| How lucky we were 15:16 - Feb 9 with 5585 views | Third_Division_South |
Look at this list of bands that played at smallish venues.
I was a regular at the Kursaal Southend around this time. Along with the bands on that list Roxy Music, Genesis, Family , Focus, SAHB etc. etc.
How lucky we were no dynamic pricing, fortunes for tickets, buying a year in advance, just rock up on a Saturday evening after watching the Rangers best ever team. |  | | |  |
| How lucky we were on 08:02 - Feb 10 with 1304 views | johann28 |
Windsor Castle on Harrow Road one of my favs back in the day. Many great memories - Dr Feelgood, Rory Gallagher, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, Rod Stewart and many bands well before they were famous - U2, Madness, The Jam and many more playing to often sparse audiences at most (according to one story, Iron Maiden turned up to play but refused to play to a near-empty pub leading to an argument with the landlord who subsequently barred them).
The place is still there, sort of, but long since unoccupied. |  | | |
| How lucky we were on 08:26 - Feb 10 with 1247 views | dmm |
Did anyone go to the Roundhouse in its early days when it had a Sunday afternoon/evening session called 'A Sunday Joint'? The Welsh band, Man, always seemed to feature, as did Brinsley Schwarz. Needless to say, the atmosphere was always rather 'heady'. |  | | |
| How lucky we were on 09:59 - Feb 10 with 1169 views | francisbowles |
Taste broke up in late1970 so that list must be from 1970 or probably late 60's.
I went to the Nashville on three occasions in 76, pub rock days. I saw Georgie Fame, Shaking Stevens and the Sunsets and GT Moore and the Reggae Guitars.
Used to go to the Winning Post in Twickenham too. Saw the early days of four piece Thin Lizzy four times up to 'The Boys.....'. Also saw Budgie, Sutherland Bros and Quiver as well as The Heavy Metal Kids with Gary Holton on lead vocals on at least two occasions. Saw Geordie at Borough Road college with Brian Johnson on lv. | | | |
| How lucky we were on 10:10 - Feb 10 with 1146 views | colinallcars |
Yet another place. The Kensington, just north of S Bush green. Pub Rock on Sunday lunchtime.
Eggs Over Easy, Ace, Ducks Deluxe. Sat in with them to riotous indifference from the crowd.
Edit - south of Shepherds Bush Green. [Post edited 10 Feb 10:12]
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| How lucky we were on 13:43 - Feb 10 with 1010 views | TwoHalves |
| How lucky we were on 09:59 - Feb 10 by francisbowles |
Taste broke up in late1970 so that list must be from 1970 or probably late 60's.
I went to the Nashville on three occasions in 76, pub rock days. I saw Georgie Fame, Shaking Stevens and the Sunsets and GT Moore and the Reggae Guitars.
Used to go to the Winning Post in Twickenham too. Saw the early days of four piece Thin Lizzy four times up to 'The Boys.....'. Also saw Budgie, Sutherland Bros and Quiver as well as The Heavy Metal Kids with Gary Holton on lead vocals on at least two occasions. Saw Geordie at Borough Road college with Brian Johnson on lv. |
It’s definitely 1970. I found a calendar for that year and all the days/dates correspond. As you say, Taste broke up on New Year’s Eve after a show in Belfast. Black Sabbath and Deep Purple would have outgrown those venues probably within a few months.
As to dmm’s post about the Roundhouse (see above), I’ve already mentioned the ‘Greasy Trucker’s Party’, a benefit concert for a Ladbroke Grove community organisation led by ‘Frendz’ editor John Trux, featuring Hawkwind, Man, Brinsley Schwarz etc. Admission 50p. A limited-edition double LP was recorded live there on February 13th 1972 (for context this was the day after a 0-1 defeat to Blackpool at Loftus Road!)
Strangely, one track is listed as ‘Power Cut’. This was actually several minutes of silence on the vinyl pressing in lieu of Byzantium’s performance, aborted due to energy restrictions imposed by the three-day week. Apparently the fire brigade ordered the evacuation of the Roundhouse while power was restored. At least three hundred additional people came back in amidst the chaos. I would love to have been there but not sure if the 13-year old me (despite my enthusiastic adoption of patchouli oil and loon pants by then) would have been able to cope with the, er, ‘atmosphere’!
‘Happy Trails’, the story of A&R man Andrew Lauder’s ‘charmed life and high times in the record business’, is very entertaining on this period. [Post edited 10 Feb 17:07]
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| How lucky we were on 13:43 - Feb 10 with 1004 views | Boston |
| How lucky we were on 08:02 - Feb 10 by johann28 |
Windsor Castle on Harrow Road one of my favs back in the day. Many great memories - Dr Feelgood, Rory Gallagher, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, Rod Stewart and many bands well before they were famous - U2, Madness, The Jam and many more playing to often sparse audiences at most (according to one story, Iron Maiden turned up to play but refused to play to a near-empty pub leading to an argument with the landlord who subsequently barred them).
The place is still there, sort of, but long since unoccupied. |
The Iron Maiden story is probably true. Although the name escapes me, I remember a rock band setting up, then a big argument between two members with Vince (the Manager) over the poor crowd and that regulars didn't pay to get in, them subsequently packing up and pissing off. You could never guarantee an audience down there, although fans did follow acts, the main part of the place (around the pool table), were generally regulars who usually couldn't give a flying fig who was on stage. Many performers suffered a dent to their ego when they couldn't pull a crowd. Conversely, some relative unknowns always filled the place, anyone see Red Beans and Rice? [Post edited 10 Feb 13:57]
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| How lucky we were on 14:05 - Feb 10 with 966 views | themodfather |
madness at the DUBLIN castle .
the shame is so many smaller venues are closed or closing even the 100 club keeps fighting to stay alive, where i am in central london we lost the 12 bar and astoria , the borderline ? in orange yard , marquee and intrepid fox , speard eagle in camden long gone, the old tally ho opposite forum, kentush town also long gone . so fewer chances for new bands to cut their teeth , learn the trade etc | | | |
| How lucky we were on 14:50 - Feb 10 with 923 views | TwoHalves |
| How lucky we were on 07:22 - Feb 10 by derbyhoop |
Anybody go to the Farx club in Southall?
1st band I saw there was Edgar Broughton. LNdlord switched off the mains to stop them playing encores. Saw Free about 4 weeks later and you couldn't move.
I've tried to get a list of all that I saw there, but memory isn't up to it. |
Ah, the Edgar Broughton Band. Always felt ‘Out Demons Out’ could have been re-imagined for the terraces! | | | |
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| How lucky we were on 15:07 - Feb 10 with 894 views | brewers_hoop |
Some great stories here - sometimes wish I was a bit older - even though I’m an old git! Worked stamping hands at the Dublin Castle in the 90s/2000s and saw many ‘name’ bands, including Madness, Blur, Supergrass, Libertines etc perform in front of 200 people. Biggest of the lot was probably Amy Winehouse in 2007, at the height of her fame. She was part of the ‘Camden Crawl’ line-up and the organisers were desperate for her to headline Koko, but she said she’d only do it if she could play at the Dublin. There were literally thousands of fans lining Parkway desperate to get in and I felt a little guilty, given I wasn’t a huge fan. Anyway, one blinding set later and when I bumped into her after she asked if I wanted a pic with her (God knows where it is now). A few weeks/months later, she did a few shifts pulling pints at the Dublin on Monday nights because she wanted to do ‘something normal’. Got to know her a bit and she was a really lovely girl. So sad what happened not long after x |  | | |
| How lucky we were on 16:32 - Feb 10 with 820 views | TwoHalves |
| How lucky we were on 16:03 - Feb 9 by colinallcars |
Some bloody good bands there. Only one I don't know Sam Apple Pie.
When Savoy Brown split up, I was in the band that the singer Brice started as the new Savoy Brown, but the second gittar man took out an injunction to stop that.
We came to nothing but the new Savoy Brown did well but were crap compared to the original. Original gittar player Martin Stone went on to Mighty Baby who were mentioned by DMM yesterday. |
Nice one, Colin. I’ve finally emerged from a two-hour trip down a musical rabbit hole after googling Martin Stone and Brice Portius (spellings seem to vary). Fascinating how one thing leads to another. According to Wiki (I know) Martin was considered as a replacement for Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones but didn’t turn up for the audition. Went on to become a legendary bookseller instead! | | | |
| How lucky we were on 16:59 - Feb 10 with 782 views | Silverfoxqpr |
| How lucky we were on 15:07 - Feb 10 by brewers_hoop |
Some great stories here - sometimes wish I was a bit older - even though I’m an old git! Worked stamping hands at the Dublin Castle in the 90s/2000s and saw many ‘name’ bands, including Madness, Blur, Supergrass, Libertines etc perform in front of 200 people. Biggest of the lot was probably Amy Winehouse in 2007, at the height of her fame. She was part of the ‘Camden Crawl’ line-up and the organisers were desperate for her to headline Koko, but she said she’d only do it if she could play at the Dublin. There were literally thousands of fans lining Parkway desperate to get in and I felt a little guilty, given I wasn’t a huge fan. Anyway, one blinding set later and when I bumped into her after she asked if I wanted a pic with her (God knows where it is now). A few weeks/months later, she did a few shifts pulling pints at the Dublin on Monday nights because she wanted to do ‘something normal’. Got to know her a bit and she was a really lovely girl. So sad what happened not long after x |
Great story and explains a few things from my point of view. I went to see a band called The Pre New' (ex Earl Brutus) around that time and as I was alone, hung around the bar having a pint waiting for the band to come on when she walked in with her two huge bouncers.
She promptly handed me her handbag, went behind the bar and started working. All a bit surreal. I looked at one of the bouncers who gave me a 'don't worry just go with it mate' look. Band comes on 30 minutes or so later, I hand her the bag back, she pull me a free pint, says thanks and I wonder off. The band were a bit disappointing but she seemed lovely. |  | | |
| How lucky we were on 17:02 - Feb 10 with 769 views | colinallcars |
| How lucky we were on 16:32 - Feb 10 by TwoHalves |
Nice one, Colin. I’ve finally emerged from a two-hour trip down a musical rabbit hole after googling Martin Stone and Brice Portius (spellings seem to vary). Fascinating how one thing leads to another. According to Wiki (I know) Martin was considered as a replacement for Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones but didn’t turn up for the audition. Went on to become a legendary bookseller instead! |
That's bang on. And Terry Reid was the favoured singer for Led Zep but didn't fancy it.
I think I misspelled Brice Porteous - maybe Bryce.
We had a good band but the drummer was nicked by someone with a recording contract, the sax player went to play at the Olympique club in Paris.
All our gear was damaged by floodwater ( it's not new), in our rehearsal cellar in the 3 pigeons, a riverside pub in Richmond.
It was never meant to be. Our brill lead guitarist moved to Canada and was a journalist.No Luck at all. More or less booed off at the Nag's Head in Battersea one night as we were all a little merry.
Lost contact with Bryce, he was far better than Symmonds as Savoy Brown singer.
I was crap anyway so Ok with a working life.
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| How lucky we were on 17:25 - Feb 10 with 734 views | TwoHalves |
| How lucky we were on 17:02 - Feb 10 by colinallcars |
That's bang on. And Terry Reid was the favoured singer for Led Zep but didn't fancy it.
I think I misspelled Brice Porteous - maybe Bryce.
We had a good band but the drummer was nicked by someone with a recording contract, the sax player went to play at the Olympique club in Paris.
All our gear was damaged by floodwater ( it's not new), in our rehearsal cellar in the 3 pigeons, a riverside pub in Richmond.
It was never meant to be. Our brill lead guitarist moved to Canada and was a journalist.No Luck at all. More or less booed off at the Nag's Head in Battersea one night as we were all a little merry.
Lost contact with Bryce, he was far better than Symmonds as Savoy Brown singer.
I was crap anyway so Ok with a working life.
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Don’t know if this’ll be of any interest … ?
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv
FWIW I was drummer in a punk/R&B band for about six months in 1979. We had a gig lined up at a house party when the parents of the bass and rhythm guitarists (two brothers) were away on holiday. Unfortunately the lead guitarist fell off a skateboard the day before and broke his arm so we had to cancel. We never did play live in the end (probably saved us a lot of embarrassment). It was fun while it lasted though! | | | |
| How lucky we were on 17:42 - Feb 10 with 706 views | colinallcars |
| How lucky we were on 17:25 - Feb 10 by TwoHalves |
Don’t know if this’ll be of any interest … ?
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv
FWIW I was drummer in a punk/R&B band for about six months in 1979. We had a gig lined up at a house party when the parents of the bass and rhythm guitarists (two brothers) were away on holiday. Unfortunately the lead guitarist fell off a skateboard the day before and broke his arm so we had to cancel. We never did play live in the end (probably saved us a lot of embarrassment). It was fun while it lasted though! |
Thanks for that - Bryce was a lovely bloke, very good live, and he and Martin Stone were the best in Savoy Brown, great live.
Shortly after our band folded he introduced me to Leo, the first SB drummer with the thought of trying again, but we were all knackered. Just the one SB album featuring Bryce - he was an absolute blues purist, no other music would do.
I hope he's still around but he was a good bit older than me, and I'm struggling ! | | | |
| How lucky we were on 17:45 - Feb 10 with 708 views | ted_hendrix |
Couple of bands I missed but sort of caught up with In later life.
Firstly at The Anvil, Basingstoke It was the magnificent Peter Green, his best friend had spent forever and a day trying to get him out of retirement, naturally sold out and we got the chance to meet him after the gig, queued up In the foyer and when I got to meet him for a few seconds I thanked him for being there and asked him to sign the back of my ticket, he was okay with that but he seemed somewhat humbled/troubled, but he was perfectly nice and me just talking to a legend (which he was) made my day for weeks.
On leaving the venue we were driving up behind the venue and Peter Green was stood alone by the gear lorry, he looked so sad and lonely.
I got to see the greatest Lyricist this Country has ever produced Ray Davies, He is just so talented, he walked on stage wearing an old raincoat and trilby hat carrying an old brown suitcase, picked up his Ovation acoustic and had the packed audience In his hands, all the old Kinks songs (he had a very good backing band) and he threw In plenty of stories It was just great, 1964 was when ''You Really Got Me'' was released when I first heard It at the age of 14, I thought WTF, I'd never heard anything like It before. So many so called professional bands have tried to cover It and ruined It.
I've done the stadium gigs who hasn't? but the smaller venues are by far the best. |  |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| How lucky we were on 18:14 - Feb 10 with 681 views | R_from_afar |
| How lucky we were on 16:01 - Feb 9 by nick_hammersmith |
Doesn't feel that long ago, but there was a great venue in Windsor called The Old Trout.
Its a Browns now, but it used to have a annexe out the back, maybe held 100 or so.
You'd get large bands, usually just before the festival season.
I saw Oasis there for £3.50
Got a few ticket stubs somewhere, always fun running back up the hill to get the last train home from there. |
Funny you should mention that venue, I was just about to post about it  .
I saw Porcupine Tree there, in that annexe you mention. The band have gone on to be hugely successful, Steven Wilson even more so, including as a solo artist and remixer of classic albums.
I think the gig I mention was around 1993 because I bought a "Voyage 34" t-shirt at it. |  |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| How lucky we were on 18:36 - Feb 10 with 661 views | Boston |
I've done the stadium gigs who hasn't? but the smaller venues are by far the best.
Absolutely. | |
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| How lucky we were on 18:46 - Feb 10 with 641 views | brewers_hoop |
| How lucky we were on 16:59 - Feb 10 by Silverfoxqpr |
Great story and explains a few things from my point of view. I went to see a band called The Pre New' (ex Earl Brutus) around that time and as I was alone, hung around the bar having a pint waiting for the band to come on when she walked in with her two huge bouncers.
She promptly handed me her handbag, went behind the bar and started working. All a bit surreal. I looked at one of the bouncers who gave me a 'don't worry just go with it mate' look. Band comes on 30 minutes or so later, I hand her the bag back, she pull me a free pint, says thanks and I wonder off. The band were a bit disappointing but she seemed lovely. |
Glad to be of service! Yeah, she was great, really nice girl. She was great mates with Peggy who owns the pub (still going at 89) and looked on her as a second mum. Also used to see Amy down the Good Mixer quite a bit in those days | | | |
| How lucky we were on 19:02 - Feb 10 with 602 views | mart_Goblin |
Great thread this . |  | | |
| How lucky we were on 19:41 - Feb 10 with 566 views | Third_Division_South |
In the 70s I was working with an apprentice from Canvey Island who knew the Dr Feelgood band members and used to roadie for them. When they started to take off they asked him to work for them permanently but he turned them down. A while later he started coming in to work looking tired with red eyes and he said he’d started roadieing again. I said who for, and he said they were a new band you wouldn’t have heard of but come up to London with me at the weekend. That was how I saw the very beginnings of Madness. Eventually they asked him to roadie for them full time and this time he said yes. As an aside I bumped into him a few years later with an absolutely stunning girlfriend. Now, John himself would say he’s no oil painting but obviously one of the benefits of being with a big band. | | | |
| How lucky we were on 19:48 - Feb 10 with 553 views | ibnumber10 |
Great thread
Saw Iron Maiden at the Swan Pub in Hammersmith and saw them again a few months later at Hammersmith Odeon supporting Judas Priest, great times. | | | |
| How lucky we were on 19:58 - Feb 10 with 531 views | queensparker |
Different era to a lot of you fellas but I was lucky to live in Leeds in the early 90s and saw some brilliant bands in the Duchess of York pub.
Oasis, Pulp, Longpigs, Mansun, Kenickie, most of the subsequent Britpop royalty passed through there. £5 to get in and £1.50 a pint of Tetleys
Long gone now of course |  | | |
| How lucky we were on 20:08 - Feb 10 with 516 views | colinallcars |
| How lucky we were on 19:48 - Feb 10 by ibnumber10 |
Great thread
Saw Iron Maiden at the Swan Pub in Hammersmith and saw them again a few months later at Hammersmith Odeon supporting Judas Priest, great times. |
Music in the Swan ? Was it upstairs ? | | | |
| How lucky we were on 20:13 - Feb 10 with 515 views | ibnumber10 |
| How lucky we were on 20:08 - Feb 10 by colinallcars |
Music in the Swan ? Was it upstairs ? |
It was on the ground floor, the late Paul Dianno was singing and I remember talking to him Steve Harris and Dave Murray after the gig, really nice guys, although I remember Dianno was a tad outspoken! | | | |
| How lucky we were on 20:31 - Feb 10 with 479 views | colinallcars |
I thought it may be upstairs as there's a big area there. You have to be fit to get up the apples and pears to the bogs.
It's a lovely building - an ex coaching inn.
Used to be a good ol' Oyrish pub ( like most in Hammersmith). Was Charrington, now Nicholson's with good range of ale.
I miss the Irish pubs. | | | |
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