The Worrying Kind & The Confederates – Sat 17th Oct 1964 by Andre Martin

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supplied by Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin… Something is going to happen – I just know it will, but until then, we find ourselves in the Happy Ballroom on Hastings Pier, on Saturday17 October 1964, and what a month this has been, do you realise that we have just had a General Election? Thursday last, when Harold Wilson and the Labour Party won, buy a whisker – if I recall only a 3 seat majority. But enough of that, the first thing I want to address is about last week, several people have asked me, did I have the correct listing, based on the Pier advertisement in the Observer, I would have said yes, but on further research, I do feel they were wrong and it should have been Guy Darrell & The Midnighters as top of the Bill. But that will remain one of life’s little mysteries.
This week should be clearer – Top of the bill – from the North-East – The Worrying Kind, supported by our own The Confederates, 7.45pm – 11.45pm and all for 5/- – what value.
The Worrying Kind had made several visits to the Happy Ballroom in the past, the last was in July of this year, and they had been well received with their mix of Soul, R&B and what we would today call chart covers. The group had been known at one time a Brian Howard & The Silhouettes but changed to Worrying Kind a couple of years ago, they had had a couple of releases and it was rumoured that a Jimmy Page had played on these sessions, although there is little mentioned, he glosses over many of the bands he played sessions with in his autobiography so we can neither confirm or deny. The Confederates, a likely bunch of local lads, under the watchful eye of “ Spike “ Millington – that Pete’s dad, if you did not know, giving their best for the patrons of the Happy Ballroom. So this was another good night, OK not any name attractions, but good all-round entertainment and giving the patrons just what they wanted. Rumour was that Spike and Bob Knights – The General Manager of the Pier, would spend most of the evening putting the world to rights in the Long Bar !
So let’s have a look at what else is keeping the young people of the town entertained during this week, we would have had Friday nights – Ready Steady Go which this week included an interview with – Mick Jagger by Ellen Grehan. Scheduled guest:–Dionne Warwick – “Reach Out For Me. Obviously Mick Jagger was being given plenty of air time on that Night.
At The Witch Doctor – on Saturday Night it was 4+1 backed by Second Thoughts, Sunday Club that week would have been a cracker featuring Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. And to end the week – Friday nights offering – Shane & The Shane Gang.
I thought that I would also have a quick look at what was on BBC – Saturday Club [BBC Light Programme] Matt Monro, The Pretty Things, Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Rockin Berries and Spencer Davis Group – all introduced by Brian Matthews. Sunday Swing [2.00pm] features Lulu & The Luvvers, Clinton Form, Julie Grant and The Fortunes.
BBC TV that Saturday night on Juke Box Jury Des O’Connor, Mary Wells and Jimmy Young plus one other panel member, and in the chair David Jacobs.
Later that evening – The Billy Cotton Band Show – featured Matt Monro and Gerry and The Pacemakers.
And not to be left out – Radio Caroline was flying the Pirate Radio Flag out there off the Frinton Coast, with at least one household name having survived the weather, after 3 months Tony Blackburn was still broadcasting – it was believed that he had taken a break at some point to gather breath !!
So you can see it had been a interesting week. One thing that I have forgotten to mention, is that the Pier is starting to run generic advertisements for the Ballroom being available for Hire…………so what have they up their sleeves…..time will tell.              Andre Martin

Jim Breeds… Always fascinating 🙂

Peter Millington… Remember it well

Ides Of March – Witch Doctor St Leonards – 4th September 1965

Anyone confirm if this was the same Ides Of March?

Mike Vawdrey… Having checked – I will own up to being totally clueless otherwise ! – it’s unlikely that the two are one and the same. The Ides Of March depicted on the cover of a Warner Bros single was an American band which had a hit with the aforementioned Vehicle in 1970. That band existed in 1965 but I have not seen any report of them touring in the UK … Subject to correction of course if anybody knows better ! Sorry to add on to my own previous comment but a clincher might be that in 1965 the American Ides Of March were still calling themselves The Shon-Dels. The Ides name was not adopted until the following year ( based on the famous quote from Julius Caesar – well it would be in both cases I guess! )

Kris Ryan with the Questions plus The Confederates 5th June 1965

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supplied by Peter Millington

Gerry Fortsch… Was that John Conroy’s Confederates?

Alan Esdaile… Yes

Pete Millington… yes it was! Peter (Ginger) Millington – Bass Trevor Spears – Lead Guitar, Paul Burton – Rhythm Guitar, Dave Johnson- Drums and John Conroy- lead vocals – great times for the Confeds

The Confederates – Home Grown 22nd March 1966

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

Here’s the recording…

Peter Millington….The Confederates on 22nd March 1966 just before appearing on “Home Grown” a Television competition which was an early version of The X-Factor. Judges were George Melly – Jazz Singer, Johnny Morris – Animal man and children’s TV presenter, Mike Mansfield – Director of Southern ITV and Eve Taylor – Aritist Agent. The show was compared by Bill Pertwee of Dads Army fame (The Warden). — with Terry Chedzoy, Peter (Ginger) Millington, Keith (Budge) Harrison-Burgess, Paul Burton and Johnny Conroy.

Barry French… Great photo. What an amazing experience that must have been.

Pete Millington… That was certainly a “brown trousers” experience. So many heats to get to that final then to come second – hey ho, loved every minute of being a Confederate between 1962 to 1966/7

Robert Searle… Great photo Pete.

Colin Bell… You haven’t changed much Peter, have you got a picture in the attic..

Pete Millington… You’re too kind Colin. No I haven’t and I still avoid mirrors 😩 Oh to be 19 again

The Confederates & The Jazz Caverners – Dolphin Ballroom 17th December 1965

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from Peter Millington  https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks Ad Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Joe Knight… like the girl bit!!! LOL & price!!

Mick Mepham… 25p to you young’uns.

Caz Simpson… Ha! I’d get in for two & six now!!

Andre Martin… Typical Alan Jensen SOH – Ha Hah!

Andy Qunta… I love the bit about free admission for girls wearing plastic macs, rubber aprons & leather knee pads! What was that all about?

Andre Martin… Andy, if you knew Alan Jensen you would understand, he has a great SOH and would put out such crazy offers to see who would take the bate – many of us know Alan from way back, he was a great guy, a businessman, a gentleman and somebody who would help you if he could, with no alterative motive.

Andy Qunta… Well, I didn’t know him that well, but I always thought he was a great bloke! I wonder if any girls took the offer that night!

Peter Millington… We played many gigs under the dubious management of Alan and can’t remember one taker for the plastic mac and knee pads – However, there were many blokes that came in the hope of seeing the dressed up girls – shrewd businessman as Andre says.

The Cresters & The Confederates – The Witch Doctor – 24th October 1964

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

Mick Knights….Now that does take me back, I was there on the opening night to see the Nashville Teens!! The first steps I ever took on a dance floor were there, the tune was Pretty Woman and the young lady didn’t hang around for a second one!!!!

Peter Millington… The Cresters were so under-rated, we (The Confederates) were “gob smacked” they were fantastic! They were superb and such good individual musicians.

Mike Curtis… I saw Dave Curtis and The Tremors when I was on holiday at Butlins Clacton in 1963. First live band I ever saw.

Lesley Maskell… I was there at Butlins Clacton in 1963. Dave Curtis and I had a holiday romance that lasted until the next summer.

 

The Confederates – 1963 to 1965 Grove School, White Rock Theatre and Broadstairs.

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supplied by Peter Millington 

Peter Millington… (photo 1) Anyone who watched part 1 of the Sky Arts programme about Queen recently would have seen Paul Watts of EMI talking about Queen from the record producers point of view. Here is a picture of Paul singing with the Confederates in July 1963 at the Grove School Summer Dance with Peter Millington in the background (with the mandatory Hank Hornrims). Paul was a founder member of The Confederates with Peter Millington on Bass, Lucian LeCoix-Lead Guitar and Dave Saunders-Drums.  Record Collector in 1998 says… Justifiably proud, Paul Watts, then General Manager of EMI’s International Division, decided to commemorate the award(The Queen’s Award To Industry For Export Achievement) with the release of a special single. The choice of artist was easy: “The award represented the way in which Queen were so much a part of the fabric of the company,” he recalled. “They were central to what EMI was doing”. “Bohemian Rhapsody” seemed the natural choice for the record, as it was such a milestone and had been the single that had catapulted Queen into international superstardom.

To read more about the formative years of the Confederates/SPYKE/JINKS have a read and chuckle here –

https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

(photo 2) THE CONFEDERATES playing at the Observer Christmas Dance at the White Rock Theatre – December 1965 – Posted by Peter Millington – Photo supplied by Margaret Ross

(photo 3) An early picture of THE CONFEDERATES from 1964. Playing in Broadstairs – L-R Tony Goodman, Dave Saunders, Johnny Conroy, Trevor Spears, Peter Millington.