Unfortunately I was born after Adrian left for the States and although an avid fan of Classic British Wrestling only had a few years before it was removed from TV. I have watched footage of him on Youtube and read countless articles written about his career and matches.
From my very limited perspective, Adrian was unparrelled in his character development in that era. Trailblazing constant regeneration and refreshing his appearance, costume and attitude which many companies tried to recreate several times but without the same success.
I have only read about matches with Jim Breaks and others which I will now scour the internet for. I cannot offer anymore than anyone else and offer my deepest condolences to Miss Linda and everyone mourning the loss of the Sadist in Sequins. He will never be forgotten by wrestlers, officials and of course us fans especially with sites like this one championing Icons of the past.
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Unknown member
Aug 10, 2023
Replying to
Hi nps13
>I have only read about matches with Jim Breaks and others which I will now scour the internet for.
No need to scour the Internet for that one with Breaks- I posted it to this very thread! Scroll down!
Adrian was a one off. I saw him live and of course, on the box. One of the great workers, performers and most colourful. Like others here, I looked at little of his work Stateside, on the Internet, as I thought his opposition was not up to his standard. I did however, watch a few and although his work was more outrageous than at home, he still worked hard, showed his pro. wrestling skills and despite his 'over the top' look, gave the impression he was a hard man in the ring. He led a less experienced Randy Savage, a merry dance on the one match I remember from the net.
Adrian would also be the World Champion, when it came to storytelling, almost always as the 'star' of one outrageous claim after another. It was simply great self publicity, as someone who, in the States had to do more, than just wrestle a few times a week to make a living. Adrian, became an industry, within the wrestling business.
His match with Jim Breaks is probably my favourite British match, with both men at the top of their game, in a well paced match of holds, counter holds and a lot of niggle and ultimately I expect, an equal amount of respect between the two. I'll watch it again and say 'goodbye' Adrian.
He never forgot the lifetime award we gave him. Was still talking about it to a friend within the last year. Clap on the back Hack and Anglo (back when i was Woodlow).
RIP Adrian. I visited the library yesterday, in part to pull a few more photo's from Dave Cameron's collection that he took of Adrian. Until a couple of years back, when both moved addresses, they were still sending each other Christmas Cards,
I always regarded him as a friend. I wrestled him on several occasions in solo bouts and quite a bit more in tags as one of the Red Devils team along with my partner Ian Wilson.
Ada, as we knew him, was top class as a wrestler and as a man. We always looked forward to our bouts with him and Bobbie.
He as very skilfull in the ring with a massive personality, Out of the ring he was a good, entertaining friend, A man we will not forget.
RIP Ada. You will be much missed by wrestlers, officials and the fans,
Plenty of comments that Adrian Street was innovative and original and I agree.
But I want to record the atmosphere when he developed Adrian Street Esquire in 1971. It was shocking, outrageous, scandalous - and best of all, had to be seen to be believed. It was just three years after homosexuality had become legal, but no mere legislation was going to change the mindsets of most audience members.
I never saw him smile. In fact, he protested and pouted really believably.
The combination of all this had you rubbing your eyes wondering if it could all be real. With that long blond hair, you knew he was living his life with that incredible look, unlike a masked man who could just rip off the bonnet and go down the pub. He certainly aroused conflicts of credibility in my own head and probably in others', too.
I feel glad not really to have followed his career after 1974 and can remain cocooned in my up close and personal memories getting his autograph many many times:
Many thanks for great, intense fun and showmanship.
We, Hack, Anglo and myself, awarded Adrian a lifetime award way back in the early days. Adrian never forgot it, or me, for that matter. I have remained in tou ch with him over the years. A very sad loss........he will be remembered with great affection.
Unfortunately Adrian seemed to wish to promote in halls where I was operating which meant that we only worked together once. On that one occasion, at Halton British Legion in Runcorn, he was absolutely charming. I teamed him with Bobby Barron as The Hells Angels (they met The Romanies, Max Raeger and Pedro the Gypsy) and the two wives also faced one another lower down the bill. He was an innovator and a legend and I'm very proud to be able to claim that I promoted him.
Thanks Peter. The BBC said died Monday, so as it's Monday today we mistakenly thought they meant today. I've just looked at the BBC report again and it's been revised with the date now given.
Saw Adrian so many times at Belle Vue especially , and always went behind the hall after to watch him and Bobby sign autographs before departing in a motor caravan, loved most of his bouts and for me there is no doubt he made it to the very top from his Kid (Tarzan) Jonathan days. I should imagine he would tell us that he had a great life. RIP
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Unknown member
Jul 31, 2023
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Unknown member
Jul 31, 2023
My favourite match of his - two notorious villains have a cantankerous but basically scientific 1-1 draw:
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Unknown member
Jul 31, 2023
RIP -I knew he wasn't well as I went on his FB page to ask if he'd ever wrestled on French TV and saw what was going on.
A brilliant wrestler and performer, he could wrestle,brawl and camp it up and that was in one 5 minute round. He was pretty much a regular both solo and with Bobby in Hells Angel's at the City Hall, always value for money, and did well in the states too taking on anybody and everybody. A true innovator R.I.P Adrian
Unfortunately I was born after Adrian left for the States and although an avid fan of Classic British Wrestling only had a few years before it was removed from TV. I have watched footage of him on Youtube and read countless articles written about his career and matches.
From my very limited perspective, Adrian was unparrelled in his character development in that era. Trailblazing constant regeneration and refreshing his appearance, costume and attitude which many companies tried to recreate several times but without the same success.
I have only read about matches with Jim Breaks and others which I will now scour the internet for. I cannot offer anymore than anyone else and offer my deepest condolences to Miss Linda and everyone mourning the loss of the Sadist in Sequins. He will never be forgotten by wrestlers, officials and of course us fans especially with sites like this one championing Icons of the past.
Equally dreadful obituary in The Daily Mail:
I used every one of my permitted characters to put them right.
Adrian was a one off. I saw him live and of course, on the box. One of the great workers, performers and most colourful. Like others here, I looked at little of his work Stateside, on the Internet, as I thought his opposition was not up to his standard. I did however, watch a few and although his work was more outrageous than at home, he still worked hard, showed his pro. wrestling skills and despite his 'over the top' look, gave the impression he was a hard man in the ring. He led a less experienced Randy Savage, a merry dance on the one match I remember from the net.
Adrian would also be the World Champion, when it came to storytelling, almost always as the 'star' of one outrageous claim after another. It was simply great self publicity, as someone who, in the States had to do more, than just wrestle a few times a week to make a living. Adrian, became an industry, within the wrestling business.
His match with Jim Breaks is probably my favourite British match, with both men at the top of their game, in a well paced match of holds, counter holds and a lot of niggle and ultimately I expect, an equal amount of respect between the two. I'll watch it again and say 'goodbye' Adrian.
He never forgot the lifetime award we gave him. Was still talking about it to a friend within the last year. Clap on the back Hack and Anglo (back when i was Woodlow).
Such terrible news.R.I.P. Adrian.
Announcement of ADRIAN'S Passing in The SUN Newspaper-1/8/23!!
MM
Excellent Stuff OSTY!-As Usual From You!!
MM
RIP Adrian. I visited the library yesterday, in part to pull a few more photo's from Dave Cameron's collection that he took of Adrian. Until a couple of years back, when both moved addresses, they were still sending each other Christmas Cards,
RIP Adrian.
R I P Ada greatly missed thank you for your help,your sense of fun.A true Pro
So sorry to hear of Adrian Street's passing.
I always regarded him as a friend. I wrestled him on several occasions in solo bouts and quite a bit more in tags as one of the Red Devils team along with my partner Ian Wilson.
Ada, as we knew him, was top class as a wrestler and as a man. We always looked forward to our bouts with him and Bobbie.
He as very skilfull in the ring with a massive personality, Out of the ring he was a good, entertaining friend, A man we will not forget.
RIP Ada. You will be much missed by wrestlers, officials and the fans,
Eddie Rose (aka one of the Red Devils).
Plenty of comments that Adrian Street was innovative and original and I agree.
But I want to record the atmosphere when he developed Adrian Street Esquire in 1971. It was shocking, outrageous, scandalous - and best of all, had to be seen to be believed. It was just three years after homosexuality had become legal, but no mere legislation was going to change the mindsets of most audience members.
I never saw him smile. In fact, he protested and pouted really believably.
The combination of all this had you rubbing your eyes wondering if it could all be real. With that long blond hair, you knew he was living his life with that incredible look, unlike a masked man who could just rip off the bonnet and go down the pub. He certainly aroused conflicts of credibility in my own head and probably in others', too.
I feel glad not really to have followed his career after 1974 and can remain cocooned in my up close and personal memories getting his autograph many many times:
Many thanks for great, intense fun and showmanship.
RIP.
We, Hack, Anglo and myself, awarded Adrian a lifetime award way back in the early days. Adrian never forgot it, or me, for that matter. I have remained in tou ch with him over the years. A very sad loss........he will be remembered with great affection.
Unfortunately Adrian seemed to wish to promote in halls where I was operating which meant that we only worked together once. On that one occasion, at Halton British Legion in Runcorn, he was absolutely charming. I teamed him with Bobby Barron as The Hells Angels (they met The Romanies, Max Raeger and Pedro the Gypsy) and the two wives also faced one another lower down the bill. He was an innovator and a legend and I'm very proud to be able to claim that I promoted him.
It will be a long time before he's forgotten. R.I.P
RIP Adrian.He overcame many trials and tribulations and rose to the top.
This Most Sad News is-without a doubt-for Me-The Biggest Shock since We Lost
MARK ROLLERBALL ROCCO-also in JULY!!
ADRIAN-along with THE MEAN MACHINE are 2 of My Personal Top 5 All-Time
Favourite Wrestlers EVER at ANY Weight!!
Like RON-I Watched him Regularly in The HELLS ANGELS Heyday along with
BOBBY BARNES and would Travel Distances to Venues where They Appeared!!
The ANGELS were The BEST Tag Team EVER down to Their Absolute Mastery of
a Vast Myriad of All The Wrestling Holds!!
STREET was a Pioneer with his Excellent Showmanship and a Great Crowd Puller!!
He Claimed to have had Over 15,000 Bouts!
To Be Successful in AMERICA was NOT Easy!-But he Rose to the Very Top Over
There-Fighting Their Top Wrestlers Like RANDY MACHO MAN SAVAGE!!
JOINTS were Crazy to Let him Go at the Height of his Popularity and Ability!!
I Have Tons of HELLS ANGELS and STREET/BARNES Memorabilia!-and Literally
ONLY LAST NITE!!-I was Watching One of his Shoot Interviews!!
A Fabulous Wrestler-ADRIAN Made a Massive Contribution to BRITISH WRESTLING
and My Thoughts are with LINDA at This Sad Moment!
They were Together for 50 Years!-Another Great Achievement!!
After a Life Time of Battles-Find Peace Now ADRIAN!!
MAIN MASK
Such sad news. Remember Adrian so well. A real pioneer in his time, and clearly a great wrestling talent. Sadly gone. RIP Adrian.
The Guardian Newspaper is quoting his widow as confirming 24 July 2023 as the date of death not earlier today
Saw Adrian so many times at Belle Vue especially , and always went behind the hall after to watch him and Bobby sign autographs before departing in a motor caravan, loved most of his bouts and for me there is no doubt he made it to the very top from his Kid (Tarzan) Jonathan days. I should imagine he would tell us that he had a great life. RIP
My favourite match of his - two notorious villains have a cantankerous but basically scientific 1-1 draw:
RIP -I knew he wasn't well as I went on his FB page to ask if he'd ever wrestled on French TV and saw what was going on.
Yes, a proper innovator and entertainer. A technically sound wrestler, Adrian will be missed.
Very sad news, one of the very best, I had a few long email conversations with him, over the years.
RIP Adrian.