The Venue (Victoria Street, London) facts for kids
The Venue was a cool live music club in London, England. It was owned by Virgin Records, a famous music company. The club opened its doors on November 1, 1978, and was a popular spot for concerts until 1984.
Many famous musicians played at The Venue. The very first band to perform there was Graham Parker and The Rumour. Later, Alex Harvey played his last shows ever at the club before he passed away. Todd Rundgren also performed there around Christmas in 1978.
The Venue was designed to feel like a fun nightclub. People could sit at tables, enjoy drinks, and even have meals while watching the bands play. Sometimes, they even had two shows in one night! Record companies also loved to use The Venue to show off their new artists to music journalists.
More About The Venue
Before it became a music club, the building was a cinema called the Metropole, which opened in 1929. After The Venue closed in 1984, the building was used for different shops and restaurants. It was eventually taken down in 2013 to make way for new buildings in the area.
Awesome Artists Who Played at The Venue
Many amazing artists and bands performed at The Venue during its time. Here are some of them:
- After the Fire
- The Alarm (December 7, 1981) - They opened for The Fall.
- Altered Images (September 23, 1981)
- The Armoury Show
- Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band (November 12 and 14, 1980)
- Blancmange
- The Blow Monkeys (February 16, 1983) - They opened for Fad Gadget.
- Blue (1979) - With their opening band Kokomo.
- The Blues Band
- Brand X
- James Brown
- Bruford
- Cabaret Voltaire (band)
- John Cale
- The Cars
- Roger Chapman and the Shortlist
- Cocteau Twins (November 16, 1982)
- John Cooper Clarke (December 10, 1980)
- The Cramps
- Crosby & Nash (April 21, 1980)
- Defunkt
- Delta 5
- Depeche Mode (July 23, 1981)
- Devo (1979)
- Doll by Doll (December 18, 1979)
- Charlie Dore
- Clint Eastwood & General Saint
- Dave Edmunds
- Fad Gadget (February 16, 1983)
- The Fall (December 7, 1981) - The Alarm supported them.
- Georgie Fame
- Felt (September 15, 1983) - They opened for The Smiths.
- Rory Gallagher (July 1979)
- The Go-Betweens (September 15, 1983) - They also opened for The Smiths.
- The Go-Go's
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
- Al Green
- Peter Green
- Steve Hackett
- Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra
- Nina Hagen
- Hall & Oates
- Peter Hamill
- Herbie Hancock
- Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel
- Roy Harper
- Alex Harvey
- Steve Hillage (April 10, 1979)
- Incredible Kidda Band
- Bert Jansch and Albert Lee
- Japan
- Wilko Johnson
- Junior Walker and the Allstars
- Kajagoogoo (January 21, 1983)
- King Crimson (August 10, 1981)
- Kokomo (band)
- Legs and Co.
- Level 42 (August 21, 1981)
- Lindisfarne
- Machito
- Taj Mahal
- Hugh Masekela
- Curtis Mayfield
- Kate & Anna McGarrigle
- The Members (April 11, 1981)
- Men at Work (November 25, 1982)
- Merger (1981)
- The Monochrome Set (March 5, 1981, July 26, 1982, November 2, 1982)
- Naked Lunch (September 21, 1981)
- Nine Below Zero
- Graham Parker & the Rumour (November 1, 1978)
- The Passions (October 17, 1981)
- Pigbag (December 9, 1981)
- Iggy Pop (with Nico)
- The Pretty Things
- Alan Price
- Tito Puente
- Queen Ida
- Q-Tips (September 11, 1981 and March 27, 1982)
- Sun Ra
- Ramones
- Chris Rea
- Rip Rig + Panic (September 9, 1982)
- The Rivits (featuring Jess Roden)
- The Roaches
- Rocket 88 (featuring Alexis Korner)
- Rockin' Dopsie
- Roman Holliday
- Todd Rundgren (December 1978)
- Shakatak
- Shock (troupe)
- The Skids
- The Slits
- The Smiths (September 15, 1983)
- Snips
- Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
- The Sugarhill Gang (February 1980)
- T34 (three times in 1982)
- Tik and Tok
- John Stewart
- Richard and Linda Thompson
- U2 (December 18, 1979)
- UK
- James Blood Ulmer
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (September 8, 1983)
- Alan Vega (June 1, 1982, October 23, 1983)
- Tom Verlaine (June 9 and 10, 1982)
- XTC (1980)
- The Yachts
- Zeitgeist
