Was originally listed as The Zombies to appear on 23rd December 1967 but looks like it was replaced with Pinkerton’s Colours.
Paul Juan… Didnt this band feature a young Paul Burnett’
Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection
Mick Knights….I was also at this one as well and was the ballroom was only half full!!
Andre Martin…..I want to know more about the Lurking Cromwells – anybody ??
Bob Green…..I know nothing of the Lurking Cromwells, but what a great name!
Mick O’Dowd… Talkin’ ’bout my generation…!!!
Bob Searle… Lurking Cromwells later became Kult from Ninfield
Thanks to Lloyd Johnson for finding this. How Tony Powell became manager of the Witchdoctor.
Also a classic photo of ‘The Animals’ read the sign!
Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection
The Who at the Witchdoctor 4th August 1965
Mick Knights….The only face I can put a possitive ID to is still Colin Gilcrest (Mr. G) I recognise the first bloke looking mean and moody, but can’t think of a name. I’m pretty sure the girl dancing alone is Lill, but it was almost 50 years ago!!!!!
Gary Kinch….Alas, too young to see them in the 60’s although I do have a tenuous second hand link with the Witch Doctor during that period. My Dad was a Bouncer there, whether he was at this gig I don’t know without asking him. He would of hated the music though. He also worked at the Fiesta in a similar capacity during the 60’s…Anyway, one of my favourite bands and I’ve seen them a few times since. Sundowner in London, December 73 being a good ‘un. Mainly Quadrophenia (top 20 all time great albums IMO) with the odd Tommy track plus a couple of the older classics. The trip to this gig was organised by Hastings Students Union, at least one coach full of young reprobates went. Anyone else remember this outing?
Pete Fisher….saw them on the Pier, July 1969, and at the front it was so loud my vision started to blur, and I had to go out and grab some sea air, returning to stand further back. Moon threw out drumsticks at the end, and a mate from school won the scrum to get it, only because he was small and agile, and ran for his life out of the ballroom clutching his trophy, which he brought into school the next day! Only time rugby ever came in useful!
Mick O’Dowd….Thankfully most of us didn’t “Die before we get old!”
Iain Cobby… Hey Pete, I was there too in 69, July, the same evening man walked on the Moon (no pun intended).It was a Sunday Club gig, the first real gig I was allowed to go to. They were loud with an army of WEM and Marshall cabs all around the stage. They did the whole of Tommy if I recall,I then fell in love with wanting to play bass (what went wrong?) As waited for my dad to pick me up outside the entrance, Daltrey breezed past me. I cried out ” nice one Rog”…………….. he never even blinked. oh well.
Nick Prince… The Who video – wow!!
Ian Middleton… The day the Animals played, I think it was a Tuesday was the day that House of the Rising Sun topped the record charts and Eric Burdon complained during the gig that they were contracted to play there for £50 when they could have easily got £100 in London
Jackie Hersee… This is where I spent my time in the 60’s
Stephanie Blackledge… me too! Geno Washington. 1966?
Diane Leigh… Enjoyed listening
Gerry Fortsch… A great venue with some great memories apart from the dandruff highlighter as you went in.
Caz Simpson… This real took me back, thank you for posting! I remember him so well, a really lovely man. The Witchdoctor was my second home
Pete Fisher… Several sources quote 9 July 1964 as the day the Animals hit number one, but I found a list of gigs at the Witch Doctor which said this one was 12 August which was indeed a Wednesday. It also says admission was 8s/6d Mick, quite expensive as I’ve read that the price of a pint was around 2s/0d back then. BTW the BBC charts were a combination of the Record Retailer, Melody Maker, NME and other music magazine charts until 1969.
Richard Brimms… I remember it but I thought it was a Wednesday
David Edwards… And I thought Alan Price was the whinged in the band !
Mick Knights… I remember it being too expensive to go to on an apprentice’s weekly pittance!
Steve Maxted… So interesting, the Manchester man that Tony met with the American car would have been Paddy Mckiernan, a great character. I did a lot of shows for him, including at rhe Witch Doctor and Cobweb
Mark Mackenzie… Played drums for The New Breed three times in 67, great gigs
Andy Ives… That was very interesting thanks for posting. Tony used to be my neighbour
Judith Monk… Not only was I there but two of them including Eric stayed overnight at my house after the gig and I had breakfast with them!
John Warner… The second group to appear at the Witchdoctor. First one was the Nashville Teens!
Robert Valentine… Played there many times in my band The Clockwork Oranges in the sixties nice venue.
Lynda Whatley… What an interesting watch ! Remember dancing up the Witchdoctor in my youth
Nick Bloomfield… Great story from the man who was there. I didn’t get down until after this period but I know Steve Marriott played here a few times.
ad supplied by Sarah Harvey
Typical set list during this tour….
1 “Heaven and Hell” (John Entwistle) 2 “I Can’t Explain” 3 “Fortune Teller” (Naomi Neville) 4 “Tattoo” (not played at every show) 5 “Young Man Blues” (Mose Allison) 6 “It’s a Boy” 7 “1921” 8 “Amazing Journey” 9 “Sparks”
10 “Eyesight to the Blind” (Sonny Boy Williamson II) 11 “Christmas”
12 “The Acid Queen” 13 “Pinball Wizard” 14 “Do You Think It’s Alright?” 15 “Fiddle About” 16 “There’s a Doctor” 17 “Go to the Mirror!” 18 “Smash the Mirror” 19 “I’m Free” 20 “Tommy’s Holiday Camp” (Keith Moon) 21 “We’re Not Gonna Take It”/”See Me, Feel Me” 22 “Substitute” (occasional) 23 “Summertime Blues” (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) 24 “Shakin’ All Over” (Johnny Kidd) 25 “My Generation” (sometimes including themes of “Naked Eye”).
Andy Gunton… A bit more about The Who gig http://www.thestinger.org.uk/article/5363c47aca45284d1296d929#.V5ECBmWYfyI
Jenny Tyler… John Entwistle kissed my cheek. I Still love the Who.
Chris Sambrook…As the moon landings are coming up The Who played the Sunday Club on the very eve. I went as I was 14 at the time, The Who played most of Tommy check out Live At Leeds. There is an cd just been released called Old England New England which could be the same set The Who played in America. I’ve got the cd but haven’t played it yet. After the gig I walked back to St.Leonards in a daze. My dad had the tv on waiting for the moon landing.
Keith Matthews… I was there too. Brilliant gig. Getting a burger at a little place over the road afterwards and a black limo pulled up. John Entwistle climbed out of the back and ordered burgers for himself and Moony who was also in the car. We had a chat and a laugh with them for a few minutes, complimenting them on the gig. Unfortunately don’t have a record of it as it wasn’t cool for an 18 year old guy to ask for autographs! Wish I had had a camera on me.
John Entwistle, The Who, Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens, Oct 1976
photo by: Centre of The Universe
Iain Cobby… On this day twenty years ago, my Hero, John Alec Entwistle 57, pass away in a hotel in America . God speed you brilliant bass man! Thunder Fingers and The Ox also the quite man of The Who. much missed. Never surpassed.
Dave Nattress… You know what at The Conquest this morning for a blood test the nurse called “Who’s Next” (‘‘twas me) so I jumped up and said “the Who’s greatest album” – my personal favourite etc. and she didn’t blink an eye. And some fell on stony ground old friend! Catch up one day!
Colin Bell… RIP some great times were certainly had over many years.
John Storer……Around 1978, a film production company rang Hastings Magistrates Court office and asked if they could use the court for a film they were making. Our boss agreed and several production assistants arrived to check the place out. They were dismayed to find a big concrete block of a court and told us it was not suitable. We asked what the subject of the film was and were told that they were making a film of the Who’s “Quadrophenia” and needed an old-fashioned courtroom for a scene after the riots. The boss was sympathetic (he’d actually clerked the special court that dealt with everyone arrested from the fighting) and sent them along to Lewes Magistrates Court. It was that court that was used for the courtroom scenes in the film.
Alan Esdaile… Andre, did I read somewhere that Lloyd was involved in supplying some of the clothes for the film?
Andre Martin… That is correct, amongst others he made the suits for Sting.
Janet Rennie… Love this film
Pete Fisher… love the film, but was disappointed that they didn’t use the original album tracks for the soundtrack – as far as I know all the music was re-recorded for the film, and in my opinion didn’t sound half as good…
Jan Warren… One of my all-time favourite films, love it!! 🙂
Robert Wren… Two local lads were extras in Quadrophenia, Ray Bowles and myself. I’m on the scooter with the L plate and Ray is on the white one next to me. Great fun and good money. Blink and you will miss us
supplied by Robert Wren
Paul Chapman… Brilliant.! I love this film. When it came out. I watched it at the cinema back to back. You could in those days, stay in the cinema and watch it when it came back on.. the film is a classic
supplied by Andre Martin
Andre Martin… 51 YEARS OF THE WHO 5 January 1966. The Who appeared in the opening broadcast of a new TV programme aimed at British youth, A Whole Scene Going. The show was presented by Barry Fantoni and Wendy Varnals and was broadcast from 6.30 to 7.00pm on BBC 1. The show’s other guests were Spike Milligan and Lulu. The Who mimed to two numbers, ”Out In The Street’ and ‘It’s Not True’ and the show included a short film excerpt of The Who in action the previous summer at the Witchdoctor Club, Hastings. The show also included Pete narrating about The Who, fashion, pop art, and musical trends. Towards the end of the show Pete, seated on a stool, was grilled with questions from presenter WendyVarnals and members of the audience. Like to watch the full programme? Here it is in two parts.
Alan Esdaile… Well worth watching.
Peter Fairless… That’s so cool!
Andre Martin… Well there is another memory of our (mis-spent) youth as SME described at the time.
Peter Fairless… Not mine, I would have been watching Blue Peter!
Andre Palfrey-Martin collection
Mick Knights… Yep, was at this one, but as I remember the rest of the town,s youth had other plans that night!
Andy Qunta… Ah, those were the days alright!
Andre Martin… Well that was the way to get round the Sunday licencing rules in the day= create a Club night ! And look who has taken over the Pier Promotions on 6th January – John Schofiled with his Strand Entertainments.