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‘Group Scene’ talking about John Martyn’s forthcoming gig at The Carlisle 9th January 1976 and review.

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supplied by Sarah Harvey

Alan Esdaile… Remember going to this one.

Tony Court-holmes… he used to play and drink in the Nelson, i used to serve when i was behind the bar back in the 70s

Chris Sambrook… From what i can remember, John Martyn became very annoyed with people talking during his performance.,quite rightly so. Did Pendragon play support.? or did they play another night.

Paul Sleet… I remember going to the Nelson one night when he had just come back off a tour with his wife Beverley, and they did a free gig. The place was packed.

Yvonne Cleland… Yes, I was at that one, Paul. Stood at the bottom of the stairs!

Hans van den Berk… The concert must have taken place in the first week of January 1976. Does anyone have a more specific date? Either of the concert or the publishing date of the article (and the name of the paper). Greetings, http://www.johnmartyn.info

Alan Esdaile… The Hastings and St Leonards Observer but not sure of the correct date. Perhaps Sarah knows.

Phil Gill… I was there, great gig. He had Stallion’s PA – Digger, and Dave the Plank sorted that and did his sound. JM’s best put down of the night was aimed at a woman constantly talking loudly in the audience, and I quote: “Look, I’ve got a 2000 watt PA here and I still can’t hear myself for you talking, so shut up. If my wallet was as big as your mouth, I’d be the richest c*** in Hastings.” Only with more swearing involved…

Sarah Harvey… The article appeared in The Observer on January 3rd, 1976.

Hans van den Berk… Amazing, that means another new concert date.. One of the last shows in the UK before the sabbatical, me thinks. Still wondering if Beverley and Danny Thompson were actually present that night.

Alan Esdaile… I’m pretty sure Beverley was but don’t know about Danny Thompson.

Ken Copsey…  I was 13 and this was the first proper gig I attended. God knows how I got in. Pretty certain that neither Beverly or Danny Thompson played. I thought this was a warm up for an American tour. I think he played only electric. Gibson SG and a lot of extended improvisation through the Echoplex. Did he play more than once at the Carlisle in the 70’s?

Rory Gallagher Irish Tour on film and Status Quo at Wembley – Curzon Cinema – 23rd Nov 1975

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Barry French… Saw Rory Gallagher in concert at the Brighton Dome in the early 1970’s.
Totally amazing gig from one of the worlds  finest  blues  guitarist.

Pete Fisher… my mate John Davis took this photo at Brighton Dome – could be the same concert…

Heavy Metal Kids – Hastings Pier 29th Nov 1975 & Saturdays 6 nights a week

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cuttings supplied by Sarah Harvey

Dave Nattress… As a lifelong Free fan I read I’m sure that one of their early managers or associates suggested the name “The Heavy Metal Kids” but they rejected it and went for “Free”. However, the name did then then get used eventually!!  Also, am I right did Gary Holton turn up in Al Weidersein?

Alan Esdaile… Yes Dave spot on, he was in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Peter Fairless…  They were a very different band (photo in 1977), mind! Yes, Gary Holton was as much an actor as a singer. He went on to play Wayne in Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Here is one of my all time favourite video clips, from The Tube, filmed in Newcastle in 1984. …and, yes, that’s Leslie Ash!

Jim Breeds… I remember the excitement of going to Saturday’s the first time. Probably that week of opening. We’d not seen anything like it outside of London. And at last we were not going to have to make any more trips to Sundowners in Eastbourne.  Gary Holton, later to be cast as Wayne in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. RIP.

Martin Richter… Keith Hardy – there`s a name I haven`t heard for years!

Clifford Rose… Excellent concert.

Mick Mepham… Certainly was….

Dave Weeks… Frupp! Remember them too. Proper prog.

Trying to get in contact with Stephen Turner

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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.

 

What future for Hastings Pier 7th January 1978 by Stephen Turner

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Jim Breeds… Interesting. I certainly couldn’t afford to go every week. My group of friends used to pick and choose on the basis of what we really wanted to see. I don’t think we ever went just for something to do regardless of what was on.

Yvonne Cleland… We did! The bar was cheap!

Beez Neez – 1978

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Chris Pook…..I wish I had that much hair now (second from left back row!)

Mark Harris……You’ve hardly changed Chris!!! I only look about 12

Chris Pook……Must see what else is lurking in the archives mate!

Mick O’Dowd……I think you were about 12 then Mark!

Ghoulz… Is it possible this band played The Kinema Ballroom in Dunfermline in Fife, three times 1976-1977?

Mick O’Dowd…  No they didn’t form until 1977

Chris Pook… And we wouldn’t have even known where Dunfermline was back then!!! But we did go all the way to RAF St Athan in South Wales for one gig though!

Phil Gill… Are there actually any Hastings bands that played The Kinema Ballroom in Dunfermline in Fife?

Tracy Ratnarajah Weatherley Harris… Ha ha look at Geoff and Mark you look like you have really long hair x

Ghoulz… Many thanks for your swift replies. I’m trying to trace such a band and you guys almost fitted the bill! Cheers.

John Storer… Phil … can see where there is possible confusion. Have discovered that the Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline has a dedicated website which includes a list of every single band that played there. A band named Beez Neez did play there three times in 76-77 and a band called Stallion played there in 1971.