The good news is that the smash-hit book The Anglian Beat highlighting the bands, groups and performers of the 1950s and 60s has been reprinted, is available now on eBay, and will be back in the shops very soon.

Busy author Kingsley Harris of the East Anglian Music Archive is now working on the next bumper edition looking at the music scene across Norfolk and the rest of East Anglia from 1970 to 1989.

And what a crazy time that was.

(Image: Newsquest library)

The title of the book will be The Revolution At Closing Time – taken from a Serious Drinking song, a band that was formed at the UEA in the early eighties.

“I would like to talk to anyone who played in bands during that period,” said Kingsley.

“I’m after all genres: Reggae, Punk, Prog Rock, Country, Metal, New Wave, Mod, Indie, Alternative, Jazz, Synth, Rock, Disco, Cabaret – it doesn’t matter if they played covers or their own material,” he added.

From a Norwich point of view groups people will remember include The Farmer’s Boys, The Higson’s (with Charlie Higson), Screen 3, The Disrupters and Vital Disorders.

(Image: Newsquest archive)

“There were hundreds of bands across the region of all styles,” said Kingsley who is embarking on  a huge task as music and moods changed again and again.

”Venues in the city such as such as The Jacquard, Gundry Whites and The Gala were all hives of music…and you got your weekly fix from the Evening News – Here & Now page,” he said.

“Some bands and musicians went on to be quite successful and many of those who set out looking for stardom back in the 70s and 80s are still playing today.

“The hope of stardom may have faded but their love of playing and performing has not,” said Kingsley.

(Image: Supplied)

So come you boys and girls, sorry gentlemen and ladies, start remembering, search for the photographs to bring back the memories of those crazy days in the 70s and 80s so the rest of us can enjoy them.

Email: info@musicfromtheeastzone.co.uk  

*We can’t leave the musical world of the 1950s and 60s without mention of The Tea Time Four from King’s Lynn formed by the brilliant Boz Burrell and Bernard Rudd in 1963.

The following year they were voted the best beat band  in the West Norfolk region. They went professional in 1964 and headed off to London.

They signed with promoter Robert Stigwood but hopes of touring with Chuck Berry and PJ Proby fell through and by 1965 they were known as Boz People.

More on Boz, who became the singer and bassist with King Crimson and Bad Company, in the coming weeks. He died in Spain back in 2006 but his memory and music lives on.

 

(Image: East Anglian Music Archive.) And then.

The Toby Jug Band, formerly Soul Concern,  from Great Yarmouth had a short run but found themselves caught up in a strange tale.

Once again Robert Stigwood was involved and it was said he talked Brigitte Bardot’s sister, Margitte, into touring the UK in 1968.

She arrived for her first gig at The Tower in Yarmouth but, after a dry run with a band hired from Birmingham, she refused to go on.

The next day in front of Anglia TV cameras, she talked about her sister while sipping brandy.

(Image: : East Anglian Music Archive)

Then Barry Rose, at The Tower, brought in The Toby Jug boys. They got on well and were asked to support her for the whole of the UK tour.

Trouble was it soon transpired that the girl was not Brigitte Bardot’s sister at all…she was a French “exotic” dancer turned singer who looked like her.

That’s show biz.

Finally Colin Burrage got in touch after seeing the photograph of The Spex group from Yarmouth.

“Wow what a write up. That brought back some memories. I was the drummer playing with the boys from Great Yarmouth Grammar School. I was from  Gorleston Technical High School so was the odd one out especially with no specs,” he said.

“If I recall this photo was taken when we appeared at the Beat Contests at the Garibaldi hosted by Gordon Edwards, Sadly the group disbanded when the boys left school and went to various universities,” added Colin.

He has been playing in various bands since  and is currently with country band Maddison County playing venues locally and neighbouring counties.

As he says: “Music – the spice of life! Keep it live.”

(Image: Newsquest archive)