1970s
In 1970, The Beatles’ demise ushered in a new era of music, and signalled the beginning of a decade in which Sussex developed a reputation for radicalism, beginning with vocal student opposition to US involvement in Vietnam. Pink Floyd’s success continued as prog rock found a wide audience, and the Clash’s landmark appearance at Sussex in the latter part of the decade highlighted the arrival of punk.
Can
November 1975 (featured on the live album Can Live Music 1971-1977)
The Clash
"I was there! Great night! I got so drunk I almost got put in the health centre for the night but escaped! I cut all my hair off next day and never looked back! Seriously - this concert changed my life!I also saw Johnny Thunders at the Uni and went backstage to interview him." – Gill Robinson (SOC 1975)
“A lot of students bought tickets. On the day of the gig itself, large numbers of London punks turned up without tickets and began piling into Mandela Hall. Students took one look at them and started to sell their tickets to them. They thought it was scary. It wasn’t. Inside the gig it was a really friendly atmosphere. There was lots of pogo-ing and jumping around, getting very bruised bashing into people. It was mayhem but controlled mayhem for about 35 minutes. The Clash played an outstandingly good set - very short, very loud, very fast" – Paul Cecil (ENGAM 1976)
The Damned
May 1977, Mandela Hall (Supporting The Clash, alongside The Buzzcocks, The Slits and Subway Sect)
As the just-recently-ex-Social Secretary, I was involved in organising the gig. I remember Rat Scabies (of The Damned) was so young his father was there with him to try to curb excessive excesses!" – Tony Glaser (SOC 1973)
Muddy Waters
"I remember Muddy Waters making a surprise and impromptu visit to the Crypt. Escaping London, he played a brilliant set using the Rolling Stones' Orange equipment." – Steve Murray (SOC 1968)
"I remember a surprise gig by Muddy Waters in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre sometime in 1971 or '72. He was astounding - an elderly man in an orange suit, standing with a stick but making the most wonderful music. Unforgettable." – Marilyn Relf née Simmons (CCS 1972)
"My favourite memory is of Muddy Waters and his band staying to join my room-mate John Altman’s 21st birthday party bash in the Student Union building. They stayed and played, jammed all night with John and his friends. The Muddy Waters concert was a very intimate set in the chemistry lecture hall. Great venue; incredible after-party...I do remember Muddy Waters' rider requiring we provided a bottle of a specific Champagne or Brandy, which made me a little nervous; I worried if we lost the bottle, would it affect his desire to perform? - so I carried it with me until I could hand it to him personally on arrival!" – Alan Melina (ENGG 1969)
Shakin' Stevens
“The Shakin Stevens concert at the College of Ed, east of Falmer station, was a real 'rock yer socks off': high energy from the off, full of fan favourites and as sweaty as you like.” – Pat Attridge (AFRAS, 1972)
"One act that really surprised me turned up in about 1972. No one had heard of them so we were thrown when all these 'Teddy Boys' arrived from South London in full regalia. The boys were in long jackets with velvet collars, drainpipes, brothel creepers and greased back hair looking so different from us in flares, beards and long hair. The girls in tight knitted jumpers and flaring skirts also seemed alien. The supporting band was an early Elvis style RocknRoll set-up who were ok, but the reason this lot had come was to dance to a young Shakin' Stevens who was remarkable to us who were into Led Zep, and certainly not RocknRoll. I was impressed by his talent and the band, but the jiving of the audience was great and they had plenty of space as the university students had just not turned up. Unfortunately the band manager had arranged for them to play on a share of the profits, which must have been about nil." – Martin Pascoe (BIOLS 1972)
The Who
"I missed The Who at the Isle of Wight Festival in August 1970 despite being there, so was delighted when I registered as a first year the next month to find they were playing at Sussex. I immediately bought a ticket and a copy of the tour album Who Live at Leeds, which confused my mother who thought they lived there. I still have the album even though it is worn out and all the weird ephemera they added inside the cover, to which I've added a free news sheet from the IoW. I made the mistake on the night of sitting on a Who amplifier for the first five numbers, my hearing has never been quite the same since, but I was right up close to see Keith Moon bring on about thirty drumsticks I soon realised why." - Martin Pascoe (BIOLS 1972)
"Most exciting was The Who at Falmer house where they played on a stage consisting of refectory tables tied together with rope. Piles of speakers formed the wings for a narrow space on which Pete Townsend exploded into the lights dressed in his white overalls, caught mid air with his famous splits jump. Soon the tables were shifting apart. Goodness knows how many hairy people were jammed into that room - it was said that a million fleas hatched out in the humidity! Overwhelming rock concerts long before stadium rock." – Peter Young (MAPS 1970)
"I do remember The Who - too crowded, poor amplification and a bit of a disappointment." – Marilyn Relf née Simons (CCS 1972)
"The Who played in Falmer House Refectory in 1970: for some reason I had to leave before the end and you could still hear them halfway back to Brighton on the bus!" – Gill Fraser (MAPS 1966)
"I remember The Who concert well. Lots of stuff from Tommy. Millions of gatecrashers; we were crammed in like a Japanese commuter train. Scary. Daltrey fell through the (temporary) stage. Great night!" - Andrew Fraser (ENGAM 1969)
"I remember The Who Concert in Falmer House well. I volunteered to be a local roadie to shift their gear into and out of the hall - there was quite a bit of kit! The stage was built of dining tables and there were dining chairs down the side of the room with their backs to the crowd to act as an entrance/ exit for the band. The event was more than a a sell-out and over-full. A few of “us roadies” stood on the chairs during the performance and helped carry out any fainting fans. I remember at least three as the room was packed tight and getting very warm. But the bit I remember best is when Pete Townshend did one of his signature leaps and crashed through the centre of a dining table. He was fine and the band carried on playing whilst we ran onto the “stage” to remove and replace the table. Pete immediately jumped again but somehow the new table survived. We did get a pat on the back from the man and he might remember this performance himself." – David Pritchard (MAPS 1971)
"I remember seeing The Who in 1970 with my girlfriend Dee from BIOLS, who has been my wife for very nearly 40 years! Pete Townsend commented on the stage, saying: "I hope the woodwork department have done a good job!" He then gave it a good work out in leaping about a lot during the concert! They also tried out one or two numbers that eventually became part of their Quadraphenia album." – Steve Murray (SOC 1968)
"It wasn't a bad way to start your first term. I was amongst the tightly packed crowd, cross-legged on the floor to see The Who - standing up would have been uncool. It was the third time I'd seen them that year: the first was at Exeter University (i.e. back home) on May Day, the second was at the Isle of Wight Festival in August. From what I remember the set was "Tommy" and "Live At Leeds" material. Pete Townshend was in his DMs and white boiler suit (which I think was tie-died by the time of the Sussex gig) and playing, I think, a cherry red Gibson SG. Roger Daltrey was probably in his long curly hair/fringed buckskin jacket/bare chest combination. I remember PT doing more guitar soloing than I'd expected from the records. That and the the sheer physical impact, which at least I was prepared for after the Exeter gig — they started playing and you thought "Christ, this is loud", then Daltrey started singing and the noise doubled, but my memory is that the vocals were clear in the mix (not many bands achieved that then).
"I also have a mental picture of some very tall PA stacks either side of the stage. I definitely recall Pete Townshend looking up at the venue and saying how it would be improved once it had acquired some "soul and vibes". It must have been stifling hot in there but I was 18 and took no notice. There were two support acts. Roger Ruskin Spear and His Amazing Kinetic Wardrobe consisted of him (ex-Bonzo Dog Band) and loads of mechanical props. He played a solo on "the human leg" (a dummy leg with a theremin in it). The James Gang were an American trio that Pete Townshend had been talking up in the music press (which was thriving back then) and their guitarist was Joe Walsh who would later join The Eagles (a band which didn't yet exist). I vaguely remember him using some unusual guitar effect (by 1970 standards), possibly a tape-echo unit, but nothing else about the set." – Nick Beale (SOC 1972)
Image: the Estate of Alan Scott
"We staged the concert in the Refectory in the Student Union Building and of course there is no stage. So we roped the dining tables together to create a platform, which we covered with a carpet as best we could. Then we roped chairs together along the side of the hall to allow the band access to the stage, a pathway for them to walk on chair seats, without having to fight through the crowd. Early in the set, Pete Townsend went up for one of his high jumps with his signature windmill arm strum and unfortunately the table cracked open when he landed and he went straight through. Up to his waist in dining table. So we had to escort the band out, back across the chairs, send a team in through the packed crowd to cut out and replace the miscreant table, then escort the band back to resume the concert. They were rather upset about the whole thing, but they channelled their frustration into their performance and delivered an amazing set. Probably the most powerful, intense live show I have ever witnessed. I was lucky to have such a great team of volunteers helping with the staging, security etc, so we were able to recover OK." – Alan Melina (ENGG 1969)
The Who were the first band I saw live. Having been brought up on classical music (and virtually banned by protective parents from listening to anything modern) I remember thinking, 'Ooh, so this is what it's all about?' I had no idea who Keith Moon was, but we shook hands as he left the stage via the extraordinary 'chair pathway' described by others at the gig. Afterwards, I went straight out and bought albums by Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa, The Band (Music from Big Pink) - and began my musical education. The Who remain one of my fave bands. – Lotte Hughes (CCS 1970)
The Cars
On November 22, 1978, in the throes of promoting their self-titled debut album, The Cars played at Sussex for an episode of the BBC TV series Rock Goes to College. The episode was aired on RGTC on January 13, 1979. Watch the set in full above and read more here.
The 70s scene
There was a march organised to complain about the Heath government stopping the free school third of a pint of milk ("Maggie Thatcher, milk snatcher") and a concert afterwards in Sussex House. The march brought out the local Sussex students from the Agricultural and PE colleges along with the Poly, the College of Ed and the Art School. Probably one of the most diverse audiences that I saw at the university. They were not particularly impressed by the playing of Ten Years After despite Alvin Lee's remarkable guitar solo, which was similar to the one we'd all seen on the film of Woodstock at the Duke of York's. I got into trouble on the back door because I managed to let in at least three people all saying they were the band's manager. I had no idea who was the manager and I couldn't even recognise Lee as he had so much hair. I finally stopped the fourth, who turned out to be the real manager..." – Martin Pascoe (BIOLS 1972)
"Although I saw many concerts on campus during my (very happy) years at Sussex, the most enjoyable one by far was Supertramp. The band really got the audience rocking with excellent music and a great ambience!" – Linda Bellsey (ENGAM 1974)
“Al Stewart was equally enjoyable [as the Shakin Stevens concert] but different in every way imaginable. He was showcasing his 'Past, Present & Future' album and, was unexpectedly, a real guitar virtuosity.” – Pat Attridge (AFRAS 1972)
" Kevin Ayers and the Whole World not only played, but Sussex's very own John Altman gigged with them that night. Also on stage was Lol Coxhill and Mike Oldfield. There was an oil wheel light show backed up with slides." – Phillip Willis (MAPS 1968)
"There was a two day 'happening' involving live art and a band called Trees played. I think that was when Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) just turned up and kindly played guitar with some of us. Amazing days." – Steve Murray (SOC 1968)
"The Mole Benefit Concert, organised in support of a local community magazine, featured some great artistes. My favourite moment was when Peter Green played in one of the rooms in Falmer House. I was responsible for setting things up for him, but when the time came for him to go on, there were still a number of people singing, chanting and playing various instruments in the room. I asked Peter whether we should tell them to stop, but he just shook his head and smiled. He then joined in with them on guitar and gradually took over the session. It was magic!" – Jim Hensman (ENGG 1969)
"In 1974 The Troggs played Mandela Hall - I didn’t go but recall the posters. Pere Ubu also came to campus around that time. During my time in ITVS (Student TV station) I got to put radio mics on the likes of Country Joe Macdonald (of Country Joe and the Fish) and the late, great George Melly, both of whom were playing gigs in Mandela Hall." – Angi Drew (EURO 1974)
I booked Bob Marley for a show for £400 in 1975 or '76 but he cancelled with a spurious-looking note from a doctor which said "This young Jamaican has a very bad sore throat and I recommend he return to his home country as soon as possible"...I wish I had kept that piece of paper! Iremember booking Supertramp just before their fame...I believe we £14 for that gig (they were guaranteed to get 90% of our profits); Kevin Ayers (played most of his set with all the lights off as he was in a shy mood - I seem to remember his contract required chilled Dom Perignon and appropriate glassware); John Martyn (several times); Gong (whose altered mental status involved them dismantling the weird ziggurat floor of the Falmer House debating chamber, which the Union had to pay some carpenters a tidy sum to figure out to put it back together) and Billy Idol, who was a student at Sussex but never played anywhere more glamorous than York House – Tony Glaser (SOC 1973)
Billy Idol, York House
"I was equipment manager for the Union during the early 70's and with the rest of the Entertainment team, helped organize a lot of the gigs and ran the Saturday night Disco. Apart from The Who, we booked some tremendous acts; Richard and Linda Thompson, Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Duster Bennett still come to mind as being tremendous concerts. It was a lot of fun, even though the equipment budget was minimal. The sound quality was horrific compared with modern standards, and not helped by the full glass windows at both ends of the concert space. The stage was made of a table assemblage, which was often exciting for the performers. We were never sure whether the primitive stage lighting we had would fail immediately, or just soon. I recall that I helped to build a new set of loudspeakers for the Union Disco, because we could not afford to buy anything of remotely appropriate power, I do hope they have long-since been sent to a recycling plant..." – Simon Goodman (MOLS 1969)
"My favorite gig in the '70s was Clive James, with Pete Atkin, playing musical versions of some of his prose. It was so exciting to see exactly the same set some forty years later here in Melbourne, not long before Clive's illness forced him off the circuit. He'd arrived way too early and, as one of the concert organizers, I got to take him for an early dinner in the refectory, which he really enjoyed. He was accompanied by a glamorous unnamed blond in a full length fur coat! Those were the days!" – Dave Watson (SOC 1974)
"The absolutely legendary US, Texan bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins played the Old Refectory in around 1976. An unforgettable gig with other US bluesmen on the tour." – Iain Patience (AFRAS 1974)
"I was on the entertainments committee along with Tony Glaser (SOC 1963) in 1974-75. Yes, we certainly did book ELO. This was post Roy Wood. They were already producing Top 10 hits, so Falmer House was rammed. They were a bit snooty to the support band, who they wouldn't allow to share the stage - they had to play at the back of the hall. They had a huge amount of equipment which we were fearful would demolish the trestle table stage and crash into the bar underneath. However, one of the roadies gave me a tenner to help them dismantle and load the kit at the end of the show. There was certainly no lift that I can recollect, and everything had to be manhandled down the stairs. John Martyn and Danny Thompson were always a handful, thoroughly drunk and shouty but transformed when on stage. I remember the night Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets played. I was doing the disco that night and hid all the usual student drivel and put the few rock and roll records we had on perpetual play. Did the trick though. Someone complimented me later by saving that was the first time they had seen a Falmer audience dance. Good times." – Nigel Ramsell (SOC 1974)
"I was at Sussex between 1972 and 1975. Highlights included:
Two concerts by John Martyn, both with Danny Thompson on upright base (one in the 1972-3 year; the other in 1973-4 year). They were amazing – symbiotic in their playing. John Martyn was completely intoxicated both times (probably a mix of alcohol and cannabis) and could hardly articulate a word, yet played amazingly well, and had recently perfected his system of recording himself at the gig, playing a repetitive guitar riff, and then playing it back and playing more on top of it, and he managed to do all of that while simultaneously almost falling off his chair due to his intoxication. Danny Thompson seemed completely sober and ‘the rock’ supporting JM throughout.
The other highlight was an absolutely stunning concert by Gong, supported by Hatfield and the North (1972-73 year, or possibly the 1973-74 one). These were two new-ish bands on the Virgin label, and on their tour they alternated going first or second. On the night I went, HatN played first and were very good, and then after the interval, Gong came on, and it was one of the musical highlights of my life. The interval music being played was Pink Floyd's Saucerful of Secrets and someone wandered onto stage and started playing keyboards along with the music. After some time people realised that SoS was no longer being played and that all the music was coming from the stage, and then the rest of the band filed in carrying candles, got onto the stage (upstairs at Falmer House), put their candles down and picked up instruments, and then burst into Flying Teapot. Some of the band had small children, and they were all sitting on the edge of the stage too, listening to their parents. Sublime." – Professor Richard Velleman (BIOLS 1972)
"I have a few hazy memories to share, although I don't know specifically which years they relate to (sometime between 1974-77). I worked in the Student's Union bar at some of the Falmer House concerts. The manager had offered me a job after I'd been collecting and returning plastic glasses. Although that gave me free entry (and the occasional free drink) the downside was that I was mostly working rather than watching. However, I do remember the following:
Osibisa was probably my favourite concert, the audience as well as me being well into it. I can remember dancing along and banging on empty glasses - improvised percussion! I don't remember what I used to hit them with but it must have been something hard as it left dents in the plastic.
George Melly with John Chilton's Feetwarmers was another brilliant concert, with the song Nuts particularly sticking in the mind. George was a real showman - a larger than life character in many ways, with his flash suits and risqué lyrics. But I also remember that a friend coincidentally visited the Gents at the same time as George, as he rushed out afterwards saying 'I actually shared a urinal with George Melly!'. (I daresay that anecdote has been told a few times since.)
Rocky Sharp + The Sunsets. It was meant to be Shakin’ Stevens but he was ill, so Rocky Sharp took his place as lead singer. (Unless I got this the wrong way around, and it was Shakin' Stevens and the Razors!)
Al Stewart was one of the more sedate concerts. I do remember his song 'Road to Moscow', the reason I bought the album afterwards.
Then there were a few concerts that were advertised but didn't happen, amongst them being 'Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias'. I had no idea who the band were but loved the name, so was disappointed when they cancelled. I also recall some friends trying to arrange a booking for a big US soul act (I forget the name) but the fee - £500 - was just too high to justify.
As well as these concerts, there were other popular musical events - particularly during the Summer. I remember Neil Innes, playing in the Crypt I think, on an electrified leg from a mannequin, amongst other things. Possibly on the same date there was an open-air concert amongst the trees near Stanmer Park. Frustratingly, I don't remember the name of an act that I particularly enjoyed - just the genre (a kind of jazz fusion).
Finally, don't forget there was also an acoustic Folk Club on campus during the 70s. The only name I can remember now was Martin Carthy but there were others who would be well known to folk fans. And at some point the Jazz pianist Stan Tracey must have been playing somewhere, as I was roped in at the last minute to help with the recording of an interview with him for Campus TV. It was a bit of a disaster - I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing but was trying to get them to speak louder using just hand gestures." – Paul Crooks (BIOLS 1974)
Were you at any of these gigs? Which ones have we missed? Electric Light Orchestra, Donovan and Uriah Heep are all rumoured to have appeared on campus in the '70s. Let us know if you caught them, or anyone else by emailing alumni@sussex.ac.uk.