Musicians rock up to remember the old days
They'll be talking 'bout their g-generation as scores of members of Shropshire pop and rock groups from the 1960s and 1970s meet up again.
The reunion has been organised by Gerry Ward, who played in Fluff, which hovered on the brink of stardom but never quite broke into the big time.
"The idea arose through meeting old friends and buddies at funerals! I'd rather meet while we are still alive - a much better alternative," said Gerry, who now lives in Hamburg, Germany, but during the heyday of the group lived at Caradoc Flats in Wellington, which became a place to call in for bands motoring up and down the A5 to and from gigs.
He added: "After checking the idea with some old band members it became obvious that so many of the old rock and pop scene rarely met anymore, so I thought, let's do it.
"There were so many bands. Every local town pre-Telford had at least one playing regularly and we all knew of each other.
"Many of us swapped members or formed newer, better bands.
"Many of us are still playing but it would not be feasible to arrange a live program. Chaos would emerge and I don't fancy trying to arrange it. Therefore it is purely a social event."
The event will be held on April 28 at the Ugly Duckling at Long Lane, Wellington, from 5pm, and the groups are being asked if possible to bring a photo of themselves from yesteryear.
"Greasers, Pacifics, Vandells, Soul Party, Skylons, Bird’n Bees, Sweet Water, Witnesses,Two Way Split,Tearaways, Fluff, Floppy Hat, Insect, Dollymixcha, Street and many more are expected to show up," added Gerry.
"Having stayed at the Ugly Duckling a couple of times while I was back in the area it seemed the perfect venue.
"I simply asked the then manager if we could use the pub as a meeting place if such an occasion materialised, and he agreed.
"It is not a private do. I've not hired the place. I reckon there will be about 60 to 80 or more old musicians there."
