Stray and Factory and Tony Kane Disco – Hastings Pier 25th March 1972

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poster supplied by Mick Mepham, ad supplied by Sarah Harvey

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source: http://www.stray-the-band.co.uk

Andy Qunta….Stray were great! Bought their 1st 2 albums! Fave songs – All In Your Mind & Jericho.

Leigh Wieland-Boys….The gig was a bit expensive though, wasn’t it Andy?! And I bet the albums set you back about £1.25 each….those were the days of affordable music – live & on vinyl – aTime Machine for Christmas please

Andy Qunta….Yes, outrageous prices back then, Leigh! LOL! Love your Time Machine comment too – that would be nice!

David Miller…  still have that 1st album and the tinnitus I got from sitting too near the exploding dustbin when it went off….and the great loud music too. Now it is all in my mind for the duration…..

Chris Meachen… Excellent band, Stray.. Still have my copy of ‘Saturday morning pictures’…

Andy Qunta… Thanks again to Mick Mepham for posting the poster! I don’t have any of those things from that time, so it’s nice to see them!

Gill Harrod… Stray! I remember they were really good!

Dave Nattress… Stray…seriously good. Saturday Morning Pictures – got it on vinyl. “After the Rain” – pure Stray at their best. Lost the other vinyls but have a couple of 2 CD compilations – been looking out for the original vinyls in second hand record shops or CD versions. Saw them at the pier at least twice, seems like more – I think they played a few times more than just twice, and their shows featured strobe lighting which really added to the performance. Oh, yeah, and great memories dragged up of all those old bands whose gigs featured on the posters on the Time Machine clip.

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Time Machine – memories of the soul band by Stuart Moir

Stuart Moir… I spent 6 years of my life singing lead vocals with a fabulous 12 piece line up called “Time Machine” , our speciality was soul music with a 4 piece brass section, male and female lead vocals, 2 backing vocals, keyboard, lead guitar bass and drums, we packed out Falaise Hall before it became a gym, it was a sad time when the lead guitarist suddenly passed away and the life and of course soul disappeared for ever.

Andy Qunta… Impressive line-up! Wish I could have seen you guys!

Stuart Moir… It was a really powerful brass section driven by bass and drums, I loved every minute singing with the guys .

Robert Searle… I played with you in Suspects at Falaise Hall Stuart.What was the name of the guitarist you mentioned?

Terry Pack… I depped with the band a few times, at Hellingly(?) and Something Cross.

Len Smith… Stuart am I correct in thinking during this period you reduced from 12 and renamed Big Bang before Trevor Pitson passed away?

Jenny Tyler… I saw Time Machine at Falaise Hall, they were brilliant. I think I saw yhem at The Star Inn at Normans Bay. X

Mick O’Dowd… Saw you at Falaise Hall Stuart. Was going to see Bob Geldof at The White Rock but he cancelled at last minute. You totally blew me away. Especially liked the brass appearing from behind with the Soul Finger intro. Fantabidosi!

Stuart Moir… It was a powerful line up Pete Shaw was bass guitar and I catch up him occasionally when he plays the Queens Head Icklesham. And yes your right Len we reverted to 10 when Trevor passed away .

Harry Randall… Who was in the line up?

Mike Raxworthy… I have an album! Great band!

Eric Burgess… Came to a couple of your gigs. Fabulous sound! Big line up. Shame it had to end!

Stuart Moir… Trevor Pitson lead guitar, Peter Shaw bass, Kevin Stokes on keyboard, Stefan Grimmett on drums, Steven McEntire trombone, Chris and Bob trumpets, can’t remember the sax players name, he is a friend of guys on trumpet, female lead vocal and backing vocals and yours truly on male lead vocals, I loved every minute of performing with these guys

Ian Mitchell… Was you also with Jinks or Centre Page many, many years ago. Mr Ind Coope?

Stuart Moir… Not Jinks but was part of Centre Page for many years Ian, brilliant vocals covering 4 Seasons and Beach Boys songs etc

Tim Pitson… Did anyone here know Trevor Pitson?

Stuart Moir… Trevor Pitson was Time Machine lead guitar.

Factory – Time Machine

 

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from davies511bis

Recorded 30 January 1971 – Oak single RGJ718
No relation to the late 60’s CBS/MGM group of the same name, this particular Factory were based around the talents of the Qunta brothers – Andy on lead vocals and acoustic twelve string guitar and Tony on lead guitar and electric violin, supported by a rhythm section of Geoff ‘Jaffa’ Peckham (bass) and Laurie Cooksey (drums). Andy and Tony had previously visited R.G.Jones, the owner of Oak Records, in October 1968 and March 1969 as prime movers in a school band called Perfect Turkey, who recorded an Oak acetate coupling ‘Stones’ and ‘Perfect Turkey Blues’. Factory recorded four songs – ‘Time Machine’, ‘Castle On The Hill’, ‘Mr. Jones’ (no relation) and ‘Road Sweeper Joe’ – in a three hour session on 30 January 1971, with the first two tracks issued as a single that sold out its limited pressing of 99 copies within a few weeks. With its science fiction-derived lyrics,prototipe heavy metal sound and harsh,metallic vocal (an extraordinary performance from Andy Qunta), ‘Time Machine’ eerily predicted David Bowie’s forthcoming album ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, although the opening chords were surely borrowed from Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Green Manalishi’. During their lifespan, Factory attracted considerable interest within the music industry: their live performances were attended by such luminaries as Mickie Most, Robin Gibb, former Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell and Roger Daltrey, who was sufficiently impressed to invite the band to record at his home studio. By the time Factory shut down in 1976, Geoff Peckham had been replaced by Steve Kinch, who joined the Quntas in a new band called Head On. When this project fell by the wayside of 1979, Kinch and Andy Qunta played with Hazel O’ Connor before the bassist joined Manfred Mann’s Earthband in 1985. Tony Qunta has been a session guitarist since 1982, although he still finds time to lead a band called High Level Drive, whilst brother Andy had a six year spell with Australian group Icehouse, co-writing their hit single ‘Crazy’ and John Farnham’s anthemic ‘You’re The Voice’. One of Factory’s final gigs, incidentally, had featured a support set by a bunch malcontents bearing the unlikely name of the Sex Pistols. Within a matter of months, punk would seek to reverse the excesses of the progressive rock dinosaurs, signalling a return to three minute pop songs and more intimate live venues as well as a comprehensive demystification of the musical process. With punk inspiring media outrage to match coverage of the Stones’ emergence, ellied to the obvious generic antecedents provided by mid-1960’s R&B and garage bands, it genuinely appeared that, however fleetingly, the musical wheel had turned full circle.

Phil Gill …”With its science fiction-derived lyrics,prototipe heavy metal sound and harsh,metallic vocal (an extraordinary performance from Andy Qunta)…”. What great write-up – he’s right.

Glenn Piper… Oh the memories 🙂

Andy Qunta… Not sure what that “harsh metallic vocal” was all about! Maybe I was just trying to make up for the fact that I wasn’t playing an instrument, and wanted as much “air time” as poss!

Robert Blackham… Hi, am I right in thinking that Andy Qunta, Tony(or Mendy?)Qunta and Dick Bloom were Epsom College’s Velvet Hush band in 1969? “Broken Heart” and “Lover Please” were the songs on their Oak single. Bob Blackham (Epsom 67-72).

Geoff Peckham… I thought your band was called Perfect Turkey at Epsom, Andy and Tony?

Andy Qunta… We were originally Perfect Turkey, but we changed it to Velvet Hush later on.. Hi, Robert Blackham! How do you know about such things?  And by the way, do you by any chance have a copy of Broken Heart/Lover Please? The latter is on the double album, Best of Oak Records, but none of us have a copy of Broken Heart, and haven’t heard it in decades!

SMART SOUNDS – Factory gig Marina Fountain 29th April 2016 and cd review by Colin Bell

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© Nastassja Kaschevsky Hastings Local Band Photos 

https://www.facebook.com/hastingslocal.bandphotos?fref=ts

So there we all were again for the second coming (this century!) of Andy, Tony, Jaffa, Laurie, or simply our very own local (Hastings/Bexhill) heroes Factory. After the re-union gig last October at the Carlisle the guys promised a return and return they did and this time with the extra treat of an album, a physical CD we can hold in our hands! Ok, I know these days music comes out of the air in files or whatever and I may be a luddite but I like something I can hold/look at/read etc. Anyway..after the ever excellent Roger Carey and Steve Cooke the boys hit the Marina stage and from ‘Call of the Wild’ to ‘Time Machine’ 18 songs later they ROCKED! with an energy and passion and yes..love for what they do, I said it before after the re-union gig and i’ll say it again the sheer energy and stamina on display would defeat many much younger bands. Whether old favourites or new material it all delivered. Highlights were many I particularly enjoyed Lightning From Heaven, Scarlet Lady, Am I Mad, Jig a Jig and Lady Muck where Andys keyboard skill and artistry reminds me so much of Ray Manzarek. Tonys fiery pyrotechnics on guitar and violin are a joy to watch, while Lauries ‘Moony’ antics and Jaffa’s solid bass bring it all together. So glad they did their ‘nod’ to the Roger Daltrey days with Behind Blue Eyes in the encore too, always one of my favourite Who tracks. Another great night for us all. If you didn’t make it along you can at least as aforementioned now enjoy a Factory CD!

This is where I put my professional journalist/reviewer hat on….how im supposed to be dispassionate is another matter…! Opening with a sample of the original recording of Time Machine before sliding into Call of the Wild, followed by Castle on the Hill (originally of course b side to Time Machine) the boys take us on a 15 track trip which rocks, lulls at times and has an overall ethereal quality that pervades the brain. There is a lot to absorb, all tracks are written by the band and I found it interesting that Tony’s compositions are intrinsically ‘english’ in feel/whilst brother Andys songs (in the main) have a whiff of the US West Coast about them, all those years in L.A.? They of course may well disagree! Jaffa’s ‘Howard’ is just great, a dark fable John Entwhistle would have been proud of. Harvey Summers has done a great job on production at capturing the Factory ‘sound’. Its just great after 40 odd years to have something tangible to listen to. One niggle…it would have been great to have had ‘bonus’ tracks of crowd pleasers par excellence Jig-A-Jig/Behind Blue Eyes maybe ‘live’, but I can see it from both sides of the coin! But very happy to be ‘Back In The Time Machine’.   Till next time……. Colincolin-head-111x150-111x150

Neil Steadman… The Factory video has turned out well Alan. It’s on a mobile but the quality is surprisingly decent. Great on the main home system. Their sound balancer knew his job.

Alan Esdaile… I think that was down to Roger Carey.

Neil Steadman… Hats off  to them.

Teresa Qunta… EXCELLENT review of the Factory Marina Fountain gig AND the Back in the Time Machine CD! (Available on CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, etc!!)

Factory – Time Machine Record Wanted

 

Hi,
Can you please put me in touch with the members of Factory? I’m looking to purchase a copy of their “Time Machine” 45. Thanks, Lance. Lance Barresi Permanent Records email…lapermanent@gmail.com

Information has been passed on to Factory and if anyone else has a copy to sell then please email Lance at above.

Mike Curtis…..You’ll be lucky Lance. The last one I saw for sale the dealer wanted £800. Like me, my copy is warped, but it ain’t for sale.

Phil Thornton….mines all scratched up and I’m keeping it !

Sarah Harvey….I have a copy in excellent condition. I kept it in a cardboard sleeve all these years…but simply can’t part with it.

Update On Record Values

From Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide

STALLION Skinny Kid £45.00

45003a4

CRACKED MIRROR LP £80.00

Cracked Mirrors

DIE LAUGHING Hard Living Man £50.00

209618

FACTORY Time Machine £400.00

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HOLLYWOOD KILLERS Goodbye Suicide £50.00

Goodbye Suicide lbl

TEENBEATS I Cant Control Myself £8.00

teenbeats

TEENBEATS Strength Of Nation p/s £15.00

R-1820307-1292890874

Now what did I do with the Factory single?