Gluepot Tavern facts for kids
The Gluepot Tavern was a super popular place in Auckland, New Zealand, where people went to listen to live music. It was a famous spot for many years before it closed its doors in 1994.
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The Gluepot Tavern: A Famous Music Spot
The building that housed the Gluepot Tavern first opened in 1937. You could find it at 340 Ponsonby Road in Ponsonby. It was right on a busy corner known as Three Lamps Corner. A person named Frederick Browne designed the building. Before this building, an even older hotel from the 1870s stood on the same spot. The Gluepot was officially called the Ponsonby Club Hotel. But everyone knew it by its nickname, "The Gluepot," which became its official name in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
A Building with History
Many interesting people visited the Gluepot over the years. One famous regular was Michael Joseph Savage. He was New Zealand's first Prime Minister and lived nearby. The Gluepot was very important for New Zealand's live music scene and Auckland's culture. Because of its history, the building got a special Category II listing from Heritage New Zealand in 1994. This means it's a place with special historical value that should be protected.
Music Through the Years
The Gluepot was known for its amazing live music. Different types of music were popular there over the years.
Early Music: Māori and Pacific Island Artists
From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, the Gluepot mostly played music for Māori and Pacific Island audiences. A blind Māori group called The Radars played there regularly for seven years! Their time at the Gluepot ended in the mid-1970s. Other famous entertainers who performed during this time included Billy T. James and Prince Tui Teka.
Rocking Out: New Zealand and International Bands
Starting in 1977, the music at The Gluepot changed. More Pākehā bands started playing, and the music became louder, focusing on rock. Many of New Zealand's top bands played at the Gluepot. These included Hello Sailor, Citizen Band, Th' Dudes, Toy Love, The Screaming Meemees, The Chills, The Verlaines, Straitjacket Fits, The Clean, and Snapper. The venue could officially hold about 600 people. But it's said that The Chills once had 1200 fans at one of their concerts! The Gluepot also welcomed international artists who liked playing in smaller venues. Some of these famous musicians were John Cale, Hunters and Collectors, Nico, Paul Kelly, Warren Zevon, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, and Toots and The Maytals. Part of Warren Zevon's performance in 1992 was even included on his live album, Learning to Flinch.
