Music Venues

London music venues we've loved

One of the London-RIP team wonders if others have had the experience of being music fans in the 70s and 80s, yet somehow missing every crucial gig. It wasn't for lack of being at the right venue either...

Not being there

In the mid 70s there was a Saturday Night Fever-style discoteque on the Finchley Road called Les Elites, the sort of place where you'd spend hours frugging away to Donna Summer records of a weekend. I recently read, to my astonishment, that the Sex Pistols played there. Blimey. Can this be true? I certainly missed that.

RIP The Music Machine

I also missed anyone decent who played at a favourite music venue of the time, The Music Machine in Camden Town. This was once a theatre, then a cinema, before it became a club in 1977. You could tell it had been a theatre. It had a certain plush seediness about it, all dimly-lit balconies, bars and twisty staircases.

It attracted more of a mixed crowd than West End venues - punks, skinheads, hippies and suburbanites like London-RIP. Lots of big-ish names played there, but the only band I can remember seeing was Jayne/Wayne County and the Electric Chairs. They were thunderingly awful. The MM became the Camden Palace in 1982. It was basically the same thing with cocktails and lasers, and not so much live music. Madonna appeared there, but not when I was there, naturally. The venue ceased being the Camden Palace in 2004, but is still a music venue.

RIP The Rainbow

North London's biggest music venue for a couple of decades was The Rainbow in Finsbury Park, which closed suddenly, we think circa 1981, and is now a church of all things. It fell into disrepair when it was left empty for years, but is now said to be internally restored to its former glories.

Everyone from the Beatles on played there, and the Clash's Rainbow appearance in 1977, where they really did experience a riot of their own, has been voted London's best live gig of all time. Of course, I wasn't there. I did see them at the Rainbow in 1978 though, and jolly good they were too. Sham 69 were supporting. This isn't such a cool gig to have been at, but what can you do?

RIP the Marquee, Wardour Street

The Marquee was one of London-RIP's fave West End music venues. This club has moved around a bit and has recently been relaunched in Leicester Square. We're referring to the Wardour Street Marquee, which was hot, sweaty and what you might call intimate. All the great and the good played there. However, a memory that sticks in my mind is of seeing Jordan - not Jordan boobs, but Kings Road Jordan - doing her thing. It was horrible. I did see a fantastic gig by Wreckless Eric there though. It isn't a legend. But it should be.

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Message:	16/16
Date and time:	07/06/2010 at 13:23:15
Sender:	Disco Book

> > My name is Russell Beecher and I work with book publisher Essential Works in London, England. > > Essential are putting together a large illustrated book about Disco and I am trying to source visual material for the book. > > The book is going to be about the music, the people, the places, the clothes, the drugs, the sex, the politics and everything else that made Disco such an amazing phenomenon > > I am looking for photos of the clubs, partygoers, artists, records and just about anything else that is visually relevant. > > I was wondering if you might be able to help or point me in the right direction? My contact is russell.beecher@essentialworks.co.uk > > Kind regards, > > Russell >

Message:	15/16
Date and time:	16/05/2010 at 21:03:27
Sender:	Nicky Lusignani

I saw some great gigs at The Rainbow, The Who, Elton John, Third World. Was really sad when it closed. My favourit club was Le Kilt in Greek Street and then The Wag Club. And then Maximus.....aahhhh, those were the days. Is it me or are clubs just not the same anymore

Message:	14/16
Date and time:	26/03/2010 at 09:48:33
Sender:	John Roussety

Jo, the club in Wells Street was Hombre de Bahia (or Hombres, as it was known) Les Elites isn't a Lap dancing club now (you are thinking of The Purple Pussycat) it was knocked down to make the O2 centre. Colin, when did you start working at Les Elites? I was the DJ there (along with Carl) in 87-88.

Message:	13/16
Date and time:	12/02/2010 at 18:37:23
Sender:	Jo Parker

I wondered if anyone remembers the 'Revolution' night at the Limelight. I think it was on a Wednesday, and run by a chap known as 'Garfield'. It was amazing - pure escapism. I remember Seal used to go and spent many a night just dancing in the corner to the old Prince tracks and P-Funk tunes, in a holey jumper and leather jeans! My friend and I would go on a Wednesday and dance away until 3 or 4 in the morning, then get home to our YWCA hostal for young women off Gt Portland Street, sleep for 3 hours, then go off to our office work in Oxford Street for 9am!

Message:	12/16
Date and time:	10/02/2010 at 00:08:45
Sender:	Jo

I used to dance my little backside off at Les Elites on a Sunday night. Does anyone else remeber The Bird's Nest in West Hampstead? Xenon in Piccadilly and Hatchetts in Green Park? Fangs in Paddington? What was the club in Wells Street called??? Am a bit brain-dead now after all that fabulously loud disco music!

Message:	11/16
Date and time:	06/12/2009 at 18:57:53
Sender:	Douglas

We used to squat in kings cross and wild nights in the music machine. I can remember all the different coloured flyers we were given. Im 49 and believe me the best years ever.Saw many groups there, wish i was young again. I will never forget that Dune Buggy video game they had on the left hand side when you enetered.

Message:	10/16
Date and time:	07/09/2009 at 21:57:20
Sender:	Tutor, London

Hello I work on a music and events course and we are looking to take students to see some venues that once held famous gigs. We hope to get them to appreciate the atmosphere of music events passed compared to now. Do you have any suggestions of venues that would accept us for a small tour? - Particularly in East or Central London. Many thanks.

Message:	9/16
Date and time:	13/05/2009 at 18:39:44
Sender:	Paul

The Pistols played at the Babalu Disco in Finchley Road, it may have been Les Elites as they always played improbable places and the owner may well have been a friend of their manager. If anyone can let me know the exact address of Babalu I will be eternally grateful as Id like to photograph it. 2012@2012.org.uk

Message:	8/16
Date and time:	27/04/2009 at 11:01:53
Sender:	Colin Dj

Hi have got put the record straight on this one ,les Elites was probably one the best Sunday nights in london for many years ,probably about 85 til about 91 , me and carl used to DJ there ( if your out there Carl would love to hear from you ) not name dropping but here is a quick list of the people that i personally saw in there Sting , Bobby Womack ,Peter Stringfellow and so many more , even a certain ( your'e fired ! ) used to pop in on the quiet midweek nights and sit in the vip section with a bottle of champers !! believe it or not i came out of retirement a little while ago and am still spinning those eighties classics at a champagne bar in Watford on a friday night called Crystal ,anyone wanting to get in touch ,here is my email colinchurcher@hotmail.com

Message:	7/16
Date and time:	19/03/2009 at 13:42:30
Sender:	Dangerous Don

Remember Crackers night club on Wardour Street becoming The Vortex on Monday and Tuesday nights in the mid 70's. Sham 69, played a couple of times pre skinhead problems, Souixie and the banshees, XRay Specs, Penetration. I was in there one night being "cool" with my mates when Wayne County came over and snogged me. I didnt know it was Wayne County, just thought it was a desperate ugly bird !!! Never heard the end of that one, still makes me feel sick and i'm 51 now