steve maxted

Witch Doctor – what the stars say but NO Moody Blues! July 1966

witch-doctor chessmen

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Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

Andre Martin…..The Witch Doctor advertisement you have posted for July 1966 – which gives the Moody Blues as appearing -did not take place- having checked through the newspapers, see attached. All that I can think happened, was that this had been the original plan to get the Moodys back again, but as the 1966-1066 Programme book must have been planned and printed well in advance, something changed – perhaps the Moody Blue were on tour out of the country, who knows – in the end it was the Birds who topped the bill on that 3rd Birthday Party Night.

Mick Knights….the most likely reason for cancelation was a bands sudden increase in popularity (single climbing the charts) and the booking fee increasing by the same ratio. Seem to remember the same effect in reverse, when not enough tickets were sold to cover the bands fee.

Andre Martin….Mick -That’s what I thought, so I checked with their website and it would seem that Summer 66 was a ” troubled” time, with band members changing, so it would have been a logical move by management to pull dates. I don’t think we will ever know for sure.

Mick O’Dowd… I remember having a Witch Doctor flyer for this event which was the 2nd anniversary. 10/- entry (50p). Wanted to go but was working elsewhere that night. Never heard any reviews or talk afterwards.

Hastings College All-Niter with Desmond Dekker, Grapefruit and more – Hastings Pier 27th June 1969

Mick O’Dowd… Wasn’t it John L Watson & The Hummelflugs before this?

Kev Potts… I can remember a mate of mine getting a ticket and he said are you going I said no like my bed to much I was 16 at the time

Trapeze? and Image – The Cobweb 24th May 1969

24th May 1969 Trapze

Anyone confirm if this was Glenn Hughes Trapeze?

Robert Searle… Yes believe it was

Chris Sambrook… Trapeze were a  a 5 piece band in 1969, so it could have been Glenn Hughes. Then they were down to 3. You are the music, we’re just the band album not sure if this was the first album as a 3 piece. Glenn Hughes mentioned the Moody Blues another West Midlands band for their  help early on to  promote Trapeze,  with thanks to them, within the  presentation of Deep Purple inducted by Lars Ulric into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Robert Searle… “Send me no more letters” was their single on the Threshold label.

Wally plus Quick Licks – Hastings Pier 29th March 1973 & Druid chat.

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supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey…..Wally were a prog rock group from Yorkshire and they entered the MM Rock Contest in 1973 and got to the final but didn’t win (Druid won), but one of the judges whispering Bob Harris asked them to record a session for his Monday night show. he then set them up with a recording contract with Atlantic.

Alan Esdaile….really love this band

Mick Mepham….Good band too.

Mick O’Dowd….Wally were quite an underated band and never got the success they desrved, but this was not through want of trying. They appeared several times on the Pier. Highly underated!

Yvonne Cleland….They were. Saw them twice on the pier, and once at Brighton Dome.

Clive Richardson….The support band were also good but it should read ‘Quick Licks’ . 3 piece from London and all their songs were made up of licks.

Here in 1974 on the Old Grey Whistle Test with ‘The Martyr’

Dave Nattress… “Wally”…the first album, really wonderful, still play it a lot. The second, “Valley Gardens” was named after the public pleasure gardens in their home town of Harrogate and personally I feel it is not quite so good. These are 2 of my most treasured vinyls and after looking out for the CD versions for many years, I got the first in 2008 and then Valley Gardens in 2010. In fact I then got an absolutely mint, (I’m sure it was unplayed) vinyl of “Valley Gardens” from the record shop in Little Common for about £5.00. I also saw them at the pier. Druid – reminded me and some of my friends of the time – Iain Cobby for one, very much of Yes. Definitely the sound comparison came from the Rickenbacker bass and the Jon Anderson like vocals. Iain, I remember well you changing the Precision for the Rick!! I’ve got the 2 Druid albums on vinyl and CD. I’m sure Druid played the pier.

Iain Cobby… Yes Dave, I remember Druid from Whistle Test then seeing them on the pier. I too have both the CD’s . They were a good prog band in the wake of Yes. Like most prog of that time, they were overwhelmed by the oncoming rebellion . The drummer played with Gary Newman as Tubeway Army. and yes I still have a Ricky, not the 4001 but a 4004 …….. its the clang that’s the thang!

Janine Anne Scott… I sang for the Easter Fashion Parade that year .

All Things Bright – Witch Doctor St Leonards 29th January 1966

Tony Court-holmes… we won the world cup that year never do it again well not in my life time

Mick O’Dowd… Amboy Dukes were more well known and were a nice little band.

Dave Nattress… Noticed the bottom said “The Birds are Coming” – would this be “The Birds” a band several years pre-Faces that featured Ronnie Wood? This is topical for me right now as I’ve finally got round to reading “Had me a real good time” – The Faces biography by Andy Neill and it seems like The Birds were a very hard gigging band. As yet the Witch Doctor hasn’t been named and maybe anyway, I’m on a bum steer here!! I’m only on page 95 of 500 odd. Also, there was an “Amboy Dukes”, from the USA – the name I recall well and I’ve looked them up and they featured Ted Nugent and are described as acid rock and psychedelic rock, would this be the same Amboy Dukes who played the Witch Doctor supporting “All Things Bright”?

Mick O’Dowd… Did the Birds not compete in Ready Steady Win! along with The Bo Street Runners?

Pete Fisher… Bo Street Runners rang a bell with me…and I remembered that they were one of the bands Mike Patto sang for before Timebox, Patto and Boxer…Mick Fleetwood also played drums for them…winning Ready Steady Win! in 1964 got them a contract with Decca..

Be Bop Deluxe & Clemen Pull – Hastings Pier 14th December 1974

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Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

John Alexander Wilde… I was at the Be Bop gig and Bill Nelson turned my head around. Be Bop gig was excellent.

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from 1975 – Be Bop Deluxe on the Old Grey Whistle Test Show

Dave Nattress….Saw Be Bop Deluxe at Eastbourne Congress (of all places) about 1976, “Sunburst Finish” was out – third albumbut I think it was before “Modern Music” was released.  Their support was Krazy Kat – did 2 albums, got of which I’ve got on vinyl, pretty good support band indeed.  I do recall Be Bop were VERY loud and had a very trebly piercing sound.  Be Bop Deluxe – a truly wonderful band.

Andy Qunta… I saw them at the Pier, could have been this gig, or did they play more than once there?

Peter Fairless… Only this once, I think, Andy.

Janine Anne Scott… Omg , worked with Mick, Keith’s Brother, on the Mecca Circuit in the 70s

Andy Maby… I had no idea they were ever on the pier John! (I was 13)

Mike Cramp… Would have gone to that, had I not been 13 at the time.

Phillip Shallcrass…John’s right, it was an excellent gig. Be Bop Deluxe were a damn fine band

Lloyd Johnson… Who were Martin-Casson Entertainments?…were they Local?

John Wilde… Yes local entrepeneurs.

 

Steve ‘Muscles’ Maxted and Chris Gentry 1976

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Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

A great disc jockey and showman and much loved in the Hastings area. Here’s an interesting link to his record collection:

www.djwildonevinyl.co.uk

A rare picture of Steve from 1976  with Chris Gentry at the Pye Records ‘Black Umbrella’ launch party.

Tony Davies….Steve Maxted used to have a weekly show at the Aquarius nightclub in George St ( later to become Saturdays) he’d dance around the stage balancing a chair on his chin and competitions to see who could eat the most boiled eggs or pickled onions in a certain amount of time, winner getting a bottle of wine. He’d shout out ” first girl on stage with red knickers “and there would be a stampede of girls rushing up on stage, again ,winner getting a bottle of wine. Needless to say, the place was always packed. !!! 🙂

Joe Knight….steve maxted he was at catfords witch doctor a friend for many years . I USE TO GET ON THE STAGE SOMETIMES AN HELP HIM ALWAYS A FRANKENSTEIN FILM GOING ON AS WELL WAT EVER BECAME OF HIM ????

Tony Court-holmes…  i used to work for mr gentry when he had the roadshow god i could tell some stories

David Wilkinson… god I could write a book but if you see him ask about the vinegar substitute in Helson Cornwall. I knew him when he worked at Lewes. I now live in Dorset, so communicate only by email. My alter ego is motown=mickey

Andre Martin… Fancy you remembering that, I used Orange Fizzy Drink for my chips, when the F&C shop had no vinegar – did not really improve the situation – but Hey Ho that would have been 1976 ? when we were working the Naval Bases in that South West

Steve Maxted… Yes, I remember all those dj’s well. Great times. Thanks

Joe Knight… Where’s the fur waist coat? My grans coat cut off the sleeves 1968 to look like you. What I remember; frankinstien movies raw egg eating balancing table on your chin Desmond Dekker and great nights

Steve Maxted… haha, glad I started a trend. That’s good, all I ever wanted was for people to go away happy and entertained, with good music buzzing in there ears. nice to know everyone has those good memories, thanks