Charles Davies sent in this Led Zep ticket and says ‘Me and my 3 mates saw THE BAND. i think the tickets cost £1 each .INCREDIBLE. We stood next to Roy Wood!!’
Our aim is to build a complete list of gigs at the Kinetic Circus. Here’s a start but we need your help!
Groundhogs, Galliard 25/02/71
Atomic Rooster, Slade 18/03/71
The Who 13/05/71
Fleetwood Mac 03/06/71
Groundhogs 24/06/71
Mott the Hoople 09/07/71
Groundhogs 16/07/71
Caravan 22/07/71
Van Der Graaf Generator 06/08/71
Lindisfarne 13/08/71
Faces 22/11/71
Argent, Climax Chicago 28/11/71
Hawkwind 06/12/71
Nazareth 27/01/72
ELO 09/03/72
Sandy Denny, Flash, Nazareth 01/05/72
Stray 02/06/72
Fruupp 09/06/72
Man 21/07/72
Hawkwind 01/09/72
Rare Bird 09/10/72
The Faces 22/10/??
There Are Currently 48 Comments for this Post
Led Zeppelin – Kinetic Circus – 17th Nov. 1971
Others I saw at the Kinetic circus but have no ticket stubs and can’t remember dates.
Johnny Winter And
Mountain
The James Gang
The Beachboys
Rory Gallagher
I saw The Beach Boys show. What a thrill finally seeing my all-time fave band. They were touring the Holland lp which came out in early ’73. At the time I thought Brian was on stage, but I don’t think he was doing live shows then.
I seem to remember Mountain were the headline with support of Atomic Rooster, Slade 18/03/71 – Unusual to have 3 bands – Slade in their denims and skincuts!!
I remember The James gang and Rory Gallagher. Thinking back, I also recall seeing Stone the Crows, Atomic Rooster and many others. Sure it was an all night affair! Those were the days…wish i could re-live them!
Beach Boys played there 18th May 1972. Great Gig
Add:
Add
The Who 05 Nov 70
Johnny winter 08 Feb 71
Rory Gallagher 09 Oct 71
Alice Cooper 04 Nov 71
Led Zeppelin 17 Nov 71
I also saw Osibisa there in 71 but can’t find the actual date.
Oosibisa played there and i think Medicine Head – but cant remember any dates – always drunk by 9 pm in those days – fell asleep there one night in the middle of the room flat on my back with a pint perched on my chest – woke up late – not a drop spilled – no hassles — happy days!
I definitely saw Uriah Heep at this venue, but can’t remember exact date, but it was sometime around July or August 1971.
Of the others listed I also saw Groundhogs (not sure which of the two dates) Hawkwind and ELO.
I remember the ELO sound being so different for the time that the cloakroom attendants hanging out of their serving hatch (it was to the left of the stage) to see how on earth the sound was being produced. This didn’t happen at any of the other gigs I attended at the venue
Actually, I think wol stor is wrong about Medicine Head. They used to gig in Birmingham regularly, but always at smaller venues than this one.
I saw Jeff Beck there, support act was Mott the Hoople but sadly can’t remember the date.
Also think I saw Family there.
It was a really good venue, much better than the Town Hall or Odeon, which the primary venues in Brum at the time.
I remember one of my favourite gigs here was the Alice Cooper gig (Alice goading the audience with pound notes stuck on his sword, wafting it over their heads) and then the nurse routine happily stolen later by The Tubes. I think that they were supported that night by Stray as I remember. Used to love the Mayfair Suite at this time cos’ we had discovered a back way in for free, up the lifts from Dale End car park ! Used to be a good place to sleep after the gig as well, they didn’t hury to throw you out.
April 1971
Birmingham Kinetic Circus- Warm Dust, Goliath, Good Habit, Medicine Head etc (9th)
August 1971
Birmingham Kinetic Circus- Van Der Graaf Generator (6th), Lindisfarne (13th)
June 1972
Birmingham Kinetic Circus- Stray (2nd), Fruupp (9th)
July 1972
Birmingham Kinetic Circus- Man (21st)
Thursday 18 May 1972
The Beach Boys at Kinetic Circus
Thursday 20th May 1971
Mountain + Stoneground?
Monday 07 February 1972
Mountain + Jimmy McCulloch Band at Kinetic Circus
24th June 1971 Kinetic Circus Deep Purple
25th Nov 1971 Mungo Jerry
The Doors Thursday, May 11, 1972
Kinetic Circus
johnny winter band also at this venue 1971 ? date & I believe one of the “dj’s” was called Erskine.
Definitely Johnny Winter And, supported I think by Nazareth. Erskine possibly the same guy who worked at the Diskery (Hurst Street, later Bromsgrove Street) for a while. I’m sure Jimmy from the Diskery was selling vinyl at a table inside the venue at the Johnny Winter concert.
I can confirm the Deep Purple gig, and the date sounds about right.
I’m sure this was the one that a bunch of us from school went to (with bubble blowers) with one of the teachers
Happy days.
The Faces ticket is from 22/10/1971, I was there with my then girlfiriend and now wife !
I had our tickets pinned on my bedroom wall for years but have no idea what happened to them.
Also on that night was a then little known group called Nazareth.
And also an even lesser known American band called Stoneground. There were two stages, in my memory anyway, the main one and a smaller one to the side. Maggie May was number one at the time. This was a fantastic show at a great venue.
SAW LED ZEPPELIN 17 NOV 1971 , I STILL HAVE THE TICKET. I ALSO SAW BLACK SABBATH BUT NOT SURE OF THE DATE. I THINK I SAW THE FLAMING GROOVIES THERE AS WELL ,
I saw Mountain at the Mayfair/Kinetic – their website give the date as May 20th, 1971. This agrees with the date given by Phil Beards. But the support band was The Greatest Show on Earth, a jazz-rock combo featuring brothers Garth and Norman Watt-Roy. Fast forward 41years and 6 months and I saw Norman for a 2nd time at my local venue, Cox’s Yard in Stratford upon Avon, playing bass in Wilko Johnson’s Band.
got no, dates for the following who appeared there. THE FACES, LED ZEPPELIN, STEVE HILLAGE ,JOHNNY WINTER and the weirdest name for a band who were a support.THE DOG THAT BIT PEOPLE
I saw the Who and Daltry tried to pull my bird, June. Alice Cooper, ELP twice, I think. Honeybus, Alan price and Geargie Fame. Sabbath, Trapeze. In fact my pal and me got in by saying we were Trapeze’s management. Those were the days.
At the Sabs gig, they were late, being stuck on the way from Manchester (we were told by a more and more nervous promoter). To the right of the main stage was a bar the shutters of which had been drawn down. It was found that these were not locked. We also discovered that the beer taps had been left on. Well hey ho, did we get pissed. Oh my, ya should have seen us go. Fuck the band, free pop. That aluminium jug we found got filled about a hundred and fifty times. The consequent slaughter was legend.
saw most of the above bands, plus
canned heat and the pink fairies.
Saw mountain ,71 west papparlardi Laing knight in their hey day bloody loud , bought every album , sabbath and great venue
Canned Heat, possibly 1971. First live band I ever saw. Van der Graff Generator were always support band as were Nazareth.
Saw the Who (72-74?) and Rory Gallagher x2 (Sept. 71 & early 72) are just two I recall – FANTASTIC – still gettin’ over it!
The last time I went to Kinetic was to see Rory Gallagher and support band Tear Gas.Myfriend borrowed a pound from me and went off to buy some pills around 10.I never saw him again.His body was found the canal by the old Science Museum 6 days later.
Man did NOT play Kenetic Circus on July 21, 1972. They were a no-show. They were supposed to be co-headlining with San Francisco’s Flamin’ Grooves who were based in the UK at the time and this was one of their first gigs over here. They were awesome, though their flash no-nonsense rock n’ roll wasn’t to everyone’s taste.
Canned Heat dubbed their ’71 gig there as ‘the worst night ever.’ They came on very late, worse for wear and their set was a mess.
I worked at Kinetic Circus and was privileged to see,and meet all the bands listed,there were many more I will try to compile a list,I still have a few tickets some fully autographed by the bands plus a fair few posters (I did the fly posting as well) plus more flyers.Erskine was one of the DJs spent many a night recovering from various things I should not have done at his flat.Ive got a fair few stories about those nights if someone would like to contact me,just reading other comments has bought back so much,some of the most amazing nights of music,our promotions company had various titles County Town Entertainments being one I would love to help make a permanent record of this venue and just maybe make contact with people who could share the memories Dave Fisher
Hi Dave, I was the director of County Town Entertainments Ltd who were the promoters of Kinetic Circus. I still have all the diaries relating to the acts that appeared there also some of the original contracts. I just can’t remember you. Perhaps you will make contact with me. Peter Martin
Hi Peter
Oh my god I worked for you for a fair few years starting at Smethwick baths with Eric and Bobby Child’s then Kinetic Circus Kinetic Cellar Cleopatras plus loads more I would love to speak or contact you.i lived in Rawlings road Bearwood then Eric and all our doormen used to meet at my house did the last Led Zepplin gig with you plus loads of others Faces,Rory Gallagher,Beach Boys etc etc.i have a fair few signed tickets,posters,records,remember Alice Cooper first visit to UK amazing Johnny Winter please contact me when you get a chance would love to catch up I tried to track some of the guys including yourself so years ago but with no luck all the best dave
Hi Peter can you email me I’d love to hear from you againDave Fisher
Hi
Message for Pete Martin first worked for you at Smethwick baths with Eric and Bobby Child’s DJ also at Kinetic Cellar Lemington and Cleopatras Derby Slade at I think Preston used to come to your office on Stratford Road would be great to hear from you Dave Fisher if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated
Trying to contact Peter Martin I worked for Peter for several years at Kinetic Circus plus other venues Smethwickwick baths for one would love to relive amazing memories Dave fisher
Hello i am Peter Martin’s daughter, I would love to connect. My father passed away. I have a sister from his first marriage with the lady who worked with elephants. My father eas the lion tammer. Please contact me
Hi Carrie
So sorry to hear about Peter I never did get to contact him I would have loved to speak to him and talk about the old times at Kinetic Circus,Kinetic Cellar and many other places we worked I’m still in touch with one guy from the day we have a mountain of memories from then I would love you to get in touch sometime
DaveFisher
I still have tickets flyers and business cards from County Town Entertainments plus some notes and autographs
Don’t have ticket stub, but Canned Heat played their
the who in 71 backed by slade.
Saw a lot of these bands at the Kinetic Cellar (Chesford grange). It was our regular Sunday nite hangout.
I have a flyer for Johnny Winter at Kinetic Circus, support bands were The Dog That Bit People plus Indian Summer. Sounds by a very good friend of mine Erskine T.
Advance Tickets 80p (16/-) The date says Thursday 18th February ?
(I got to meet Johnny)
Just found poster, can’t find tickets.
Saw loads of bands here great venue when the faces played they were absolutely pissed but a great set one of the groundhogs gigs Robert plant was stood by us no venues like this left now
I was lucky enough to be working that night met the band we supplied their booze and yes they were pissed but one of the greatest nights I can remember
May 11th, 1972: the Doors supported by Hawkwind (Doors last tour after Morrison had died)
Yup many a happy time at the Circus. Bands we saw that I can remember: Faces, Rory Gallagher, Lindisfarne, Mott the Hoople, Groundhogs, Stray, Van der Graff Generator and Alice Cooper. Great times!
Luckily worked there for a long time saw all those bands and more what a time to be into music
I have just sold a flyer/bill from 1970 black Sabbath were the headline supported by trapeze Friday 16 october