queens hotel

Prom In Aid – Jazz Caverners, Morgan Le Fey, The Jukes, Mars. Queens Hotel 31st May 1986

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Supplied by Mick Mepham

Phil Gill….My first gig with The Jukes. Andy Knight and I had a splendid time wandering around the place with a pair of walkie-talkies we commandeered from someone official looking and winding people up. Ian Dobson introduced The Jukes by name and said “On bass, Phil Gill. It’s not true when people say he’s not fit to live with pigs, because he is.” Great line! Also remember being hugely impressed with Michael Mepham’s band Mars, especially a song called Lorelei – they had a real big time buzz about them, well rehearsed and confident, and it showed from the first song. I still have the Prom-in Aid T-shirt and a poster. Lovely day.

Alan Esdaile… Mick, was Mars the band I saw at your special launch night in Eastbourne?

Joe Knight… sounds like you all have had some great fun in the past , thanks you two are like a library of Hasting bands

Tim Moose Bruce… Went to this one. Mars were great.

Better Days – Prom-in-aid gig – Queens Hotel Hastings 1986

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supplied by Mick Mepham

Gary Blakely, George Copeland or Andy Griffin?, Joe MacIllvenney, Paul Warren, Paul Dengate and Steve Cooke

Dave Kent….the bass player has been identified as George Copeland. I think it’s actually Andy Griffin who also probably played with Flat Battery & The Jump Leads. Anyone confirm this?

Mick Mepham…..I should think Paul Dengate would be able to say for sure.

Steve Cooke…..Quite right Dave, it is Andy Griffin. I must say that the fiddler on the right appears to have the least dress sense out of all of them.

Yvonne Cleland….I  remember the fiddler on the right from junior school………

Lazybones Disco 1976 and Police Ball.

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Anyone remember Lazybones?

Peter Fairless… Which one was that, under the Queens?

Jim Breeds… That rings a distant bell … was it under Queens Hotel?

Alan Esdaile… Yes Pete and Jim, trying to remember the chain of different names, was it The Flying Machine at one time? Bonitas, Emmas etc.

Chris Giles… Bonitas I remember chicken and chips on a Sunday Eve

Alan Esdaile… Thanks Chris! You just reminded me of the smell and the greasy taste. I feel sick!

Jane Hartley… Bonitas, Lazybones, Queen of Clubs, JRs.

Virginia Davis… That brings back memories

Andy Qunta… Yes indeed!

Jim Breeds…  Bonitas I could have volunteered as a name but Lazybones had gone from the memory until now!  Gosh yes. Chicken in the basket wasn’t it? And Scampi too, probably!  lol.

Chris Giles… Yep it was in a basket.

Jon McCallion… We played at bonitas after recording fooling around the same night I think.

Mick O’Dowd… Don’t forget cockroaches in a basket at Bonitas.

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Spyke – Queens Hotel Hastings – 10th April 1971

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supplied by Peter Millington. https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

Chris Sayer, Ian Williams, Terry Chedzoy,  Peter Millington.

Pete Millington… The fourth line-up of SPYKE playing at the Queens Hotel 10th April 1971 – Looks like we’ve just been told “Trust me lads – the cheque’s in the post”

Chris Baker… I thought I was the only one with a daft haircut in those days! 😁

Pete Millington… We all had ’em along with everyone else!

Yvonne Cleland… Ah still miss Chris. x

Tony Court-holmes… who remembers the band called the Town Council?

John Busbridge… I always remember Chris singing “Lady came from Baltimore”!

Ricky Norman Sound – 1970’s.

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supplied by Len Smith Eastbourne Bands From 1960 on.

Ricky Long… First picture 1976 at Moor Hall Hotel. L–R Norman Bennett, Ricky Long, Roland Dann, Marcy Scott. Second picture I think early 70’s Winter Gardens. Same 3 guys with Jillian Wheeler.

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Queens Hotel Hastings 17th May 1974.

Janine Anne Scott… Omg, I worked with Ricky too.

Andy Knight… By coincidence I am trying to track down Chris Dann, Roland Dann’s son who played bass with me around 1968/69, we did a gig in Battle Road, St Leonards I recall for the Youth Choir, with a guitarist whose name I can’t remember (Gary rings a bell though), if anyone knows the whereabouts of Chris or Gary that would be good. Tx

Christopher Dann… Hi Andy,  just saw this post so apologies for the late reply.  I do remember the gig in Battle road for the youth choir. The guitarist’s name was Gary Trent and he played a Gibson. He was in my class at the Grove.  I seem to remember that we only knew a couple of songs  !!

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!