Paul Jones recalls memories of Spennymoor club Top Hat

As he prepares to headline the second of the Whitby 60s music festivals this September (20th/21st/22nd) at the Whitby Pavilion, Paul Jones has been reminiscing about his memories of venues across the North East, including the Top Hat in Spennymoor.

Jones sprung to prominence in the early 60s as lead vocalist with Manfred Mann with whom he had several hit records including ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ and ‘Pretty Flamingo’, ‘54321’ and ‘If you Gotta Go – Go Now’.

Jones will take to stage the hugely popular three-day music event on Saturday evening (September 21).

Paul Jones (Image: GOFFY MEDIA)

Paul Jones is also renowned for his harmonica playing fronts with his band The Manfreds these days which includes appearances by his long-time band members Mike D’’Abo and Tom McGuiness.

Mike and Tom have many credits to hit songs in the UK charts and are prominent with Manfred Man.

During those million-selling days of the '60s and '70s, Jones was also a regular in the cabaret and music venues in the Nort East.

The Top Hat in Spennymoor, The Rink Ballroom Hartlepool, and Club Fiesta in Norton were all venues that Jones would headline shows.

The musician recalls: “They were great times and I have so many memories of the area from that period. The Manfred Man fan club was based in the area for a lengthy period so it was a place that I would visit often

“The Top Hat in Spennymoor was special as we would perform for a full week on a fairly regular basis. We always stayed at a family-run guest house which was run by some lovely people. 

“On my last visit to the Whitby 60s Weekender one of the family appeared in the audience and presented me with a selection of photographs that had been taken in that memorable period of being in and around Spennymoor – it brought back so many happy memories for and it touched me. 

the Top Hat in Spennymoor (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“They were special times and hard to imagine that some sixty years on the songs from that period still evoke happy times for a generation."

He added: "I often see three generations now at live gigs; the music from that time has been passed down through so many families.

“We played many venues around the patch – The Club Fiesta in Norton was another that opened up in 1965 as we were having huge hits and was under the guidance of Teesside brothers Jim and Keith Lipthorpe. They brought the biggest names to Teesside which up to that point had been mostly in London and Manchester.

“When we play Whitby this September so many fans will recall their stories of how they met in places such as The Rink in Hartlepool and further north in Newcastle at the brilliant Club a’ Gogo and also La Dolce Vita in the city – they were terrific gigs to play.

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“It was an unforgettable period, and I love getting up on stage at festivals around the world to bring back those wonderful times. I am delighted that the long-running 60s Festivals continue to flourish. They bring so many people to the coast for fish and chips and three days and nights of recalling the magical decade. I am so much looking forward to it and the band love playing the Whitby Pavilion too.”

Jones, now aged 82, has had a varied career after leaving Manfred Man. He went solo and the hits continued ‘High Time’ and ‘Bad, Bad Boy’ were both top five UK hits immediately after quitting the band.

For more than three decades he hosted The Blues Show for BBC Radio 2, presented many TV shows and made lots of appearances as an actor including The Sweeney, Z Cars and he also starred in the West End.