Digbeth
Midnight City, was situated underneath an even more famous venue, The Moat House
It attempted to provide bands on the same lines as the famous Mother’s with bands such as The Who, Cream, Family. It staged allnighters, but was only open for a few months.
Here is a piece from berniew on the Birmingham History Forum
Quote:
| The problem was that it didn’t have a drinks licence ,although the owner or his dad owned The Moat House which was directley above it. It seems that the club had a reputed drugs problem and the police took to waiting until the headline band opened up and raided the place ,this soon led to closure ,pity |
I visited there a couple of times, and as beniew said, it’s a pity it didn’t last longer.
Compiled by Keith Law
Coco emailed this in to us at the BPMA
I remember the Midnight pretty well. I was there on the opening night when there were free drinks due to club not being able to get a drinks licence.
Remember watching Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers when the police raided. The Midnight didn’t last long but did continue for a while under various names – The Pitch was one and The Flower Pot was another.
Remember that Family (a band from Leicester) were very popular with the locals; they used to wear 20s gangster style suits and Crombie overcoats and do R&B numbers like Eddie Floyds Knock On Wood. The club had a Hocken Sound (stereo) PA system and often Erskine T (from the Diskery) would DJ. It used to be open all day and I remember wagging off school to be down there and some of my friends went on to be DJs on the strength of what they learned from using the equipment down there. It was notable for pioneering reggae.
I also remember two dubious characters who used to turn up on Saturday afternoons in their work clothes (they worked in the slaughter house on Saturday mornings), one of these went on to fame in Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osborne. I visited the site of the club just prior to its demolition and found the membership books, I have them somewhere.
The other big club in Birmingham at the time was the Whisky (Marquee) in Navigation Street, formerly the Laura Dixon School of Dancing: in many ways this was a better club, I remember seeing bands their like Cream, Graham Bond Organisation and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band there. I’d often alternate between the Whisky & the Midnight on a Saturday night. The Midnight was run by the Pryke (Prike) brothers and their mum: she would often be on the door and when some of us couldn’t afford to pay in she’d let us in free if we solved or helped to solve crossword clues with her!
Birmingham used to rock back then and the Midnight & the Whisky were the big clubs. Mothers in Erdington played its part: formally the Carlton Ballroom. I remember winning the Four Tops On Top album for identifying the opening lines of John Lee Hooker’s Dimples; the DJ was a Mickey Twitch who became the subject of Jim Capaldi’s (from Traffic) How Much Can A Man Really Take.
The Midnight attracted a lot of local faces, such as Robert Plant’s Band Of Angels. Other notable venues at this time included the Le Metro in Livery Street (remember seeing Ainsley Dunbars Retaliation there with Robert Plant jamming with them – Ainsly went on to drum with the Mothers Of Invention and then Little Feat), Sloopy’s by the law courts, The Bell & The Black Horse in Northfield, Frank Freeman’s in Kidderminister, the Blue Flame in Wolverhampton, the BRS in Erdington and the Chateau Impney in Droitwich (remember watching the Band Of Angels there when the police raided and carted off all the girls to Worcester police station and their parents summoned; the lads were left to wander the Worcestershire countryside in the middle of the night).
The old memory cells have been working overtime and I guess I’ll end off here.
Take care…
Coco
I’m the person who sent this info to Jez Collins. Just read through it and noticed that I refer to Robert Plant’s Band of Angels…it should have been Band of Joy, can’t imagine where I got angels from. Erskin T, the DJ referred to, died some years back and left his massive record collection…rumour has it that Stevie Winwood (Traffic) managed to buy it, can’t verify that though. Thinking back to Ozzy brought another venue to mind; Henry’s Blueshouse (the Crown – I think – in Hill Street): he was in a band called Earth then…remember seeing them there often. They supported Jethro Tull just before they hit the big time and they poached Tony Iomi for their US tour…remember Ozzy being devasted; but it worked out OK…Tony returned, they changed their name to Black Sabbath and the rest is well known. I mentioned Family and how they used to be and also mentioned the Black Horse in Northfield…both came together when Family played there and had completely changed; hippy attire, flowers and jossticks everywhere and gone was the R&B stuff to be replaced with the psychedelic rock of Music From A Dolls House…a bit of a shock but fantastic show. Enough from me…seeyerlater.
Coco
Very interested in your recollection of Family at The Black Horse in Northfields Coco, as I’m writing a book on them. Would that have been in 1967?
Your memory of them fits perfectly with the way they changed from being an r&b band (The Farinas) to the new psychedelic stuff on ‘Dolls House’.
Colin Mythen was my father. I remember a lot of the characters mentioned when I was growing up. He had an enormous vinyl collection which was sadly stolen by a modern day club promoter.
The Whiskey (Marquee) was by far my favourite club and from memory operated on three floors….always remember happy drunks turning out after a nights drinking whilst the all-nighters queued all the way up the street…apart Cream and Graham Bond I can remember the Small-Faces, Hog-Snort-Rupert Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames as well a host of exceptional local bands one of which..The Shakedown Sound from Kidderminster had Jess Roden on vocals and Kev Gammond on lead guitar…Jess joined the Alan Bown Set after a gig at the Digbeth Civic Hall and after playing backing group to Jimmy Cliff on his first UK tour the ‘Shakes’ disbanded and
Kevin played with Robert Plant in the Band of Joy before teaming up again with Jess and another Kidderminster musician Robbie Blunt to form the Bronco….The Whisky was a well known venue country wide and formed a circuit for early soul lovers with The Twisted Wheel Manchester…Night Owl in Leicester and the Marquee in London.
After a night at the Whiskey it was common to take a bath in the public baths and then head to Stratford on Avon in the Summer or onto the Blue-Flame for the afternoon and finish up at Frank Freemans….great memories…
This is Peter from Wolverhampton !
How are you?
Live near Brighton now but still have found memories of the Kidderminster crew
Peter
I attended a conference at Aston Uni. in about 1995 and walked down to where the MC used to be. I didn’t go in but the door was open and it sounded as if someone was weight-lifting, so maybe it became a gym.
Are you the Coco I used to knock around with we went to the free concert for the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park London and the isle of white concert
I remember Midnight City very well — memories!
I remember walking through a casino setup to get to the club in quite a cellar like arena,,,..being charged about 2/6d in the day – around 12.5p nowadays! This was around 65 – 67….. The acts were superb:
Opening – Moody Blues – Go Now! Denny Laine Brilliant (Previously seen in L Spa as Denny Laine and the diplomats)
Another act ??? memory..
Closing Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers – extra-ordinary!
A brilliant night …..but what an eye opener for a young country boy at the time!
best regards
Warwickman
Went ther I think twice, can’t remember what bands were on but do rememebr issues with the double Zero club, I think that was the name. Spent my time at Mothers and also the Rainbow. Ecclectic music mix, saw many excellent bands from all types of genre.
Hi Keith,
I to visited the club used to have a member ship card dark purple with stars on if i remember ? loved the e type jag picture on wall, was their a lamp post their ? new the guy who owns the origanal club members membership and sighning in book. I moved away from Birmingham and have lost touch with every one, i am 65 next month and will never forget the atmospere of all those 1960′s plus clubs it will never happen again. Roger.
Hi Roger…yes the membership card was purple with little stars and I’d forgotten the hoarding of the E-type…not sure about the lamppost…do you remember the shops down there, there was the Fanny Boutique, The Diskery and some menswear shop from the Bull Ring but I can’t remember the name.
Coco
Doug Tait
Small world.
Xx
0121 7477755
Hi Coco
Enjoyed reading your comments, especially about Micky Twitch, He was my brother.
I’d love to know any memories (good or bad!) How did you know that Jim’s song was about him?
I have loads of memories of those days, staring with The Elbow Room in the early 60’s and the people I met there. All the local Birmingham Clubs, Mother’s – previosuly The Carlton, the Aero (at Birmingham Airport) many pubs and clubs. o you or anyone else remember the Stage Door Cafe in (I think) Meeting House Lane in the centr of Birmingham.
If you or, anyone else, has any memories of those days, or of my brother I’d love to hear and happy to share memories or information with you.
Thanks
Liz
Hello again Liz! I’m finally able to connect with the world again-it’s amazing how the internet makes connections like this possible. The things I have learned while researching information on my friend Cyndi have helped me to know her better since I’ll never have the chance to see her again in this life. Forgive me if I am repeating myself, but Cyndi was a major influence to me when I was young. She loved music-all kinds! I remember her taking me to concerts and exposing me to a whole other world. I remember seeing Steve Winwood with her once. She told me that she and her late husband had been involved in their (Traffic) music scene & that they had lived amongst the band in England. I remember being fascinated! I eventually moved to California & that was the last place I saw her-she was on her way to Hawaii. It was harder to keep in touch back then, before most people had cell phones & facebook…I was stunned when I finally discovered that she had died & I couldn’t let her know how much of an influence she was to me. I don’t know her family so your correspondence has been very meaningful to me. One of her friends did tell me about the Goa tribe and that has been enlightening. Overall, I just want to thank you for the communications we’ve shared. Interesting how events in the past can cause people to cross paths across the world. All best wishes!
Micky used to look after me, Nieve 19 yaar old Taxi owner ZCars based next door to the Elbow room , I would sit with him for hours whilst he did his thing, introduced me to a lot of exciting people.
I was with him and his girlfriend the night before he left on the fateful trip.
sadly missed
I also worked at Duckhams Oils ,,,you may remember
.
??
My email is
Londoncom@aol.com
Best regards
Hi Liz…what a surprise to get a reply from the sister of Micky Twitch. I didn’t really know Micky, only spoke with him a couple of times. Several of my friends though did know Micky quite well – Micky Slattery, Colin (Big Colin) Mythen and Keith (Spudy Taylor). Of these Spud would have been the most close…he was a good friend with the members of Traffic and had links with many future hippies who traveled to the East, India in particular. It was Spud who told me that the track from Capaldi’s album – Oh How We Danced – was about Micky. That’s my only evidence but Spud would have been a good source due to his links to your brother, Traffic and the Birmingham scene in general. All 3 names mentioned above are now deceased so I can’t have a chinwag with them about it. Your brother did go to India? And he was killed in Nepal? I put these as questions because after so many years one isn’t quite sure if facts are facts or if they have become urban myths…what I do know is that many people I knew believed that How Much Can A Man Really Take is about Micky Twitch. Another name I remember associated with Micky is Spider John, now he is still alive but where is anybody’s guess; in fact I have a vague memory of him verifying Spud’s assertion about the track. Colin went on to run Albert’s Wine Bar in Fazeley St. This backed on to the Alley where the Stage Door used to be…I remember going there as a young mod in the hope of rubbing shoulders with real beatniks – Donovan, Gypsy Davey, who reputedly frequented the place, and where apparently Spencer Davis used to play in Dylanesque mode (acoustic guitar and harmonica in a holder) though I never witnessed that.
Do you know the track? I have the album in front of me as I write and notice that good old Trevor Burton (who still plays around the pubs in Brum) is featured…
How much can a man really take
When he’s pushed himself too far
He knows that his mind is on the break
And he’s trying to reach that star
How many times have I seen him fall
How many times. Too may to recall
Fate was about to deal him a card
From the bottom of the pack
And he met his end in fair Nepal
With a dagger in his back
As Trevor plays bass on that track he would be someone that could probably be able to definitively confirm the story’s veracity. What I can definitely affirm is that your brother was very much a part of the Birmingham scene back then…he was widely talked about and respected as a DJ and someone who was in to the good times.
I too remember the Elbow Room, though I never used to go there that much…do you remember Don Carless…he owned Golden Days in Harborne (they used the front entrance for Acorn Antiques – Wood & Walters series). When Don died, or was it when he was badly injured, Stevie Winwood and others did a gig for him at the Elbow.
I’m starting to ramble so I‘ll finish off…lovely to have heard from you. Take care.
Coco
I remember Don and the Elbow Room was the first club I went to . My father sneaked me in when I was 14!!!!! I remember him telling me so many stories relating to the era above. My father was in India and Nepal for years when I was a child. My mom was there during all of those days and she is still in Birmingham.
Hi Faye…remember us, Eve & Coco…will always remember the backgammon tournaments we had with your dad in St Pauls Raod along with other paqtrons of Alberts…In UB4Os first newsleter there’s a piece on first seeing them at the Coach & Horses in West Bromwich…your dad, me, Dave Austin & Brian Fewtrell were suitably impressed…do you remember our daughter Sacha?
Take cre, Coco
Hello Faye
I knew your dad well from town during the old Mod days, West End, KD, Whisky, etc.. The last time I saw him was when he had a bar/lounge near the music school, I think. I also knew his girlfriend, Hilary your mum? and her brother, Ian who I liked. I thought your mother was a stunner.
I am in the process of writing a history of the Mod scene/days in Birmingham and would greatly appreciate any stories you or you mum might have of those fabulous times. Your pa and ma were a serious faces you know.
I remember meeting him in some pub Sheldon way when I was playing in one of my bands. I asked him if he liked my kit to which he replied ‘Yeah… but if it were me I have loads of bass drums’. Happy days.
If you would like to help please reply via this site and we’ll find a way to chat. I live in the south of England now but am regularly back in the Brum area as I still have folks there.
Cheers, Sean
Hi Coco
So very good of you to respond. I was delighted to hear from someone who knew Micky, if ony slightly.
So many of the names are familiar to me, particularly Spuds. Do you also remember “Savo”?
The ” urban myth” about Micky is correct. Yes he did go to India and yes he was murdered there. He was fatally stabbed. The events leading up to his arriving there are interesting – well, to me – and I will happily tell you this, but aware that sometimes other people’s history can be a bit boring. If you want hear about this I will give you the full story.
Just let me know. I loved my brother very much and knew him – warts and all – and just to contact someone who remembered has been great for me.
Thank you.!!!!!
I’m buying my remaining brothers (there were six of us but only four remaining – my only sister has since died) the Jim Capaldi Album “Oh how we danced” and will include our comments.
My daughter and son are interested in our family. So I decided to do give them some concrete information rather then just my memories ( not reliable these days! – the only exercise I get is running upstairs and thinking “what the hell have I come up here for?” then running back back, only to remember & runing back up again only to have fogotten!!)
Typically, I’ve digressed!!
There is book I’ve discovered called “Through The Heart of The Spider” by Chip Wright.
I’ve only just found it so haven’t read it yet but it certainly makes a lot of reference to my brother.
I would imagine that our path’s have cossed before. I will drag my old mind to see who I can recall.
My last boss, who was my age, often used to speak to me and ask whether our generation had made any impact on the world. He was really concerned that everything we did was just another stage of development.
I think we were the most innovative generation, we certainly did change and challenge things, we recoginsed freedom. I think we were the people who had open minds and not afraid to question.
I’m glad I was then,. Also glad I’m now – at least I’m stilll here!!!!
Sorry if I’ve bored you
dear liz…i have arrived at this website by looking for information about a friend of mine…cyndi…..i came across a very nice tribute you wrote and it resonated with me because i also was trying to get in touch with her but was unable to…i would really like to correspond with you and hear some of your stories as i was too young to know cyndi the way you do…i only knew vague details of her life in india and england but i would love to know more…hopefully you can share some stories about your brother as well because i am curious about what their life was like…
i also wonder if you have seen the documentary about the goa hippy tribe??
best wishes and i hope to connect with you soon…
wendy
Hi Wendy,
I don’t check this site very often so sorry if yu think I’ve ignored you. I am delighted to know someone who knew Cindi
She was married to my brother and I knew her. although only for a short time, but I was so fond of her.
I am about to go on holiday for two weeks, but if you are ok to wait I will happily spend time to give you as much as I am able. I am so glad that someone else remembers Cindi. Like you I had tried to get in touch and then discovered she had died which made me very sad that she hadn’t realised that ther were people who still cared and would loved to have spoken with her again.
I will be away until early in October but will certainly get in touch with then.
How did you know Cindi?
I have had no response from anyone who says they are a relative and I assumed that she may have re-married ( Micky & Cindi were young and life moves on)I had thought if she had re-married and had a family.II would let her children have a book she left with me which is inscribed fom her Mom to her,
It appears she didn’t ,so t if she had no children then I will keep as I still regard it as my last contact with Micky & Cindi and to learn that she devoted her life to autistic children was quite amazing.
You will also see from this website that Coco has spoken to me about her/his memories of those days.
I will in touch again early in October. Could you give me some more information about the Goa Hippy Tribe?
So good to hear from you
Kind regards
Liz
Hi Wendy
So sorry I’ve been a long time in responding. I didn’t open your message fir a few weeks then I was on holiday so please don’t think I ignored you.
Cindi was married to Michael, my brother.
I met her before they married. She was a beautiful girl from, I think, a part of Chicargo, at place which I will try and remember, because she sang a wonderful song about it.
Cindi and Michael married at her parents home there. i remember her telling me that it was her Mom and stepdad, as her Dad had been murdered when she was younger.
Cindi and Michael had set out for a long trip abroad in a Landrover when our Mom collapsed and was taken seriously ill. I managed to contact them through the radio stations and they returned home and were there when Mom died.
I’m not sure what you want to know but I will give you any information I have and answer any questions with total honestly
Look forward to hearing from you
Love Lizxx
Hi Wendy,
I have replied to you but have had no response. Let me know if you want any further information
Kind regards
Liz
Remember going to the Elbow Room with Don Carless before it opened and being so impressed with their plans. Used to send as much time as possible there..but also discovered Cedar Club, Monte Carlo etc. Remember Micky Twitch, he was always so kind to me (I was a dotty bird, always being upset by some guy or another) Micky used to cheer me up. A really lovely guy….so sad to hear what happened to him….India should have just been a great adventure. Also remember Tony/Malcolm/Fernando at the Elbow and Ralston…sometime running small bar/sometime DJ…always great guy. All thos ‘flower power’ evenings, knee deep in flower petals. I’m sure our kids think they invented having fun…but those really were the days….Birmingham in 60s. Steve Winwood & Co…Jim Capaldi when he was with Deep Feeling….Mothers….Moat House…oh great days. I just fell over this sit having just caught sight of something about Don Carless……so glad….brought back many happy memories.
Hi Elizabeth…not in the least boring. I agree with you that that time was something else…though I guess each generation feels their teen years were special…having said that I believe that time was SPECIAL…There was an optimism in the air and I guess we really thought that change would come if we all sang loud enough. Those times ring like a litany and history I think will consolidate that…the seminal shift the Beatles took with the release of Rubber Soul and then Revolver; Dylan’s release of Bringing It All Back Home and then Highway 61 Revisted…the flood of soul…Lead by Otis Redding, Motown and Stax…the emergence of IT and Oz…the British sound of the Kinks, Traffic, the Who…the re-emergence of the blues in British format via the Stones and John Mayall that went into the mix and gave birth to Led Zeppelin, and subsequently the heavy metal genre…the discovery of American music – Pete Seeger, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash…the adoption of Hendrix in England…the paintings of David Hockney & Warhol, the designs of Mary Quant, publication of The Mersey Sound, that great outpouring when London discovered the North…A Taste of Honey, A Kind of Loving and Saturday Night & Sunday Morning; the popularity of Lord of the Rings and Catch 22, the colours in the street, new rhythms from Jamaica…hey this is getting silly, nostalgia, and too many gaps, names missing from the lists, whole sections omitted, but I suppose that’s the point…it was special and how I wish I had the lungs and the naïve spirit to sing that loud again.
Take care…Coco
Hi Coco
Haven’t been touch for a while – not forgotten you so willl send longer message later.
Been on holiday and very busy at work – not to mention beating the children and
taking on grandchildren duties!!
Will send longer message soon – Just listening to local radio and played Ketty Lister “Love letters Straight from the Heart” CIlla Black “You’re MY World” now playing
Dion “I’m a Wanderer”earlier played “Keep on Running” Stevie Winwood (one of my favourite’s)
Through this site I have been contacted by someone who knew my brother’s (Micky Twitch)
wife – it’s a small planet
Love Liz xx
Hi Coco,
Just quick message to say hello. Had a wonderful holiday in Croatia. Been talking (in person) to loads of people who frequented the same places as we did. I’m sure there’s a whole generation out there who are wondering whatever happened to (xxxx).
I’m not suggesting a “get together” because it really is a bit of bummer when you look at photo’s from then and now see your Nan looking back at you through the bathroom mirror!!
It would be good to hear from anyone who has memories from then.
I try & tell my two kids that we did set different standards and that we rebelled more than our previous generation but I think they’re convinced that we just smoked behind the bike shed!! Every now and then I give them a little naughty tidbit and they say “No Mom you couldn’t have been involved in that” Well I bloody well was!
I’m now trying to explain about the J Saville scandal. Clearly he took advantage of vunerable kids, and that is abuse, which can never be accepted, but regarding other DJ’s and other “stars” at that time there were loads of “groupies” waiting to put another notch on their belt. Girls made the running hoping to either have sex or get involved with any “name”. I suppose a lot of people will now be vilified by the PC lot without understanding that this was a time when everyone wanted to be part of “the scene” and any way to do that was OK.
JS was always odd and I’m sure everyone knew he was odd, I never met him, but he certainly was never on my “fancy him” list.
There may be other things coming out but apart from that old kiddie fiddler I will keep an open mind.
I do ramble a bit, Anyway off for Sunday lunch tomorrow with husband, daughter, her Mike and grandaughter to my favourite pub, which is closing next Wednesday after 400 years – bastards!! Ho Hum.
Hope you are good – I don’t always look back (always think there may be another page to turn in my book of life -but I do enjoy remembering)
Liz xx
oh my goodness, liz…i apologize for not getting back with you..i moved up into the mountains last fall and i don’t have internet anymore-it has been limiting. anyway, i would like to get in touch with you again & share some stories. i can tell you that cyndi would love that you have that book. she once gave me a rug from nepal, i think…she lived really simply & kept few material possessions so i was always touched that she gave me something from her life overseas.. i will check in & hopefully we can correspond again soon..it might be a little intermittent but i will check back.
best wishes to you..
wendy
Hi Wendy
Many months now, so I understand that you can’t keep in regular contact.
I am delighted by what you have told me about Cindi and so relieved that I can feel easier about treasuring that book.
I really wish that I had searched for her years ago, but after Cindi and Michael split up and Michael was killed I really thought that as a beautiful young woman she would move on with her life and maybe re-marry.
I really hope that she had a very happy life as she was a lovely person. I really should have made the effort to get in touch with her again.
Last Saturday, 20th July 2013, our son married his partner of 8 years. It was a wonderful wedding and Alex (our son) and his beautiful bride Tracy gave us an amazing day. After the ceremony, my brothers, cousins and other family members were chatting outside in the glorious sunshine and spoke about Michael and Cindi. They were really pleased that there is some contact, even though we’ve never met, but it is contact.
Sorry this isn’t more interesting but I would love to keep in touch, even if it is very rarely.
My family meet in small groups quite often, but on the last Sunday before Christmas we all meet up at my brother’s house and last year ther was 58 of us!!
One point of interest maybe that my sister’s (she is now deceased) son wa the lead singer in the band known as Supergrass and he looks very much like Michael. His name is Gareth Coombes – known as Gaz – if you get the chance to see him on the net you will have an idea of what Michael looked like.
Love to hear more about you and from you
Love Lizxxx
Robert Plant played there in 1967. He found the set list in his old wallet which his ex wife recently handed back to him.
http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/Robert+Plant+keeps+blues+heart/9087155/story.html
hi coco you nevour mentioned many of the people who used the midnight so just to jog your memory dave austin;ozzy osbourne,dave carlos, tinkerbell, pauline ,sue ,mickey newman,alex spicer,steve taylor, jasper,vern ,bobby fields .i could go on . you mention ozzy with another person in his work cloths that was me we never went into the midnight only the bullring and got banned to much blood on us.do you remember when we set ozzy on fire burnt his new burtons suit he was in love with the blond girl who worked there.i also remember roger daltrey hitting sue on the head swinging the mic around he had a gang of kids baying for his blood he had to say sorry.i know one or to of us crashed and burned but some are still going with prescription drugs now see you later carl lanchester
Hi Carl…well what a surprise. Good to hear from you…I can still remember the first time I met you and Ozzy: it was the BRS disco in Bromford Lane, Erdington. If I remember correctly Spider (is he the Alex Spicer you refer to?) asked us – the Balsall Heath crew – to come over as there was some trouble with another crew from Erdington, maybe the Nugents (?)…I remember a swordstick and a razor filled potato, but enough of that…do you remember Jimmy and Harry Barrett, Rory Couples, Tommy Murphy, Gerry Kelly, Fritz and Steve & Phil Mason (the last two being part of a crew from Yardley who, if my memory serves me, were friends of Bobby Mee & Mickey Newman. Yes I do remember the incident of setting Ozzy’s collar on fire (a paper cup of water balanced on his head dousing the flames when he awoke). Dave Austin, haven’t seen him in quite a while, used to visit me and Eve throughout the 70s & 80s – we used to have backgammon tournaments; Colin Mythen, Brian Fewtrell et. al. Other names I’d kind of forgotten ‘till I read your piece and then they flooded back…Dave Carlos in his tonic mohair (blue) suit dancing real cool; Tinkerbell a mod queen winning dance competitions; can’t place Pauline (?); Steve Taylor who I’d totally forgotten & Bobby Fields too, though both names do ring a peal of bells; Vern & Jasper I can remember their faces, think Vern came from a kids home near Weoley Castle (?): Guess you’ll remember Willie Tucker, though we never actually got on with his crew and Alan Fair, who has recently moved back here, who loved blues music & jazz. Sue I also cannot place unless it was Sue from Erdington who was a terrific dancer (?). All the best mate and take care…
Coco
Hi again Carl…just been talkin’ with Eve and she’s filled in some other names you might recall…Joe Morris (Groovy Joe) who opened a head shop in town – Hyperion. “H”, Jimmy Gunner, Spuddy Taylor and Colin Bates (who was in a band Jugs O Henry), Martin Chandler, Haz Brown and his older brother Bobby who opened Alpha Beta Delta and was one of the first shops to sell cheesecloth shirts, loon pants and starry t-shirts in B’ham. Did you ever know Edward from the MAC (?)…went off down to London in the late 60s and joined Mick Farren of International Times – did excellent cartoons, a lot of which can be seen via the net. Both are dead now…Mick live on stage at a gig of the reformed Deviants and Edward whose death features in a poem by Felix Dennis (Glass Half Full) and is apparently planting forests in deepest Worcestershire. Better leave off here as the nostalgia is whizzing a-way out in to inter-stella space.
Coco
I used hang around the bullring centre with you guys
HI COco remember the fight at the BRS never really took off did it the spud was ozzys idea i think it cut his hands before he could throw it good job really.The last time i saw you was in the 80s.You mention Dave Austin he and Ian McCloud,Alhambra lived with me in Bearwooit i remember the cheese cloth shirts Bobby Brown and Dave Austin got them from india all the buttons fell off them. Do you remember Bunt the roadie Daves mate if Joe is joey the jew he lives in bearwood ane Bone Tony Austin was on his way toBrazil.Mickey Fewtrell and Dinky had a shop in Blackheath but moved on a few years ago.Jimmy Barrett passed away a couple of years ago his wife is looking fot some old friends John Walsh and his wife if you go onto Birmingham in the 60s retrowow you can have a look lots of stuff from people we knew from the midnight and the whiskey.Bunt tells me that Martin Chandler and Moscow have shops in Moseley Village . The 80s was the parting of the ways for the 60s kids but that retrowow site brings back few memories give my love to Eve all the best Carl
r, Hi coco just reading your stuff still hoping to contact anyone from balsall heath i am jimmy barretts wife as you know jimmy and i were living in vancouver canada when jimmy died in 2012 of cancer. we were married for 40 years , i miss him very much, he was always crazy ! reading all the names reminded me so much of all the old clubs the midnight city. the whisky, rum runner, the west end dance hall i can remember watcing alan fair dancing he was a great dancer, jimmy was always in trouble him and paddy duffy. were always up to something. so many tales to tell ! but i better not!. ! lots of stuff on here about mick the twitch i remember mick he was a great guy jimmy and myself used to see him in the bulls head. jimmy never forgot anyone / carl lanchester colin mythen. micky slatery shawn mahony,moscow, tommy murphy. alan fair.j jhonny walsh such a lot of names just dont have enough room all the best carol.
Hi Carol…really good to hear from you…yes, we heard about Jimmy’s death…we miss him even though we hadn’t seen him for ages; last time was Tommy Murphy’s fumeral…we did manage to sneak away back to ours and had a really long chat…Jimmy was one of the good guys: him, Eve & myself were pretty close for a while and I always admired his mind (how can I put this, he was a cut apart from the crowd, intellectually)…remember lots of mad adventures we had together. Micky Slattery, Rory Couples and myself kind of fancied ourselves as the 3 musketeers, oh the vanity of youth. I remember you too, first meet you at Jimmy’s folk’s house in Cox St West (?). Guess you know that Moscow has a shop up in moseley Village. Are you back in Englan or still in Canada? Paddy Duffy…wonder if he’s still around, guess so as he was a real survivor…remember my mother being appalled at his amphetmine driven manner at our house in Druids Heath…too much nostalgia, but genuinely delighted to hear from you.
Take care, Coco
ih coco,carl best days the midnight great times lot we cant mention though i rember seting fire to ozzy and him chaceing us round the place.remember the bomb the 12 seater humber snipe me benjie larry alan etc from the posh side of town .iremember jimmy barret age 15 drinking a pint in 3 seconds in the shakespeare i still see mosco newman and meet dave austin 2day he told of this site
Hi Evo you bet i remember the bomb and the things that went on with it good times.Was it you that hit ozzy round the head with that big fish when we were having the sunday morning fight with the veg from the market i remember he went nuts picked up a dead pigeon bit its head off and threw it back so we had a bit of a stew flying around .When you see Dave Austin tell him to get in touch.If you go onto Birmingham in the 60s retrowow there are a lot more people from the whiskey and the midnight.I had a good run in town didnt stop using the place till the 90s you and your lads went your own ways early on the only one i saw regular was Toad on his stall by the church.Me Dave and Mc cloud lived in Bearwood for a few years then we went our own ways but kept in touch in the clubs &pubs but lost contact with most of the crew in the 9os we all must be in our 60s now i wounder i they are still as mad i hope so .CARL
hi carl.it was me hit ozzy with the fish it didn’t stop him wearing his new suit though .i said to newman once think ozzy would remember us he said he would’nt remember who he was .i always rememer u as ozzys best mate i think it was danny sace told me ozzy sent a limo round your house take you to a party but you was taking your whippets a walk .ican still see you 2 in your cut off boiler suit and white wellies coming 2 the midnite in the daytime with a bag of sheep eyes or somthing .you still in brum .
seem to remember midnight city not under Moat House but in the same building around the corner still a great time was had by all. Carl will be at moscows shop midday saturday
Hi Evo the last time i saw Ozzy was in Newmans old road Potters Hill Aston he was living in my old road Tower Road he had been thrown through a window in Witton cut to bits more stitches than a mail bag he said him and his band were on John Peel saturday.The next time i spoke to him was when he had made it he said come over to his place in Safford but dont bring any of them mad buggers never went no buses i bet the bomb would have took me.I found out a few years later that Harry Barrett had said to him now you are famous ozzy you have to look after your mates and put the finger on him for a few quid in that deep voice of his he did a replay for me in the Windsor i gave him a few bob.You smacking him over the head with the fish started his head biting habit you shuold drop him a line or put the finger on him for a few bob.Danny the Face went round to his place in Harbourne a few times with Colin Johnson his old man looked after him he had a nice gaff Danny got a lot mixed up so that was a good story for him shame it ended like it did .I worked in the black country for years thats where i met the dog and gun men i live on the border now Oldbury ,Pierre drank in the pup up the road for years never knew till the week before he died he drank in bar i drank in the lounge .Carl
hi carl didnt know perrie had died saw him in harborne 5 years ago said he was drinking in some real ale pub .iwas in oldbury 2day gettin some tyres Did u know johnny bushell he lives in oldbury now had been in spain for years evo.
Hi Evo had a verbal with Pierre for about an hour hadnt seen him in years said we would meet up for a drink this was in the plough i went in the pub the following week and was told he had passed away he had been using the pub for a couple of years.I knew Bushell but was never a mate of his .You mentioned Danny Sace his sister Linda is living with an old mate of mine Kenny Schofield did a lot of stuff with him in the 70s &80 cleaned most of Tipton out and sold it in his shop in harborne a lot of the old faces came into that shop .I knocked about in town with Colin Johnson Joey Spence and a lot of other faces fron the midnight & whiskey for years we drank in the Tavern,Cage,Parisien and on saturdays theWindsor also did most of the clubs in and out of town got our ticket from a few.Where did you go to as you never came into town not that i can remember that goes for most of your crew.I know a lot of people drank outside of town we did in Bearwood and the Hagley Road but always went back into the town at weekends .Let me know where you are now to see if you drink in the bar and me in the lounge.Carl
Danny was my cousin… as is Linda. Poor Kenny has just passed this last week. RIP xx
hi carl saw dave austin newman black gordon at moscow.s shop today he said anyway he can get in touch.i got married in 69 and dint get in to town much drank bartley green harborne and bromsgrove.have u heard of harry barret latley i saw he in northfield 10 years ago still mending lifts his name came up as we have good chat about the oldtimes
lots of name we have not heard of for years come up as i said dave would like to get in touch. evo
Hi Dave,Evo just read the two posts it looks like you saw more old faces in one day than i have seen in years.I still see an old mate of yours Dave its Bunt or Buntman either way he is still spaced out fill you in saturday is Moscows shop the Emporium.If i dont see you sat Evo Harry Barrett fell in love with France and Seamus told me years ago he was going to live over there so it could be Harry the Frog see you laterCarl
I am trying to contact john walsh and wendy miller, peter miller and keith miller are wendys brothers! if anyone knows them please ask them to contact me, I live in vancouver canada. my e mail is .carol_barrett@shaw.ca Jimmy Barrett was my husband , he passed away two years ago in may . my maiden name was Bergonzi. Carol.
Hi carol my name is Benji, I knew Jimmy Barrett & Harry Barrett. In the 60s & 70s. I also knew john walsh who had a brother Eddy walsh. dont know if it is the john walsh you are trying to find.
Hi Benji saw your message on the web site I dont think john walsh had a brother! I think he only had a sister, but I could be wrong! jimmy and I got married in 1970. we moved to vancouver canada in 1975, our son Byron was 6 he is now 41. john and I went out together when we were younger I know he was with wendy miller they had a daughter justine I think they called her, wendy had two brothers peter and keith miller. as you know jimmy passed away two years ago in may , harry still lives in kings heath. I used to live in cleavdon road balsall heath. I was born there. thanks so much for getting in touch, if you get anymore news please let me know, kind regards Carol Barrett,
I owned Z Car Taxis in the 60s we had direct line out of The
Elbow Room , Cedar Club , I was 19 Micky Looked after me , I used to sit with him as he played great sounds, I also worked day time at Duckhams Oils and made good money Lizzie used to work there too , on his last night before he went to Nepal we and his beautiful girlfriend spent the night together , It was so sad , Micky had introduced me to Stevie Winwood Jim Capaldi And may more , he got me the contract to take the Dixie Cups ( IKO IKO fame) on their tour 1964 how good was that for 19 year old Brummie, 4 cars 4 weeks , hot chicks , back stage , Micky was a true friend to the very shy nieve boy from Inner City Birmingham , have lots of stories and memories of a great period, And opened up my outlook on life that held me as an optimist all my great life.
Hello everybody. I wonder if anyone can help me.
I’m searching for somebody who went to the Aero Club at Birmingham Airport in 1970. His name is Ivan.
Can anybody remember the Aero Club?
Thank you.
Whadu
Coco I remember visiting you and Eve. In your first flat together in Moseley. It was om the first floor,Can’t remember the road. People HarryBarrett,Hughie,jerrykelly,Alan fair,Colin bates,,Blake,Alan Roe,Feeney,Jimmy Barrett. Duffy, Spider John,Spud,Lenny,Rupert,Big Ian,Chris Wood,Jenny Carless,Cindi,Duffy,Blonde John, Barrow Vic,Sick Dick, Codiene Ken Carmen etc etc. Fr Stage door days a
Hi Jez…cannot recall you but reckon the flat was probably in Prospect Road. Sam Bennett had the ground floor and Phil Savage & Tina the attic…Brock had the flat before us and the house had a mad reputation…Harry is still around, though sadly Jimmy passed away…Duffy I guess is still about (I wonder is he still as sharp-suited as he used to be)…Hughie too has passed on but Jerry Kelly and Alan Fair are still around, Alan recently returning to Birmingham…god knows where Blake is…Spud went years back – left in Sparkhill Park and I’ve never forgiven those who left him there. Spider John I believe is still racing about. Colin Bates also gone…too many not here now…but good to remember them and those times.
Coco
loved the midnight city had some good memories of Bobby Field would also like to find any info on Chimpey Harris (Brien) for my husband Keith Broone
In all the history of the spinning sphere there was a time for everyone who was in those wonderful years between 17 and 23. For those of us who were alive in sixty five there is a means to relive those ecstatic moments, memory and myth. I am in love with our myth, rapturous and stupid, all who were alive were wise. Peace and love to all. Alanxx
I remember the short time of the Midnight as a fabulous time. Greetings to Coco and to Carol Bergonzi (Barrett).
I moved to London many years ago, though I still get up to Brum quite regularly. I did various jobs down here, before ending up as a teacher, from which I have recently retired. Fritz was a close friend of mine, who went to the same school as me. I also remember Johnny Fagin and his mate Keith (I think, can’t remember his surname).
I was also in a band in my spare time, Public Sector, for a few years recently, and I wrote a song for them which makes reference to the Midnight and to some of the tunes we used to dance to (Out On The Floor, The In Crowd, That Driving Beat, and others). We recorded the song, which is called Sunday Morning In The Boneyard (I remember hanging about in St Philips Cathedral’s little park/cemetery on Sunday mornings after coming out of the Midnight all-nighter).
I see Moscow when I come up to Brum. I often pop into his shop in Moseley when I’m around that way. I recently spent a rather drunken afternoon in the garden of the Prince with him and Alan Fair.
Jimmy Barrett visited me a few years back and stayed for a night. I remember he cooked me and my missus a great chicken curry. I bump into Paddy Duffy sometimes when I’m in Brum.
Anyway, peace and love to all those from those who are still around from those days. “Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive/And to be young was very heaven.
Gerry (Gez) Kelly
Also, Harry Barrett used to work with Ozzie in the slaughterhouse. I remember him coming down the Midnight with Harry and Carl.
Evo, I remember the Humber Imperial well. We had some mad nights out in that!
And yes, Coco, I am very much still around, though down in London. Thanks for mentioning me and the Barretts.
Regards to you and Eve. I would like to see you when I next come up to Brum (which will be in the next couple of weeks.
All the best,
Gerry
My days at the midnight city.with Birmingham,towney mods.and my dubs? Speed.Dex.Bombers,blueis.,Erskin T……R.I.P.The ,soulman.Dj all nighters.walk up to the wisky.joe on door,how could we ever for get the great old towneys mods.up all night in mohair suits.and french macs.booker t and the mgs.nice to have do it.Bobb.
Every Monday, Locarno. Every Tuesday, Top Rank. Every Wednesday,Le Metro. Every Thursday, Rainbow suit. Every Friday, Heart Beat Every Saturday Rebecas. Every Sunday back to the Heart Beat. 1967. Fab year. Narrow lapels , 12 insh central vent, 2 & half inch slanted flaps. light weight whistle. Silk hanky. Short mod style hair style. What a time. Motown, atlantic, Stax, Ska , Rock Steady, & in 1968 reggae. In 1967 & 1968 i used to go dancing every night of the year. i never stayed in. John.
Hello everyone. I am still desperately trying to find Ivan, he went to the Aero nightclub at Birmingham Airport in 1970. Does anybody know where I could go for more info please? Thank you.
The midnight city club 1965.one night Danny sauce.one off the black bomb,firm.lads from north of city.wildboy did set Aston boy ozzy Osbourne,on fire,in the bench room .ozzy had gone asleep crash out. on Danny boyo,though drugs.so Danny did stuff the Birmingham mail.in ozzys crobie overcoat and set ozzy on fire.il never forget.ozzy asleep in black crombie with his hobnail,boots on.sadly now wild boy Danny.as Richard Raymond,sauce has sadly past over from drugs.r.I.p.Danny boy how could I ever for get you.and the famton.gob.great days for towney mods.king of the mods sean o,mohoney.that what he use to tell me.r.I.p.sean.and Leo ryian.from a black bomber.Bobby pountney.
Hi Bob I was there in the bomb, with Evo, Larry, Alan, Danny Says.They were great days.Benji
My all-time Favourite Live act. Geno Washington. I had already brought Funky bunt live. I thought it was the most fantastic sound i had ever heard. My friend at the birmid said, All that Public live stuff is added on latter. Geno came to , i think it was 1968, The Flower Pot. Or Was it the Midnight City. I think it was 15. shillings in (75 pence) I had to think long and hard as to wether i could afford it. The cellar was packed. I was blown away.
Spider John is my dad, he is indeed still racing about, I’ll be reading this all to him in about a week! Bara Vic is still about too – living in Wales
What a fab Club, The Le Metro, I used to go every Wednesday night to the Disketique, Karl & Pete played some real cutting edge Soul tracks, And the spiral staircase up to the bar, don’t think it would be allowed today. IN 1967 IT was 3 bob in. 15 pence in new money. What a bargain. John
Interesting reading i also remember the venues mentioned, however, concerned/confused rref dates as from my recolections (briefly butleaving out some of the periferal clubs) the time line was The Wiskey (Marquee) jazz/blues; Midnight City – mod then moved into early rock (indeeed raided); Mothers (rock/hippie) along with Henrry’s Blueshouse. my concern is previous comments indicate that Cream played The Whiskey my recolection was that they played Midnight City (soon after their inception and release of their single (can’t find any record, can’t remember them playing the Whiskey. the Who also palyed the Midnight (dancing in the street and barbara anne were on the set list.)
The Cream played the Whiskey. I was there with Harry Barrett.
Coco are you still on this site?
Don’t remember Cream at the Whisky (great club though) but definitely saw them at Midnight City. Well remember walking back to Lichfield afterwards as well!
Hi All
Just stumbled on this site and yeah, memories ! I’ve posted a pic of myself, all Midnight City attendees, Dick “Evo” Evans, Dave Austin, Mick Newman and Carl Lanchester at one of our regular Breakfast meets somewhere on this site, unfortunately my IT skills are found wanting, to rabbit about the ’60’s in Birmingham and the Midnight ! We are usually accompanied by another Midnight stalwart Dave Carless but sad to say he’s not in the best of health at present. Anyone finding the pic let me know your comments.
Regards
Ian Macleod