“Why don’t you include more stuff from the Seventies and Eighties”, my taxi driver asked me.

He has a point. After all, it’s now twenty years since the Berlin Wall came down.

I know that when I was giving my talks on the canals of St Helens (yes, plural!), I expected that when I showed the old cine footage of the Mersey at Bridge Foot, I and other Newtonians would be the only ones to remember the Hogie Wagon that was also featured on the footage.

Not a bit of it. Musicians heading home, revellers who had been at the Saturday rock nights at Warrington Lion, and people who wanted a greater eating challenge than pie and splits, all waxed lyrical about the Hogies.

Imagine a long stick of French bread full of hot dogs, onions, relish, etc.

Living in Newton in the Seventies for a rock fan like me, meant a cultural diet of Friday rock nights at Vics Club, near the Mucky Mountains, and Saturday rock nights at Warrington Lion.

Moving to Sutton, my fond memories of the eighties in St Helens include rock nights at the Raven and Triplex.

We had some legendary local bands then, including Clear Cut, the Jacky Bond Band, Poisoned Electrick Head (also one of Johnny Vegas’s favourites), The Rubbers with Ronnie Westhead, Snatchback, Strange Brew and Swampstompers.

You were guaranteed a great night’s music if they were on the bill (and I have some live recordings for heritage proof!).

Someone told me Jacky is back from South Africa. I saw Frank Leyland and Tom Two-Sticks recently at the Citadel’s 21st birthday. Steve Byatt is active in an AC/DC tribute band. Steve Kinsey is active with Music-Net, the St Helens local music network (visit www.music-net.org.uk).

I never did see Gravy Train, although I have their albums on CD.

  • So what are your memories then?