Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers – Witch Doctor 7th September 1965

 

Andre Palfrey-martin collection 

Peter Millington…He did another stint in 1987 at the second Big Beat Reunion – did you miss that too? He was a master of live performance and such a genuine bloke, proud to have played on the same bill with him and chatted.

Caz Simpson… Sadly I did miss it, he’s a top notch bloke and very underrated

Mick O’Dowd… Always one of my faves.

Andre Martin… Remember a gig with these boys in Summer 67 at The Surf City Club, Tunbridge Wells. They were booked in for a special night, it was usually disco remember working the venue for several months in 1967 9.00pm – 2.00am all that I can recall was it was small and over some shops in Monsoon Road I think access not the best, but in those days all I needed were records, equipment was all built in and provided by Management.

Mike Knights… I know this gets a little bit boring, but yes I was at this one to.

Lloyd Johnson… I saw them at The Assembly Rooms in Tunbridge Wells in 1964. Fast forward to 1981 and I had a visit from a shipping agent at our Kings Road Shop. The company was Benco and the person who came to see me was Cliff. He became our shipping agent. Several years later when Chris Sayer and I were organising ‘The Big Beat Reunion’ on The Pier Cliff asked me if he could come down and join in, of course I jumped at the chance to have on the bill. I spoke to Chris about it and Henry Harvey, Jonah & Chris said we’ll back him!…they practiced for a hour with Cliff on the afternoon whilst we were dressing the stage. Cliff was so pleased to meet his old mate that was in The Searchers. We’d booked The Searchers as top of the bill. The night was a dream and a huge crowd showed up.

Paul Huggett… Great band. Saw Cliff and some of his originals at a Butlins 60s weekend a few years ago, still impressive. Chris Farlowe and the Zombies on the bill too.

Trevor Spears… I also saw them in 64 at Tunbridge Wells great band and supported by another good band The Preachers who later had a couple of members killed in a car crash! I was also in the support group in Lucerne Switzerland with them and the bass player was Chas Hodges and an amazing piano player Roy? cannot remember his surname!

Lloyd Johnson… The Preachers played at The Pamdor in the club upstairs for Dave Muriel’s 21st…there were only around twenty of us there…

Andre Martin… I can remember working with them back at “the surf club” in Tonbridge in 1967. Great live band

David Edwards… He had a hell of a voice and a great band

Mick O’Dowd… Highly under rated band.

 

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

10648624_835724443127351_7128502152929912114_o

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 Witch Doctor Poster – The Preachers, The Confederates, Geno Washington, The Vultures, June 1965

flyer supplied by Pete Millington.  

Photo of The Preachers http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-preachers.html © Bruno Ceriotti

Mick O’Dowd… Geno! Geno! Geno! Brilliant!

Carol Arnold… saw them on the pier !

Joe Knight… Use to go to the other one at CATFORD LONDON

Pete Millington… Been there too Joe – Think this was Christmas Eve 1965

13466363_1261293200570471_7374819233247339863_n

supplied by Pete Millington

Alan Wood… Saw them at pilot field

Alan Esdaile… The Preachers featured a young Peter Frampton.

 

Peter B’s Looners – The Witch Doctor Sat 1st January 1966.

poster supplied by Peter Millington

Bruce Eder biographer – Peter B’s Looners (also sometimes called Peter B’s) were formed by Pete Bardens and Mick Fleetwood in 1966, following the breakup of their previous band, the Cheynes. The original lineup, in addition to Bardens and Fleetwood, included Dave Ambrose (ex-Steampacket) on bass and Mick Parker on guitar. An instrumental outfit, they were signed to EMI’s Columbia label, but Parker had exited before they got around to recording their sole single release, “If You Wanna Be Happy” b/w “Jodrell Blues,” with guitar chores on that record were handled by Peter Green in his debut recording. Despite the impressive names involved, Peter B’s Looners proved a transitional vehicle for all concerned and the group had split up by the end of 1966. Ambrose became a member of Brian Auger & the Trinity, while Green moved on to John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. There, he hooked up with John McVie, and was later joined by Fleetwood, and together they formed Fleetwood Mac. Meanwhile, Bardens moved on to form Shotgun Express, passed through the lineup of Them, and a solo career that ultimately led to his forming Camel.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-bs-looners-mn0001893500/biography

Alan Esdaile…. some people here will remember Pete Bardens Camel.

Mick O’Dowd… Didn’t he also have Pete Bardens Express?

Groups who played Hastings Pier 1962-1974 plus

 

from Roger Bristow  Dizzy Tiger Music a great listing of groups that played in Hastings from the 60’s to the 70’s.

Hastings Pier  – 1962-1974 plus some later gigs.

These you will find under the archive link at the top of the page:-

Aquarius – 1971 – 1974

The Cobweb – 1968 – 1970

The Witch Doctor – 1964 – 1967

plus more…