reunion

Sarah Harvey… How do you reserve a ticket on the facebook page?

Jacqueline Marsh… That’s where I use to sing as a 7 year old whilst my mum worked in the pub downstairs I use to get on the stage use the Mike and sing my heart out while the pub downstairs was listening but at first I didn’t know till they started clapping.

Geoff Peckham…. The Factory article in the Hastings Observer last week sparked a minor debate re the band’s appearance with the Sex Pistols. It was not, in fact, the Pistols’ first gig but probably their third. I’d left the band by this time so I’ll let Lol tell the story as recorded in his diary:

FACTORY were booked 2 support SASSAFRAS at Westfield College, NW London on Fri 21.11.1975, but when we arrived there that afternoon, we were told that we and SASSAFRAS had been pulled out by our management. They hadn’t told us this, but we said that as we were there, couldn’t we perform anyway? This they agreed 2, but they did warn us that another band called The SEX PISTOLS might turn up, but with a name like that, they didn’t think they would. The college understood it was 2 be their 1st gig and I think they said that they would be playing 4 nothing. The main band, NUBIUS and we had long finished sound-checking when in walked around 30 punks, dressed in the most peculiar clothes, with lots of safety pins, with the band’s equipment. ‘We’re using your PA,’ they said and Dave Garland, our sound man and roadie was so taken a-back that he said OK, something that had never been allowed in the past.

About 2 songs into their high energy set, their ‘sound man’ pushed our Dave out of the way, told him he didn’t know how 2 mix and he pushed all the sliders up full, so that everything fed back and he said ‘That’s how u do it.’ Most of the college audience had already left and gone 2 the bar, but their loyal fans, who had come with them, were thoroughly enjoying themselves po-going and spitting at each other and at the band on stage. Johnny Rotten just stood quite still in front of the drums, clinging 2 his mic stand and saying between each song ‘Have fun.’ I found them 2 be very exciting and I commented 2 Andy the old cliche that they were so bad that they’d probably be big one day. He disagreed. The following week, they had the front page of Sounds 2 themselves and the rest, as they say, is history. Lol.

Peter Fairless… All the sources I can find say 6th November was their fist gig.

Phil Thornton…I got my tickets for the show ! – is it upstairs ?

Geoff Peckham… Yes, Phil, it’s upstairs. Look forward to seeing you there. It’s been a long time!

Phil Thornton… excellent !! – so bringing in a hired PA ? – I remember your orange set up from the king and queen days ! – loved how tony mixed himself on stage !! – Ive never seen anybody else do that !!!!!

Geoff Peckham… I play with a band now who have a p.a. where each member of the band can control his/her own monitor mix with an app on their phone. Modern times, eh!

Dennis Wootton… Got my tickets. So looking forward to this. Watching you guys back in the 70’s inspired me to take up music. And I haven’t stopped since.

Tony Court-holmes… best of luck mates

Phil Thornton… yes ! – they had that system at the last festival I played at ! – but what Tony was doing back in the early 70’s was genius as it was dynamic and fully integrated in to the bands sound, and of course he knew where to turn it up better than a casual sound man would !

Allyson Breed… Jim tells me we will be there 🙂 what can I expect?

Jim Breed… Who is going to this?

Chris Meachen…. Will everyone have managed to grow their hair to authentic 1975 style in time for the gig? Or is it just me…?

Tony Davis… I will be there along with my good friends Alan and Paul and of course the world famous Iain Cobby. Looking forward to it.

Dave Nattress… Got tickets for my eldest Daughter Katie and me. Really looking forward to it! Very best wishes to all the guys in the band for a great gig and looking forward to the “live” album!!