The following is a list of gigs at the Aylesbury Social Club:
| Date | Artist 1 | Artist 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8/1968 | Soul Express | Merryweather Station |
| 17/8/1968 | Harlem John's Reshuffle | |
| 21/9/1968 | St. James Infirmary | Legs Diamond |
| 5/10/1968 | Chicago Hush Sound | Legs Diamond |
| 19/10/1968 | Harlem John's Reshuffle | Legs Diamond |
| 2/11/1968 | The Rhubarb Tree | |
| 9/11/1968 | The Microbes | Legs Diamond |
| 16/11/1968 | The Magoos | |
| 23/11/1968 | The Clayton Haze | |
| 30/11/1968 | Impi's | Legs Diamond |
| 7/12/1968 | Erroll Daniel and the Garments | |
| 14/12/1968 | Archomedes Principal | |
| 21/12/1968 | Lawrie and the Like-Light | |
| 24/12/1968 | Unadopted Society | |
| 28/12/1968 | John McIntre Collection |
An article on the split up of Concrete Parachute:
Can anyone tell me the local band members of Concrete Parachute? I think my dad Ian Meyer was the bassist for the group. Any info or photographs would be great.
Hi Samantha,
An article in the Bucks Advertiser on 11 July 1968 titled “Concrete Parachute bites the dust” list the mambers as:
Ian Myer (bass guitar), Robert Woods (lead guitar), James Hopkins (trumpet), Jimmy Hemmings (drums), Ken Vincent (vocals) and Dave Hillsden (saxophone).
Spellings as shown in the article!
I have added the article to the 1968 Social Club page.
Jimmy Hemmings is still going
Barry Cowles played the Organ.
Myself and Jimmy were mods and rehearsed at Quarrendon Community Centre in the 60s.
Hi Samantha,
I knew your Dad, we were friends from school and played music together in Aylesbury in the 1960’s.Our first band was called ‘The Fouler Mean ‘then we formed ‘The Set Up’ followed by ‘The Big O Flap Band’ and ‘The Concrete Parachute’. I do have photos which I could send you. Your Dad’s nick name was Mr Mare and we were good friends but lost contact after I left Aylesbury for College.My email is rtwoods49@gmail.com
Great to find your request for information about your Dad
Hi Rob,
Do you remember playing at The Railway Hotel with The Set Up, and I showed you the chords to For Your Love.
My nickname was Shum when with Jimmy Hemmings in our Mod days.
Hi Samantha,
I knew your Dad, we were friends from school and played music together in Aylesbury in the 1960’s.Our first band was called ‘The Fouler Mean ‘then we formed ‘The Set Up’ followed by ‘The Big O Flap Band’ and ‘The Concrete Parachute’. I do have photos which I could send you. Your Dad’s nick name was Mr Mare and we were good friends but lost contact after I left Aylesbury for College.My email is rtwoods49@gmail.com
Great to find your request for information about your Dad.
Best regards
Rob Woods
Do you remember playing at The Railway Hotel with The Set Up and I showed you the chords to For Your Love. My nickname was Shum and I played with The Raving Novacks, Havana Boys and Lionel Bateman.
Brilliant, thank you. Do you know if they played BAH at all. He was also in a band called Arandorius (not sure is spelling is correct) Life.
Thanks
Yes they did play at The BAH
Concete Parachute definitely played at The Borough Assembly Hall.
Hi Samantha I remember you and your dad,we were great pals I played in the concrete parachute,gigs at the park street social club,played the ‘cali’ Dunstable..(California ballroom) we were support for the”MOVE” -played clubs in Nottingham Croydon ,Windsor, usaf bases,…practised at the church army youth club Walton street Great fun…..in our later years we were great fishermen,season ticket holders at Snowberry lakes……
I remember IAN with the SET UP. up practicing in the old stable rooms at the Railway hotel Aylesbury…landlord mr Blake ..…IAN,DAVE TURNHAM,ROBBIE WOODS…….i could give you lots of names ,guys from Southcourt,Grange school,…yes we played the BAH,we took part in a music contest in high Wycombe and came second behind some guys who played a gentle version of “a whiter shade of pale” EDDIE FRIDAY SAW US n booked us for the BAH……………LOTS OF MEMORIES. STAY SAFE DAVE HILLSON saxophone player…XX
I haven’t seen any listing of appearances at the BAH – though that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! I have an article that shows Concete Parachute was the new name of the Big O Flap Band – changing the name and a new stage act incorporating more rock and roll music.
Hi Stephen,
My name is Rob Woods and I played guitar in the Big O Flap Band and The Concrete Parachute. If you are interested I can send you photos.
I would also like to get in touch with Topper Hopkins if you could forward my email address please
Best regards
Rob Woods
Hi rob woods I remember you….Albert street,turnfurlong lane,Grange school,railway hotel ,raf Halton ,courts school of dance,church army youth club,Jim knight,5th dynasty Barry cowes ,Ian Meyer,jimmy hemmings,topper Hopkins Ken/john Vincent,…..and me Dave hillsdon,still around own hair n teeth…rock on cheers