New Street
A once beautiful cinema, now divided into eight screens. The Paramount Theatre opened on 4th September 1937 with Errol Flynn in “Charge of the Light Brigade”. Keith Law gives us some history of the Odeon.
The original seating capacity was for 2,439 with 1,517 in the stalls and 922 in the circle. It was equipped with a Compton 4Manual/10Rank theatre organ which was opened by Al Bollington. The Paramount had a large stage, dressing rooms and a cafe/restaurant.
In August 1942, it was sold to Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Theatres Ltd. and it was re-named Odeon. In 1965 it was closed for a period while major modernisation was carried out.
The Odeon was used for many live shows during this period of time, including appearances by The Beatles.In May 1988 the Odeon was closed for conversion into a six screen cinema, which re-opened in August 1988. Unfortunately, the Compton organ, which had still been used for concerts, was dismantled and sold. In 1991 two additional screens were opened in the former restaurant area and a former bar in the basement.
The cinema used to have a very ornate auditorium until it was altered. Now it is all very plain, including the foyer entrance. The last refurbishment was carried out in 1998.
As previously mentioned, The Odeon was used for many live shows during this period of time, including appearances by The Beatles. Indeed, for many years it was the venue, for the then many ‘Package Shows’, which consisted of one main star attraction, and several support acts. Sometimes the package consisted of many act, that were all charting at the time.
The star names are many and too numerous to name here, but I have personally seen many shows, including,
Bob Dylan, who complained loudly over the Mic, that the stage floor was dirty,and required cleaning!
Also, Duane Eddy, The Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Mickie Most, The Shirelles, Mike Bloomfield, Darry Hall and John Oakes and many more.
Here’s my ticket from the The Everly Brothers concert
I even bumped into Eric Burdon of The Animals. He was outside the front, and we had a lovely conversation about his brand new Ford Mustang, that was parked in New Street.
Steve Taylor has sent these ticket stubs through to us of some great past gigs at the Odeon
Ron Brinsdon has sent these tickets stubs through to the archive of some great gigs at the Odeon
Steve T has sent these tickets stubs into the archive of some more great gigs at the Odeon
April 1977
1977
Our aim to build a complete list of gigs at The Odeon. Here’s a start but we need your help!
April 1959
March 1961
April 1965
Woody Herman & His All-Stars – 12/04/59
Ella Fitzgerald / Oscar Peterson Trio – 24/03/61
Cream – December 1964
Manitas De Plata 06/12/69
Beach Boys, Eclection 25/11/70
Manitas De Plata 11/12/70
Marvin Welch & Farrar 01/11/71
The Who 20/11/70
Emerson Lake and Palmer 11/12/71
T Rex 09/06/72
Lindisfarne, Genesis, Rab Noakes 25/10/72
Emerson, Lake and Palmer 24/11/72
Led Zeppelin 16-17/12/72
Santana 16/11/73
Abba 10/02/77
Twiggy 16/04/77
Sutherland Brothers & Quiver 18/09/77
Rose Royce 01/10/77
Denice Williams 06/10/77
Status Quo 23/11/77
The Jam 22/05/78
Graham Parker and The Rumour 19/03/79
Secret Affair 19/04/80
Dr Feelgood 01/12/80
John Martyn 21/05/81
The Undertones 20/06/81 (rescheduled from 07/05/81)
The teardrop Explodes 22/06/81
O.M.D. 08/11/81
U2 04/12/82
Thanks to Marcel for sending these gigs through that he went to in 1985
April 9,10 Mike Harding
April 11 Tears for Fears
April 16 CCTV – Hagler –v- Hearns
April 20 King
April 23 The Kinks
April 27 Jagjit & Chitra Singh
April 29 Sky
April 30 Sheila Walsh
May 2 Mama’s Boys
May 4 Rick Wakeman
May 7 The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem
May 9 Doris Collins
May 10 The Alarm
May 11 Beshara & Leroy Smart
May 15 Tears for Fears
May 16 Magnum
May 17 Uriah Heep
May 18 The Enid
May 24 Beshara & Leroy Smart
May 25 Chris Rea
May 31 Dr. Hook
June 9, 10 The Style Council
June 20 The Damned
July 13 Cliff Richard Gospel
August 9 Kris Kristofferson
Sept 13 James Last
There Are Currently 140 Comments for this Post
My favourite gig was The Cramps at the Birmingham Odeon. My memory is not what it was but the gig was either April 25th 1984 or April 30th 1986, I’m tending to go for the 86 one due to me age, but anyway.. For those of you who don’t remember the Odeon before it became a 400 screen cinem, selling 2 tonne bags of sugar to kids who need no encouragement whilst showing Rambo 55, it was a fabulous art deco music and cinema hall.
For the gigs, there was a huge orchestra pit which doubled as the mosh pit (well not if you were watching Ultravox or The Thompson Twins), then those lovely plush velvet seats and above, a balcony were assorted punters would cover the crowd below in piss and beer – luckily they were often indistinguishable from one another!
So there I am, fancying myself as a bit of a psychobilly, knocking around at the Barrel Organ, Powerhouse, Zig Zags and all the others when news comes through of The Cramps coming to town to play at the Odeon. Immediately it’s THE ODEON! Who on earth has booked The Cramps to play there? Have they not seen or heard of the mayhem that normally occurs when the play. This reputation was justified. For me The Cramps remain one of THE live music bands. Raw, threatening, chaotic but always brilliant.
As I say above, my memory is no longer functioning as it used to, but this night The Cramps were late on for some reason and literally ripped through the set. Main man Lux carried around the entire audience, climbing right to the top of the pa system, Poison Ivy machine gunning the crowd with her guitar, legs akimbo, hardly, if any, talk by the band and then 30 minutes later they were gone.
Now I wasn’t in the mosh pit that night for some strange reason but they were going wild, calling for encore stamping their feet and so on. But as it became clear The Cramps weren’t returning they had nothing to really vent their anger on. For us in the seats it was different.
I’d never felt such adrenaline or emotion or basic wildness in a live crowd before. As the shouting got louder I can just recall a shower of seats reigning down towards the stage, missing it by some distance and nearly decapitating several hundred pyschobillies (or at least their quiffs). It was over in minutes but seemed like forever, even as everyone filed outside it was as if the whole crowd had become feral.
For the music but mainly for the crowd I think this has to rank as one of my all time favourite gigs in Birmingham.
I was at that Cramps gig and think it was 1984 not long after the Smell of Female live lp came out. It was the Kid Congo lineup. But what a fantastic gig – remains in my top 5 of all time. Other notables I saw at The Odeon were UFO, Van Halen (1978), ACDC amongst many others. Alas I didn’t attend the Cheap Trick/Runaways show (1977 I think) which I am kicking myself about to this day!
The cramps gig refered to was in 1986, when they played two nights a Friday and Saturday this was the Saturday gig. As another point of reference the 1984 cramps gig following the release of smell of female had ike Knox as second guitar not kid Congo. He left the band in 1983. But that gig was my favourite Odeon gig of all time, along with the Ramones in 1978.
saw Zeppelin at the Odeon in the early days…I expected giants to walk out……
Saw loads of bands there was a good sized venue to get top acts like Sabbath (World Tour 1978), Thin Lizzy (Live & Dangerous), Alice Cooper, Van Morrison, Rush, Gillan,Triumph, Sammy Hagar and the list goes on and on….wish I’d saved all those ticket stubs
I worked at the Odeon back in ’85 before moving on to other things. Good times watching Tears For Fears, Dumpies Rusty Nuts & Souxie and the Banshees. Must admit that The Everly Brothers twice in one day was a bit much though,,,,
i was in the st john ambulance and covered the odeon as a first aid duty from about 1976 to 1980 ish – saw some fab bands – ultravox sad cafe, undertones cliff richard meatloaf (administered oxygen to him for 5 nights running ) sabbath, thin lizzy – fab times !!!!!!!!
I was there with St John Ambulance at that time, it was a great experience watching the concerts
Jon thanks for your cramps story made me laugh .
I went to see all my faves at the Odeon – the Mission , the Cult , Fuzzbox , the Furs even saw Dead or Alive there …………… why did they ever turn this back in to a cinema it was so sadly missed
Isaw ABBA in concert on the 10th February 1977 in which I think was their first concert in England. Price £2.00
Also Status Quo on the 23rd November in 1977 on their ‘Rocking All Over The World’ Tour. Price £3 (still have the ticket stub!)
I saw The Outlaws and Little Feat here in about 75.It was
an excellent show,but what makes it stick out in my mind
is that when the houselights went up after the encores,and everybody was filing out,I realised that the tall bloke with the big hair who had sat right in front of me all night was Robert Plant,who was there with his missus.
I could not believe that I had not noticed him all night!I tried to find a pen to get his autograph,but they were off,seemingly unnoticed, into the crowd at the main exit.
I walked out towards Dale End to get my bus,and then saw them again,walking ahead of me.I tried to catch them,but they disappeared into a posh Indian restaurant called
The Radjoot or something.Being a student,I only had enough money for busfare left,and couldnt follow them in.So I never
did get Planty’s autograph,but it made a great night just that little bit better.
A complete gig list from The Odeon? Good luck with that!
Anyway, The Odeon was a temple at which, at some time or another most of us brummies have worshipped. First gig was Rainbow supported by Stretch in 76 and probably last was The Cult around 87. So many great memories but the best would be seeing Slade, Sabbath, Quo, Hawkwind, Whitesnake, ZZ Top, UFO, Ian Gillan Band, Quill, Van Halen, Journey, Uriah Heep, Paice Ashton and Lord, Alvin Lee Band, Triumph, Pat Travers and probably a 100+ more. One Saturday afternoon, middle 70s time, while walking down New St. towards the Odeon from the ramp but on the opposite side of the road I noticed a big black limo about to turn down the side road to the stage door, as it turned a beautiful blonde babe looked out the back window and smiled at me. It was Stevie Nicks. All of the above and loads more, is why i loved The Birmingham Odeon!!!
cant be arsed to research the dates but some i remember late 70s early 80s are
thin lizzy, acdc, motorhead, camel, magnum, rush, scorpions, bryan ferry, ramones, judas priest, hawkwind, whitesnake, ufo,
Jon, 2 years since you posted but it was Friday May 30th 1986, found my ticket tucked into the sleeve of A Date with Elvis, I had seat NN37. There`s a great 3 song set they played on The Tube either post or prior to this gig. I clearly remember the bass player wearing not a lot, Ivy in a see through teddy and i`m not sure but I think Lux took his trousers off, anyway the bass players name was Fur and she only played on this tour as far as i`m aware.
Cheers
First show at the odeon was SLADE in 1974, so loud yet so amazing, I can still see the band on satge to this day.
I saw maybe a 100 shows at the odeon between 1974-1988..very sad when it became a cinema (what crap)..
Saw Rush twice 1979/80, marillion 5 times , alice cooper twice, Journey (1979),ZZTOP )(1983),sO MANY OTHERS .I have most of the ticket stubs from all these shows…Most expensive was Robert Plant 5 pounds in 1983…I think It went upto 6,00 pounds..You could go there for a weekend of shows for 12.00quid..Awesome days..Me mate saw The Stones in 73′ for a pound…good grief..Still ranks as the Best sound I have ever heard in a venue.
Looking through my ticket stub collection. I have the following for the Birmingham Odeon.
The Damned – Tuesday 2nd December 1980 – £3.25
Stiff Little Fingers – Saturday 9th May 1981 – £3.50
Stiff Little Fingers – Wednesday 27th January 1982 – £3.50 (cancelled actually played 1st February 1982)
Stiff Little Fingers – Wednesday 6th October 1982 – £4.00
The Alarm – Friday 10th May 1985 – £4.00
The Alarm – Thursday 12th December 1985 – £4.50
It Bites unfortunately was my first odeon gig followed shortly after by Fuzzbox…I have the demo somewhere. They sang a cover of white christmas, this angered my mom. Gutted I missed the cult as I’m led to believe the mighty Gaye Bykers On Acid supported. I saw the mission there also. I remember wayne hussey gushing with excitement that Severina had been played on the queen vic (eastenders)jukebox earlier on in the week.
@John Bounds
your memory surely is playing tricks. The Odeon never had a ‘Mosh pit’. The Orchestra pit was covered over early 70s by a sloping front to the stage. For concerts we ( I worked there for 15 years) built a metal crash barrier across it.This lasted until 1977 when the stage apron or forestage was built out and extended. In the orchestra pit which was permanenlly covered over, stoofd the mighty Compton theatre organ.This was renovated and used for organ recitals until it’s removal in 1989. The velvet seating you refer to had long gone by then and horrible orange nylon seating had been installed. I don’t ever remember any tales of punters being pissed on from above… but I could be wrong? There was a general rule of no dancing .Punters used to stand up and run to the front but the seating remained in fixed situation for every gig. The security were a force to be reconned with although I did see them meet their match during a Bill Haley gig in 77 when the crowed did go wild and wrecked a large part of the balcony seating and the stalls.
Off the top of my head – my gigs at the Odeon in the 70s : Judas Priest, Dr Feelgood, Motorhead, Bad Company, Black Sabbath (supported by Van Halen), Kiss supported by Stray, Aerosmith, Rush supported by Stray, and also Max Webster, Robin Trower, Crocus, Hawkwind, AcDc, Tangerine Dream, Genesis, Budgie, WHitesnake, Def Leppard with Jameson Raid support,Queen supported by Mr Big, Japan, Fashion, Magnum, SAHB, Saxon, Scorpions,SImple Minds, Status Quo. Happy Days…
Bands i remember seeing at the odeon,still got all the ticket stubs aswell…ac/dc.£1.50,.iggy pop 3 times..£2 to £2.75,hawkwind twice.£1.50 to £2,heavy metal kids..£1.50,tubes,uriah heep twice..£1.40 and £2.50,black sabbath with van halen supporting..£2.80,ufo..£2.50,ted nugent..£1.40,gary numan 3 times..£3 to £3.75,alice cooper..£8.50,judas priest 3 times..£2.50 to £3,good venue but not as good as the earlier town hall
I agree the The Town Hall front row Lower gallery was the best place in the world in the early 70s
Here are some of the ones I remember…..
Black Sabbath 10th years June 1978 – we queued at the back of the Odeon at 5am, atmosphere was great and we got 5th row from the front. Van Halen supported then the Sabs came on and Ozzy sprayed champers on the amps and that was the end of the concert!!
ITV studio for Revolver – Tourists & Eddie and the Hotrods August 8th 1978
Hawkwind October 17th 1978 – my fave band then and now!!
Judas Priest November 13th 1978
Bham Town Hall Magnum supported by Reno December 22nd 1978
In 1979, there was Steve Hillage (Feb), Pat Travis (Mar), Kate Bush at the Hipp & Motorhead at the Odeon (Apr), Rush, Scorpions, Judas Priest (May), Van Halen (Jun), Deff Leppard supporting Sammy Hagar (Sep), Whitesnake (Oct), Steve Hillage, Motorhead, Hawkwind, 10years Later ( Alvin Lee), Motorhead again, AD/DC (Nov).
Not sure what happened in 1980 but there was UFO, Black Sabs with Ronnie James Dio – can’t remember much of that year. In 1981 there was Stranglers (Feb), Iron Maiden (Mar), Budgie at Digbeth Civic (May), Hawkwind , Tangerine Dreams (Oct), Stranglers again, Saxon (Nov), Nik Turner and Here & Now both at the Eagle in Dec.
A bit hazy again but there was Alice Cooper (Feb 82), Eddie Grant (Nov 83), Siouxsie & the Banshees (Jun 84) and then the Creatures, UB40 (Oct 85).
There was also Angelwitch at Digbeth, and Jameson Raid, Quartz, Handsome Beasts, Cryer, Limelight and others I can’t remember at Bogarts, R&J’s.
And most of those concerts were £2 – £3!!! Alice Cooper this year was £36!!!
Happy days back there in the late 70s!!!
I will look through stuff I have kept…….
I have so many fond memories of this amazing venue…Alien Sex Fiend supporting Alice Cooper/The Cramps/Iggy/Adam Ant/Blancmange/Japan oh list is endless.Great Times.
More from my anorakish list…..
Deliberatley missed Joy Division supporting Buzzcocks…had seen the band a few months earlier in another town & thought they were rubbish….(ooops).
Interesting Iggy gig..someone ripped his shirt, Iggy left the stage refusing to return. A man jumped up singing “I do like to be beside the seaside”…very entertaining…
Boomtown Rats/The Autographs, 27/6/78
Buzzcocks/Subway Sect, 8/10/78
The Jam/Patrik Fitzgerald/The Dickies, 14/11/78
X-Ray Spex/Sore Throat, 1978
Ian Dury & The Blockheads, July 1979
Siouxsie & The Banshees/The Cure, 19/9/79
Buzzcocks/Joy Division, 4/10/79
The Undertones/The Moondogs, 15/5/80
Buzzcocks/The Things, 30/9/80
Iggy Pop/The Xpertz, 1981
Psychedelic Furs/Passion Puppets, 20/5/84
What a place – always had an incredible atmosphere. Still got the tickets – here goes
Bad Co 26/3/79
Scorpions & Terra Nova 13/5/79
Sammy Hagar & Def Leppard 15/9/79
Gillan & Sampson & Randy California 7/10/79
Whitesnake & Marseilles 13/10/79
Gillan & The Broughtons 9/3/1980
Whitesnake & G Force 10/6/1980
Whitesnake & G Force 11/6/1980
Gillan & White Spirit & Quartz 10/10/1980
Triumph 13/11/1980
Gillan & Budgie 24/11/1981
Scorpions 20/2/1982
Tygers of Pan Tang15/9/1982
Whitesnake 28/12/1982
Whitesnake 29/12/1982
Dio 3/11/1983
Blue Oyster Cult & Aldo Nova 13/2/1984
Gary Moore 20/9/1985
UFO 25/11/1985
Magnum 13/12/1985
Black Sabbath 25/5/1986
GTR 12/9/1986
Magnum 17/10/1986
Iron Maiden 31/10/1986
Magnum 10/3/1987
The Redbeards from Texas! 19/5/1987
Suzanne Vega 29/5/1987
I signed the petition against the multiplex but it didn’t get us anywhere.
…was working on a list of gigs but looked at yours and it seems we went to many of the same ones! Couldn’t remember any of the dates but I got as far as 1980 / 81 before running out of steam. Fond memories included having to queue for tickets (pre Internet of course) then heading off to the spud van after a gig to scoff a bag full of charred spuds. Here’s my list so far:-
UFO / Liar
Sammy Hagar / Def Leppard
Sammy Hagar / Riot
Judas Priest / Iron Maiden
Bad Company / ?
Pat Travers / Journey
April Wine / Sledgehammer / Angel Witch
Pat Travers / Diamond Head / Girl
Ted Nugent / Wild Horses
Accept / Dokken
Krokus / More
Van Halen / St. Paradise
Gillan / The Broughtons
Ozzy Osbourne (with Jake E Lee) / ?
Thin Lizzy (with Gary Moore) /? (1.4.79)
Scorpions / Terra Nova
Motörhead / Saxon
Steve Hillage / Trevor Rabin
Gillan / Randy California
I believe Uriah Heep’s 1973 live album was recorded at the Odeon.
It wasat the Town Hall not the Odeon. I was deaf for a week afterwards.
Uriah Heep was recoded at the Town Hall – i still have the ticket!
Bob Marley & The Wailers- July 19th 1975 and June 22nd 1976
Beshara – early 80’s and Jamaican singer John Holt on the same bill.
Dear Andy did you get a chance to tape any of those marley show or know anyone who has? one love..
So many memories of gigs at odeon, saved most of my tickets and have in photo album. So here goes:
Triumph Thurs 13/11/80 front circle £3.50
Motörhead Sat 22/11/80 centre circle £3.00
UFO Mon 26/1/81 rear stalls £3.50
Def Leppard, lionheart Tues 14/7/81 centre stalls £3.25
Judas Priest Thurs 12/11/81 centre stalls £4.00
Gillan, budgie Tues 24/11/81 rear stalls £4.00
Saxon Tues 15/12/81 centre circle £3.50
Slade Sat 19/12/81 rear stalls £3.50
Motorhead Fri 9/4/82 front stalls £4.50
Thin Lizzy Tues 23/3/82 centre circle £4.00
Iron Maiden Sat 21/5/82 centre stalls £4.50
Judas Priest Thurs 22/12/82 centre stalls £5.00
Moody Blues Fri 12/12/86 centre stalls £10.00
Saw a few others too but lost tickets. Note a good number of circle tickets but strangely usually found myself front stalls!!
Also great memory of seeing The song remains the same Led Zep movie!
Good times
Previous message I made mistake with email address. Have corrected
Al Green, with Arthur Conley and Gino Washington, either 71 or 72, but memory not what it used to be
I stuck all my ticket stubs in a book (I gave up train spotting when I started to grow pubic hair). i knw they’d come in handy one day. I will spare you all the details (also, annoyingly, the Odeon never used to print the year on the ticket,just the date) but here are some of the most memorable ones:
Santana 10/11/76 – my first concert
The Tubes – outrageous American punks-cum-rip off artists-cum one hit wonders
U2 supported by The Big Country 27/3/83
Television supported by Blondie 13/4/78 – a bloke in the audience passed Debbie Harry a note (phone number?) and she took it off him. B*stard
Jimmy Cliff 1/5/83 Brilliant
Bad Company 26/3/79 Guest appearance by Robert Plant – he was sitting in front of me and I thought “I know that bloke from somewhere!!!”
Simple Minds 13/3/84 and 14/3/84. Jim Kerr had a sore throat for the concert on the 15/3/84 so they cancelled. I was a bit of a fan
It looks like my last one there was The Cure on 29/4/84. Happy days.
Television / Blondie 1977 not 1978
First gig was Rainbow 11 Sept. 1976- Cozy Powell, Ronnie Dio and of course Ritchie, in the classic line-up. A night that changed my life forever!!! I saw dozens there after that-
Saxon circa 1985, Sammy Hagar on the Red tour, Ozzy/Ratt on the Ultimate Sin tour (he was truly awful), as were Motley Crue, supported by the wonderful Cheap Trick- I went home after half an hour of Crue!
Black Sabbath (when Ray Gillen deputised for Glenn Hughes) on the 7th Star tour, playing on home soil to a half empty Odeon!….very sad.
The Cult were the last (according to my ticket was 12th March 1987) They were supported by Gay Bikers on Acid I seem to recall.
Saw Cliff Richard in Nov 1974 – concert started late due to bomb warning, but when it started an hour later was not shortened.
Saw Harry Chapin was advertised in 1980/81 but didn’t get ticket – great regret as he died not long afterwards in car accident.
Also remember Glenn Campbell (not sure if 1975) and Don Mclean (1975)
What a memory!!!!!
My first ever gig was at the Odeon :-
OMD 27/9/84 with the Reverb Brothers Supporting
followed by
Tears for Fears 12/11/85 with the Adventures supporting ( who I remember were better than Tears for Fears!)
TEARS FOR FEARS
1983 – December 10
1985 – April 11
May 15
3 nights from November 12
CHEAP TRICK
1980 – November 4
1986 – February 9 Motley Crue & Cheap Trick
One gig missing from your list and it was absolutely mega!
I think it was October but it was definitely 1976. The gig………….Aerosmith.
The gig was unusual because it was during a big transition for the band. Steve Tyler and Joe Perry were always high on different substances and it unfortunately reflected in the music. I think joe left the band that night and was replaced by the very qualified Jim Crespo. Anyway, the highlight of that night was the supporting band.
I think they were members of other accomplished bands like Sweet and Argent. They called themselves Phoenix and to be honest, they were the headline act that night night. Absolutely brilliant and so much so that I recall a section of Aerosmiths set whereby quite a few were calling for Phoenix to come back on!
Anyway, the night was indeed epic and I buzzed for what seemed like weeks.
Please,please, please include it in your listing. It may provoke a few memories!
Joe Perry played that night. Ted Nugent had played the Town Hall the previous week and Perry was pissed off by two fans constantly yelling “Turn it up”!The bad mood continued as “Dream On” was abandoned and we didn’t get an encore. They were much better at Reading the following year. In the audience next to me, Nigel John Taylor of Duran Duran , who was a big Aerosmith fan at the time..
Does anyone else out there remember the Odeon performance of T Rex in July 1971? I found a ticket that gives the date as Friday 2nd but when I search for reports of the concert, they are for Saturday 3rd. I guess the concert date changed but can anyone confirm?
As for the best concert @ New Street Odeon, Black Sabbath 14th December 1973.
Yeah it was a Saturday. Can’t recall if the date was switched. I do remember Marc’s opening number, it was Elemental Child. I remember he was wearing shiny green loons and a big baggy white shirt. The crowd were screaming fo him to sing ‘the wizzard’ He obliged and sang a few lines. Could you scan the ticket for me David? I’d love to see it again.
I believe the T Rex gig was november the 5th 1971 as i’d just bought “Electric Warrior” (superb today as it was then) I was ill but my friend went along and said it was brilliant!!… But i did go in 1972..
That was The Town Hall gig, not The Odeon.
The T.Rex gig was Friday 2nd July 1971, they also played there on 9 June 1972, 28 January 1974 and 17 March 1977. The 5 November 1971 date was at the Town Hall, not The Odeon. I went to all of these gigs.
My first concert was TRex at the Odeon in 1972 – cost 75p – still have the ticket!
Birmingham Odeon was one of my favourite venues back in the day, I still have most of my tickets from 1979 to 1981, so here goes –
Uriah Heep 2/3/79 centre stalls £2.80
Rush 10/5/79 centre stalls £3.50 – still one of my top 5 gigs ever.
Steve Hackett 31/10/79 centre stalls £3.25
Uriah Heep 1/2/80 centre stalls £3.00
Peter Gabriel 23/2/80 rear stalls £2.50
Thin Lizzy 23/5/80 rear circle £3.50
Rush 20/6/80 centre circle £3.50
AC/DC 22/10/80 rear circle £3.50
The Scorpions 24/10/80 rear circle £4.00
Tangerine Dream 7/10/80 centre stalls £4.00
Yes 20/11/80 rear stalls £4.00
Ultravox 6/12/80 centre stalls £3.00
Kraftwerk 11/5/81 centre stalls £4.00
John Martyn 6/11/81 centre stalls £3.50 – this was the last time I went to the Odeon.
Me and my mates all lived in Cheltenham and we used to get the train up to New Street, trains were cheap in those days and it was only an hour trip, we used to see loads of others we knew from our way on the train.
There was always a great atmosphere at the Odeon, and remember well the lads charging at the stage when the lights went down for the heavy rock gigs and the bouncers trying to push them back, got a bit rough at times !
Happy days and great memories of those nights at the Brum Odeon 30+ years ago.
April 1985:
9th & 10th Mike Harding
11th Tears For Fears
16th CCTV – Hagler -V- Hearns
20th King
23rd The Kinks
27th Jagjit & Chitra Singh
29th Sky
30th Sheila Walsh
May 1985:
2nd Mama’s Boys
4th Rick Wakeman
5th Mr Birmingham Competition
7th The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem
9th Doris Collins
10th The Alarm
11th Beshara & Leroy Smart
15th Tears For Fears
16th Magnum
17th Uriah Heep
18th The Enid
24th Beshara & Leroy Smart
25th Chris Rea
31st Dr. Hook
June 1985:
9th & 10th The Style Council
20th The Damned
July 1985:
13th Cliff Richard Gospel Choir
August 1985:
9th Kris Kristofferson
September 1985:
13th James Last
It would be an interesting project, for someone to raid the archive, of the Birmingham Evening Mail at the Central Library. On Fridays the Odeon took out a display advert for forthcoming events. And then of course there are the concert reviews that apeared in the mail. I am also aware of one or two maybe more backstage artist/crew shinanigans…………..
What venue did OMD use for the making of the video single “we love you”
OMD def filmed ‘We Love You’ at the Odeon. Think it required a couple of takes!
fond memories… first ever gig 1985 saxon and then went on to … wasp / iron maiden / slayer until the hummingbird / powerhouse took over!
Went to numerous Odeon concerts when at school (St Philips in Edgbaston) then more after coming back to Brum after uni. Can’t remember too many now but the ticket stubs are all in the loft. Santana, Wishbone Ash, Jeff Beck (must have been about ’82 – the only ticket stub I don’t have as my girl friend at the time (hi to Jayne Mills) put them in her handbag and not realising I saved them, chucked them out the next day). Nearly always a great sound there, so much better than the Town Hall.
One stand out moment, because it was so unexpected, was the support for Robin Trower in March 75 – John Miles, famed for the epic hit ‘Music’. I knew he was a good guitarist, but didn’t know much about him nor what to expect. He started his first number, playing off-stage – a fantastic guitar intro, as he strolled onto the dark stage, lit by a spotlight, the intro turning into a barnstorming version of Rock and Roll Hoochie Coo, a Rick Derringer/Johnny Winter favourite of mine, something you’d not have expected from him..absolutely brilliant.
Saw my first ever gig at the Odeon. Gary Numan on 5 September 1980 supported by The Quads. I was a regular gig goer there until it closed as a music venue in 1987.
It is well worth checking out http://www.songkick.com as there are over 500 concerts archived on that site.
Here’s a list of what I saw at the Odeon:
08/12/1985 BLUE OYSTER CULT / Girlschool
09/02/1986 MOTLEY CRUE / Cheap Trick
I remember walking out on Motley Crue as they remain the worst band that I have paid money to see. Tommy Lee was off his face and was more interested in bouncing sticks off his toms into the crowd than actually keeping any kind of beat, which he signally failed to do. We’d really only gone to see Cheap Trick anyway.
01/03/1986 JOHN MARTYN / Martin Stephenson and The Daintees
12/05/1986 THE RAMONES / The Prisoners
This was a fantastic gig. I was in the balcony, but the stalls looked pretty rough. There were roadies with baseball bats to deter stage invaders.
26/05/1986 PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED / Black Britain
Another great gig. Somewhat surprised by them starting with an instrumental cover of Zeppelin’s Kashmir! Lydon spoke twice: “Hello Birmingham” after Kashmir and “bye bye Birmingham” at the end!
30/05/1986 THE CRAMPS
Another one to tell the grandkids about. The Cramps were a force of nature.
12/09/1986 GTR
29/10/1986 THE STRANGLERS / Xmal Deutschland
08/11/1986 HAWKWIND
I was in the balcony and fell asleep during this. I’d had a hard day!!!
15/11/1986 VAN MORRISON
Van was very grumpy and spent a great deal of time with his back to the audience.
19/11/1986 SUZANNE VEGA
This was sublime. Her first album was brilliant and you got the impression that she meant and felt every word.
03/12/1986 ALICE COOPER
12/02/1987 THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS / The Ward Brothers
25/02/1987 CYNDI LAUPER
13/03/1987 THE CULT / Gaye Bykers On Acid
Probably The Cult’s best tour. They were on brilliant form!
28/03/1987 SIMPLY RED / Terence Trent D’arby
I got dragged along to this. Terence Trent D’arby blew Simply Red (Dead?!!) offstage. He was brilliant and I though he would be a big star. Ah well. You win some, you lose some. Mick Hucknall put everything into this gig, but the band looked bored and were probably wondering about what was on the rider backstage.
19/05/1987 THE RED BEARDS FROM TEXAS ( + Steve Gibbons & Noddy Holder ) / Bash Street Kids / Mechanical Hearts / False Witness / Wyche/
Prehistoric Pets
This was a ‘battle of the bands’ night, and all of the bands were really good!
29/05/1987 SUZANNE VEGA / Thomas Lang
My first concert was at the Odeon, Hawkwind with Dr Feelgood supporting. Also saw Lynyrd Skynyrd (sutherland brothers supporting) and Uriah Heep. Security at the Hawkwind concert was very tight as it was a month after the pub bombings.
Once in my life I left a rock-concert – because it was not good at all and for that too loud. That was n town at the Odeon in Birmingham on 2nd March, 1976. And on stage war Robin Trower (formerly known as the gitarrist of Procol Harum (an wonderful band!)
That is amazing. I too only ever walked out of a concert once and that was also Robin Trower i 1979 or 1980 (I can’t remember which year as I gave my ticket to a Woman in the foyer who was being informed by the security she couldn’t go in, that is until I gave her my ticket.
Also, used to vist the Odeon what seemed like virtually every week in 79/80 to see bands play. Can remember most of the lineups (including some support acts) but very hazy on the date. If you could use this vague information, let me know and I’ll try and tease the memory banks.
Great site – keep up the good work
At the top of your list it says Cream 1964. Wrong, Cream were not formed until 1966 and Eric Clapton was still with the Yardbirds in 1964. Here are some gigs that I went to and I am looking at the ticket stubs as I type this. The Boomtown Rats 20/2/85, Ech and The Bunnymen 16/12/85, The Buzzcocks 24/10/79 and 30/10/80, The Ramones 6/2/80, Adam and The Ants 8/12/80, Siouxsie and The Banshees 26/8/81 and The Stranglers 16/7/80 , 16/2/81 , 15/11/81 , 3/2/83 and 29/10/86. Of course, a lot of groups have their own comprehensive gig guide going back from when they started but trawling through loads of group websites would be exhausting.
I used to live in the Odeon.
The first gig I EVER went too was Mud, with Bilbo Baggins supporting
Other gigs, of which I have the ticket stubs, including
Leo Sayer £4
The Hollies £3.80
Billy Joel £4.00
Nazareth £2.80
The Ramones £2.50
Bill Haley £4.50-This was filmed for Central Televeision and is now available on a poor quality DVD,and you can just about make me out doing some head banging stuff.
The Kinks £3.00
Squeeze with Wreckless Eric £3.00
Tom Petty £4.00 (I was beginning to see the light of day!)
Sad Cafe £3.00
Showaddywaddy £3.50
Dr Hook £5.00
Madness £3.00
The Ramones £3.50 (1980)
I also saw, but don’t have the ticket stubs..
Elton John on the Louder Than Concorde, But not quite as pretty tour, support was Murray Head
Spyro Gyra
Thin Lizzy, on their last tour. I attended with my leg in a cast after a motorbike accident claimed my Honda 125
The Boomtown Rats x2
Dave Edmunds with Robert Plant as special guest at the end, and supported by Jameson Raid..and excellent local band
I’m sure there were more, but my memry had gone a bit hazy..
come along and share your ODEON memories & photographs on Facebook
at the Birmingham Odeon Memorial
http://www.facebook.com/groups/65349726819/
Saw the Four Tops, The Jackson 5 & The Supremes at the Odeon 1971/72. Would love to know who was on with them as can’t remember now. Motown was at it’s height , still loving it today & Northern soul. Also saw the Beachboys there twice 1970/71.Great memories, KTF!
Top of the bill was Georgie fame.
My first ever ‘gig’ was to see David Essex at the Odeon on 10th November 1974. Support that night was Merlin. Since then, I’ve been to the following Odeon gigs:-
10-Feb-77 – Abba
24-Feb-79 – Billy Joel
09-Mar-79 – Joan Armatrading
26-Mar-79 – Bad Company (Feat. special guest appearance by Robert Plant)
23-Apr-79 – John Miles (Support was Bandit)
17-Jul-82 – Steve Miller Band
12-Apr-86 – Johnny Cash & The Carter Family (Support was George Hamilton IV) – I met Johnny at the side of the Odeon as he was boarding his tour bus after the gig
The Odeon will remain a special place to me and many other Brummies I’m sure.
Hi Tony Cotter, are you sure the Abba concert was in 1977 and not one or two years earlier? I have the ticket stub too and I thought it was 76 if not 75 I reember you could only get the tickets over the evening mail. Limited to 4 per person and first come first served. The demands were so high they could have sold out the odeon over 10 times. I was very lucky to get my ticket on the black market outside the odeon at a fair price. People were paying over 100 pounds (40 times the face value!) which was a fortune in those days.
Thanks.
Cannnot rember the dates only the Bands, Black Sabbath with Van Halen as supprt(whose idea was that….)Lizzy loads of times, Whitesnake, RUSH, SAHB, Feelgoods, Nazareth, Bad Co(and Robert Plant)Wishbone Ash, Judas Priest, Robin Trower, Camel…Good Days…Great Nights
why not Join our Facebook group ‘Birmingham Odeon Memorial’. There you will find great photos and Recollections from fans, theatre goers and Odeon staff. Come and add your memories.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/65349726819/
this link to the Odeon Birmingham Facebook group should work now / Dale
http://www.facebook.com/groups/odeon.birmingham/
Came back to England 1973 saw the following at the Odeon but cannot remember the years
Trex, Supertramp, 10CC Rick Wakeman, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, OMD with reel to reel tape machine as a drummer, Adam and the Ants (Cued outside from 5am and was given tea and bisquits by the manager) , The Police, Stiff Little Fingers, X Ray Spex, Ulrtavox, Gary Newman, The Cure supporting Sousie and the Banshees mind fading now with so many memories of good nights.
1974 queued round the block after walking into town in the middle of the night for tickets for The Faces gig in November. Unfortunately the week before the gig was the Birmingham pub bombing. My mate wasn’t allowed to go but I kept schtum and still went. The Odeon was in between both the pubs of course so the atmosphere was tense but Rod and the lads made it a great night. Later on circa 78 he did that solo tour and the stage at the Granby Halls in Leicester were covered in silk. I thought “what a pillock” and went “Roight Off Him”
Dicky Mint
I was there at the first night, also at Granby Halls in ’78. Same tours was at front stage with my Brother at Bell Vue, during the “I’m losing you” drum solo Rod looked at me and pulled at his shirt, I realised he wanted my Scotland football shirt so I took it off and threw it onto the stage, next thing I know he takes his leopard skin pattern shirt off and throws it to me then put my football shirt on. Didn’t expect to get out in one piece but when the lights went down my brother passed me his bomber jacket and I put it on over Rods shirt. I still have it and some very happy memories of about 40 Rod Stewart concerts in the 70’s / 80’s with my Brother !
The Stray Cats played at the Odeon, Birmingham:
– 21st march 1981
– 28th december 1981
If you want to see the tickets, check this site out: http://www.setzerarchive.com/eightyeightyone.html
Cheers
FC
I saw ultrvox,queen( I think it was at Xmas 75 ) the skids was a great concert with the great Stuart a damson ,Richard Hobson…..working for the Yankee dollar…charade, saw kraftwerk Sammy Hagar ,and Japan was a memorable concert too. And squeeze with jools holland chewing on a large Havana cigar all nite…great memories
Oh forgot simple minds too
And teardrop explodes……
Oh forgot simple minds too . I think the Berlin blondes were the support act at the skids gig
Other concerts that I have fond memories of was Acdc at bingles hall stafford ,a few months later Bon Scott died, and I saw the great jazz legend miles Davies at the nec ,who also months later also died.
Amongst the many acts I saw at the Odeon I remember these: The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Ike and Tina Turner, Iggy Pop (twice), Santana, Little Feat, Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames, Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, The Butterfield Blues Band, Ry Cooder, Television, Blondie, Patti Smith, XTC, Simple Minds, Lynyrd Skynyrd (twice), The Tubes (twice), Elvis Costello, Bob Marley and The Wailers (twice), Third World, Toots and The Maytals, The Stranglers, Echo and The Bunnymen, Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band, Dr Feelgood (thrice), Wire, Graham Parker and The Rumour, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Dukes, Grinderswitch, The Marshall Tucker Band…and many more I can’t bring to mind.
Just before I got on the plane from Düsseldorf to Birmingham in the Summer of ’75 I heard of a British band called Queen. Only a few days after my arrival I learned from a Poster near Bull Ring that this relatively new rock group with a Singer called Freddie would soon play at the Birmingham Odeon. On the day of the advertised gig I got on the bus that took me from Moseley to the City Center. And then I could not believe my eyes: the band Queen – in Germany only known to music-experts – was obviously better known in Birmingham. Much better: the crowd waiting to get in the Odeon to hear and see the Band was reaching around two Blocks.
SAW ROLLING STONES HERE GOATS HEAD SOUP TOUR AND LYNYRD SKYNYRD
LED ZEPPELIN
THOMPSON TWINS ,THOMAS DOLBY
I saw loads of bands here in my youth. Motorhead stand out the most for the loudness and entertainment. First time i saw them was 1980 Ace Up Your Sleeve tour. What stood out the most was that as soon as i entered the Odeon a punk was dropped over the balcony of the circle. Saw them on there iron fist tour about 82 in april. Me and my mates brought tickets for the friday and sunday shows but we could only get front row stalls on the friday. in those days the tickets were colour coded so front stalls were dark blue and normal stalls were pink. So on the sunday night we got in the front stalls by showing our Friday night ticket stubbs. Happy days.
Was the odeon near snow hill station
Hi Paul,
No The Odeon was nearer to New Street Station. It is on New Street, close to the Pallasades and Bull Ring shopping centres.
Remember an interesting experience – at least for a German just arriving in Birmingham: it was in 1975 and I had heard of a British band called Queen. Soon after my arrival I learned from a poster on New Street right in the city center that Queen – some kind of Art Rock Combo with a singer called Freddy or so – would perform at the Odeon. I thought I’d go there To see an upcoming music group so that there is at least a small crowd… So on the day of the gig I got on the bus in Moseley and got Birminham Center, and I could not believe my eyes: there was a huge crowd reaching around two blocks – everybody had tickets, except for one naïve German
Black Sabbath ‘Never Say Die’ tour with Van Halen as support in 1978 (first night when the PA equipment failed). Now I can’t remember if it was this night, or the return gig, but I’m sure at one point Ozzy was leaping around on the stage and he split his trousers and had to go off and change.
This was my first gig EVER. Remember distinctly the amps packing up and having to reschedule the gig but cant remember the incident with Ozzys trousers
When you look at the price of the ticket today, you first think: Wow! wish it was that cheap now! However, £3 in 1975 was just under half my weeks’ wages!
here are the dates from the gigs I have ticket stubs for – sadly I didn’t keep all of them or lost them,
The Odeon was a magical venue to see bands play live – loved being in the bar when the bell went to announce the show was about to start, or the mad dash from the Costers to get in as the band hit the stage, and the health and safety people would have a fit if they could see the way the PA was crudely lashed together with rope – how it never keeled over I do not know.
Dec 10th 1975 – Queen with Mr Big as support – £2
May 14th 1976 – Kiss with the always regular support for someone – Stray – £1.50
June 3rd 1977 – Rush with ….. you guessed it Stray – £2.50 and so began my love affair with Rush – interestingly the ticket price for the last Rush show at the LG Arena was £82.50
Aug 18th 1977 – Ted Nugent with Kingfish as support – £2.50
Sept 26th 1977 – Hawkwind – £2.50
Feb 12th 1978 – Rush with Tyla Gang as support – £2.00
June 12th 1978 – Black Sabbath – no price on ticket
Nov 13th 1978 – Judas Priest with Lea Hart as support – £2.00
Jan 23rd 1979 – UFO – £2.00
May 10th 1979 Rush with Max Webster as support – £3.50
May 11th 1979 2nd night for Rush with Max Webster
May 13th 1979 – Scorpions with Terra Nova as support – no price on ticket
June 25th 1979 – Van Halen – £3.50
June 22nd 1980 – Van Halen – £4.00
Sept 28th 1980 – Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz £3.50
April 18th 1983 – Twisted Sister – £3.50
I have many happy memories of gigs at the Odeon start seeing with my first ever rock concert of any kind ‘Gillan’ on the ‘Double Trouble’Tour in 1981.After that dates are a little hazy but I saw Saxon,Iron Maiden(83),Metallica,Mamas Boys,Thin Lizzy(83),Uriah Heep,Motorhead(my ears rang for three days solid afterwards!)Whitesnake..to name a few of the concerts I enjoyed in my teen-age headbanging past.I remember seeing a young guitarist by the name of Janick Gers at the Gillan gig(Now an Iron Maiden stalwart)also a large bass player by the name of John McCoy swinging on a giant trapeze above the stage-mad or what!Back then I didn’t know the difference between a Fender and a Gibson,a Marshall or a Laney.What matters is I was there,living out my air guitar fantasies!I went on to see over 100 gigs including Iron Maiden twenty times,several festivals including Deep Purple at Knebworth,Monsters of Rock and more recently Judas Priest,AC/DC and others at N.E.C Birmingham.The prices have gone up shockingly since those Odeon days mind!how much for a programmer?Crickey ..bring back the Good Old Odeon days!
November 22. 1963 was a day of history.
The Stan Kenton Swing Band was on a European tour and appearing at the Odeon in the evening. The interval was extended and the audience were left wondering the reason. After about 45 minutes Kenton appeared and announced that President Kennedy had been shot but the programme would continue. Leaving the theatre we found a special edition of the Birmingham Mail on sale. I understand that the State Departmennt ordered the band back to the U.S.
Many times we hopped on the train from Stourbridge to New Street to go to Birmingham Odeon to see a band, it was a great venue. The security quite regularly moved you forward closer to front if you were short like me and the one time that I was moved and wish that I hadn’t been was when we saw Motorhead, I can’t remember the year or date but I still have the ringing in my ears. Others seen there included: Adam and the Ants, Gang of Four, Souixsie & the Banshees twice, once with Robert Smith playing guitar, Psychadelic Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, The Red Wedge Tour, Big Country supporting U2, Hazel O’Connor, Whitesnake (my mum and dad took me), Public Image Limited. We did see (if anyone could confirm) Stiff Little Fingers & New Order there I think and they were great.
I was 14 when I first came to the odeon,my first ever gig 6th oct 1982 and the band was Stiff Little Fingers.I also saw U2,Big Country,Style Council and Frankie to name but a few.great venue
Approx march 1970 Booker T and MGs topped the bill with blue mink and jimmy ruffin although big stars were support at the new street odeon. Local lad, then radio one dj johnny walker was compare. For your list. I have programme in the loft. I’ll photo and send.
best regards
steve
Saw James Brown at the Odeon Theatre Friday March 12th (2nd performance – centre circle N27) but would like to know which year – probably 1971 but not sure. I have the ticket stubs but the year is not shown. Thanks. Pete
I was on stage dancing to poptones when Public image was playing at the Birmingham odeon . It was the 1980 or 1981 . Iam not to shure of the year . can you help . Regards john
Only just seen this clip. Great to see a very young Jim Simpson who I believe still organises the Jazz and Blues Festival. The first gig I saw there was The Beatles. I remember queuing for tickets all night and can still recall exactly where I sat. I could not hear a thing over the screaming but still feel privileged to have been there. Also saw Shirley Bassey, Gene Pitney, Meatloaf, 10cc, Cliff Richard and The Beach Boys. Chris Mott gave an album cover to David Soul to autograph for me (for a girlfriend) but the swine took it with him never to be seen again.
Great venue which like so many was unable to compete with the new stadia.
John Marsden
I went to the Odeon in 1976 to see the Elton John Louder Than Concord Show with Murray Head supporting. I can remember someone getting on the stage and wrestling Elton to the floor his glasses were just in front of me as we were standing at the front. Can anyone else recall this as I cannot find it documented anywhere.
hi, I have a picture of and signed by the Jackson 5 in Birmingham 1972. I wanted to know the list of the supporting acts that toured with the Jackson’s that year.
Queen – December 8th 1975
Also 10cc in 77. And Thin Lizzy.
remember twisted sister in 86 when i was 14..i was mesmerised in the front row.
remember on the way out they played king of the fools over the speakers and id never heard that one.
saw motley crue around the same time and that was good but i never catched any of the drumsticks tommy lee was throwin..i remember the tilting drum platform.
shy/cheaptrick were support acts but i cant remember for who.
also remember eddie ojeda twisted sister guitarist looking me right in the eyes while playing a chord during shoot em down which looked like he was flicking the middle finger at me for a few seconds and i thought he was being a bit patronising,as i was only 14 but found out years later after learning a bit of guitar that thats what your fingers shape like when you play those chords,
so everytime i hear that song i think of him givin me the bird lol
does anyone remember the date that Kiss played the Odeon in the mid 70’s , I did go and do have my ticket stub somewhere in the house/loft ,just can’t remember the date .
Talc
According to Songkick Kiss played at the Odeon on 14 May 1976 with The Scorpions supporting. Hope this helps.
http://www.songkick.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&type=initial&query=kiss+birmingham+odeon
Hi. Can anyone confirm when Stevie Wonder appeared at the Odeon in Birmingham ? I think it was 1971 but can’t be certain. Also , Gilbert O’Sullivan? Thank you
I saw many great bands at the Odeon over the years – what a great venue. I always tried to get front stalls tickets whenever possible as the atmosphere there was much more powerful. Some of the bands I saw include:
Motorhead/Girlschool – 07/04/1979
Judas Priest – 17/05/1979
Rush/Max Webster – 10/05/1979
The Scorpions/Terra Nova – 1979
Siouxsie & the Banshees/The Cure/Spizzenergi – 19/09/1979
Buzzcocks/Joy Division – 24/10/1979
Adam & the Ants/Gods Toys – 08/12/1980
Adam & the Ants/Altered Images – 26/03/1981
Toyah – 20/05/1981
Siouxsie & the Banshees/John Cooper-Clarke – 26/08/1981
Toyah – 20/12/1981
Toyah/Fad Gadget – 23/06/1982
Bauhaus/Brilliant – 23/10/1982
Siouxsie & the Banshees/Zerra 1 – 13/11/1982
Yazoo – 15/11/1982
U2/The Alarm – 04/12/1982
U2/Big Country – 10/03/1983
Toyah – 05/12/1983
Public Image Ltd/Black Britain – 13/11/1983
Siouxsie & the Banshees/The Scientists – 19/10/1985
Public Image Ltd. – 26/05/1986
I saw the following acts at the odeon;
The Ramones, The Spectres (w/Glenn Matlock) Saturday 11 10 1980 £3.50
Gillan, Budgie, Nightwing Tuesday 24 11 1981 £4.00
Judas Priest, Accept Thursday 12 11 1981 £3.50
Scorpions, Wolf Saturday 20 2 1982 £4.00
Budgie, Electric Gypsies, Chinatown Monday 6 12 1982 £3.50
Dio Thursday 3 11 1983 £4.00
Frank Marino And Mahogany Rush Saturday 30 4 1983 £3.50
Uli Roth’s Electric Sun Friday 20 5 1983 £4.00
Scorpions Tuesday 24 1 1984 £5.00
Hawkwind, The Babysitters Saturday 8 11 1986 £5.50
Ozzy Osbourne, Ratt Sunday 23 2 1986 £4.50
These were good times when the average cost of a ticket was £4 i might have stretched to more concerts if I had parents who were more accommodating and if had a more financial predicament to spend money on. Aged of 18 to 24 from 80-86. Great times!
Does anyone have an example of a Madness ticket from the odeon in 1979?
thanks in advance Tony
Got one somewhere, and the “review” from the Evening Mail.
[…] Cavar, who wrote he went to the gig on the website Birmingham Music Archive, said: “The demands were so high they could have sold out the Odeon over 10 […]
I was a bit of a rock chick in the late 70’s and 1980’s and the first gig I ever saw was The Michael Schenker Group at the Birmingham Odeon on 27 September 1980 (I don’t think anybody above has mentioned them!).
I was stationed at RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton, and a gang of us came over to the Odeon on 22 November 1980 to see Motorhead (my 2nd gig). This particular gig brings back memories for a couple of reasons: I could’nt hear properly for about 3 days afterwards, and we missed the last train back to Wolverhampton after the gig, and had to sleep on New Street Station until the first train back on the Sunday morning – it was flipping freezing! Great times and great memories!!
Happy memories of seeing my first ever concert, Depeche Mode 28th September 1983 with my dad, I was 15 at the time. Also saw The Thompson Twins, OMD and King.
[…] Cavar, who wrote he went to the gig on the website Birmingham Music Archive, mentioned: “The calls for have been so excessive they might have bought out the Odeon over 10 […]
I am looking for the following concert ticket , or an image of it would be fine :
T.Rex at the Odeon, Birmingham, 2nd July 1971.
Please send me a scan of it if you can find one – thanks, Ralph.
i’m sure i saw the rolling stones on two occasions at the odeon in the late sixties. also was at the hyde park free concert in 68 /69 . also have tckt stubs from thurs january 16 th clancy bros/tommy makem price £1 also stub for a stage show for may 12th price 17shillings and sixpence.no year was printed on tkts then. also there was a concert the night of the Aberfan disaster i think Ike and Tina Turner were the act on that night.
Saw a whole host of rock bands in the late 70’s to mid 80’s, all mentioned above. I saw the great, late, Rory Gallagher a few times too but not yet mentioned, was I the only one there?
As well as many of the other gigs listed – saw INXS at the Odeon in 85/86. First time in the UK after they were showcased on Live Aid. Only sold less than 50% of the tickets so they closed the circle and moved everyone downstairs. A glimpse of how good they would become. Brilliant.
I was one of the fortunate ones to see Abba in their Odeon concert after applying for tickets and having our money returned due to sold out, we got our tickets off touts what a story !!!!
Hi
Just came across this site.
I saw many concerts in Odean in 70s and 80s, and may have ticket stubs from some.
Saw Dire Straits, Santana, Bob Marley, Osibisa, Supertramp, Eric Clapton,(with remark about being swarmed!) and many more.
I could find them send a scanned copy of them.
Please let me know.
Mahendra Dabhi
Queued through the night to get tickets. Brilliant. Think this was their last. British tour?
As a big Judas priest fan us a bunch of priest fans couldn’t wait for there show at the Odeon seeing priest in their own town
On the night of the gig after a few beers in West Bromwich we caught the bus to town as we was walking to the gig I remember thinking I can’t wait for this in an hour priest will be on stage delivering classic metal. How wrong I was we headed for the bar and it was announced that the band was going to be late due to there appearance on top of the pops that night big sighs from everyone there we didn’t see the support band we stopped in the bar
9 o’clock came still no sign of priest on stage
So more time in the bar at this time we was yet to g rely drunk
Ten o’clock came still no band another message put the band should be on stage at ten thirty
Ten thirty co.es no band by this time punters are getting really angry
The atmosphere is not good then finally we hear the band have arrived at the airport by helicopter and will be on stage soon
We took our seats on the front row of the balcony I still more delay
Then 11,30 the band took the stage the place went mad what a gig we stood as they came on and I remember rob halford the band singer pointing at us and saying I see that you lot have been on the banks s mild which is a local black country beer and he was right we had been lol
I remember after the gig we had to get the late night bus and we finally got home at some mad time in the morning
The following year we got tickets again for priest at the Odeon always thinking about the previous years event and then coming on late
Who said lighting doesn’t strike twice
Exactly the same thing happened the band did top of the pops again and the same thing happened
Got helicopter from lo Don and came on late again
I recently met Ian hill from the band in a bar in the states and we chatted about priest and the Albion and I brought the Odeon gigs up we both had a good laugh about it
Really miss gigs at the Odeon should be reopened for shows
I recall going to see OMD at the Birmingham Odeon. If memory serves me right I went to a matinee performance. I could be wrong on that one though.
I was a “lampie” working for TFA Electrosound in the late 70s/80s and looked forward to doing shows at The Odeon, including;
The Tubes 1979 & 1981
Blondie 1980
The Cure 1980
¥MO 1980
Japan 1981
There were a few other tours, but my memory ain’t what it was.
There was an excellent stage crew at the Odeon including one Dale Michelson, top fella.
MANY happy memories of a splendid venue
I remember Dale taking me via the backstage access for a beer in what had been Tavern In The Town… not sure now if it was still called that in 1979.
Was a sobering and somewhat bittersweet experience.
I was the Rigger on many a tour that passed through the Odeon From 1978 through 1983 when I moved to the U. Great house crew and Ron the electrician knew what to do with my power tails so I didn’t have to explain it to him, Old and retired now, those truly were the days;
Does any one know what happened to Ron the house electrician late seventies early eighties?
Can recall seeing the Sensational Alex Harvey Band at some point in the mid 70s, but can’t remember the date….anyone help? One of my first gigs. Also Be Bop Deluxe with I think John Cooper Clarke supporting, both excellent.
I know The Alex Harvey band supported Slade at the Town Hall about then
Saw The Faces at Brum Odeon in November 1974, spent the night on the steps of the Mulberry Bush queuing for tickets, it was blown up a few weeks later, as was the Tavern in the Town around the corner. Spending a night on the pavement queuing for tickets was all part of the fun in those days There must have been twice as many people queuing than there was tickets available although quite a few people were their for the party ! lol. Two quid for front stalls, happy days !
Hi everyone,
I only went to one gig in 86 to see INXS Listen Like Thieves Tour. I am a huge fan now and this gig kicked it off for me. I speak with a member of the band reg and Michael’s sister and have my own Facebook Page, Hutch Nation.
A photo came up of the band today of them on stage and it looks like it could be inside the Birmingham Odean. How can I post it so one or some of you can confirm it for me, please?
I am originally from Brum I left in my twenties and went to London then headed overseas to live in Australia. So any help would be great with this ta x
Hi Bridget – me and my wife went to that INXS gig – we were on the front row and if memory serves me, the place was largely empty – one of our favourite concerts – would love to see a pic!!
Cheers
Paul
Hi I thought that myself and husband had seen the Gang of Four at the Odeon in the 1980s , but he can’t remember the gig and I have checked through my ticket stubs and can’t seem to find a ticket stub for them…. Can anyone confirm or not…I have searched elsewhere and can’t find anything
Thanks
Debbie
Hey Debbie, I now host a podcast in INXS. So much fun. I’m now speaking with so many amazing fans
INXS access all areas with Haydn and Bee.
Love you to find us and have you on the show
Saw my first ever gig at 13, from the balcony of the Odeon – SLADE, supported by Nutz. We stood on the chairs for the whole of Slade’s performance. That set the tone for my future. Followed up that first gig with further visits from Thin Lizzy – twice, Peter Frampton, Television – plus Blondie supporting – Television, again – plus The Only Ones supporting, The Jam, Graham Parker and the Rumour, and probably a handful I can’t remember. I was young enough to be bedazzled by gigs at this large venue, so every one, irrespective of the artist, was an absolute thrill and the venue was a major staple of the UK touring roster in those days. Memories of those gigs still have a magical aura surrounding them – proper gigs
Motley Crue with Cheap Trick as support – February 9th 1986
Fantastic show. I was fortunate enough to get Nikki Sixx signature on my Theatre of Pain LP cover before his security dragged him inside the stage door.
After the show, some 70+ fans waited in hope by the stage door and the bsnd casually walked out the main entrance into a taxi and drove to nearby Holiday Inn.
I had a train to catch to Coventry, so didn’t hit the Holiday Inn, but afterwards I heard security at the hotel wouldn’t let anyone inside, other than paying guests.
I saw some wonderful gigs at the Odeon, like Led Zep, Stones, Al Stewart, Quo, 10cc, Rush, Carpenters (!) Looking at pages like this, however, makes me sad to have missed shows by artists I got into later, like ELP and The Alarm. And why I didn’t see The Who in ’71 I’ll never understand. Great memories all the same.
Wings concert summer 1973, I’m sure it was at the odeon, also perhaps Yes, at around the same time. I was a young Scot newly arrived in Brum and the lovely girl next door to my digs asked me ‘out the blue’.
I grew to love Birmingham and the Brummies .
The very first gig of my life was The Birmigham Odeon , Row about 8 from the front, in the stalls – 17 December 1972 – Led Zeppelin.
I was never the same again. Eyes are welling up as I write this.