Sigh…nasty, sticky, stifling Soho dive, Invariably rammed to the rafters. THE London venue of choice. Bon Scott ‘s AC/DC summer 1976. The Fall. Blue Aeroplanes. The Vibrators . Brand X. Irk those purists.
27 November 2015
THIS LEADEN PAUL
Johnny Dankworth was a regular performer in the original Oxford Street basement location, until the instigation of a ‘Rhythm & Blues night’ sent the jazz snobs (q.v.) home disappointed. Eventually moved to Wardour Street. Often used by bands wanting to do a secret gig (q.v.).
27 November 2015
Two fat feet
Boring but true story comin’ up : my dad played drums in a band in the 60s and they managed to get booked for the Marquee. Top of the bill was The Who, just making it big. For some reason the bill was quite long and there wasn’t time for bands to set up, so anything they couldn’t carry on and off stage with them, and be ready to go, had to stay in situ. Thus it was The Who’s equipment that everyone borrowed, and so my dad got to play Keith Moon’s drums.
Now Moonie was one of the most animated drummers who ever lived, and had to have the skins set quite soft to stop him going straight through them on the first number. My dad, on the other hand, made Charlie Watts look like Animal from the Muppets, and just didn’t have it in him to hit the drums hard enough even to make a sound. As a result, the rest of the band couldn’t hear him, the gig was shit and they never got booked there again.
27 November 2015
Eugene C
SAw REM there about the time of their second elpee. Was that ‘Life’s Rich Pageant’ or ‘FAbles of the Reconstruction’
30 November 2015
Two fat feet
Second album was Reckoning (1984). Then Fables (85) and Pageant (86).
30 November 2015
Batley’s very own… Steve malkmus
To quote my namesake, “dateline, 1983… Chronic Town was the first E.P”.
Back on topic(ish) I’ve never been there but I have been to the Astoria which is now no more thanks to Crossrail (am I right in thinking the Marquee (Smith) has met a similar fate?). The Astoria was mourned greatly by Steve Lamacq (q.v) despite being (like the Marquee) a hideous sweatbox with all the acoustic qualities of the home end at Bolton Wanderers.
3 January 2016
Batley’s very own… Steve malkmus
Should have put a comma in there- having never been to the Marquee I can’t comment on its acoustic qualities. Have only the first comment on here to validate my first comparison, too.
John come-on
Sigh…nasty, sticky, stifling Soho dive, Invariably rammed to the rafters. THE London venue of choice. Bon Scott ‘s AC/DC summer 1976. The Fall. Blue Aeroplanes. The Vibrators . Brand X. Irk those purists.
27 November 2015
THIS LEADEN PAUL
Johnny Dankworth was a regular performer in the original Oxford Street basement location, until the instigation of a ‘Rhythm & Blues night’ sent the jazz snobs (q.v.) home disappointed. Eventually moved to Wardour Street. Often used by bands wanting to do a secret gig (q.v.).
27 November 2015
Two fat feet
Boring but true story comin’ up : my dad played drums in a band in the 60s and they managed to get booked for the Marquee. Top of the bill was The Who, just making it big. For some reason the bill was quite long and there wasn’t time for bands to set up, so anything they couldn’t carry on and off stage with them, and be ready to go, had to stay in situ. Thus it was The Who’s equipment that everyone borrowed, and so my dad got to play Keith Moon’s drums.
Now Moonie was one of the most animated drummers who ever lived, and had to have the skins set quite soft to stop him going straight through them on the first number. My dad, on the other hand, made Charlie Watts look like Animal from the Muppets, and just didn’t have it in him to hit the drums hard enough even to make a sound. As a result, the rest of the band couldn’t hear him, the gig was shit and they never got booked there again.
27 November 2015
Eugene C
SAw REM there about the time of their second elpee. Was that ‘Life’s Rich Pageant’ or ‘FAbles of the Reconstruction’
30 November 2015
Two fat feet
Second album was Reckoning (1984). Then Fables (85) and Pageant (86).
30 November 2015
Batley’s very own… Steve malkmus
To quote my namesake, “dateline, 1983…
Chronic Town was the first E.P”.
Back on topic(ish) I’ve never been there but I have been to the Astoria which is now no more thanks to Crossrail (am I right in thinking the Marquee (Smith) has met a similar fate?). The Astoria was mourned greatly by Steve Lamacq (q.v) despite being (like the Marquee) a hideous sweatbox with all the acoustic qualities of the home end at Bolton Wanderers.
3 January 2016
Batley’s very own… Steve malkmus
Should have put a comma in there- having never been to the Marquee I can’t comment on its acoustic qualities. Have only the first comment on here to validate my first comparison, too.
3 January 2016