My idea is simple enough. Link the best known ballrooms and rock venues in the world (along with a few obscure ones) and detail their history. List the gigs, the people that played and embed any YouTube clips that relate to the bands or the place at that time.
When I was 14, I got a job as a barman, in one of the busiest dancehalls/ballrooms in Scotland. More than 2,000 people would cram in there, every Friday and Saturday night. The spirit bar, that I worked on (there was a beer bar, as well) had 13 barmen/women which shows just how big and busy it was.
It was 1971, so I missed the greats of pop and rock but I saw everyone the U.K. charts had to offer and the showbands that filled in when the stars weren’t available. It was noisy, sweaty, loud and violent but it was also GREAT FUN. Who cares then, if I’m just a bit obsessed with the idea that ballrooms and clubs were the way to see bands. I hate stadium gigs. I want to be able to see the sweat on the forehead of a lead singer without it being on a 60 foot screen. I want to be back having fun.
Maybe this is the closest I’ll ever get. Whatever my reasons, I hope you enjoy it and CONTRIBUTE!
If you were there, tell the world about it!
May 12, 2009 at 11:45 am |
I loved the Ballerina, I lived just a few doors down from it on the hill.Some amazing groups appeared, and my friend Doreen and I would rush from school to the hall and usually catch the groups and their roadies unloading their vans. I remember the night the Troggs played, we were right at the front and someone managed to grab Reg’s white bellbottoms and ripped the leg up to the crutch!!!! Those were the days.
May 16, 2009 at 9:37 am |
Thank you for remebering Beggars Opera.
It was always special for us to play up North.
BTW:
http://www.beggarsopera.co.uk/node/91
was this picture taken at the Ballerina ballroom ?
All the best
Beggars Opera
xxx
May 16, 2009 at 10:13 am |
I would like to give a warm and grateful thanks to Albert Bonici. I regarded him as the “treasure of the North” for the very good reason that every band throught his hands would be invited into his office where he would extoll the virtues of drug free living. This was a brave thing to do in those days and he did it with much sincerity.
Ricky Gardiner
Beggars Opera