London's Musical History Landmarks
Another section that isnt entirely about dereliction but of places whose "musical heritage" is largely unknown by
people who pass by these buildings.
This is a section which will be expanded over the next few months. Much of the inspiration for creating this part of the website
was of seeing all my old haunts of the 80's & 90's turn into flats. Also I wanted to explore the legendary punk venues of the 70's
and see what is there now. Hence this page initially has a leaning to punk and beyond but I'm particularly interested in
researching earlier times esp of The Small Faces & The Who. So another area of input for all you derelict london fans!!!
Starting off with a few of my old faves:
* denotes a venue/ gig where I was the promoter
Finsbury Park,N4 - The Sir George Robey*
derelict in 2005
1989The Sir George Robey (named after an old English music-hall comedian) was an infamous mainly
punk rock venue.. It was taken over by the Mean Fiddler Group in the mid
90's and renamed the Powerhaus but that didnt last too long. Bands playing there in the late 80's inc
Blur, Hawkwind, Jesus & Mary Chain,Steve Marriott, Gong, Snuff, The Exploited. I hosted an all
weekender there in 1989 which was so busy the police had to stop the crowd spilling out into traffic
on the Seven Sisters Rd. The pub was known as The Clarence in the 1950's.
During the late 80's this place was THE venue for any up and coming band with a Ford Transit on the "toilet circuit"
Toby writes: "In the early 90's we used to go to an amazing night there called 'Night of the living dub'. Many a debauched
night there mingling with rude boys, dreads, punks and crusties (and the odd crack dealer). Was the best night out at the time,
always finishing with sitting eating bagels at 7am trying to get the hypnotic dub-reggae basslines out of your twisted brain..."
Kevin Brunton writes: "The Harry Lauder music venue in Nick Hornby's High Fidelity is based on the Sir George Robey. We
always wondered after reading the book as we lived just down the road at the time. We had the chance to confirm this with
Nick after a special screening of Fever Pitch in Brixton."
Emma Hastings writes: "Spent an amazing night at the George Robey in 1990, it was my first psychobilly gig.
Was approached by a lad saying "gohanyspee" over and over. Finally realised he was asking if I had any speed - I didn't."
UK Subs & Culture Shock gig at Sir George Robey - June 1989*
Sean Carney writes:"This was a regular haunt of mine from the mid 80's through to... well, pretty much till it shut.Favourite
times were during the so called Ska revival of 1988-89.I liked this venue because it was skinhead friendly,we could get in
here no hassle.As a result there was very little trouble.I was travelling in from Hertfordshire for the first 5 years of the time
spent at this venue, it was very easy for me to get to, though the night bus journey back to Waltham cross(N90), then the
cab fare on to Hoddesdon wasn't nearly as easy! I was gutted when this shut down, still annoys me now walking past it.
That and the rrainbow opposite, gone ...Disgraceful!!
People/Bands i have seen here include Desmond Dekker, Derrick Morgan, The Nutty boys,Bad manners/Busters allstars,
the Riffs,The Selecter,The lambrettas, Screaming Lord such, Steve Marriot,Angelic Upstarts, etc etc
Also, a certain american band called "No doubt" I kid you not! Well so it says on one of my old tickets, to be honest cant
remember if they played or not"
Manor House - The Manor House
Jimi Hendrix played there in the early stages of his career. Bob remembers this place in the 1980's: "it had the most
easily irritated and lethal bouncers I have ever seen. I actually witnessed them beat a guy to death one Friday night."
Update! The pub has been converted into a Costcutters supermarket.
Camden - The Falcon
One of the most influential gig venues of the 1990's. This was THE place to play! Coldplay played here in 1998
Destined to be converted into flats........................
Claire writes: "The Barfly was a huge part of my life during the mid- to late- 1990s. I remember seeing many bands
(most of whom never quite got as far as Coldplay!) in that tiny little back room with the pocket handkerchief stage, and
even interviewing some obscure band for a fanzine in the pub itself. I remember all the flyers and zines piled up on
the windowsills and the fact that you could often spot some obscure but cool musician sulking over his pint in the
corner. You always went home with your ears ringing. I never quite got over it when the Barfly moved to the Monarch
on Chalk Farm Road (never quite the same atmosphere) and the Falcon closed. "
James Young writes: "As a regular gig goer, dates get fuzzy but I would put this at about February 1992. After much
hype, I went down to the Camden Falcon to check out Suede. Even though they were ‘hot stuff’ there was still only
about 20 people in there. I did recognise Kirsty McColl and Suggs but not the person with them as it was dark. As
I was leaving, after the gig, there was a huge crowd at the bar crowding round someone. I later read that the person
with Suggs and McColl was Morrissey, and he had to escape the mob. Suede, of course, were amazing."
Shepherds Bush - Opera on The Green*
2006 now Rileys American Pool Hall 1989
A venue situated inside the shopping precinct regarded by some people as a bit of a dodgy venue to frequent. I put
on one of the first ever Manic Street Preachers gigs here but sadly have no pics although I recently found a leaflet (see below).
Now a pool hall and barely recognisable as the Opera inside or out.
We had a few lively nights here............
Stagediving at Tenpole Tudor* Senseless Things*
Ilford (The Cauliflower)
Ilford's Cauliflower has a 40 yr history of live music, spanning The Small Faces and Ian Dury through to Inspiral Carpets is currently up for sale. The pub was recently empty and appeared on the derelict pubs page but has thankfully reopened and not been demolished of turned into f**ts.
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Bradys now derelict in 2005
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Brixton (Bradys)
Originally called The Railway Hotel it has a long association with music and dance - renamed Brady's in the 1990s, and continued to play an integral part of the local music scene, with bands like Alabama3 regularly putting on shows.
In the 1960s, Jimi Hendrix was reputed to have regularly jammed there after playing in the West End.
The film 'Rude Boy' by the Clash features scenes shot in the Railway Hotel. Squatters took over for a while putting on shows until 2002 - video of the eviction - click here
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Charing Cross - The Griffin
Shane McGowan of The Pogues used to work here as a barman in the 1970's
Now reopened under another name as a trendy looking gaff.
Islington - The Red Eye*
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I Hate Punk Rock
A night at the Red Eye, a headful of smoke
A van load of schoolgirls and spiky haired folk
Who dance on the tables though no-one can see
But seven stoned crusties, and that bloke, and me.
You're loud and you're fast and you jump up and down
But you ain't serious musicians, yer just mucking around.
I couldn't believe it when you cranked up the amps
It was bollox, toilet, a complete load of pants.
Did nobody tell you that punk-rock is dead ?
Go back to your bedrooms - play covers instead
The market's wide open, there's infinite scope
Playing this indie bollox you haven't a hope.
Three chords and a prayer just isn't enough
You're destined for obscurity like Glitterbox and Snuff.
As the Pistols could tell ya, you're flogging a dead horse
Cos I hate punk-rock.
I'm joking of course.
Vis The Spoon (copyright)
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Above pics: some of the regular faces (thats me in the middle of left pic)
The Red Eye was home for me (gigwise) for many years during the 90's. A 15 min walk from Kings Cross tube often
put this venue "too far away" from the "Camden Elite" but I had many happy years here with both the regulars and
the other people that worked here. Once Leo Sayer turned up randomly one Tuesday night to check out some new
bands! The Red Eye has now been converted to flats...........
first two pics below by Pete Cole
The bands playing above are Guitar Gangsters and Velodrome 2000
Fulham Greyhound
pics courtesy of Fin Fahey - the one on the left was taken in Oct 2005 and the one on the right in Nov 2005
after the signage had been removed. The gigs were held in a music hall to the rear left of the pub where the
railings are now.
The Pegasus (aka New Pegasus) - Newington Green, Islington
This was a noted new wave/punk venue in the late 70s/early 80s. Tubeway Army and The Psychedelic Furs,
among others, there.
From a website about the Sex Pistols
"Despite being unable to hear the single on daytime radio, 'God Save The Queen' reaches the number one slot. Meanwhile,
during a break from their recording sessions: Johnny Rotten, Chris Thomas (producer) and Bill Price (studio boss) are attacked
outside the Pegasus pub. Johnny has his arm slashed open and suffers tendon damage."
More text to follow for the following pics of infamous London venues:
The Marquee - Wardour Street
Madame JoJos - Soho
Wag Club - Wardour Street (Now O'Neills Irish Pub)
St Martins School of Art
Euston Rails (now The Head of Steam)
I remember seeing Green Day play here very early on in their career (obviously). I regularly attended gigs here on
Zombie Club nights to see Big Boy Tomato one of my favourite bands of the 90's - girl fronted punk rock like no other
- they used to have a big bowl of lethal punch on stage at gigs and handed it out to the eclectic audience.
The Vortex
Derelict London visitor Dee writes: "The vortex was a dreadful place no matter what they say - it stunk!
Can't remember what bands I saw then as was off the head a lot of the time"
The Roxy (now Miss Sixty shop)
