Barbarella’s is one of Birminghams legendary venues. It stood on the site of what is now the RBS Bank in BrindleyPlace. If memory serves me right, the address was 37 Cumbernauld St.
Part of the Fewtrell family chain of venues in Birmingham, it was initially a disco type venue that quickly turned into a live rock venue hosting bands such as AC/DC and Queen. It’s legendary status however came with the onslaught of Punk in 75/76. Tales are numerous of the small but noticeable punk crowd who would turn up at Barbarella’s to see The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshee’s, The ramones, The Buzzcocks and local punks, The Killjoys, Suburban Punks and The Prefects, Sussed, Dansette Damage and others who would play as support. In between acts, the punks would pass over their own reggae records for Kevin the DJ to play. Like Punk, Barbarella’s was a fairly short term venue (although Dire Straights did record a live album there on the 4th July 1978 titled Birmingham at Barbarellas).
As with other venues, I’d love to get more memories, gig listings, photos and so on, but to kick us off, here is a mega rare photo of the Sex Pistols playing Barbarellas accompanied by a live recording on from the gig on 14th August 1976 of Flowers of Romance and I Wanna Be Me, sent in by Andy Marshall from the Sex Pistol Archives http://www.youtube.com/user/SexPistolsArchives
This is some incredible audio, of the Pistols in Brum. Were you there?
Just two weeks before the Pistols played Barbarellas, on the 31st July 1976, one of the all time greats of the heavy rock scene played here, the mighty AC/DC. What an amazing couple of gigs in the space of two weeks and so different! Where you there?
This is a rare recording of Rock N’ Roll Singer, made even rarer for being recorded live in Barbarellas in Birmingham! Enjoy.
Barbarella’s Rock Christmas Party
Howard Devoto, 1979
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A terrific clip, Jez! The other gig the Pistols played in Brum was at Bogarts, Fewtrell’s pub on New Street. Most bands playing Bogarts were resolutely heavy metal, right through the punk era and beyond, but the Pistols played there. Once. I wasn’t there that night, but I gather they didn’t go down too well. I was a regular at Barbarella’s, though. As I recall, there were two smaller bars, and then the much larger room where the main bands played. “The Pose” hosted the punk disco at weekends, and “Datachic” was where all the local rastas (and wannabe rastas) gathered for some serious Dub. The famous commingling of punk and reggae was definitely taking place between those two bars every Saturday night, as there was always a sprinkling of punks in the Datachic, soaking up the heavy bass sounds of dub. In the big room, there was a steady parade of punk and new wave bands – I remember seeing The Stranglers there, round about the time of “No More Heroes”, with the inevitable fight breaking out, sparked by the band’s hardcore Finchley Mob followers. Billy Idol’s early band Chelsea played there, too, as did Foxx-era Ultravox! and French rocker Little Bob Story. Great days – or nights, anyway.
Paul, have a look at the this page on the site! http://birminghammusicarchive.com/substitute-sex-pistols-at-bogarts/
Brilliant. This has really stirred some memories of happy days down at Barbs. I must loosen the grey cells to recall which bands were on when I was there. I do remember the The Runaways in a very cramped room and I gobbed on Joan Jett (shame on me, I know……but it was, sort of, still ‘the thing’ then). In penance I have, over the years, still purchased the odd Joan Jett album. The Killjoys, of course, before Dexy’s formed. And my enduring love affair with The Ramones began at Barbs. I’m sure that Cheap Trick played there although on your listings it says the Mayfair Suite ? I’ll see if I can come up with any more recollections.
saw the dire straits gig,it was ok nothing out of the ordinary. much prefered ultravox, split enz and the brilliant deaf school. i gravitated to bands that caught the eye aswell as the ears.i do believe that barbs was 41 cumberland st and not 37. i also remember jane kahn and patti belle having a shop in hurst street, just below the fox pub, wasn’t it called kahn and belles.most gigs in mid weekwere on a tue or thurs. a band that escapes my memory for the time being,supported the killjoys and it was one of the emptiest i remember barbs,but ironically a few weeks later they supported blondie who had just had a hit with denis.the sweat dripped off the walls barbs was heaving.talent and success,often do not go together,bands that slip through the net and deaf school was one such band.what a way to end it all.
Remember my good friend Graham ‘Banner’ Bannister being dragged out of Barbs by the police. We were queuing up to get into some concert or other (there seemed to be a brilliant gig every week) and a crowd of bored lads decided it would be a good idea to walk over a car parked outside the club, banner included. The car was quickly damaged. It turns out it belonged to an employee of the club. the police were called and Banner, at 6 foot daft, was quickly pointed out.
So many memories of the place.
Jeepers,think that car walking escapade included me,If i recall also tried to smash the window of some tyre company on the corner of Cumbernauld st/broad st and later tried pulling over the statues we passed as we went into city centre-not proud now…it was the zeitgeist..anarchy n all that..of he time,well that’s my excuse and i’m sticking to it.
That was in the queue waiting to see the Clash when they came back, after Strummer found out the previous time we had been charged £5 for entry. He promised to come back with tickets at £3, and so they did.
I have many gigs from Barbs listed, and some are in my memory. Some great comments here, but I am pretty sure The Stranglers never played there. They played the Mayfair on the ‘No More Heroes’ tour. Some I remember: UFO (20/4/76); The Damned/The Adverts (March 1977); Cheap Trick – two nights in February 1979 (they played the Mayfair Suite on 20/3/78); Heartbreakers / Siouxsie & The Banshees / The Models on 25th October 1977; Iggy Pop in May 1979; Flamin’ Groovies / Radio Birdman on 23/5/78; The Only Ones on 24th May 1978 and again in September ’78; Ramones / Talking Heads (24th May 1977); Talking Heads / Dire Straits (2nd February 1969) and many more…
The Stranglers definitely played there, think 1976 or 1977. It was the first time I ever went to Barbs and I was hooked from then on.
Yeah, I was at The Stranglers gig and was disappointed they played Rattus Norvegicus note-perfect and just like the recording and nothing “extra”. Honestly, how picky can you be?
I was also present. My mate and I were attacked outside afterwards. I suffered a broken nose and my friend was in hospital for several days. Blood on the night.
It was definitely 1977. Played the Rattus Norvegicus album. Wore luminous tubes around the neck! Brilliant concert! I was living in Handsworth Wood – part of Aston Uni at the time.
Saw the Stranglers at Birmingham Barbarella’s a number of times. Best of all though was Cheap Trick, 16 February 1979. Awesome gig.
Barbs had 3 rooms, front left datachic, back left spectrum, back right the pose.
many happy days there as one of the original punks, with your own dress code before the uniform look took over.
Absolutely. The arguments I’ve had with people over the years claiming punk was all leather jackets, studs & mohicans. When I were a lad it was plastic sunglasses, jelly sandals and beach party shirts. Or in fact anything except flares.
Remember first time i wore Dunlop Green Flash tennis shoes, tight lee cooper old jeans that were far to short, old school shirt and school tie and one of my dads old black suit jackets with safety pins and hair cut short
2 days before was wearing karmen ghia flared jeans, skinny rib teeshirt, four inch platforms and hair down my back
Change resulted in parents saying if you see us in the street don’t talk to us
and girl i was engaged too dumping me.
Life was so simple
haha
Sounds like I could have written that. Except the bit about being engaged.
Barbarellas was by far the best punk venue back in 77, along with Rebeccas it was definately the place to go if you liked some heavy Dub tunes to listen to in between some great gigs.
Bands i have seen at Barbarellas include
The Killjoys, supported by Model Mania and Crimefighters. Early Killjoys days, there were loads of em on stage including a saxophonist. ( 06.06.1977)
The Damned and The Adverts. The damned were superb live, i think rat Scabies set his hands alight at this gig.( 11.06.1977)
The Police,before they got too famous hence only a £1 in (09.07.1977)
The Saints, brilliant Aussie band (16.07.1977)
Chelsea, supported by The Cortinas. The night Elvis died (17.08.1977). Gene October told us but we didnt beleive him!!
The Slits (26-08-1977), a little high i was, jumped on stage, got slung out! Dont think that was anything unusual back in those days.
The August Bank Holiday special, loads of bands all for a quid (29.08.1977)
Generation X (10.09.1997) what a poser, great live band though.
The Damned supported by Wreckless Eric?? I think it was something to do with THe Stiffs greatest hits as Ian Dury was drumming for Eric. This wasnt long after Marc Bolan died and The Damned done a blistering tribute to him as an encore, this was definately one of Barbarellas greatest punk nights (22.09.1977). Still only a £1 in too.
Sept 24, The Fabulous Poodles and Sept 30 Jon Foxx’s Ultravox.
Oct 8 , The Saints.,15 London and 29 The Killjoys who by now had established themselves as one of the best live bands around.
Split Enz on Bonfire night, and Radio Stars on the 26th Nov.
There was another all dayer on Boxing Day again featuring The Killjoys and the last gig i have listed is for Tue 24 Jan 1978 featuring Model Mania, The Lous (frech all girl band) and The Clash. Strummer was well peed off that Barbarellas had charged us £2 in and promised that next time it would be 50p in, and true to form Joe kept his word but unfortunately i missed that gig.Again, The Clash played Barbs on the day of the ill fated Rag Market gig, i didnt hang out long enough to see the gig but spent a great day hanging around Brums cafes meeting punks from all over the UK including Strummer and Simonen themselves.
I vaguely remember seeing Wilko sometime in 78 and also Subway Sect and that band who sang ” i Am The Fly” sometime in 78. Barbs closed around this time and there was never really anywhere that could replace it. The Cedar Club tried, i was there the night of The Cockney Rejects riot, quite lively ha ha.
Sorry if ive gone o a bit folks but Barbarellas did play a big part in my youth, i was 18 in 1977. All three rooms in Barbs were great fun, and all the young punks who frequented any of the gigs above will agree that these were the days of real punk, as the above poster says before the uniforms came in.
Very interesting reading. I was a regular at Barbs – was addicted to the place. I do remember a guy called Paddy, who lived in West Heath I think – don’t suppose that would be you would it?
the ‘band who sang ” i Am The Fly” sometime in 78’ were Wire.
“I am the fly” i think the band was Wire and from the pink flag album
Classic 12 XU
The band that sang ” I Am The Fly” were called WIRE. Used to go there every week, loved the place lol
Wreckless Eric his drummer was Ian Dury and Too see David Johansen from the Dolls sing I’ll be There and so many times with the the Heavy Metal Kids the damened what a great club good timesx
Am I right in recalling that the Suburban Studs supported the Clash at Barbarella’s? Anyone help with the date? I recall seeing them and not really being aware who the Clash were at the time! Me and my mate got in even though we were wearing flared jeans! Fair play to the punks…there was no animosity toward us…quite the opposite in fact and we all had a great old time. After the Clash played “I’m So Bored with the USA”…we were both hooked.
There really was something so very special about the Clash and Strummer in particular. I remember thinking that he wasn’t the best guitarist on the planet but he had a stage presence and an energy that carried you with him. RIP Joe. Great days and a sad loss when Barbarella’s became no more.
I think the date was 10/12/76 (think they opened with Birmingham’s Burning). I’ve got the bootleg 🙂
Wow…thanks for that…and now that you mention it, I now recall the Birmingham’s Burning opener. I’d forgotten that completely.
It was the other way round The Clash supported the Studs.
It was the first time i had seen them too, and I was hooked from there on.
This is great.
Does anybody recall the name of the promoter there who would go on to put on the 30th Anniversary of Punk (Academy in the UK) gigs in Newcastle, 2006?
Supposedly a DVD was being made of the event but nothing seems to be out there
Just to add a name to the list… I saw the Mighty Diamonds play at Barbarella’s though I am not sure of the date [circa.1977].
One of the most exciting nights was the Blondie give in Feb 78. They had just broken through and the place was packed. Chris Stein got into a tussle with someone in the crowd who must have shouted something about Debbie Harry, and at the end all the doors were locked and we couldn’t get out – can’t imagine that happening now. There was another gig with Little Acre and Robin Valkyrie, in support of the families of The Possessed.
Anyone remember these?
Yeah remember the Blondie gig. They had a song out called ” Rip her to Shreds and every1 tried to make a grab 4 Debbie Harry and do just that, to her clothes anyway lol. Great times
I recall seeing Elvis Costello & the Attractions at Barbs in 1978. They did two nights and on both nights Nick Lowe deputised on bass for Bruce Thomas who had cut his hand and was unable to play.
I only went to Barbarellas once.I spent all my time at Mothers before I went to university. But in my final year, at the Easter holidays, I was back home from London and my mate, Steve Higgins, and I went to see Queen at Barbarellas. I can’t really remember much except they were brilliant. I’ve seen on another website claims that members of Nutz, the support band, streaked on stage during Queen’s encores, but I can’t remember that…maybe just my useless memory. What I do remember is that Steve and I were utterly broke and after buying our tickets, we had enough cash to buy one pint between us for the evening, from about 7.30 when we went in to after midnight. Happy days!
Here’s the set list
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/queen/1974/barbarellas-birmingham-england-23df1c5f.html
i was working at Barbs the night that Queen performed
p.s. the date was April 2nd 1974.
DR HOOK AT BARBS WERE A SURPRISE PACKAGE,THEY WERE EXCELLENT AND ALSO VERY FUNNY. A BAND CALLED LONDON WERE BEING DROWNED IN SPIT,WHEN THE GUITARIST HAD ENOUGH ,SO HE JUMPED OFF STAGE AND STARTED FIGHTING WITH THE CROWD.
I remember the sweat rain and wet walls in Barbs, The band Moonknight ( I was working with) won the local heat of The Melody Maker Folk Rock awards here and we went on to the finals at the Roundhouse London.
Saw quite a few bands here over the years.
I was there at the concert of the original line up of AC/DC in barbarellas 1976. Although I was heavily into glam rock I was extremely impressed with AC/DC. Such a shame that Bon Scott died so young. Angus Young has got to be one of the best guitarists ever!!
Hi I remember Barb’s very well , I was in the band Model Mania, we played there many times. We were a kind of resident support band, we played with The Clash, Vibrators, Adverts and loads of others, our ‘manager was the D.J. at Barb’s, Wayne Rossington Myers who also D.J,d at Rebbecas. We played our first gig there with the Prefects. I’ve got loads of stories if anybodies interested
I think I only saw you the one time – at the August Bank Holiday All-Dayer – I thought you were pretty good! You played a song that had a great bit that went something like ” Oh bay-ay-aybee you through shit in my fay-ay-ay-ace! I still remember that all these years later and still think it is a cracking good sing-a-long chorus.
Great times at Barbs and Rebeccas back then, weren’t they?
Rob,
I was an apprentice at the Birmingham evening mail when you and your Dad/brother was working there as contractors or have i got the wrong person great days
Hi Rob,
Just looking through archives of Rebecca’s and Barbarella’s and was really surprised and pleased to see my brother Wayne mentioned. As you know he was killed in a car crash in 1984. I would love to hear anything you can remember about him and his time at the clubs. You will probably remember his wife Christine who worked behind the bar?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Dawn (nee Myers)
I remember Wayne really well from those days. At my request he played a (just released) single by the band I played with. This took some guts as he’d never heard it but gave it a go anyway. To our relief it sounded great. I am sorry to say I did not know of the accident and am truly sorry to hear about it. Wayne was a good egg as was Christine. Happy memories of both at a brilliant time.
HI I AM A RELATIVE OF WAYNE R MYERS YOUR MANAGER BACK AT BARBERELLAS, HE IS MY UNCLE,UNFORTUNATELY WAYNE WAS KILLED IN THE EARLY 80’S IN A CAR ACCIDENT BY THE BELL IN NORTHFIELD EARLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING ,I WOULD LOVE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WAYNE AND THE PLASTIC POSERS,I DO HAVE SOME FANTASTIC PHOTOS OF THE BAND AND PHOTOS OF HIM DJ’ING AT BARBERELLAS
Hi .Rob .I was married to Martin from modelmania
My dad was Wayne Myers and my Morhenr is Christine .. my dad died in a car crash in 1984. It’s so nice to see his name xo
Hi Alison I was there and know exactly what happened as I was near the front. Spitting was definitely still in fashion and a few songs in Chris Stien said something like ” we’re an American rock and roll band don’t spit at us us”‘ to be fair poor Debbie was getting drenched in loads of brummie top quality punk gob as most was aimed at her. This was of course a mark of utmost respect, but she did not see it that way, we may share the same language as the USA but are culturally miles apart.
Anyway there was a bit of a collective silence at Chris’s statement and then a few people pulled Chris off stage for a few seconds, gave him a couple of playful digs, and then put him back on. He was a bit shaken but stayed on stage. Then soon after someone threw a glass at the lights above which smashed and the glass fell on the band Debbie screamed, the band ran off stage and that was it. Great night. Almost matched the night Sham 69 got slung off but that’s another and bigger story ! Tim
…and prior to the punk days I saw the Sensational Alex Harvey Band there, possibly the mightiest live act of the ’70’s, or at least one of ’em…
Ye gods. Just googlin around an thought of Barbs; and Bogarts, obvs. I remember goin to see SAHB at Barbs, haven’t the foggiest when, (memory failing at 62!). I do remember goin to The Tow Rope later, and my mate Mark swears there was Alex, Clem + others playin pinball, must’ve been too sh*tfaced meself. Also similar with Hawkwind, tho they played the Town Hall; but partied at Barbs after before headin to th Tow Rope. Happy daze, thanx for kickstartin my old brain, folks. Brightest Blessings to all.
I remember seeing The Steve Miller Band there in 1973 unforgettable!
I was at Aston Uni from 1971 to 1974 and must have gone to the same gig, but couldn’t remember exactly when it was! I think it was after the release of Rock Love and the band was only a trio. But I could be wrong!
I was a late comer to Barbarellas.
The frst gig I saw there was Ritchie Havens, with a guy I used to work woth, who was much older than me…a guy called Bob. He was the assistant Manager at Rumbelows.
I also saw Chris Rea, Wreckless Eric, Slade, Osibisa (me and Bob were two of only a handful of whites in the audience!), the Steve Gibbons Band…and boy was that loud!
I also recall seeing the Stranglers at the Mayfair Suite, wich seemed a bit odd at the time. My mum told me I had to wear a tie to get into the gig, and despite me faking a phone call to the venue, and having a one way conversation with the talking clock (I think we’ve all done it) to confirm that I didn’t need to wear one. I was so worried about not being able to get in, I crammed one into my pocket anyway!
The Top Rank Club was another favourite venue too…!
You knew you’d had a good night out when you’d gone home with bucket loads of gob in your hair!
does anyone remember ziggy and zowie from there 🙂
I remember lol I’m ziggy
Another couple of bands to add to the list. I saw Hi-tension and from USA The Players Association, would have been either ’78 or ’79!
Great comments about a brilliant club. Went there loads of times to see many bands in mid to late 70’s The Heavy Metal Kids always seemed to play there fronted by the late great Gary Holton. Saw Thin Lizzy there, not sure of the year, but think they had just had The Rocker out as a single.Steve Gibbons was always superb there. Does anybody remember Martin Degville who later fronted Sigue Sigue Sputnik, always being there? He used to catch the 51 bus from Walsall to Birmingham,sure he hung out with Kahn/Belle etc…great times
Sure, Degville was there – hung out with George O’Dowd, who renamed himself ‘Boy’ George.
he also had a store in the oasis market , i used to go to barbs there 3x a week from 77 till 79. great venue for some great bands, does any one remember Tex on the door, slip a pound and he would let you in. Great memories
saw countryjoe of country joe and the fish there and manfredd manns earth band also sad cafe
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Stunning gig, still remember to this day.
I was at that gig. Still remember it , a great night at a great venue.
i was there a lot i remember split enz suberbon studs etc etc
Ya min from the war stock area
[…] the success of earlier legendary clubs like the Cedar Club and Barbarella’s (which during the punk era hosted Sex Pistols, the Clash, Ramones, Buzzcocks and […]
I was doing a PGCE course in Brum 77-78.We used to regularly go to see bands during the week(I think it was Tuesdays for punk-type music). It was a great place at that time.Ones I remember:- Link Wray with Robert Gordon, Buzzcockcks, Clash, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Bram Tchaikovsky,the Only Ones, and many others.The Clash gig was way overcrowded and I remember getting lifted off my feet by the surge of the crowd when pushing for the exit afterwards as three exits converged to one entrance.Scary. We couldn’t get in to see Blondie as they’d had a hit record and the place was filled with teeny fans.It had the obligatory sticky carpets and I think two other rooms besides the main venue.
I remember seeing The Steve Gibbons Band play there and Dr Hook. Happy days. Met a woman recently with the surname De Silva who told me she used to sing there. Anyone remember her?
I was a three nights a week regular at Barbarella’s in late 1977 to mid-1978, which was in between two relationships.
I had a company mini van at the time and a load of us used to pile in, even more on the way home, which would be via the all night chippy on the Coventry Road, Small Heath, on the way back to Solihull, in the days before the Small Heath bypass was built.
If I remember correctly to get to Barbs you had to turn off down Broad Street into either Oozells Street, or Sheepcote Street, to get to Cumberland Street. I don’t think it was directly accessible from Broad Street.
I went back recently so I could see what was on the site now and do a then-and-now pic. My first time back there for 35 years and although the site is now part of the Brindley Place development it was good to see that Cumberland Street still exists, as a pedestrianised walkway, but sad to think that such a great venue as Barbarella’s is now confined to local music history, as with many other great clubs and pubs from the 70s and 80s.
Great times and I’ll be back there as soon as a time machine has been invented!
The streets that barbs was on did go directly to Broad St but it could have been one way?
Nice memories all of the above. I went to my first ever gig at Barbs, the Irish Celtic rock band Horslips. Excellent music and of course I was entranced by the atmosphere, I was only about 14. Later on I saw most of the bands mentioned above. I remember especially that I was a punk fan who went to Barbs etc. in my work suit from my office day job in 77. Nobody bothered me but we weren’t allowed down the pose because you had to be dressed “punk”. I was a long-hair still and thought punk was a natural progression from that ( I’ve never understood heavy metal which was rendered meaningless by punk) though I still rate early 70s rock cos at that time it was what we had. Also saw Boomtown Rats (when they were good- obv!) and this year saw Geldof in Yeovil, what a tosser he has become. Sad, greedy and arrogant.
Fond memories though!
Dicky Mint
Interesting seeing these comments are quite recent. I frequented Barbarellas during late 76 till it closed at the end of 1978 I think. I though one of the most memorable gigs was the Blondie – I remember seeing Debbie Harry’s underwear very clearly as she was wearing the shortest of mini skirts. Do any of you remember tall Paul? or the 2 Julie’s from Blackpool? I wonder if any of you were there on the Saturday, night when all the ‘Punks’ were locked out. We were not allowed entry into Barbarellas, was probably around Oct 1978, and we all congregated outside the club until some decided to wonder off. SOme went to the Crown, near the Bus station and others (including me) went on a bit of a protest march and ended up walking along the Hagley Road (from 5 ways) and ended up causing a bit of a rumpus when we went into some of the Hotel Bars there. I think that was the last night I went to Barbarellas. Any body remember ‘Tex’ the big Bouncer? he used to let me in free sometimes and also let me peek into the ‘Pose” I think it was called when they had a ‘Show’ – usually a stripper with a Boa Constrictor – how I have changed….
I recall the White Riot tour; The Clash, Buzzcocks and The Subway Sect. Joe Strummer came onstage and tried to provoke the sparse audience by stating “You’re only here because you couldn’t get tickets for The Eagles”. The Eagles were playing The NEC that night. Also saw The Clash the next round. But never saw The Eagles.
EARLY SEVENTIES SAW MANFRED MANNS EARTH BAND , COUNTRY JOE,
SAD CAFE LIVE
I remember going to Barbarella’s quite a few times from 76- 78ish to see a number of punk band’s. There was a healthy mix of people there mingling between rooms when the bands were not playing.
The Clash and The Ramones were two of the best gigs I have been to ( this must be the case as both concerts were bootlegged with pretty decent sound recordings).
It was always a long walk back to Wednesbury through Smethwick though as I recall.
Best wishes to anyone I used to see at Barbarella’s or on that long walk home.
Nov 1974 i was at Barbarella,s watching George Mccrea I think, it was the night of the pub blasts which we were not aware of until we were on our way home and the texi driver told us
Hi, found a brilliant album on ebay by The Swell Mob. Word has it they played at Barbarella’s. Does anyone remember seeing them?
I used to hang out with these guys! This was because my best mate at the time and our drummer (yes we were all trying to form bands back then!) were recruited by the original members to join the Swell Mob and so I used to go along to rehearsals.
Sadly I can’t remember names of the singer or the guitarist and bass player – who I think were brothers. My mate was called Simon and the drummer was Martin.
Things were happening fast back then to everyone and I left the city and only stayed in touch for a year or so.
The last thing I remember was that they had signed to Arista and produced a demo for them under the name ‘Statik’. At the time Simon said it was to avoid confusion with Nikki Sudden’s ‘Swell Maps’ who were starting to get a lot of airplay by John Peel at the time.
I did have an earlier demo tape recorded under the name the Swell Mob, but that appears to have got lost over the years.
I have no more information after that, sorry.
Hi.I’m nick from the swell mob! The lead singer..I loved playing barbarbarellas! We supported the clash one night….Simon (thwaites) is now a yoga instructor and ownd a couple of studios in London…thanks for the memories mat
In November ’75,saw my first ever gig there,Lindisfarne.As iwas onlt 15 at the time,we actually went inside at 8;00. Had promised my father i would be home by 11;00;Band came on gone midnight,got the 3;00 night service home .The old man was waiting and furious.On a more amusing note we made a pint and a half of mild last all night.
Went onto see many gigs there over the years,most of which have already been mentioned.However two that have not are Eddie & the Hotrods on the Sounds Music paper promotion and the wonderful Alberto Trios Y Los Paranois,promoting there single at the time,”Gobbing on life”.
Happy Days
Cliff Trezise.
Went to loads of the punk gigs, loved ModelMania, but greatest gig ever was James Brown in Jan 1977. Next time I went was the Clash White Riot tour. Happy days
With two nightclubs on Broad Street that played live bands gone (Barbrellas / Rum Runner). And there are rumours of the crown to be closed and turned in to an hotel. Surely we should be preserving our pop hertiage in birmingham.
I only went to Barbrellas once but what a memorable evening it was ! I was a member of JB’s Dudley and on that evening I had seen the Tourists give a very good gig at JB’s. Then went with a group of friends’ to watch Simple Minds at barbrellas. The latter were superb at that time and for me this was the best time to see them (the first 2 albums were the best). The venue was not full and we stood at the front at the edge of the stage
by the way the date 30.6.79. So all those above who said the venue closed in 1978 are clearly at least 12 months out. I think it was more like late 79/80. I still love live music and go to gigs regularly and enjoy them. But you cannot replicate those exciting days of your youth ever. As the song go’s “teenage kicks are the best”
yes every comment above says B’s closed late 78. As I saw Simple Minds there (amazingly not mentioned in previous comments) on 30.6.79 this is not true. I have a memory of the club closing late 79/80 . But may be wrong but all the comments about 1978 are 100 % incorrect.
Met my wife there at Barbs as we called it for short in December 1974 went to see the group ACE who played and recorded the classic HOW LONG song. Remember seeing QUEEN there for 70 Pence !!! Also SLADE, STATUS QUO, DRIFTERS, HOT CHOCOLATE and many more groups pre punk days !!!
Hi. Has anyone seen David johansen places barbarella,s with the Pretenders as support act ? If so Please remind me about that gig as I am trying to ré collection info about. Date? Year ? Thanks pas. Guy
saw Magazine there probably 1977 . spellbinding with Devoto coming out with the light behind him to do The Light pours out of Me. . Had to go on me own as a student one of the few who got the punk bug. Flat mates still listening to Tull and F Mac. Clash at Top Rank, Talking Heads , and the Jam at the Odeon..
Am I right in recalling that the Suburban Studs spuropted the Clash at Barbarella’s? Anyone help with the date? I recall seeing them and not really being aware who the Clash were at the time! Me and my mate got in even though we were wearing flared jeans! Fair play to the punks there was no animosity toward us quite the opposite in fact and we all had a great old time. After the Clash played I’m So Bored with the USA we were both hooked. There really was something so very special about the Clash and Strummer in particular. I remember thinking that he wasn’t the best guitarist on the planet but he had a stage presence and an energy that carried you with him. RIP Joe. Great days and a sad loss when Barbarella’s became no more.
It definitely closed in August 1979. I had a news cutting from the Evening Mail but threw it away years ago. First went there to see Magazine Dec 78. Also The Damned as The Doomed, The Skids, Gen X, Angelic Upstarts, The Dickies, The Only Ones etc etc. Also saw Simple Minds in June 79 too 🙂
Hi Guys
I’m just enquiring to see if you have any information or archive material available on when Gary Holton and his band “Heavy Metal Kids” played at Barbarellas in the late 70s.
Only a few minutes of cinefilm exist of their performances there so anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Richard
I am glad that the closing of Barbarella’s has now been confirmed by Mrs Pepperpot as August 79. As all of the posts above were saying that the club closed at the end of 78. Could not be true as saw Simple Minds there on 30.6.79 !
it appears that only myself and Mrs Pepperpot from the contributors (so far !) on this site were present that memorable night.
I was talking with one of my friends today who I went to the Simple Minds gig on Sat 30.6.79 . We had come from seeing The Tourists at JB’s Dudley. My Friend’s Brother Robin needed to have a piss in one of the backstreets behind the venue where he had parked his car. It was a darkened area. All of a sudden we heard through a megaphone “only animals do that” a police car suddenly appeared !
Fortunately no further action was taken. But at the time it felt like “divine intervention” at the time !
Long shot I know but sometime in the mid to late 1970s me and a friend followed a band from Holland I believe or comprised of some Dutch members that we saw playing at the venue, probably playing there on more than one occasion and I also remember going to their gig somewhere in Barnt Green of all places. Can’t recall the music style but enjoyed it a lot. All I can remember is that the group was a 5 member band, the lead singer was a guy and there were I think 2 female members of the band. I saw and spoke to this lead singer once busking somewhere in Brum so assume that they did the circuit in the Birmingham area. Anyone got any ideas who they were?
Got it after checking a gig list on this site and the name ringing a bell – Little Acre. What a great band they were. Not sure where I got the Dutch connection from though!
Another band I ain’t heard for a generation, Little Acre. I have a vague memory that they played Kidderminster somewhere. Possibly a one-off gig in a pub, but not sure which.
Also there’s mention of The Heavy Metal Kids, I got to know Micky Waller quite well, over th years before he disappeared to Paris. Also bumped into Ronnie Thomas in Brighton in my, then, local boozer The Prince George. His old mum lived in Brighton, and we always hooked up for a few beers and banter. Not seen him for a while but he got th band together again around late 2008/9, and released a single. Something about Jam Sandwiches, the guy who played Nasty Nick Cotton in Eastenders was singing.
saw the dire straits gig,it was ok nointhg out of the ordinary. much prefered ultravox, split enz and the brilliant deaf school. i gravitated to bands that caught the eye aswell as the ears.i do believe that barbs was 41 cumberland st and not 37. i also remember jane kahn and patti belle having a shop in hurst street, just below the fox pub, wasn’t it called kahn and belles.most gigs in mid weekwere on a tue or thurs. a band that escapes my memory for the time being,supported the killjoys and it was one of the emptiest i remember barbs,but ironically a few weeks later they supported blondie who had just had a hit with denis.the sweat dripped off the walls barbs was heaving.talent and success,often do not go together,bands that slip through the net and deaf school was one such band.what a way to end it all.
Hi the lads and myself used to go to Barbs before the punk room was there when it was collar and tie we use to where crew neck jumpers with cardboard collars inserted inside the jumper and a tie and once we got passed the bouncers we would rip off the collars and stuff the ties in our pockets . I believe we saw Al Green B B King Curtis Mayfield The Marmalade and many others will try to remember and get back to you only just found this site.
Loved Barbs best memories Heavy Metal Kids, Alex HarveyBand and seeing ACDC for 50p think there was about 50 of us there it was a sounds music promotion on a Tuesday ,Wayne was the best DJ tormented by a friend of mine tommy Swaine constantly shouting.
Ps have still got a large poster of Barbs promoting Heavy Metal Kids prized possesion
Would love to see a picture of that on the BMA Steve!
Ditto th above msg from Jez.
had my stag night at Barbs in 1975…..got drunk very quick!
manfredd manns earthband ,country joe ,sad cafe all played here 1970,s
I was at Woves Poly in the late 70s and had a good friend from Brum called Rob Dillon. He took me to Barbs a few times and I remember going with him to a market once to see his mate who had a stall there. A wierd looking guy he was, this mate. A few years later, when Sigue Sigue Sputnik were in the news I thought that the singer (Martin Degville) looked like Rob’s wierd mate. A couple of the posts above have just confirmed that it was, indeed, he. Sadly Rob died in 2002 but there is a brief glimpse of him on the Clash film ‘Rude Boy’ in an early scene where the band are playing at Barbarellas (doing Police & Thieves).
we saw Thin Lizzy in 1975 only 30 people in barbs, not long after they filled the Odeon,i could write a list from 73 to 82
Subject: Boomtown Rats at Barbarella’s 1976
I went to the Boomtown Rats concert at Barbarella’s in 1976 and was knocked out by the raw energy of the raunchy coltish lead singer, like a punk version of Mick Jagger. I had never heard of Bob Geldof until then but was amazed at his glowering charisma. He demonstrated a pogo-style dance called ‘Do the Rat’ and then picked three of the audience packed tight against the front of the stage – including me, (dressed in silver lurex as I was a glam rock aficionado) to do The Rat on stage. We pogoed, gurned, made vile eyes-crossed faces and were rewarded with a shower of spit from the audience in tribute to our efforts. Best of all Geldof kissed me hard on the lips and each of us received a signed Boomtown Rats single – in vinyl of course. I presented it as a memento to my brother, a punk fan and hel has it to this day.
I remember being at a private party at Barbs arranged by Martin Degville (pre sigue sigue) and a certain Boy George O’dowd, it was in the Spectrum and there was a mixture of skinheads and punks the atmosphere was incredibly tense and the band Misspent Youth wound the crowd up with negative comments about Sid Vicious who had just died it ended in a riot with the audience overunning the stage….just another night at Barbs
I can also remember seeing The Pretenders supporting David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls) , I was right at the back of the Spectrum and remember saying to my friend that the boy singer only looked 12 and was too young to be performing in a night club it was actually Chrissie Hynde like
I went to see Talking Heads supported by Dire Straits on 2nd February 1978 at Barbarellas. You can see the concert listed here http://talkingheadsconcerthistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/1978.html.
The Clash were due to play at the rag market on July 17 1977 , but the gig was cancelled and the band borrowed the back line of the band warhead and played at Barbarellas that evening after the warhead set . Brilliant gig .
Was there also brilliant gig,
Remember so packed people were urinating
In the hall way to gig as to many people
So few toilets . Clash really pissed off because Barbs had charged £3
Said they would come back Tuesday and play for a quid not many bands would do that now. Remember was at the front and music press asked Warhead to let The Clash have the stage and they would give them a good write up.
Couldn’t have been that good never heard of again
Went a few times over the years but one of the best in my opiniion awas the specials/madness/ selector gig.
It was sheer pandemonium,upon arrival the street outside was full of scooters (madness fans had travelled up for the gig).hi story clouds now but from what i remember:
Crowds too large, threat of no show due to overcrowding,selector on stage,lights came on .threats of closure again.enter specials,madness and selector playing with majority of lightss on, sound off ,gig went wild.
Absolutely superb.
A night to remember
CLOSED DOWN SOON AFTERWARDS
Fact or fiction or has historydistorted the facts
Was up from London in ’78 visiting a relative after a funeral. Knew nothing about Birmingham, asked a taxi driver what’s a good club, he took me to barbarellas. The Jam were playing. I remember they were late on and Weller got a pint thrown over him. He said ‘ that was fucking mean man’…..thought that was quite restrained. I was only 18 and a bit shy but this girl there at college made a beeline for me and Iwas with her for the next 2 days. Missed my lift home. She took me to the bullring, shat myself at the intimidation, the placed reeked of a threatening atmosphere. Never seen the girl or Birmingham since that time
Best double bill I saw at Barbarella’s was The Ramones and Talking Heads. There were so many great gigs in that place. Favourite is still Cheap Trick in 1979.
Worked as a Glass Collector at Rebecca’s, Christmas 71 and later for 18 months at Barberella’s -still a Glass Collector (no promotion) and sometimes even took over the DJ duties,as regular guy was unwell. Answered a knock at the back door when working one Sunday night, as we had Status Quo playing and was asked if we needed a support band. I had a word with Dave – the manager that night, he said yes and so Barberella’s introduced Focus to England!!! Only in those days… would love to know how all the super Barmaids fared over the years?
Anyone remember Paul Tomlins or Martin Degville. George O’Dowd also had friends called Paul and Andy. Also Patsy who had the clothes shop and went out with the amazing Steve Gibbons. Anyone know what happened to these folk,? (apart from George of course!)
Hi Julie
I have only just seen your comments about the Birmingham 1970S music scene.
I do not know about the other people you mention but as far as I know Steve Gibbons
still lives in the Harborne district of Birmingham where he was born and brought up .
Best wishes .
Denis
I was at Aston Uni in the early 70’s and clearly remember seeing The Groundhogs twice at Barbarella’s. Memory says once in late 1972 and once in the first half of 1973….but I can’t recall dates. Fantastic nights both times, just a shame there weren’t more people there…!
Stranglers deffo played Barbs, I made a dash backstage and poached a bass string from JJB. He told me to go and hang myself with it !!
I went to see a lot of the bands already mentioned during the punk heyday of Barbarellas, starting with the Damned/ Adverts gig but some I remember that haven’t been mentioned include Rich Kids (I recall Midge Ure being none too happy when people kept shouting “Slik” at him!). Ian Dury played there – must have been late 78 or early 79- his support was Deke Leonard of Man fame. I also remember seeing the Models, led by future Adam and the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni- he was supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees if my memory serves me well.
A great club, sorely missed but not forgotten.
What happend to the manager dave posle
I was in Barbarella’s the night of the pub bombings now I think George McCrea was on but I keep thinking was it Ken Booth anybody can help
im sure i saw Queen there sometime in march 1974 supported by Nutz