Legendary bands who played in Blackpool

The Police (84-85 ish), Kool and The Gang (80s) both at The Opera House.
Roy Wood and Wizzard (ABC) mid 70s......my first ever gig 😎
Police ...... December 12th 1983
One of my favourite bands at the time but the gig was one of the most disappointing I've been to
 
Didn't Hendrix play a gig at the cinema/ bingo hall on Haweside Lane in his early days? Wasn't there but I've been told about it.

My Mum went to see Engelbert Humperdinck in 1967 at the Odeon. Also on the bill, The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens, and Jimi Hendrix Experience amongst others. Don't do bills like that anymore
 
I was at that one, and as TB says it was rough.....a bit like Back Henry Street after a Burnley or Nobber match.
Thee was a brawl going on as they came on stage with chants of Sea, sea, Seasiders. Most had their back to the stage. Cue Pete Shelley saying " Hands up all the Seasiders" 😂
 
Morrissey at empress ballroom in 1995 and 2004. Superb both times. You can get the 1995 concert on dvd called introducing morrissey
 
Elvis Costello Opera House 2000, Bob Dylan Opera House 2013, he was his usual chatty self! Lol. His band were as tight as as they come, brilliant. Wayne County and Electric Chairs 1978ish at maybe The Imperial but not the room Joy Division etc played in? I think.
 
David Bowie played South Pier 1964ish
Yes he did but hadn’t really heard much about him back then. South pier was a popular venue on the gig circuit middle 60’s . I saw the Small Faces my first ever gig there in summer 1966 I was 14 loved em! Steve Marriot,Ronnie Lane, Ian Mclagan all gone now just Kenney Jones left.Bless.
 
Back in the day, I used to go every week - maybe I am getting mixed up, it could have been actually Section 25, it was a long time ago but it was one of the bands that released on factory records. Tony Wilson was there.
I think maybe it was A Certain Ratio, a sort of jazz but it all sounded a bit tuneless, they had a very loud trumpet player. I saw Section 25 aswell a few times from memory, I think that they were from Blackpool. It was around 1979 or 1980 I would guess.
Edit to add, I think that they both played the bandstand that day, maybe someone else on here can correct me if I am wrong.
The Smeggo Brothers at the bandstand was good though, they definitely played there!
AF75EF42-F1CB-490A-B771-F61B27CE9D5C.jpeg
There you go. Mr Mcr himself taking a pic of SXXV. ACR were on that day.
 
Regarding the Buzzcocks in Pool, they definitely played Jenk’s bar late 77 but I’m positive they never played the Mecca. I think maybe the gig mentioned was at Lancy Uni March 78, an ‘off’ started and the band stopped and Pete Shelley shouted ‘Right you Seasiders calm down’ and maybe a few more words in his effeminate Manc (Leigh) voice! The Slits supported.
 
They played the Mecca definitely as I was there. I don’t remember what Pete Shelley said but he stopped playing and had a go at the Bouncers as they were getting a bit excited.
Also remember a “lively “ Specials gig at the Mecca
 
Boomtown Rats ABC 78 I think.
Similar to Buzzcocks gig. Remember Geldof asking if there was any Blackpool fans there...big cheer. "Any Preston" small scream at the back. Whack, whack "security security". You thick Irish ** 🙄
 
They played the Mecca definitely as I was there. I don’t remember what Pete Shelley said but he stopped playing and had a go at the Bouncers as they were getting a bit excited.
Also remember a “lively “ Specials gig at the Mecca
Looks like I might have to concede here as I’m outnumbered,lol, defo remember the Uni gig, and the 2Tone gig at The Mecca and also Lancy, great era for gigs. As ‘Sealioning’ is the new buzz word at the moment, evidence must be provided! 😉
 
Elvis Costello Opera House 2000, Bob Dylan Opera House 2013, he was his usual chatty self! Lol. His band were as tight as as they come, brilliant. Wayne County and Electric Chairs 1978ish at maybe The Imperial but not the room Joy Division etc played in? I think.
Christ was Elvis the year 2000?
Where does the time go?
Ones not mentioned....
Weller at the Empress
Stranglers at the grand
Jam at the opera house
Ultravox at the opera house
Pendulum at the Empress
Madness at the Empress
Charlatans at the Empress




Oh and Wham at the opera house😏
 
Looks like I might have to concede here as I’m outnumbered,lol, defo remember the Uni gig, and the 2Tone gig at The Mecca and also Lancy, great era for gigs. As ‘Sealioning’ is the new buzz word at the moment, evidence must be provided! 😉
I remember it, I didn't go because I was only 12 but it happened, I was a fan of the Buzzcocks at the time. I heard all the stuff about the violence.
The gig in Preston that you may be thinking of was the Vibrators around the same time where someone was killed, a BFC fan I think.
 
Christ was Elvis the year 2000?
Where does the time go?
Ones not mentioned....
Weller at the Empress
Stranglers at the grand
Jam at the opera house
Ultravox at the opera house
Pendulum at the Empress
Madness at the Empress
Charlatans at the Empress




Oh and Wham at the opera house😏
Yeh, surprising how many bands have played in our town. Don’t think it’s been mentioned, but the Slade gig at the Mecca 72ish was crazy, think that’s were my tinnitus problems started after that!😉
 
Regarding the Buzzcocks in Pool, they definitely played Jenk’s bar late 77 but I’m positive they never played the Mecca. I think maybe the gig mentioned was at Lancy Uni March 78, an ‘off’ started and the band stopped and Pete Shelley shouted ‘Right you Seasiders calm down’ and maybe a few more words in his effeminate Manc (Leigh) voice! The Slits supported.
Defo played the Mecca Al, l was there and remember how it all kicked off as others have said.
 
The Yardbirds at the Winter Gardens
Manfred Mann at the Locarno
Van Morrison at the Queens when in the Wheels group with Brian Rossi
Rod Stewart and the Faces at Winter Gardens
 
My uncle was working at the WG that night and also did gigs at other Blackpool venues in the 60s and 70s. He said he had never seen anything like it before or since. He said that there was a large group not from Blackpool who were really tanked up and just spoiling for a fight, which was not helped by the fact that they could take glass bottles into the audience. He said it was a pure riot at one point and quite frightening, even for someone quite hardened as him. He said he was surprised that the Stones were banned as they clearly did not instigate the trouble and thought it was more to do with their general reputation.
i read somewhere that it was the end of Glasgow fortnight and the rest you can guess..
You’ll be telling me next that Kid Creole and the Coconuts didn’t play at the Opera House next!🤣
Kid Creole and the Coconuts...what a show they could put on
 
A couple I went to

Sad Cafe @ ABC
10cc @ Opera House
Gary Numan @ Opera Hse
Marillion @ Opera Hse

Sad cafe were on Friday night then Genesis on Saturday saw them both

Others I didn't see
AC/DC Imperial
Def Leppard Norcalympia
Budgie
Slade

Brian Connolys Sweet were booked @ that place opposite the metropole?? But didn't turn up.... I waited
 
U2 at The Gaiety Bar
Boomtown rats at The ABC
A-ha at the Ooera House
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions at the Opera House
 
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I haven't trawled back through but from the posts I've read no-one's mentioned the Quo Maybe it's because they came to Blackpool regularly but even so, they were brill!
 
A couple I went to

Sad Cafe @ ABC
10cc @ Opera House
Gary Numan @ Opera Hse
Marillion @ Opera Hse

Sad cafe were on Friday night then Genesis on Saturday saw them both

Others I didn't see
AC/DC Imperial
Def Leppard Norcalympia
Budgie
Slade

Brian Connolys Sweet were booked @ that place opposite the metropole?? But didn't turn up.... I waited
Sad Cafe were regulars at Jenks Bar as were Smokie (Living Next Door to Alice). 🤔🤔
 
Regarding the Buzzcocks in Pool, they definitely played Jenk’s bar late 77 but I’m positive they never played the Mecca. I think maybe the gig mentioned was at Lancy Uni March 78, an ‘off’ started and the band stopped and Pete Shelley shouted ‘Right you Seasiders calm down’ and maybe a few more words in his effeminate Manc (Leigh) voice! The Slits supported.
Defo played the Mecca Al, l was there and remember how it all kicked off as others have said.
6264E14C-C7A9-427F-9277-BB25D4158C9E.jpegAnyway here’s the lovely Peter in Blackpool circa 2011 Bless him.
 
The Buzzcocks at Jenks was all Seasiders. Any nobbers would have been destroyed.

Cracking gig as the band were on a low stage almost the same level as the fans. It was packed! The late Tommy Throup (RIP) was a bouncer at the gig. There are several pics of the gig on Facebook....

Another shout for Wayne County and the Electric Chairs. Who could ever forget the classic “If you don’t want to Fuck me baby, then baby Fuck Off”

Quality stuff 👍🏻
 
The Buzzcocks at Jenks was all Seasiders. Any nobbers would have been destroyed.

Cracking gig as the band were on a low stage almost the same level as the fans. It was packed! The late Tommy Throup (RIP) was a bouncer at the gig. There are several pics of the gig on Facebook....

Another shout for Wayne County and the Electric Chairs. Who could ever forget the classic “If you don’t want to Fuck me baby, then baby Fuck Off”

Quality stuff 👍🏻
They don't write lyrics now like they did then, classic👍
 
View attachment 3746Anyway here’s the lovely Peter in Blackpool circa 2011 Bless him.
Hi Mansfield Lad here. The Buzzcocks definitely played at the Mecca, it was either 77 or 78. Me and my brother and 2 mates went. We were in Blackpool for the Blackpool v Mansfield game that had been played that afternoon.

There were loads of punks from Manchester there, and loads of Blackpool lads. There was a load of trouble inside, we kept a low profile as there was only 4 of us. Afterwards there was loads of fighting with the Mansfield lot that had stayed over.

Most of the Mansfield lads at that time were still wearing Northern Soul baggie trousers. The punks were taking the piss, out of how they were dressed. We were wearing straight legged jeans or cords so we blended in a bit more.

I remember a massive off outside a chippy. We were walking fown with a load of punks, I think they were from Manchester. They attacked a load if Mansfield lads outside the chippy. These were mates of ours so we helped them fight back against the punks.

But there were too many as more came running down the road. In truth we took a bit of a beating. And we were only saved by the police who eventually chased the punks off. One Mansfield lad was found strung up from a lamppost, he nearly died but was took down in time.

The Sunday dinner time we all met up in the Manchester pub. We looked a sorry sight, black eyes, broken noses and fat lips were à plenty. But we had a laugh about it, and we blamed their fashion sense of wearing Northern Soul Baggie trousers.
 
Soundboard recording of early New Order at the Venue, Blackpool, 1982.
Thats slightly better than i remember it, cos i remember them being really crap live. A major disapointment at the time, as were the Human league, and OMD when i saw them at around the same time (but not in blackpool). It may not be the same gig though as i have it in my memory as the last winter of my final year at highfield novemberish 81.
 
Pinky and Perky.They did several summer seasons on North Pier in the 60's.Their dressing room was always filthy mud everywhere . They used to roll around in it with their groupies. I saw their last gig ever just before they were taken to the abattoir and made into pork pies.🐷🐷
 
Thats slightly better than i remember it, cos i remember them being really crap live. A major disapointment at the time, as were the Human league, and OMD when i saw them at around the same time (but not in blackpool). It may not be the same gig though as i have it in my memory as the last winter of my final year at highfield novemberish 81.
They were really crap that night. In fact they generally were shite live as half the band struggled with off stage pre-gig distractions! Saying that I saw them at the Blue Note in Derby which was memorably decent
 
Does anyone rember battle of the bands. played out in the various clubs in town, Jenks was one, and there was another basement venue on the prom. Some classic entertainment if not classic bands.
 
Hi Mansfield Lad here. The Buzzcocks definitely played at the Mecca, it was either 77 or 78. Me and my brother and 2 mates went. We were in Blackpool for the Blackpool v Mansfield game that had been played that afternoon.

There were loads of punks from Manchester there, and loads of Blackpool lads. There was a load of trouble inside, we kept a low profile as there was only 4 of us. Afterwards there was loads of fighting with the Mansfield lot that had stayed over.

Most of the Mansfield lads at that time were still wearing Northern Soul baggie trousers. The punks were taking the piss, out of how they were dressed. We were wearing straight legged jeans or cords so we blended in a bit more.

I remember a massive off outside a chippy. We were walking fown with a load of punks, I think they were from Manchester. They attacked a load if Mansfield lads outside the chippy. These were mates of ours so we helped them fight back against the punks.

But there were too many as more came running down the road. In truth we took a bit of a beating. And we were only saved by the police who eventually chased the punks off. One Mansfield lad was found strung up from a lamppost, he nearly died but was took down in time.

The Sunday dinner time we all met up in the Manchester pub. We looked a sorry sight, black eyes, broken noses and fat lips were à plenty. But we had a laugh about it, and we blamed their fashion sense of wearing Northern Soul Baggie trousers.
Not the best of weekends for you Lad! Did we beat you as well? 😉
 
Not the best of weekends for you Lad! Did we beat you as well? 😉
I can't remember if it was the April game or the October game at your place. I think it might have been the October game which you won. Always an eventful game at yours.

I do know that you brought a top mob to ours in 1979 because of the large numbers we took to you in 1978.
 
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