Are there any Mods about that used to hang out at the King Alfred Bowling Alley? All I can remember is Chipmunk OXO Crisps.That would have been 1964.

Hi Ron and Chris. I was a wayward 13 year old in '64 and used to get along the Alfred on the back of an older boy's scooter. Unfortunately I don't remember any names. What about The Zodiac coffee bar anyone? I used to stuff pillows in my bed and sneak down there. And a little later saw the Who (didn't know who they were ha!). But I was knocked out by the music, they were at a place at the bottom of West Streer that later became the Barn (I think) and even possibly the Pink Coconut in more recent years! Then there was The Staright Rooms in Montpelier Road - around 1965/66?

The “Zodiac” coffee bar was above 'Hiltons' shoe shop at the bottom of St James St. I can remember the Kings and Queen's pin ball machine and the Wurlitzer Lyric jukebox, (push the buttons C 3 for what becomes of a broken heart. The toilets were none existent and you had to use the coach station across the road in Manchester St. I spent so many hours in there, I think coke or a coffee was a shilling.

I'm glad someone else remembers the Starlight rooms and the Pop In. I used to go there quite a lot, usually before or after a trip to the 'Scan' as the Scandinavia coffee bar was known. The Starlight rooms were a mixture of music rooms and dance rooms with different bands, artists or a D.J. playing records in each room, From what I remember it was a fire hazard and would never be allowed to open these days with 'health and safety' controls. I seem to remember a resident group, Bobby Sansom and ? (can't remember) but I do remember 'Millie' singing 'My Boy Lollipop'. It was a far cry from the 'Scan' where serious Mods used to listen to Georgie Fame singing 'Yeah, Yeah', or Prince Buster, the Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun', the Kingsman's 'Louie, Louie' or John Lee Hooker. From the 'Scan' it would be onwards to Castle Square (Electricity House) where all the Mods and scooters gathered before going home.

I also remember the Starlight Rooms. It was one of the "in" places for real mods. My then girlfriend (now wife of 45 years) and I went there often. We would delight in seeking out other mods who went to the Lyceum Ballroom in the Strand as we had a mod jive that was unique. Even now we sometimes see couples doing the Lyceum Jive. Would be interested in hearing from others who remember it. Lyceum mods also had the longest vents in the back of suit jackets, some right up to the shoulder blades.

Bobby Sansom’s band were called The Giants, they played regularly around the Brighton area and have played a few times at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. You can read about the early 60s Brighton music scene at http://www.brightonbeat.com/home.htm Bobby Sansom is well remembered for having a residency at Jenkinsons Cabaret Bar at the Top Rank on West Street in the 70s. Bobby now lives in California where he still performs as a singer style impersonator, check him out at http://www.americanmobilemusic.com/song-clips.php