Gigs at Student Unions up and down the country were an integral part of the tour circuit for bands, and more importantly their record labels. They really reached their pen in the late seventies and early eighties.
Stephen Homer form Birmingham City University has sent in a list of some of the gigs that took place at what was then Birmingham Polytechnic, the information has come from the Archive holdings of Polygon.
Misty in Roots – 19th May 1978 from Polygon issue 2. Venue was the Edgbaston campus.
Colin Philips Combo – 30th June 1978 from Polygon issue 64. Venue was Bordesley campus.
Ruby Turner; Cousin Joe – 4th October 1978 from Polygon issue 66.
Late Show – Freshers’ Week 1978-79 from Polygon issue 68. Venue was Edgbaston campus.
Supercharge – 29th September 1978 from Polygon issue 68. Venue was Perry Barr campus.
Rich Kidds – 25th October 1978 from Polygon issue 67.
The Adverts – Autumn 1978 from Polygon issue 68. Venue was Perry Barr campus.
Climax Blues Band – 1st November 1978 from issue 68. Venue was Edgbaston and the gig was filmed for BBC Rock goes to College and broadcast 3rd November 1978 BBC2 11pm; repeated 5th November 1978 BBC2 4.15pm.
Chas and Dave – 12th December 1978 from Polygon issue 71. Venue was Edgbaston campus.
Raw Deal – February 1979 from Polygon issue 74. Venue was Edgbaston campus.
Freddie “Fingers” Lee – 2nd March 1979 from Polygon issue 74. Venue was Edgbaston campus.
The Tourists – 31st October 1979 from Polygon issue 84. Venue was Edgbaston campus.
John Cooper Clarke – Christmas 1979 from Polygon issue 84. Venue was Perry Barr campus.
Ferrari – January/February 1980? from Polygon issue 88.
The Photos – 29th February 1980 from Polygon issue 88. Venue was Edgbaston campus.
We welcome more additions or memorabilia from this venue!
Hi
I was at the Poly and on the ents committee around 1975/6 and we put on Shakin Stevens and The Sunsets.
Ian
I was there that evening and Shakin Stevens was amazing. Either he or one of the band stood on the piano and played it by leaning over. Amazing!
I saw FM supported by Chrome Molly here on 18th April 1986. My girlfriend and a mate shared a house off the Hagley Road, and we used to go drinking here because the beer was cheaper than in the Hagley Road pubs. The bar manager took us aside one night and said “you lot aren’t students are you?” He said he wouldn’t bar us though as we spent too much money there!!!
Slade played a gig at Edgbaston Campus, Westbourne Road in 1982/3. It was a really big event – many hundreds of people as I recall – many of us had to stand outside as it was full inside.
Hi John! I was also in that crowd outside watching Slade! It was a Christmas show..& very cold! I went to lots of very good gigs at the poly..however, due to ridiculously cheap alcohol..can’t accurately recall many..Dave Wakeling (General Public, The Beat) was there once though..cos I remember him holding a door open for me..what a gent!
The campus at edgbaston has changed lots and the bar is smaller now.
Slade gig was Dec 83 I believe, packed out! Indeed there were some great gigs on when I was at the Poly, low stage, basic but great atmosphere always -among the bands, I remember General Public playing the JCR too – great bar there, hence memories a little hazy- happy days!!
I was President of the Polytechnic Students’ Union 1978-79 & remember these gigs so well. Others were Jasper Carrot September 1975 (my freshers week), the Real Thing, Alvin Stardust, who absolutely bombed at a grad ball and was booed off stage.
Remember Jasper Carrot gig was recorded worked as an engineering technician had 5 good years there.
Last day of term was free beer.
I remember the carrot gig too, i guess it should have been free Bovril?
I was on birmingham poly student union exec 1991/83 we had the fall on and sadly have to admit paid gary glitter to do the christmas gig at edgbaston, Westbourne road
Sorry 81/83 was when I was on student union, Will was president, then Ian Stuart. Both very good and very different
The Revillos
I thought John Cooper Clarke was on with the Adverts at Perry Barr at the same gig.
Yes, it was Gary Glitter and his primary school stage block steps.
Ruby Turner and Cousin Joe from New Orleans was a fantastic Freshers’ Week gig at Bordesley Green.
Birmingham, the most spaced out Polytechnic in the World.
I was Vice-President of BPSU for Gosta Green which included the shared facility then of the Guild of Students – where many good gigs were held, I was also a production editor for Polygon which meant many weekends pasting up the artwook at No 9 aout at Edgbaston before sending off to our Bristol printer Milton Goodhead …
– Like colleague Barry Dore I too remember these gigs fondly if not particularly clearly … The Enid, Caravan, Steel Pulse, and the bigger
names at the Odeon in the same period – Santana, Jethro Tull, Joan Armatrading, Tom Robinson Band, Genesis, Stiff Little Fingers & Tom Robinson Band …
Curtis Mayfield played in the JCR when The Hummingbird couldn’t fulfill his contract.
Indeed John,
Curtis played on 18th February 1984. Quite a night.
Curtis Mayfield wanted a cup of English tea, before he went on stage. It was a great pleasure to make it for him; in one of the Student Union mugs, especially washed.
New Model Army played at Edgbaston
Campus, Westbourne Road, November
1984 when the Miners Strike was on,
Remember collecting money for them
In a bucket. Also saw Aswad and the
Bootleg Beatles same campus.