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Post by bilsdon on Sept 16, 2022 18:16:53 GMT -5
Last hope on here maybe.
Does anybody know if Beachboysstomp fan club is still going because their website has been stagnant for over a year and their FB pages are stagnant ?
I’ve been trying to find out if they are having a convention this year as the 40th anniversary got cancelled a couple years ago and then last year there was a mention of a teams version but it came to nothing or at least no details were advertised ?
Any info would be useful.
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Post by AGD on Sept 17, 2022 0:29:54 GMT -5
I'll ask around, but I've not been actively involved for a few years now.
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Post by AGD on Sept 17, 2022 3:39:02 GMT -5
OK, so... seems the person who originally ran the website handed the reins over to someone else about a year ago... for whatever reasons, last year's proposed zoom event never came to pass. I can't even suggest emailing the website because, as far as I can see, there isn't an email link. In the absence of any more up to date info - as you say, the website stops a year ago and the twitter/Facebook pages are years older than that - I think we have to assume that both the convention and the 'zine have faded away, and that's a damn shame. From 1977 to the mid-2010s it was a big part of my life, but in the latter years some questionable decisions were made.
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Post by bilsdon on Sept 17, 2022 4:11:12 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind research.
Going to the stomp convention was one of the few tranquil days I had to myself each year when I could just listen to the music and others stories.
would have been nice if they just updated Facebook and said it was over because one last post back at the beginning of the year said proposed convention second Saturday in oct then nothing.
is anyone aware of any other such gatherings in the uk?
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Post by KenWorthing on Sept 19, 2022 8:29:59 GMT -5
.. it's very much a shame that it seems to have ended with a whimper. It was my staple diet of all-things BB related .. made some some fine friends over that period. Damn shame.
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Post by sneakypete77 on Sept 19, 2022 10:37:09 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind research. Going to the stomp convention was one of the few tranquil days I had to myself each year when I could just listen to the music and others stories.
Wow, a tranquil day at Stomp  . I used to dream about one of those but I usually ended up running the dealer’s tables for the legendary John Porteous. Five minutes after opening, the annual stampede already in full swing, he’d just say “I’m going over there to do a bit of networking, be back in a few minutes”. Yeah right, two hours later and my nerves were frazzled, I’d sold a ton of stuff too cheaply ‘cos hardly any of it had price stickers on, and he’d be less than thrilled with the takings when he did eventually turn up. But they were happy days indeed, and he’s still a legend. |
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Post by Mikie on Sept 19, 2022 14:35:55 GMT -5
Is Mike Grant still walking around Beach Boys fandom? The Stomp fanzine and convention organizer. Always wondered why it was called "Stomp". Named after "Beach Boys Stomp"? He stomped on someone's head in anger or stomped on the brakes? Mike's face looks wrinkled in this picture. He must be real old by now: www.beachboysstomp.co.uk/whos-this-great-looking-fella/ |
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Post by Mopp on Sept 19, 2022 15:30:23 GMT -5
For what it's worth, I messaged the Facebook page for something and never received a reply. It did show up as being read though, so somebody is still using that account.
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Post by Malc on Sept 20, 2022 2:02:54 GMT -5
Is Mike Grant still walking around Beach Boys fandom? The Stomp fanzine and convention organizer. Always wondered why it was called "Stomp". Named after "Beach Boys Stomp"? He stomped on someone's head in anger or stomped on the brakes? Mike's face looks wrinkled in this picture. He must be real old by now: www.beachboysstomp.co.uk/whos-this-great-looking-fella/Hahaha ! Just forwarded this onto Mike, who is very much still around… |
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Post by AGD on Sept 20, 2022 2:24:24 GMT -5
Is Mike Grant still walking around Beach Boys fandom? The Stomp fanzine and convention organizer. Always wondered why it was called "Stomp". Named after "Beach Boys Stomp"? He stomped on someone's head in anger or stomped on the brakes? Mike's face looks wrinkled in this picture. He must be real old by now: www.beachboysstomp.co.uk/whos-this-great-looking-fella/Stomp - named after the song: the original title was going to be The Rockin' Surfer - was founded by Andrew Bainborough in Exeter in 1977. Mike and a few others kinda took it over a few years later and the epicentre moved up to London. The glory years were pretty much 1980-2005. After that it began to fade and as far as I know there's been no mag for maybe four years. The Convention used to regularly attract over 300 every year, but the last one I went to, in 2016 drew less than fifty, even with Boyd as the special guest. Many contributing factors (Covid sure didn't help, but before that moving the Convention out of London and bringing in a non-BB fan as editor were real headscratchers). In the end I stopped going to the Convention when it dawned on me I was going not because I really wanted to but, well, because that's what I did at that time of year. We should really have one last big gathering of the tribes and give it a fitting send-off. Mike's 75 now. Hell, I'm 67 !! |
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Post by celticsurfer on Sept 20, 2022 4:33:09 GMT -5
I would add internet killed the magazine.
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Post by Chuck's rewind on Sept 20, 2022 4:37:54 GMT -5
Is Mike Grant still walking around Beach Boys fandom? The Stomp fanzine and convention organizer. Always wondered why it was called "Stomp". Named after "Beach Boys Stomp"? He stomped on someone's head in anger or stomped on the brakes? Mike's face looks wrinkled in this picture. He must be real old by now: www.beachboysstomp.co.uk/whos-this-great-looking-fella/Stomp - named after the song: the original title was going to be The Rockin' Surfer - was founded by Andrew Bainborough in Exeter in 1977. Mike and a few others kinda took it over a few years later and the epicentre moved up to London. The glory years were pretty much 1980-2005. After that it began to fade and as far as I know there's been no mag for maybe four years. The Convention used to regularly attract over 300 every year, but the last one I went to, in 2016 drew less than fifty, even with Boyd as the special guest. Many contributing factors (Covid sure didn't help, but before that moving the Convention out of London and bringing in a non-BB fan as editor were real headscratchers). In the end I stopped going to the Convention when it dawned on me I was going not because I really wanted to but, well, because that's what I did at that time of year. We should really have one last big gathering of the tribes and give it a fitting send-off. Mike's 75 now. Hell, I'm 67 !! A fitting send off is a great idea. It was like a lone pilgrimage in my mid twenties (ouch). |
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Post by John Manning on Sept 20, 2022 8:10:48 GMT -5
I also attended that 2016 Stomp, and maybe a couple of others a few years before. I only went to help lower the average attendance age!
Mike is a bloomin’ star. I bumped into him after BW’s PS gig at the Hollywood Bowl in 2000, and he introduced me to Tony Asher, of all people. He’ll always have my gratitude for that!
My previous Stomp was slightly marred by being told from the stage that, effectively, we should be grateful for BW’s appearance there some years earlier, and to quit complaining about the price of admission and the lack of a special guest. Neither side had bothered me in the slightest until I was told I wasn’t allowed to be bothered about it!
But Stomp was a fine event, an opportunity to chill among like-minded folk (comforting to know I wasn’t the only one with this malaise!), browse JP’s fabulous stall, and enjoy treats such as the full, newly excavated Good Vibes session footage, hear rarities never aired before etc.
One final Get together would be a blast.
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Post by KenWorthing on Sept 20, 2022 8:26:42 GMT -5
AGD's back! .. plus John Porteous looking at the camera, and me browsing through John's records ..  |
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Post by Mikie on Sept 20, 2022 9:31:59 GMT -5
This is Mike Grant, Alan Boyd, Mike's son, and the late Les Chan at Les' favorite place on Earth, Disneyland!  |
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Post by sneakypete77 on Sept 20, 2022 12:18:50 GMT -5
But Stomp was a fine event, an opportunity to chill among like-minded folk (comforting to know I wasn’t the only one with this malaise!), browse JP’s fabulous stall, and enjoy treats such as the full, newly excavated Good Vibes session footage, hear rarities never aired before etc. One final Get together would be a blast. Hmmm...I remember now, I distinctly recall flogging you some mega cheapo stuff, so perhaps, given that generosity is at the core of every true Yorkshireman , can you please send me the difference so I can continue to settle up with JP, 'cos he's never gonna forgive me otherwise. Moochos grassy arse. |
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barnsy
Kahuna
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Likes: 277
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Post by barnsy on Sept 20, 2022 14:14:10 GMT -5
I would add internet killed the magazine. For me personally that was true. I was first on the internet in late '96/early '97 so by the very nature of it a magazine printed every 2 months was going to have news I'd already seen and often the articles were reprints of things off the internet, so I stopped subscribing in early '99 (I think issue 118 was my last). Very unfortunate but pre-internet it was a godsend, and the Conventions were a highlight of my year, coming home laden with goodies! |
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Post by AGD on Sept 20, 2022 15:22:42 GMT -5
I think the first nail in the coffin was the 1999 convention, which was postponed at very short notice when it was realised that no-one had actually booked the hall for that day. It went ahead several weeks later, but some fans had turned up on the day and there was a bit of a rumpus about it all.
I'd love to give you more detail on the current state of it all, but that would entail talking to someone I really don't want to (not Mike).
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littleleila
Dude/Dudette
Posts: 56
Likes: 79
Favorite Album: Sunflower
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Post by littleleila on Sept 24, 2022 16:01:24 GMT -5
Well, here’s a surprise …. Stomp Issue 145 (September 2022) landed on my door mat this morning. A nice colour glossy affair. Had a quick scan through the mag. Lots in there and understandably they are playing a bit of catch up with the reviews etc. Nice to have this though and hopefully a positive for the future.
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Post by bilsdon on Sept 24, 2022 18:34:12 GMT -5
I tried to renew a few years back but nothing came of it and had no reply.
sad I’m going to miss out with this one.
so is there anything in the new one about the convention?
or new contact details etc
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littleleila
Dude/Dudette
Posts: 56
Likes: 79
Favorite Album: Sunflower
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Post by littleleila on Sept 25, 2022 4:35:11 GMT -5
I tried to renew a few years back but nothing came of it and had no reply. sad I’m going to miss out with this one. so is there anything in the new one about the convention? or new contact details etc There is nothing specific regards a next convention - like you I had 9th October penciled in based on that Facebook update... I have PM'd you the details for subscriptions as it is a personal address. |
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rjm
Kahuna
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Post by rjm on Sept 25, 2022 9:38:16 GMT -5
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Post by AGD on Sept 25, 2022 16:09:34 GMT -5
Ah, that was a day ! The backstory was a hoot: Brian and Landy were in London pushing the 1988 album, and convention organisers Mike Grant & Roy Gudge got to meet them, and in the pre-meet with Landy, of course they asked if Brian could make it to the convention. In typical Landy fashion he said he'd like nothing better but it was really up to Brian, who would say no, but he'd ask him anyway, yadda yada yadda. So came the interview and Landy didn't so much as ask Brian as tell him why he couldn't do it... and Brian just said "sure, no problem", whereupon a stunned Landy all but bust a gut trying to make him say no. And he didn't, wouldn't.
So, come the day and a very few people knew - Sean Macreavy who supplied the keyboard was one - and Tony Rivers was performing when his mike cut out (not - someone pulled the plug), the curtains were closed and we were told it'd soon be fixed. At this point, Mark Service, who was selling raffle tickets like a man possessed, told me he'd go downstairs to count the cash. The conversation went as follows:
"No, it'll be fixed soon".
"Nah, I'll go count it".
"Mark, don't go downstairs". (quizzical look)
"No, I've a lot of money to count". (I fix him with The Death Stare)
"Mark, do not go downstairs. You will regret it for the rest of your life. Do. Not. Go".
At which point the curtains parted to reveal Brian sitting behind the keyboard. There was complete silence for maybe ten seconds, then utter pandemonium for maybe five minutes. Mark turned to me and said one very rude word many times, with a huge grin. Brian did his little three song set, then sat and signed something for every one of the 325+ people there. Yeah, one helluva day. It even made the following weeks NME.
Oh, one thing I forgot: earlier Mike, Roy and a few more of us had to go around telling the dealers to hide all the boots and tapes, without explaining exactly why. That was... interesting. Fun times, when being a fan wasn't how it later became. Happy days indeed.
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Post by jk on Sept 26, 2022 2:41:46 GMT -5
Thanks for that, rjm. Wow -- 1988 was the year I bought my own Yamaha DX-7. |
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Post by KenWorthing on Sept 26, 2022 4:23:10 GMT -5
I tried to renew a few years back but nothing came of it and had no reply. sad I’m going to miss out with this one. so is there anything in the new one about the convention? or new contact details etc There is nothing specific regards a next convention - like you I had 9th October penciled in based on that Facebook update... I have PM'd you the details for subscriptions as it is a personal address. That's great! Would you mind doing the same for me? It looks like things are very gently rolling again. |
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. I used to dream about one of those but I usually ended up running the dealer’s tables for the legendary John Porteous. Five minutes after opening, the annual stampede already in full swing, he’d just say “I’m going over there to do a bit of networking, be back in a few minutes”. Yeah right, two hours later and my nerves were frazzled, I’d sold a ton of stuff too cheaply ‘cos hardly any of it had price stickers on, and he’d be less than thrilled with the takings when he did eventually turn up. But they were happy days indeed, and he’s still a legend. 
