Friday 23 March 2012

The Pop Club - York 1978/79

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be..... or maybe it is?
.....thinking back to some of the bands that played the POP CLUB in York in 1978/79, its hard to believe it now.
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I was only 16 and just started work as an apprentice on the railway. I heard there was a 'punk night' at the Oval Ball rugby club(Haxby road) on Wednesdays, so me and a mate went to check it out. It was a different world in there and we got to see some cracking bands.
There's nothing much on the net about The POP CLUB, So here's a list of bands that played the Oval Ball. There are some gaps, but if any one can add any more details then please use the comments section at the bottom of the page and i will add them in. 
Cheers.
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The POP CLUB opened Sept 1978 with local band Cyanide(?)and then had bands on most weeks up until it was closed in Oct 79 after fighting at a UK Subs gig (Subs fans from the Rock Garden in Middlesbrough?)

(Dates below are from band websites or the Songkick gig website - so there could be some errors)

September 78
Cyanide     ?/9/78 opening gig? (info from york city south website)

October 78
Wire        4/10/78(wednesday) (info on songkick gig website)

November 78
999         1/11/78(Wed)(songkick gig website)

Penetration 15/11/78(Wed)(date from band website) don't dictate! 

Ultravox?   16/11/78(thurs)(york city south website)

Police      29/11/78(Wed) did not play?

December 78
Uk Subs      4/12/78? (Mon?)(york city south website) stage invasion

Adam Ant     8/12/78(fri)(date from band website)

Cyanide     29/12/78(fri) + sema4 xmas party (york city south website)

January 79
Adam Ant    24/1/79(wed) parisian tour (date from band website)

Uk Subs     31/1/79(wed)(date from band website)
Lurkers     31/1/79

February 79
Stiff Little Fingers 21/2/79 (Wed) +normal + essential logic

March 79
Skids        7/3/79(wed)(date from band website)

Pretenders  12/3/79(mon?)(date from band website)

Cure        14/3/79(wed)(from band website) + teardrop explodes?

The Fall    21/03/79(wed)(date from band website)

Uk Subs     28/3/79(wed) + skunks (date from band website)

April 79
Toyah       18/4/79(wed)(date from band website)

Uk Subs     19/4/79??(Thurs)(date from band website)

May 79
Dickies     14/5/79(mon)(date from band website)

Undertones  26/5/79(Sat) + yachts (date from band website)

June 79
?Patrick
Fitzgerald  ??20/6/79(Wed) + Teardrops Explode + the Wall
The Cramps  ??/6/79

July 79
Uk Subs     11/7/79(wed)(date from band website)

Adam Ant    25/7/79(wed)(songkick)(band has 24/7/79 zerox tour)

August 79
The Invaders 23/8/79(thurs) ?? date found on net

September 79
The Chords 12/9/79 (weds) Date from Bands website


October 79
Destroy all Monsters 3/10/79(Wed)(date from band website)

mod party   10/10/79 (wed) The scene

Uk Subs     31/10/79(Wed) + cyanide- fighting closed Pop Club (date from band website)
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Other bands that played there?
Xray Spex?
Lurkers?
Chelsea?
Patrik fitgerald? (was at Leeds fan club 19/6/79)
punishment of luxury? (were at fan club 23/11/78)
The Saints? (Perfect day!)
The Vibrators? (were at fan club 9/11/78)
Sema 4?
Angelic Upstarts?
Durriti column?
Scritti Politti?
Posted by at

32 comments:

  1. Mark Woodhouse17 December 2012 at 00:08

    It's about time somebody catalouged this, well done.
    No idea of dates but:
    Doll by Doll (listed as gig of the year by one journo, possibly from the NME
    The Invaders
    The Undertones
    Private Vices
    I was only 15 in 78 but also went on to BREL

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    1. DS11uk17 December 2012 at 14:12

      Thanks for the input mark, The pop club only lasted a year but had some class bands on. so this is my attempt to put a few details on record. Most people who were there will be in their 50's now!!!!
      Its all a bit hazy looking back - but the Undertones are one of the bands i recall pretty well. I was right in front of old Fergal as he was singing Jimmy Jimmy - and he was really going for it. I heard the undertones had charted that week, and could have played anwhere, but the band stuck to the deal and played the Pop Club in York. Unlike the Police!

      Delete
  2. steve8 January 2013 at 11:26

    patrick fitzgerald ,supported by teardrop explodes and the wall ....think it was the chords supported by purple hearts ,i was 14/15 at the time also saw uk subs and others

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  3. DS11uk10 January 2013 at 13:29

    Thanks for the comment Steve, I've pencilled in Patrick fitzgerald and the Teardrops etc for June 79. They played leeds Fan club on Tuesday 19th so they could have played York the day after?.
    The chords band website has them at the Pop Club in September 79. Also found an August 79 date for the Invaders at york.
    Getting there slowly - but a few gaps still to fill

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  4. steve11 January 2013 at 10:53

    sorry i coudnt give further dates/artists ,...it was a long time ago!!! ,remember some great times at this venue as well as the de grey rooms and the taboo club in scarborough amongst others ,dont know if leeds band 2tv ever played there i lived near malton and they had a huge following in this town ,so probably.The music and the times were amazing,i still listen to all the stuff i did as a kid, i wish you all the best with compiling a listing,im sure you would agree this period was an important time,both culturally and musically and deserves to be documented ,good luck ,steve .

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    1. Herbert Street2 February 2017 at 11:58

      I bet you had a red mohican and used to get the bus from York to Malton along A64. I used to get off half way along at Flaxton. Herbert

      Delete
  5. steve11 January 2013 at 11:31

    forgot to say there are a few dates and artists listed here ,http://www.boredteenagers.co.uk/MOD_DATES.htm ...... delete this message by all means ,only way i could inform about these dates ,hope its helpful,steve .

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  6. Petey Issue11 September 2013 at 13:45

    Went to nearly all of those. I remember the Leyton Buzzards playing there... Maybe as a support act... Also remember the Members headlining but couldn't possibly put a date on them...

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  7. jane bug26 July 2014 at 05:14

    Yes I remember most of these - though not Stiff Little Fingers? Lived in Haxby and was 15/16. How lucky were we??

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    1. DS11uk27 July 2014 at 09:17

      I think we were lucky too, as the club was only open a year or so and we got the chance to see all those bands in York. Before the club closed i had started going over to the F club in Leeds and saw more bands over the next couple of years there.
      Stiff little fingers i remember because they looked a hard bunch of lads and were really going for it on stage and got the crowd bouncing about - punk style!.

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    2. Chris Forth16 December 2014 at 04:33

      The queue for SLF stretched almost right ahead the venue, the bloke (or girl) in front of me asked their mates, "does the group where suits"

      Delete
    3. DS11uk16 December 2014 at 14:40

      .."did they wear suits" ? - maybe leather jackets and plenty of attitude was more their style.
      I do remember queueing a few times across the car park in front of the Oval Ball Club, but cannot remember who it was to see, it all brings back memories.

      Delete
  8. Chris Forth16 December 2014 at 07:41

    I always remember The Pop Club closing after fighting after the Adam & The Ants gig in July1979. I do see several other references to later gigs, but believe these were booked but cancelled after the venue closed.
    I also remember seeing The Cramps at The Pop Club in about June 1979, although this doesn’t appear on the band’s own web site. For me, it was memorable, not only for the music (and performance), but a young band in the audience who had been booked by the venue as support. The Cramps refused to let them play as they had their own tour support (and it wasn’t The Police). The band in the audience, The Invaders, from Doncaster, who had made a big impression when they played The Pop Club a few weeks earlier, blew kisses and throw insults at The Cramps throughout their set, Lux and Ivy gave back as good as they got. What a night.
    The Lurkers did play in January (31/01/79). Their first date (December 6) was cancelled when they made their TOTP debut. The UK Subs, deputising for The Lurkers in December, made their first appearance that week at the Pop Club at short notice.
    UK Subs didn’t play the Pop Club after January 1979 (although they did play York The Forge Inn (on the A64, about 5 miles west of York, at last once after January 1979, suspect The Revillos also played at The Forge).
    I definitely saw Ultravox at The Pop Club, but if 16 November was a Thursday, suspect it was another Wednesday in November, I remember getting on my bike after Ultravox to go to see John Cooper Clarke at The Revolution
    PS Strange how web sites seem to be taken as gospel (e.g. UK Subs and Cramps and various booked gigs post July 1979 that never took place as above).

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    1. DS11uk16 December 2014 at 14:54

      Thanks for the extra information, there are still plenty of gaps in the list and maybe some errors, but its hard to get the details after so many years. I bet someone somewhere has all the flyers or posters from the pop Club days so maybe one day?
      I agree with you about information on websites not being reliable sometimes. When i was putting the list together i just grabbed everything i could and put question marks next to any i was not sure about.
      I struggle to remember where i saw certain bands as i also went over to leeds alot. Like you i also saw the Cramps around this time but it could have been the Pop club or the F club - i can not say as i was probably very - very drunk at the time!
      Cheers

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    2. Unknown11 March 2016 at 14:43

      Wow The Pop Club - great days. I'm ad enough to have a record of all the bands I saw there but don't have the dates only the year. I think you are right that Cyanide played the first gig there but the next three were Chelsea, Eater and The Lurkers first gig at the club(all in Sep or early Oct 78). My Pop Club membership card (No. 68) was signed by three Lurkers. I saw Cyanide three times - opening night, Christmas party and once in 1979 when I think they were agian supported by Sema-4 The Members played supported by Pinpoint (Arturo Lurker's band) around Easter 1979. I wonder if Toyah did play as I remember that if you had a ticket for The Members gig you could get in to see Toyah for fre at The Revolution later that night (she was supported by Sema-4). The UK Subs gig on 19 April 1979 was definitely at The Revolution not The Pop Club and they were supported by Cyanide. Essential Logic were support for Stiff Little Fingers and The Killermeters supported The Chords. Doll By Doll did play in 1979 but I can assure you it wasn't gig of the year. The Pirates (Shakin' All Over) played in 79. Someone mentions 2TV - they played at least twice not sure who they supported though. I saw a band called Air-Raid and another called Sections but not sure who they supported. The fight that led ultimately to The Pop Club closing was most definitely at UK Subs not Adam and the Ants and at their July gig not October(I remember bunking off my summer job at Rowntrees but only arrived as the Subs left the stage with glasses flying through the air). Adam and the Ants did play the following week with fire restrictions strictly enforced to keep the crowd to 235 paying customers which backfired a bit as it didn't include the two coach loads of Antpeople on the guest list. Forge Inn gig mentioned was in 1980 - they came on to Leader Of The Gang and were supported surprise surprise by Cyanide and Sema-4. The Revillos I remember playing at the TA Centre. I remember being pissed off that I couldn't make it to the Angelic Upstarts show but they definitely played. A lot of the other gigs I went to are already on your list - and what great nights they were - 999, SLF, Undertones, UK Subs and Lurkers again. Great memories. Herbert

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    3. DS11uk14 March 2016 at 14:38

      Thanks for the extra details - i will update the list at some point. I've said before - the memories are all a bit hazy now - but looking back it was great to see all those bands in york.
      I had forgot about the membership cards, although I just turned up if i liked the band that was on that week.
      The york press should do a piece about the Pop Club and ask for people to send in their memories. Someone probably has posters and flyers for it, which would be great see.

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    4. De Vries17 March 2021 at 02:15

      Wooooh, great. You saw Cyanide 3 times. Fantastic. Ever spoken with Singer Bob de Vries? it is my Cousin. My name is Jerry de Vries, from Holland. Just courious.

      Delete
  9. Mark T1 May 2016 at 05:57

    Great days. Membership cost £1 I believe, and then you got into the gigs for half price. Most gigs were on a Wednesday, but I think the odd one was on a Tuesday, as occasionally we'd go after a City match.

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  10. Mark T1 May 2016 at 06:20

    Another band missing on the list is Wayne County and the Electric Chairs.

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  11. Peter Wooding11 June 2016 at 08:44

    I was there for most of these. I also remember the Leyton Buzzards and Mean Street.

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  12. Herbert Street8 June 2017 at 07:51

    I have a spreadsheet which compares your list with the York City South list and my own recollections - if interested email me at -----@aol.com.

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    1. DS11uk22 June 2017 at 14:13

      Thanks for the offer, i keep meaning to update this page, so i will be in touch.
      Cheers
      GC

      Delete
  13. Dave Leaper21 June 2017 at 17:03

    Just stumbled onto your website...... you might like some info....
    The Pop Club in York (at the Oval Ball, York Rugby League Club) was promoted by my company Supermusic Records.
    Yes we had all the above bands play the club in what was a superb time in "indie / Punk music" in York in the late '70's......... I think you missed out The Cure... check their own web site.
    We also had a touring sound PA system that toured regularly with many bands of the day... Cyanide, Revillos, Sema 4, UK Subs, SLF, Slaughter & the Dogs, Cockney Rejects, Teardrop Explodes, Patrick Fitzgerald to name just a few.... (even Iron Maiden first ever "Heavy Metal Crusade" Tour....)

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    1. DS11uk22 June 2017 at 14:11

      Sounds like you’re the guy to thank for the Pop Club – so cheers!

      I do actually recognise your name, as i used to work with Dave Stewart who was the guitarist in Cyanide, and he mentioned your name as the promoter. It was reminiscing with Dave which prompted me to make this page about the Pop Club - as i could not find much about it on the internet. I think i will have to give it a bit of an update soon.
      As you say - it was a superb time, and great to be able to see all those bands in York. I do actually think i was lucky to be around at that time.
      I did keep quite a few of the flyers from the Pop Club (and the Fan Club in leeds), but they got ruined by damp in an old house we lived in, so i reluctantly had to bin them – still annoys me to this day.
      Thanks again Dave.

      Delete
  14. Neil9 February 2019 at 18:01

    Can't help with the exact date in June 79, but The Cramps were supported by Nightmares in Wax, which of course featured Pete Burns and eventually became Dead or Alive.

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  15. Unknown30 June 2019 at 13:27

    I can remember and went to nearly all the Pop Club gigs. I remember it was like £1 to get a membership card which meant you go 50p of the admission, which was normally like 1.
    I do remember the night the pretenders played there were like 15 people there and they only had a few songs, so played a few twice. Another memorable night was the night the UK Subs closed the place down after a massive brawl. In spired to form a band in the late 70s fab times Tim (57 years old!!!) still playing live in Merthyr Tydfil South Wales

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  16. Sid Nanson22 July 2019 at 12:06

    Saw a few bands there in the late 1970's, but sadly can't remember the dates. Chelsea, Penetration and a band called the Dogs, not sure if that was Slaughter and the Dogs or not. Only wish we had the T'interweb in those days, so we could find out who was on.

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  17. HaxbyDaz28 June 2020 at 14:04

    Great memories here! Saw the UK Subs here and of course Cyanide drummer Steve Roberts from Haxby went on to play drums for the Subs. There was another venue at Jaspers Country club on Wigginton Road - saw the Subs and Anti Pasti in 1980 or 81.

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    1. Amc18 March 2021 at 10:43

      I was at anti pasti gig at jaspers The Threats supported them and another band as well maybe Charge good night though

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  18. Johna Johnson17 October 2020 at 14:06

    I saw the Ants twice at the pop club which is featured in my book about following The Ants There was no fighting at the Adam and the Ants gig that i remember . What i recall is one of the gigs The Band were late and the gig nearly didn't go ahead . also i remember the lord mayer turning up to see what punk rock was about .The Ants were playing at the time and we used to roll all over the floor to a couple of the madder songs .unfortunately someone rolled over some broken glass and blood started spurting everywhere and possible landed on the mayor as soon as he came through the door he turned round and left .Maybe this is why it closed ?

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  19. De Vries17 March 2021 at 02:16

    Please. Does anyone have filmed a live concert of Cyanide. Would be great. Jerry de Vries.

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  20. an10eeb15 May 2021 at 15:32

    Rememer seeing Punishment of Luxury.

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