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Celebrating, Preserving and Sharing Birmingham’s Music Heritage.

We are now actively looking for content for the archive and will always add content you send us. The archive is a labour of love and we update it in our spare time so please bare with us if you regularly check the site and it looks the same – content is always being added.

Building the archive to inspire the future.

The Birmingham Popular Music Archive has been established by Jez Collins in order to recognise and celebrate Birmingham’s rich musical heritage. We want Birmingham to take pride in its musical heritage and to start shouting out about it. Other cities aren’t shy in celebrating their successes and neither should we.

We believe music provides us with memories, individual and shared experiences and self expression. For us, these memories and meaning can be stirred by a vast array of music ephemera, it could be a song, it might be a photograph or a ticket stub or it could be someone else’s recollections that make a connection with you and trigger your music experiences. And we aren’t just interested in the ‘star’ names. We want to hear about ALL the music activity in the city.

We are interested in hearing and sharing stories. Were you in a band? Where did you play? What venues did you go to and who did you sees? Did you work in a Record Shop? Or perhaps you ran a label or were associated with a Pirate Radio station. You may have worked in a rehearsal space, been an sound engineer to a DJ. All this and more, no matter how big or small you think it was. All those personal experiences and memories that surround and inform this vibrant city and it’s music is what we are after.

Our rather big ambition is to capture the entire history of popular music in and from the city.

So whether you were in a band, or were a regular gig-goer, we want to hear from you – Tell us what you know, tell us what you think!

If you want to find out about adding content to the archive, then please see our ‘Contact Us’ page and get in touch.

73 replies on “About Us”

Here’s a list of bands from the Brum compilation album Bouncing In The Red (EMI), produced by BRMB’s Robin Valk in 1979:

UB40, Steel Pulse, Steve Gibbons Band, Wide Boys, Fashion
Dangerous Girls, Denizens, Rainmaker, Ricky Cool & the Icebergs, Ferrari, Mean Street Dealers, Quads

I like the idea, I heard it on Radio WM today (24 Jan 2009)
I’m not sure where I add all the info I have, i.e.
venues
record shops
bands
tickets
memories
etc etc etc

Venues
Bogarts (gigs)
Costamonger (hangout)

record shops
inferno, cyclops, original virgin stor
bands
Jameson Raid
Money
Cryer
Quartz

This seems like a great idea. I saw the ‘HomeOfMetal’ thing on the internet, run by capsule. It seemed like a good idea, but they closed it down to just 5 bands, which seemed insane. Birminghams musical history is vast and varied and has hundreds of bands that are very important and influential. This seems like a very worthy idea – I hope it takes off.

Steve.

PS. I’m another massive Jameson Raid fan, one of Birminghams finest!
I remember Ferrari, too, and Quartz, and Little Acre and many others…
🙂

Great to see Bogart’s get a mention. It was always an excellent venue to see the up and coming bands of the time (and the ones in decline). Anyone recall a band called “Nutz” who were sort of fixtures in the lower order of Festival performers in the early to mid 70’s, never did make it big despite a couple of great albums and a nice live set. I always remember being upstairs in there one Saturday lunchtime and Barry “Eve of Destruction” McGuire wandered in off the street and gave an impromptu performance. Unfortunately the average age of the punters meant that only about 6 of us knew who he was.

I think this is a fabulous idea and hope the site gets plenty of contributors!!
Many of the most memorable times I have of the Birmingham Music/entertainment scene are from the 70’s & 80’s.I’ll throw in a few names here but hopefully add more details/comments on the various pages on the site,in time!

Red Sun at The Locarno on the revolving stage,the BRMB birthday parties and Birmingham City F.C dances at either The Locarno or Top Rank,Dale End.Robin Valk on BRMB and the outdoor extravaganza’s he poduced at Cannon Hill Park’s outdoor arena ‘The Lark in the Park’..featuring bands like,Slender Loris,Rainmaker,Little Acre,Ruby Turner,City Boy,Fashion. Live bands at the Barrel Organ,Digbeth,Hooker,who changed their name to School Sports,(to name one)Their guitarist,Mark Bristow,who went on to be in The Dealers(formerly Mean Street Dealers)their packed weekly gigs at the fabulous Railway in Curzon Street(where your feet stuck to the floor!)the obligatory crowd participation sing-a-long in ‘Nice Boys’,others appearing there Dave Tickle,Trevor Burton,the fantastic Steve Gibbons Band.Many concerts at The Odeon,New Street inc Slade,Sad Cafe,Genesis,City Boy(who were actually the support for Sutherland Brothers & Quiver,however half the audience walked out after City Boy’s set because that’s all they went to see!)Clubs like Pollyanna’s in Newhall Street,where the music from Saturday Night Fever filled the floor,Samantha’s,Thursdays,Faces,Rebecca’s,oh and the sunken dance floor in Snobs(is that the only club still there now?)The Night Out,Bristol Street,The Cresta Club(though that was in Solihull)Charity all day concert Heartbeat ’86 at the NEC,featuring many of Brum’s great music acts.
Well there’s a few things to think about! How about you?

A fantastic idea but surely with some glaring omissions on the Artists list on the left. But it’s a work in progress of course. What about Dexy’s and Kevin Rowland? Slade? The Streets? I know Misty’s Big Adventure are alright but Dexy’s and Slade are responsible for some of the biggest hit singles of all time and Mike Skinner is one of the most influential artists of the last decade.

Either way, big up yourselves!

Some great places mentioned on here!!! BOGARTS was the best place in Brum! Anyone got any info/ recordings from LITTLE ACRE? Used to go and see these lads(and lasses) at every opportunity.HOPWOOD CARAVAN PARK was always a blinder!! Where are they now?

I remember buying vinyl from Cyclops – remember the grumpy Welsh bloke who owned it? If you dared to go into the shop the conversation used to go
Welsh bloke: “Can I help you son?”
Me: “Oh, I’m just browsing, thanks”
Welsh bloke: “Well can you wait outside until you know what you want”
Honest, that’s how it went. We used to wait until he went for his lunch before going in .. his wife was much more amenable.

I also remember buying vinyl from Bev Bevan’s Heavyhead shop at the bottom of College Road in Moseley. I was in there one day buying “Red” by King Crimson and he came out from the back of the shop with a floor tom tom which he put into his jag parked outside!

I was always going to the Town Hall and Odeon to concerts in the mid seventies – Dr Feelgood, PFM, Roxy Music, Budgie, Robin Trower, Baker Gurvitz Army and many more. Brum was a great place to grow up.

As a teenager in the sixies I saw the great’ Little Richard ‘ perform at the Town hall, and also Bobby Vee!
My husband Ken was lead singer in the popular Birmingham group ‘The Fugives’who also had a female vocalist Moira.
Other groups playing gigs in the same circuit were The Red Caps and The Cheetahs – both fantastic groups!
The groups played at The Plaza at Old Hill, The Cavern in Small Heath which had a great atmosphere, and The Ritz.
The fugitives were the supporting group at Old Hill to such great performers as Jerry Lee Lewis and Brenda Lee!
Those were the days my friend!!

Steve – just a quick note regarding your comments on the ‘Home of Metal’ project…
The project is focused on manifestations of Metal which is why it doesn’t include bands like Dexys or other Birmingham groups: they are outside of the scope of the project…
Also – the organisers made the decision to focus on 5 bands whose approach has informed the further development of Metal music (rather than groups who played Metal but did not ‘move along’ the genre, such as Quartz)…
It is also intended that the archive will expansd in future to include other groups, but only after the Archive has become established within its current scope…

This archive does look interesting though…How about (apologies if they are already mentioned)the bands who recorded on 021 Records (like Au Pairs, Iganda, Legz Akimbo, etc)…

Ron Brinsdon Says:
January 28th, 2009 at 8:15 am says …..

I always remember being upstairs in there one Saturday lunchtime and Barry “Eve of Destruction” McGuire wandered in off the street and gave an impromptu performance. Unfortunately the average age of the punters meant that only about 6 of us knew who he was.

My mate and I were two of the 6 so only 4 left to find!
Where can I find memories of Walrus Gumboot who performed very regularly?

“I went to see so many bands during the 70s, mainly at the Odeon New Street, the Town Hall and Bogarts of course!! However it was at the Mayfair Suite that I saw Van der Graff Generator. It was Thursday 6th May 1976! I was able to research the date via an amazingly detailed VdGG gig guide website! I went with my cousin Ken and loads of his friends! After the gig we bumped into the drummer Guy Potter and had a little chat with him, which was nice!” – Many Thanks to Ruth Cheshire for this contribution.

My favourite gig was The Cramps at the Birmingham Odeon. My memory is not what it was but the gig was either April 25th 1984 or April 30th 1986, I’m tending to go for the 86 one due to me age, but anyway.. For those of you who don’t remember the Odeon before it became a 400 screen cinem, selling 2 tonne bags of sugar to kids who need no encouragement whilst showing Rambo 55, it was a fabulous art deco music and cinema hall.

For the gigs, there was a huge orchestra pit which doubled as the mosh pit (well not if you were watching Ultravox or The Thompson Twins), then those lovely plush velvet seats and above, a balcony were assorted punters would cover the crowd below in piss and beer – luckily they were often indistinguishable from one another!

So there I am, fancying myself as a bit of a psychobilly, knocking around at the Barrel Organ, Powerhouse, Zig Zags and all the others when news comes through of The Cramps coming to town to play at the Odeon. Immediately it’s THE ODEON! Who on earth has booked The Cramps to play there? Have they not seen or heard of the mayhem that normally occurs when the play. This reputation was justified. For me The Cramps remain one of THE live music bands. Raw, threatening, chaotic but always brilliant.

As I say above, my memory is no longer functioning as it used to, but this night The Cramps were late on for some reason and literally ripped through the set. Main man Lux carried around the entire audience, climbing right to the top of the pa system, Poison Ivy machine gunning the crowd with her guitar, legs akimbo, hardly, if any, talk by the band and then 30 minutes later they were gone.

Now I wasn’t in the mosh pit that night for some strange reason but they were going wild, calling for encore stamping their feet and so on. But as it became clear The Cramps weren’t returning they had nothing to really vent their anger on. For us in the seats it was different.

I’d never felt such adrenaline or emotion or basic wildness in a live crowd before. As the shouting got louder I can just recall a shower of seats reigning down towards the stage, missing it by some distance and nearly decapitating several hundred pyschobillies (or at least their quiffs). It was over in minutes but seemed like forever, even as everyone filed outside it was as if the whole crowd had become feral.

For the music but mainly for the crowd I think this has to rank as one of my all time favourite gigs in Birmingham.

What about the Golden Eagle? I saw loads of bands there. The guitarist from the Dangerous Girls used to work behind the bar. That’ll be the redhead with the clothes pegs in the hair. Also saw Quartz (I think) almost set fire to the place with a firework strapped to the end of the guitar!

Although I’m far too young to remember, I have seen a fair bit of talk about Mothers, which was on Erdington High Street.

Run my Phil Myatt between 68 and 71, such luminaries as Traffic, Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and King Crimson played there.
Part of Pink Floyd’s Ummagumma was recorded live there too.

John Peel noted: “People are amazed to hear that for a few years the best club in Britain was in Erdington”, following American Billboard voting it Top Rock Venue.

Hi

Re Andrew at Golden Eagle that would be STU CLARKE from CRYER with the firework attached to the end of his flying v that nearly set the place on fire. I am a massive QUARTZ fan and got to know the guys really well during the late 70’s and early 80’s. I still see the guys now and they are still making great music!!! Another place to see groups was the MERCAT CROSS where BORN LOSER had a residency. Great band and so pleased I bought the self financed cassette tape recorded at RICH BITCH STUDIOS. Remember seeing AC/DC at the MAYFAIR SUITE and UFO at the TOWN HALL before it was closed

Great times and memories

BIG TIM

the date was 86 for the cramps at the odeon when they came of after 30 mins !!!
the reason they came of was somebody had spat on either lux or ivy and it was`nt pleasant !!!! i was down the so called mosh pit for this and seen it first hand , i remember really looking forward to this gig ( especialy after being in london the night before and seeing anthrax and onslaught with lead singer of bolt thrower karl )
happy days !
i have the ticket stubb for this gig among many many more .
all the very best jez and spear of destiny at the academy the other week was awsome .

I remember seeing a band named Brent ford and the Nylons at the Barrel Organ in Digbeth about forty years ago, I can’t remember what the band were like, but I remember last order’s were 10 pm.

Re Steve and “the grumpy Welsh Bloke”. I can confirm steve’s description.Apart from his unfortunate attitude, Cyclops was a brilliant place to buy tickets. I remember queuing all night in New Street for Bob Dylan’s first U.K tour in 9 year’s, that was back in 1971.

Being old wrinkly pensioners we go way back to the early sixties, my sister remembers seeing Steve Winwood, age 15 playing a lunch time at the Chapel Pub, Church Street (1963) before Spencer Davis Group, and later Sopencer Davis Group at Aston Uni, and the Eagle. I remember the Applejacks at Handsworth Park Birmingham Show 1965 live on the stage and later Pete York, drummer with Spencer Davis at the Junction, High Street, Harborne every Monday night playing with jazz bands, ah those were the days.

Jameson Raid
I was and Suppose still am a roadie for them.They are releasing a CD this year and are planning to gig again next year with any luck.To those who remember me(lighting/flash pots) or the band hello and go to http://www.jamesonraid.net for news on the band

It seems you have missed out one of the first music clubs (if not the first) in Birminghams city centre. The Heartbeat was situated above the Silver Blades Ice Rink in what is now the Chinese Quarter. My use of the club was in the early 60’s. Not only could you listen to music, dance, eat, drink (after 10.30 pm) but also watch the ice skaters below. Could anyone tell me whether it was the first and when it first opened; also when it finally closed?

Anyone remember Incredible Records in Copparation St opposite Harry Parkes ? Doule front – Right hnd side was the usual stuff, but if you delved left, tons of cheap US import vinyl – Still have some to this day – Circa 1978-80 ?

Out of the Blue for £2.99 – BARGAIN !

I think the idea of an archive is great, Birmingham has a big musical heritage. I went to many concerts at the Town Hall, Brenda Lee, bached by tne brilliant Sounds Incorporated, Steeleye span, Moody Blues, Jose’ Feliciano, Screaming Lord Such, The Batchelors ( big Mistake)and many more. I used to sit at the back of the stage, cheap and a fantastic view of the performers. I also went to the Odeon, The best performance I saw there was Fats Domino. Another venue no-one seems to mention was Silver Blades Ice Rink. I saw the Moody Blues and Manfred Mann and the semi resident bands were the Uglys and Carl Wayne and the Vikings, brilliant bands

saw Amen Corner at the Swan yardley in the late 60’s, cost 15 bob, could’ve seen Pink Floyd the same nite at Mothers for 5BOB!!was DEVESTATED, could have had loads more booze for that extra 10 bob,(would’ve seen a legiondary set too!!).Dave.

In reply to Paul Turner I too saw Little Acre many times. Saw them at the The Tardebigge, Town Hall, Selly Park Tavern and Cannon Hill Park amongst others and of course those packed nights down at Hopwood Caravan Club. What nights they were down there by the canal. At the time I thought they had a really good chance of making it as their gigs were fantastic but alas it wasn’t to be. At one Town Hall most of the audience ended up on the stage dancing with them. I have a couple of Little Acre singles on the Birds Nest label. One is “Cable Car/Perfect Crime” which were 2 of their best live tracks. Also “Back Off/Birmingham Woman” which came later in their career. They are a bit battered now but still more or less play. I think they released an album as well but couldn’t swear to it.

why no mention of goldwyns on this site was a great little venue similar to burberries in atmosphere before was turned into a bierkeller. saw nirvana, the la’s and galaxie 500 among many bands there.

Does anyone remember The Jackson appearing at Bingley Hall in Birmingham in 1979. There seems to be no evidence of this event ever happening. Was anybody there.

I did work in incredible, inferno, virgin bull st & the megastore in bull street when vinyl was king & the business was fun !
how did it all go so horribly wrong ?

Just read through the archive & noted Debbie Jones’ comment about the Odeon New st, & can confirm the bit about half of the audience walking out after City Boys set whilst supporting Sutherland Bros & Quiver, We were there, but to see S B Q although City Boy were very good. Hope Debbie did’nt walk!!

Anyone remember the late night city centre club called ‘The Limelight Room’ from the very early 70’s…. not a live music club, but a superb heavy rock DJ style venue which was upstairs (above either a cafe or a drum shop, the memory has gone!)above a corner row of shops at the bottom of Hill Street where it joins Navigation Street…. one of the few clubs that played Hendrix, Sabbath, Taste, etc. all night long. Pitch black inside and a great atmosphere. Happy memories….

I’ve just watch a programme on Fleetwood Mac on the box and the memories flooded back. Saw them at Mothers in Erdington. Mick Fleetwood looked like a seven foot rake! He had two wooden balls attached to his belt, in the middle of one song he left his drum kit, stood up with the microphone at crotch height and played those balls with his drum sticks – unforgettable!

Does anyone know the precise date for this gig? It must have been 1967 or 1968?
Also what was Mothers called before it was Mothers?

Now I’m watching Eric Clapton and Stevie Winwood in concert. What more can I say – magic

A message for Roger re his Fleetwood Mac gig. Mothers opened its doors for the first time on June 9th 1968 with a gig featuring Chicken Shack & Hobstweedle…. I’m afraid I don’t know of a 1968 gig featuring Fleetwood Mac, but the first one I’m aware of wasn’t until 23rd January 1969 and again on 13th April the same year. Hope that helps Roger! The club finally closed on 3rd January 1971 owing to the end of the promoter’s lease. In addition to the Birmingham Town Hall gig list that I’ve forwarded to Jez for use of the BMA, I also have a similar gig list for Mothers if anyone interested.

Sorry Roger, forgot to mention that Mothers was previously known as the Carlton Ballroom and The Carlton Club, which had also played host to many up and coming bands including the Moody Blues bedfore changing name to Mothers.

Thanks Fairport those dates seem to fit the bill. Must have been the January gig as I remember it seemed very cold in the Carlton as I arrived early.

Another great memory is seeing “Cream” at the Swan, Yardley although I can’t find any reference to that gig on tour date websites. Clapton and Bruce walked off stage and left Ginger Baker to do a 15min drum solo!

A pleasure to be of help Roger. Interestingly The Cream played at The Carlton on 24th June 1967 which says something about the quality of the venue doesn’t it? April 25th 1967 saw John Bonham & Robert Plant playing there as The Band Of Joy, probably it appears with Dave Pegg on bass, but with apparently none other than Noddy Holder as their Roadie!

The last batch of Carlton gigs before becoming Mothers seems to have been during February 1968 which included The Soft Machine & Sam Gopal Dream (3rd), Spooky Tooth (9th), Plastic Penny (11th), Traffic (17th)… not bad for Erdington was it?

Just look at the opening months gigs for Mothers… quality bands or what!!!
June 1968 : Chicken Shack & Hobstweedle (9th), Tyrannosaurus Rex (23rd)
August 1968 : Jethro Tull (4th, 21st), The Deviants (10th), Joe Cocker (17th)
September 1968 : Family (7th), Gun (12th), Pink Floyd (13th), Bonzo Dog Band (14th), Battered Ornaments (17th), The Action (20th), Jethro Tull (21st), Blossom Toes (22nd), Deep Purple (27th)
October 1968 : Pink Floyd (4th), Eclection (5th), Spooky Tooth (6th), Barclay James Harvest (11th), Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (12th), Juniors Eyes, July (18th), Blonde On Blonde (19th), Fairport Convention (20th), The Deviants, The Action (26th)
November 1968 : Roy Harper (1st), The Nice (10th), Family (17th), Jethro Tull, Earth (later called Black Sabbath) (24th)
December 1968 : Eire Apparent & Caravan (6th), Eclection (14th), The Nice (15th), Gun (20th), Edgar Broughton Band & Third Ear Band (21st), Ten Years After (22nd), Family (24th), Colosseum (27th), Free (28th), Jethro Tull, Savoy Brown, Bakerloo Blues Line (31st)

If Phil Linforth, originally of Tyseley, is out there please get in touch as I know he attended loads of the Mothers gigs throughout its short lifetime and can no doubt add some geat comments & memories.

HI, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME DETAILS OF THE ‘ LITTLE ACRE ‘ SINGLES THAT WERE RELEASED ON BIRDSNEST RECORDS IE, CATOLOG NUMBERS, DATES & TITLE ?, MANY THANKS, CHEERS CHRIS

I have just posted a reply under the Birmingham Town Hall section, but it also included a mention for The Boggery Folk Club and just thought that if anyone fancies starting a thread with me re Brum based folk clubs of the past then please feel free to read the Boggery bit and add your memories to this Archive section. Brum once had a thriving folk club scene, especially during the revival era…

A few (!) folk clubs that I recall from the 60’s and 70’s that may get the ball rolling are :

The Boggery Folk Club, Solihull
The Loony Bin Folk Club, Solihull
Under The Greenwood Tree Folk Club, originally at Greet before moving….
Under The Greenwood Folk Club, The Kings Head, Hagley Road
Forum Folk at the Fox Hollies Forum
The Three Magpies Folk Club, Hall Green which moved to the Golden Eagle, Hill Street before ending up in Wythall
The Malt Shovel Folk Club, Solihull
Cellarfolk Too, Harbourne
The Old Crown Folk Club, Digbeth
The Jug O’Punch Folk Club, Digbeth
The Red Lion Folk Club, Kings Heath
The Bell & Pump Folk Club, Edgbaston
Black Diamond Folk Club at the Drover’s Arms, Brum
Latenight Folk, Broad Street
The Grey Cock Folk Club, Horsefair
The Skillet Pot, Snow Hill
Birmingham & Midland Folk Centre
Prince Of Wales Folk Club, Cambridge Street
Newman College Folk Club, Bartley Green
The Fountain Folk Club, Bristol Street
Open Door Folk, Newtown

Hope that starts a few thoughts off….

Also, anyone have any info on the ‘Brum Folk’ Festival? I know there was a three day event held at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in September 1974… were there any more held during the 70’s as I believe it began in 1973?

ttfn

Copy text from Town Hall section re The Boggery Folk Club….

“Another great Brum venue (well, almost!) was The Boggery Folk Club held every Monday night at the Old Moselians Club House on the corner of Lugtrout Lane and Field Lane in Knowle, Solihull. Definitely deserving its own section on the Archive website.

Co-organised by Les Ward and our very own Jasper Carrott, who was also the MC, they had some of the best national contemporary folk and folk rock artists/bands perform there, as well as giving local bands the opportunity to play. Not so much a traditional folk club as Brum had quite a few of them anyway, which is probably why it was so successful… it had a great mix of humour, the best of contemporary folk music and a unique atmosphere as a result.

Apparently The Boggery first opened its doors as early as 1961 when ‘Carrott’ was just 16, but I only remember it from the late 60’s onwards…. they were always packed out evertime I went there in the 70’s, which was most weeks.

Artists I saw there that come immediately to mind were the likes of Dave Cartwright, Allan Taylor, Jake Thakray, the wonderful Contraband, Tudor Lodge, Hedgehog Pie, John Golding, Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra, Decameron, Hunter Muskett, Dando Shaft… the list is endless”.

Anyone out there that can share some memories of this great folk club? Is it really still going???

Re Chris Smith’s request for info on Little Acre 7″ singles :

It appears the Dudley based band released four 7″ singles on the Birds Nest Records label, but have been unable to trace all the info requested thus far… will keep searching though.

BN 117 Takin’ Me Away / Gimme Your Love (Birds Nest 1979)

BN 110 Back Off / Birmingham Woman (Birds Nest 1977)P/S

BN 120 Emotions / ?

BN ??? Cable Car / Perfect Crime

The following Little Acre tracks appear on the 2009 Sarabee Records double CD release entitled “The Vault, Unlocked – Singles, B-Sides, Rarities & Deletions Produced By John Peels Manager, Clive Selwood” which is readily available. All of the tracks appear to have been taken from the singles so I’d take an educated guess that the missing B-side title is probably Gimme Your Love.

The 6 included tracks are as follows :

Emotions, Take Me Away, The Perfect Crime, Back Off, Birmingham Girl, Cable Car

Hope that helps Chris,

Fairport

HI FAIRPORT, MANY THANKS FOR THE INFO, THIS IS WHAT I’VE GOT SO FAR, CHEERS CHRIS

THE PERFECT CRIME – CABLE CAR – BIRDSNEST BN 102 – 1973

BACK OFF – BIRMINGHAM WOMAN – BIRDSNEST BN 110 – 1977
( CAME IN A PICTURE SLEEVE )

TAKIN’ ME AWAY – GIMME YOUR LOVE – BIRDS NEST BN 117 – 1978

EMOTIONS – TAKE ME AWAY – THE PERFECT CRIME – BIRDSNEST BN 120 – 1979

It looks like you’ve got the full set then Chris, assuming you’ve got the album. It seems you’ve also got the only 7″ picture sleeve they released too, so even better! I guess there’s only the hope of uncovering live recordings now… Take care, Fairport

WANTED – COPIES OF ‘ BRUMBEAT ‘ MAGAZINE FROM THE 1960’s,THERE WERE 30 MONTHLY ISSUE’S, I’M WRITING A BOOK CALLED ‘ BRUMBEAT AND BEYOND THE VINYL HISTORY OF THE MIDLANDS 1960-1975 ‘, AND I NEED THEM FOR REFERANCE, AND INFORMATION, I’M WILLING TO BUY / TRADE, OR IF YOU DON’T WANT TO LET GO OF THEM,JUST TO LOOK THROUGH THEM, ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED, CHEERS CHRIS,

EMAIL – SMITHC711@AOL.COM

Hi,
I played bass guitar for an all girl band based in Birmingham around 1886 – 89 called ‘She’s The Leader’. A five piece, we performed a mix of covers and some original material. Edwards No 8 was a great gig and I remember playing a rock festival at Goldwins as well. We did the Barton Arms a few times killing ourselves carrying the gear up the stairs and the Selly Park Tavern. We had some label interest but nothing came of it and we released our own EP which is now on i-tunes. Good times!! Rock on.

Not sure how Venues get added to the archive but here’s a few more not yet mentioned .
First proper gig I went to was at the Top Rank (later to become Hummingbird) in Dale End to see (Peter Green’s) Fleetwood Mac around ’68 with the recently added Danny Kirwan.
Some great gigs took place at the Breedon Bar (Stirchley) in the 90s some of the best being Joe Ely with notably excellent David Grissom on guitar, Green on Red, Joe Louis Walker, and the wonderful Jesse Taylor, Wild Willy Barrett, Webb Wilder, The Even Crazier World of Arthur Brown.
Hare and Hounds (Kings Heath) still going strong, Recently saw Danish band Efterklang (twice) amazing!
On the subject of Kings Heath and even before my time, The Ritz (two doors up from Hare and Hounds in York Road) was very important not just for having the Beatles but the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins and others from the earlier days of Rock and Roll.
Not sure whether Sutton Coldfield counts But the Belfry had a short lived but very impressive stint as a venue, gigs included Led Zeppelin circa album 2 or 3. Rory Gallagher with the newly added Lou Martin on Keyboard.
A few more I remember .. The Bear Bearwood.
The Moseley and Balsall Heath Institute next to the old Bus garage on the Moseley Road where I saw Love Sculpture and The Gun in about ’68 or 9 when in the 6th form.
The Junction Harbourne- General Public , Richard Thompson, Charlie Musselwhite, Clive Gregson & Christine Collister, Jesse Taylor (again)and some good local bands like M’s Telegram and Totally Suspect.
The very short lived (and very cold I seem to remember)
Alhambra Highgate where I saw Steppenwolf around 1970?

Anyone remember Special Clinic, Eazie, Ocean Boulevard or any of the other superb bands that used to play the Sheldon pub ?

Sorry for delay in reply to Karen Aug last year but yes i remember The Jacksons in concert at Bingley Hall, B’ham on February 18th 1979. I have two original tickets + newspaper advert. Price on ticket was a whooping £4.00 & £5.00 at door!! Those were the days. I remembered we (my future hubby & myself) had been to see the Jacksons but couldn’t remember where – until rooting through some old letters & stuff i came across the tickets. Don’t remember much about the concert apart from being terribly excited, it was noisy & my view was obstructed by something. It could have been people i suppose as i’m not very tall but thought it may have been a column?

Hi,

can anyone help, I am looking for information about U2’s gigs in 1980 in the Birmingham area @ Cedar Ballroom, Bogart’s, Aston University, Kidderminster Town Hall, Wolverhampton & Coventry Poly’s & General Woolfe. The information I am looking for is;
Set lists, ticket prices, support acts, attendances. I would be very grateful if you could scan any tickets stubs or posters you have from these shows.

Jeff

If anyone could help with the following question it would be appreciated:

Hi,
In the early 1960’s there was a record shop?electrical dealer in Steelhouse Lane,or bottom of Corporation St past Lewis’s.The record dept was at the rear with loads of booths.Can anyone please remember the name of that shop its been haunting me for ages.
Many thanks,
John Crompton

There was a pub in Erdington where i saw the legendary blues man Son House it was very near Mothers,anyone enlighten me on what it was called please

Hey, just found your site looking up great Brummie Bands, trying to educate my 25 yr son here in Australia. So many bands from Brum. I used to work at The Swan, Yardley from 67-69. I was a glass collector in the Ballroom Disco…I was 15 when I started there, maybe thats why I got the taste for beer early. What a job it was. Four of us collected the glasses and washed them and restocked the bars. The best part was that we got to see all the best bands in England there. I had fun with Stevie Marriot one night there. I went on stage with his guitar and he followed me with a white Ansells jacket on. A good laugh that night. Cream played at the pub the 1st night the pub opened to the public, I missed that, but was lucky to see so many more bands. I remember my mate Paul Kelly was the resident DJ there and Sam The Sham from Coventry used to Dj other times. Jigsaw were the resident band that played once a month i think.Maybe somebody out there remembers me.

I had forgotten just how many places had live bands, I still have a flyer from Rebecca’s in Brum from 1980’s I think and on it is The Jam, XTC, Secondhand band, and a group I was in called wolf pack the guitarist of which was later in Force who used to play at the Swan Yardley quite a bit.

hi john keenan well remember the bands at the sheldon specially the clinic dave tickle is playing at the red lion shirley 30th oct might see you there as i rememder you too

wow forgot just what brum had to offer……..been away for along time now but remember the late 70’s early 80’s venues like the tin can cedar club jug of ale great gigs great bands..wot went wrong…..

In reply to Dave Nash’s Post commenting about an earlier post by myself about City Boy/Sutherland Brothers & Quiver at The Odeon,New St (sorry it’s taken just over 12 months to do so!)No,Dave, I didn’t walk out after City Boy finished their set..I think it was very dis-respectful of the others to do so & they may have actually enjoyed the music of SB&Q,I did! 🙂 I go to gigs now & some people are still as rude & decide that it’s ok to talk throughout the support act’s set,that’s if they bother to turn up to see them in the first place!hey-ho!

RE: Red Sun /John Kerton

Yes,John..Red Sun were fab & I used to love going to The Locarno to dance & be entertained by you guys!The revolving stage was really cool! Although,I nearly had a panic attack when I first had a good look at the band & recognised my Trumpet teacher playing Trombone on stage! I only knew him as Mr Lewis,so I don’t know his Christian name,but he taught at Swanshurst Grammar School where I was a pupil in the 1970’s. Why the panic attack?..well we were all under-age,of course & I was worried he’d blow my cover & get us thrown out….& no more Babycham’s! He didn’t & probably never even saw me….many thanks to you all for many happy evenings spent,hope you’re still singing & the other guys playing.

My husband Philip Russell who sadly died after a long and horrific illness had hisown band Phil Russell and the music makers He played around Birmingham in the fifties and sixties I am anxious to hear from anyone who remembered him He played trumpet and worked in Jones and Crosslands music shop

APPEAL FOR BIRMINGHAM BANDS:
Does anyone remember or have contacts for HEADBOLT or JULIE & THE OPINIONS(aka The OPINIONS),both bands from late 70’s early 80’s on the birmingham scene as i would love to see if either band still has demos left and hear them again,both fondly remembered great bands!! if so please email me on paulpanic@fsmail.net

Also does anyone know of a contact for Phil Middleton ex manager of Virgin Records Bull St and Baileys records and singer in the Band THE HOBBS who released the great single BOP AROUND THE SHOP/YOU GOT ME IN A WHIRL GIRL on birminghams BIG records label in 1978 angain please email me paulpanic@fsmail.net

SEARCHING FOR BIRMINGHAM MUSICIANS/PEOPLE
DOES ANYONE HAVE A CONTACT FOR JOHNNY HAYNES FROM ZELLA STUDIOS
OR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FROM THE BAND THE OPINIONS
JOHN RUSHTON-WEDNESBURY
MALCOLM CHARLTON-DRUMMER
PAUL GARDNER -MANAGER
LAWRENCE FORFEIT
IF SO PLEASE EMAIL PAUL PANIC paulpanic@fsmail.net

SEARCHING FOR KEVIN LAW FROM THE SUSSED/PuNK’D
IF ANYONE HAS A CONTACT FOR KEV PLEASE EMAIL ME paulpanic@fsmail.net or contact detour records as Dizzy from DETOUR RECORDS URGENTLY NEEDS TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT RELEASING AN ALBUM

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