Photo source: https://www.themerseybeats.co.uk
David Bastable… went there to see The Merseybeats. The lights had failed just before I arrived. Dave Johnson, the drummer was sitting in the foyer with a few blokes. I sat with them and chatted away.
When the lights came back we all went upstairs. It turned out that Dave and I had been sitting with the group A great memory That’s a time when you could stand next to the stage when groups like The Animals played
photo source… http://forgottenbands.blogspot.com/2010/01/neil-landon-burnettes.html
Alan Esdaile… Neil Landon was in the Flowerpot Men and also the band Fat Mattress with Noel Redding.
supplied by Andre Palfrey-martin collection
Poster supplied by Colin Norton
Colin Norton… I played drums for the Downliners that night. it was a fun gig as I remember… The only rehearsal that I had was the sound check. No, I did not play on any of their records but I did rehearse with them in the spring of 1967 for a tour of Sweden which never happened. Keith Grant is a great bass player and I really enjoyed playing with him. Our friend, Baz Cooper, was the keyboard player for the Downliners for more than a year and played on the “I Can’t Get Away From You”/”Roses” (Pye) in 1967. The other members for the Hastings gig were Don Craine – Rhythm Guitar and Vocals, Bob Taylor – Lead Guitar. Great memories!
Mick O’Dowd… Had their EP “The Sect Sing Sick Songs” and there was a “sick” version of Leader of The Pack on it.
Colin Norton… Yes, “The Leader Of The Sect” :
supplied by John Busbridge
John Busbridge… Signed Photo of Moody Blues given to me by the Moody Blues backstage at the Continental Club in Eastbourne ! My Favourite Band at that time! Saw them three times! Once at the continental club in Eastbourne and twice at the Witch Doctor
Ashley Davies… Still listen to on the threshold of a dream album which is 50 years old great band
John Busbridge… I even started to learn the flute at the time!
John Busbridge… 1st Birthday Night Friday 16th July 1965. Tickets 7/6
Chris Meachen… Got a lift off them once.. Budgie took me halfway to Coventry, then the Moodies let me ride with them from the services to somewhere near my destination..
Baz Cooper… Did they sign the photo and then say, “Go Now!” ???
Dave Nattress… Baz – now there’s a “Question”
Baz Cooper… Yes, isn’t life strange?! Lovely to see these old photos from days of future past! On a sadder note, it is just on 12 months ago that Ray Thomas died
Colin Norton… Why do we never get an answer? …..
Stuart Huggett. Cryin Shame, Classic Joe Meek!
John Scaife… Checkout ” The Strange Story Of Joe Meek” BBC 2 Documentary, Joe Meek’s 2 Brothers favourite Joe Meek produced records was “The Crying Shames – Please Stay”
Mick O’Dowd… 3 great bands! I think I went to see the Cryin’Shames not to be confused with The Cryan Shames who I believe were American
Dave Nattress… Didn’t see this – too young, knew of The Witch Doctor but just an intriguing name and place, far too young to go when it was in it’s heyday, but I do remember hearing the band name “The Coloured Raisins” – mid-late 60’s as this advert confirms? There is a bit about them on the www. Maybe they got the odd play on the fledgling Radio 1?
Mike O’Dowd… They had quite a few plays on the pirates and their only album came out on Major Minor. They were a good little band.
Mick O’Dowd… What was SI’s Reaction to this news?
Jim Breeds… He ate his coconut mushroom and went home.
Lyn Graham… I loved that place. Spent a lot of time there.
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! )
Andre Palfrey-martin collection
Andre Martin… From The Witch Doctor in 1964, one of the bands that Neil played with before the Lonely Ones.
Gerry Fortsch… I was very impressed with this club, I was never very trendy in truth I looked more like a hairy beatnik. I did catch the Small Faces though.
David Edwards… I’d have been 13 at the time so no chance of getting in but I do remember him being the house band on I think it was 5 o’clock Club a kids programme on the telly, which was quite surreal really.
Supplied by Mark Mackenzie
Mark MacKenzie… 1967 just before our gig at the Witch Doctor St Leonards, kindly sent to me by our guitarist at that time Peter Anderson, Peter contacted me through one of his friends and after all this time we are mates once again….L to R Peter Anderson guitar, Colin Wilson sax (obv), myself drums, Joe Black vocals, John Couchman bass and Roger Fox Keyboards……Happy days…thanks Peter.
Mick O’Dowd… Didn’t they do a cover of Bend Me Shape Me but losy out to Amen Corner.
Alan Esdaile… American Breed, Mick.
