ARTICLES. Some articles written on the Nottingham music scene, music in general and other rock and roll trivia. Lists and notes.
It’s a tricky one. What is punk? Who is and who isn’t. If I put the pointless debate about who is and who isn’t aside and just go for the general influx of new bands in 1977-78 on the back of the national “punk” movement then we can just celebrate them no matter what their motivations may have been.
There is some crossovers from the rock and pub rock era, those who just swapped their flares for some drainpipes, got their hair cut and wore a badge but as I say it doesn’t matter. They had fun and the punters had fun, just like previous music scenes, so jumping on the proverbial bandwagon isn’t a crime.
To start with here is a list of some bands and venues in Nottingham that were critical in those early days for emerging punk bands.
Bands. 1977-79
Some Chicken
The Drains
The Transmitters
The Bollards
Skin Patrol
Lethal Dose
Spasm
The Blitz Kids
The Hormones
Art Failure
The Turbines
Berlin
The Favourites
Fatal Charm
An honourable mention to Gaffa can be made here. While not being considered a punk group they had the street attitude which endeared them to the up and coming new groups, some of which found themselves on the same bill with them. With roots in the early 1970’s, Gaffa were one of the few groups who persevered with their own material rather than become a covers group and certainly had a new wave sound in the late 70’s and playing all four of the venues below.
Venues. In 1977 through to 1979 these four establishments were probably the most important in Nottingham for punk bands, rock bands too.
Katies
Sandpiper
Imperial
Hearty Goodfellow
Nottingham University also put on many new bands in this period.
and while you are here take a look at this page for me. It is largely unknown local punk photos. Anybody know who is who.
FIRST PUNK GIGS IN NOTTINGHAM
Again, that ‘what was punk’ thing comes in again. Now, I wouldn’t say Ultravox or XTC were particurlarly punk, Ultravox had been around for a while, but at the time they were all lumped in with that title, so fair enough.
Some of these dates are sketchy but close so, the first punk gigs of real significance (by that I mean nationally known) in Nottingham were the:
Saturday August 21st 1976 – The Sex Pistols – The Boat
Sunday August 29th 1976 – Suburban Studs – The Boat
Saturday January 22nd 1977 – Suicide & Bandana ?????? – The Boat – Not the American Suicide, they came to the UK in 78, Leicester I think. Don’t think Brummie band Bandana were particurlarly punk either. So not really a punk gig.
February 5th 1977 – Ultravox played in the Ballroom of the Portland Building, Nottingham University, I think.
Friday April 29th 1977 – Some Chicken – New Wave Special The Boat – Nottingham band. There was obviously lots of ‘Some Chicken’ gigs in Nottingham but difficult to nail down.
Friday 6th May 1977 – Nottingham Punk Festival. (Chelsea, ATV, The Adverts) at the Victoria Leisure Centre, Sneinton. The Models didn’t play.
See more of these photos on this YouTube clip
Saturday May 28th 1977 – Ultravox – The Boat
Thursday 2nd June 1977 – The Clash at the Palais. It was originally meant to be Thursday May 12th 1977 with Subway Sect in support but was rearranged to Thursday 2nd June 1977 after an injury to guitarist Mick Jones. By the time of the gig The Clash got in touch with The Buzzcocks to take the support slot. (The Clash and Buzzcocks). (Only the Buzzcocks supported the rearranged Clash gig. The other bands billed on the White Riot (?) Tour didn’t play).
Saturday June 4th 1977 – The Boys (new wave) – The Boat
Sunday June 12th 1977 – The Amazorblades – The Boat
Saturday 25th June 1977 – Rock Extravaganza (Gaffa, Some Chicken etc) at Sneinton Leisure Centre
July 1977 – The Damned / The Adverts at Nottingham University – Hard to work this one out. Nottm Uni wasn’t originally on the tour dates but it wasn’t unusual for extra gigs to be arranged and probably after the end of the tour, so very late June or very early July is the best guess at the moment.
From this point lots at punk/new wave gigs Katies and then the Sandpiper.
A few other gigs thrown in for now.
November 11th, 1977 – Ultravox at Nottingham University
Saturday December 17th 1977 – Radio Stars – The Boat
1978
February 10th, 1978 – XTC at the University, Nottingham
Sunday February 26th 1978 – The Turbines at the Boat – Nottingham band.
November 8th, 1978 – XTC at the Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham
More on these gigs later.