Robert Carey… Group from Newcastle. The brother of Shorty (drummer) lives in Bexhill.
John Warner… Good group!
Tom Read… I’m trying to find out more information about this 60s band from Newcastle – Shorty & Them. Are any of the members still around, and contactable? https://www.tomreadbass.co.uk
Gary… Peter Kirtley (lead guitar, vocals), Brian Rowan (bass), Pat Dymon [aka Shorty] (vocals, organ, ?-1964), Brian Dunlop (drums), Jesse (drums, ?-1964), Roger Read [Alan Reeves] (organ, 1964-65), Braham Millard (drums, 1964-65)
Ken Copsey… Wow! I didn’t know he had played in Hastings. Someone I would have loved to have seen live.Anyone on here go to the gig? Tragic that he died aged 37 and was originally buried in an unmarked grave.
Pete Fisher… look what I missed in the little seaside town where I grew up! I would have been 9 years old, so a bit young to get into this club…so many bands played here back then, including Jimi Hendrix on the pier in 1967…missed that one too…started catching up in ’69, starting with The Who! I would have just turned 14, and was allowed to go escorted by my older sister’s best girlfriend, who’d organised tickets. We stood up the front too at first, but after a couple of songs I started feeling weird and the room started to distort visually (this was way before I indulged in anything mind enhancing), just from the sheer volume, so I had to pop out briefly for a bit of sea air…came back and watched the rest from a more sensible distance…my mate Ben came into school the next day with one of Keith Moon’s drumsticks, which he’d managed to keep hold of despite being chased out of the ballroom and off the pier by envious fans at the end of the gig…being of diminutive stature and a fine rugby player probably helped…
Ian Middleton… I was at the Witch Doctor that night. It was a great show. I believe it was the last night of this particular tour.
David Edwards… Little Walker played Hastings, well bugger me!
Anyone confirm if he definitely appeared? I think he had to cancel a previous date due to pneumonia?
John Gale… Little Richard, what a voice, far more than just a Rock n Roll star too, very soulful as well
Colin Norton… Hadn’t realized that Mr. Penniman had played the Witch Doctor. How cool!
Graham Belchamber… Incredible he played here
Mike Vawdrey… Maybe it was a touch of the ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu’ – as per Huey ‘Piano’ Smith ? ?
Jim Breeds… I love that The Knives and Forks were booked for Saturday, and by Sunday it was The Return of …!
Mick Knights… Little Richard cancelled on the evening, we all turned up only to be reimbursed!
Mick O’Dowd… Is that THE Dave Dee?
Colin Bell… Yes indeed it is, shortly before the name change to DD, DBM&T.
Mike Vawdrey… Yes it is !
Dave Weeks… Never mind all that, the return of Knifes and Forks must have been a special night. Or was it an instruction as they went missing the week before?
Mick Knights… Just noticed at the bottom of the poster ‘Epivision is coming’. Being quite ancient I was there at the time and recall exactly what it was, does anyone one else? All of a bit of an anticlimax really, having been promised an audio visual experience it turned out to be an overhead projector that would project a dodgy photo of the group who’s record was playing, didn’t take too long for the novelty to wear off!
All too quickly the summer season ends and we start to return a more normal schedule, although as this was 1966 this would be still hectic for a few more weeks because of the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, as I write this we are remembering Saturday 3rd September 1966. The Happy Ballroom on Hastings Pier has The Tony Strudwick Big Band for this weeks entertainment, and the variety on offer has now been reduced to just the Saturday night – the Sunday Club ended on the Bank Holiday Weekend.
Along the coast, a distance that I was informed recently was just under 1 mile, the Witch Doctor is still following the Saturday Night live bands, and this week we have some chap, called Dave Bowie ?? And the Buzz, they have advertised them as Radio London Climbers! The remainder of the week is Record, but I understand that one of the most popular record spinners would be returning later in the month after a summer break. Our regular routine would for many have been Friday Night and Ready Steady Go with the show piloted through the bedlam by Cathy & Keith, on the show this week The Spencer Davis Group “When I come Home”, Wayne Fontana “Goodbye Bluebird, The Fortunes “ Is it really worth your While” & Sandie Shaw “ Run”. Lets take a look at the BBCs offerings – On The Light Programme on Saturday we had 10.00am Saturday Club with Don Moss sitting in for Brian Matthew, and the groups appearing included Alan Price, The Spencer David Group, Small Faces and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. In the afternoon – Swing into Summer continues and this week’s artistes included Adam Faith, Vince Hill, The Ivy League & The Magil 5, for Brass Band Fans this was also the 114th National Competition broadcast live. The evening entertainments still with summer seasons in mind came from Great Yarmouth with Terry Scott & Hugh Lloyde, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Dallas Boys and The Countrymen. Later in the evening it was The Henry Wood Promenade Concert from the Royal Albert Hall. The evening ended with Dancing Over Europe and Simon Dee. Television – Grandstand, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Till Death Do Us Part, The Trouble shooters and Match of the Day. Sunday, was very much as usual – Radio – Children’s requests, Mrs Mills & The Happy Gang, Easy Beat. Three way Family Favourites – London, Koln & Singapore [BFBS were just about to move into their new studios in Tanglin Army Barracks on the island, that would be their home until the pull out of British Forces in 1972 from the Singapore Base – I remember it well] The afternoon was filled with the usual comedy, Melody and Movie times and later in the evening the main show came from Blackpool. The evening ended with Jazz Scene. Sunday was Educational till mid afternoon, then International Athletics, followed by It’s a KO – Blackpool v Lytham St Anne, Perry Mason and Ken Dodd. BBC 2 had Cricket and a feature on Animals in Trinidad.
On the pirates Tony Blackburn on Radio London Top Forty – Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers “ Got to Get you into my Life”, Lee Dorsey “ Working Down a Coal Mine”, Chris Andrews “ Stop that Girl”, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band “ Big Time Operator & a band that I would work many times with a little later in the Decade on Hastings Pier – Episode Six “ Here There and Everywhere”. The top 5 on Radio Caroline this week – Dave Lee Travis on Caroline South – Roy Orbison “ Too Soon To Know”, The Beatles “Yellow Submarine, Manfred Mann “Just Like a Woman”, Small Faces “ All or Nothing” and Chris Andrews “ Stop that Girl”
So there we have another weeks memories of Hastings & St Leonards. I hope that it brought back the good times, even if after all these years perhaps that not quite as we remember them – memory can do some strange things to the truth.
Nick Bloomfield… Steve Marriott, David Bowie, The Moody Blues, Status Quo etc I’ve been fascinated by the story of a small live music club called the Witch Doctor which was started in St Leonards in 1964 and where many future pop stars and bands played. This video is not a detailed account but rather a personal view and a fond look at what became the place to go in Hastings for a few years in the 1960’s.. I have queried some of the claims made by others which is always dangerous but I worked hard on the research so hopefully most of this account is accurate… Hastings Pier was its big brother and had most of the big bands of the time but the Witch Doctor had a kind of magic. During my research I discovered that a Manchester based Business Man and major club owner was trying to expand his interests south. His name was Dougie Flood and some claim he had close connections with the ‘Quality Street Gang’ in Manchester. He bought clubs in both Catford and Hastings as ‘Witch Doctor’ clubs. Later the Catford club was rebranded as ‘Mr Smiths’ like the one in Manchester. Everyone knows about Hastings Pier and all the bands who played there From Hendrix to the Stones. The Who, Sex Pistols etc Pink Floyd played their last ever gig with Syd Barrett there. Much less well known though is The Witchdoctor which was a club formed in 1964 and based in Marine Court, St Leonards, the iconic 1930’s building that looks like a ship. It took much longer than I thought it would so if you don’t like it I don’t care as I’m knackered…
Gerry Fortsch… I was a bit to young to be allowed in to The Witch Doctor but as I was tallish and had long hair and sideburns I never had a problem.
Alan Esdaile… Well done Nick, must have taken you forever.
Andy Qunta… Very interesting! Thanks, Nick! I never went to the Witch Doctor as it closed before we moved to the Hastings area, but I remember my brother Tony & I played at the Cobweb in late ‘69/early ‘70 with our band Static Emotion, (also featuring Dave Austin, the late great Chris Sambrook).
Mick Knights… Was at the opening night and saw all the bands with the exception of Simon Dupree. Some famous names that were booked but cancelled on the night, one was Little Richard, I can remember Tony Powell sitting at the top of the stairs refunding the ltickets. I thought the owner was an organist and if I remember had a record out called Image which was played a lot but wasn’t really what people wanted to hear. I did see someone fire a shotgun at the main doors, was that to do with the Krays? Could go on but it’s time to take the dogs out.
Nick Bloomfield… I envy you seeing them all! There seems to have been a very flexible management structure in The Smiths organisation! I think the man you’re thinking of is Alan Haven and I’ve found the record you mentioned. ‘Images’ ‘from 1965.
Mick Knights… Nick, Yeah, a bit too sophisticated for the likes of us back then! You’ve certainly got the old grey cells working, I’ve posted about the Who gig before, of course nobody imagined they would become the force they did, back then they were just the best chart band around, I think I’m right in saying that Tony Powell booked them after taking a poll to find out which band people wanted to see. Always smile when I see the footage especially the sweaty bobbing head of Colin Gilcrest (Mr. G) sadly no longer with us. The girl dancing by herself I’m pretty sure is Silverhill Lill who was always there, as you can tell all the regulars had nicknames mine was ‘L I’ because I had the letters emblazoned across the front of my Lambretta. Really must stop rambling on, but between the Witch Doctor closing and the Cobweb opening the ballroom below was used for live bands on a Saturday night but sadly none come to mind!!
Chris Meachen… I went in once when it was the Cobweb, but the only feature I can remember was a tree trunk in the middle of the room, presumably as a funky kind of seating..
Stephen Moran… This is great Nick! I’m currently working on a PhD about the popular music histories of Hastings, and the Witchdoctor and the Cobweb made important contributions in addition to the Pier Ballroom of course, its great to see the Witchdoctor story captured so well.
Lynn Graham… I was in there at every available opportunity
Arthur Brown… I saw Steve Marriott at The Crypt
Tony MacDonnell… What a great film. Before our time in this area but so interesting. I played in a band in North Devon in the sixtes and we supported some of these acts in our local venue . Georgie Fame mentioned the Witch Doctor when he played a concert at the White Rock a few years ago. Once again – brilliant film and an important piece of local history.
Allan Testot-newick… I remember so well playing venue in 1966 with the King Bees we had a Brill night
George Underwood… Allan, ah yes, I remember now
Ian Williams… Allan, Local band ‘Spyke’ also played there
Mick O’Dowd… Used to be a member (still got membership card) even though I was underage. Saw some great bands there and always remember that the bouncers always seemed to wear Brut aftershave!
Stuart Moir… Played there many times supporting name bands of the era .
Jim Pluck…Played there in 1965 with Blues Syndicate think we supported a band called the Nite People ( Zoot Money) what a fab club and won the jackpot on the six penny fruit machine! Goood times.
Paul Morfey… Still got the single, almost 50 years old. Great song, great era in English music!!
Mick O’Dowd… Great group. One of my faves even though they were short-lived. At least Frampton went on from being “The Face of 67” to being a very talented artist.
Lloyd Johnson… Before they became The Herd some of them were in a band called The Preachers. The Preachers also played The Witchdoctor around 1964.It was my mate Dave Muriel’s 21 Birthday and they were friends of his so they came to Hastings early and played his birthday party the evening before The Witchdoctor at The Pamdor Club above the Coffee bar in Queen’s road.There were around 20 or so of us.Les Martin who ran The Club kindly let Dave have his party there.
Sid Saunders… I was at the Witch Doctor that night.
Jackie Hersee… Me too
Judith Monk… Me too!
Caz Simpson… Me too!
Nigel Ford… No, No…. (I wasn’t there….)
Peter Millington… The Confederates were the support group. Speedy, George Fame’s bongo player took a real shine to John Conroy, The Confederates lead singer. Never seen John so frightened before or since lol.
Mick O’Dowd… The Ram Jam Band WITH Geno Washington? First time i’ve seen this. He WAS The Ram Jam Band. This must have been an early gig.
John Gale… Geno is still playing and going strong
Alan Esdaile… He was a member of the SMART group awhile ago.
Mick O’Dowd… Saw him a few times and last time was in Bexhill. I was the only one to try to start a “Geno” chant going and it failed miserably. Still it was a good show.
John Gale… He was meant to play the Brass Monkey a few years back, bad weather (Heavy snow) meant it was cancelled and it was never rescheduled. Their ‘Hand Clapping Foot Stomping’ album, is still one of the best ever live albums in my opinion
David Edwards… Geno played Hastings every month or so it seemed a great live band.
