1979: 7th Avenue arises from New Life

1979 – A year of changes

1979 was a momentous year in the life of the group. For a number of years the group had been moving towards a more electric, contemporary sound, wanting to appeal to those who were outside the church – youth who would not necessarily attend a church event. The name “New Life” did not seem to fit this image, and it was decided to change it to “Seventh Avenue”. “Seven” being the perfect number, and “Avenue” being the way.

There were no membership changes and the group, now called Seventh Avenue released its first album in April ’79. We called the album “New Life” as homage to the past. (For more history about the album click here)

Jan – March 1979

1-Jan-79 Name changed to 7th Avenue (from New Life)

4-Jan-79 Seph enters the Army

3-Mar-79 Superally – Reefland YFC, Old Ster Cinema, Orange Grove

Seph: The March 79 Superally might have been the first time we performed as “Seventh Avenue”, at least it was for me, as I had entered into military service in January and had to get special permission for a leave of absence to attend the March 3 concert. It was also the first time the “7th Avenue” (rather than Seventh Avenue) was used by Norma Hanna, who designed this poster and nearly every Reefland YFC poster. Norman is an extraordinary man who gave his artistic skills willingly to YFC is countless ways. Norman went on to design the eventual “7th Avenue” logo, the beginnings of which can be seen in the poster.

Lindsay remembers: (Actually he doesn’t remember much – it was so long ago! ) Sometime early in the year I was approached by Les and asked to consider joining the band. He invited me to a braai where I met the rest of the band and the guys in Jubal’s band. I had seen 7th Avenue a couple of times, the first time was when I was part of Gerard Niemand’s group from Hatfield Baptist church at the Wilgespruit weekend.  The second was at the Bet El cinema weekend. I’m not sure of the dates or the names of the events. But, the important thing was, I was blown away! 7th Avenue was a really good band! I was brought in to play bass. I’m left-handed so the Hofner violin bass was my instrument. I later managed to get a superb Gibson Ripper. 

I was introduced to the unsuspecting masses at a Superally. Part of my “initiation” was to go out with a seriously wrecked old acoustic guitar and make up a story about the instrument. I’m not exactly sure what I said but I made up a history of the guitar that was a cross between drivel and absolute rubbish! After I had finished this story I began play it. That’s when Les or Theo or someone started to saw the instrument in half and wreck it! The sounds of strings snapping and wood breaking were amazing! If Pete Townshend could break guitars, we could too!

Seph: By the following Superally, later in the year, Lindsay had already joined us as the 7th member. He was part of the skit we did on stage, a skit where we brought out the fake guitar and sawed it into pieces! I had found an old broken guitar and put a new plywood front on it. During the concert, Lindsay held the instrument and told this story and that’s when someone came out with a saw and proceeded to cut the neck off, saying that the music sounded terrible, and he would fix it. I’m sure the kids were a little shocked as we destroyed the guitar!  Visions of “The Who” mixed with the “Goons”! The funniest part was the kid who came up afterwards asking if he could have the remains, as he would try fix it seeing as he did not have a guitar!!  We spent some time reassuring him that the guitar had been beyond repair and was impossible to fix. [I think that was the time Lindsay said the legendary words… “Not even God could have tuned that guitar!]  

We also had another skit with a box moving about the stage. I had hidden in a large cardboard box (with a couple of peepholes) on stage, and moved about at random times during a song, to see if the audience would notice. A Superally crowd, usually made up of hundred of teenagers and young adults, were always a great audience and very responsive to our somewhat wacky humour and music. And our music and song choice were varied enough that we could start with raucous songs, an end with more thoughtful quieter ballads as an introduction to the event’s speaker. Kudos to Ted Carr for organising these great events, and inviting us!

Apr – June 1979

28-Apr-79 YFC Musicamp-Wilgerspruit Conference Center With Rhema Band, Jubal’s Band, Promise

19-May-79 Auckland Park  Afrikaanse Baptiste Kerk

Lindsay Reyburn joins as the “7th” member

The YFC Music Camp at Wilgerspruit was was a great event arranged by Pat Berning and YFC. A number of musicians and groups attended.  

‘Jubal’s Band’ was Pat Berning’s Band. Others in the band were Mike Duly, Ronnie Gill, Sydney Daniels and Chris Breedt. ‘Promise’ was Tinks Potterill.

A number of months into the year, Lindsay Reyburn joined as the “7th” member, adding a new dimension to the group.

A number of months into the year, Lindsay Reyburn joined as the “7th” member, adding a new dimension to the group.

Seph: The camp at WIlgerspruit was also the first time we “officially” met Norman & Maralyn Hanna.

Mac: It was here Norman and I introduces our cars to each other, (we both had BMW’s).

Seph: We even made the headlines! This was after our name change, but our hosts decided they liked the old one better! Not many details but I assume it was the Afrikaanse Baptiste Kerk.

July – Dec 1979 

Witbank Shopping Center

8-Sep-79 Sat. Cecil and Janice Wedding

29-Sep-79 Sat. Jo’burg North Assembly

In January 1980, just a few months after getting married, Cecil had to do his military service. He ended up at the Airforce as a dog handler (in Snake Valley), but was soon transferred back to Pretoria so he could home.

Seph: Sometime in 79, we had an impromptu event at a Witbank shopping center. Not sure who the organizers were. We were still using the old foldback monitors (pre Hot Spots). We had recently acquired the Nissan E20 bandwagon van from Patterson Nissan, from a really nice Christian guy, Mr Bill Patterson who, I believe was a board member at YFC Pretoria. It must have been quite early on, because the 7th Avenue logo was not yet on the van.

Lindsay: The building with the practise room off the alley at the back was Patterson’s Building. I won’t forget that alley or the monster cockroaches that carried some of the amps off!]

Seph: I remember us all going to Cecil & Janice wedding, at Wesley Methodist church.

Cecil: Rev Wright officiated at our wedding, as well as Tony Farrell. I have this vivd picture of Tony in his Anglican robes, but with his running shoes peeking out!

Unknown 1979-1980

Unassigned appearances – possibly 1979 – 1980. The following events have been suggested, although exact dates are unknown.

Immanuel Church – 79 Bryanston High (Tony Louch)

Immanuel Church – 80 Pyramid Church (later New Life)

(Quotes from Keith Strugnell’s 2002 book “Towards the Glorious End” about 30 years of Go Tell: P109) – “The visit by the 700-Club production team was largely put together by a friend, Seph Barnard. He was a former member of a Pretoria music group Seventh Avenue that we in Immanuel Church had encouraged by giving ministry exposure during the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Seph: I think we must have played at the church a couple of times.  I remember the first time we were, Tony Louch took a collection for us, and it didn’t amount to much, but he said that the church needed to at least cover our expenses, so they upped the amount to R100 (which was a lot for us at that time).  We were so impressed with his thinking! People had been disparaging of Go-Tell in those years, (calling them “Go-Sell”), but at least they thought of the musicians! Tony, and his co-pastor Keith Strugnell had been really good to us.

At another occasion we were backstage somewhere with Cliff Richard, It might have been the same place. Keith had arranged that we were there the same night at Cliff. I remember him tuning his guitar and then turning to one of us, possibly Les and asking “does that sound good to you”? A really nice guy.

Lindsay: My recollection was that we got lost trying to find the church! I also remember Cliff’s soundcheck and his professionalism and perfectionism – he made sure he got nothing less than the best! He played solo that time on a big acoustic.

Cullinan Prison

Seph: I Remember a very nice new auditorium, but we did not get to interact much with the prisoners.

Boys High Pretoria

Theo: I remember the kids going wild to the music and dancing and clapping and hollering, and I thought, this is just not right!

Krugersdorp Baptist Church – Stan Hannan

Seph: It was a good surprise when we learnt Stan Hannan had moved to the Reef. We had many happy memories of working with him in Bulawayo (see Bulawayo Tour). We did play at his church one Sunday, and I guess we had hoped that we could do more with Stan, having had such a good experience in Bulawayo, but things never progressed.

Stan had been the manager of the SA supergroup 4 Jacks and a Jill in the late 60’s, early 70’s, had become a Christian, and went to Baptist Bible College and then Bulawayo.

What happened to Stan Hannan?  In 1985 he moved to the USA, and has been pastor of a number of Baptist Churches in Florida. He is currently the Senior Pastor of Belleview Baptist Church in Belleview, which is north of Tampa, Florida.  (The picture is from the church’s website.) I had visited Stan in the ‘80s in Florida. Stan is a real character! I remember him telling me about a sermon he preached in Krugersdorp.  He had a coffin at the bottom of the pulpit.  People wondered who was in it? “You are!” He said. “You are all dead, spiritually!”