1981-1985: 7th Avenue – The Final Years

Jan – Dec 1981

Night Club – The Grand Wazoo  Pretoria

Sunnypark Shopping Center, Sunnyside Pretoria

7th Avenue plays The Grand Wazoo Nightclub, Pretoria

Seph: We had the opportunity to play one Sunday afternoon/evening at a nightclub in Pretoria, in the Kingsley & Marais shopping center, on Beatrix street, opposite the old Central Baptist Church.  As I recall, the club was not allowed to serve alcohol on Sunday, and because “Gospel” was synonymous with Sunday, it made sense to allow us to play there.  I think a note somewhere said we played after “Clout” who were a popular all girl band. 

Lindsay: “Clout” cracked the big time with a song called “Substitute”. Years later I worked on a couple of jingles with Bernie Millar who was part of the band and whose wife Glenda, I think was lead singer. The place was called “The Grand Wazoo” and Dennis MacLean, a comedian who was famous for appearing on the TV show “Biltong and Potroast” also did his thing. If I remember correctly he was extremely moved because we were Christians playing in a place like that – he may have even been in tears. He had recently become a Christian and felt bad because he told some pretty hairy jokes which I remember him saying were the kind of thing expected from him. I seem to remember that he said he would change and clean up his act.

Cecil: I remember going in and sitting behind the audio console as we had to use the equipment provided. Then getting berated for touching the mixing desk by the bands audio tech! Seph stepped in and had a long conversation with the guy, calmed him down, so we could continue.

Sunnypark Shopping Center, Sunnyside Pretoria

Seph: I see the posters behind the mixing desk.  I wonder if Mark Manley’s band His Grace, also came to this event? Not sure who organised it. We had Hotspots, so it was later, and the trusty phone was there. Theo had a beard, a clue? I think this was probably one of the last times I can remember us playing together, before I left for the UK.

1982

Feb: Steve & Val Wedding Hatfield Baptist Anderson St

March: Ronnie & Shirley Francis Wedding

Aug: Seph moves to UK

Nov: Theo & Lesley Wedding

By 1982, the band only played together on rare occasions. It was however a year of weddings, as both Steve and Theo got married. In September, Seph left the band, and left for England to attend Bible College. Yvonne (Lindsay’s wife) fills in on keyboards.

Seph: I remember having a conversation with the members of the group at the end of 1981, indicating I wanted to go “full time” into the ministry, and Les trying to convince me that what we were doing was ministry. But I wanted more! I was exploring full time ministry AV / radio work overseas, and planned to visit a number of organizations in Europe and the USA during 1982, and so I think I retired from the band in early 1982.

Before leaving for the UK in August, I was busy with the construction of Constantia Park Baptist Church in Pretoria which was just up the road from Van Rooyen home where Aunty Jackie lived with her two boys, Theo & Steve. Once Steve moved out in February, (to get married), I moved in! What a joy to be in Aunty Jackie’s loving home.

A few months earlier Steve and Theo were having fun, play wrestling, messing about, except Theo ended up crashing into the window and had to have multiple stitches! Never a dull moment. Auntie Jackie was not amused!

I have very happy memories of long chats with Theo on spiritual things, and the fact that we both did not have girlfriends. We had spent a great weekend at Milwane Game Reserve in Swaziland, decrying our bachelorhood, so we hatched a plan. We would ask a couple of girls from church to dinner and a movie every week, till Ms Right came about. On the first “joint date”, we asked Lesley and Barbie. And that was the last one, as Theo and Lesley immediately hit it off, and there were no more double dates required! A number of months later they got married. A special bonus, was that they got married in the church I just built!

1983

Youth Week

Youth Week 83

It was during Youth Week 83 that songs were recorded for the “Holding it Together” album. (Click here to listen to songs)

1984

Aston Bay Tour (See Under Tours)

Cecil remembers, parents in Auto Villa, recently married (Sept-79 Maybe a different event). Arranged a sports day, fun run, hall-not that big, a back room where you played.

1985

September: Vewoerdburg

December: LoneHill Carols

Secunda – Clive Harding ?

Springs – Open Air ?

Fountains Park Festival ?

Vewoerdburg Stad Stadium  September Amphitheatre at stage at Lake, ’85

Mac (from a letter he wrote to Seph in Oct’ 85): This was the first time Clive Harding did sound for us. Also used Clive’s Bose Speakers. Ben was on Keyboards and Theo and Lindsay had rejoined the Band.  Shortly afterwards, (October85) Theo left for Richards Bay, and Lindsay “retires” again

Lonehill Carols by Candlelight:

The Event was organized by Ronnie Francis

Mac in his October audio communication to Seph: For a while there it would be just me and Steve playing for the 10,000 or so people expected. Steve agreed to do drums, lead guitar and vocals, if I did acoustic guitar, bass and vocals! (Open air event where we watched the thunderstorm move past us but not a drop of rain)