There Are Currently 58 Comments for this Post

1. Whiskey says:

   December 7, 2011 at 20:19

   Black Sabbath Van Halen Odeon Mon June 5, 1978
   Black Sabbath Van Halen Odeon Tues June 6, 1978

   Black Sabbath Van Halen Odeon Mon June 12, 1978

   If I remember correctly I went to the 6th of June gig because the 5th of June gig was cut short because some dry ice got into Tony Iommi’s amp & blew it up, they arranged to come back on the 12th in way of compensation & I got a ticket for that one as well,. Unfortunately Van Halen had gone back to the states by then & support for that night was The Fields of the Nephlim.

   Regards

   Whiskey

   Reply
   • dale M says:

     February 18, 2012 at 19:21

     Not strictly true. The first gig was cancelled because they were held up after recording a TV show.. If it was an amp, it would have been replaced with the spare or one would have been supplied locally.
     I worked at the Odeon from 1974 – 1988 as a technician and remember that event pretty well 🙂

     Reply
     • Vince says:

       May 28, 2019 at 11:35

       I seem to remember the gig starting on time and then an announcement that something had gone wrong with the sound.. I was issued with another ticker and ended up seeing them 2 and a bit times that week : O )

   • Mark says:

     December 10, 2012 at 20:26

     Happy memories……… i can still see Eddie V.H. throwing himself at the amps… and the roadies trying to hold them up behind. This was only my 2nd ever Gig. As i remember Monday June 5th (Centre circle R30) was cut short near the end as Sabbath were playing Snowblind and pumping lots of dry ice around. The music suddenly stopped and the Manager had to try and calm the audience…(not very well!!!) Ozzy walked on and apologised saying to hold onto stubs as a new gig would be held. Support group was Brian James “Tanster Youth” (sic ?) All this for £2.20 ….Bargain!!

     Mark

     Reply
   • rod says:

     January 26, 2018 at 23:27

     It was garbo’s celluloid heroes that played on the second rearranged gig in place of van halen 100%.

     Reply
     • Phil says:

       July 29, 2018 at 12:22

       It was definitely tanz der youth

     • Glenn Tranter says:

       April 3, 2020 at 03:44

       Van Halen supported on the night Sabbath cut their set short after half a dozen or so numbers. The gig was rescheduled for a week or so later with Brian James’ newly formed Tanz Der Youth.

2. Barry says:

   December 11, 2011 at 12:50

   Wow, yes! I remember that gig.

   Thank the lord I was actually in the room when Van Halen came on rather than in the bar. I had not heard them and the set was dynamite (even though they were given about 3ft of stage at the front and about 3 lights by the Sabs.) I, too was disappointed by then not being at the re-scheduled event. Probably a good job as Sabbath were not at their best at the time.

   I went out the next day and bought the debut album at HMV.

   Looking through the list, I was at many of those gigs, especially the Town Hall and Odeon ones. I remember the first UK tour Kiss concert in 76. We were all gobsmaked by the Kiss marketing machine even then…I mean …£1 for a friggin’ programme!

   Reply
3. Neil says:

   December 19, 2011 at 11:21

   Yup, I was at the Kiss gig too. I can’t remember being impressed although for some strange reason there were a lot of frantic Brummies jumping up and down on the seats and many were broken. I’m not sure if it’s related but there was a time when no standing was allowed at the Odeon and strictly enforced by the security folks usually up until 5 mins into the main set

   Reply
4. Jez Byaz says:

   December 31, 2011 at 09:55

   So great to see this list of gigs and also the your site as it has brought back so many great memories from giging in SHADES at that time. I particually remember having a great time as resdent band at the Barrel Organ / Mercat Cross and doing supports for Magnum / Rick Cool at the Railway. The most memorable being our gigs at the Cedar club and rebeccas. sadly we never got to o Barberellas but I spent many a shilling and night there watching all the great bands of the time.

   Great site, and a Happy new year to all who have contributed

   Jez Byaz

   Reply
   • Martine says:

     March 28, 2012 at 20:28

     Jez, are you a guitarist? I’m sure I know your name from a long time ago, but it escapes me what band I know you from.

     Reply
5. Dunk Nixon says:

   February 5, 2012 at 19:41

   Looking down that list brings back hundreds of drunken punk memories from Barbs the Town Hall and the Odeon . Back stage with the Ramones 24/May/1977 Barbs changed my life and I never looked back. still love the Ramones and so people tell me I have a rather obsessive liking for MOTORHEAD 33yrs and counting . Great site well done. DUNKSTER stone Deaf Forever MHB1738

   Reply
6. Shelley Guild says:

   February 21, 2012 at 09:16

   Ex Brum Resident 1970-85. Went to only 3 on above list but here are some more from mine during that time. Apologies, don’t have exact dates for all

   1977

   * The Jam/New Hearts Top Rank 28/11/77

   1978

   * Sham 69/Coventry Automatics Mayfair
   * Buzzcocks/The Prefects Mayfair 26/5/78
   * Boomtown Rats/The Autographs Odeon 27/6/78
   * The Clash/Coventry Automatics/Spizz Oil Top Rank12/7/78
   * Siouxsie & The Banshees/Spizz Oil/Human League Mayfair 23/10/78
   * Buzzcocks/Subway Sect Odeon 8/10/78
   * The Jam/Patrik Fitzgerald/The Dickies Odeon 14/11/78
   * X-Ray Spex/Sore Throat Odeon
   * The Utensils Busmans Club Sutton Coldfield
   * The Doomed Barbarellas 19/12/78
   * Magazine/Neo. Barbarellas 6/12/78
   * The Adverts Birmingham Polytechnic

   1979

   * The Edge Barbarellas Jan 78
   * Angelic Upstarts Barbarellas Jan 78
   * Angelic Upstarts Digbeth Civic Hall
   * Gen X Barbarellas 24/2/79
   * The Skids/Fashion Barbarellas 9/3/79
   * The Utensils/Julie & The Opinions Moseley Fighting Cocks.
   * The Only Ones Barbarellas 31/3/79
   * The Dickies Barbarellas 17/5/79
   * Simple Minds Barbarellas 30/6/79
   * Ian Dury & The Blockheads Odeon
   * Siouxsie/The Cure Odeon 19/9/79
   * Toyah Barbarellas
   * Buzzcocks/Joy Division Odeon 24/10/79
   * Vision Collision/Duran Duran/The Detectives Star Club 18/11/79

   Reply
   • Chris Davies says:

     October 16, 2012 at 10:07

     I think I was probably at most of those gigs as well, travelling from Coventry on the train. Angelic Upstarts at Digbeth Civic Hall, throwing a Pigs Head into the crowd. Imagine that today????? Lol

     Reply
7. Martine says:

   March 28, 2012 at 20:25

   That brought back some great memories. I was on the front row of the Sabbath gig that had Van Halen supporting. I had the first Van Halen album before the gig so knew all the tunes. Fantastic gig both bands. I also saw the Ian Gillan Band at Barbarellas and Mispent Youth. I saw the Stanglers at The Mayfair Suite with Steele Pulse as support, another excellent gig but doesn’t appear in the list. I now feel very old!

   Reply
8. Bob says:

   March 29, 2012 at 17:47

   Saw Boomtown Rats, great and the next week Generation X, not so great at Barbs in 77 and The Buzzcocks + Slits = The Prefects? Brums main Punk Band. Always thought The Buzzcocks was one of the best Gigs I ever saw. Great times, always remember buying Punk Singles at HMV including The Rezillos ‘Can’t Stand My Baby” Singles were stacked everywhere and everyone was buying.

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   • Bob says:

     March 29, 2012 at 17:56

     Oops meant Virgin Shop of course

     Reply
9. Peter Turvey says:

   July 10, 2012 at 15:48

   I wrote a book about the scene (the Birmingham rock scene that is) – re the mid to late 70’s – about 5 years ago. It was meant to be a rock version of Fever Pitch but alas didn’t do as well as Nick Hornby! I’ve long stopped trying to promote the thing but if you wanted to read about it from the perspective of my memories then it is free on this site:

   http://www.authonomy.com/books/13837/the-classic-rock-code/read-book/#chapter

   Great times!!

   Reply
10. Nick Raybould says:

    October 24, 2012 at 09:14

    Earliest Birmingham gigs for me were T.REX at the Town Hall, ’76:
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150787503711197&set=a.201780461196.158598.741631196&type=3&theater

    …and a year later at the Odeon:
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150787503886197&set=a.201780461196.158598.741631196&type=3&theater

    Reply
11. Jake says:

    November 7, 2012 at 22:50

    Came here after listening to some Ry Cooder which reminded me of the Odeon gig. Was on the front row and the zydeco band he was with could see us in the stage lights and was playing to us.

    Dire Straits at the town hall, was a hot tip from some of the guys at LSD etc, 1/3 empty it was, it was great. Slender Loris at the Hippo stands out too.

    Saw Siouxsie at Barbs, IIRC their sixth gig, new drummer, was awful. That was another not so hot tip from the guys in the biz.

    I remember the name Little Acre, remember I thought them great, no idea now what they sounded like.

    In similar time frame but not Brum related really because we travelled to Bristol to see Spirit (Randy California), support was The Police. That was a strange gig, punks and hippies.

    Reply
12. Claude says:

    November 16, 2012 at 15:23

    The Renaissance concert at the Hippodrome was extraordinary!

    Reply
13. Colin says:

    November 28, 2012 at 12:56

    Dr. Feelgood at Birmingham Odeon, October 21, 1978 – I was there and the support band was most definitely Squeeze.

    Reply
14. Steve says:

    February 10, 2013 at 09:57

    Thanks to the person who thought of doing this – as I only turned 14 in October 1977 the main thing for me is frustration at all the punk gigs at Barbarellas I couldn’t get into!

    But I can tick a few off at the Odeon. 1st ever gig was the Runaways in Nov 1977, 999 were the support and due to the threat of power cuts the bands went on in reverse order.

    As me and my mate waited outside the Odeon service ramp, getting the thumbs up from Joey as the coach pulled out after the Ramones gig in 1978. Got a vague memory that the support was a band called the Snips. Then seeing the Ramones at the Hummingbird 11 years later (it’s the end, the end of the 80s…!).

    At the Boomtown Rate on the Tonic for the Troops tour, if I remember there were two versions of Rat Trap, the second one a very long encore.

    And Blondie, the only gig I went to at the Odeon where everyone stayed in their seats, sitting down, rather than rushing the stage – wasn’t until near the end that everyone got down the front.

    Also on the subject of the first comment… Although not a HM fan myself I do remember others coming into school the day after the gig saying that Van Halen blew up Black Sabbaths equipment and that the gig was rearranged for a few days later.

    Reply
15. Brian Seadon says:

    May 20, 2013 at 23:00

    Firstly, credit to ‘144 Hard Boiled Eggs’ on the Heroes & Villains site for posting a link to this site.

    When I have more time I’ll see if I can add to the listing as I went to many gigs in Brum in that period. As a start I’ll add some of the missing information from the post of Shelley Guild (21/02/12); I was at all these gigs:-

    X-Ray Spex were supported by both Sore Throat and Martin ‘Mighty Mouth’ at the Odeon on 10th Dec, 1978.

    The Adverts were supported by Lynx at Birmingham Polytechnic on 13th Oct, 1978.

    Generation X were supported by The Bernie Torme Band at Barbarellas on 24th Feb 1979 – an infamous gig!!

    The Only Ones were supported by Lonesome No More at Barbarellas on 31st Mar, 1979.

    Siouxsie & The Banshees were supported by both The Cure and Spizz Energi at the Odeon on 19th Sep, 1979.

    Reply
16. Steve W says:

    May 21, 2013 at 10:57

    Yes Brian, the Banshees gig followed a split in the band meaning that Robert Smith played guitar for both the Banshees and The Cure. I was there but with a heavy heart as The Slits, I think, played Digbeth Civic on the same night.
    Steve W (aka 1144 Hard Boiled Eggs!)

    Reply
17. Chris Nelson says:

    November 5, 2013 at 08:49

    This brings back some memories. I lived near Derby but had to come to Birmingham to see the “BIG” bands.
    I saw Kiss at the Odeon. Ted Nugent at the Town Hall. Aerosmith, Rush and the Tubes at the Odeon and Styx at the Hippodrome.
    Went to Barbarella’s a few times then started coming to Edwards No 8 club a lot. Great club. Bet you all remember that one.
    The Aerosmith gig was eventfull. We broke down near Sutton Coldfield in my friends Mark 1 Cortina. Walked miles tp a phone box to call the AA, They got the car going and we got to the Odeon as the lights went down.

    Reply
18. Shelley Guild says:

    November 19, 2013 at 14:09

    Brian Seadon- thanks for completing the gaps!!

    Reply
19. A lacey says:

    January 31, 2014 at 23:03

    I went to see Steve gibbons at the town hall and can’t remember who the support band was any ideas

    Reply
    • sparks says:

      October 3, 2014 at 12:56

      Yes, I did too but I can’t remember! Was there a support band?

      Reply
20. simon biddell says:

    October 2, 2014 at 09:22

    I’m pretty certain Cheap Trick played the Odeon in 1977 supported by The Runaways – alas I never went and bitterly regret this! But what a great venue and saw some fabulous bands here.

    Reply
21. Paul Kelly says:

    October 16, 2014 at 10:34

    I arrived in Birmingham fresh from University in Autumn 1978 with the job of starting up a new jazz promotion and development agency – the Midlands Jazz Centre Society. Quite fortuitously within about 6 month I got the job of writing jazz reviews for the Birmingham Post and when the journalist covering g rock concerts was switched to nights I was asked to take that on as well. So in 1979 I ended up reviewing quite a number of rock concerts at Birmingham Odeon and one or two other venues too, including the second night of Kate Bush’s one and only national tour.

    I have kept all the cuttings and the list of concerts I reviewed in 1979 are:
    All at Birmingham Odeon – Unless Stated

    Van Morrison 12 March 1979
    Kate Bush 5 April 1979 (Hippodrome)
    Tom Robinson Band 9 April 1979 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
    Status Quo 14 May 1979 – The NEC
    The Tubes 21 May 1979
    Sky 22 May 1079
    The Specials 30 July 1979 – Barbarellas
    Rickie Lee Jones 7 September 1979
    The Police 14 September 1979
    Siouxsie and The Banshees 20 Sept 1979

    I also recall seeing a young an exceptionally good Chris Rea at Barbarellas around that time and one of the three nights that Ry Cooder played though that might have been 1980. I also saw Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Judas Priest and Weather Report at the Odeon, though again they may have been in the 1980s. I may have even reviewed the Judas Priest concert, but if so, I don’t have that particular review.

    Of all the Odeon concerts, the Rickie Lee Jones was far and away the best and the Kate Bush concert was the most historic – for obvious reasons.

    Reply
22. Jan says:

    February 11, 2015 at 03:14

    Saw/knew a lot of these bands (in the ’70’s especially) but am v interested to know whatwhat became of ‘local’ band, Bandana ….? Played at “benefit” gig here in Cardiff .

    Reply
23. Phyll Smith says:

    May 10, 2016 at 11:17

    Does anyone attending these gigs remember the fanzines Censored or Revenge that were sold at and reviewed lots of Brum / Wolverhampton / – does anyone still know the whereabouts of the writers / editors of those zines? Tom Coutt, Ian Brinton, Jayne Bailey?

    Reply
24. Jonathan Smith says:

    June 1, 2016 at 21:43

    Thanks, this is great, what a brilliant time for music. I went to so many of these and had such good times.

    Reply
25. Gordon Smith says:

    July 4, 2016 at 06:45

    Got a bit of an issue thought i saw flamin groovies at digbeth civic hall yet cannot finf
    D it listed could you please help
    Thank you

    Reply
26. shani lockyer says:

    July 21, 2016 at 17:13

    I don’t see Lynrd Skynrd here, who I believe appeared at the Birmingham Odeon in Feb 1977?

    Reply
27. shani lockyer says:

    July 21, 2016 at 17:16

    As you were. I found it!

    Reply
28. Martin Whittle says:

    November 12, 2016 at 16:03

    John Cale Barbarellas Sat Apr 23, 1977
    I travelled to the gig with my brother and four or five others from Canley College of education (Coventry) It was a week before my 17th and a cracking gig as well the Support Bands were to have been The Boys and The Count Bishops although I beleive the C B’s didn’t play. My abiding memory is of Cale playing guitar whilst sitting on the grand piano. As Baebarellas had a low ceiling he decided that he could kick the reflection from the spotlight off his pick up. Every time he attempted this he rocking movement he projected the piano a few inches nearer to the front of the stage, this continued until a roadie mentioned the fact and all too soon the gig had finished! Happy daze!

    Reply
29. David Postle says:

    November 15, 2016 at 10:12

    I can remember going to the Top Rank Suite and seeing the Banshees, Human League, Otway & Barrett and one other that eludes me. I always thought that was 1978. Perhaps it was ’79. Siouxsie got pissed off because of all the ‘Straights’ shouting for Hong Kong Garden.

    Reply
30. John Madden says:

    December 1, 2016 at 22:02

    Great memories. Although I saw a lot of bands during this period I realise that I missed many many more – mainly the punk/new wave ones. I don’t know what i was thinking!!!

    Reply
31. Cliff Dix says:

    February 1, 2017 at 18:35

    Just for accuracy…;-) the ‘Stoker’ gig you’ve got listed as 12th March ’78 at Barbs was actually on the following Sunday (19th March ’78) Only happen to know this because I did the lighting for it!

    Reply
32. John Smith says:

    September 30, 2017 at 20:59

    Went to a few of these and was at the Tull concert in 74 when the Tavern in the Town pub was blown up the night after…..

    Is it me or is this site hard to read? Grey on white? Surely not!

    Reply
33. Paul Barns says:

    October 4, 2017 at 09:17

    I was at the Thin Lizzy concert at the Town Hall in March of 1976. Unforgettable.

    Reply
34. Neville PHILPOTT says:

    October 25, 2017 at 11:43

    Went to loads of concerts during this period, lots of artists/bands on the circuit and
    tickets seemed very affordable, well compared to today they do.

    The list is interesting in showing all the concerts you missed for one reason or another.

    Reply
35. Mel Laws says:

    March 6, 2018 at 19:31

    I was at the Ramones gig on 30/9/78. Fabulous. I’d been to see them the night before at Manchester and went to the Hammersmith Odeon a day or so later to see them again. Big fan. Best bit was when we went to the Tennessee Pancake House after arriving in Birmingham (from North Notts) for something to eat at lunchtime and the band walked in and sat next to us. Chatted to them for a couple of hours while they ate. They were great. Pinched the cutlery after they left. After I left home, my mum threw it out along with autographs and so in – in a general clean up. Sob.

    Reply
36. Mark Pacan says:

    October 21, 2018 at 22:04

    I was at Birmingham Poly from 78_81and went to as many gigs as I could afford. At Westbourne Rd halls I saw The Climax Blues Band which was filmed for Rock goes to college, John Cooper Clark The Tourists, and Rich Kids, The Beat, Selector, God’s Toys and others I can’t recall. At Barbarellas, Slade and Cheap Trick were the stand out bands, also recall seeing Racing Cars. I also saw Slade at the Cedar Club which would have been pretty much their last gig had they not gone down a storm at Reading 3 months later. I came back to Brum from Northampton to see Slade’s post Reading sell out gig at the Odeon at Christmas 1980. Other Odeon gigs included Hawkwind and Leonard Cohen. Great Times.

    Reply
37. Alan Shingler says:

    October 23, 2018 at 08:33

    My first gig was Mott the Hoople, 27th November 1973, at Birmingham Town Hall for a substantial cost of £1.20!! They were ably supported by a lesser know band- QUEEN! Can you believe it? Queen were brilliant with far more of a rock-based set from what I remember, with a superb version of Elvis’s ‘Jailhouse Rock’-magnificent mayhem!

    Reply
38. Kevin Hudson says:

    May 2, 2019 at 12:15

    Crimefighters gig 21 July 1977, support was TV Eye (Dave Kusworth and Andy Wickett) and Shock Treatment ((Nigel) John Taylor (Duran Duran) and Dave Twist (Hawks, Scarecrows, Filipinos etc)

    Reply
39. Gillian smith says:

    September 30, 2019 at 04:44

    Gigging most Friday and Saturday nights at barbarellas and trips to the rumrunner were good fun with my mate krissy from Huddersfield. We lived in ymca and then stirchley in 1978 to 1980.lo Ed all the punk bands, trailed around after Steve gibbon band at parties. Good friends with Jim from spizz oil and got on many a guest list. Clash for one. But my biggest memory was pil
    ….. And a funky little French support band with lead singer with funny name and a winning smile. Krisy and I dragged then all back for coffee ah happy days! My boyfriend at the time was Ted ents officer at birm college of food and domestic arts. Had many new and up and coming bands on there too ub40
    Specials. Madness. The beat. City was blessed to have a buzzing music scene late 70,s glad I was apart of it!!

    Reply
40. Geoff says:

    March 29, 2020 at 11:44

    Lots of memories at barbrellas saw, boomtown rats ,damned,ChrisSpedding ,George thorogood, Graham Parker, nElvis Costello
    Very sad when it closed down
    Town Hall I saw Queen about75 can’t see it on your list, still have the ticket 90p.. ffs
    Robin Trower, Ronnie Lanes Slim Chance,BBA, Dire Straits, Ian Dury, AcDc at The Oden ,Ry Cooder , Crusaders, ,Van Morrison,Undertones , Zappa, Talkin Heads, Dr Feelgood, Tubes,❤️
    Fuckin Happy days eh..

    Reply
41. Cliff Dix says:

    April 18, 2020 at 17:46

    Seem to remember that I lit the ‘Stoker’ gig at Barbarellas in March ’78

    Reply
42. Chris Dunn says:

    April 19, 2020 at 16:16

    I am the ex-bass player of Brum group City Boy and keeper of the diaries. I have a few more gigs to add to your list!

    Benefit for the band “Possessed” (who were killed in a road accident on the M6 on October 21st 1976) at Barbarella’s with Little Acre and Raymond Froggatt Wed November 3 1976

    City Boy with Slender Loris & Hooker at B’ham University Thurs June 17 1976
    Steve gibbons Band with Little Acre at B’ham Town Hall Wed May 26 1976
    Slender Loris at Barbarella’s Sun March 28 1976
    Colosseum II at Barbarella’s Tues March 16th 1976
    Thin Lizzy at B’ham Town Hall Mon March 15 1976
    City Boy with Slender Loris and Bitch at B’ham Repertory Theatre Sun March 14 1976
    City Boy with Bright Eyes at Barbarella’s Sun February 29 1976
    City Boy with Max Merritt and The Meteors at B’ham University Sat January 24 1976
    City Boy with Steve Gibbons Band at NEC Sat January 3 1976
    City Boy with Second Hand Band at Barbarella’s Tue November 4 1975
    Thin Lizzy with City Boy at B’ham Town Hall Sat September 27 1975

    Reply
43. Pat Keegan says:

    May 14, 2020 at 00:22

    Rory Gallagher at the Odeon in 1978, with Joe O;Donnell in support.

    First time I saw the master at work. Left an impression on me that has lasted a lifetime.
    Many gigs since, but this one is still “the one”

    Reply
44. Burt says:

    May 17, 2020 at 08:10

    Went to an AC/DC gig at The Odeon 1979 i think. Couldn’t afford to go when tickets went on sale, my mates had brought theirs, but day before the first nights gig, i had the chance to have a ticket and took it. On my own, my mates were going the next night. The concert was amazing. Highlight of the evening was when 2 strippers ontop of the amps at the back stripped to The Jack. Next day told my mates and said wait till you see the strippers.
    But Birmingham council had banned them for the second night, so my mates were gutted. And yes tinnitus from that day onwards.

    Reply
45. Steve (Tad) Adams says:

    August 30, 2020 at 21:57

    Hi (All. Great reading through all these notes and comments. Particularly the references to Bogarts. I was a regular, almost nightly from age 16 to 19, and had my 18th birthday in there. So many good times had in there, New Years, Christmas Eve’s and pre-gig drinks (even a post gig drink if the bank on at the town hall finished early and could just manage a last beer before the 10.20 last order call.
    I have kept a good many of my gig ticket stubs and the lists above are missing a good deal of events. Note the Man gig was on Friday 23rd May 1975, I have the stub.
    I would be pleased to scan the stubs and send if anyone interested. My gig stubs go back to 06 March 1972.
    I was at the Sex Pistols gig, but I remember (them?) getting booed? Perhaps it was because they had to finish at 10.30?
    Bands missed out the lists include Commander Cody & LP Airmen, Led Zeppelin, Rick Wakeman, Frank Zappa (Thursday 13th September 1973) – Status Quo, Gentle Giant, Tangerine Dream…..Just ordered the Bogarts book, really look forward to reading it.Hope this of interest.
    My greatest memories was the sticky floor and lots of hair, oh yes, so much hair….
    Tad

    Reply
46. Louise says:

    November 2, 2020 at 09:59

    Great list, and input from the other guys.
    The Specials, then the Coventry Specials, played weekly at bham university at some point. Around 78-9. I can’t remember the dates but they were great and had a big following turned up every week. Bernie Rhodes was their manager and you’d see his car outside reg. CLA 5H.
    Also saw them at the Golden Eagle in town.
    I remember Jean Jacques Burnel at Digbeth Civic Hall, Devo at the Odeon, and I’m pretty sure UB40 supported the Angelic Upstarts at Digbeth, although for some reason the Upstarts didn’t turn up and the Au Pairs played instead. I got attacked by a gang of girls and sat on the stage for half the gig. Not the best night.

    Reply
47. JiohnP says:

    November 24, 2020 at 07:39

    Robin Trower – I’m pretty certain was 1976 not 1975. I wasn’t living in Brum in 75 but remember the gig. Also Mar 2 is a Tuesday in 76.

    I seem to remember Ultravox at Aston University – no idea of the date though.

    Reply
48. Ian McDermott says:

    January 18, 2021 at 18:59

    John Cale, Barbarellas, Sat Apr 23, 1977 – the support band was definitely “the Boys” – big fight in the toilets between the motown dudes and the punks!

    Reply

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