|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jul 24, 2020 10:03:37 GMT
Was thinking about the lack of Music Festivals this Summer, and especially of course Glastonbury. When I used to go the festivals regularly the big one for me was always Reading and the big heavy metal bands, although I never did Leeds. Many bands used to play both of these twin venues on the same weekend on August Bank Holiday.
Nowadays most performers seem to make their name on the festival circuit, and then play the big venues like the O2 Arena when they've made it. However when I was still a student live music was all about the Uni circuit, and I was lucky to see some incredible live bands at that time such as Emerson Lake and Palmer, Hawkwind, Argent and the Groundhogs. One gig that I find difficult to believe now, even though I went, and I have just looked it up to confirm, was 19th November 1973, when I saw Queen, at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, playing as support to Mott the Hoople!
|
|
|
|
Post by lordb on Jul 24, 2020 11:58:56 GMT
Mike Lloyd fucked it up, deliberately, round here back in the 80's
He made more money selling tickets and coaches to the bigger venues in Birmingham and Manchester than for Victoria Hall
|
|
|
|
Post by danceswithclams on Jul 24, 2020 12:17:49 GMT
Was thinking about the lack of Music Festivals this Summer, and especially of course Glastonbury. When I used to go the festivals regularly the big one for me was always Reading and the big heavy metal bands, although I never did Leeds. Many bands used to play both of these twin venues on the same weekend on August Bank Holiday. Nowadays most performers seem to make their name on the festival circuit, and then play the big venues like the O2 Arena when they've made it. However when I was still a student live music was all about the Uni circuit, and I was lucky to see some incredible live bands at that time such as Emerson Lake and Palmer, Hawkwind, Argent and the Groundhogs. One gig that I find difficult to believe now, even though I went, and I have just looked it up to confirm, was 19th November 1973, when I saw Queen, at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, playing as support to Mott the Hoople! That's not strictly true - most bands will have to do the independent venue circuit for a couple of years before getting onto festival bills. The problem (if you can call it that) nowadays is the proliferation of festivals - there's just so many of them now and only a finite number of acts to populate them. The result is that you get acts bumped up to festival level a couple of years before they're perhaps ready. Some thrive and go on to become the area-filling bands they were tipped to be, whilst others sink without trace. The one upshot of the Covid-induced crisis currently being endured by the live music industry however is that, if grassroots venues do manage to survive, you'll see a lot more underplay shows (i.e. bands far too big to be playing in a venue of that size) happening in small venues as there will be a lot of acts needing to get out and play - to support album releases etc - but no festivals (as the season has passed) and not enough space in the diaries of the big venues they'd naturally be expected to play, creating a sort of logjam. Big bands playing small venues used to be quite a common thing even as recently as 7-8 years ago as acts would often do an underplay as a festival warm-up. With so many festivals popping up over the last few years however, those acts now simply play a smaller festival as a warm-up for a bigger festival. |
|
|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jul 24, 2020 13:21:47 GMT
"Big bands playing small venues used to be quite a common thing even as recently as 7-8 years ago"
I once saw Steeleye Span, at the height of their popularity, play the New Inn in Gloucester. A 16th century Pub with Gallery and Courtyard. One of the best gigs I ever went too, and that includes Pink Floyd and The Who.
|
|
|
|
Post by salopstick on Jul 24, 2020 14:28:17 GMT
"Big bands playing small venues used to be quite a common thing even as recently as 7-8 years ago" I once saw Steeleye Span, at the height of their popularity, play the New Inn in Gloucester. A 16th century Pub with Gallery and Courtyard. One of the best gigs I ever went too, and that includes Pink Floyd and The Who. That’s more than 7-8 years ago |
|
|
|
Post by telfordstoke on Jul 24, 2020 18:40:37 GMT
Know the Jam used to routinely play pubs in the Woking area when they were huge, and always used to fit in local hall gigs eg Bracknell sports centre and the Guildford Civic (now G-Live or something daft)
Quite a few bands used to do low key warm up gigs for big tours,hence youd get Iron Maiden playing at a Uni occasionally or Metallica at the Marquee club, all under daft pseudonyms . I was in a few fan clubs back then and they’d often post out a newsletter with details of small shows for the fan club. Used to go see the Mission an awful lot and they did some barmy little gigs, a 5 date club tour as a warm up for an arena tour ( I did the entire tour on both bar about 2 shows), some wonderful venues like the Bristol Bierkeller. They also did an 8 show tour of the Scottish Highlands and small towns and a couple of islands as a precursor to Reading fest headliner. The Smiths also did a similar Scots tour in 85
Never saw them on any of theee, but Genesis also had an affiliation with Aylesbury for some reason ( as did Marillion) and used to do “secret” shows at the Friars venue there. Always found it funny that , at their commercial height, they would hire out Hammersmith Odeon to rehearse in!
Wolves Civic is an amazing venue, sadly closed got last couple of years for a refurb, let’s hope it can be used properly again, and the Wukfrun hall too. Showing my age, but love that venue especially as can be home in 20 mins for me beauty sleep.
I wish I’d been able to see shows at Trentham and Bingley Halls but too far for me to go then ( lived in London) though was spoilt for choice on venues there clearly, some of which are now defunct too. The Venue is gone, the Lyceum was amazing, as was the Hammersmith Palais and Odeon ( my favourite building in the world, and old Art Deco cinema) , Town and Country club in Kentish Town had charm,, the wonderful old Marquee club just all lively bouncing places tha5 brought best out of bands . As indeed was the Viccy Hall. Used to hate the Astoria mind you, decent night club, shitty music venue.
Good point by the OP on Uni venues , do you recall how the ticket prices for these,, and some others too, used to be tiered so NUS members were cheaper as were DSS etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jul 24, 2020 18:58:51 GMT
I used to watch Slade play their local pub, The Crown, in Codsall, where they lived. I was at school in Brewood and this was 3 miles down the road. Must have been 1969.
|
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 26, 2020 11:40:02 GMT
Know the Jam used to routinely play pubs in the Woking area when they were huge, and always used to fit in local hall gigs eg Bracknell sports centre and the Guildford Civic (now G-Live or something daft) Quite a few bands used to do low key warm up gigs for big tours,hence youd get Iron Maiden playing at a Uni occasionally or Metallica at the Marquee club, all under daft pseudonyms . I was in a few fan clubs back then and they’d often post out a newsletter with details of small shows for the fan club. Used to go see the Mission an awful lot and they did some barmy little gigs, a 5 date club tour as a warm up for an arena tour ( I did the entire tour on both bar about 2 shows), some wonderful venues like the Bristol Bierkeller. They also did an 8 show tour of the Scottish Highlands and small towns and a couple of islands as a precursor to Reading fest headliner. The Smiths also did a similar Scots tour in 85 Never saw them on any of theee, but Genesis also had an affiliation with Aylesbury for some reason ( as did Marillion) and used to do “secret” shows at the Friars venue there. Always found it funny that , at their commercial height, they would hire out Hammersmith Odeon to rehearse in! Wolves Civic is an amazing venue, sadly closed got last couple of years for a refurb, let’s hope it can be used properly again, and the Wukfrun hall too. Showing my age, but love that venue especially as can be home in 20 mins for me beauty sleep. I wish I’d been able to see shows at Trentham and Bingley Halls but too far for me to go then ( lived in London) though was spoilt for choice on venues there clearly, some of which are now defunct too. The Venue is gone, the Lyceum was amazing, as was the Hammersmith Palais and Odeon ( my favourite building in the world, and old Art Deco cinema) , Town and Country club in Kentish Town had charm,, the wonderful old Marquee club just all lively bouncing places tha5 brought best out of bands . As indeed was the Viccy Hall. Used to hate the Astoria mind you, decent night club, shitty music venue. Good point by the OP on Uni venues , do you recall how the ticket prices for these,, and some others too, used to be tiered so NUS members were cheaper as were DSS etc. David Bowie also cut his teeth at at friars in aylesbury he introduced Ziggy stardust there |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchpeter on Jul 26, 2020 12:14:52 GMT
I remember the autumn tours that’d fill mid sized venues like the Victoria Hall. Typically, this would be from early October to just before Christmas. I’ve seen some great bands on those autumn tours, and it just doesn’t seem to happen no more. A great shame. My local favourites from back in the day, were the Wheatsheaf (of course), The Talbot, The Bridge Street Arts Centre, The Oxford Arms, and The Stage before its make over into the Sugarmill. The sentinels advert pages were bulging with venues with live music, mainly covers acts but at least it was there. I noted when I saw Atomic Rooster at The 100 club, it’s forthcoming attractions were covers and tribute acts, is there a lack of original acts? The evidence points to these venues closing because of aggressive developments, huge overheads, and noise complaints. It’s a great shame we are losing these venues, because our pop culture is world class and when there’s nowhere for people to watch or bands to play then it’s all over.
|
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 26, 2020 13:35:53 GMT
I used to watch Slade play their local pub, The Crown, in Codsall, where they lived. I was at school in Brewood and this was 3 miles down the road. Must have been 1969. Slade played at paddock suite one Saturday. It was a disco on uttoxeter race course held most Saturdays . If I remember they were called ambrose slade at the time , probably 69/70 .judas priest also played there |
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 26, 2020 13:42:20 GMT
There used the to be a popular myth that jimi Hendrix once played at The Place in Hanley . Never found out if it was true or not
|
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 26, 2020 13:47:48 GMT
Know the Jam used to routinely play pubs in the Woking area when they were huge, and always used to fit in local hall gigs eg Bracknell sports centre and the Guildford Civic (now G-Live or something daft) Quite a few bands used to do low key warm up gigs for big tours,hence youd get Iron Maiden playing at a Uni occasionally or Metallica at the Marquee club, all under daft pseudonyms . I was in a few fan clubs back then and they’d often post out a newsletter with details of small shows for the fan club. Used to go see the Mission an awful lot and they did some barmy little gigs, a 5 date club tour as a warm up for an arena tour ( I did the entire tour on both bar about 2 shows), some wonderful venues like the Bristol Bierkeller. They also did an 8 show tour of the Scottish Highlands and small towns and a couple of islands as a precursor to Reading fest headliner. The Smiths also did a similar Scots tour in 85 Never saw them on any of theee, but Genesis also had an affiliation with Aylesbury for some reason ( as did Marillion) and used to do “secret” shows at the Friars venue there. Always found it funny that , at their commercial height, they would hire out Hammersmith Odeon to rehearse in! Wolves Civic is an amazing venue, sadly closed got last couple of years for a refurb, let’s hope it can be used properly again, and the Wukfrun hall too. Showing my age, but love that venue especially as can be home in 20 mins for me beauty sleep. I wish I’d been able to see shows at Trentham and Bingley Halls but too far for me to go then ( lived in London) though was spoilt for choice on venues there clearly, some of which are now defunct too. The Venue is gone, the Lyceum was amazing, as was the Hammersmith Palais and Odeon ( my favourite building in the world, and old Art Deco cinema) , Town and Country club in Kentish Town had charm,, the wonderful old Marquee club just all lively bouncing places tha5 brought best out of bands . As indeed was the Viccy Hall. Used to hate the Astoria mind you, decent night club, shitty music venue. Good point by the OP on Uni venues , do you recall how the ticket prices for these,, and some others too, used to be tiered so NUS members were cheaper as were DSS etc. I went to London in the early 70s . Saw some fantastic gigs at the sundown Edmonton and the Rainbow Finsbury Park . Both long gone . The latter is some sort of religious temple now |
|
|
|
Post by telfordstoke on Jul 26, 2020 15:04:42 GMT
Know the Jam used to routinely play pubs in the Woking area when they were huge, and always used to fit in local hall gigs eg Bracknell sports centre and the Guildford Civic (now G-Live or something daft) Quite a few bands used to do low key warm up gigs for big tours,hence youd get Iron Maiden playing at a Uni occasionally or Metallica at the Marquee club, all under daft pseudonyms . I was in a few fan clubs back then and they’d often post out a newsletter with details of small shows for the fan club. Used to go see the Mission an awful lot and they did some barmy little gigs, a 5 date club tour as a warm up for an arena tour ( I did the entire tour on both bar about 2 shows), some wonderful venues like the Bristol Bierkeller. They also did an 8 show tour of the Scottish Highlands and small towns and a couple of islands as a precursor to Reading fest headliner. The Smiths also did a similar Scots tour in 85 Never saw them on any of theee, but Genesis also had an affiliation with Aylesbury for some reason ( as did Marillion) and used to do “secret” shows at the Friars venue there. Always found it funny that , at their commercial height, they would hire out Hammersmith Odeon to rehearse in! Wolves Civic is an amazing venue, sadly closed got last couple of years for a refurb, let’s hope it can be used properly again, and the Wukfrun hall too. Showing my age, but love that venue especially as can be home in 20 mins for me beauty sleep. I wish I’d been able to see shows at Trentham and Bingley Halls but too far for me to go then ( lived in London) though was spoilt for choice on venues there clearly, some of which are now defunct too. The Venue is gone, the Lyceum was amazing, as was the Hammersmith Palais and Odeon ( my favourite building in the world, and old Art Deco cinema) , Town and Country club in Kentish Town had charm,, the wonderful old Marquee club just all lively bouncing places tha5 brought best out of bands . As indeed was the Viccy Hall. Used to hate the Astoria mind you, decent night club, shitty music venue. Good point by the OP on Uni venues , do you recall how the ticket prices for these,, and some others too, used to be tiered so NUS members were cheaper as were DSS etc. I went to London in the early 70s . Saw some fantastic gigs at the sundown Edmonton and the Rainbow Finsbury Park . Both long gone . The latter is some sort of religious temple now rainbow was a legendary place , Bands had stopped playing there alot by time I was gigging , used to use the Sobell Sports Centre where I saw Rainbow , but Finsbury Park was then better used as an outdoor venue in the park itself. I used to go to the Wheatsheaf alot when lived in Stoke that was a cracking little venue |
|
|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jul 26, 2020 16:09:31 GMT
I used to watch Slade play their local pub, The Crown, in Codsall, where they lived. I was at school in Brewood and this was 3 miles down the road. Must have been 1969. Slade played at paddock suite one Saturday. It was a disco on uttoxeter race course held most Saturdays . If I remember they were called ambrose slade at the time , probably 69/70 .judas priest also played there Yes they were called Ambrose Slade and shortened it in 1969/70. Bizzarely, the names Ambrose and Slade were apparently the titles of the brand of Shoes and Handbag used by their promoter's secretary. Allegedly. |
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 26, 2020 16:28:01 GMT
Slade played at paddock suite one Saturday. It was a disco on uttoxeter race course held most Saturdays . If I remember they were called ambrose slade at the time , probably 69/70 .judas priest also played there Yes they were called Ambrose Slade and shortened it in 1969/70. Bizzarely, the names Ambrose and Slade were apparently the titles of the brand of Shoes and Handbag used by their promoter's secretary. Allegedly. Good knowledge 😃😃 |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchpeter on Jul 26, 2020 16:48:19 GMT
Yes they were called Ambrose Slade and shortened it in 1969/70. Bizzarely, the names Ambrose and Slade were apparently the titles of the brand of Shoes and Handbag used by their promoter's secretary. Allegedly. Good knowledge 😃😃 Slade in flame is an absolutely brilliant film, including one of our own Alan Lake from Milton. |
|
|
|
Post by telfordstoke on Jul 26, 2020 18:37:35 GMT
Slade in flame is an absolutely brilliant film, including one of our own Alan Lake from Milton. And a young Tommy Vance .great movie, way ahead of its time and some killer songs |
|
|
|
Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Jul 26, 2020 21:56:33 GMT
Yes they were called Ambrose Slade and shortened it in 1969/70. Bizzarely, the names Ambrose and Slade were apparently the titles of the brand of Shoes and Handbag used by their promoter's secretary. Allegedly. Good knowledge 😃😃 And Ambrose Slade were managed by Uttoxeter gent’s outfitters magnate Mark Orme. |
|
|
|
Post by Boothen on Jul 27, 2020 5:21:52 GMT
Saw some massive acts down the Wheatsheaf in Stoke back in the day, and more than a few at The Stage and the Bridge Arts Centre in Hanley and Newcastle respectively.
|
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 27, 2020 5:44:40 GMT
And Ambrose Slade were managed by Uttoxeter gent’s outfitters magnate Mark Orme. Didn't know that Mike, I knew he promoted all the paddock suite events and some at the town hall . |
|
|
|
Post by telfordstoke on Jul 27, 2020 7:13:41 GMT
Re:Slade, got to love our cousins across the pond in the US of A. Was travelling coast to coast in early 90s and in a bar talking music , Slade only seemed known due to the Xmas song so I said well they had some big songs _ Cum On Feel The Noize, Mama Weer All Crazee Now_ so one of the septics snorts and tells me I know nothing about music as "those are Quiet Riot songs" , er no they're not mate lol
The night when Toronto Bluejays won the baseball World Series on that trip was a highlight too, the Americans were most aggrieved that a non_American team had won, then of course the gobby English guy pipes up that maybe tournament shouldn't be called World Series then eh. Lol how I didn't get beaten to death on that trip I'll never know
|
|
|
|
Post by jimmygscfc1234 on Jul 27, 2020 8:12:27 GMT
And Ambrose Slade were managed by Uttoxeter gent’s outfitters magnate Mark Orme. Didn't know that Mike, I knew he promoted all the paddock suite events and some at the town hall . Saw them as Ambrose Slade at a small outdoor gig at Alton Towers bandstand in the summer of 69 but it could have been 70. MO was a bit of a sleaze and was always sniffing around the young girls, allegedly of course. |
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 27, 2020 10:32:19 GMT
Didn't know that Mike, I knew he promoted all the paddock suite events and some at the town hall . Saw them as Ambrose Slade at a small outdoor gig at Alton Towers bandstand in the summer of 69 but it could have been 70. MO was a bit of a sleaze and was always sniffing around the young girls, allegedly of course. He was a bit like that 😁 like a young boris Johnson. There were a couple of gigs at the towers around that time Amen Corner definitely played one can't remember who else though |
|
|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jul 27, 2020 11:27:47 GMT
Some locals might also remember in the 70's, that one of the great Stafford Pubs, the Nags Head, in Mill Street, was a surprise music venue. It was owned then by Keith Webb, who was a jazz drummer, most significantly with the early 70's prog rock group Paladin, who for a time were the opening act for the Rolling Stones.
Keith liked session music sets, and on a Sunday lunchtime would set up live impromptu rock sessions, often featuring some very good accomplished musicians, such as members of local Stafford group, The Climax Blues Band. The guest artistes were rarely formally announced as they were there for the fun of it, but I saw Bassist John Lodge and drummer Grahame Edge, from Cannock based band, the Moody Blues there, and I think on one occasion Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale turned up, and on another, a couple of guys from Deep Purple reportedly put in an appearance.
|
|
|
|
Post by harryburrows on Jul 27, 2020 13:10:25 GMT
Some locals might also remember in the 70's, that one of the great Stafford Pubs, the Nags Head, in Mill Street, was a surprise music venue. It was owned then by Keith Webb, who was a jazz drummer, most significantly with the early 70's prog rock group Paladin, who for a time were the opening act for the Rolling Stones. Keith liked session music sets, and on a Sunday lunchtime would set up live impromptu rock sessions, often featuring some very good accomplished musicians, such as members of local Stafford group, The Climax Blues Band. The guest artistes were rarely formerly announced as they were there for the fun of it, but I saw Bassist John Lodge and drummer Graham Edge, from Cannock based band the Moody Blues there, and I think on one occasion Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale turned up, and on another a couple of guys from Deep Purple reportedly put in an appearance. Graham Edge is Rocesters only claim fame apart from joe,s . Never went to that sounds like fun . I did spend some very boozy Sunday lunchtimes at the Polish club in Stafford. Top class cheap beer and even cheaper strippers. God I miss the 70,s 😉 |
|
|
|
Post by somersetstokie on Jul 27, 2020 13:19:19 GMT
Those were the days of restricted Pub openings and Sunday hours. Being a club, Dom Polski was one of the only places in town you could go to on a Sunday afternoon to get a pint.  |
|
