Memories of Brum Gigs 77-79. Where you there?

Black Sabbath Van Halen Odeon Mon June 5, 1978
Black Sabbath Van Halen Odeon Tues June 6, 1978

Black Sabbath Van Halen Odeon Mon June 12, 1978

If I remember correctly I went to the 6th of June gig because the 5th of June gig was cut short because some dry ice got into Tony Iommi’s amp & blew it up, they arranged to come back on the 12th in way of compensation & I got a ticket for that one as well,. Unfortunately Van Halen had gone back to the states by then & support for that night was The Fields of the Nephlim.

Regards

Whiskey

Yup, I was at the Kiss gig too. I can’t remember being impressed although for some strange reason there were a lot of frantic Brummies jumping up and down on the seats and many were broken. I’m not sure if it’s related but there was a time when no standing was allowed at the Odeon and strictly enforced by the security folks usually up until 5 mins into the main set

That brought back some great memories. I was on the front row of the Sabbath gig that had Van Halen supporting. I had the first Van Halen album before the gig so knew all the tunes. Fantastic gig both bands. I also saw the Ian Gillan Band at Barbarellas and Mispent Youth. I saw the Stanglers at The Mayfair Suite with Steele Pulse as support, another excellent gig but doesn’t appear in the list. I now feel very old!

I arrived in Birmingham fresh from University in Autumn 1978 with the job of starting up a new jazz promotion and development agency – the Midlands Jazz Centre Society. Quite fortuitously within about 6 month I got the job of writing jazz reviews for the Birmingham Post and when the journalist covering g rock concerts was switched to nights I was asked to take that on as well. So in 1979 I ended up reviewing quite a number of rock concerts at Birmingham Odeon and one or two other venues too, including the second night of Kate Bush’s one and only national tour.

I have kept all the cuttings and the list of concerts I reviewed in 1979 are:
All at Birmingham Odeon – Unless Stated

Van Morrison 12 March 1979
Kate Bush 5 April 1979 (Hippodrome)
Tom Robinson Band 9 April 1979 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Status Quo 14 May 1979 – The NEC
The Tubes 21 May 1979
Sky 22 May 1079
The Specials 30 July 1979 – Barbarellas
Rickie Lee Jones 7 September 1979
The Police 14 September 1979
Siouxsie and The Banshees 20 Sept 1979

I also recall seeing a young an exceptionally good Chris Rea at Barbarellas around that time and one of the three nights that Ry Cooder played though that might have been 1980. I also saw Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Judas Priest and Weather Report at the Odeon, though again they may have been in the 1980s. I may have even reviewed the Judas Priest concert, but if so, I don’t have that particular review.

Of all the Odeon concerts, the Rickie Lee Jones was far and away the best and the Kate Bush concert was the most historic – for obvious reasons.

Does anyone attending these gigs remember the fanzines Censored or Revenge that were sold at and reviewed lots of Brum / Wolverhampton / – does anyone still know the whereabouts of the writers / editors of those zines? Tom Coutt, Ian Brinton, Jayne Bailey?

Got a bit of an issue thought i saw flamin groovies at digbeth civic hall yet cannot finf
D it listed could you please help
Thank you

As you were. I found it!

I can remember going to the Top Rank Suite and seeing the Banshees, Human League, Otway & Barrett and one other that eludes me. I always thought that was 1978. Perhaps it was ’79. Siouxsie got pissed off because of all the ‘Straights’ shouting for Hong Kong Garden.

Just for accuracy…;-) the ‘Stoker’ gig you’ve got listed as 12th March ’78 at Barbs was actually on the following Sunday (19th March ’78) Only happen to know this because I did the lighting for it!

I was at the Thin Lizzy concert at the Town Hall in March of 1976. Unforgettable.

I was at the Ramones gig on 30/9/78. Fabulous. I’d been to see them the night before at Manchester and went to the Hammersmith Odeon a day or so later to see them again. Big fan. Best bit was when we went to the Tennessee Pancake House after arriving in Birmingham (from North Notts) for something to eat at lunchtime and the band walked in and sat next to us. Chatted to them for a couple of hours while they ate. They were great. Pinched the cutlery after they left. After I left home, my mum threw it out along with autographs and so in – in a general clean up. Sob.

My first gig was Mott the Hoople, 27th November 1973, at Birmingham Town Hall for a substantial cost of £1.20!! They were ably supported by a lesser know band- QUEEN! Can you believe it? Queen were brilliant with far more of a rock-based set from what I remember, with a superb version of Elvis’s ‘Jailhouse Rock’-magnificent mayhem!

Gigging most Friday and Saturday nights at barbarellas and trips to the rumrunner were good fun with my mate krissy from Huddersfield. We lived in ymca and then stirchley in 1978 to 1980.lo Ed all the punk bands, trailed around after Steve gibbon band at parties. Good friends with Jim from spizz oil and got on many a guest list. Clash for one. But my biggest memory was pil
….. And a funky little French support band with lead singer with funny name and a winning smile. Krisy and I dragged then all back for coffee ah happy days! My boyfriend at the time was Ted ents officer at birm college of food and domestic arts. Had many new and up and coming bands on there too ub40
Specials. Madness. The beat. City was blessed to have a buzzing music scene late 70,s glad I was apart of it!!

Seem to remember that I lit the ‘Stoker’ gig at Barbarellas in March ’78

Rory Gallagher at the Odeon in 1978, with Joe O;Donnell in support.

First time I saw the master at work. Left an impression on me that has lasted a lifetime.
Many gigs since, but this one is still “the one”

Hi (All. Great reading through all these notes and comments. Particularly the references to Bogarts. I was a regular, almost nightly from age 16 to 19, and had my 18th birthday in there. So many good times had in there, New Years, Christmas Eve’s and pre-gig drinks (even a post gig drink if the bank on at the town hall finished early and could just manage a last beer before the 10.20 last order call.
I have kept a good many of my gig ticket stubs and the lists above are missing a good deal of events. Note the Man gig was on Friday 23rd May 1975, I have the stub.
I would be pleased to scan the stubs and send if anyone interested. My gig stubs go back to 06 March 1972.
I was at the Sex Pistols gig, but I remember (them?) getting booed? Perhaps it was because they had to finish at 10.30?
Bands missed out the lists include Commander Cody & LP Airmen, Led Zeppelin, Rick Wakeman, Frank Zappa (Thursday 13th September 1973) – Status Quo, Gentle Giant, Tangerine Dream…..Just ordered the Bogarts book, really look forward to reading it.Hope this of interest.
My greatest memories was the sticky floor and lots of hair, oh yes, so much hair….
Tad

Robin Trower – I’m pretty certain was 1976 not 1975. I wasn’t living in Brum in 75 but remember the gig. Also Mar 2 is a Tuesday in 76.

I seem to remember Ultravox at Aston University – no idea of the date though.