a tad too much! Life is good up in sunny Scotland 
Hope you’re keeping well.
Alan Esdaile… Tony Bird, Andy Knight, Tarquin, Paul Dove and Bob Shipway.
Pete Prescott… Great photo. I like Andy’s tash. Very Robert Redford !
Terry Pack… Tempted to ask ‘Why the long face?’ but I’ll resist the urge. I think I once ‘rode’ Tarquin as far as The United Friends one Sunday morning. I was terrified. My one and only time on horseback.
Andy Knight (drums), Jim Beadle (bass), Bob Shipway (guitar), Colin Pierce (guitar), Dave Shaw (vocal), Ross Holter (mixing).
Harry Randall… Jim use to play bass in met band in 67-68 “The Lloyd Milligan Sound” an 8 piece soul band who basically went pro to Keel but got fiddled (didn’t wait for contract)
Judith Monk… Loved the ‘Grey’ used to play bar billiards there.
Tony Court-holmes… used to be good for a fight I remember but still some good bands played there
Jan Warren… Yeah, used to go to The Yorkshire Grey quite a lot in the early 70s, saw all the local bands!
Barry French… Grundy still going strong!! Saw them playing at the Queens Head Icklesham a week prior to the “shut down” As always a really good entertaining set.
Any flyers or posters on these bands?
The Beat Syndicate.. supplied by John Maskell
John Maskell… I was a vocalist for a support group on Hastings pier on the 19th September 1964. The group was called Group 004 + 1. I appeared with another group called The Beat Syndicate later that year or early in 1965 supporting Verne Rogers and the Rebounds.
Are there any archives that you know of that have flyers/posters or other details of the time. I am trying to trace my time in the bands, but not having much luck. I am attaching a photo of the group which was taken after we won a beat competition at Coronation Gardens Leytonstone London, which was where we were based.The good looking one is yours truly at the back, left to right is Tony the Drummer, Jim the Rhythm Guitarist, John the Bass player and Mick the Lead Guitarist.
Group 004 + 1 or Johnny and the Bobcats as they were previously known, also appeared at the West Cliffe Ballroom Ramsgate on occasions to raise money for the Football Club. We supported acts like Duffy Power and Deke Arlon and the Offbeats to mention a couple. I am sure you are aware that Deke Arlon went on to become a successful manager, Shena Easton being one of his big stars.
Andre Martin… Here is the Newspaper advert from 19 September, that shows the Beat Syndicate as supporting. Will see what else I can find out for you.
Andre Palfrey-martin collection
John Maskell… I was very pleased to receive the West Cliff poster from Nick Warburton. This poster shows both groups that I sang with. At the time I didn’t realise that The Beat Syndicate were backing Duffy Power, We had been on a supporting list some time before on Hastings pier The Beat Syndicate. The Headline Group at that time was Verne Rogers & The Rebounds. Around three months after the West Cliff gig I joined The Beat Syndicate as lead singer. Regrettably, I have to announce that Jim Newton Rhythm Guitarist for The Beat Syndicate passed away in September 2018.
supplied by Robert Wren
Alan Esdaile… Anyone tell us anymore about The Birds? The American band was spelt ‘The Byrds’ but I think it could be this version…..
John Storer….The bassist in this clip is Kim Gardner who was the “Gardner” in Ashton Gardner & Dyke who had a hit around 1970 with “The Resurrection Shuffle” Groovy clip, by the way ….
Robert Wren….Ronnie Wood.
Andre Martin…..This is the British BIRDS and this is 1966, there was some confusion at the time about the 2 groups.They came from West London, and Ronnie Wood was in the original line up – here is potted history – The Birds were a popular rhythm and blues band in the United Kingdom during the mid-1960s, although they recorded fewer than a dozen songs and released only four singles. Starting out with a hard R&B sound, they later began infusing it with Motown-style vocal harmonies he best known former member of The Birds is Ronnie Wood, who went on to join the Jeff Beck Group, Faces and later The Rolling Stones.
Will Cornell…..Your Birds (w. Ron Wood) predated our Byrds by a little I think, and that’s why McGuinn used a “y”–that and he didn’t want UK audiences to think they were chicks.
Eric Cawthraw… just catching up on some of my SMART site reading and noticed the Witch Doctor posting for this. Well at the moment I’m reading ‘Rock On Wood’, about Ronnie Wood obviously. A damn good read it is too. There is a lot in the book about the British 60s R&B band the Birds – I see they are also on the same add. This explains the item on the bottom left of the book’s inner sleeve cover that says “Don’t blame me, I was at The Witch Doctor”. See for yourself! I believe there was a right old whoo-ha over the name when the American Byrds came to tour. I believe our Birds were highly respected on London circuit in the mid-sixties. I’m too young to know! [Delusional again]. Anybody got some more music reading to recommend?
supplied by Eric Cawthraw
supplied by Steve Fitz
Roy Brooks, Steve Fitz, Dave Hill, Ron Reyles and Phillip Earle.
supplied by Steve Fitz
featuring Adam Elliott, Jenny Elliott, Roger Messier, Pete Lockhart, Phillip Earle, Steve Fitz
can someone confirm the names and date and also John’s surname?
Earl Grey… Pete Lockhart on Bass. Around 2000/2001
Rick Baldwin… Steve, you don’t look any different !!!!
Tim Moose Bruce… Was in a couple of bands with Jenny. And Adam did a stint on lead guitar with Steel Dawn when I was in the band.
supplied by John Williams
John Williams… Derick Macey on drums, Patrick Green bass, John Cheese rhythm, John Williams vocals and a bloke called lead Reg ?can’t remember last name.
Tim Moose Bruce… Think this was 87. I was there and Jon lent me his spare guitar and got me up with you guys for a couple of songs. Great times. I remember the gigs at the Bulverhythe pub, PLC, the Jez Gillet band, and the band I was in , the Blind Bats.
