The official FRIARS Aylesbury compendium
page updated 18th August 2009
Calling all Friars fans - we need your memories and gig reviews, however irreverent - please see contacts section.
Here's a few to get you started.
Mick Card Shane 'Camel' Carlson Simon Cheetham Phil Simmons Gerald McGarry Julie Faux David Hurst Mary Payne Ted Scott Alan Timms Tim Wakefield Phil Davies Peter Dainton Nik Gibson Nigel Broom Adrian Chant Anna McCurdy Mick Lee Bill Bell Stephen Ives Gerry Saunders Rik Moore Stewart Walker Helen Doran Martin Purslow Peter Donne Alan Oakley Gary Price Paul Bethell Joe McCallion Mike Honour Chris Gibbons Penny Powell Robert Dunbar Andy Walker Dave Filby
Mick Card, former local boy, now in Chester writing in 2007:
I went to see Fish at Hobble on the Cobbles this summer (2007) - first time I've been to an Aylesbury gig since mid eighties. Mega excited, especially when I heard the rumour about the reunion. Can't convey just how tremendous it was to hear Market Square Heroes in the Market Square for the first and probably only time ever. A lot of sad forty year olds cried that day....
It brought back the memories of seeing Marillion at Friars for the first time. Queueing outside Earth Records to buy their latest twelve inch, going to Friars, probably one of my first gigs, never forget asking my mate who the obnoxious big tall bloke was who'd just pushed past me at the bar - that's Fish he said. Oh I thought...
Half an hour later, I was transfixed by this onslaught of music, the instruments soft and tuneful being pummelled into the background by this enormous gyrating figure blasting out resonance from every sinew. An hour later, it climaxed with Forgotten Sons - lullful music punctuated by "HALT! who goes there?" "Death... .. approach friend" as our face painted poet sunk to his knees and pulled the trigger to his mouth....
Also saw the Alarm a couple of times, the Cult, and several years later returned to see Hazel O'Connor - a small quiet gig, intimate and evocative - the hauntingly beautiful Will You sending shivers down your spine.
Looking back, we were so fortunate having Friars on our doorstep. Wish I'd discovered it earlier! I remember a friend going on about it, and seeing the Jam. I never appreciated them at the time, but I bet that was a gig.
Great to hear that Friars isn't forgotten.
Shane 'Camel' Carlson, former local boy, now in Dubai writing in 2008:
The year
1977 was pivotal year in my life. It was the year I met the lady that was
to eventually become my wife. It was the year I left school and entered
the world at large. It was the year I turned 18 and could "legally" drink
aclhohol in public!!! But, in music terms at least, it was a key year too
- for it was then that I saw my first live band...
The date was January 27th 1977. The venue - The Civic Centre, Aylesbury. I
had been persuaded by fellow friends and sixth formers at Mandeville
School (where I attended) to go the Friars and see The George Hatcher Band
plus headliners UFO.
Upon entering the Civic Centre, I was immediately captivated by the
atmosphere and the anticipation of seeing my first live rock band was
tremendously exciting. I boldly located myself at the front - centre
stage. As the support band, The George Hatcher Band came on to
perform...the first notes rang out...and I was hooked to live music for
life! I don't recall much of UFO, but I still have the GHB album of that
year and, when feeling nostalgic, will relive that night on occasions even
now...
I subsequently went to Friars a few times immediately after that to see
John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett, Procol Harem and Motorhead to name but
a few.
But it was on 25th August 1977 that I eventually got to see may favourite
band (Camel) live for the first time as part of their "Rain Dances" tour.
Despite having all the Camel albums to that point I had yet to see them
perform live and that night reaffirmed my love of the band and set me on a
path of worship which I have maintained to this day! In 1981, it was also
due to Friars Aylesbury that I met my heroes for the first time!
The first date I had with, my now, wife was at Friars on 1st October 1977
(the day before my 18th birthday). We had lied about her age so that she
could join Friars as a fully fledged club member! The band that night was
The Little River Band from Australia who were touring to promote their new
album "Diamantina Cocktail".
Two weeks later we went to see Steve Hillage...and my addiction to live
music was re-enforced. I had never heard anything like the sounds that
emanated from the stage that night...
I even took a leap of faith into the world of Punk at Friars by attending
The Jam gig on 26th November. Although this wasn't really my "thing" it
was, nonetheless, an amazing night full of raw energy and buckets of spit.
My only regret is that I didn't have an umbrella!!
By this time, I was working on the hospital radio station at the world
famous Stoke Mandeville Hospital presenting a weekly rock music show and
thought it would be great if I could combine my two great musical
loves...live music and radio! I was fortunate enough to meet the driving
force behind Friars Aylesbury - David Stopps. Over time I became slightly
more than just a bloke he met and David was extremely helpful in allowing
me access backstage to meet and interview bands for my then rock radio
show. I will remain forever in debt to David Stopps for his never ending
support and assistance in this regard.
Thanks to David Stopps, I was able to interview Motorhead, Ian Dury,
Camel, Ian Gillan, Genesis, The Blues Band, The Specials, Orchestral
Manoeuvres in the Dark, Slade, Marillion, John Martyn to name just a few.
All of these interviews gave my show a really different slant as, at the
time, band radio interviews were not that common.
Some
of my all time favourite Friars shows must be...The Police (who can forget
camping overnight in Aylesbury Cattle Market?), Joe Jackson's Jumpin'
Jive, King Crimson (simply amazing - Robert Fripp at his best!), Steve
Hackett, Genesis...plus too many more to mention!
In those days, I was proud to say that Aylesbury was my home town - as the
centre of the rock music universe. Sadly, Friars Aylesbury is no more.
Gone is one of (if not the) best music venues in the UK that in
turn gave an outstanding platform for many of the bands considered as
"legends" today.
I still have my Friars Aylesbury membership card - covered in autographs -
and will keep it (I'm sure) until my dying day. Friars Aylesbury was such
a huge part of my life back then and indeed nurtured and cultivated a
love of diverse live music which has remained with me all these years.
Oh for a time machine to take me back to those heady days when a fantastic
night was guaranteed and new friends could be made through music. I never
once witnessed any trouble or aggravation at any Friars event. Generally
the people who attended went for the music (well...OK...and maybe a couple
of beers too!) - but the atmosphere remained warm, friendly and welcoming.
In my travels around the world I am constantly amazed by the number of
people I've met who have either heard of or attended Friars Aylesbury at
some point. This is indeed a lasting testimony to David Stopps and the
music legacy he left behind. Its uniqueness will, I am sure, never be
repeated...
Simon Cheetham, Disco Student from Aylesbury, writing in 2007:
My very first memories of Friars Club were the flyers and posters that adorned some message boards at Aylesbury Grammar School. At the age of thirteen and fourteen I was a rabid pop fan - Marc Bolan and David Bowie being my choice of poison. However, my only experience of 'live music' was the weekly helping of 'Top Of The Pops'.
The Friars posters intrigued me. Clearly the acts featured were music artists - but they were well beyond my radar.
Fruupp, Stackridge, Camel, Gong - who were these people?
I decided to get to the bottom of this. My first visit to Friars was to see Ronnie Lane at The Borough Assembly Hall in November 1974. He had played with Rod Stewart on 'Top Of The Pops' - as a 14 year old, I wasn't going to get to see Rod, so Ronnie would have to do. I have to be honest and admit my first reaction to the place was severe disappointment. I had been expecting some kind of brutal, tawdry den of sex and drugs. A mix of Woodstock and Sodom & Gomorrah. Instead, Friars reminded me of a Sixth Form common room. The place was rammed with Grammar School prefects, daringly - instead of school blazers they wore loon pants and cravats. Crikey, even my chemistry teacher was on hand to dish out detentions to those who would not dig the Lane.
It was not for me. I did return a couple of times - but Budgie, Blodwyn Pig, Wally and the rest left me cold.
Instead, I discovered The California Ballroom in Dunstable, where instead of tired old hippies in cheese cloth, exciting black American soul acts gave me what I was looking for.
But suddenly, things changed.
The first Friars gig that signalled a new era was The Flamin' Groovies in November 1976. The Groovies were heralded as the first punk band to play at Friars but to me it was the support act, The Vibrators, who really opened my eyes. For the first time, I could imagine actually being in a group. No longer did you have to have a double neck guitar, a beard or a wizzard's cape - although disappointingly, later The Vibrators were outed as bandwagon jumpers who only weeks previously were covered in denim and churning out 9 minute songs with titles like 'My journey to a Free-Festival' .To be fair, it took another 12 months for Friars to finally rinse away the hippy hangover - but by then I had become a regular, and each punk band that appeared confirmed the fact that anyone could, or even should, be in a band.
My group, The Disco Students were actually formed at Friars Club. Drummer Graham Hocking - once of Friars regulars Orthi and The Robins - and I had the name, the look and some songs - yet no musicians. At the Magazine gig in December 1978 , as we plotted and planned we were approached by a guitarist and a bass player - by the end of the evening, we had a band. The Disco Students were/are a contrary project. At that time there was an Aylesbury 'scene' of some substance - yet we saw ourselves as 'outsiders' . We would play all over the country, often with established artists such as The Psychedelic Furs, Generation X and The Poison Girls. Even after having three records released and being regularly played on the John Peel show, we had not played in our home town, let alone Friars.And being the tortured artists we were, that suited us fine.
Despite us not wooing the local audiences, David Stopps was very supportive - mentioning us in the legendary Friars flyers, and always ready to hear our tales of adventure from far away fields. I recall David phoning me on a couple of occasions offering the DS dates at Friars - yet the timing just didn't feel right. Eventually we were offered a slot on the bill with Pauline Murray and John Cooper-Clarke - and in October 1980 we played at Friars. By then we had released three records which included 8 tracks. Perverse to the end we played all new material - two songs having been written only the previous week. I couldn't have said it then - for I was far too precious - but playing that gig at Friars was for me, a very proud moment. I imagined the 14 year old me scrutinising those early Friars posters, and I do believe he would have approved.
As a postscript , I met John Cooper-Clarke last year. I asked him if he remembered playing Friars." I've only been to Aylesbury once" he said "To play Friars". He then listed the line -up, " Pauline Murray, Me and The Disco Students"." Great little club" he added.
He was right, too.
Phil Simmons, writing in 2008:
Phil has said if anyone who wants to get in touch with him, they can by emailing simmonses@vodafoneemail.co.uk
It’s a bit unfair to characterise Friars as merely the continuation of Aylesbury Grammar School by other means, as Simon Cheetham does (hi, Simon !), but I know what he means. There were a lot of us there. From the moment I started my questionable education at that fine establishment in 1970 I was aware that “You going to Friars on Saturday ?” was one of those questions, like a Freemason’s enquiry about being ‘on the square’, which were designed to establish whether you belonged to a particular self-selected in-group or not. Me, I desperately wanted to be able to say yes.
It took three years for my parents to be convinced, however, by which time David Bowie, Genesis, Roxy Music and Mott the Hoople had come and gone, this period nostalgically assumed by longer-standing Friars members (greybeards of 16,17,18…) to be the zenith of the little club’s aspirations. Interesting, isn’t it, how the Golden Age is always the one you just missed ? Anyhow, I think the first gig I attended was the triple-header by Jack the Lad (half of Lindisfarne, if I remember rightly), Peter Hammill, and the splendidly-named Zox & the Radar Boys (Phil-Collins-from-Genesis’s pre-Brand X jazz-rock fusion outfit.)
Peter Hammill was the standout of the night. I already knew his startling voice from Van der Graaf Generator records, but these were no preparation for its emotional onslaught in the tiny Borough Assembly Hall. Alone with a piano (and for a couple of numbers an acoustic guitar) PH transfixed me, that extraordinary sound swooping operatically from bass growl to dogwhistle scream, songs much obsessed with death, depression and loss (hell, I was 14), and a presence more intense than just about any performer I’ve seen since. He must have closed with “In The End” (what else ?), a number from his second solo album, which would then have been newly-released and which I bought immediately – almost certainly from Earth Records. I’ve been a fan ever since, have seen him and several incarnations of VdGG on numerous occasions, and once even met him at a party, when, shamefully, I was so drunk and awestruck I could think of nothing sensible to say. He was good enough to send me a signed, limited edition copy (No 2) of his book of lyrics and stories, “Killers Angels Refugees”, though.
After that epiphany, I had to keep going back (and frankly, there wasn’t a whole lot else to do in Aylesbury, or for that matter in England, on a Saturday night in those days.) For a few years there wasn’t really anything as good, though I suspect I may be making this judgement with hindsight. It was the era of Prog Rock’s first mutant flowering, and a number of bands roughly equated with that genre lurch uneasily to mind, including Fruuupp (is that the right number of u’s & p’s ?), a quartet of hairy, rough-arsed Irishmen incongruously intoning paeans to fair ladies, goblins and elves. Also, Gryphon, even hairier, who played wildly incomprehensible epics on a mixture of rock’n’roll and medieval instruments. I lately discovered that with the coming of the Age of Punk they shaved their barnets, shed their shawms and nakers (look it up !), and began calling themselves The Banned. They weren’t very good at that, either.
At some point the focus shifts to the new Civic Centre, an altogether more salubrious venue than the BAH, though I will of course have been subject to Golden Age-ism myself by then. There I recall a storming gig by Ian Hunter (formerly with Mott the Hoople), the late Mick Ronson playing lead guitar in his band; also, a gang of psychedelic country-rock misfits called Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, who charmed a baffled audience with a strange cocktail of bluegrass, Tex-Mex, blues, rockabilly, and for all I know the soft-shoe shuffle as well. I saw Queen when they were on the verge of breaking through, although I have to confess I thought they sounded very ordinary, an opinion I’ve never really had cause to change despite Freddie’s undoubted charisma and chutzpah. Captain Beefheart told me and Mick Rowlinson to fuck off, largely because we had the temerity to point out that one of his PA stacks was feeding back. I walked out of a Can gig after twenty minutes because (a) it was so damned hot, and (b) you couldn’t breathe without choking on someone else’s smoke – cigarette and otherwise – or, worse, patchouli oil.
Then there was Punk. I still remember in minute detail the buildup to the Ramones’ first appearance at Friars, and the manic energy and sense of release they brought to a sweaty, leaping crowd (before the term ‘moshpit’ was ever coined), which I suspect converted a lot of sceptics to what was then lazily and hubristically being termed the ‘New Wave’. Talking Heads were pretty good too – as support !
Like they used to say about the 60s, maaan, if you remember them you weren’t really there, and my late 70s were the same sort of thing. I moved away from Aylesbury in late ’77, but would coincide returns for family visits with particularly attractive Friars nights. There was a fabulous gig by The Clash – then, as now, my favourite band ever – at around the time of their “Give Em Enough Rope” album, which set the gold standard for live rocknroll, Strummer passion, Jones energy, Simonon cool, etc etc.
The Flamin’ Groovies played the day after my 19th birthday, and I plainly enjoyed myself so much my mother found me asleep the following morning stark naked on her living-room floor. .. After a Magazine gig some drunk casuals tried to give me a kicking in the Market Square, till my girlfriend saw them off with her shoe. Me, I was laughing so much I didn’t feel a thing. Ahhh, happy days.
Checking my chronology against this site’s flyers gallery I hit upon a mystery. I’m certain U2 played as support to Rory Gallagher in 1980, because I knew them at the time through a college friend and was, yes, On The Guest List. The only RG gig listed shows someone called ‘Rage’ as support, so I’m assuming Bono & da Boiz (and they were just boys then) were a last-minute addition or replacement. Whatever, after their set I took Bono – or, er, ‘Paul’ as he was known then – to the Green Man for a drink. He had lager & lime. My kid brother, who was with us, has dined out on this story ever since.
(webmaster - yes, U2 did play this gig)
The last Friars event I attended was The Clash at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, efficient enough as music but somehow lacking the soul and directness of their earlier live performances. After that, I spent most of the next three years abroad, and when I returned, Friars was no more.
As for Friars people, I last saw Robin Pike (who was also my Tutor at school) in 1986 in, I think, the Saracen’s Head. I saw Kris Needs in the late 90s in the Millwright’s, tho’ he’d gone by the time I realised who he was (hope your leg’s better, Kris.) I haven’t seen Dave Stopps for longer than I care to remember.
Going back over this ground has made me realise there are loads more Friars-related folk I’ve not seen for decades. Where are you, Colin, Stewart, Cheryl, Maggie, Sonya ? Or indeed anyone else who remembers, however hazily.
Gerald McGarry, Friars fan from the Bedford days, writing in 2008:
Great to see news of the best music club ever, I never got to visit Aylesbury itself but joined Friars when it opened at the Addison Centre in Kempston near Bedford round about 69/70. I think it lasted there about 2 years.
What great nights, Free with Paul Kossoff the whole place rocked, Mott The Hopple, superb band, Genesis, Gabriel knocking hell out of a bass drum, he even turned up for one gig with a broken leg, Van der Graaf Generator-what were they about couldn't make them out but still enjoyed the vibes, so many bands even for such a short time there.
PS I also remember stacking up the chairs and sweeping the floor at the end of the night, not bad for a long haired degenerate!
Julie Faux, Friars fan, former local lady, now of Bicester, writing in 2008:
Ah I found your website via a work colleague, after discussing where we were brought up and realising in our youth we both went to Friars.....well much laughing and reminiscing and visits down memory lane obviously Friars obviously left a huge impression on us both, the atmosphere the amazing bands and the freedom typical of the 70's! Discussing the bands we had seen, boys we had met and loved and the general great feel of the 70's top bands for me Ronnie Wood, Andy Fairweather Low, Cockney Rebel, Blondie, Boomtown Rats, Dr Feelgood, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Sailor....obviously far too many great nights to mention. In fact I never remember having a bad night at Friars. I started going at about 14 ((1973), I know the age was actually 16) and probably saw my last gig at about 18 so I definitely feel I had the golden years except I didn't get to see Mott or Bowie (what a tragedy). I went to my first and only gig in the Borough Assembly Hall then it moved to the Civic Centre although slightly lacking in the same atmosphere the crowd made up for that definitely. It was amazing that Dave Stopps managed to get so many fantastic bands to that small (much bigger now) market town, and how blessed we were to live in Aylesbury and have that on our doorstep. Saw John Otway many times, often in the Derby Arms in the Churchyard, believe its now a house. Dark Lantern where everyone met up before Friars was a must and the excitement of that Saturday night used to start pretty early in the week. Thought I'd share my feelings of the good old days of the 70's. Interesting to see Kris Needs name on the website definitely a blast from the past
David Hurst, Friars fan, now in Devon and freelance health writer writing in 2008:
The website is brilliant! Been looking for something like it for years. Well done to all involved and thank you!
Must say I only just knew Friars for the last few years. Back then in about 1980 I was amazed to hear that one of our teachers was involved (I was a Grammar boy, that teacher the school nicknamed Mervin for some reason and I'm sure Mr Pike will know of the nickname and the reason!) with this cool music club. I went to my first gig there aged 14/15: Killing Joke – still my favourite band after all these years, get them back! Supported by UK Decay, and what a first gig! What I know is that it was a defining moment in my life. When KJ came on stage I wondered why everyone was spraying their cans of beer at them. Can't remember if you could buy cans in there, but I know some sneaked them in. I was stood a bit to the left side of the stage (as facing it) to start with and it was only after a minute I realised it was gob! I seemed to remember KJ went off stage for a while as it got too much. Thing is, singer and then keyboardist too, Jaz, used to come to the front of the stage and do this "come and have a go" sort of provocative thing with his hands and face (saw them in 2005 and he still does!) and the punks took that as a pogo and gob more moment. By the time most of the gob reached the stage Jaz was back from the front and behind his keyboard. So guitarists Geordie and Youth (think so, might have been the late big Paul) got most of it. Punx, eh?! It was a weird realisation I had then, that in life everything is not as it seemed.
Also saw The Beat there, remember it for a kick-off with the Bedford Skins during a song; Altered Images (yes, I had a crush too…): Gary Glitter (great gig, but now oh dear) and a few others. Got some ticket stubs somewhere. One thing I think made Friars so great was that closeness to the stage. If you didn't mind get your stomach and chest crushed you could actually rest your arms on it if I recall. Also remember during the mad pogoing sessions that if you fell over, as often happened, a sea of arms from vicious looking punks and some skins would reach out to haul you back up as quickly as possible. Every time I went to Friars I came out with my clothes completely soaked in sweat. Recall the puff of steam in the air when the gigs ended and everyone came outside. Would love to see some pics, hundreds of them, on the website. One scene I've been looking for for ages is that of the market square packed with punks before some of the gigs – a sea of studded leather jackets and multi-colours of spiked hair and mohicans. Only pics I've seen from those days are on the UK Decay website, I think posted by (as I remember) Bonzi, who was to my young mind Aylesbury "top" punk. Also remember Steve Denton from Risboro' where I lived, Robin from there too, and Dez from Aylesbury.
Went to loads of gigs there in the end and have to admit got let in a fair few of them round the back as they had some Grammar sixth-formers keeping an eye on those doors. My brother Mark's three years older than me and went to most of the classic Friars gigs from the punk/new wave era including The Clash, the Jam and Pretenders. He summed it up for me when he said: "We just didn't know just how brilliant and legendary it was at the time. Long live Friars! And Hanx again!
Mary Payne, director of Radio London writing in 2008:
Many congratulations on the launch of the Friars site. I know very well how much work goes into running a website, as ours is nine years old this month and we have somehow managed to produce over 1500 pages. It was supposed to be a hobby! There are only my husband Chris and me running it - often it's just me - and sometimes we doubt our sanity!
Chris and I didn't move to Aylesbury till 1978; before that, we lived in Wycombe. Our friends Jenny and Pete already lived in the town and were huge music fans. We first came to Friars on their recommendation, to see Otway and Barrett, and have been fans ever since. In fact we (and Jenny) are part of Otway's 'choir' on the second hit.
David Stopps was a member of the Knees Club, something I ran during 1966, when I was still at school. (It's easiest to go to our site and read about the Knees Club, rather than me attempting to explain it.) Every so often I see David around the town and stop for a chat. We're both vegetarians, so I sometimes get asked for cookery tips!
In the late Seventies, I worked with Sue Greenwood (I can't recall her maiden name) at Image Arts of England, the greetings card company. Sue was one of the design artists and I was the versewriter. She was a great friend of David Stopps and a regular at Friars.
(NB - Sue Greenwood was Sue Wyatt and her letter to the Bucks Herald questioning why Friars got shut down in 1970 is on the main Phase One page - Ed)
Friars was such a great club and you never saw any aggressive behaviour. I recall having to queue in my lunch hour for tickets for The Police and that the demand was so great that the number allowed per person was restricted. It was a great gig, although the main thing I remember about it was Sting being exceptionally foul-mouthed!
Must go now, but I wish you every success with the site. It's already plugged on our current 'Happenings' page, so next week I'll rewrite it to let people know that you've gone live http://www.radiolondon.co.uk
Ted Scott, Friars fan writing in 2008
I have some wonderful memories of attending gigs at the Addison Centre in Kempston along with other ‘heads’ of my acquaintance. I strongly remember seeing one gig, and my memory is very poor, early onset of dementia, where the light show was tremendous all oil wheels and psychedelic lighting. Remember the highlights being East of Eden who then sold out and charted with ‘Jig a Jig’.
We were pretty unforgiving in those days towards bands who sold out!!! Halcyon Days. The reason for writing is, I do remember seeing the very wonderful Ten Years After with Alvin Lee electrifying on lead guitar. I’m certain though that the support that night were ‘Wishbone Ash’. The gig was at the Dunstable Civic Hall. I remember the place being ‘packed to the rafters’.
Thanks for some wonderful memories. Keep up the good work.
Alan Timms, Friars fan writing in 2008
I just found this website from Facebook. I have lived in Australia for the last 17 years - but my formative years (also some of the best times of my life) were spent in Aylesbury ... or more particular at Friars most Saturday nights from about 1973 onwards.
I saw Bowie at Oxford New Theatre in 72 (I think) which awakened me to Rock music ... blew my mind actually! But I think the real catalyst was seeing the New York Dolls on the Old Grey Whistle Test in November 73 ... that changed my life forever! It was the most exciting thing I had ever seen! I decided that rock'n'roll was the life I wanted to live! I discovered Friars Club in my home town Aylesbury ... it was the highlight of my youth! So many exciting bands and amazing nights!
Sitting on the floor for Tangerine Dream, dancing my arse off to the Flamin' Groovies, UFO, Widowmaker, Motorhead, Queen, Tom Petty, Ramones, Iggy & Bowie, Mick Ronson & Ian Hunter, Mott, etc ... but it really took off for me the night the Stranglers came to town. It was (I believe) the first real punk gig at Friars, all the London punks (mostly all the bands at the time) were there to see The Stranglers ... it was incredible! The next 18 months ('76 & '77) were the best and most exciting of my life! Dave Stopps brought most of the punk/new wave acts to Friars - Blondie, Clash, Damned, Sham 69, Ramones etc.
I used to hang out with Kris Needs, Colin Keinch, Brick and the Surguy brothers in the Green Man pub (we also used to go to gigs around the home counties) my old car always broke down on road trips. Had some wicked nights in London with Kris too (I drove, he got me into the gigs and after parties back stage). Another bit of useless information is that Budget was also my Mum's bridesmaid
It is only when you look back years later that you realise how lucky we were having Friars in Aylesbury! I live in Adelaide now a much bigger city ... but there is nothing club-wise that even comes close to what we had back in the '70's in Adelaide! Just looking back at the list of artists that played Friars ... Dave Stopps was a true visionary ... respect Dave!
Tim Whitfield, Friars fan, now in the US, writing in 2008
I first knew Dave in 1964 when we started at High Wycombe College of Technology and Art (as it was then) and worked a couple of summers together at Molins in Saunderton and New Holland in Aylesbury. We kept in touch and I attended a number of shows at Friars - Edgar Broughton, Free, Van de Graaf Generator, Principal Edwards, Atomic Rooster etc. I remember helping Vincent Crane load his van one night.
I live in the States now but this has triggered some good memories
Phil Davies, Friars fan, writing in 2008
I've just discovered the fab Friars website having
read about it in this month's edition of Mojo magazine (December 2008)
It brought boundless memories flooding back of some of the best live
music I have ever experienced in what had to be the best and most
friendly of venues - even when it moved to the Civic Centre.
Dave Stopps was a true enthusiast who's tremendous work in attracting
massive names to a relatively small venue while taking huge gamble in
giving a stage to many at the time unknown acts has largely gone
unrecognized.
I was a trainee news reporter on the Thame Gazette - sister paper to the
Bucks Advertiser at the time - in the late 70s when Friars was at its
prime and Dave generously got me on the guest list to write reviews of
bands appearing at Friars.
There are a number of gigs I will never forget such as Dire Straits
supporting Talking Heads, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, dodging the
gob at the Ramones, and The Clash.
Friars became a Saturday institution for me and many others will live on
as an unforgettable opportunity to get up close and personal with my
musical heros of the time.
Well done on keeping the legacy alive!
Pete Dainton,
Friars fan, writing in 2008
Wow-what a website-its bought back many happy memories. I'v still got my membership card-dated19/01/80-number 39713. Going through gig listings-i think that Toyah played more than once at Friars:-but i might be wrong. I remember seeing A Flock of Seagulls and they were sooooo loud. I have to look my programmes out-always put flyers and ticket stubb inside. A few years ago-there was a cafe in Winslow that had all flyers stuck all over the windows-place is now closed.
Keep up the good work.
Nik Gibson, Friars fan, London, writing in 2009
I have a lot of very good memories of Friars Aylesbury and often comes up in my thoughts…
My first visit to Friars was to see the Groundhogs at the BAH, I think it was in 1975 – but I am not sure of that…. Though I became a regular visitor until late 1977 when I was force to move against my will.
I saw so many bands I cannot remember how many I got to see including the memorable UFO gig. I remember at the end of the year a questionnaire was handed out to the audience goers, many questions were on the form but one question stuck in my mind – Who would you like to see back next year – the result was virtually unanimous…. UFO.
I was there when the Civic Centre opened and Friars moved there.
Tangerine Dream (who I saw again last year at the Forum, London) still is firmly in my memory as a wonderful evening. Other acts I recall were the likes of Motorhead, Uriah Heep, Camel, Roy Harper, and a whole host of others…
I was there the night Sonja Kristina had her famous G string plucked by her adoring fans (including me) and I recently met her only a couple of weeks ago where I apologised for my misbehaviour (slap my wrist with a limp lettuce leaf). Friars also gave me the opportunity to meet many of the rock stars who attended Friars as performers after the gigs.
The last performers I got to see at Friars were The British Lions – the remnants of Mott the Hoople and Medicine Head, a gig which was sold long before I got there but had been invited to by band to see them, much to the annoyance of Dave Stopps – hehehe! Somewhere in Plymouth there is a box containing all the flyers and the Roxette magazines (including the famous Photo) from when I started to go Friars until the time I left. Included in that collection are a lot of the posters but sadly not a full collection.
One other memory I have related to Friars was at the Reading festival in 1976 when I managed to persuade my sister to embroider a folded sheet with the word Friars written on it, many bands who came on the stage were pointing out the flag amongst the hundreds of other flags in the audience, but sadly on the Sunday night the flag was stolen, which was a bit annoying…
Well there you have it – part of my Friars experiences
Nigel Broom, Friars fan, writing in 2009
I just found out about the 40th anniversary gig by chance on the Rough Trade home page. For me the best days were all the punk/new wave gigs and playing cricket all night in the cattle market on a Saturday waiting for the Police tickets to go on sale on the Sunday for the low key world tour warm up gig. We were all issued with raffle tickets that were our place in the queue so we didn't have to stay in a line all night.
I used to live in Thame but am now in Suffolk and can't make the gig on the 1st June as I'm up at 4.00 am for work.
It's a pity Dave Stopps went off to manage Howard Jones instead of keeping Friars going
(Webmaster's note......that's NOT why Friars closed!!)
I would like to see Stiff Little Fingers/ Buzzcocks and of course John Otway.
Another memory is Bowie playing keyboards for Iggy Pop and no one knew until he took the sombrero off at the end.
Cheers for now
Adrian Chant, Friars fan, writing in 2009
As I was idly looking through the Oxford Times weekend section this morning I did a double take on that once very familiar FRIARS typeface and couldn't believe I was reading an ad for a Friars Aylesbury gig after all this time!! Which of course led me to the website which I've spent the last very enjoyable hour having my memory rekindled of great times in the 70s. I remember some while back searching for anything on the web about Friars - nothing - and now you have this tremendous website; a real achievement. The years of Friars gigs from 1971 - 73 were so formative in expanding out of all reason my love of music of that time and I feel privileged to have seen so many great bands in what was then for me a new world of live music in the wonderful Friars atmosphere. I'm sure my hearing still bears the scars of a particular Mott the Hoople gig!!
Anna McCurdy, Friars fan, now in the US, writing in 2009
I have so many memories of Friars – all of them good.I now live in the States and am a good deal older (hopefully wiser!) but I remember each and every concert I attended.Sadly, as I am so out of touch, I never knew Friars had stopped (for 25 years!). Good for Mr. Stopps that is back on the map.
You guys ROCK and always will. THANK YOU for making my formative years that much better!!
Mick Lee, Friars fan, writing in 2009
I first got the Friars 'bug' in the late 60's and soon had a job on the doors. "Any trouble you can't deal with, then call Timmy and he'll come and sort it out" was the instruction from Dave Stopps.... there was very little because the club was so well run.
My lasting memories are many and varied, including fantastic gigs with the likes of String Driven Thing Free Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel to name but a few (then finishing the evenings off having a beer with most bands upstairs once all the doors were locked.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single minute of every gig I had the pleasure to be at, both in Aylesbury and in Dunstable. Some still stood out though, David Bowie & The Spiders From Mars & Genesis, both of which were not just gigs but pure theatre.
I remember discussing upcoming gigs in 'Earth Records' and discovering that Dave had booked a band with multiple violinists in it's line-up. I should have known better than to question Dave's sanity (...'this is a rock club, not the bloody Albert Hall'....) I thought. But he knew what he was doing and what jig-a-jigging we did that night to East of Eden. I never questioned Dave's judgement anymore, just enjoyed every surprise he served up.
I am working close to Aylesbury until 7.30pm on June 1st but have got my ticket and will join you all asap to wind back the years.
Looking forward to hopefully renewing some acquaintances.
Bill Bell, Friars fan, writing in 2009
Great web site – really enjoyed going through the phases and history. I was a member from around 1978-81, used to have a job setting up the stage and pushing back the seating etc + stewarding on the nights. I think that the first ever gig I went to was probably Kevin Ayres or Curved Air – but not sure. But also remember U2, the Police, Ian Dury, Ramones etc. I knew Robin Pike from the Grammar school and Friars and Pete Frame from the local scene (too many bands to remember!).
Spotted the anniversary gig and have got tickets.
Stephen Ives, Friars fan, writing in 2009
Yahoooooo !!!! I have just found this site via Jonathan Kelly's web site. I saw him perform with David Bowie many years ago at Friars. (I think). You'll have to excuse me, as the old memory cells aren't what they used to be, as I'm the wrong side of 55 now.I think my friend and I were among the first members of the Friars Club. My membership number was around 120. I can't remember who the first band I saw was, but I have seen a fair few there. Groundhogs, Edgar Broughton, Pretty Things, Ten Years After, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, also Genesis at Princes Risborough British Legion Hall (My home town). And the list could go on, if I could remember them.I will say that one of the best acts I saw was Jonathan Kelly, I could not fault the man. He is brilliant.I'm not sure if Friars brought the German band, Amun Duul to Aylesbury (yes, they did - Ed), but they were a huge disappointment for me. Loud yes, distorted sound definitely. Me and my mates left after half an hour.Friars was/is a great place to hear great music, and it was a huge breath of fresh air to be in great company to hear the great music and have a 'leap'.I have only just had a quick browse through the site, and I'm looking forward to scouring it.
My deepest thanks to all concerned for this site, and may it grow and prosper. And thanks for stirring the old grey matter, by God it needs it.
Gerry Saunders , Friars fan, writing in 2009
I was there on the first night - At the end Mike Cooper was asked to nominate a ticket number for a signed album of his. He first said 100 (no answer from those present ) so he then said 50 - wow that was me. Typically I later lent the Album to a mate at Wycombe College and never saw it again.
Other memories - to many gigs to mention - Gypsy were the loudest - more than 50 stacks - I couldn't tell if my A35 had started ( as I lived in Wycombe then). Favourites were Groundhogs and Free and who could forget every signpost being splattered with "Out-Demons-Out" ( I have the plastic single still).
One other thing for Dave Stopps - Does he recall organising Procol Harem at the Wycombe music festival? My Dad at the time was on the Arts Festival committee - he asked if I had any contacts for the more modern stuff. Dave came up to my house in Booker to meet with my dad and the rest is history - Alexis Korner in the front row watching.
I shall see you all at the Maxwell on June 1st - can't wait- 'Garden' is a must for the Groundhogs
Rik Moore , Friars fan, writing in 2008
Two quite vivid memories to share which often run
through my mind;
1. A Toyah soundcheck, I can't recall the date but it must have been in
1981 I think, anyway we had helped the roadies build a sort of scaffold
tower at the back of stage centre for her to appear on at some point,
but during the rehearsal she climbed up and promptly slipped off and
fell to the stage floor! I think she was carted off to Stoke Mandeville
hospital for a check-up - can't be sure. Anyway, total credit to her as
thegig went on that nite with her bruised and bashed - and she was
superb.
2. The Clash gig at Stoke Mandeville sports hall. A strange venue. About
2pm whilst having finished building up the stage/sound system with the
Clash people, Dave Stopps asked me if I had a car. Well at the time I
had a massive 12 yr old green volvo (nice!) and so I was promptly given
the job oftaking Strummer and Co down to Market Square for a few drinks
and a couple of hours in Aylesbury prior to the gig that evening. Its
still my claimto fame!
Stewart Walker , Friars fan, writing in 2009
I
went to my first gig there on April 17th 1971 - a very fresh faced 14
year-old. No idea how we got in as the age limit was 18. I remember
sitting on the steps to the door which were at the end of a passage way
running from the Market Square. My first band were The Groundhogs, I
clearly recall a group fans, also sitting on the steps, singing “Cherry
Red” in high-pitched voices just like Tony McPhee. I recently saw the
Groundhogs at Shepherds Bush; my memories have fared better than the
band I’m afraid to say. We were very lucky to go that night and from
that moment on live music has played a huge part in my life. The Friars
experience was fantastic; of our friends it was only me and Darcy that
went, no-one else we knew did; it was our place and we just loved it. It
was hugely important to us.
We saw; some great bands, some many will never heard of and some that
will have been forgotten. Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Bowie. My favourite –
Genesis of course but I also remember the crazy World of Arthur Brown
and this huge rubber brain creeping across the floor to the stage! It
blew our minds! Hawkwind with Stacia dancing – wow! David Bowie and
particularly the guitar of Mick Ronson. Quintessence – fantastic! So
many memories.
Helen Doran , Friars fan, writing in 2009
My first memories of Friars was watching Motorhead, the whole place was alive and buzzing with excitement and I wanted more! All my spare time was taken up with babysitting and doing a paper round just so I could rush down to Earth records (which became Oven Ready Records if my memory is correct) to buy a ticket, didn’t matter who was playing, it was about the music/atmosphere. Two of my uncles use to travel from London most Saturdays and the occasional weekday just to visit Friars. Another friend who was stationed at RAF Halton used to walk to Aylesbury to attend a gig then walk back again. Such was the appeal of Friars you just had to be there.
Another thing which made Friars so cool was you got to meet the groups, either at the bar or they would stay behind after a gig to meet the fans and sign their posters or membership cards. I remember having a drink at the bar with Stuart Neale from Kajagoogoo, John Otway asking me out for a drink and Fish throwing me over his shoulder because I was drinking his pint, everyone was friends. My best memory was seeing U2, I didn’t have a ticket but I knew a guy who was on the door of Civic and he let me in. I saw U2 live and met Bono all it cost me was my bag of chips. Who can forget queuing in the cattle market just to get a ticket for the Police…happy days.
To this date I’ve never found a music venue which can match Friars, Friars was Friars….unique.
Martin Purslow , Friars fan, writing in 2009
My favourite gig(s) was Iggy and the Stooges with David Bowie - just got within 5 feet of the great man and Iggy's version of Raw Power blew me away..what a gig - with the Vibrators supporting too! Then there was the Ramones first gig- wild down the front - i use to have a poster of the crowd with me somewhere in the throng. Blondie - who could ever forget her singing In the flesh - still gives me goosebumps even now - The Stranglers in 76 - my second taste of punk (never looked back) - down in the sewer....
The Jam - wasn't there a Matinee in the afternoon for the kids?..what an inspired idea...So many gigs - such a variety
Christmas parties were the most fun - Sassafras/ The Enid to name a couple - i'll never forget the conger for the Enid through both bars and back...Otway - so many times - Legend
Jack the lad supported by Split Enz - excellent UFO - got back stage - my ears hurt for that one - as they did for Motorhead/Hawkwind!!
Peter Donne , Friars fan, and now head of Rough Trade, writing in 2009
The first Friars gig I went to was Blodwyn Pig in August 1974, just turned 15, but looking all of 12 years old, I have no idea how I got in... I don't recall watching the band at all and this was often the pattern. You had to be there every week, whether you liked the band(s) playing or not. It was THE place to be and so it remained for me for another 3 or 4 years until I went to college in London in 1977. Even then, I would invariably return most weekends to attend, irrespective of who was playing.
I lasted a year at the LSE and then, while working in Aylesbury during the summer holidays of 1978, was informally "offered" the job of manager at Earth Records by the then incumbent, Stephen Atkins (who was moving on to the glamorous world of being an EMI sales rep.). Of course I had to be interviewed and met David and duly got the job, which also included managing the junior security (Grammar School boys) at Friars gigs and cleaning the silkscreens that had been used to print Budget's iconic Friars posters the week before (a horrible job!).
I worked for David throughout most of that year, until I left to work for Rough Trade in, I think May 1979 (where I've been ever since).
Those 8 or 9 months were some of the most important and enjoyable times of my life. Of course it was a hugely exciting time for the music world, as the punk revolution of the preceding years took full effect. Friars was once again at the forefront, putting on the cream of the New Wave and Post Punk artists and also promoting some great Reggae gigs in the following few years - Steel Pulse, an amazing couple of Dennis Brown gigs, Toots, Gregory Isaacs... Most importantly championing many of the local groups that burgeoned as a result of the DIY ethic that had become the zeitgeist.
During this time, I particularly remember the Sham 69 gig of January 1979, a very tense affair because of their, or rather their fans, reputation. It was made all the more exciting because it was to be filmed for LWT (weirdly my uncle was also producing the programme!).
In the end it all went off very calmly and once again Friars' peaceful (did someone say hippy?) ideals paid off in spades. But how many great gigs in those months? The Clash (plus The Slits), SLF, The Lurkers, 999, Motorhead, The Buzzcocks....The Enid?
I can also vividly remember the excitement of receiving the first shipments of Rough Trade distributed records at Earth, during my tenure there. The Gang of Four and Human League singles on Fast Records, sometimes a few precious Jamaican 7" Pre's and of course the first Stiff Little Fingers album. Parcels arrived at Aylesbury Station via Red Star, where I had to pick the packages up on the way home on a Friday night and then remember coming in to work on Saturday morning with the eager cognescenti waiting at the door for me to open up, invariably a bit late after a heavy Friday night in the Wellhead in Wendover.
I also remember being lent a white label of the first PIL album by a friend who worked at CBS and rather injudiciously (sorry Pete) playing (or lending) it to Kris Needs in the shop one Saturday. As a result he reviewed it for Zig Zag and I think achieved a world scoop! My mate didn't like Kris much and I don't recall how I covered my tracks with him.
I continued to be a regular at Friars after leaving to work at Rough Trade, despite being spoiled for choice for great gigs in London. I rarely missed a weekend for another 2 or 3 years. Friars remained unsurpassed as a venue to see any band playing and continued to put on the cream of the crop. Who, that attended, will ever forget The Clash gig at Stoke Mandeville? I think my last great memory was The Kinks concert in December 1982, a rare Friday gig, then driving back to West London early on the Saturday morning, to work at Rough Trade, horribly hung-over and with a 6 month old child!
God, it was so exciting to be a part of all this. I was 20 years old and the world stretched in front of me and Friars and Earth Records and all the people associated were a huge part of what started a lifetime involved in music. I cannot thank them enough for that.
Throughout the 10 or so years I attended concerts at Friars there were so many great gigs (and great memories), it's hard to write something brief that isn't just a list. As well as the highlights mentioned above, I have to mention The Jam, who's series of concerts in between 77 and 80 were legendary and I didn't miss one! For me perhaps the most important, were the three Ronnie Lane gigs of the mid 70's. In particular the two at the BAH. They were highly enjoyable at the time of course, but in retrospect I think these gigs were more influential to me musically than almost any others at Friars or anywhere else for that matter. RIP Plonk!
When you look at all the people from the Aylesbury area who have gone on to work in the British and indeed world music industry, I don't think you can exaggerate the importance of what David and his team created in those brief 15 years (was that all it was?). Even people who were too young to go to Friars, have been and continue to be influenced by it's heritage and legacy.
Happy Birthday.
Alan Oakley, Friars fan, and now in Sydney, Australia, writing in 2009
Just discovered the site and some great memories came flooding back.
I was a young, very raw journalist writing for the Leighton Buzzard Observer back in the early 70s. One of the great joys was the weekly call to Friars to preview what was coming up – always amazing – you never knew who/what Friars would discover next. You had to turn up just in case you missed the next big thing.
At the risk of embarrassment, I’ll have to dig out some of my reviews (if I can find them). I know they would have included Cockney Rebel, Be Bop Deluxe, Can, Gong, Sutherland Bros.
I’m now a journalist living in Sydney. Best of luck with the site. A great initiative. I loved the place.
Gary Price, Friars fan, writing in 2009
Great website.
My mate was at the Mott the Hoople School party (December 1969). I still remember the Hunter Ronson gig as one of the best ones (around 2000-3000) I've been to. Yeah. The people and vision MADE IT happen. Proud to have been part of it.
Paul Bethell, Friars fan, writing in 2009
Having (regretfully) attended Aylesbury Grammar School from 1970 -early 1976, I was familiar with Friars as being the stamping ground of the accursed - those boys who proudly lurched up and down the school's oppressive corridors with albums by King Crimson, ELP, Focus and Wishbone Ash under their arms, heading, long hair bouncing, to the cloakroom to don their greatcoats. I loathed these boys with a vengeance, and wanted nothing of their (apparently) drug-addled pit of dubious pleasure.
My own Friars experience began in a field off Rabans Lane (later to become an industrial estate) in summer 1973 when I went to see Osibisa and Otway/Barrett with an AGS friend called David Ballard, a sensible lad who went on, I believe, to become a bank manager. Unfortunately the whole thing left me cold. I was bored. If this was live music you could stick it. My heart still beated to the double drummers of The Glitter Band if I was honest. I was into Bowie, Mott The Hoople and Roxy Music, but I still had a teenage weakness for Sweet, Slade, T.Rex and Gary Glitter as well.
By 1974, although I had shaken off my glitter and got into buying albums as well as singles, I also had a liking for American black music – Betty Wright, Barry White, KC and The Sunshine Band, Motown and Stax. I cast an envious eye northwards to Wigan and the Northern Soul explosion, for I was also fond of Chairmen Of The Board, although I was afraid to admit it. Allow me to digress and tell of my most humiliating experience of these pre-Friars years. Florida’s KC and The Sunshine Band (unbelievably) played Hazells Club off Tring Road and, on the night of the gig, instead of being there (I was too scared to go!) I was seen in the sweet shop of nearby Adams Garage, still in my school uniform, buying a bar of Fry’s “Turkish Delight” by Simon Cheetham, Michael Rowlinson, Martin Butler and Carl Jarman (or was it Terry Hedley?). They were all off to the gig, dressed in trendy long coats with furry lapels and all sported soul boy feather cuts. I was in my school uniform, mud on my trousers from lunchtime football and unwashed shapeless, greasy hair. They were young men. I was still a scruffy kid. I can still feel the shame and hear their laughter.
Back to Friars, though. String Driven Thing, Quintessence, Rennaissance, Gryphon, Van Der Graaf Generator, Curved Air, Blodwyn Pig and Tangerine Dream were my own personal anti-Christ. My God some truly awful bands played Friars ! They didn’t do it for me in any way. In fact I found them all decidedly unappealing. Only three words really mattered to me in the mid 1970s - Mott The Hoople.
Unfortunately, I never got to see MTH at Friars. They came just before my time. However, in terms of my taste, they were an oasis of quasi-glam majesty in a desert of patchouli oil, long hair and loon pants with paisley bits sewn in the bottoms to make the flares even bigger. The times were a-changing though and, like Simon Cheetham, I remember my amazed excitement as I peered down through the windows of the upper bar (while talking to the same Cheetham, as it happened) and saw the pandaemonium as The Vibrators thrashed out something that seemed to be literally changing my world. This was truly Damascene. All of a sudden Friars, in one frantic minute, became mighty appealing. The audience changed. People like me attended. It wasn’t all AGS swots and longhairs anymore. The revolution had come and it was live ! The AGS prefect types seemed far less in evidence, replaced by punks, oiks and even the odd skinhead. The girls, at long last, didn't all look like Janis Joplin. Aylesbury High School girls - Rosemarys, Susans and Angelas were replaced by girls from The Grange, Quarrendon or Mandeville - Kims, Traceys and Vanessas. Cheesecloth was on the way out. Straight jeans, pointed shoes and those funny furry jumpers were in. For a few years, Friars became my Nirvana. I heard some of the best live music you'll ever hear there, and I groped several nubile lovelies in that cramped single file of seats upstairs looking down at the stage. What more could you ask for, at eighteen ?
Apart from the Pistols, practically EVERY punk group played Friars. Astonishing for a (then) semi-rural county town. By the time I got to University, I had seen more bands then the rest of my fellow students put together. We didn't realise at the time just how damn lucky were to be in Aylesbury between 1976 and 1978. Aylesbury truly did a have a “scene” for two or three years or so. It was cutting edge, but did we even know it ? One little digression here again, remember the antithesis of Friars ? That’s right – the “Civic Disco” which took place every Friday night when, if you wanted to get off with a girl (far more of which went to “The Civic” than went to Friars) you had to swap your thin tie and skinny jeans for a huge lapelled shirt and blazer a la “Saturday Night Fever”. The “Civic” was the stamping ground of Aylesbury’s young Italians. You couldn’t move in there for Paolos and Ginas. There wasn’t an AGS boy in sight. It was, sociologically, completely different to Friars. I was one of few who went to both, I believe. There I was, on a Friday, attempting to dance to “Car Wash” or “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” in my jacket and blow-dried hair, and on the very next night, pogoing to Penetration, drenched in sweat and spittle.
My own personal highlights are shaking hands with my then idol Ian Hunter as he stood by the sound deck watching the Mott leftovers "The Britsh Lions" play their set, minutes before he headed onstage to encore with "Dudes"; my excitement at finally getting to see the MTH second incarnation "Mott" and my disappointment at their new vocalist, the Spinal Tap-esque Nigel Benjamin, complete with Harlequin one-piece bodystocking and preposterous high voice; The Jam many times; the sheer in your face adrenalin of The Ramones; Stiff Little Fingers; The Tom Robinson Band; Elvis Costello, Ian Dury and Steel Pulse. Oh and a girl called Helen sticking her tongue down my throat during Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' set....
However, my finest Friars gig of all time is nearly 30 years ago to the day as I write - The Clash in December 1978. The lights went out, the four shadowy figures ambled on to the tiny stage, and then - a flash of blinding light as I found myself a few yards from Mick Jones as they blasted their way into "Safe European Home". Matchless. I'll never forget it. Ever.
Joe McCallion, Friars fan, writing in 2009:
Would be great to return to see the groups as I worked front door and side stage and backstage. I remember refusing to let The Police drummer in because he did not have his backstage pass! We let him in in the end because Dave Stopps came looking for him I didn't know who he (Stewart Copeland) was, but they thanked us afterwards said it was the best security they ever had.
Mike Honour, Friars fan, writing in 2009:
Goodness me...just came across the site...I was born in Aylesbury. I was there at the very beginning...Earth Records, Dark Lantern, Dave Stopps, Nicky Menday and much much more......left the area in 1972 and never came back.
One of my great memories was the first time Focus played...sooooo loud for those days....and also the twirling poncho of Caleb Quale from Hookfoot and David Bowie......ah well.....
Chris Gibbons, Friars fan, now in Bermuda, writing in 2009:
I'll be honest, I nearly cried with joy when I stumbled upon the Friars website this week. Like so many other people, Friars was a huge part of my teenage years and early 20s and it has been wonderful to read through the site - it brought back so many happy memories.
I can't remember exactly when I started to go to Friars but I'm guessing it would have been late 72 as I certainly recall seeing Focus, Stackridge and Brinsley Schwartz early on. From then on I was a Friars regular and my bedroom wall was plastered with Budget's posters. A gang of us mainly Challoner's boys and girls used to catch the British Rail train up from Amersham on a Saturday night, hip-sized bottles of vodka secreted about the body (or in the folds of my RAF greatcoat on a winter's night!). I distinctly remember gathering in the Lantern or the Grapes (I think?) and then the bizz of excitement as you'd queue up in the alleyway into the Borough Assembly Hall. Some of the Chesham/Amersham Friars crowd then, all dolled up in their Wembley market best, would have been: Paul Hook, Russell Crockett, Teeth Burrell, Steve Stonhill, Gary Newton, Mark Goddard, Tony Curran, Debbie Saunders, Susan Rivett, Gill Ross, Jenny Neame, Teresa Seale and loads more lost to advancing years.
Friars was my first experience of real live music and the list of great gigs and bands is endless - Sailor of course, the legendary John Otway and Wild Willy, Sutherland Brothers, Queen, Hunter Ronson Band, Ronnie Lane, Mott, Andy Fairweather Low, Jam, Clash and, my all-time favourite, Cockney Rebel's first appearance in January 1974. They were virtually unknown then and I remember a week or so before the gig Steve Harley had mouthed off about how bands like them were going to give Bowie a kick up the arse - sacrilege to any Friars-going fan of course. So a lot of us went just to give Harley a hard time but were just blown away by how brilliant and different they were back then. We ended the night singing Sebastian and for the next couple of years, I followed them all over the place - a couple more times at Friars, Dunstable (at the late, lamented California Ballroom), Croydon, Hammersmith Odeon, and so on. Next to Bowie and The Faces, they were my favourite band from that pre-punk period.
The website reminded me of a few I'd forgotten - Jonathan (Twice Around The Houses) Kelly, Sassafras, Ducks Deluxe, String Driven Thing, Home and Silverhead to name a few. Will have to go rummaging on Spotify or iTunes and see if they really are worth remembering these days!
I missed a lot of gigs when I went to college in 75-76 but when I came back to Bucks as a reporter on the Bucks Examiner, I had regular contact with Dave Stopps as I briefly wrote a music column On The Rocks with all the youthful arrogance and pretentiousness you'd expect from a 20-year-old (anyone remember The Bees, Chesham's finest for five minutes?). And yes, I remember you well, Phil Davies on the Advertiser! He later came out for a vacation in Bermuda (where I moved to in 82) and we spent a very drunken day trying to watch Live Aid and attend a wedding at the same time!
One thing I miss out here in Bermuda is the live music but then I don't think anything would match the times we had in and around London in the 70s. Gigs were great value for money (remember at 90p, a Friars early 70s gig was cheaper than a 2.50 album - how times have changed) and there was a real connection between the bands and the fans back then. My musical tastes remain as eclectic as ever - largely in part, I think, because the mercurial Dave Stopps, managed to attract so many amazing bands. In those days it was hard to hear and track down good new music and thank God we had Friars to expose us to so much fantastic music. I will never, ever forget it.
Thanks again for the site. Keep up the good work - hopefully I'll catch a gig next time I'm home.
Penny Powell (nee Flower), now in Cornwall, writing in 2009:
Friars brings back many memories to me. The many groups I watched too numerous to name here. As a teacher now my students who are interested in good music are impressed with the list of bands that I witnessed. Friars to me was a real family affair. Both of my parents were very involved with Friars not only at the Civic Centre but also at The Borough Assembly Hall. My mother used to run the box office and my father was the technical manager of both venues, a job which sometimes caused some irritation with the musicians and their technicians. I was involved from the age of 14 collecting the glasses for the bars and later on working behind the bars providing the liquid nourishment for all those attending the gigs. Meeting people like Phil Collins, Gary Numan, Bob Geldof and Ian Dury where very special moments for me. I missed out on the last couple of years of Friars, but the memories will live on forever.
Robert Dunbar, Friars fan, writing in 2009:
Good to see Friars back. I used to work on the door and front stage for many a year and to see myself and Sid working the Genesis crew at the cattle market brought back many happy memories. I will try to get along to the next gig. I still have a signed poster of the Genesis concert and a signed David Bowie poster. Talk about rolling back the years! There seems to be an omission on the sight I recall going to The Aylesbury College to see Fleetwood Mac with Dave Stopps and had the impression he had organised it. But I could be mistaken it was along time ago.
Robert (Always known as Bob ) Dunbar
(Webmaster's note......David has advised that Fleetwood Mac's only Aylesbury gig was at Friars, although he did act as agent for a few gigs that did happen at the college)
Andy Walker, Friars fan, writing in 2009:
Great to hear of the Heroes award going to Eddie and the boyz. This was positively the first band I saw live at school when they played Aylesbury Grammar School in 75/76?
I remember the head asking for volunteers to help set the hall for the school disco and as usual no one but no one put their hands up. The head then picked a few "volunteers" and thankfully I was one of them.....then we found out it was a band whom none of us had heard of. Then we met them, had a few beers in the van, acted as roadies and had a whale of a time....a great introduction to live music and never looked back since
Dave Filby, Friars fan, writing in 2009:
Hi Mike, brilliant web site. Still finding my way round and basking in the memories. Went to see Genesis in 1972(March) for my 'debut' and went many, many more times until punk reared its head reducing my attendance to heavy rock and especially the prog bands still ploughing a lone furrow. Got loads of hand-outs still and the odd press cutting. I'll take some time soon and see if I have anything that you haven't already used
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