Post by Les on Nov 30, 2017 19:40:15 GMT
Maidstone I remember it well:
In the early 60's there was a band called The Whirlwinds made up of local talent! Also The Kingfishers whose leading vocals were provided by the inimitable Tony Bathurst. They often played at the London Tavern.
In King Street we frequented The Rat Trap, a small cafe where we all danced in the cellar which became very hot and crowded but I don't remember any live bands there.
I was treated to the concert by P J Proby which was staged at the Agricultural Hall in the Market Place, a rather controversial exhibition according to the newspaper reports with dear old PJ once again splitting his trousers and complaining that the scaffolding on which he had to perform was decorated with toilet tissue!!
Maidstone certainly knew how to look after the'stars'of the era, the best concerts were at the Granada cinema where many of the 60's singers such as Adam Faith, Billy Fury, Cilla Black and many others were staged and showcased. Also the Star in Pudding Lane put on Saturday night dances in the King's Hall Ballroom where we first witnessed Screaming Lord Sutch prancing around the stage wearing a toilet seat around his neck!!
There was a very 'Liberace' style organist that played during intervals, flamboyant but wizzard on the Hammond - can anyone remember who he was? Was he ever one of the organists playing at the Granada Cinema who usually preceded the main film and who descended into the orchestra pit with the organ as the lights went down