Photo below via Dave Travis “Here’s a photo that I took at the last night at The Rum Runner or ‘Demolition Party’ as it was referred to.”
Broad Street
The Rum Runner nightclub was opened on Broad Street in the Birmingham city centre in 1964. It was demolished in 1987.
One of the first ‘house’ bands, playing the cover versions of the day, became Magnum featuring Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin. They left the club in 1975 to play their own material of melodic rock.
Ray Berrow, who along with brother Don, their sister Tissy and another brother, were the original owners. Paul Berrow started at the club washing glasses, as did his younger brother, Michael. Ray and Don Berrow were all bookmakers.
Paul and Michael Berrow, relaunched the club with an eclectic power playlist borrowed from Studio 54 in New York. Roxy Music and David Bowie nights were accompanied by jazz funk nights which were strongly influenced by New York’s Chic powerdisco.
A real milestone in the history of the Rum Runner was when a newly-formed group of musicians called Duran Duran walked in one day with a tape. There was an instant mutual appeal between the Berrows and the band, and the Berrows offered Duran Duran a place to rehearse and play gigs.
The band found themselves becoming heavily involved with the running of the club with John Taylor working the door, Nick Rhodes deejaying for £10 a night, Roger Taylor working as a glass collector and Andy Taylor polishing mirrors, painting and cooking burgers for cash. Duran Duran quickly became the resident band at the venue.
After many months, Michael and Paul Berrow signed as Duran Duran’s managers. The Berrows and the band then formed the Tritec Music company (named after the triangular-themed bar inside the club). The label used the Rum Runner office upstairs from the club as its official address. Paul & Michael’s father was a well known in the Birmingham entertainment scene. Michael mortgaged his house to make funds for their supporting act roll for Hazel O’Connors UK tour.
In developing the club’s musical identity they also gave free rehearsal space to bands like Dexys Midnight Runners and UB40, with The Beat filming a video for their song ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’ taking full advantage of the many mirrors that walled the club.
As time went by they opened more and more different evenings and one of the residents became DJ Dick who later went on to form Rockers Hi-Fi and who now hosts the city’s main Funk Acid Jazz night called Leftfoot, situated at The Medicine Bar.
Notable denizens of the club included De Harriss, Mulligan, and Marlon Recchi of Fashion, Martin Degville and other members of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Nigel & Jimmy (managers), Al Beard (security), and Liam (general socialite).
A sad picture of the famous seating barrels, and the club being dismatled.
Compiled by Keith Law
31 January 1967 – Eric Burdon. This is interesting because doesn’t bill The New Animals
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The Rum Runner was special to me, for two reasons.
Firstly, I got to know Bob Catley of Magnum, and was with him on a tour of Denmark in the late 60’s.
More importantly, however, it was at the club, that if you like, gave me my ‘break’
It was here that I was introduced to members of the psychedelic band Velvett Fogg who were looking for original songs for their forthcoming album.
Here is a piece from my web-site.
Keith takes up the story;
Quote:
“I was in the Rum Runner one night, when someone told me that Velvett Fogg were looking for new material,
and they introduced me to them. I arranged to meet them at their rehearsal place, Langley Baths.
I went along the next day, and went through the following songs with them:
Yellow Cave Woman, Once Among The Trees and Within’ The Night
and that was it!
The next couple of days, they were in London recording”.
I have never looked back from that night, The Fogg and that album are now classed as ‘Cult’
with the songs and the album being constantly.re-released. That meeting subsequently led me to other recording contracts,
and many more ‘Fogg’ type songs being released.
Thank you Rum Runner
First time I saw the Girls on Film video was here, banned from TV, it seemed to be on a loop at The Runner.
Had my 21st Birthday party here..how cool is that?
Still have the zebra striped tickets somewhere…great night, I believe John Taylor was seen there, love to say I invited him, but maybe cooler to say..he crahed my party!
Hiding in barrels, dodgy goings on in barrels…& the toilets of course, the multi sexual toilets. Degville holding court..too many nights here, shed a tear when it came crashing down for the bright shiny new Broad Street.
Tad bayliss… had many great moments .at rum runner over many years .
And thanks for all the champagne every one .. And the free entry .
the memories live on .
always a good night at the rum runner early 1970s. jasper carrot singing funkey moped same record every week if you was early in. sitting in the half barrels and the small dance floor and stage with the dj in the background. there was also another room upstairs.
We used to travel from Walsall to the Rum Runner in the 1960s. The doormen always let us in for free! As soon as you walked in, you were hit by the smell of Youth Dew by Estée Lauder and Brut aftershave….yes it was trendy once!!
I remember the Everly Brithers playing there and then joining us on the dancefloor. They danced in a very peculiar American way with their thumbs tucked into their trouser pockets. Not a cool look! Some of the happiest nights of my life….even though when we were turfed out at 2am, we went for chips before hitch hiking home!
With great fondness and memories and respect to the great Rum Runner Night Club.
I attended the Jazz Funk nights during the week and recall the seating in the wall, large bar, small dance floor and pulsating beats of American imports. Majority of the patrons to those venues were black.
As I recall there were usually two types of people who went to the Jazz Funk nights. There were the posers wearing sun glasses and sitting in the barrells. And there were the knowledgeable dancers most of which brought a spare pair of clothing as the ones the came in would be soaked in perspiration at the end of the night.
I recall a rock couple requesting the DJ to play something they know!
Hard dancing to favourite tunes in through the early hours then home, a couple of hours sleep then work. Yes, I could work after a fantastic night as I was high on music not booze.. Middle aged guy miss those days….
By the way I met my wife there, still together and have three grown up kids…
Regards,
Rob