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Why? Without this man's love of music, forward vision in breaking new and up
and coming bands and persistence, the musical history and map of
Aylesbury would have been very different. It is because of David's and
Friars reputation in the music industry, that so many varied and top
quality bands played here and openly admit that Friars helped launch
them. Ask this very question of Steve Harley, Marillion, Mott the Hoople,
Genesis, Fruupp, David Bowie, Sailor and many more. They will tell you
the same answer. I can't add to that. Remember also
that David took some huge risks in the early days and Friars very nearly
didn't get past 1971. It is also a fact that David put on bands that had
a 'risk' factor and made huge successes of these concerts. David Stopps, a Friars Hero whose
name will be indelibly linked, like that of Friars, in the history of
modern Aylesbury.
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David Stopps: It was a real surprise to receive
the Friars Heroes Award at the FA 40th Anniversary gig on June 1st. To
me, Friars was all about the atmosphere that was created at the events
we organised from 2nd June 1969 to 22nd December 1984. The question
was...would we be able to re-create that atmosphere 25 years later?
I needn't have worried. The atmosphere was
of course always created by the audience themselves and the atmosphere
on June 1st 2009 was equal to anything we experienced in the seventies.
Thanks to Mike
O'Connor for creating the Friars Aylesbury website and for presenting me
with this award. I will always treasure it along with the memories of
all those wonderful gigs.
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