Can anyone tell me if the pink toothbrush had any other previous identities. I know it was crocs but anything else???.. Thanks for your help Sheri Andrews
Micky Jupp singer and pianist with the orioles did the most amazing version of will you still love me tomorrow at the shoeburyness hotel does anybody else remember it greg
Probably my favourite concert of all time was watching Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel play at the Kursaal Ballroom in 1975 just as their single “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” had made No.1 in the charts. The site of Steve Harley dressed in a red suit complete with bowler hat was something else. At that time they were supported by Sailor who later went on to chart success of their own. Steve L
Enjoyed you reminder of the bands appearing at the Kursaal. I can add to the list personal favourites Black Sabbath in 75, Quo 74 & March 75 (the live recording night), Supertramp supported by Joan Armatrading (76?) a tremendous show by Thin Lizzy in 77, at the height of their career. The Pretty Things (75 & 76) were good, but played to a hall only about one third full on both occasions. Focus played in 77 but didn't go down very well. Gigs I missed included Golden Earring/L Skynyrd, Greenslade, Procul Harum, Humble Pie and Kraftwerk. It'd be nice to see a comprehensive listing if you ever complete it! IC
You may or may not know but I'm pretty sure Lynyrd Skynyrd made their first u.k. appearance at the Kursaal supporting Golden Earring.Man also made several Kursaal appearances,Humble Pie,Gentle Giant and Van Der Graaf Generator also played the Kursaal. Thanks R
Looking at your web site I notice you mention Deep Purple playing at the Kursaal. The mark 3 version (with David Coverdale and Glen Hughes) played their Burn tour gig there in Summer 1974. They were so loud (at the time they were in the Guinness Book Of Records as the loudest band) that we couldn't hear for two days after and we were at the back of the hall.
Barclay James Harvest played there at least twice and were one of my favourites. The first was in 1974, the second was probably 1975 when they bought out Octoberon (or could have been 1976). Status Quo had a B side to a single recorded live at the Kursaal in 1975/76.
One of the best groups to play the Kursaal were Back Street Crawler with Paul Kossoff (ex-Free) this was about six months before his death, so it was about June 1975 He was absolutely brilliant and did not seem to be suffering from any illness at all. I was right at the front of the stage and was totally mesmerised by his playing.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band played the Kursaal in 1975, I saw him standing on a scaffolding gantry, dressed - I think as Hitler, spraying Vambo on to a false brick wall as they played the Vambo Coming To The Rescue track from Next.
Frupp were another band that pulled in a good crowd, even though they were virtually un-heard of.
Lindisfarne played the Kursaal in 1975. This was half of the original line up from the early 1970's, the others having formed Jack The Lad. But the old tracks were played brilliantly including a fantastic version of Lady Ellenor.
David Essex played the Kursaal in 1975, but we only went along to pick up girls. Unfortunately they were all about eleven years old and being dropped off and picked up by their dads.
The best memories of the Kursaal was the bar, which was up to your ankles in beer and the huge double doors to enter the dance hall. I used to be listening to the music and staring up at the stars throught the dome windows. The fun fair was the place to go in the summer before we went into a concert. A wonderful time in my life and to others I have spoken to since.
For your information, there is a library in Loughton that has all of the weekly Melody Maker papers from the 1930's until the mid 1980's, in it's Jazz Museum. I was going to compile a list of the bands that played there from the weekly listings section, over the years. It was interesting to read the reports of the Reading Pop Festivals of 1974 and 1975, both of which I went to. The former being the last time Traffic ever played - August Bank Holiday 1974. There is a bootleg album of that concert knocking around.
Reading the record reviews of the day is also interesting and how some of the albums and groups reviewed, have lasted the years or have become even more popular than at the time they were first reviewed. An example of this is Steely Dan.
A pub in Southend, off the High Street, called the Alexandra, had amongst others Yes play upstairs in their function room. This is now a small night club.
The New Seakers played the Talk Of The South in December 1973, Beg Steal or Borrow, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing etc.. were their hits at the time. Two years later the Three Degrees played there.
Trust some of this will be of use to you, let me know how you get on. Regards SC
Queen were a support band to Mott The Hoople at the Kursaal. This was around the time Queen's first album came out (7 Seas of Rhye had charted). Mott the Hoople were fronted by local lad Nigel Benjamin (who I think was formerly the singer in local outfit The Diamond Jack Band), but everyone was blown away by the 'support band', who went on to make a bit of a name for themselves! Round about 1972 Genesis played the Queens Hotel, Westcliff, the same venue hosted Focus
The trip down the musical memory lane dredged up a few more names and places: - The Shrimpers Club (Roots Hall) - The Stray Cats (about Feb 1980 - was a warm up gig ahead of their first UK tour). The Records (1979?), Tonight (of "Drummer Man" fame) - around 1979. Talk of the South also had Bill Hayley and the Comets (about 1974) - before he died! Gary Glitter (God forbid!) played a club in what is now the Victoria Plaza, upstairs where the 'Beer Kellar' was. Sweet played an absolutely blinding gig at the Kursaal - guess around 1975. Colosseum (featuring Gary Moore) played the Zero 6 around 1979. RC
