Kent's oldest boyband, Sweet Illusion, reunite for a Valentine's bash at Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
00:02, 08 February 2017
Are they the oldest boy band in Britain? Kent’s Sweet Illusion have reformed after 25 years and will be showing the younger generation how to party this weekend.
Remember when comedy cabaret bands were all the rage? When the Barron Knights, the Gumbleweeds and the Black Abbots, starring Russ Abbot, seemed a permanent fixture on Saturday night TV?
Well, back then Kent had its own version – the showband, Sweet Illusion.
For 18 years the five lads entertained at the county’s venues including Greenways near West Malling, the Royal Star Hotel in Maidstone, Gravesend’s Woodville Halls and the Elizabethan Barn at Tunbridge Wells.
They also played London hotspots such as the Hilton, Savoy, Claridges and the Grosvenor. The group even had gigs at the Royal Albert Hall and performed around the world before disbanding.
Now, 25 years later, they are getting back together for a reunion at one of their old stomping grounds, the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. And they have convinced the management to roll back the seats to enlarge the dance floor and open the balcony to cope with the expected demand for the Valentine’s bash on Friday, February 10.
Frontman Paul Washington said: “This will be the first live band you can dance to at the Assembly Hall for years. None of the venue’s current staff can remember ever having had a dance there.
“It will be 35 years since this particularly line-up performed together on stage.”
Original lead guitarist Ray Charsley, 69, is flying in from Portugal to join old bandmate Paul, with Clive Sayer on bass, Terry Brown, 65, on keyboards and Alan Jiggens, 66, on drums. Guitarist Adrian Orrom, the baby at 46, will be joining them on the night.
Paul, 67, said: “When we met for our first rehearsal we spent the entire time just reminiscing about the old days. We all had such a laugh in the band but, if anything, we are having even more fun now.
“We are really looking forward to getting back on stage together. We have invested heavily in the show because we believe the public is ready for an act like us again. It is a big gamble.”
Most of the tickets sold immediately, as former fans scrambled to book a taste of nostalgia.
Clive, 69, said: “To be honest, when we were on the road it just washed over us. We didn’t give it a second thought that we were on the same bill as bands like the Stylistics, the Searchers, Gerry and the Pacemakers and Freddie and the Dreamers or supporting acts like Bob Monkhouse, Cilla Black and Paul Daniels. We didn’t realise how lucky we were.
“We had been talking about a reunion for a while but could never get everyone together. Then I bumped into Paul in the supermarket and we decided to make it happen.
“We are looking forward to showing our grandchildren what their grandads used to get up to. We must be the oldest boy band in Britain!”
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