AS WE look back through the years, it becomes increasingly apparent that today’s nostalgia is not as good as it used to be back in the day.

Music was better, the clothes were better, everyone was so glamorous and all the problems we have today just didn’t seem to exist.

Just take a look at some of the photos on this page today of Pete and Esme Wilson and the All Stars Band from circa 1972 and you tell me different, okay?

The All Stars and later the Pete Wilson Showband were one of the most popular outfits of their era and were gigging virtually every night of the week across the south of England in the 60s and 70s.

Amongst their ranks were a young Tony May and Steve Peach who are still doing the rounds today, along with Andy Prior, in the rather groovy trio Left, Right and Centre.

Sadly, Pete went to the great gig in the sky back in 2006 and was joined by Esme in May this year.

Their daughter, Julie Storey, is hosting an evening to remember her parents at the Weymouth Pavilion next Friday, July 10 and it’s bound to be an absolute feast of nostalgia.

There will be sets from Left, Right and Centre and Andy Collett and Mark Duxbury’s Gut and Steel and anyone of a certain vintage who recalls the glory days of the All Stars and the Showband will be in for a hugely enjoyable evening.

As Tony tells me: “ I sang with Esme and the band for a couple of years with Trevor Berkley and Mike Botterill on guitars, Len Nash on keys, Pat Bell on sax, Pete on drums and, of course, Steve Peach on bass.

“I remember our residency at the Harbour Club in Weymouth (now the Rendezvous) being one of our most popular gigs.We would rehearse every week and our repertoire was always based on the current top twenty hits.

“I’m certainly looking forward to the Pavilion gig and we’ll be playing some of the songs Esme herself loved to sing, such as Orleans’ Dance With Me and Since I Lost my Baby by The Impressions.

“It’ll be an honour to do something in her memory. After all, she was the band’s number one fan!”

The photographs were taken by Mike Finding, who tells me: “Back in the 70s I had just starting using a 35mm camera and I was at a Dorchester Young Farmers ball at the Pavilion and asked the band if they minded me taking a few pictures.

“They were delighted and Pete told me to snap away.

“I became firm friends with the band and went to as many of their gigs as possible.

“I also roadied for them and helped design a lighting rig for them.

“I think these pictures were taken at the old Askers Motel on the Bridport coast road in around 1972 or 73.”

n The evening to remember Pete and Esme Wilson is at Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms next Friday, July 10, from 7.30. It’s free entry and there will be a collection for Cancer Research.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (3)

Fowakan (Village Hall, Evershot)

Speedway Snails (Finns, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Riffs (Little Ship, Portland)

Tim Bassett as Elvis (Chickerell Steam Fair, Moor Farm, Chickerell)

Juke Box Junkies (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Fluke (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Converse (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

C Sharp Blues Band (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Chickerell, Weymouth)

The Sweetchunks Band (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Charlie (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth)

Seabass without the Fellas (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Howlin’ Bones (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Skatmandu (Park, Weymouth) Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (4)

Brooks Williams (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

The Worried Men (Finns, Weymouth)

Xander and the Keys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Market House, Weymouth)

Splinter (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Seabass (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel, Louisa Glanville, Blazin’ Strings, Coppertoungue and guests (Chickerell Steam Fair, Moor Farm, Chickerell)

C Sharp Blues (George, Portland)

The Skones (Goldies, Dorchester)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (RBL Club, Portland)

Night Shades (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

BJ McCabe (Bridge inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Diva Lea (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) Jilly Ann (Spitfire Club, Crossways)

Uncle Jack (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Howling at the Moon (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Steve Leach (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Danx Kennard (Park, Weymouth)

Mark Davis (Ilchester Arms, Abbotsbury)

SUNDAY (5)

The Secrets (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel, Louisa Glanville, Blazin’ Strings, Coppertoungue and guests (Chickerell Steam Fair, Moor Farm, Chickerell)

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) From 3pm.

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey and friends host this regular Sunday acoustic jam session. Music from 8pm.

Sunday Session (Sydney Arms, Dorchester)

Steve Wilson and Simon Felton (Royal Exchange, Portland) 2pm.

Gut and Steel (Old Ship, Upwey, Weymouth) 2.30pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Compass (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Ed Bleach (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Lo Numbers (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

TUESDAY (7)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (8)

Danx Open Mic (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Rockin Rich (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Rendezvous, Weymouth) From 8pm.

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (9)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh HoS) Andy Grant (Durnovaria, Dorchester)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester) All backline provided, come on down and have a play.

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland) Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

FRIDAY (10)

Left, Right and Centre, Gut and Steel and friends (Weymouth Pavilion)

Tripod (Finns, Weymouth) The Dinnerladies (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Chubby Faced Angels (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Ashley Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Duke of Wellington, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Farrage (Park, Weymouth)