I was lucky enough to be 16 in 1964 and I lived in Crawley . . .
My friends and I were out every night of the week, I can’t remember the days but we used to go every Friday to see the bands play at Hazelwick, I don’t remember any outstanding group. My friends and I were there the Friday night that it was announced that President Kennedy had died from the bullet wounds he had received earlier in the day.
We went a few times to the Mojo Club which was held at Three Bridges Junior School – I remember seeing Eric Burden and the Animals and Long John Baldry.
The Boys Club at Popes Mead was another night out, nobody famous but good records. I think Frankie Vaughan was a visitor there once.
The Civic Hall (Town Hall) used to have bands play one night of the week – I saw the Searchers and the Mersey Beats there.
The Grasshopper at Tilgate was another great venue, Desmond Dekker played there and Mike Berry. Along with another famous Crawley group called the Evergaldes, their vocalist was Monty Cavan.
The Railway in Crawley used to have good bands – I remember seeing Screaming Lord Sutch, The Downliners Sect, and a male solo singer, I can’t remember his name.
The Starlight Ballroom was the best place to see groups – I saw The Who, Roger Daltry stood next to me at the bar, Cliff Bennett and the Rebelrowsers, and Jimi Hendrix and more, maybe Herman and the Hermits, Showaddywaddy.
My younger brother John was a founder member of Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts, a Crawley group, who had a hit record in 1972 under the name of Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs.
(Mollie)
