|
Sailor broke through in 1975 and 1976 putting on five highly memorable
Friars concerts based around Parisian concepts and revue. Who will forget that
famous nickelodeon? There's only been one act with a nickelodeon and
that's Sailor. Sailor are still playing with 75% of their original
line-up, no mean feat for a band who have been a going concern for 35
years. Best known for A Glass of Champagne and Girls Girls Girls which
established them here and in Europe, they are still a draw on the
continent where they still play many concerts, mainly as part of bigger
packages, to enthusiastic and loyal audiences.
Their first headlining
slot at Friars in 1975 concert drew Steve Harley, in disguise (allegedly
as a rabbi!), to the audience to check Sailor out. He was so impressed
they were offered (and accepted) the support slot on Cockney Rebel's
1975 British tour
(see cutting below)
The Aylesbury audiences
took them to their hearts and played a major factor in their rise up the
ladder. Also in 1975, Sailor were presented with the FA Talent Winners
Cup, an annual event in the gift of David Stopps and this award still
sits on Phil Pickett's mantelpiece. Sailor will be forever in Friars
thoughts.
The webmaster presenting
the award to the band on stage in Milton Keynes said:
"There is a town 20
miles from here called Aylesbury. From 1969 - 1984 there ran the
legendary Friars Aylesbury club where many successful bands in the 1970s
cut their teeth before going on to bigger things. Sailor was one such
band and in 1975 and 1976 they played no less than five highly
successful headlining concerts. 2009 sees the 40th anniversary of the
inception of Friars Aylesbury and to commemorate this, there are a
number of Friars Heroes Awards for those who made an outstanding
contribution to the Friars legacy. It gives me great pleasure to say
that Sailor are the inaugural recipients of the Friars Heroes Award."
Sailor:
It was one of those venues around the world, probably one of only around
four very very special places where we got the kind of reaction that was
almost unbelievable. I'm glad to say we usually go down reasonably well,
but the audiences there [Aylesbury] were always sensational...and helped
propel us into the stratosphere for the time that we were very big. It's
a long time ago but still remember it very well and David Stopps and all
the people there and all the characters. You just loved playing there.
It was always a great vibe...
Sailor
accepting the Friars Heroes Award,
Milton Keynes, December 2008.
(Picture by Malcolm Knowles from the Sailor approved fansite,
Sailor-Marinero.com run by
Katrin Wagner)
(l-r) Henry Marsh,
Grant Serpell, Phil Pickett, Oliver Marsh
Sailor's history at Friars
 
|
