stephen moran

Congratulations to Dr Stephen Moran on his PhD, on popular music histories of Hastings from 1960 to 1985

by

Stephen Moran… Dear SMART members. Last Friday I graduated with a doctorate in music after four years study at the London College of Music, University of West London. The title of my PhD is: ‘An examination into the popular music histories of Hastings from 1960 to 1985 and its influence upon cultural identity today’. Alan suggested I write a post here on the SMART page which I’m really pleased to do. The opportunity to meet Alan and attend meetings of SMART was such an important part of my research. Through SMART I was able to meet members of the Hastings, St Leonard’s, and Bexhill music communities, have some great conversations, and conduct a number of interviews. The https://ninebattles.com archive provided a wealth of information, and recordings of the Johnny Mason show on CHR also helped me with my research. I attended my first live music gig on Sunday 31 August 1969 at Hastings Pier Ballroom, and the band were The Foundations. It started a lifetime’s love seeing live music. I’d always known there was something very special about the music scene in Hastings, both past and present, and it was a privilege to be able to study it in depth. I’m taking a break from studying for a while but I hope I will be able to publish my research in the form of a book sometime in the future. Best wishes Dr Stephen Moran

Claire Finn… Congratulations x

Harry Randall… Congratulations and let us all know when the book is done!

Alan Esdaile… Congratulations again and well done.

Leigh Mitchell… Congratulations!

Paul Coleman… Congratulations on your epic studies & the final result. Bet ur book will prove interesting reading!

Chris Wood… Shut the front door…. Bloody well done mate

Hastings Pier – April 8th 1961 Love From A Stranger and Big Beat Night with Ted Crouch.

by

supplied by Stephen Moran

Can you help Stephen?

Stephen Moran… I’m currently doing research into the popular music history of Hastings from 1960-1985 and prior to the recent lockdown I was reading through old copies of the Hastings Observer at the British Library. In 1961 the Disc Jockey record shop used to present a ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Night’ on the Pier every Monday and Friday. I was wondering whether anyone went to these nights and whether it was a DJ night only or if any local bands played? I appreciate its a long time ago but I would be grateful for any information anyone might have.

John Gale… My dad use to get called upon occasionally to play drums for the Ted Crouch Band,, sadly he passed away in April, so I can’t ask him, I’ll ask mum, she might remember, mind you if he played that gig (although he called them band dates) I’d have been 2 months old. I think, as dad was part of the musicians union, he would get called upon when Ted was short of a drummer

Stephen Moran… Thank you John I really appreciate your help. The Ted Crouch Band were really popular during that time, they sometimes played several times a week on the Pier.

Stephanie Blackledge… My Dad played drums regularly for Ted Crouch (incidentally there was more than one Ted Crouch band – sometimes 3/4 on a busy weekend. Ted tried to make a brief appearance at all of them). Ted also played drums but Dad was better. He (Roland Dann) also played with Alec Bradley and Jeff Heitt. Ted was a regular visitor to our house. I was only 10 at the time. Get in touch with Ricky Norman – his memory will be better than mine!

Geoff Peckham… My dad played bass with the Ted Crouch Band during the 60s. Sadly, he’s not around to ask now, but I remember he played most Fridays and Saturdays with different bands, often on the Pier. He’d sometimes tell me about ‘beat combos’ on the same bill who were too loud and couldn’t tune their guitars properly. I think he was fed up that they were gradually getting more work than his dance bands.

John Gale… My dad would probably have known your Dad, Geoff. He certainly played drums with and for Ted, sadly he too is no longer with us.  My mum is, she might remember your dad…. I’ll try and remember to ask her.

Nicola Hiett… My dad Geoff Hiett played regularly for Ted. He led the Ted Crouch Memorial Dance. Dad played tenor and alto sax plus clarinet. So sad to say, he passed away recently age 95. I’m still heartbroken. Wish I had found this before he died. He would have loved this. All the names ….. I remember a few of them.

 

Music by the Sea: Hastings, Bexhill + more, 1960-85. A talk by PhD Musicologist Stephen Moran.

by

A chance to see this on You Tube, if you missed it…. 

Colin Bell… It was an excellent talk from Stephen & made for a very enjoyable evening

Alan Esdaile… I’m sure most people in SMART will find this really interesting. Well done again Stephen.

Music By The Sea – a talk by Stephen Moran. Wed 28th Sept 22 De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill at 6.30pm.

by

Join musicologist Stephen Moran for a nostalgic exploration of our region’s live music scene; the venues, artists, and traditions that shaped the identity of Hastings, Bexhill, and beyond from 1960-1985, and their resonance today. This relaxed event is held in the Café Bar, which shall be open for drinks. After the talk, DLWP Head of Live Programming Ed Frith will chair a short Q&A with Stephen, followed by music selected by Del Querns of Music’s Not Dead, inspired by the period featured in Stephen’s talk.
for tickets and more information go to   https://www.dlwp.com/event/music-by-the-sea/
Alan Esdaile… Looking good, well done Stephen.

Caramel Crem – Croft Road Hastings around 1967/1968 photo Gerald Killick

by

photo © Gerald Killick

Tony Killick, Paul Snook, Bernard Jeffries and Stephen Moran

Shared from an article in Hastings Town magazine Oct/Nov 2021 where Tony May interviews Gerald Killick about growing up in Hastings in the 1960’s and 70’s. Very interesting article with many photos.

Alan Esdaile… Looking at the photo, not sure if its Caramel Crem or could it be Caramel Crew. The articles lists it as Caramel Cream.

Stephen Moran… Thank you for sharing Alan, I look forward to reading Gerald’s article. As you know we became the ‘The Mysterons’ around 1968 and when Tony moved to Manchester, Bernie and I played a bit around Hastings as a duo, just for fun really. They were happy times.

 

Trying to get in contact with Stephen Turner

by

Stephen Moran… Hi everyone, as some of you may know I’m currently doing research into the popular music histories of Hastings and I was wondering if anyone is in contact with Stephen Turner? Steve was in my class at Hastings Grammar school in the sixties and early seventies and he was a journalist at the Hastings Observer during the mid-seventies where he wrote a regular column called ‘Group Scene’. I would really like to make contact with Steve if possible and I would be grateful if anyone can help me get in touch. Many thanks

Peter Thomson… Good luck with that Stephen. Just to confuse things, the Steve you are looking for was one of at least three Steve Turners that were in roughly the same age group and around Hastings at that time. One, then an active musician, is my brother in law but I’m afraid was never a journalist.

Mick O’Dowd… I remember him when I was promoting. Used to go and see him and he would print pics of groups I was putting on and give them write-ups. Nice bloke.

Stephen Moran… thanks Mick I have equally good memories of him from school and he really championed Hastings bands and knew a lot about them. I’m still hopeful that I’ll track him down.

Alan Esdaile… Likewise, what Mick says. Nice guy and always went out of his way to promote what was going on.

 

Mysterons – Hastings 1968

by

supplied by Bernard Goffredo

Bernard Goffredo… Thanks to Tony Killick for the photo, probably the first proper gig. I think it was the church hall at the top of Clifton Road. Stephen Moran singing and he also played piano, me (Bernard Jeffrey) on drums and Tony Killick on guitar on the right. The other guitarist is I think called Paul Snook but I might have got that wrong

Supplied by Stephen Moran

Stephen Moran… This is one of Bernard Jeffrey and I playing one of our church hall gigs I’m fairly sure this was about 1968. Tony moved to Manchester and the short-lived Mysterons were no more! We did have a couple of auditions for TV shows! Bernie and I played together as a duo just for fun really. We played a few times at the RAF club in Wellington Square or anywhere that had a piano! It was clear then that Bernie was a very talented drummer.