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The Hartbeats

A brief history of The Hartbeats as told by Brian 'Smirky' Moon who was one of the founder members.

It was George, Johnny Rogan and myself who formed the original Hartbeats. George obviously played lead, John played rhythm and I played bass - only using a standard guitar with the bass turned up because we couldn't afford a proper bass guitar. We had a number of drummers in the early days -the one I remember most was Simmy Reay. Young John Hart used to always be around at practice and eventually played drums. The very first gig we did was down in old Hartlepool at a small workman's club when we each got 10 bob for the night - brilliant! Afterwards the most regular gig we had was every Friday and Saturday at the Queen's Hotel which was over where the hospital is now. Eventually I managed the money for a real bass guitar so I bought a new Hofner "Fiddle" Bass - a la Paul McCartney - which caused lots of interest everywhere we played as it was the first in the area. I'm not exactly sure of the timing of the next events but Roly Thompson joined the group and Johnny Rogan went up to Sunderland Empire when he heard that Adam Faith's bass player had been killed in an accident, on the off chance of taking over - and we all know what happened next. I got married in April 1966 and Margaret and I emigrated to Canada to live that month, where we lived in Toronto for the next five years. Although I still play at home and have quite a nice collection of guitars, I haven't performed in public since then. One regret I have is that I don't have any pictures of the original Hartbeats. Looking back at those days we had some great times. George to me was not just one of the most talented guitarists in the area but one of the nicest people you could ever meet. I'm only glad that through Ron Blair I managed to meet up with him again a few times before he died.

George Hart who was the founder member and lead guitarist of the 60's Hartlepool band The Hartbeats, passed way during the early hours of May 27th, 2008 after suffering from cancer. He was 64. He started his musical career at the age of ten when he studied keyboards. At 15 he opted to play guitar and, along with his brother John, founded The Hartbeats. In later years he also played with The Plainsmen, The Reaction Show Group, Two of Hearts, The Harts Showgroup and The Hart Family who won the ITV television show "New Faces" in 1974.

George and brother John enjoying a drink at the Causeway, October 2006.

An early photograph of John Hart which came to us courtesy of Derrick Rowbotham.

Brian Moon, one of the founder members of The Hartbeats, celebrates his 21st birthday in 1965 with friends Ron Owen, Derek Anderson and Ian Muller.

The Harts Showgroup card came from the collection of Alan Lindridge.

Geoff Alder with a white Fender Stratocaster doing a show at his old school - Dyke House.

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The Hartbeats

 

The Hartbeats at the Maison de Dance in Stockton, with the master of ceremonies the late and great Jack Marwood. With Jack are George Hart Senior, Roly Thompson, John Rogan and George Hart. John Hart is in the background at the drum kit. Jack Marwood was, of course, leader of Jack Marwood & his Orchestra. He was a great musician and liked by all the groups who worked for him. Underneath the stage at the Maison de Dance, we are told, was a cellar trap door with a passage leading to the old Empire building on the site of the old Stockton Castle.

George Hart with a Fender Stratocaster in 1960 and, on the right, with a Telecaster taken in Tunisia sometime during the early 1970's.

John Hart on drums and, on the right, a photograph which dates back to 1963 and was taken after The Hartbeats won a band competition. Geoffrey Alder who is playing the white Stratocaster says, "I remember one of the other bands was The Haft'a Darkks. Two of the band members were brothers called Alec and Brian Weegram I believe?" Other Haft'a Darkks members included Pete Maunder on rhythm guitar and Billy Collier on lead. The photograph show Geoffrey Alder with a white Fender Stratocaster, Peter Trundley on Gibson bass, Harry Bilton – the lead vocalist and with the trophies - John Hart on drums and Roly Thompson with the Gibson guitar. Geoffrey Alder replaced George Hart as lead guitarist and John Hart is George's brother. Peter Trundley took over on bass guitar after John Rogan left the band to join Adam Faith and The Roulettes.

The Hartbeats outside the Catcote Hotel.

The Hartbeats at Hartlepool Community Centre in 1963

The Hartbeats in John Hart's front room in 1963. The LP they are looking at is "Joe Brown Live" which was recorded at the Globe Theatre, in Stockton.

The Hartbeats perform at a local dance

This photograph, from 1965, shows John Hart, George Hart and Derek Allen at the back with Roly Thompson and Ken Officer in the front.

John and George Hart at the Causeway, Hartlepool, October 2006 © Stan Laundon.

George Hart, who was the founder member and lead guitarist of the 60's Hartlepool band The Hartbeats, passed way during the early hours of May 27th, 2008 after suffering from cancer. He was 64. He started his musical career at the age of ten when he studied keyboards. At 15 he opted to play guitar and, along with his brother John, founded The Hartbeats. In later years he also played with The Plainsmen, The Reaction Show Group, Two of Hearts, The Harts Showgroup and The Hart Family who won the ITV television show "New Faces" in 1974.

This page is dedicated to the memory of George Hart.

A personal tribute to George Hart by Stan Laundon.

It is always sad when a friend or colleague dies. It was a privilege for me to have known George since the 1960's. He was the founder of The Hartbeats - without any doubt, in my eyes, the best group that Hartlepool had ever seen. George was extra special. He was a guitarist we all wanted to be like. He was a true gentleman. It was a pleasure to have known him and an even greater pleasure to share a stage with him as I did a few times since 2004. George may you rest in peace and show them all how it's done up there with the Angel Band.

A Musical Tribute:

Former Reaction and Toffees band member, Barry McGurk has set up a music site that will surely interest our Bands' members. His site includes "Recordings from Yesteryear" - several made with musicians from Hartlepool in the 60's, particularly George Hart, with whom Barry wrote songs. Included are recordings from the Hartbeats and the Hart Family. There are also the earliest recordings made by Prefab Sprout in Barry's house in the late 70's who went on the have international critical acclaim and commercial success in the 1980's. Once on Barry's home page you can access details of the the old recordings by clicking "Recordings from Yesteryear." To hear them open the drop down menu at the top and click on the track you want to listen to. Barry says if anyone has any comments, or corrections to the text, he can be emailed through his site.

 

Copyright © Stan Laundon.com

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