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The Crimea, Aldershot
One of the few venues active in the 80’s and 90’s still hosting bands; with live music every Saturday and a weekly Open Mic Nite. Once a year The Crimea holds Crimea-Fest, an outdoor charity concert, with 8-10 bands every year.
In ’69, Farnborough band, FBI stopped off at the Liberal Club to watch Sound of Time, parking their van with all their gear in The Crimea car park. Only to return later to find their van empty.
Nikki Papas had a regular spot in ’87 and West One graced the ‘stage’ on 20 November that same year. In the early 90’s, The Crimea was boarded up and remained closed for just over three months following torrential rain and flooding, with the water rising to the top of the bar.
The venue has been previously awarded Lemonrock’s “Venue of the Week”.
Gallery:
Soundscene’s Gig List from 1 October 1987 
20 November 1987: West One played The Crimea, Aldershot. Source: West One 
Soundscene Gig List, 1st Oct ’87 
The Crimea post-flood in the early ’90s 
The Crimea in 1935 -
The Midnight Cowboys
(c’?) Sid Smith (drums), Eric James (vocals / guitar), John Hannon (vocals / bass), and Bill Logan (guitar).
Aldershot based country and western band. They are known to have played The Heron and The Excelsior Club, Aldershot. At some point Josephine ? joined The Midnight Cowboys on vocals.
A line-up consisting of James, Jim ?, and Lou ? reportedly played down the Dover Arms, Aldershot weekly.
Smith (2015), James (2002) and Hannon (January 2024) are all sadly no longer with us.Gallery:
The Midnight Cowboys. Source: Josephone Kerry via Historic Aldershot Military Town -
Princes Hall, Aldershot
Opened by its namesake HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh on 22 May 1973; the Princes Hall, Aldershot is owned and managed by Rushmoor Council. It seats about 600 in the main auditorium, with additional function rooms; and sits on the corner of Wellington Avenue and Princes Way.
While officially opened in ’73, the opening ‘gala concert’ at the hall, which was built on the site of the old Warburg Barracks, featured Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen in November ’72.
5 March 1979: Martha Reeves and her Vandellas were at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Pete Myles via Historic Military Aldershot On 5 March ’79, Martha Reeves and her Vandellas performed at Princes Hall. Late the next year, on 4 November ’80, The Mode supported Polaris. The Buzz Club moved their gig, with Terry & Gerry and Inspector Tuppence & The Sexy Firemen, to the Princes Hall on 16 February ’86, as heavy snow on the roof of the West End Centre, Aldershot deemed the club’s regular venue unsafe. Later that year, on 15 August the Ministry of Sound, supported by the newly formed Bluetrain and West One, took to the stage. Local promoters and bands would often hire the function rooms to put on gigs. On 17 September ’86 Java, with support from West One did just that; and West One were back on 8 November ’86; and Java, supported by Schutt, and Monterrez, returned on 10 April ’87. That same year Rick Wakeman played the main stage on 25 July. The next year, on 4 May ’88, West One were back yet again: this time competing in the Battle for the Limelight against Paper Moon, UxB, and Rising Signs. Just over two weeks later, on 21 May, Suzi Quattro rocked the hall. The next year, We Are Going to Eat You made an appearance on 3 May ’89.
11 July 1991: Chapterhouse, supported by Thousand Yard Stare and Spitfire, played Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Chewtonia.com Refurbishment began in the late ’89, reopening in December 1990. Big Sun were managed by Sean Connor, who worked at Princes Hall, and one of their earliest gigs saw them step in for Railroad Earth at the venue on 1 May ’91 with Trousershock BC and Peachrazor in support. The security for a Chapterhouse gig with support by Thousand Yard Stare and Spitfire, on the evening of 11 July ’91, was provided by off-duty members of the Parachute Regiment. They decided that an indie audience were not going to give them any trouble and settled in the reception area for a chinwag and a quiet night. As a result, they failed to prevent a very enthusiastic, but good natured, stage invasion during one of the support bands sets. The red-faced Paras leant not to underestimate a bunch of indie youth, received a bollocking from the venue’s duty manager, and paid a bit more attention for the rest of the show. Later that year, Who Moved the Ground? were supported by Slug and another band on 6 November ’91. 18 months later, on 16 May ’93, Midge Ure’s band Electronica graced the main stage as did Steve Hackett, supported by Dave Gardner, on 2 June ’93. The final for Battle for the Limelight was hosted at Princes Hall on 18 May ’94 and featured Who Moved the Ground?, Strange World, Parmaviolet, Blind, Punching Judy, Redefining Beautiful, and eventual winners Headnoise. On 3 July ’95, J.C. Regulator played on the venue’s steps…
3 July 1995: J.C. Regulator playing outside the Princes Hall, Aldershot. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman Other musicians to have appeared at Princes Hall include Gene Pitney, Ivor Emmanuel, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Heinz, New World, Bobby Crush, The Fall, Charles Hawtrey, Kenny Ball, Syd Lawrence, Geno Washington, Jools Holland, Jane McDonald, Joe Brown, Val Doonican, Barbara Dickson, Des O’Connor, Alvin Stardust, The Hollies (fronted by Carl Wayne of The Move), Joan Armatrading and Katherine Jenkins.
The venue is still open today, with a range of shows, events and their annual pantomime.
Gallery:
15 August 1986: Ministry of Sound, supported by Blue Train and West One at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
17 September 1986: Java supported by West One at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
17th September 1986: West One supported Java at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
8 November 1986: West One were at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
8 November 1986: West One at the Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
8 November 1986: West One at the Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
10 April 1987: Java, supported by Schutt, and Monterrez, played Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Chewtonia.com 
25 July 1987: Rick Wakeman played Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Chewtonia.com 
4 May 1988: Ticket for Battle For The Limelight at Princes Hall, Aldershot. The event feature West One, Paper Moon, UxB, and Rising Signs. Source: West One 
4 May 1988: West One at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: West One 
Princes Hall Foyer in 1989 
6 November 1991: Slug, Who Moved the Ground? and one other band were at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Who Moved The Ground? 
2 Jun 1993: Steve Hackett support Dave Gardner at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Chewtonia.com 
18 May 1994: Flyer for Battle for the Limelight at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Head Noise beat Who Moved the Ground?, Strange World, Parmaviolet, Blind, Punching Judy, and Redefining Beautiful! Source: Who Moved The Ground? Aldershot, Alvin Stardust, Barbara Dickson, Battle for the Limelight, Big Sun, Billy Fury, Blind, Bluetrain, Bobby Crush, Buzz Club, Carl Wayne, Chapterhouse, Charles Hawtrey, Dave Gardner, Des O’Connor, Electronica, Gene Pitney, Geno Washington, Headnoise, Heinz, HRH Prince Phillip, Inspector Tuppence & the Sexy Firemen, Ivor Emmanuel, J.C. Regulator, Jane McDonald, Java, Joan Armatrading, Joe Brown, Jools Holland, Katherine Jenkins, Kenny Ball, Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Martha Reees and her Vandellas, Marty Wilde, Midge Ure, Ministry of Sound, Monterrez, New World, Paper Moon, Parachute Regiment, Parmaviolet, Peachrazor, Polaris, Princes Hall, Punching Judy, Railroad Earth, Redefining Beautiful, Rick Wakeman, Rising Signs, Rushmoor Council, Schutt, Sean Connor, Slug, Spitfire, Steve Hackett, Strange World, Suzi Quattro, Syd Lawrence, Terry & Gerry, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Fall, The Hollies, The Mode, The Move, Thousand Yard Stare, Trousershock BC, UxB, Val Doonican, Warburg Barracks, We Are Going to Eat You, West End Centre, West One, Who Moved the Ground? -
The Torpedoes
(c’77-80’s) Paul Trew (guitar/vocal), Martin Humphries (bass), Tim Huthert (drums), and Keith “Kipper” Ledgerwood (guitar).
Huthert had previously played with Out of Order and Alan “Spike” Rawlings’ Quintet, and along with Ledgerwood, who had also been in Oddsox, they had both been in The Vandals. Meanwhile, Humphries had been in the Nobodies; while in parallel to The Torpedoes, Trew and Huthert were also in The Desotos.
This Farnborough band performed Lou Reed, The Who, The Small Faces and other covers, appearing at the Wokingham Rock Club, and Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley. On 5 February ’80, The Torpedoes supported The Mode at The Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough and a couple of months later appeared at the Technical College, Farnborough in support of The Vulgar Bros. They also joined other local bands: Vixen, Lynx, The Vulgar Bros., Human Beings, Blue Unction, Roosta Boots, Larry Miller Band, Animal, and Magic Pictures to play the Stonehenge Festival in 1980.
Huthert went on to play with Thane and Specimen. Trew also joined Thane, White as White (and Twice as Dirty), and The Vulgar Bros. Both turned up in The Virgin Daze.
Gallery:
5 February 1980: The Torpedoes supported The Mode at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
5 February 1980: The Mode were supported by The Torpedoes, at the Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough. 
18 April 1980: The Torpedoes and Vulgar Bros played Farnborough Tech. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew Agincourt Ballroom, Alan Rawlings, Animal, Blue Unction, Camberley, Farnborough, Farnborough Tech, Human Beings, Keith Ledgerwood, Larry Miller Band, Lynx, Magic Pictures, Martin Humphries, Nobodies, Oddsox, Out of Order, Paul Trew, Rock Club, Roosta Boots, Specimen, Stonehenge Festival, Technical College, Thane, The Desotos, The Mode, The Torpedoes, The Vandals, The Virgin Daze, The Vulgar Bros, Tim Huthert, Tumbledown Dick, Vixen, White as White (and Twice as Dirty), Wokingham -
The Mode
(c’79-’81) Tony Brooks (vocal/guitar), Simon Sherwood (bass/vocal) and Tim Claydon (drums)
This Farnborough / Sandhurst three piece were managed by Barry Thane and played The Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough regularly, including a support slot for The Vapors on 6 November ’79, and The Cambridge Hotel, Camberley.
On 4 December ’79 the band headlined at The Tumbledown Dick, supported by Between Pictures, in the follow-up gig series for Gallagher’s, a Tuesday night new wave, mod, and punk club launched in October. The next year, on 5 February ’80, The Torpedoes supported the band at The Tumbledown Dick; then on 4 November ’80, The Mode supported Polaris at the Prince’s Hall, Aldershot.
A demo cassette was released that carried the track “Spaceman” at some point in 1980. Claydon also played in The Vandals.
Tracks:
Gallery:
4 December 1979: The Mode supported by Between Pictures played Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough 5 February 1980: The Torpedoes supported The Mode at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 5 February 1980: The Mode supported by The Torpedoes at Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough 
David Reading’s Pop Scene column from Aldershot News, 31 October ’80 has The Mode supporting Polaris at the Princes Hall, Aldershot on 4 November. 
The Mode at Fernhill Secondary School c’80s. Picture by Bob Yeoman via Steve McKeown’s Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
Keynote Studios, Frensham
(c’79-85) Keynote was the place where many local bands, including Lethal Dose and Peachrazor, had their demo tape duplication done. The engineer was Tim Wheatley; who was also owner of Chestnut Studios, Churt and had been in various local bands, including Cryin’ Out Loud.
In ’96, Wheatley and Robert Lipson reunited and under the Esher born, progressive rock band Gracious! name recorded the “Echo” LP at what was listed as Dubmaster / Keynote Studios. This was published by Chestnut Music. Wheatley played bass, guitar and provided backing vocals; as well as engineering and co-producing, Lipson was on drums, and Sev Lewkowicz covered keyboards, vocals, and guitar.
Gallery:
Lethal Dose in the control room at Chestnut Studio receiving a master from Tim Wheatley, owner and engineer at Keynote Studios. and Liz Wheatley in 1980. Picture courtesy of Mick Magic 
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The Martin Brothers
(c’47-50) William “Bill” Martin (guitar/vocals) Bob McGowan (?/vocals) and George Martin (accordion/vocals).
Prior to The Martin Brothers, George was an accordion player and singer known as “The Boy Baritone”. He also played in the cine-variety group The Tango Trio, performing at The Ritz, Aldershot. George formed The Martin Brothers, shortly after de-mob, with his younger brother Bill and McGowan; who he’d met in the RAF and who became his brother-in-law.
This Aldershot based close harmony trio auditioned for Vivian Van Damm at the Windmill Theatre, London; successfully turning professional with a six-week season. This was followed by a tour of Scotland, then a place in the touring production Buttons and Bows. While touring Germany, George broke his leg, and the act disbanded.
McGowan would later play double bass in The Mickey Kennedy Band and, with wife Joyce, ran The Owls Club, Aldershot. George later became known as “The Casual Comedian” and did stand-up tours and appeared on TV. He also became the licensee of The Bricklayer’s Arms, Ash, but a musician, composer, and wrote scripts, notably for Basil Brush. He died on 4 November 1991.Gallery:
The Martin Brother (c’49) L-R: William Martin, Bob McGowan, and George Martin. Aldershot, Ash, Basil Brush, Bob McGowan, Buttons and Bows, George Martin, Germany, London, Scotland, The Boy Baritone, The Bricklayer’s Arms, The Casual Comedian, The Martin Brothers, The Mickey Kennedy Band, The Owls Club, The Ritz, The Tango Trio, Vivian Van Damm, William Martin, Windmill Theatre -
The Beehive, Aldershot
Situated at the corner of Pound Rd and the High Street, Aldershot; the Beehive hosted bands in the mid to late 80’s when Danny and Bev ? ran the pub.
1 May 1987: West One played The Beehive, Aldershot. Source West One In ’87, West One played three gigs at the venue, labelling it ‘The Real Buzzz… Club’, on 1 May, 5 June, and 18 July. Soloist Jimmy Newell also appeared at the venue, sometimes joined by Mike ? as the duo Jim & Mike and with the band Easytones. One of the last gigs at The Beehive was on 30 June 2012, when The Stylettes performed.
It closed at the end of March 2014 and was illegally converted to residential accommodation. Planning permission was then granted in 2017 for conversion to flats.
Gallery:
5 June 1987: West One played The Beehive. Aldershot. Source West One 
18 July 1987: West One played The Beehive, Aldershot. Source West One 
The Beehive, Aldershot in March ’94. Source: Photo by Chris Kelly via Peter Harrison on Historic Aldershot Military Town 
The Beehive, Aldershot 
The Beehive, Aldershot -
Creatures of Darkness
(c’82-’83) Sharon Pilling (bass), Kirk Kelly (drums) Alison Goldfrapp (vocals), Stuart Murray (guitar) and Andrew Buchan (synths).
This Guildford / Alton band played the May Bug Ball on 7 May ’83 at the University of Surrey, Guildford; along with LongPig, La Maison Du Chants, and Freedom Dance.
After Creatures of Darkness split, ex-members Murray, Pilling, and Buchan formed Dark Trio. The fourth Creature of Darkness, Goldfrapp, went and did her own thing. Pilling and Kelly, the final creature of darkness, also formed Screaming Lullabies with others in ’83.
Gallery:
7 May 1983: Ticket for The May Bug Ball at University of Surrey, Guildford with LongPig, Freedom Dance, Creatures of Darkness, and La Maison Du Chante. 
Creatures of Darkness (L-R: Buchan, Kelly, Murray, Goldfrapp, and Pilling) Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling -
Consenting Adults
(c’80-’81) Alan Neve (vocals), Jez Swift (guitar / vocals), Tim Avory (drums), and Jackie Wills (bass).
21 July 1981: Consenting Adults supported Disruptive Patterns at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford This Guildford band are known to have played The Wooden Bridge, Guildford; they were certainly there on 3 February ’81 with Zero Time, and on 21 July ’81 supported Disruptive Patterns. The year before, on 20 July ’80’ they had also supported Disruptive Patterns at the Youth Centre, Guildford. After Swift left, ? Solomon picked up the guitar for the Consenting Adults.
Avory is a nephew of Mick Avory, drummer of The Kinks. Neve is sadly no longer with us.
Gallery:
Consenting Adults. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Consenting Adults. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Neve and Swift of Consenting Adults. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Neve and Swift of Consenting Adults. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes 
Neve and Swift of Consenting Adults. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes
Our Soundscene 
Human beings takes me back to 1981. Followed them all over the Surrey reading area for a year a great band and 3 good guys playing well written songs of the era. I wish john Tim and steve well what ever they are doing now. Should reform for a few shows just like Oasis but do the wooden bridge.
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