Eam
Junior Member
Posts: 5
I Love Lowestoft!
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Is there anyone who went to the concerts at the Pier on a Saturday night ?
I remember seeing bands such as Wizzard and the Sweet there and also Thin Lizzy but
their gig archives (Thin Lizzys) do not back this up.
Is this a false memory or does anyone else remember seeing them there?
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frankiesays
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I remember when Thin Lizzie came to Lowestoft but as I recall it they came to the Royal Hotel where the East Point Pavilion now stands. There were lots of orange posters on lamp posts everywhere proclaiming the fact that "Tin Lizzie" were coming to town. Easy mistake to make when not many people had heard of them, they were irish and the deal was probably done over the phone. I didn't go to see them but can remember seeing Sweet Sensation and KC & The Sunshine Band on the pier. Before my time much more famous bands played the town including the Rolling Stones I believe.
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funkychick
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Yes Frankie youre right I was in the front row for the Stones, Freddy and the dreamers, the hollies, searches Little Richard and many more all at the Royal Hotel
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paulears
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I worked there for the shows - which crazily is what I still do - Thin Lizzy and the Stones were at the Royal. The Pier in the early years was still seated, theatre style and only converted to the ballroom in, from memory, ready for the summer season in 74/75. I can't find the exact date, but the venue was still seated when they had a panto there. My Dad, John Johnson, and a lady called Irene Leach were in that one, with other names in my head being Alan Hubbard (Betatravel) and Mike Mills.
Ted and Brenda Hardwick, who also owned the Tower Complex in Gt Yarmouth were at the helm - Ted was notoriously difficult to work for and as Health & Safety had not been invented/discovered, I remember him making the follow spot people walk across a two feet wide walkway across the roofspace, without any hand rails, in the dark! Those confident ones amongst us did well, although I remember Gary Adams, an old school friend falling off this walkway and sticking his foot through the roof, holding on for dear life! Somebody complained a light had landed on their table, but it wasn't, it was a big lump of plaster! Looking up, if the lights had been on, they would have seen a leg, dangling!
At that time, the pier was on the No. 1 touring circuit, so we got - in no particular order:
Sweet, Wizzard, Showaddywaddy, Alvin Stardust (who was also at the Sparrows nest in 79 - and got a letter in the Journal from me complaining that the people of Lowestoft didn't support the venue - nothing much changed there then!).
We also had Blackfoot Sue,Merlin, T-Rex, Geordie, Slade, and of course Gary Glitter and the Glitter band. We had less well know bands too, Middle of the Road, who suddenly became popular with Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep Cheep - and were pretty awful - and my favourites, Mud! A great band who seemed to vanish were Blackwater Junction who had a minor hit with a version of MacArthur Park.
Apart from the pop lot, we also had big band stuff - the truly excellent Syd Lawrence Orchestra who then became very popular as the resident band on the Les Dawson Show - playing Carribean Clipper as their signature tune. At that time, Syd was alive, playing trumpet, with Ronnie Verrell on drums. My first introduction to Big Band music.
There were also the weekend discos, which tended to be rather rough - The bouncers were much scarier than they are today. If you take the leaflet handed out by Mr Ackerman, outside the old woollies store, you'll see his story of how he was at that time to rather feared Mandy Carbonelli - and nobody messed with him. He's really a nice bloke now, so his leaflet is worth a read just for a bit of history.
The Pavillion Tower, by 1976 had been closed. I used to sneak up there, but Ted would go mad if he caught you!
In the summer, 1974/5 we still had the usual summer shows - what I actually still do. We had one quite infamous one, run by self-styled producer Gerald Morter - the Great Geraldini - a truly dreadful Magician. Technically quite good, but rather like watching Captain Mainwaring doing magic! The shows were quite fun - we had two female dancers who my friend and I got friendly with. Diane Crowe and .... Caroline Quentin - who must have only been 16 or 17 at the time - same as me.
The MD was called Charles Smitton - who played the organ, but had had a stroke and his face had a somewhat alarming grimace as he played.
The show ran out of money, and the producer ran for it. The Headline in the Stage Newspaper was "The Magician who made the Show disappear!"
The very strange thing is that the South Pier Pavillion was actually quite large - but if you look at the pier now, the space doesn't seem big enough?
If I remember any other bands, I'll add them. It was such a shame it closed, but like many seaside theatre venues, they were designed in the 50s, and were never really expected to have a very long lifespan.
The South Pier hardly features on the net at all - very little information.
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Paul Johnson
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Joe
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Thankyou, Paul, for that interesting post.
Thanks to you there is now a little more South Pier information on the 'net.
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paulears
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Somewhere I even had a little bit of cine film taken outside - but I think it's lost. The trouble is I worked there as my first job from 16-18 - which makes it 1974-6 - but it's a bit blurred. I remember one summer was really hot - was that 76?
The nice thing is I forgot one very important one - The Bay City Rollers! absolute chaos - girls trying to climb drainpipes and attempting to sneak in through the bar at the front. I've no idea at all how good they were (or not) because we didn't hear anything apart from girls screaming.
also - Hot Chocolate, Dr Hook, Judge Dread, Emperor Rosco Roadshow, Paper Lace, Leo Sayer
I've a memory of Split Enz - but that might have been West Runton Pavilion, can't be sure - many Lowestoft people at that time started to go to West Runton instead of the Pier. Fun this!
I bumped into White Plains last year (well, two of them) and they mentioned Lowestoft, but I don't remember them playing there.
At that time, there were even a few parking spaces actually on the pier if you were early enough!
I don't suppose any lighting people are on here but I've just pulled out some old lighting leaflets for things we bought for the new fangled 'disco' nights. The house lighting in the theatre was on large wheel shaped metal chandeliers - and a blue 'fuzz light' (as in police car light) was fitted to each one. We thought it looked good!
It was working there when I first discovered at 17, that I was allergic to alcohol. Popular drink of the time, Lager and Black for the blokes and babycham for the girls. Yuk. On some nights, they didn't want stage lighting, so I washed glasses - and they even had cocktails back then - Tequila Sunrises were the popular ones, and although a non-smoker, the kids bought odd cigarettes from the little shop near the bridge that was near the Ford Jenkins shop - coloured cigarettes, called Sobranie Cocktail, or black ones, Sobranie black
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Paul Johnson
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Boatbuilder
John
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I've learnt to take everything life throws at me!!
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Sobranie Black were actually called 'Black Russian'. Well in the 1960's they were.
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funkychick
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I used to smoke sobarnie and drink babycham or cherryB with a cherry on a cocktail stick, drambuie or benedictine no old lager for me with me coloured cigarettes
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frankiesays
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back in those days (maybe the same now) the girls would have a totally different preference if somebody else was buying the drinks. I used to go to the Tower a lot but mostly Bricks disco underneath. the usual modus operandi was to offer to buy the best looking girl a drink and virtually without exception the choice was brandy and babycham - that cost a whole 50 pence and was usually not what the young lady was currently drinking. One had to make a quick decision as whether it was a wise investment or not, the decision was usually "yes" but the wiseness of the decision mostly wrong buy hey-ho a good time was had by all. At least in those days there was always a slow music session every hour or so which gave us a chance to get to meet some girls by asking them to dance- it doesn't happen that way any more. And back in those days I wouldn't consider going out on a Friday or Saturday night until 9pm and that would be to a succession of GY pubs until just before 11 and then off to a disco. The young guys nowadays tell me that you have to be in the queue for the club (what they call discos nowadays) by 9pm otherwise you won't get in - and at some of them you have to pull a girl before you go in - how mad is that?
Is there a grumpy old man forum on this site? i think I'd be really good at it!
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Eam
Junior Member
Posts: 5
I Love Lowestoft!
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I remember seeing the bands Paul mentions also Chickory tip, Love affair and Martha Reeves. Geordie's singer is now in AC/DC. I remember Gary Glitter appearing at somewhere called I think, 'Arthurs' in a hotel basement.
Maybe I saw Lizzy at the Royal then, I know they played the college as well.
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funkychick
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We used to walk up and down the seafront on a Sunday night waiting for a boy to get talking and ask you out. My Mum told me she used to as well a generation before. If we had a lucky night we'd either end up having a cuddle (yes just a cuddle) in one of the shelters or if they had money in their pockets a drink in the Royal. My best friend met her first husband when we were on our Sunday evening walk and I met my first long term boyfriend lasted about four years, longer than most marriages these days haha
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frankiesays
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If you're still into the Searchers Funkychick, they are on near me in a couple of weeks - you just need to get yourself up to Morecambe sea front!
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funkychick
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I do like the Searchers Frankie but dont think I'll be popping up to Morecombe
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paulears
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They've been at the Britannia Pier at least once a year for a long time now. Always a good show, very nice people and still working hard. Their old drummer was married to Jane McDonald, the singer - and he left them to spend time with her. They tour nice hot places like Australia when it's cold here, and then do cruises! I'd rather work for them than many of the new bands.
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Paul Johnson
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You've started bringing back alot of memories of the late sixties and seventies at the South Pier and Royal Hotel there was alot of top bands that played at both venues,some that come readilly to mind are,The Kinks,Amen Corner,Searchers,The Hollies,Manford Mann,Small Faces,Yardbirds,Hermans Hermits,Wizzard,Tremelos, Sweet, Billy J Krammer and Jeff Beck band,if i remember rightly Rod Stewart was in the band then.As for Slade the only place i can remember Slade playing at is what is now the Hollywood cinema.There were many more every saturday they had a top band on.Great days.
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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional.
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funkychick
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I remember seeing Frankie |Howard at the theatre where the hollywood is
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paulears
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Somewhere, I've got a picture of the Slade gig at the Pier - Jim Lea had an electric violin - the very first time I saw one, and they didn't get popular until the 90s. Compared with today, their equipment was really basic. Nowadays, the majority of equipment goes into big, black flightcases, with wheels. They protect the kit and can be put on and off a truck quite easily. Slade had ....... beer crates!
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Paul Johnson
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TruBrit
Junior Member
Posts: 16
I love Lowestoft!
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Thanks for the memories, all. I was a regular at the South Pier around 74/75 and Cleopatra's disco. Christ, some of those winter nights with the wind blowing in from the North Sea! Anyone remember Pebbles disco, above the Claremont, run by Dave Scott? I still see Dave around Air Show time, if I'm home. We had some good Monday nights up there. Does anyone remember Average White Band playing South Pier? Around 1978, Dire Straits did a show there. I'm always leery of going on about the 'good old days' as it's a sign that age is creeping up on us, but it was a fun time. (Dave Stanfield - hung around with Merv Shade, Paul Blowers, Eddie McAlone, Charlie Neeve, Paul Mingay, Pat Nally).
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Rosie
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I was too young to remember these concerts, but I remember going to the pier in the 80's for the disco on a Saturday night. Loved it!
My father remembers Jimi Hendrix coming to Lowestoft in the 60's I think he played at the Royal though, maybe wrong could have been the pier. Must have been early 60's as his Mum would not let him go, said he was too young, he is kicking himself now!
When the Rolling Stones came to the Royal my father in law and his father were the doorman/bouncers, he remembers the drummer dropping a drum near my mother in law, who was expecting at the time and having a go at him. Just wish he'd had got their autographs instead.
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frankiesays
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I don't remember AWB coming to Lowestoft? I went to see them in London in'76 though. Wasn't Pebbles the disco under the Scotsman or whatever it was in those days? Dave Scott's disco over the Claremont was just called Dave's Disco. I printed some cards or flyers for him once. The Monday night disco was great, I stood in for him a couple of times as I recall. He closed the place for a few weeks for a refurb or something so Malcolm McGrory and myself added Monday to our Thurs to Sun slot at the King Alfred. Happy days!
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paulears
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I think it was the very early seventies, before I was old enough to go to the Pier - before they became 'American'.
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Paul Johnson
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margaretpeek
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I remember the South Pier late fifties early sixties before the big bands arrived.It was a new era and the excitement we felt as we walked through the door and up the stairs was electric.We had fabulous dresses with layers of filly peticoats hooped petticoat to make our skirts stand out.The boys and the girls all looked so smart.The boys nearly all ways wore a suit.Im so glad i had my South Pier days it was the most importent time of my life.When my daughter was a little girl she used to love to hear about that era.
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frankiesays
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I wasn't from that era Margaret but I know exactly what you mean about the excitement before you went in. I felt the same way about Bricks disco on Gt Yarmouth seafront which was my favourite stomping ground in the early 70's.
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LowestoftBoy
Junior Member
Posts: 7
You will never leave
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Pebbles Disco was indeed in the basement of The Newcombe, formally The Scotsman and now HushHush Nightclub. Many happy evenings in there chasing very pretty Italian/German/French students! Closed in 1980 if I remember.
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paulears
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I'd forgotten about that one! A favourite place of mine was the Hideaway at Haddiscoe/St Olaves, almost under the bridge. We would also have some events at Beccles Public Hall, and us youths thought nothing of driving from Lowestoft to Beccles four or five times in an evening. You never went as far as Bungay, because the teens there were somewhat unfriendly to Beccles people, and hadn't really heard of Lowestoft. Getting an underage drink in those days was pretty tricky too - although the Morning Star would often forget and serve half pints of bitter to Kirkley High School students. Mainly I think because the landlady was a bit batty! This was also the era of PC Ron Lockwood who had a Norton Commando motorbike and hated moped riders with a passion.
Memory check - the DJ at Pebbles was called Des Syder I think - lived somewhere in St Aubyns Rd.
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Paul Johnson
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funkychick
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Did anyone used to go to the dicos at the art school in Morton Rd now seagull theatre i remember some names coming there as well as Royal and S Pier
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Does anyone remember the disco at back of the Morning Star north.The only thing i call recall at the moment is how dark it was inside.
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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional.
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Meryl
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Did anyone used to go to the dicos at the art school in Morton Rd now seagull theatre i remember some names coming there as well as Royal and S Pier
When I went tere it was a youth club run by a Mr Tanner. !952/3?
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funkychick
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It was a bit later for me Meryl about '62 /63
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frankiesays
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Memory check - the DJ at Pebbles was called Des Syder I think - lived somewhere in St Aubyns Rd. I remember Derek Syder from school.
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paulears
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My mum knew his mum, and we took their dog when it became a bit much for them!
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Paul Johnson
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Glenn
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Did the Hollywood Cinema used to be called Mr Toad?
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funkychick
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I never remember it as that but i was told by someone else recently that it was I can only think it was when I was living away from Lowestoft
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Glenn
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I love Lowestoft!
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I seem to remember seeing Slade there in 1972 ish?
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funkychick
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Maye I didnt come back to Lowestoft until 76
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paulears
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I worked there from 73 through to 76(ish) and Slade were there quite a few times in that period - very common in 74 and 5.
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Paul Johnson
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Yes i remember Mr Toad and seeing Slade that was in their early days,if i remember rightly they were a skin head band at the time.
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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional.
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paulears
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Not really skin head - noddy had the big fuzzy sides and a top hat, and Jim Lea had long hair. They did wear braces though, I seem to remember.
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Paul Johnson
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funkychick
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I saw them up in Birmingham probably '71 or '72 when they were first famous
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Just had a peek in Wikipedia and there is a photo of them when they went through their skinhead phase in 1969 so maybe i saw them somewhere else befor Mr Toad but i can't think where.
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Growing old is mandatory.Growing up is optional.
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