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And then he walked along the edge of the Circle
This is the place where we will post your stories about the Green's Playhouse, The Glasgow Apollo and Satelitte City (The Wee Apollo). As it develops we will break the stories up into sections such as Myths, Gigs I missed, Meeting the Bands, Where are they now etc. No story too trivial and we will only edit out bad language!
New Forum structure on Apollomemories soon.
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| Please Add Your Apollo Memories
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was an old hand at the gig lark by the time I was 13 and knew the score.However
a new friend from Ardrussan Academy decided to join me for what was to be his
first gig.Black Sabbath in 1974 supported by Black Oak Arkansas.As you all recall the
tickets were always in two parts separated by a perforation.One side was printed
"to be given up" ,the other "to be retained.
Thinking the part
which said "to be retained" was a souvenir,he left this at
home.Fanny!
He had to wait till the bouncers were satisfied that no one was in his
seat before allowing him in.Meanwhile I enjoyed Jim Dandy and Black Oak Arkansas
[reply] |
| | | |
| Is there a limit to how many words are allowed in a post?I've just spent 20 minutes
one finger typing a recollection of "the auld days" for it to be kicked to
touch when I pressed submit.I am only now just bringing the computer back in the
window.
[reply] |
| | | |
| hi trevor,
sorry about that as with most dynamic websites there is a 20 minute
session allowed per page.. sorry again.
there is a wee counter to the bottom
right of the text box you type your message into.
i have set the number of
chararacters per memory to 6000. Not 6000 words but 6000 characters.
hope that
helps
andy
[reply] |
| | | |
| Did the Apollo not feature in an interesting court case in the 1970s? From memory I
believe that relatives of the then owners were recording on video the star acts who
appeared there and then selling the concert tapes.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Glad to see a group devoted to this theatre.I went to the Apollo on many occasions
from the mid 70's to the end in the mid 80's.saw many a fine show there.Also saw a
few nightmare shows as well. Hopefully I can remember them. I remember just as the
place was closing, I sneaked in on a Saturday morning for one last look, and managed
to walk around part of the building I never new existed.Anyone remember the fountain
on the upper balcony? The bouncing circle, the smell,the wallpaper,the height of the
stage,going to you seat and finding wreckage.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I've seen a lot of bands at the Apollo (and Green's Playhouse before). It was always
a flea pit, but some of the best bands in the world played there. I've lost count now
of exactly how many I've seen over the years, but The Stones,Zeppelin, Deep Purple,
Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Fairport Convention, Groundhogs, Rory Gallacher and even
Rod Stewart are among some of the best I've attended.
Probably the best three
gigs I remember were: Zeppelin in '72, Frampton in '75/76 (can't remember exactly)
and the 3 times I've seen the mighty Quo.Zeppelin were just fantastic, they blended
together extremely well that night and the music was truely astounding - a true
supergroup. Their sound was far superior to anything they did later at the SECC.
Frampton played Glasgow as his only scottish date and only one of three dates
in the UK that year. It was during the 'Comes Alive ' tour and tickets were very much
sought after. I only got one at the last minute and was up in the 'gods'. I remember
that a lot of US navy guys were there from the Holy Loch. He played all the tracks
from the Album, it was a long set and then did 3 encores, the final one just him
and the piano as his band were knackered. I think it was 'I'm in you' he finished
with.
Finally, you can't talk about the Apollo without mentioning QUO. These
guys were the best work out you'll ever get. I was always soaking with sweat after
one of their head-banging sets. Their music
was sheer brilliance - Rock 'n' Roll
with Balls. Their energy was amazing and the good thing was they always recognised
the fact that the Apollo was the best gig on the Planet. I used to spend the best
part of their gigs on top of the old ricketty seats, hoping that my mates would catch
me if I fell! we were diving into the crowd years before it became
'Trendy'.
Well folks that's all for now, hope I haven't bored you with some of
my memories.
Rock on
[reply] |
| | | |
| Never saw Frampton headlining but saw him prior to that as a support act. I think the
headliner was Uriah Heep for that gig but my memory is a bit hazy. Saw Quo a few
times too and got the 'I'm on the Quo album' sticker....
[reply] |
| | | |
| I believe this might have been an Edinburgh venue which had B&W video cameras which
were supposed to let actors in the dressing rooms know what was happening on stage.
The signal was being diverted to a Sony video recorder. Video cameras in the
seventies were fairly bulky and had to be linked by cable to a VCR and a reel to reel
machine at that. Even the dumbest of the Apollo bouncers might have noticed a camera
crew in the stalls;)
[reply] |
| | | |
| Let me see my first concert was by Wishbone Ash in 1977,after that I was hooked. From
AC/DC to again Wishbone Ash I saw them all. Too many great memories to bore everyone
with. Judas Priest and Rob Halford starting to sing from the box and slagging off
american food. From seeing Bon with Angus running around the stalls. Ritchie not
doing an encore in 77, but the Rainbow did look good. Ozzy throwing out his shirt the
rest you know as I've already told you. The support bands that came back and
headlined a year or so later Def Leppard, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden and Saxon
to name but a few. Yes indeed the Glasgow Apollo what a great place to be. Now
wouldn't it be great if some of the band members who played thier could shed a little
light on thier nerve's just befoe the house lights went down.......?????????
Steve
Hall
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember that show too, Jim Dandy had a sort of washboard type thing which he
carried around the stage and made sort of jerking off actions during the
songs...*xx*arre. I was 14 and it was my second ever gig, the first being Status Quo
a few weeks earlier....so long ago, sigh!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Flash back!
Not really an Apollo story but last year the wife and I (God, that
sounds so weird saying that when on this teenage nostalgia site!) were staying in the
city at the Holiday Inn across from the Glasgow Concert Hall and we went to the new
super- de- dooper picture house built on the site of the Apollo.
That was weird
enough and I was half expecting to get chucked out by some dinner jacket & bow tie
wearing Neanderthal with a bad feather cut but we then went for a drink in the new
Aussie theme bar, also part of the old site. Too young and trendy for me (beer pish
too!) but if you sit round at the Renfield St. side at the windows you can look
down the wee back ally leading to the backstage door where I spent many (happy?)
hours waiting to meet the bands and catch the soundchecks. It still looks exactly the
same. I eventually had to leave due to an overdose of nostalgia for lost youth, anger
that the mighty Apollo was reduced to this corporate ****** hole and, perhaps, too
many pints!
Worth checking out for nostalgia freaks but get yer beers across the
road at Lauders, at least that’s relatively unchanged except that the Paisley Blue
Angels don’t block the bar anymore!
Slainte- with a tear in my eye
Noddy
[reply] |
| | | |
| Just wondering what were the most gigs anyone went to on consecutive nights at the
Apollo? I managed 3 in a row, Ozzy and 2 Whitesnakes (with a Michael Schenker gig a
fortnight earlier). That also included an hour train journey there and back each
night- mind you we were young and daft then!
Anyone else?
Slainte
Noddy
[reply] |
| | | |
| Saw a few bands there when it was Green's Playhouse, including Family, The Stones
(never again ! They played for only an hour, without encores -this after queuing all
night for tickets - their support was The Groundhogs), The Who, King crimson (three
times - excellent support acts, totally unlike Crimson, which made for a very
balanced evening: Roger Ruskin Spear's Kinetic Wardrobe, Claire Hamill and Keith
Christmas), ELP (at their most overblown; but the one I remember with greatest
affection was an evening's lineup of (from least to headline) Eire Apparent (two of
whom later were members of 10CC), The Outer Limits, The Nice, Pink Floyd, Amen
Corner, The Move and Hendrix ! (whom I missed half of, because my twit of a mate had
left his car in the British Rail Car Park, which closed at eleven !). Good venue,
sorely missed. This would be 67 I think. The others were 1970-72.
Best wishes with
the site. Anything alse strikes me, I'll let you know.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Back in 78 I was a 16 year old apprentice fitter and my Journeyman said to me, “where
you going tonight son?” “I'm going to see Eric Clapton at the Glasgow Apollo” I
said...”Who's he?” he said. My first encounter with a cultural vacuum.
The man was an idiot and still is to this day.
It was the first gig I
had ever been to and I recall my mum and dad taking me and a friend thru and waiting
outside for us. We were in the balcony and I will never EVER forget the feeling
of walking thru the doors and walking down the aisle and seeing all the equipment on
stage doused in a white light. I always enjoy the anticipation when I see the
GEAR all set up and waiting to go.
I also remember two mikes hanging
from the roof. Support that night was Muddy Waters and when the band came out I
was transfixed by the sound, the lights and the occasion of it all. I don't
need to tell you they were all black and I spent three songs trying to work out which
one was Muddy........Then he came on. Seemingly he did this a lot.
Sending the band on for a warm up sound check kinda thing before appearing
himself. I have a great album of Muddy's “Live In Chicago” and he does the same
thing on that. I know the recording is from 78 so it must be the same band and
set.
Eventually Clapton came on in a West Bromwich Albion top and did a
bluesy doodle drenched in a white spotlight. Then without warning BANG, the
lights came up and he went right into Layla. A great show and a great
experience for me.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Cracking idea! I was just talking about the Apollo to my brother the other day
and lamenting its sad demise. It was the vest venue in Glasgow, apart from the
outrageously high stage and the ever present fear of the balcony landing on your head.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I actually had a piece of seat from the Apollo. It was signed by the guys from Pallas
who were supporting Uriah Heep (probably the last rock gig at the venue). I still
remember the looks on their faces when asked to sign it. Unfortunately it was
consigned to the dustbin a few years back, a nice bit of rock history gone forever.
[reply] |
| | | |
| The Apollo was the 8th wonder of the world. I attended from 77 - 80 something. the
greatest venue, crowd participation, crabbit bouncers, wall pealing, high
staged mother of a wonder. I shed a tear when that beauty was closed.
Anyone
who never got the chance to attend that venue will kick themselves. Barrowlands
is getting close but not enough. I remember standing on the road behind the
Apollo when the back wall was removed and was still mostly intact inside so it looked
like you were looking from the stage onto the theatre itself. R.I.P the greatest
venue in the world...sniff
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember going home on a bus from Glasgow after a gig at the Apollo, I think the
gig was for PIL Public Image or the Stranglers and someone else who had been at the
same show had taken a chair home as a memento of the venue.
The place
was not stunning but if you ever saw a band there you would remember the venue, my
main recollection of the Apollo is drinking a beer and finding plaster from the
ceiling in the drink.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I do remember the Apollo I seen The Rezillos, Sham 69, Siouxsie & The Banshees to
name but a few around the 1977/78 era.
Coming from Edinburgh we'd get
the train through to weegie land get drunk and go for it at the Apollo. All this talk
of the anniversary of the conquering of Mount Everest this week had me thinking
****** the height of the stage at the Apollo must have been at least twice the size
of Everest easy. Well maybe it seemed that way when you were lying on the
sticky floor drunk and getting trampled on.
I also seem to recall the
queue from the door used to snake all the way back to Edinburgh as well. Oh
happy days
[reply] |
| | | |
| "to this day" Stewart that's a hell of a long apprenticeship;)
Here's
the cultural vacuum test. If I said was Hubert Sumlin in the band would you have
known who I was talking about.
I saw Otis Rush a couple of years ago and the
number by the band alone was the first and best thing they played. it's a tradition
dating back to the big bands and R&B reviews that the band plays an
instrumental and then the vocalist is introduced.
[reply] |
| | | |
| we managed 2 nights of rush twice 25 april and 26 april 1979 and 10 and 11 june 1980
the latter concerts being recorded for exit stage left,those were the days, we also
travelled by train it took roughly an hour to travel from lanark. it passed quickly
thanks to a bottle of four crown.
gordon
[reply] |
| | | |
| Can I ask you a question about the 1980 Rush show?
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember seeing Genesis twice in the same night. There first show sold out and
there wasn't a gap in the schedule so they performed two shows at 6pm and 9pm. I
think it was for the "Trick of the Tail" tour.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Regretfully I only ever saw Genesis on the Duke tour in 1980, both nights - wish I
had seen them circa 77-78 with Hackett during the Seconds Out era but I missed them
then although I remember being told the day after the show then that 2 of the girls
from my school had been approached by the management and asked to present them all
with bunches of flowers in the dressing rooms ( I think that was on the Seconds Out
tour although it might have been Trick of the Tail - curse the failing memory!)- I
remember standing in the queue outside in Renfield Street before the first night show
of 'Duke' and we could hear them soundchecking playing "Deep in the
Motherlode" It was like a little piece of extra magic thrown in as they didn't
play it during the show.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I can remember having about 10 tickets on my wall around February 1980 for concerts
up to the summer; Sabbath, Lizzy, Van Halen and possibly Sammy Hagar as well. Used to
try for all three nights for Quo but that was it. God knows where I managed to get
the money from because I couldn't afford that now. Also don't think I'd be that
dedicated either. The power of youthful energy.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I did go to plenty of shows (in fact I've still got most of my ticket stubs and have
already posted them onto the site, some of the shows weren't listed previously so it
feels good to help this fine site develop) but one memory does come back that didn't
even involve walking through the doors. In the late 70's we were walking past the
Apollo and realised that we could hear the music, and it was fairly loud and clear
from the stage door up that wee lane where the tour buses and lorries often parked.
Kraftwerk happened to be on that night so we listened for a while, and even heard
Autobahn. It was too cold to stay for the whole show, we were hoping that we could
sneak in somehow but the doors never opened. Anyway, I wouldn't have fancied coming
up against these neanderthal bouncers. I still remember the fat bearded one with the
pudding bowl haircut. Where is he now?
The other non-gig memory I have is from
when the Stones played in 1980, or thereabouts. Apparently there was no announcement
made, the tickets received at the venue a few days earlier read something like
"The Show" and all that happened, from what I'm told, is that a single
notice was posted at the box office window, announcing that Rolling Stones tickets
were on sale. I heard that afternoon, as I was changing to play football. It was
clearly too late by then. By then Radio Clyde had heard and spread the news, which
obviously spread like wildfire. I can just imagine the panic and the rush. A friend
told me later that he walked past the Apollo that morning considered going inside to
check out what was on, but didn't. We all regretted that later.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Ok Scott.Heres one for you.
December 78 and my girlfriend and I were in
Glasgow to see the legendary Irish guitar virtuoso Rory Gallagher at "The
Shed".We had been up earlier in the day doing a bit of album shopping and having
a couple of beers in between going in to the two Listens, 23rd Precinct and the other
record shops.We stopped off in Lauders for another pint and I went to the bar only to
find myself standing beside the man himself.Trying not to stammer I introduced
myself,told him we were going to the gig and asked him if I could get him a
drink(even though he was the millionaire and I was the 7k a year mechanical
fitter).He politely declined saying "Thanks but we are only having a couple and
that tight twat over there is buying the next one" as he gestured towards Gerry
McAvoy his bass player sitting in the corner. Without wanting to annoy him I thought
I'd ask him just one more question."Rory,how do you make playing the guitar look
so easy" I asked "Oill be fooked if I know " he replied,smiling
broadly.
Classic guy
[reply] |
| | | |
| I'm replying to my own posting here, because I've always wondered if that story was
true. I mean, were the Stones tickerts really put on sale simply by sticking a notice
up on the box office window, to let the word spread on it's own? Were the tickets
printed as "The Show" or "The Concert" or something similar? I've
always wondered, but as nobody's submitted a ticket image for that show yet, I'm
still wondering.
Another rumour I remember hearing was of a big Zeppelin tour,
that was to include 4 nights at the Apollo. I heard that just before John Bonham
died. It sounds like bull to me actually, but I've always remembered it. What an
event that would have been...
[reply] |
| | | |
| They were printed with "The Show" I think it was. My friend got
one. They were limited to 4 per person so were obviously like hen's
teeth. Unf couldn't make it to that show, can't remember why just couldn't go.
Oh well, the memory lives on!
[reply] |
| | | |
| There were rumours flying about and given that Derek and The Dominos turned out to be
Eric Clapton when Stones fans saw Freddie McGregor and the Rude Notes advertised more
than a few tickets were purchased for what turned out to be a reggae show.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember that Stones show very well. I worked in the record shop round the back of
the Apollo on Sauchiehall St, Fiesta Records. I used to drink in Wilson's, the pub
next door and knew a lot of the bouncers quite well.
The day before The Stones
tickets went on sale, Neillie, The head bouncer, told me to get as much cash together
as I could but would not say why. I got a phone call the next day about 5 mins before
the announcement was made on R Clyde.
I shot across to the box office and got
about 40 tickets.
I was a very popular chap for a couple of weeks. I intended to
sell them to mates and regular customers at face value but a couple of days later a
load of US Navy guys from Dunoon came in asking if I knew where they could get
tickets offering £50 each!!!!! More than a weeks wages back then. Needless to say
greed got the better of me and I made a quick £500.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I thought Ian Gillan had a pretty successful solo career by then - I'm surprised to
hear he was working round the corner! Oddly enough, one of the first gigs I attended
at the Apollo was Black Sabbath in 1976, in the company of a guy called Ian Gillan. I
haven't seen him in years - I wonder if he's cut his hair?
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hello Ian,
I'm afraid the hair is long gone, though last I heard you were pretty
hairy yourself.
Didn't we also see Queen about the same time as Sabbath?
Last
time I saw you was about 1984, bumped into you in Edinburgh, I think.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Good to hear you're alive and well Mr Gillan. We did indeed see Queen as well. That
was before The Jam came along and shook it all up, of course! As for the hair, the
photograph you saw was of me in a wig - the sender (a mutual friend) thought it was
funny. Anyway, let's not hog this excellent site for our own purposes, drop us a line
on ian.williamson@sppa*xx*
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi Ian,
When did you work at Fiesta? I worked there from about 1976 till
1978 and was a frequent visitor to the Apollo. When I worked there Grant Whitehead,
John McKendrick, Donny, Ian and Donald Henderson were there spread over the two
shops. I worked in the Sauchiehall Street shop, which one were you in? I will
be posting some tickets on the site soon. I had joined it quite near the start
but seemed to have a lot of trouble accessing the site so, today, I have
re-registered and so far so good.
Jane Portoeus (McLaren)
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi ian, are you an old mate of rodger dunning. If you are you may remember me duncan
greer
[reply] |
| | | |
| Anybody out there in the q in the Rude Boy footage?
[reply] |
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| I was in the Q but can't see myself in the footage.Always remember that Gig.One of
the many times i seen the Clash.My best memory was seeing them at Brixton Academy!
They had the old back drop of the Mezzerschmit but had Monitors on stage which showed
the Brixton Riots while they played "White Riot" What a night! Lost a few
pounds in sweat! Took me back to my Youth! Joe Strummer R.I.P. You gave me the best
years of my life!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Saw Tina Turner at the Apollo at the time of Let's Stay Together and Help.It was a
great gig and afterwards we went behind the Apollo to chat to the crew and half the
band were there.Those were the days when the band had to help in the loading of gear
into the van etc,We had a great long chat with her then keyboard player Kenny Moore a
really nice guy(now sadly deceased) and he was saying how much he enjoyed being on
tour with Tina.A very memorable night.
[reply] |
| | | |
| i remember seeing them in a less than half full theatre, seeing one of the best shows
in my life, they brought the whole stage show with them, the lights the whole lot,
and not knowing the drummer sang and thought the guitarist was miming when i saw his
mouth move to the lyrics. i still love that band to this day. i also remembering
tearing up the album sleeve display the apollo always put out in the foyer of the
bands playing that night and taking the staple holed sleeves home for my wall !!!
[reply] |
| | | |
| HI NEIL JIM G HERE I ALSO REMEMBER THAT GIG IT WAS FANTASTIC I MANAGED TO GET THE
BASS PLAYERS PLECKY AND THE DRUMMERS TOWEL DOWN AT THE FRONT ROW. I,VE STILL GOT THEM
AND MY TICKET STUB & PROGRAMME . CHEERS JIM G P.S DID YOU GET THERE SILVER LP
I,VE STILL GOT MINE SOMEWHERE.
[reply] |
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| Jim - get in touch by email please, Cheer Scott
[reply] |
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| i remember hearing stories when kiss finally played in 83 in scotland that they were
coming in no make up then i heard they were doing half the show in make up, half not,
so many stories then thought they were great but would have been better in make up
!!. i had to catch the 5.40 train from Ayr and stand in a queue till box office
opened to get tickets and got good ones !!!
[reply] |
| | | |
| whatever happened to the wee tramps that always appeared, remember the wee old guy
with the hat held out and playing the mouth organ, or the guy with the radio who
played music and wanted money. i saw a few pushed into the big window of the
furniture store ? (now burger barfking) and 4-5 bikers peeing on their mate while he
sat on his knees on the pavement shouting "more pee", bet he had empty
seats around him !!.
[reply] |
| | | |
| remember waiting for ages at the back doors for a glimps of blackfoot, standing like
diddies for ages then the buggers came out the pub accross the road where they had
been all day !! walking down the side street in full length coat denima and cowboy
hats etc. they laughed, they signed, the had a great time. i still have my autographs
along with some of the scorpions, hagar etc
[reply] |
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| lucifers friend supported but never showed, van halen were ott americans, so so show
but great to see them with roth like 78 with sabbath. programme was tooooo big though
[reply] |
| | | |
| My memories of this show - apparently one of the band trucks had an accident on the
way up from Newcastle so they were late in getting to Glasgow. After queueing for
hours waiting to get in they let a couple of hundred in then shut the doors again.
Turned out they only had a couple of hundred tour progs left to sell. Once we all got
in to see VH - well they were crap live. Seemed to be 4 guys on stage playing
different songs at the same time. And of course Dave Lee Roth trying to show the
Scots how to drink! Now that was funny!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Just found the site today and at last I can hope that someone can fill in the blank
areas the Apollo and Greens gave to me. As far as I can recall I used to get the
train from Motherwell...hot footed it to the Atlantic Bar where we know we'd be
served ...then sprinted to the gig...via several back lanes for a pish... Later on as
we got older we did get into Lauders and then the Burns' Howff. But that's another
story. Perhaps someone will start a Howff link to this site as the two venues
are solidly linked. The only thing that leaps to mind at the moment is the solid
ringing in your ears for days afterwards...especially after Black
Sabbath.
hopefully after I read the other memories, mine will return!
[reply] |
| | | |
| We are looking at adding mini sites to Apollomemories for the sort of places u
mentioned Gerry. We had also thought about Castle Donnington, Reading, The
Heathery Bar Wishaw and The Red Lion. Any more ideas?
[reply] |
| | | |
| The Dial Inn, Wypers Bar, The Pondarosa -Linwood, The Venue Rock Disco, Shadows
(perhaps just post Apollo?) and the world's greatest record shops, Listen and 23rd
Precinct (before the disco mob ruined it!) to name but some-it's a wonder we ever
made it to the Apollo half the time ! :-)
Slainte
Noddy
[reply] |
| | | |
| Through the lane from Lauders Bar there was The Rialto and The Directors Box.
Prior to the gig meet at The Howff or the Bier Keller (is that the correct
spelling)it seems so long ago.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember the Burns Howff very clearly. I remember that as being the place to go
before the Apollo, though I also went to Lauders sometimes as it was so near. There
was a chippy in the Apollo building too, as I recall.
But it was doubly sad, as
not more than a couple of years after the Apollo was torn down, the same happened to
the Burns Howff. I remember seing a lot of live music upstairs there. Legend has it
that Alex Harvey first saw Teargas there, who went on to become his Sensational Band.
I went there for a sad but celebratory swally on the night we heard he died. I know
we murdered Gambling Bar Room Blues again that night.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember The Howff - I played there once in a band called 'Syntax' circa 1980. We
also played in the Dial Inn and The Muscular Arms, ( I think there were 6 people in
the audience that time LOL)We also played up in Strathclyde Uni students Union,
Never got to play in The Apollo though....
[reply] |
| | | |
| I had many a good night in Shadows. Do you remember the mid-summer Xmas parties?
There were decorations,suitable music and a bouncer dressed as Santa. All good
drunken fun!
[reply] |
| | | |
| In my youth the Howff and the Apollo always went hand in hand. Used to get in to the
Howff at 16 as I had hair down to my arse but had to sneak in my (older) mate through
the upstairs emergency fire exit door and hide him in the (disgusting) cludgie until
the bar man (Davey I think) shut it again. Then we'd settle down to watch Weeper,
Freebird, Chasar, Non Compos Mentis or Smokey Bears. Happy days indeed. As mentioned,
the Dial Inn, Lymburns, Amphora, the Venue, Fiesta, Listen and all these places were
the usual way of spending Friday nights and Saturdays.
[reply] |
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| Don't forget Listen music store.....
[reply] |
| | | |
| What about The Burns Howf & The Dial Inn
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi whereabouts was the Dial Inn again. It's driving me mad!!!
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| | | |
| "The Venue" sauchiehall street I think.I saw
heavy pettin and Dumpy's
Rusty Nuts there.
[reply] |
| | | |
| What about Maggies Sauchiehall Street, Bier Kellerand what was the name of the club
up one the hills off Sauchiehall Street where I coulnd't get into because I was too
young circa 1969?
[reply] |
| | | |
| Loved Maggies went there all the time in the 78
[reply] |
| | | |
| Loved Maggies went there all the time in 78
[reply] |
| | | |
| Bands I remember who played there - Otto Von Jock, Quins Snug
[reply] |
| | | |
| Great idea to setup the site guys! I found a link to it over at
www.thin-lizzy.net
The Apollo was just so central to me and my mates youth and
we saw loads of bands (and often several times), just off the top of my head:
Banshees, Police, Bowie, Stranglers, Jam, Lizzy, Quo, Tom Robinson, Blue Oyster Cult,
Elvis Costello, Cockney Rebel, Japan, Numan, Dire Straights, Queen, Bunnymen,
Boomtown Rats blah blah blah, sheesh I'd need to sit down and think about it. Anyway,
it was just THE BEST venue.
I've got a few tales which I'm gonna try find some
time to post a few up, in the meantime thanks again for the site guys - I've already
let a few mates know and I'm sure they'll make the odd post as
well!
Cheers
JB
:-)
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| | | |
| Went to the apollo in 84 for maiden. Loud!!
The balcony was always the best
because it always felt like it was gonna collapse at any second!!
Fantastic..it
would bounce!! Particularly bouncin at Maiden!! That gig just blew us
all away!!
Have to say I did, for my sins, see Wham with my mad
schoolfriends...long before the girls sussed out that dodgy george was bent!!
The screaming..no thanks!! They spent most of the gig shoving tennis balls
down their shorts and throwing them at the audience! Sad!!
Have to say,
I miss the atmosphere at the Apollo..the secc sucks!!
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| | | |
| I remember spending about 8 hours trying to get tickets for Abba (I had to take my
little sister) I remember waiting in the queue all day soaking up the atmosphere of
the foyer. Abba were great and at the end of the show they brought on a bunch of
local school kids to sing “I Have A Dream”. The band were all wearing Scotland strips.
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| | | |
| I remember going to see The Who 82 (ish) just after Moon died and Kenny Jones was on
drums. I even got on Scotland Today as they were filming the queues waiting for
tickets. The gig was great but a bouncer threw me out and I lost a front tooth. He
was telling me to get down off the back of the seat and I told him where to go.
Standing outside feeling sorry for myself a big bury l guy with a huge black beard
took pity on me and let me back in again....( in the stalls this time. I pushed my
way down to the front for the last 3 or 4 songs. When we came out I was waiting for
my friends and The Kids Are Alright was playing from a tannoy above the front door
out into the street. A nice gesture from The Who I thought.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I’ve read about Francis Rossi and his experiences of the Apollo cloisters....sort of
creepy stairways about two foot wide that went on forever up and around the building.
He talks about him and Rick going on an adventure exploring these things and getting
a bit freaked out by them. I remember a friend and I were lurking around one Saturday
morning and the place was open so we snuck in and spent a few hours there. We went
into the dressing rooms and saw the wallpaper featured on the Status Quo Live album
(oh I bought that on cd a few weeks ago great band....THEN).......We were playing Air
Guitar on the stage and sitting in the seats Shouting ....RUBBISH GET OFF.. to each
other. I don't know where the staff were but we had the run of the place all day. We
explored these cloister thingys and Francis Rossi was right it was a creepy kinda
thing. I f I remember right they went from the floor at the stage right up to the
high balcony. They were a bit rickety and you felt you would fall thru at any time. I
don't know what they were for but it was a spooky thing to experience.
[reply] |
| | | |
|
Oh I just remembered the bouncer who let me back into the Who gig was a guy
called Billy Gardner. I was working late one night about 1998 and the guy who's
machine I was repairing (one of these tar laying things) told me he was a bouncer at
the Apollo. When I told him about me losing a tooth and getting let back in again he
remembered and it seems it was him who let me in. A strange coincidence but I reckon
it was him alright. He told me of the time he was guarding Rod Stewart’s dressing
room and Rod passes him out a bottle of malt.
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| | | |
| Cool site by the way!Only went to the Apollo twice,but ill never forget it!!!
My
first gig 81,the number one rock n roll band in the land......Status Quo!The place
was rockin,we were in the stalls and ill tell you it was kindo scary,i thought the
balcony was gonna colapse!!!Superb atmosphere,i've followed the Quo every year
since,but no venue comes close to the Apollo!And that's a fact!
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| | | |
| That was my first gig too, Paula. I remember crapping myself cos I was right
under the balcony. What an introduction to rock n roll. The ringing in my
ears as we ran for the last train to Ardrossan, the fastest got the chips for the
journey. Soaking wet and freezing. Magic!!!!
Mo xx
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| | | |
| Hiya Mo,pleased to meet a fellow rocker!!So are you still into Quo?
Aye i remember
the ringing in my ears,it lasted for day's!!!!Ive been in a lot of venue's since but
no sound compare's to that of the Apollo.Sent shiver's down me spine!!!
So if that
was your first gig,how old was you?
Paula.
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| | | |
| Mr Hall & Mr Norwood.....ahem....I believe I was the one who had to pay with my own
flesh for the Whitesnake banner. It was a one off. A superb gig.
Many years later I had the pleasure of meeting Micky Moody (he kipped the night in my
flat after the downpour that was the Skye Folk Festival when he was playing with
Frankie Miller) and accompanied him and my then boyfriend in a transit van to his
house in London. As a thank you he gave me one of his legendary fedora hats. A
true gent. He remembered the banner on both nights! Cheers Trev, Noddy,
Beastie and Claire. Them was da days!!! x
[reply] |
| | | |
| Ah yes Mo,the things we did for rock and roll.I remember prostituting myself in a
similar fashion in order to see Rainbow in November 1977 as my then girlfriend had
bought me the ticket for my 18th birthday and it was a sellout.Had we no scruplesin
those days?
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| | | |
| And on the subject of Micky Moody.I was pretty successful with he fairer s e x in
those days. With my long dark hair and the Carlos Fandango moustache,I was a cross
between Micky Moody and Tony Iommi.Nowadays I'm a cross between Micky The Monkey and
Tony Bennett
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| | | |
| Somehow Mo I think David Coverdale would've approved! The ends justify the means and
as for you, Trevor, Mr.C himself said "You can call me a whore if you like but I
draw the line at prostitute!"
Slainte
Noddy
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| | | |
| Mo, I thought he gave you more than a fedora hat! Reading all these messages makes me
want to put on my black lycra troosers and my then padded bra and bang the old
head. I think I might!. All the best Mo, ClaireXXX
[reply] |
| | | |
| Many of you must remember this scam, how to get into the stalls without a stalls
ticket. It was easy, if you knew somebody with stalls tickets. Just send one person
back out to the main foyer with the stubs, and shiffle the rest in. Very useful if
you were at the back of the circle and wanted a good view. The bouncers never checked
seats if the audience were ouit of them, once the main show got going, unless it was
a sedate sit-down type of gig.
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| | | |
| Ha Ha! Ah the memories are coming back now. The amount of times we
managed to get down to the stalls.... If you had a ticket but it was up in the
nose-bleeders, you had to get down to the stalls to enjoy the show. Remember
the bouncers trying to get people to site down up there as it made the whole thing
move when everyone was jumping!
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| | | |
| Brian Peters. Thought we were the only ones to try your scam. Best result was Roxy
Music gig in 1974. Managed to get 6 people into 2 seats in the stalls. Thankfully
everyone was on their feet from the start so bouncers were otherwise occupied. If I
remember rightly, they used to hit you on the head or back with their torches if you
were caught standing on the seats.
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| | | |
| I went to see the late great Rory Gallagher in
the winter of '78 ("Photo
finish" tour, I think)and was enjoying the gig nearly as much as the
stupendously drunk girl standing/swaying next to me.
This poor girl took off her
shoes to dance and rather foolishly left them unattended.Two stoners in the row
behind noticed them and promptly threw them into the 2,000+ crowd JIST as the
bouncers noticed how pissed the girl was.
Being their usual helpful way they
grabbed the girl,minus her shoes, and "ushered" her outside into the
snow........
I've often wondered what became of
her.Frostbite?
Jim.
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| | | |
| It was always my ambition to get a box at the Apollo. I/We'd never got one before
'cos by the time we got the gang together to arrange money (no credit cards in those
days!) and someone to get from Ardrossan to Glasgow and queue up for them and we
always missed out on them.
The actual sequences of events are a bit hazy now (21
years ago-Christ!) but a couple of us must've been up to get tickets for another gig
(Ozzy?). The box office area was empty and as I waited for the wee wumman to serve
me, another stuck up a hand-written sign on the window " Whitesnake tickets on
sale today!" I asked the wumman if that was right enough. She said yes, they'd
just arrived in. So I tentatively asked, " what can I get?" and she replied
with those words I'd dreamed about for years, " What do you want?" " A
box?" " Aye son, fur how many?" I did a quick calculation (I
must have had some money on me at the time, possibly I still had some of the money
I'd got for my 18th birthday left) and I got tickets for the box for BOTH nights for
myself, my sister and our mates. I bounced back down Renfield Street in a daze, I'd
done it!! (See the tickets section on this site)
So the night of the gigs
(Dec.1982) arrived and we felt like royalty being escorted to our box. It was
brilliant, a great view of the crowd and waving away at some of our mates in the
stalls and, this being a Whitesnake gig, staring down the very exposed cleavages of
some of the Coverdale rock babes!!
Samson were good and we unfurled our banner in
the interval (see previous stories) and got a great cheer from the crowd. So far so
good!
So the 'Snake arrived and, as per usual, the Apollo went mental. We all
stood up and, **** me, the edge of the box only came up to my shins (cowboy boots!).
I nearly fell into the stalls and it was murder trying to keep my balance and 'get
down' to Whitesnake (headbanging was impossible due to the need to remain clear
headed and undizzied!) On top of that, we couldn't see half the stage due to the huge
speaker systems that bands had started putting down on the floor in front of the
stage. We only saw Micky Moody when he moved to the front of the stage for his
'Lovehunter 'solo. Not a success. ok, maybe the band gave us a bit more attention
(especially the second night when they realised it was the same idiots from the
previous night) with waves, thanks and thumbs up but really, Id've preferred to be
down in the stalls amongst all the action Some years later I got another chance to
grab the pick of the Apollo. My choice? 4th row, centre stalls. A lesson learned.
Still, you talk to guys at that gig and even band members and they still remember the
banner at the Apollo!
Slainte
Noddy
[reply] |
| | | |
| I also got a Box seat once (for Ozzy and the late Randy R) and got a great view right
across the stage. There were no speakers in our way. It was the best view possible,
but the comment about falling out sounds familiar. I remember sitting down or
standing well back from the edge most of the way. The stalls would have been quite
different, but I'm glad that I was out of my box in a box once.
[reply] |
| | | |
| We ended up invading a box at AC/DC on the For those about to rock tour. On the first
night one of my mates took a diabetic hypo and couldnae remember anything about the
gig, [just as well we were in the gods, I wis crappin myself for the full gig :)]. We
went in on the second night and bought standing tickets, which turned out to be
raffle tickets and in we went. We were right up the back of the stalls and decided it
was time for a wander and we ended up in a box on the left as you faced the stage.
There were about twelve of us leaping up and down protected from falling by an
eighteen inch wall at the front of the box. The thing I remember clearly is that
there was a guy wearing a snorkel parka, which was zipped all the way up, sitting in
the box when we arrived and he stayed like that for the full gig...maybe they'd just
let him oot for the night.
Does anyone remember which night the chunk of ceiling
fell onto the stage missing Brian Johnson by a couple of feet. I reckon it was the
first night, but, I could be wrong.
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| Spent many a top night in the old dump. My first gig was The Faces in 73', had to Q
most of the night for a ticket then turn up late for school in deep s**t but
happy!
I remember myself and my mate Kenny going down to the second night of a two
nighter in 77 I think it was, by 10CC, Kenny had been the night before and reckoned
they were a bit good, so we went down on spec the second night, after a bit of
hanging about the front door the then manager (I think his name was Tomasik ) let
some of us in for 50 soddin' pence !! result....we were led though to the rear of the
old place and up a corridor when we walk straight into Lol Creme and Kevin
Godley...somewhat taken aback we followed the bouncers who parked us at the back of
one of the boxes for the gig. Best view I ever had....for 50p.....top night.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Anyone else remember a night in I think '83 or '84 when Van Halen came on about 2
hours late, there was no support band and they were totally ******e ? A few
days later at the Loch Lomond Festival some arsehole DJ was about to play a Van Halen
song and said "I heard they brilliant a few days ago" or something liek
that.
Why is it that we all started to reminisce about the Apollo in our '40's
?
[reply] |
| | | |
| On the flip side of the Van Halen fiasco, I remember Rory Gallagher also showed up
about an hour late one night, but to make up for it he played about 3 hours. I missed
the end because my Dad was patientlyu waiting for me to drive me home.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Went for a father's day beer with the old man last night and told him about the
Apollo website. He reminded me that my first "gig" there was for my 7th
birthday to see The Wombles!! No, I don't have the ticket stub. Nor a programme. Nor
did I try to blag my way back stage for a coke and scotch session with Uncle
Bulgaria. Beat that....
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember being at a Hawkwind concert. but I can't remember what year (either 73, 74
or 75). The thing about that concert was that they didn't play Silver Machine and
there was going to be a "Rammy" until one of the bouncers told their
manager that ...unless they wanted to leave the building alive, then they had better
play the "Bloody Song" for an encore. I saw Alice Cooper in 1972 or 73 (it
was his only British gig) and I swear there was a girl, probably aged about 19 / 20
having sex with her boyfriend in the second row of the stalls while Alice was singing
"Elected". Great stuff. Keep up the good work.
[reply] |
| | | |
| hey mauro I was there too......... I think his plane was delayed by fog, or something
like that. The man was a genius, his style effortless and his regard for his fans
bottomless.......
much missed
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was definetely there too and we missed all the last buses. Rory was delayed in
either Belfast or Dublin for over an hour but he came on and played for three hours.
Absolutely magic!!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Why do we reminisce about the Apollo in our 40s?
Because it was a big part of our
lives in our teens. Everyone worth seeing played there. You could get a bit pissed,
smoke Embassy Regals and meet all you mates there.
Can't imagine my own kids will
have the same memories of Birmingham's horrendous NEC.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Totally agree with you Mauro,as i have just commented on the (Who played) regarding
Van Halen.
Dave Lee Roth came staggering onstage with a bottle of JD,and his
first words were "Hi England,how ya all doin,guys."
Back came a
storm of booing,and they then contrived to piss the crowd off by not knowing the
words to their songs,even outta tune with their fans.
I,m sure many of you
were also at the opening gig they played 2 years prior,with Black Sabbath,totally
amazing they were,what a let down next time around.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Is there anyone out there who was in the balcony for zz top in 83?..i think there was
about six or seven of us in total ..we all moved down to the stalls i beleive...great
night and for only £3.50 a ticket...heaven hell or glesca???...Robert Plant waved to
all and seemed to have a ball....ZZ where awesome to say the least...seen some great
bands and miss the place lots...the barras jist isnae the same...cheers for a
fantastic site...and where did the bbc documenmtary on the apollo dissapear to as
well??..i think it was Alvin Stardust that hosted the show...
[reply] |
| | | |
| IIRC, the balcony was pretty full for ZZ Top in '83.
I was in the 6th row,
taped the show (lost the tape many many moons ago).
I remember ZZ Top cracking
up when the crowd started chanting the bands name about halfway through, the was they
used to also chant Sam-my Sam-my every time Sammy Hagar played, usually in-between
every song, or at least it seemed that way.
Just bought the book off of
Amazon*xx*, should be here (Southern California) ina few
days.
[reply] |
| | | |
| By the way i never forgave Brian Robertson for the crap show with Motorhead in
83...mmm the worst show i ever saw...the best..Ac/Dc 82 both nights, first time i saw
Angus and co and i will never forget it...truly an awesome time was had by all..ah
the memories...hey Del Boy tell us some of yer stories...you know who you are.*xx*e
tell us a few....see ya..keep up the great work guys...
[reply] |
| | | |
| My first ever gig was at the Apollo - The Boomtown Rats on the 'Tonic For The Troops'
tour in 1978. I've still got the programme in with the album sleeve. I remember going
to see The Clash too, just over a week later, on 4th July. If memory serves they
started with 'I'm So Bored With The USA' (even more relevant 25 years on!). Suicide
suported them and had bottles thrown at them. Joe Strummer got asrrested after the
show for inciting a riot. I'm sure the show was filmed for the 'Rude Boy' movie
too.
Peter Smith
[reply] |
| | | |
| Glad to see someone who went to the same gigs as me in this forum! I was beggining to
think this was a forum for Old Head Bangers!!! Where are all you Punks out there?
I was at the Rats Gig too!I have been trying to remember if this was the gig that a
band called "The Coventry Specials" played at? They went on to be the Great
"Specials"
The Clash gig was Brill too! And yes! thats the Apollo where
the fight is in Rude Boy! Ah!What memories!
[reply] |
| | | |
| I saw a load of punk gigs at the Apollo, we used to run buses through from
Dunfermline. See my entry in ther bouncers thread for Clash and Stranglers gigs
[reply] |
| | | |
| A group of us, from the Howff and Amphora, were regulars at this trick. It is no
doubt mentioned elsewhere but briefly it involved buying one ticket going into the
foyer, the bouncers did not rip your ticket in half until you went into the main
hall, sneaking up the back stairs to the old cludge(which overlooked the lane down
the side of the hall) putting the ticket in a match box or fag packet(weighed down
with a couple of coins) and chucking the ticket back out to yer mates. All very
clever and like the best ideas simple.
Of course something was bound to go wrong.
One time I was waiting for my ticket to fly down and I noticed another guy waiting
for his mate to do the same. He had obviously never done this before but at least had
had the foresight to weigh the matchbox down with some coins, unfortunately he had
not removed the matches, the matchbox hit the ground with some force and burst into
flames. The guys face was a picture, I almost pissed myself laughing, in fact I am
almost pissing myself now just thinking about it.
There were other people who just
chucked out tickets, they got caught by a gust of wind and probably ended up in
George Square.
Sadly this got more difficult in the 80's as the bouncers got wise
to it and Big Wullie(now in charge of Rock Steady I believe) patrolled the bottom of
the'secret' staircase.
No problem for me I had my own private box by then but that
is another story.
[reply] |
| | | |
| That brings back memories . My mate and I used to share a lot of tickets this way. I
also remember waiting till near the start of a gig and then just walking through the
front door ticketless. A short wait in the main foyer and then I just walked down to
the main stalls. This tended only to work if it was a sell-out.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Seems like a lot of us used the ticket in a matchbox out the window trick. The only
tickets I paid for were for The Stranglers. Couldn't risk missing their gigs.
I remember long haired twin brothers who used to sell very convincing forged
tickets at the gigs too. I think they got busted
though.
AL,
Cincinnati, OH
[reply] |
| | | |
| I think nearly every Apollo regular tried this trick a couple of times. It was asort
of rite of passage. You never thought you'd get caught and in 10 years of Apollo
headbanging I never did. Same can't be said for my mate Stewart (have to think
carefully as most of these concerts were watched through a haze of McEwans Tartan or
Woodpecker Cider). I think it was Maiden in 82 and we had about 2 tickets for 4 or 5
of us. Up I go and take my turn at the window and eventually lob it out to Stewart
below. Unfortunately , due to the fear of getting caught, alcohol or just the smell
from the gents it was wheeched out with no sense of direction and landed slap on top
of the Radio clyde mobile. I watched him clamber up on to the roof and find it. In he
comes and takes his turn to launch it out the window. As soon as it's left his hands
he's huckled out the salubrious gents and back onto the street. What a riot. Can't
imagine having the bottle to do that now but we were 18/19 and didn't give a toss.
Nostalgia - wonderful.
[reply] |
| | | |
| hi , first of all just like to say this site rock,
the worse thing i remember was
the bouncers, iremember they dragged me and my mate into a lift, and gave us a
way over the top hiding, we were in bits, then they had the cheek to get the polis
in, and try to fit us up with slashuing some guy in the stalls, we were in the
balcony, never saw much of cockney rebel that night, best memory was quo in 76, i was
bricking myself cos that balcony was bouncing, and i thought it was gonny collapse,
then the weed kicked in.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember going to see Rush in 1978.During the afternoon my mates and I went to see
the roadies offloading the gear down the lane at the side.Often wondered how they
could manouvre the huge artics down such a narrow lane.Anyway we asked if we could
give them some help and to our surprise they said yes(before the days of Health And
Safety awareness).We helped trundle some of the huge cases up the ramp to the back of
the stage.Standing on stage looking out to the hall was some sight.I can only imagine
what it would be like with 3 thousand screaming fans.Anyway,as a thank you we were
given a special tour t-shirt with"CREW" on the back.I loved that shirt but
alas being the soft twat I am,I gave a lady friend of mine a loan of it as a
nightshirt,never for it to be returned.How many times have we been caught out that
way guys?
Trev
[reply] |
| | | |
| My previous post got me thinking.What momentos has anyone managed to get after being
thrown in to the crowd.Personally the nearest I got to acquiring anything at The
Apollo was a staved finger when Graham Oliver of Saxon threw a Gibson SG copy after
setting it on fire ala Hendrix.A kid of about 14 caught it.The bouncer told him to
hand it over.This huge bear of a biker and his mates told the bouncer where to go and
helped the kid at the end of the show to his bus home.
However in recent years at
the SECC(spit)I have shaken hands with Ian Gillan,Jon Lord and Steve Morse of Purple
and Paul Rodgers.
Steve Morse handed me a plectrum and this year I caught Ian
Paice's drumstick.
Trev
[reply] |
| | | |
| Nah never anything at the Apollo but my mates and me were pretty adept at stripping
the foyer bare of all the promo posters, cut outs and album sleeves. The best we
managed was a huge cardboard cut out cannon for the 1982 AC/DC gig (how did we hide
that and get it home, eh Mick?) and an equally large Quo cut out one for the same
year.
I did catch a Jethro Tull drum stick in mid flight but that was in
Livingston so it dosn't count (and I gave it away to a young girl who was with her
mum, it was worth the smile!) and as for lost t-shirts vs burds I lost a rare AC\DV
Fly on the Wall baseball shirt to my then burd but since that was Embra Playhouse it
doesn't count either!
Noddy
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi David and all
We have a stonking set of pixs of the foyer display at the
1978 AC/DC show. Now you see it now you don't. On the site soon!!
[reply] |
| | | |
| | | |
| A piece of polystyrene brick from a wall which Alex Harvey kicked his way through
during Vambo. It had Vambo Rules OK spray painted on it.
Also a football kicked
into the crowd by Rod Stewart during an encore of 'Stay with Me'. I gave it to my
then girlfriend who slept with it for months ( but sadly not with me!)
[reply] |
| | | |
| i remember that saxon gig well, i was down the front and the guitar nearly hit me on
the head, grabbed a bit of the neck but it was soon snatched from me. i got a bit of
jim riley(stiff little fingers)drum stick, long gone, as are all my ticket stubbs
which i foolishy binned in the late 80's, ironicly around the time i started keeping
all my other gig stubbs
[reply] |
| | | |
| Me and a friend (How are doing Jeremy?) bunked off school the day of a Thin Lizzy gig
and managed to get into their sound check, and see a jam session with a roadie on
bass. Two roadies spotted us but let us stay if we kept quiet. Managed to get Phil
Lynott's autograph and plectrum and met the band back at their hotel. I still have
almost all my ticket stubbs from gigs there. Sad git!!??
[reply] |
| | | |
| Thanks to Andy for creating this great site !.When I heard about it on Tom Mortons'
show the memories came flooding back. I practically lived in the place from 76 to
1980, and I've a load of stories to share. But for now here's a couple of hazy
memories to fill in some gaps.
Mink deville (Spanish Stroll fame) supported Dr
Feelgood their 77 gig. I've still got the "flyer" (remember them getting
handed out at Listen record store)
Jackson Browne played a gig around 76/77, I'm
searching for all my old ticket stubs for the date.
The Count Bishops supported Dr
Feelgood on one of their gigs.
There was a Stiff tour with Wreckless eric, larry
wallis, Nick Lowe (possibly Ian Dury) etc around 77. Anyone remember this ? I think
there was a second Stiff gig with Rachel Sweet and Lene Lovitch.
Can anyone
remember a band called the Yachts. I think they supported the Boomtown Rats or Thin
Lizzy. (somebody Irish anyway)
Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes supported
Graham Parker. They blew them off the stage with a brilliant version of
"Fever"
I think the Skids supported the Stranglers but I might be wrong
?
Anyway,enough for now. I'm still kicking myself 20 odd years on for having
another pint in the Amphora and missing Joy Division when they supported the
Buzzcocks !!!
[reply] |
| | | |
| I'm sure I was at the Lene Lovich gig - Oct/Nov 1979 I think. Will dig out my
collection of old tickets for clarification.
What about Iggy in March 1979
(supported by The Zones?) - same band lineup as on the Soldier album ie includes Glen
Matlock.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi,
Good times, good memories. I first went to Green's Playhouse on 22nd
November 1972 to see Slade who were supported by Suzi Quatro wearing colourful silks
not leather and Thin Lizzy. I fell in love with Phil Lynott that night. I
was in a box with a crowd of friends and it was the most exciting night of my life to
that point. Dave Hill had broken his leg and was all dolled up in a silver
glittery stookie! Well that was it, no stopping me now. I saw Rory
Gallagher while the venue was still Green's and then after it became the Apollo, I
was King Crimson, Manitas de Plata, Cat Stevens (my favourite gig), Uriah Heep, (what
a night, went to the after gig party at The Chip in the new function suite), 10cc,
Elvis Costello, Cado Belle, Poco, Simple Minds (when Kenny Hyslop was drumming),
Santana supported by Earth, Wind and Fire, Jethro Tull supported by Fanny and many,
many more. I'll have to look out my album with tickets to remember exactly who
else. I was extremely lucky to work during the hey day of the Apollo, firstly,
in Currie and Hall in Dumbarton and then in Fiesta Records in Sauchiehall Street and
we often got free tickets. The only problem was you had to stand at the back
often which necessitated looking cool when you really wanted to dance about. I
would love to hear other stories and wonder if anyone remembers Fiesta.
Jane
McLaren.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I kind of knew I would find your name somewhere on this site. My self and Ronnie
McGhie who were abject failures in our Highers went to night school in Elmbank
Street. After classes we would walk down Sauchiehall Street and look in the front
door of the Apollo to see who was playing that night. On several occasions we walked
right through the empty front of house because the main act had started and all the
bouncers and ticket girls were standing at the back of the stalls watching the gig.
I've had a rummage through the loft and found all my old ticket stubs and checking
them off against the list of gigs. What an anorak eh. Merry Christmas and are you
married yet?
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi Stuart,
Sorry I haven't replied to you but I was unable to get onto the
site until now (my fault, not being technical). We got married on 8th November,
2003 and still very happy.
Which gigs did you go to and which was your
favourite?
I don't think you are an anorak as I still have some of my tickets
stubs which are now filed in an album in date order next to my albums which are filed
in alphabetical order so, no, I don't think you are an anorak.
Hope all your
family are well.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi Jane I remember the Cat Stevens concert well. I had all his posters on my wall
etc... Can I just say a BIG thank you to Ian McPherson for taking me to that concert
om my birthday because I don't think I thanked him at all due to the fact that I
thought I was the bees knees all through the 70's hahah
[reply] |
| | | |
| Great site. My first ever Apollo gig was, unfortunately, The Wombles - can anyone
tell me which year that was? I remember feeling a bit too old to be there but
it was a Xmas pressie!
Other gigs I remember that don't seem to be on the list
are:
Ian Dury & the Blockheads supported by Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band
- 1979 I think?
Human League c.1982?
Was also at the last ever - Style
Council - the one and only time I ever managed to get into one of the boxes!
"Walls Come Tumbling Down" had great significance that night!
Jill
[reply] |
| | | |
| 1977 The summer of ...
An underage camping pissup holiday in Aviemore is cut short
, suddenly, as news reachs the farawaylands (via Sounds magazine !! Remember that) .
The mighty Yes are playing 3 nights at the Apollo in November . Tickets go on sale at
the end of the week and we have to get home urgently to queue overnight to secure the
best possible seats(Another great legacy of the Apollo days)
Tickets purchased
the great day(s) finally dawn and we have the first box on the right , 10 rows from
the front of the stalls, and the front row of the balcony for the 3 nights
.
In addition to the band being bloody marvellous(The Classic Yes line up)We
went down to the Albany Hotel in Finnieston (Anyone else remember hanging about there
at all hours to see bands )
Met the band , got all our albums and ticket stubs
signed and had a pint with Wakeman and Chris Squire(sigh the stuff of dreams
!!)
We walked on air for months after that and swore blind that Yes would be
our Favourite band for ever.
Noe going on 44 and still going to gigs although
nowhere is as good as the Apollo was in its heyday
Most recently The Strokes at
Braehaed with my daughter !!(A far cry from "Tales"
Anyway looking
forward to seeing the pensioners in action next year at The Armadillo
And if
your out there Nash and Morgy a big hi
[reply] |
| | | |
| On 16th December 1976 I took a girl called Eileen Murray to see my idol and her
dreamboat Rory Gallagher. The concert was outstanding and I was glad I had tickets
for the following night's show. Eileen couldn't make it and I decided to go late as
the support was rubbish. Making my way up West Nile St I decided to cut through the
lane where the stage door was and head for Lauders for pre concert pint. As I
walked through the lane a large estate car passed me and pulled up at the door. Who
should get out but the man himself with 'that guitar'. As nonchalant as I could
muster I said 'Great gig Rory, some of the same again tonight eh' 'Howya doin kid,
glad you liked it'he came back at me. He then let me get a close up of the guitar. I
made my thanks and headed for that now deperately needed pint to stop my hands
shaking. While I'm having it in came the man for his pre concert Guinness and spotted
me at the bar and again nodded to me while he enjoyed it. I couldn't wait to
get in touch with Eileen the next day and of course she didn't believe a word. I
never thought to ask for his autograph on her unused ticket which I still have. If
your out there Eileen, it happened, and you can have the ticket.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Does anyone out there remember when Led Zeppelin tickets @ Earls Court in May 1975
went on sale at the Apollo box office. If my memory serves me well it was a Sunday
morning and it was the first time I queued all night. Picture it, thousands of hairy,
denim clad Zepplin fans queuing down Renfield St, along Sauchiehall Street, up West
Nile St and back toward the Apollo along Renfrew St.and getting all sorts of pelters
from the disco crowd going home from their nights out in Clouds and the White
Elephant.
About 6 in the morning the queue started to move and we thought that the
tickets were on sale only to find ourselves passing the front of the queue at the Box
Office. Somebody had decided we were queuing in the wrong direction and moved us
round. The tickets finally went on sale early because there were more people in the
queue than tickets available. The subsequnt train trip to London was a who's who of
all those people we were used to seeing at the Apollo.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember queuing all night in March 84 for tickets to Quo's End of the Road Tour,
arriving at 10:15 (Marillion were on in the Apollo and Tony McCoy's Foghat were on
somewhere else in town that night).
When the doors opened in the morning they
issued the tickets as they came to hand and weren't giving the earliest punters the
best seats.
I got Row NN the first night and Row W the second night and I was
6th in the queue.
It didn't matter in the end though, we danced in the aisle
much further forward.
I wasn't a big Quo fan and only went because it was
their "final gigs". I subsequently went another dozen or so times after
that.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Above should've read Tony McPhee's Groundhogs not Tony McCoy's Foghat.....fog / dog
nearly there!
Casey
[reply] |
| | | |
| I rememebr the Apollo - from 1978 to 84 I saw loads of bands from Elvis Costello to
AC/DC.
I have a memory of seeing Motorhead probably in 1978 which I am begining to
think has been planted by an alien life-force.
Motorhead were supported by
Saxon (who had just broken through before this tour) As their act began the band
drifted on and started to build up the intro to the first song...
Then the lead
singer ran on with a Viking helemet on his head carrying a axe which he threw across
the stage - very dramatic but...
The axe chopped through the power lines and the
sound and lights disappeared...
As did the lead singer with the laughter of
hundreds of motor"head"s ringing in his ears
DOes anyone else
remember this gig?
[reply] |
| | | |
| About two months ago, I received an e-mail from an individual that informed me he
read my comments I had written up about an English artist, on one of the web pages
for that particular artist who happened to be Cliff Richard. That person was Scott
McArthur, whom I've never met yet feel as though I've known for years. Scott asked if
I would write about what I remembered about the concert, and directed me to his web
site. Scott; thank you for leading me to a place on the internet where I could share
what seemed to me, insignificant memories of one of the greatest events/times of my
life!
When I first arrived in Scotland, I sailed in on the USS Hunley into the
freezing waters of Holy Loch on a cold January day, 1982. A few days after first
pulling in, I experienced the hurricane force winds that blew over Dunoon and the
freezing rain that fell at an angle. It seemed as though shards of razors were
cutting away at my face, but nonetheless, no blood-no harm. That experience made me
wonder how I could ever have been put into such a predicament, and why on earth did I
get stuck here in the middle of Winter (?). A few days later, I took a ferry ride
from Dunoon into Greenock. From there, I caught a train into Glasgow.
One of
the first buildings that ever caught my attention was the Apollo. I took a walk over
to see exactly what kind of place this was. When I found out it was an
auditorium/concert hall, I knew I had to experience a live performance there one day.
It wasn't very long after arriving in Scotland (some time in April or May), that
somebody on the ship was trying to get rid of an Elton John ticket. I bought it
without reservation or hesitation. Unfortunately, one of my superiors in the Navy
refused me liberty that night, and I missed the show. "Why not try again
some other time?", I thought to myself. And so it was, that some time after the
misfortunes of Elton John, another act happened to be in town that I wanted to see. I
bought a ticket and went through the hassles of commuting from Sandbank, to Dunoon,
to Greenock, to Glasgow. As fate would have it, the band had broken up and the show
was cancelled. What ever happened to Haircut 100 (H100)? To this date, I never found
out why the band broke up. Somewhere in my house is a souvenir ticket floating
around, and from time-to-time, I get into one of those laid back moods and play
"Love Plus One." It's unfortunate that the group broke up, as I believed
they had great potential and talent.
The third time would be the charm. One
day, a few of my friends told me that Cliff Richard would be performing in December,
and asked if I wanted to go (?). What a dumb question; they knew Cliff Richard was my
favorite artist. It was like asking a drunk if they wanted a drink. Alas, the day
arrived and several of us (Americans and Scottish friends) went to see the show. I
couldn't believe that I was actually witnessing a live performance by someone I
thought I'd never see; I never knew that I would join the Navy and end up getting
stationed in Scotland. What impressed me the most, was that Cliff sounded better live
than he did on records/tapes; there were no CDs back in the day. His renditions of
"Thief In The Night" and "Son Of Thunder" and "Tomorrow
Never Comes" sent chills up my spine. What a performer and voice. Cliff-in my
humble opinion, you're the GREATEST! I wish you'd one day come to Seattle to
perform.
When Scott asked me to write about my memories of the Apollo, I never
in my wildest dreams thought it was about a venue that no longer existed. I don't
remember much about the details of the building 22 years later, but I do remember
thinking what a beautiful auditorium it was when I first walked in. I think about the
misfortunate times I had trying to get in, and the euphoria I experienced once I did
make it in. Even though the Apollo no longer exists, I know one thing will remain
constant; buildings can eventually come tumbling down, but memories will forever
remain indelible. Through out it's illustrious tenure, the Apollo provided us with
entertainment that will never be forgotten. In a way, I think of it as Glasgow's
"Edinburgh Music Castle." A building with so much musical history, I can
only hope will allow those after us to revisit and marvel at the iconic, rock legends
that played on her stage, via "Apollo Memories."
Thank you Scott
for leading me to your site and reminding me of the kindness/goodness that emanates
from the people of the U.K., thank you Apollo for the time of my life, thank you
"Bonnie Scotland" for all the music you've produced from your melodious,
musical womb (Rod Stewart, Del Amitri, Simple Minds, Sheena Easton, and so many
innumerable others), and thanks to my Scottish friends that taught us; Scotch is what
you drink-not a person from Scotland, Edinburgh is pronounced "borough"-not
"burg", and that we in America take so much for granted, and give so little
time to thank God for the small blessings in life!
[reply] |
| | | |
| I recall a Judas Priest concert where Rob Halford was sitting on the edge of the
stage with his feet dangling over the edge (I think it must have been while singing
the quiet part from Victim of Changes) when he connected with athe bouncers
head.
Another great memory was the Who concert in 1979 and Kenny Jones had
been drafted in to take over from the recently deceased Keith Moon. The band opened
up with Substitute and Daltry could not get a word in at the end of the song for the
sheer volume of the Apollo crowd singing We love you Kenny, oh yes we do
[reply] |
| | | |
| My lasting memory of the magnificent Apollo theatre was at an AC/DC concert around
1984ish. I was on the top circle ( the goads) and when they started to play for
those about to rock it was awesome with real cannon fire etc etc. Fellow rockers
began the old sitting down head-banging ritual and the whole f***ing balcony started
shaking and vibrating - visibly - very visibly.
I could see some half bricks
on the floor - why they were there is still a mystery to me - and they were bouncing
around like the contents of a
big titted rock chicks bra during a post concert
shagging session. I am,gladly, not a civil engineer, my chest not being hairy
enough, but I am an engineer and even I was ******ting myself. I did consider
leaving but realised that I might be thought of as soft c**t not wanting to end up
in a twisted pile of brick, worn carpet, metal, human remains and Brian Johnson's
400-fags-a-day voice ringing in what's left of my head.
Another lasting
memory was at an Ian Gillian concert when the base guitarist, a large baldy chump who
looked more like one of the bands
bouncers - in a fit of rocky-emulating-The Who
peak rammed is expensive base guitar into the stage. The base somewhat
unexpectedly went right
through the stage and the poor dullard had to struggle
for a bit to get it back out. One assumes wood rot/worm was at the heart of
this. The poor coot-bald chap lost all remnants of his rock credibility with
this unfortunate incident.
Ian Gillan was looking quite pensive for the rest of
the concert tiptoeing round like he was some kind of long haired fagot.
Memorable indeed.
When I heard that the old place had been torn down, I to be
honest was not terribly surprised and perhaps was for the best. I mean it was a
pretty grotty place really. Sticky carpets,flock wallpaper, toilets that
would not have been out of place in a run down part of Calcutta and a rotting
infrastructure which was lets face it was just plain dangerous. Mind you that
would have added to the atmos especially during a Dire Straits concert where I
actually fell asleep.
[reply] |
| | | |
| My best memory of the place was september 1983 and my first ever gig which was
meatloaf ,the big man cracked open a bottle of whisky and drank what seemed to be
half the bottle in one go and didn't even seem to be affected by it. Sometime later
in the gig he managed to haul a punter up onto the stage from the stalls. after he
allowed this guy to pluck the guitar strings he told him he had his turn and get off
the stage,the guy done this and feeling pleased with himself he went to the edge of
the stage looked over into the stalls turned and looked at meat pointed to stall meat
just nodded his head and next thing this guy swan dived off the stage and the next
thing was like the parting of the red sea except for one unfortunate guy who he
landed on. The diver was as we say in glasgow 'huckled out under the stage by several
bouncers and knowing the alleged reputation apollo bouncers had he probably got a
good kicking for his theatrics. Good luck with the site and i hope it goes from
strength to strength.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Ref Baldy on the Bass.I saw the band in Germany.
There was a photographer sitting
on the side of the stage,anyway,half way through the gig, our hero
decides to take
offence to the presence of the snapper and takes a swipe at his camera,mid
song.
Of course he misses from two inches,wearing US cop sunglasses indoors didn't
help.The photographer ,rightly took umbrage at the threat to his expensive kit and
grabbed the head of the Bass,cue both of them disappearing stage left, hilarious,but
what a walloper he must be.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I have so many memories-went to Apollo regularly 1978-end.First gig 10cc(I was
12).Best gig-Rolling Stones 1982.Warmest memory-Neil Murray from Whitesnake SENDING
me and my 2 pals David Coverdale's autograph thru the post after the gig 1982 cos
David was too cool to talk to 2 wee lassies waiting for him before the gig.Neil
Murray ,Ian Pace and Micky Moody werent too cool to talk to us tho! Thanks Neil!
[reply] |
| | | |
| As well as attending quiet a few 'gigs' (I feel old using the word--I've added the
only entry to Billy Squier),I also remember The Penthouse as a disco and band
venue.Went to some 21st parties there and the lift never inspired
confidence.
I went to school in the city centre and we used to hang around the
foyer as they had early versions of 'space invaders' and 'asteriods'there.
[reply] |
| | | |
| well this just an example of how stupid i was when i was 16 (maybe i still am). i
went to see the stranglers about feb 83 and it was freezing outside, rain and snow
and wind and rain and snow etc. during the show i got a bit excited and threw my
jacket onstage, of course at the end of the gig i went outside to the previously
mentioned weather. i had to plead with the bouncers to get back inside saying i'd
'lost' my jacket. thankfully the roadies were still clearing up and my jacket was
still onstage. felt like a right idiot. got backstage for hazel o'connor too and all
i can remember was her talking about dogs farting! and one time being a 'roadie' for
stiff little fingers and getting a free badge and programme for my trouble. i'd
dogged school that day and stole a block of cheese from my mum's fridge and thats all
i ate the whole day. ive got lots more personal, uninteresting to anyone but myself
stories but i'll save them and hopefully rememebr some more. i loved the apollo and
have frequently talked about it over the years. this site is great as most of my old,
lost ticket stubbs are available to see. great stuff.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was regular at the Apollo from 1976 until it closed down. Memories are too many to
mention here but the highlights were....first gig in '76 Deep Purple playing
apparently 2 decibels below the point of pain and EH officers lined up all the way
down the street to monitor the noise levels....Rick Wakeman coming back on stage
after a fourth encore and explaining they hadn't rehearsed any more songs, so
"what would you like us to play again?"....Rush's first gig, playing to
half empty hall, most of whom were only there due to Geoff Barton's amazing reviews
in "Sounds". After the initial shock of Geddy Lee's voice they blew me
away.....'Bethnall', the worst support act ever....waiting for Rory Gallagher to
appear at 9pm only to be told he was still in Ireland. We waited unti he arrived and
I heard the greatest live guitar work ever. I had to walk the 8 miles home in a wet
t-shirt in the snow at 1.30am....Going to see Tangerine Dream on the same night as a
punk concert ( ******ed or Clash?) at the theatre across the street. Interesting mix
of fans but no trouble. I had blood on my knee by the end of the show from constantly
rubbing against the seat in front in time to the endless rhythm....Phil Lynott
speechless as the chants of "Lizzy, Lizzy" took over during a pause in the
Thin Lizzy set....it almost brings a tear tae yer ee'. I miss that place so much.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Beat this for a great memory
I was walking up to the Apollo with my girlfriend
(now my adoring wife)to hang out at the Apollo for a while as I hadn't been able to
afford tickets for Rush that night.
All of a sudden we noticed £15 on the
ground and despite attempts (half hearted)to find the true owner we decided to keep
it. We wandered into the box office area discussing how to spend the money (Alice
Cooper record and something for Sheena from Virgo - remember Virgo ladies) when we
saw a sign saying that there were still tickets left. Turned out that the Sunday Mail
Competition winners had not taken up their prize of four tickets.
£7 later (2
x £3.50 tickets) and we were sitting in Burger round the back of the Apollo
celebrating by having fish teas.
Back in the Apollo with a programme we
enjoyed Max Webster and left the box at the end of their set to go to the toilet. The
bouncer would not let us down the stairs and as were asking why not (politely) Max
webster came out of a side door in front of us. They presumably thought we were fans
trying to get round the security and were so chuffed they asked us to help carry
their guitars backstage - how could we refuse... Unfortunately my million questions
about Rush and how great it must be to be supporting them gave the game away and they
politely declined our offer of joining in the post gig party instead giving us two
very nice badges (gold plated I later discovered)and asking us to return to our
seats.
Back at the box it was great to fans waving up to us every now and
then. I had never won the Sunday Mail competition myself in the past despite many
attempts and thought it was an honour to get in there. We waved back like royalty.
(punched fists in the air)
Rush were brilliant, sound was great and the
audience reaction was fantastic although I do recall wishing that I was down in the
stalls for the real action.
A fantastic night and still change in the pocket
after we had paid the bus fare home as well.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Mary mcCulloch,I was at the Appollo quite frequently,frpm the early 70's till it
closed,the best concert's I ever saw were David Bowie,T.Rex(I.m giving away my age
here!)Gary Newman,Rod Stewart(saw the New Year in with him in in 70something)he threw
flowers & footballs out to the tune of Auld Lang Syne,Status Quo, Bryan Ferry,Went
round to hotel Marc Bolan was stayng in 3 weeks before he died(r.i.p)saw him come off
tour bus &he kissed my hand nearly fainted!Another time Bowie was coming out Stage
Door into his car,I &loads of others were all round the car just saw him through the
window, I was convinced he smiled at me!My Mum &Dad used to dread me going out to a
concert,wondering what I would try next!The good old days!Still go to see Bowie
whenever poss as I am A big fan of his.
[reply] |
| | | |
| My one visit to the Apollo was to see the Shadows. Hank Marvin's opening comment on
arriving at the microphone was "God it's perishing in here!". The building
was always damp. Later on I was in the Apollo on a number of occasions, after it had
closed making a film (on super8) about the Apollo. We interviewed a number of people
including Willie Potts, Valerie Paul, Christine Oliver, Jan Tomasik and Yvonne
Sambucci. I dug the film out recently and have got the bug to make a new version on
video. If any of the above people would like to get in touch I would be delighted (I
would also give them a copy of the original super8 version copied onto vhs). If
anyone else reading this has a story they would like to relate in an interview, I
would be happy to hear from you,
Bill Gourlay
[reply] |
| | | |
| LET US HAVE A BURNS HOWFF PAGE AS IT WASE A GRATE VENU FOR GIGS
[reply] |
| | | |
| Good Idea,
I remember it being a bit of a Hippy
Place.I was 17 and into Punk but was accepted in there! I went every Sunday night on
my way to Cumbernauld where i was serving an apprenticeship with the S.S.E.B.Seen
some good act's and got wrecked into the bargain!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Thomas, the Howff was basically my local for years. I was there nearly every
night before I moved out of house and home set up elsewhere. My binding
memories of the place were the bouncers on the door, BIG PAUL and wee
Henry. If you remember, Paul was HUGE with glasses that had pint bottoms for
lenses. Wee Henry also wore glasses but if you seen him take them off, you legged it
as he was just about to sort someone out.
John Waterson, who owned the pub had
a policy about the beer, NOTHING GOES TO WASTE. Hence 1/2 a pint of slops under
the counter and your pint being poured before you got to the bar. One way round
that was I used to have a screwtop first off and then watch the subsequent pints
being with intense scrutiny.
Yes, the Howff brings back many fond
memories. Pat and I would do the walkabout every Saturday night.
Howff/Nicky Tams/Amphora/Howff and then to Townhead for the crash!
Some
crackin bands upstairs too. BITE THE PILLOW and especially UNDERHAND JONES who
did a cracking song called the `SOLDIERS SONG`. Nothing sectarianism about at
all and it was a belter. They soon learned to save it till last to keep the
punters there.
Some mates that come to mind are Joe/Pat/Steve Austin, Big
Cass, Big Wullie, daft Andy Broon and more that I will remember later. Yes,
lets have a Howff forum, you know it makes sense!!
Alex
[reply] |
| | | |
| Ah the Howff - remember your feet sticking to the carpet (soaked as it was in
delicious lager slops)! And what about the video movies being shown for free in the
early 1980s during the day, especially the hardcore porn (by mistake of course) -I
never saw the barstaff move so quickly to get to the STOP button under the
counter!!
Back to the Apollo memories - I remember several occasions when me and
my pals paid the bouncer to get in (usually £1.50ish), Steve Hackett in 1978 and
Peter Gabriel in 1980 and the princely sum of 50p for Genesis in Feb 1973 - OK it was
the Greens at that point in time.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Having 'Heedbanged'' to over 100 gigs i have a lot of different memories of our
'spiritual home', Glasgow Apollo. In those days we lived from gig to gig,
anticipation,excitement of getting to the booking office,queuing,purchasing the
ticket, it was like buying the winning lottery ticket in those days!
It was, and
always will be, the best Rock n'Roll times of my life. I joined bands and gigged
round Glasgow. It was always a dream though to get on stage at the Apollo, Hear the
crowds,smell the patchouli oil, lose myself from reality of normal life for one
glorious night.!
This for me sadly did not happen whilst the Apollo was a 'going
concern'. The news of the closure was devastating. No more memorable nights in the
stalls, the dream of making it on stage evaporated. At this time i had swapped my
Thin Lizzy t-shirt, ripped denims and trainers for a 'wide awake suit', matching
shirt and tie plus smart brogues. I was working in central Glasgow the day the
diggers moved in. I remember one sunny lunch break walking up Renfield street
standing outside just looking up. The diggers had just stopped plouging into the
front of the ''old shrine'', dust was settling, the guys had broken for lunch.
Looking down the side alley where the trucks used to squeeze in and the gear
offloaded i noticed some workmen coming out the old stage doors, ''Gi us a len o''
yer hard hat mate, i need to get on stage just once before it's no longer'', one
chappie obliged and i slowly walked through those hallowed stage doors into the dust
filled corridor and round onto a brightly lit stage. Not as i knew it with coloured
spotlights but large bright workman's arc lamps, irreverent somehow, looking down
menacingly as if to say 'the final curtain is about to fall'', still i was there at
last,
''ÓN STAGE AT THE GLASGOW APOLLO''! Maybe not how i had dreamt all those
years ago, this moment seemed quiet as i looked further out into the gloom. For that
split second though i could imagine how big Phil Lynott felt flashing his fender bass
plate into the eys of adoring fans, '' Is there anybody out there, let me know if you
are out there''..?!
A moment in time but i had made it, the next day it was
gone.
"'THE APOLLO IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE APOLLO''
Alan
Baxter
(Formally from Paisley now living in The Netherlands)
email baxter.clan@planet.nl
[reply] |
| | | |
| Fantastic story, I felt as though I was reading something that I had just written
myself,'cept I managed to get into the building just before the diggers went to work,
and got on the stage and I'm a Thin Lizzy fan. well written Alan, it just brings it
all back.
all the best for '05
Tam.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember staggering up Renfield St one Friday night. They'd just knocked the front
down. I figured if I climbed up over the rubble, I'd get past and into the main part.
I got as far as an entrance of sorts, and fell down a hole! Must have been only 4
feet or so, but I lay there in a daze and unfortunately there seemed to be only one
way out, which was the way I'd fallen in... so near and yet so far. I Live down south
now, and the "famous Hammersmith Odeon" of "Apollo" as it's
called now just hasn't got the atmosphere. DEFINATELY a crowd thing. They SIT down to
watch the band????!!!!
Cheers!
John
[reply] |
| | | |
| I have great memoirs of the Apollo!One in particular! It was 1970 something,I think
74or 75,anyway the Great Man himself David Bowie was doing 5 nights,the night I was
there (after queing overnight for a ticket)after the concert I went round to the side
door and lo and behold!big bus waiting,car waiting for himto come out,managed to get
right next to the car and Bowie comes out,gives everyone a wave and then some guy
behind me pushed me and my face was right up to the car window!feeling rather
dizzy,saw Bowie in car with only glass between us!Thank You whoever you were who
pushed me so you could get a better view!I got the best!Ther will never be another
venue like it.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Love the website!great memories,esp to the guy who was at the David Bowie concert in
75or76?went round to side door the Great Man himself came out to get into a car,I was
leaning on the car,some guy behind me pushed me down I had my face against the window
then Bowie got into the car with just the glass between us sheer heaven!So thanks to
the guy who pushed me I had a better view than him!
[reply] |
| | | |
| I seem to remember when the Apollo eventually did shut down it was Christian that
played the last night but it was the Stranglers who were the last real act to
play?
I remember the stage getting invaded and the Stranglers still playing! A
great night was had by all! I think the bouncers had given up by then as their P45's
were in the Post!
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was in the school choir that backed abba in "I have a dream" we had a
fantastic time and my greatest memory was being terrified of having to walk along the
gangway onto the stage and being so high up
[reply] |
| | | |
| See when you think about it,nothing ever matched the excitement or build up of going
to the Apollo.
First up,we,d pop into the Burn,s Howff for a few bevvies,watch
some brilliant local bands such as Chasar (I still have a cassette of their BBC Radio
1 show)Anaconda,The Henry Gorman Band,and so on.
Then it was off to the
show,and then off into the night.
Iv,e been to see the Cream at their farewell
show,Albert Hall,Earl,s Court for Zeppelin,3 days at a gig in Weeley,somewhere in
England,Roundhay for the Stones,Newcastle for Bruce Springsteen,but none of them will
ever match the Apollo,keep on rocking in the free world.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Some of the best nights in my life were spent here (71 onwards)from it was Greens
through to the Apollo and even in its later days when used again as a cinema.
Even went to the dancing upstairs a couple of times with my now wife. Saw Bowie
in January 73 immediately after buying a Cat Stevens album. Must have looked
pretty strange going in with that under my arm. Lots of comments about the
stage but pretty funny when you heard people boast about getting tickets in the first
rows to see their favourites. They wouldn't of course see a thing because of
the height of the stage. One mate went along to see Golden Earing, the Dutch
group, and the only thing he saw was when their drummer leaped into the air and over
his drum kit. Even now I check stage heights before buying tickets for new
venues.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I don't know if I should be bringing this up here as this is a site for The Apollo
but the reason I logged in today was that I was thinking about The Loch Lomond Rock
Festival on 26th and 27th May, 1979. I was trying to remember who played at it
and I can only come up with The Jam, The Average White Band and The Tourists. I
think Gary Moore played as well but I really can't remember anyone else. Can
anyone help?
Also, been looking at other contributions on the site and other
pub venues which have been mentioned and the bands who played there. Does
anyone remember Chou Pahrot, The Motels, Chico, Cropper, H2o, Giro who became Root 2
and Albania? Would love to hear from anyone who remembers those days of The
Howff, The Maggie, The Dial Inn and The Amphora, not to mention Saints and Sinners -
oh, happy days.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I saw Chou Pahrot being bottled off the stage by heavy metal fans at Kelvingrove. I
think the guitarist in a dress upset them.
I have not seen Cliff Hanley of the
Motels in some time but I gather he still visits Glasgow Occassionally.
Tim
the bass player in Chico still plays every other Tuesday night as part of the State
bar Blues band along with Alistair ex of the Bears.
Ian Donaldson of H20 and
Mick McNeil ex Simple Minds are in A few good men who played the Oran Mor
recently.
Was there a Jackson in Cropper. I've forgotten his first name
but if it is the guy I'm thinking about he was last heard running a studio in
Europe.
Two members of Albania Dusty and ? toured as part of Jim Wilkie's
Electric Ceilidh band. One of them went out with a Belle Star.
You've got me
on Giro/Root 2.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I'm sure I remember seeing ChouPahrot playing at the Howff some time in early 1977.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Laurie, the Chou played the Howff on many a night, not too badly either.
Another favourite was Tiger. I can also remember beoing in there one Friday
afternoon when a porn video suddenly appeared on the TV in the corner, good fun
watching the staff trying to switch. I used to speak with a Laurie in the
Howff, she had long hair and was in there most weekends with her mate, not you, is
it??
Alex
[reply] |
| | | |
| | | |
| Hi Jane
I remember those days well!! My ex was in 2 bands that used to play in
Maggies's/Bier Keller/ Howff circa early to mid 70's. They were called Otto Von Jock
and Quin's Snug (why? Don't ask!!).Our drummer was in McCormicks's music shop one
Saturday (Hi John McCormick how's it goin?)when who should walk in but Ian Anderson
and fellow bandmate from Tull. Our cheeky chappie drummer walked up to them and said
'Hi,Ian do you want MY autograph- result was he got an audition and played a few
times with Tull,RESULT.
ME? I ran up to McCormick's and missed them.
Thankyou,thank you lads/lassie's for this great site!!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Sorry about a wee bit of 'name dropping' here but it's vital to the story. Mid to
late 70's I guess, and I'm in the Albany hotel with Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi in
the middle of the afternoon. Rick and Francis decide to call the limo as they want to
go to the Apollo for a soundcheck. I am invited along.
We go down in the
elevator to the foyer and as soon as the lift door opens a crowd of Quo fans rush in
from the car park into the hotel and totally mob us. I squeeze my way out of the
crowd and let everybody get on with their autograph hunting. I have to point out that
I was a bit of a Rick Parfitt dress-a-like then. This girl who I remember had a
plaster cast on her arm came over to me and asked me for my autograph. She seemed
rather disappointed when I told her that I was in fact 'nobody'. I did however get
Rick and Francis to sign something for her.
The three of us eventually made it
to the limo and we took of down Bothwell Street. We were all in the back seat,I was
sitting behind the driver, Rick was in the middle and Francis was behind the
passenger seat. I told them my story about the girl in the Albany and Rick said to
me, "If somebody wants your autograph, then give them it. I remember when I
wasn't famous".
A minute or two later we're sitting at a set of traffic
lights in the town somewhere, when there's a knock on the window on my side. I put
the window down and a guy on a motorbike hands in his crash helmet and a felt pen and
says "Gonnae autograph my helmet guys". I take it and pass it to Francis,
he signs it and passes it to Rick. Just then the lights change and the driver takes
off. The boy on the motorbike chases us along the road as we've still got his helmet.
Rick passes it to me and says "Here you go, autograph it". I did, and I
wrote something like Tommy Adams, In The Limo on it. At the next set of lights I gave
him it back.
I've always wondered about that moment and can just picture this
bloke showing his friends his autographed helmet and them asking "Who the hell
is Tommy Adams?"
[reply] |
| | | |
| Great story Tommy, I wonder if that was the "Rockin all over thw world
tour" Because I met Rick in the bar at the Albany then and I got his autograph
which made me a very popular guy in Bothwell at that time.I also got the autographs
of the guys in British Lions, who were really Mott the Hoople without Ian
Hunter.
the Quo gigs were always magic and I suppose when you are in your teens
everything seems more exciting. The apollo will never be replaced by the SECC and I
have still to see a band at the Carling Academy.( nothing worth going to these days)
[reply] |
| | | |
| the SAHB xmas gigs; friday 19th December 1975.what a night to remember seeing one of
the greatest bands ever & taking my girlfriend out on our first date! what a memory .
i write this note after just celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary. thank u to the
SAHBS, the great Glasgow Apollo & my wife Anne Marie. look forward to the sahbs xmas
gig in Dec.
[reply] |
| | | |
| remember that bouncing balcony? there was one gig i recall where the stage appeared
to bounce as much. it was on thursday the 1st of May 1975 when 'heavy weights'(quite
literally) Bachman Turner Overdrive played. the stage literally moved up & down as
this band jumped around the stage! what a great gig ( does any one remember the
support act that night a little known band named Thin Lizzy with Brian
Robertson & Scott Gorham on guitars.
[reply] |
| | | |
| My friend was home from Australia recently and we were talking about the time we saw
The Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Green's Playhouse in November(?) 1966. Noel
Redding and Mitch Mitchell came and sat beside us in some empty seats to watch the
Pink Floyd who were also on the bill. I think the tickets were 6/11d !
[reply] |
| | | |
| Re. Hendrix, I think I put the wrong year, it should be 1967. It was a very
cold night, so I think it was November or December.
ASR
[reply] |
| | | |
| Oh happy days…………First gig, Rory Gallagher, 9th of April 1978. Wasn’t really a fan
but desperate to go to a gig at the Famous Glasgow Apollo!!!!. Next, Blue Oyster
Cult. This one I did want to go to. The first band to use Lasers on stage I think.
The image of the lead singer Eric Bloom standing center stage firing a laser beam
from his wrist remains as vivid in my memory today as if it was
yesterday…..Awesome.
I must have seen over 30 bands between ’78 and ’85. Some,
so, so, but most were outstanding. Fell asleep during Camel…..I think that was my
fault and not the bands As previously mentioned, how many people drank in
the “Howff” before a gig? I had been drinking in there for about 2 months before I
was 18!!!!Quite a feat as I had unnaturally young features in those days ;o) The
irony of it being…….Genesis were playing on my 18th birthday April 28th 1980…..Joy of
Joys. So of I popped for my first “Legal” drink in the Howff, passport in hand due to
the afore mentioned youthful good looks…..”Where do YOU think you’re going?” enquired
the doorman. “I’m coming in for a drink” says I. ”No you’re not, you’re too young,
now F**k Off”. “Ha, Got him” thought I, And I proceeded to thrust my passport in his
face……….Gotcha!!!!!
“It’s over 21 in here, now F**K OFF”…..Life can be so cruel,
lol
Anyway the gig was brilliant, apart from having to share my seat with a guy
from work who had gotten in using the old “Toilet Window” trick.
I could probably
go on all day about that place………How disappointing was having to sit amongst the
“Great Unwashed” in the Playhouse? Apart from the Barrowlands, I have never been in
an audience quite like “The Apollo’s”
The King is dead, Long live The King
[reply] |
| | | |
| My first gig was seeing Slade at the Greens in June 73. I was still at school. From
memory this was the final gig at the Greens before it was closed and converted into
the Apollo, please correct this if I'm talking rubbish (it was a long time ago).
Anyway the support band was the SAHB. Alex caused a storm by insisting that if the
audience didn't f*****g shut up, he would stay on stage all night (bedlam). My seat
that night was in the stalls, just under the balcony, probably the scariest place in
the world for a first gig with a band like Slade. I swear to god I thought the whole
thing was gonna come down on my head. Everyone was standing on the arms of the
chairs, many of which got wrecked in the process. Anyway, after that I was hooked on
concerts and still go to this day, but I'll never forget my one and only visit to the
Greens.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Does anyone remember talk of opening the Apollo stage for band rehearsals? It never
happened unfortunately. The reason I was told was that the Musicians Union wouldn't
allow it because it was exploiting the bands because they wouldn't be paid. I'd have
given anything to play on that stage and I never joined the MU because of that
decision! Wonder if it's fact...!
Cheers!
John
[reply] |
| | | |
| my first gig was golden earring in 74.during the drum solo on radar love the drummer
leaped over his kit,landed on his knees and slid right off the stage,managed to get
back up and carried on with the solo.my first of many gigs over the years.
[reply] |
| | | |
| My first gig ever was in the Apollo. Living in Northern Ireland in the early 80’s
there wasn’t much by way of venues or gigs. Too many bands were too scared to play! 5
of us got tickets for AC/DC and Y&T, 8th October 1982. I remember setting out
from home about 5.30, a bitterly cold morning, but the excitement of what was in
store that evening kept me from thinking about it too much as I biked my way to the
ferry port in Larne. I met up with the others there and it was non-stop AC/DC talk
all the way across and on the train from Stranraer to Glasgow. We rolled into Glasgow
Central around 1.30 and one of the guys who’d been to Glasgow before led us down to
Oddbin’s to stock up on ‘refreshments’! We were staying at the old Atlantic House on
Argyle St (anyone else remember it?) and our excitement levels dictated that we dump
our gear and get over to Renfield St as fast as we could. Walking up the street
we were all looking out for our first glimpse of the Apollo and when it finally came
into view we were all a bit awe-struck. This was the famous Glasgow Apollo and here
we were, 5 kids from Coleraine, right in front of it! We just stood on the opposite
side of the street and stared for a while before noticing that there was something
going on in the lane beside the theatre. 4 artics from Trans Am Trucking were parked
end to end and some roadies were offloading the gear. We watched for few minutes
hoping maybe some of the band would appear but it didn’t happen. Then, suddenly, we
realised we were alone with a huge flight case with ’Hells Bell’ stencilled on the
sides. My mate Davy lifted the lid but it was empty, so we took the opportunity
instead to sign our names inside the case! I often wonder if they still use that
case, and if so, are our ‘tags’ still there? Would be nice to think so. We spent the
rest of the afternoon wandering around all the different record stores (Listen would
become a big favourite of ours!) on Renfield St before heading back to the Apollo
about 6.30. This time the place was heaving. Traffic could barely move and there were
Angus look-alikes everywhere we looked! Just amazing! When we got inside we made a
dash for the t-shirts and programmes, then we just stood at the bottom of the stairs,
‘people-watching’! We were ahead of our time too as I don’t think that phrase had
even been coined then! Two of us had stalls tickets and two others were in the
circle. Me? I was getting a baptism of fire! First gig ever and I’m going to see ACDC
from the world’s most famous balcony! So we split up and headed inside looking for
our seats. When I came out of the stairwell and saw the arena for the first time I
knew I was in a really special place, and I also knew that I was going to be back
here again, and I’d be bringing more mates with me to experience it! Seat E7 Upper
Circle was quickly found and I chatted for a few minutes with the guy beside me
before the lights went down and Y&T opened with ‘Forever’ if memory serves me right.
From this point on I was in rock’n’roll heaven for about the next 3 hours. I can
remember the sound being crystal clear, just like listening to the record, Dave
Meniketti and Joey Alves playing each others guitars as they blasted their way
through most of the Earthshaker and Black Tiger albums. The atmosphere was almost
drug-like, so easy to get hooked on, a rush that you didn’t want to end! DC came on
with the bell being lowered down to the stage and BJ clobbering it with a huge
hammer. Angus duck-walked all over the amps, the stage and anything else that got in
his way. He mooned us once during a solo, disappeared into the crowd on someone’s
shoulders and left us all gagging for more. The balcony bounced for all it was worth
and I loved every second of it! I think they played 3 encores that night. It wasn’t
enough. I could have stayed in the Apollo all night if somebody had played for me but
it didn’t happen. We had to leave in a mixed state of disappointment that it was over
but joy that we had been there! My thoughts were already turning to when my next trip
would be. I was heading back home the next day because of work while the other
guys were staying for the second night’s show. That annoyed me a little but I was on
a mission now. This was just the start of it. The next night I was at our local rock
pub, resplendent in ACDC Tour ‘82 t-shirt and getting bombarded with questions about
the gig and more about the Apollo! Is it as good as they say? Are the Glasgow crowds
really bonkers? Go see for yourself I told them, and some of them did. Some returned
with me on 19/3/1983 for Thin Lizzy/Mama’s Boys, even more came for Iron Maiden’s
World Piece Tour show with Grand Prix on 12/5/1983. Then it was the turn of
Dio/Waysted on 12/11/1983, Scorpions/Mama’s Boys on 27/1/1984 before ending with
Kiss/Bon Jovi on 6/10/1984. This was Kiss’s first tour without the makeup and we went
up to the theatre that afternoon to find the front doors open and unmanned. We went
up the steps to the circle and came out just to the right of the mixing desk. Some
roadies were onstage tuning guitars and stuff but the most interesting thing was a
tall guy in a long brown leather trench coat standing by the mixing desk. My mate
said it was Gene Simmons but we disagreed and convinced him he was wrong before
leaving in case someone decided to throw us out. Well, guess who came onstage that
night toting an axe-shaped bass guitar?? Yep! The guy in the brown leather trench
coat . . . Mr Gene Simmons!! Talk about missed opportunities!!
Istill go back to
Glasgow for gigs in Barrowlands and the SECC but it’s not the same . Going past the
old Apollo site gives me a weird feeling, I always expect it to still be there. The
ghosts of all those past gigs are still there, they’ll never go away. I have all my
tickets to remind me of those days and I’ve just finished reading the Apollo Memories
book. It brought the odd tear to my eye and a host of memories came flooding bac
[reply] |
| | | |
| I read recently bernie torme of the gillan band was talking about ians uncle john
used to go backstage and drink all the booze. Me and some friends were at the back
entrance to the apollo, waiting for the band to arrive. There was this wee man there,
we asked him who he was. He said he was ian gillans uncle, we said. aye right so the
limo pulls up ian gillan gets out. I asked for an autograph ian said in a second.
uncle john he shouts and hugs the wee man. can of beer to wash down my foot.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was taken by my next door neighbour (and best friend at the time) and his Dad to
see Slade when I was 6/7 years old (1973/74). I spent the whole time looking to the
back of the stalls for the cameras, since I just thought I was at the filming of
"Top of The Pops". I was off school the next day with earache!!
Next
time I went back I was on my own as a 14 year old to see Madness just as they were
releasing their third LP. Being on my own was no problem as I just spent the whole
time bouncing down the front of the stalls with everyone else. I also saw UB40 three
times between 1982/83 and by then had worked out the "wait in the lane after the
gig" trick. Hundreds of us were let back through to the stalls where the whole
group sat in the seats in the front rows chatting for ages to all of the fans -
brilliant guys indeed. I remember waiting in the line of fans, politely controlled by
the infamous bouncers, wondering what on earth I might ask them or talk to them
about! One thing that sticks out is The Belle Stars (who supported Madness) singer
being told to "show us yer bush" by a fan in the stalls. "Show us
yours first" came back the reply much to the joy of the embarrassed hecklers
mates!
[reply] |
| | | |
| My last gig at the Appolo was to see The Stranglers in Feb 1985. I wasn't a huge fan
but my older brother was and he persuaded me to go along with him, his girlfriend and
a whole load more of us too. We were in the circle and his girlfriend (who obviously
wasn't well versed in the etiquette for gigs at the venue) had brought along a box of
maltesers to share with everyone! She soon found out that wasn't at a
"proper" theatre!! What I remember about that night is that we eventually
got down to the stalls and it the stage was constantly getting invaded by punters
(how they clambered up that height, I can't recall, but they did). They all seemed to
make a bee-line for JJ Burnell and copy the stupid dance he used to do. He was giving
them all a kick up the back side but the group always made sure that the bouncers
didn't give them any trouble as they were led off stage - one guy even ended up
appearing back in a box seat to the right, waving and smiling to the crowd, who were
cheering him from the stalls below. By then we knew the Appollo was closing and
carpets and seats were being ripped out by fans at the end - I had the arm of one of
the seats as I left but I don't know what became of it. It's just a shame that you
can't get those mass stage invasions anymore...
[reply] |
| | | |
| It remains an abiding memory. The southern rockers were virtually unheard of
but after their set which ended with the incredible Freebird, fans left in their
droves and the main act was left to play their one big hit “Radar Love” to a
half-empty building! Glasgow Apollo fans were also renowned for giving support
Acts a hard time in their eagerness to see the top of the bill band come on
stage. “**** off” and “yer ******e, get aff” was a regular request from
impatient fans to beleagured performers at the mercy of the discerning Glasgow
audiences.
The first time I saw Neil Young there, the support band
arrived on stage and announced: “We’re The Eagles from Los Angeles,
California”. They were virtually unheard of then. The rest is
history. I’m not sure if was the same night but Neil Young was out of
it. He played “Tonight’s the Night” twice and looked as if he was ga-ga.
Another time I saw Neil Young, his young guitarist, Nils Lofgren, did a backward flip
off a trampoline as he played the guitar.
Because there were so many
solo acts and bands booked to play the Apollo year in year out, it gave young
rock fans like me a chance to see new performers playing live, sometimes those we
might never have otherwise been drawn to. Peter Gabriel’s set - after he left
Genesis - was one of the most memorable ever. His version of The Kinks “All the Day
and All of the Night” remains an all-time high as well as another show by Neil Young
when he played “Hurricane”. Skynyrd’s “Freebird” completes the
trilogy.
Low points were Queen (worst of the lot), Meatloaf, Deep Purple, Blue
Oyster Cult, ELO, Black Sabbath Uriah Heep and ELP, Mott the Hoople, Argent and
Rush. I almost hate to say it but Glasgow’s own Sensational Alex Harvey Band
probably fall into that dud gig bracket too. Strange shows, where the
music was quite beyond me at that age, were Kevin Ayers and Television.
As a
reporter reviewing concerts, there were some odd goings-on backstage too. I
recall being in the dressing room after a Santana gig and the place was swamped with
incense. I interviewed Bob Seger as he came out the shower after a show and saw
Tommy Bolin, Richie Blackmore’s replacement in Deep Purple, being carried on stage
due to the state he was in physically. Another night, Joe Walshe of the Eagles
wasn’t much better physically when he left the building. I saw him being
carried through the front door of the Albany Hotel!
As for the management and
bouncers in the place, they were ******s. Pure ******s. If your face didn’t
fit, that was it. They never actually barred me unjustifiably but - without
naming names - the welcome was akin to one you’d morely likely expect from a
Barlinnie prison officer on visiting day. In fact, my behaviour was exemplary
as I indulged in my cultural love of musical appreciation except for one night as a
fan with my brother, Robert, and a friend of mine, Grant Kinnell, at The Who
concert. Just as we staggered through the front door, tickets in hand, a half
bottle of whisky fell out my jacket and smashed on the marble step. I looked at
it, the bouncer looked at it, everyone else looked at it but as the fine waft of the
Famous Grouse filled the air, we kept walking and were admitted without so much as a
bat of the eyelid from the normally hostile doorman. We had seats near the
front of the balcony and I spent most of the night with my back to the stage egging
on the crowd to songs like “Won’t Get Fooled Again” … “Substitute” …and “5.15”.
Live, The Who were arguably the best I ever saw at the Apollo.
The list is
endless but the memories will live forever. Eric Clapton (good but boring), Steve
Winwood (class), Ian Dury and the Blockheads (great backing band, good laugh!), David
Bowie (pure talent), Diana Ross (three custome changes!), Frankie Valli and the Four
Seasons (Oh, What a Night!), Tangerine Dream (fell asleep), Bad Company (only their
second ever live show), Harry Chapin (brilliant live, excellent songs), Tom
Petty and the Hearbreakers (no messin’), The Doobie Brothers (straight ahead rock ‘n’
roll), Greg Allman (with Cher!), Joan Armatrading (excelleng songs), Andrew Gold
(west coast cool), Leonard Cohen (with upright bass player), Jethro Tull (Warchild
era), Rod Stewart and The Faces (rabble rousing cacophony!), Wishbone Ash (good
rock band), America (bit ponsy), Poco (superb), Nils Lofgren (magic songs), Focus,
The Stranglers (bold lot) Talking Heads (clever), Genesis (with Gabriel and his
shaved furrow head or reverse mohican!), Dire Straits (I know, I know, I’m sorry, and
to make imatters worse lead singer Mark Knopfler even went to the same school as me,
Bearsden Academy, and mentioned the school during the show!!!), Yes (only band
to insist on all fans being seated before start of Topographic Oceans concert), Van
Morrison (sang from behind the piano for most of the night in a bad mood), Blondie
(saw up her skirt), Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (bunch o’ loonies, but
good), Gentle Giant, Gryphon, Rory Gallagher (ace rock ‘n’ roll guitarist), Thin
Lizzy (Glasgow loved them), Jackson Browne (ace songsmith), the Ozark Mountain
Daredevils (weird hillbillies, great music)), Jefferson Starship (pure class), Bob
Seger (straight ahead), Linda Ronstadt (so sexy, sweet voice), Emmylou Harris
(ditto), Elton John (good rocker), The Runaways (horny bunch), Fanny (bass player
Jane Millington, what a doll), Gong (drugs), Steve Hillage (more drugs), Camel
(ditto), Caravan (ditto), Barclay James Harvest, Hawkwind (even more drugs), Dr
Feelgood (tight as a badger’s arse), Man (quite a lot of drugs), Supertramp (clever
******s), Robin Trower (odd talent), Average White Band (Put It Where You Want It,
what a soul song!), the Flying Burrito Brothers (pur
[reply] |
| | | |
| It was with fond, if not sentimental memories, I discovered your
website.
First as a fan and later as a freelance rock music columnist for the
Daily Record, I frequented the Glasgow Apollo sometimes three or four times a week -
depending on the number of gigs - throughout the 70s. Specific dates are
hazy. It was a timeless decade!
My very first visit to the
hallowed surroundings was by way of an introduction to sex education! A group
of us in or around 14 years of age dogged school and went to see the Scandinavian
film “Helga”. All I can remember about the film was a woman giving
birth!
I seem to recall, as a cinema, Green’s Playhouse gained an entry in the
Guinness Book of Records as the biggest picture house in Europe with 3,600
seats? But I will stand corrected on that if anyone can confirm
otherwise? That explains why so many performers recall the high stage -
presumably so everyone in the audience could see the film screen?!!!
The inside of the building was peculiarly quaint, too. The corridors
had strange little ante-rooms and the décor was kinda weird. I remember the
red divan seats with braiding and the upper balcony, or The Gods, as they called
them. And, if my memory serves me correctly, Billy Connolly once referred to
the private boxes on each side of the walls as “The Lifeboats” or was that the King’s
Theatre?
My earliest recollection of live music was Led Zeppelin at the old
Green‘s Playhouse, then previewing tracks from their fifth album “Houses of the Holy”
. Tickets were pegged at £1 by the band (when the average price then was a
hefty £2.50p!) but I gained entry with my pre-NUJ Press Card. I was
working as a trainee reporter on the Helensburgh Advertiser at the time.
So overwhelmed was I with the concert, I went back the second night, and managed to
get in free again! The assault on the band’s publicist, BP Fallon, trying to
stop ticket touts, apparently spawned the story that Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page
would never piss in Glasgow nevermind play the city again. My late father,
Bert Paterson, was a photographer on the Daily Record and he pictured the band before
the show beside the war memorial bombshell in Central Station, loosely connecting it
of course to the band’s aeronautical title! The black and white pictures remain
a highlight of my rock memorabilia! After he told me he had photographed
them, I remember saying to him: “Why didn’t you phone me? I would have come with
you! I’d love to have met them!” The first time dad heard the name
Led Zeppelin, he asked: “Who’s he?” Zeppelin never did re-appear in the
city but I queued up overnight outside the Apollo a few years later to get tickets
for their Earl’s Court concernt London and also went to see them in Knebworth in
1979! Today, they remain my favourite group, by a long stretch and to think I
saved myself £2 and saw them twice!
But my Green’s Playhouse/Apollo memories
should have started a few years earlier, 1967 to be exact. A female school
friend, Carol Buist, had tickets for Jimi Hendrix and invited me along but my
parents wouldn’t let me go. “You’re not going to see that druggy,” they
said. I was 13 years of age and my chance of witnessing the legend in action
was gone forever.
Other early memories include Alice Cooper’s first-ever British
date, complete with his performance on the gallows! I was convinced, along with most
the crowd, that he really had hung himself! His latest album at the time
was “Killer”. My father also photographed him backstage. The fans’ story
goes that Cooper had chosen Glasgow, above other UK venues, because the city’s
music-loving public had always been infamously renowned for making or breaking
emerging acts. Mr Vincent Furnier lived to the tell the tale!
After
that, it was a roller-coaster decade, including the time when I was working on a
shift as a freelance news reporter on the Evening Times when the Apollo’s demise was
first announced. I covered the story along with colleague, David Steele.
Fortunately, they failed to close it down at that stage, around 1978, and it remained
for many more glorious years. I was back in Glasgow last year (I have lived in Dublin
since 1981) and went into the Oz theme bar now in the Apollo’s place. I swear I
could hear the opening bars of “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones and see the ghost
of Jagger behind his swirling umbrella as he pranced onstage and the crowd went
bonkers. Glasgow truly adored the Stones and probably still does.
It
was always reassuring to know bands were playing there as opposed to the less
atmospheric Kelvin Hall or City Hall when they came to Glasgow. Front
row balcony seats were the best in the house and the acoustics in the Apollo
were ****in’ brilliant, to put it bluntly! Dedicated listeners even used to say
that the seats in the middle of the stalls, directly below the front of the balcony,
were the best because the sound bounced off the back wall and exploded when it
reached that section! Talking of acoustics and the Apollo’s ability to
pick up the sound of a needle drop, I remember seeing the revamped Fleetwood
Mac. In between songs, the place went deadly quiet as Stevie Nicks approached
the microphone. Suddenly, out of the blue, a fan yelled: “Stevie, I’d
love tae shag you”. Hilarious and typical Glasgow.
I even remember
standing outside one night, waiting for a bus on Renfrew Street, listening to Humble
Pie and admiring the genuine pulse of the place.
I even scored in
Clouds, the disco upstairs. Her name was Nancy Spreckley. The act that
night was US punk singer Cherry Vanilla. And the backin
[reply] |
| | | |
| It was with fond, if not sentimental memories, I discovered your
website.
First as a fan and later as a freelance rock music columnist for the
Daily Record, I frequented the Glasgow Apollo sometimes three or four times a week -
depending on the number of gigs - throughout the 70s. Specific dates are
hazy. It was a timeless decade!
My very first visit to the
hallowed surroundings was by way of an introduction to sex education! A group
of us in or around 14 years of age dogged school and went to see the Scandinavian
film “Helga”. All I can remember about the film was a woman giving
birth!
I seem to recall, as a cinema, Green’s Playhouse gained an entry in the
Guinness Book of Records as the biggest picture house in Europe with 3,600
seats? But I will stand corrected on that if anyone can confirm
otherwise? That explains why so many performers recall the high stage -
presumably so everyone in the audience could see the film screen?!!!
The inside of the building was peculiarly quaint, too. The corridors
had strange little ante-rooms and the décor was kinda weird. I remember the
red divan seats with braiding and the upper balcony, or The Gods, as they called
them. And, if my memory serves me correctly, Billy Connolly once referred to
the private boxes on each side of the walls as “The Lifeboats” or was that the King’s
Theatre?
My earliest recollection of live music was Led Zeppelin at the old
Green‘s Playhouse, then previewing tracks from their fifth album “Houses of the Holy”
. Tickets were pegged at £1 by the band (when the average price then was a
hefty £2.50p!) but I gained entry with my pre-NUJ Press Card. I was
working as a trainee reporter on the Helensburgh Advertiser at the time.
So overwhelmed was I with the concert, I went back the second night, and managed to
get in free again! The assault on the band’s publicist, BP Fallon, trying to
stop ticket touts, apparently spawned the story that Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page
would never piss in Glasgow nevermind play the city again. My late father,
Bert Paterson, was a photographer on the Daily Record and he pictured the band before
the show beside the war memorial bombshell in Central Station, loosely connecting it
of course to the band’s aeronautical title! The black and white pictures remain
a highlight of my rock memorabilia! After he told me he had photographed
them, I remember saying to him: “Why didn’t you phone me? I would have come with
you! I’d love to have met them!” The first time dad heard the name
Led Zeppelin, he asked: “Who’s he?” Zeppelin never did re-appear in the
city but I queued up overnight outside the Apollo a few years later to get tickets
for their Earl’s Court concernt London and also went to see them in Knebworth in
1979! Today, they remain my favourite group, by a long stretch and to think I
saved myself £2 and saw them twice!
But my Green’s Playhouse/Apollo memories
should have started a few years earlier, 1967 to be exact. A female school
friend, Carol Buist, had tickets for Jimi Hendrix and invited me along but my
parents wouldn’t let me go. “You’re not going to see that druggy,” they
said. I was 13 years of age and my chance of witnessing the legend in action
was gone forever.
Other early memories include Alice Cooper’s first-ever British
date, complete with his performance on the gallows! I was convinced, along with most
the crowd, that he really had hung himself! His latest album at the time
was “Killer”. My father also photographed him backstage. The fans’ story
goes that Cooper had chosen Glasgow, above other UK venues, because the city’s
music-loving public had always been infamously renowned for making or breaking
emerging acts. Mr Vincent Furnier lived to the tell the tale!
After
that, it was a roller-coaster decade, including the time when I was working on a
shift as a freelance news reporter on the Evening Times when the Apollo’s demise was
first announced. I covered the story along with colleague, David Steele.
Fortunately, they failed to close it down at that stage, around 1978, and it remained
for many more glorious years. I was back in Glasgow last year (I have lived in Dublin
since 1981) and went into the Oz theme bar now in the Apollo’s place. I swear I
could hear the opening bars of “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones and see the ghost
of Jagger behind his swirling umbrella as he pranced onstage and the crowd went
bonkers. Glasgow truly adored the Stones and probably still does.
It
was always reassuring to know bands were playing there as opposed to the less
atmospheric Kelvin Hall or City Hall when they came to Glasgow. Front
row balcony seats were the best in the house and the acoustics in the Apollo
were ****in’ brilliant, to put it bluntly! Dedicated listeners even used to say
that the seats in the middle of the stalls, directly below the front of the balcony,
were the best because the sound bounced off the back wall and exploded when it
reached that section! Talking of acoustics and the Apollo’s ability to
pick up the sound of a needle drop, I remember seeing the revamped Fleetwood
Mac. In between songs, the place went deadly quiet as Stevie Nicks approached
the microphone. Suddenly, out of the blue, a fan yelled: “Stevie, I’d
love tae shag you”. Hilarious and typical Glasgow.
I even remember
standing outside one night, waiting for a bus on Renfrew Street, listening to Humble
Pie and admiring the genuine pulse of the place.
I even scored in
Clouds, the disco upstairs. Her name was Nancy Spreckley. The act that
night was US punk singer Cherry Vanilla. And the backin
[reply] |
| | | |
| Shortly before the Apollo was due to become a bingo hall(1978)Ufo came to town.During
the interval, the
DJ played "Closer To The Heart" by Rush.Rush had
played a storming show at the Apollo a few months previously and all the Rush fans in
the hall, had a collective flash back .
Spontanious cheers and applause broke
out .Remember
Rush were still relativley unknown in the UK at this time.Ufo
fans,unfamiliar with the band began boo-ing.Luckly ,we were ,all of course UFO fans
so
it was over in a matter of seconds.It certainly re-inforced my faith in
Rush.Ufo were fantastic
Phil Mogg lamenting the impending closure (just days away)
and the crowd reaction.Michael was absolutley awesome,in fact the whole band gave it
everything.An unforgettable night.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi Billy, I was there that night, and it was a very emotional momemnt. Moog said his
bit and I think he as genuine in his comments about the closure. I have also seen
Rush there on at least a couple of occassions and thoroughly endorse in what you say
in that RUSH were (are) `STORMING`.
Alex
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was at this gig . It was the last 'decent' band before they were going to turn it
into a bingo hall so me and some mates went to say godbye to the place. Good
gig...had a ball!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Greetings from North Carolina. Just got the "Apollo Memories" book
and absolutely loved it. It's been almost 30 years since I left Scotland, first
for London, then the USA. The book brought back so many great memories from my
formative youth. Did want to talk about an institution that was missed in the
book. How many of you used to partake of a few before the shows at the
Loughswilly Bar (just a couple of blocks away from the Green's/Apollo in the
Cowcaddens)? The Guinness was great, but I had to wait until just before we
left before I "got ready" for the show. I remember for one Tull show
at the Apollo, stripping down to just a waistcoat and "blackening" my eyes
with eyeliner in the bathroom, then running out so the regulars wouldn't see me!
Found the following entry on the web that somewhat understates what a great place
this was.
Loughswilly Bar
Open Guide to Glasgow
Category:
Closed pubs
"Old mans pub - excellent pies. Knocked down to make way for
the STV studios"
My Green's/Apollo history:
1st concert - Fairport
Convention, Dec 1971
Last concert - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sep 1977
Green's
Playhouse:
Fairport,Sabbath,Deep Purple,Humble Pie,ELP,Groundhogs,King
Crimson,Zeppelin,Wishbone Ash,Genesis,Quo
Apollo:
Stones,Moody
Blues,Wishbone Ash,Roxy,Yes,Beck Bogart Appice,Bad Co,Traffic,Roxy,Tull,Bad
Co,Caravan,
Yes,Man,Roxy,The Who,Supertramp,Rick Wakeman,Stones,Elton John,Dr
Hook,Genesis,Be-Bop Deluxe,
Thin Lizzy,Todd Rundgren,Tull,Skynyrd
Regards,
Edmund.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Standing at the bar in the Burns Howff one night (69-70??) ...2 Roadies
came in ...looking for a support band for the Rolling Stones...
Soooo... the band I was singing with, at the time,MERLIN and I jumped
at the chance Brilliant! Gerry Cocozza Ex; MERLIN :STAIRCASE :CANNON : ZEKE STATE
:SOULED OUT : HACKENSACK: COLIN JAMES ORCHESTRA AND SINGERS:and
BEAST ..in France..I'm now in OZ.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember hearing about the gig at work and rushing down to the Apollo at knocking
off time. I worked just up the road in The Royal Infirmary at the time and I
think I ran all the way to Renfield St. Even though it was almost certainly too
late, a mate and I decided to queue, just in case. A few hundred others joined
us and despite regular reassurances that there were no tickets left, we stayed there
all night. I have no idea why we all thought the Apollo staff were lying.
The cops kept coming round to make sure we behaved and eventually moved us off
Renfield St. into the alley. I remember this as being very late and wondering
why they had left us to get in everyone's way only to move us once the streets were
deserted. The highlight of the night were the two lunatics who performed songs
from the Jungle Book. Don't remember much else beyond having great
fun.
It all seems so long ago. I was 20 then, skint and still living
with my parents. I left Glasgow nigh on 20 years ago and never saw the
demolition of the old dump. In a way, I wish I had, it would have been nice to
say goodbye to an old friend. The Apollo in the late 70's and early eighties
was a truly magical place and I wish I could do it all again. If anyone else was
there, I'd love to hear your memories of the Stones queue.
[reply] |
| | | |
| Hi. when i was a teenager in the late seventies i lived in three houses my parents
the burns howff and the glasgow appollo, i loved the place my first gig there
was whitsnake in 78 at the end of the show there was a queue of people who seemed to
not want to leave, me and my mate asked why they were waiting "we wunna meet
coverdale" came the reply, cool we,ll wait as well so the first time i was ever
in the place i met coverdale who sighned my program and said thank you for coming.
awsome, not only that i met ian paice and jon lord as well,after that i went to the
appollo at every oppertunity i,ve still got all my ticket stubbs about 80 or 90,after
it closed a mate of mine appeared at his flat with a seat from it, it was the seat he
sat in for the msg gig in 1982.the appollo was class and will never be equalled.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I was at that gig, too. Didn't the band arrange coaches to take people home
because there was a strike on the buses or something?
[reply] |
| | | |
| Cant remember that,i always got the train there,with all the building thats going on
now someone should put farward an idea to rebuild the apollo all the venues here are
******ty except mabye the the garage.if it was rebuilt i would like to see joe
bonamassa open it or acdc somebody rockin...
[reply] |
| | | |
| Cant remember that,i always got the train there,with all the building thats going on
now someone should put farward an idea to rebuild the apollo all the venues here are
******ty except mabye the the garage.if it was rebuilt i would like to see joe
bonamassa open it or acdc somebody rockin...
[reply] |
| | | |
| Cant remember that,i always got the train there,with all the building thats going on
now someone should put farward an idea to rebuild the apollo all the venues here are
******ty except mabye the the garage.if it was rebuilt i would like to see joe
bonamassa open it or acdc somebody rockin...
[reply] |
| | | |
| Like most 15 year old kids back in 1979 my bedroom was covered in posters of debbie
harry ,so Blondie anounced there two night stint at the appolo i bought tickets for
both gigs. the hogmany gig being the best of the two radio one had live
coverage and had set up camp in the foyer with b a robertson presenting and the
old grey whistle test live coverage made it a night to remember as theshow was
nearing the end it was apparent to me that pipe band was my cue to get myself round
to the stage door. I ran round to what was the apollo lane with my boots 110 cameraat
the ready to greet all the band members as they boarded there tour bus i called out
there names and waved debbie came out last escorted by two glasgow policemen who went
right on the bus with her i went up the side to where debbie was seated and rattled
her window with my camera at the ready she turned round and just looked away as a 15
year old kid i was gutted . dj life Glasgow
[reply] |
| | | |
| Does anyone have pictures or ticket stubs from Johnny Cash concert from 11 November
1984. There was a mix up with tickets with Meatloaf appearing on 10th. Does anyone
remember him giving away his mouth organ. Looking to authenticate it.
[reply] |
| | | |
| The first gig I went to at greens playhouse was Ginger Bakers Airforce, and there
were 2 sets one at 6.30 and one at 8.30. Not long after that my cousin got me a job
collecting tickets in the balcony (unpaid ) my first gig was the Who. I
"worked" there for a number of years and saw some tremendous bands and some
crap as you had to turn up for the likes of Slim Whitman.
[reply] |
| | | |
| I have to correct the gig that states Family were supported by Fleetwood Mac .
Fleetwood Mac were the headline band supported by Trees( no family) I remember it
well thats where I met my wife . I worked there and "had to turn up" for
the Beach Boys and was I taken by surprise they were fabulous
[reply] |
| | | |
| My first ever gig anywere was at the Apollo and it was to see the Average White Band
back in 1979 (i think). I was mesmorised as soon as I walked through the doors and
saw the set up for the bands on the stage and then the support band came on, who was
a band called Inner Circle,and that was me hooked...You cant beat live music !!!
I
saw many bands after that and miss the Apollo badly. Barrowlands is a great place for
gigs but not as good as the Apollo.
[reply] |
| | | |
| really miss the old place.unique atmosphere...
anybody remember kiss playing in
about 84/85?
I was in the stalls and got paul stanleys guitar neck as a
souvenier...had to fight to get it though....i you are out there and have the
body...well,great memories,,wonderful place....hi to anyone rom airdrie who will no
doubt remember the dash down to queen st station to get the last train...
[reply] |
| | | |
| I remember 3 concerts in particular. In fact, I'm sure I still have a hearing problem
from the first:
1. My first concert was Deep Purple around 1970. It was the tour
during which they recorded the loudest gig ever a few days later in Dundee! I
couldn't hear a thing for 3 days.
2. The Quo. I saw them a number of times but the
best was one of the gigs they used for the Live at the Apollo album. I was in the
upper balcony and that thing really bounced. If you didn't experience it, you would
think that people exaggerated but it was all true. You needed to bend your knees in
time with the bounce. I remember Francis Rossi going on about it on that occasion,
pointing to the balcony as we bounced up and down.
3. A Moody Blues concert. I
spotted my mate on the far side of the balcony and went over to talk to him before
the concert began. Standing in the aisle, I lent across the seat speaking to him. As
the lights went down I made my way back to my seat. Suddenly there was a tremedous
crash and I turned to see a full lighting rig had fallen from the roof above and
crashed to the floor where I had been standing. Good timing - but I didn't think much
of the Moodies!
I also remember Alvin Lee - ex Ten Years After at that time -
being booed off the stage when he attempted to take on a heckler. Silly man - after
all it was the Apollo!
Great times!
[reply] |
| | | |
| Went to see Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow about 1978 with a friend of mine who was a
big Rainbow / Deep Purple fan. The fans went wild after every song. Ritchie didn't do
an encore and the fans were clearly pissed off, so I started booing and soon the
place was booing with me. Selfish, moody twat ...these fans had waited ages to see
their idol and he treated them like that. My mate took some stick off me afterwards
and I never went to see Ritchie Blackmore again.
[reply] |
| | | |
|
My first Apollo gig was Genesis, 9 Oct 1973 followed by Jethro Tull, Yes and
others that have been lost in the mists of time. I also worked at Cuthbertsons Music
Shop (then McCormicks).
I remember having to deliver an electric piano for The
Jacksons. In among the throng of roadies, someone accidently stood on an
explosion/firework prop. Hence electric piano was nearly lofted of the very high
stage and a good pair of underpants were ruined. The Jacksons cancelled at the last
minute. Snowbound in Switzerland apparently
John
[reply] |
| | | |
| I worked in the Albany - the only big posh hotel in Glasgow at the time. Everybody
who played in the Apollo we met and got a lot of free tickets. The bus driver from
Blue Jays - moody blues guys - had a dog which were not allowed in the hotel. So me
and my pal smuggled the dog in throuigh the staff entrance and got two back stages
passes for the show. That was like the biggest prize back then. Was a great night.
Went to see Status Quo 3 or 4 times because they always gave us free tickets - great
bunch. Babysat for Gallagher and Lyle - cant remember whose kids. Saw Chris de Burgh
on his first tour with Supertramp after Galagher and Lyle after Chris who came onto
that huge stage with that massive audience and sang Patricia the Stripper just with a
guitar. The audience went spare - lucky for him - they loved it and that means
something. Got a t shirt from the guitarist from Lynard Skynard cause I sewed his
favourite jeans for him. Also got loads of Autographs. Met Freddy Mercury also
on first tour. He was a wee bit uncanny. More later Marie
[reply] |
| | | |
| First gig at the Apollo was Robin Trower in 1980, featuring local lad Jimmy Dewar on
vocals. Support band? NWOBHM new boys Samson, featuring a certain, very young Mr.
Bruce Dickinson on vocals, and the hooded drummer simply known as Thundersticks.
First of many gigs shoe-horned in before the place closed in 1985.
[reply] |
| | | |
| | | | |
