Old Venues – new shows
How often am I likely to write about two old music venues in one post and with relevant reason? If you knew in advance this piece was about the 100 Club and Friars Aylesbury you’d think I accidentally picked up a copy of the NME from 30 years ago.
First things first, Friars Aylesbury recently reopened in June after being closed for a quarter century. A show last month by The Pretty Things brought the venue back into the live music circuit and Stiff Little Fingers + Penetration will be appearing there on October 23rd. Please visit the site – I
Back in the day !
was amazed at the history of the place. I’d driven through Aylesbury a few times on the way to the midlands and was aware that The Clash had played there in about ‘79 or ‘80, but I had no idea that the Ramones, Bowie, Cockney Rebel, The Jam and many more had appeared in this relatively small town in Bucks. Whatever happened to bands hitting off the beaten path towns? I grew up in a small London satellite town and have been amazed to learn who played there (population was less than 25,000 in the when I was a nipper) back in the 60’s and 70’s. Anyway, seeing SLF back in a venue associated with that era of music is pretty cool stuff.
Back in London and Oxford Street’s 100 club has a pretty special event coming up much sooner. I’ve only been there once seeing The Exploited (I know…) back in about ‘82 (?) it was one of those venues made of legend and I was too young for 76-77 so I went for the ghosts. A unique little (smaller than I imagined) place tucked behind Oxford Street and down some steps, the venue has an amazing history which I’m sure you all know.
Yet looking foward just a few days there’s a very worthwhile event coming this Sunday July 26th. Under the name The Modern Scene 2 the 100 Club hosts a benefit for the Terry Rawlings family benefit fund, more information here. A lineup featuring Glen Matlock, Steve Diggle, Mick Jones and a lot more – hosted by Danny Baker. Gatherings like that would make me feel young.
Anyway – hope you can get along to one or both concerts if you’re in England – and share them with those of us who are not.
Tim
Hi Tim, You keep telling everyone you’re located in Arizona, but it seems more likely that you still live in South Acton, here in London and are spying on me. Predictably, I already have tickets for this 100 Club on Sunday evening and it should be a great evening. Mick (Jones) will be thinking I’m a celebrity stalker by now having turned up six times in a fortnight.
The broadcasting genius, that is Danny Baker, will be surprised to meet a regular contributor to his BBC London 94.9FM (Weekdays 3:00-5:00pm) radio show. I’m also known as ‘Skinnylegs Pete’ and if anyone can tell me which song by which artist this name comes from, then I will send them a print from Mick Jones’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Public Library !
A report will follow…..
Pete.
Great to see Friars back after so long. Hope its lost none of it’s old magic. It’s probably my favourite venue ever. Lost count of how many times I went there back in the day. Saw the Clash there twice, Penetration, Magazine, Hunter Ronson Band (at the previous Friars venue which became, I believe, the CBS workers social club).
Definitely a venue I’ll be visiting sooner rather than later.
Cheers for the heads up.
Karl, I’ve never been but hear it was (is) a brilliant place. Hope you can let us know about it after you get back there.
Will do
[...] mentioned the 100 Club yesterday (Mick Jones is playing there Sunday) and hot on the heels of that is an interview with Siouxsie [...]