100 Club To Close By Xmas

[Guest]

Just sort of stumbled over this thread,hadnt heard about it or heard any rumours at the recent Anniversary either.....Im saddened but cant really say im surprised........Its the way things are isnt it....

The West End rents and business costs must be eye watering,so i agree its just down to greed pure and simple. I think this is one of the worst things about getting older,everything you knew and loved and just sort of took for granted[YES, TOOK FOR GRANTED],changing for the worse or just disappearing altogether. And there`s a feeling of being out of time.

It doesnt have to be this way though does it? Unfortunately,the younger generation dont seem to share the same passion for music that older followers do,well thats how it seems to me anyway. If ever theres a need for an underground musical revolution its now......

Times are tough indeed........

The 100 club has been a legendary part of the music scene ever since i can remember. I know Tony [soulJihad] came in for some stick earlier in the thread but its only because he`s passionate about the place and theres nothing wrong with that. Many Northern fans can be dismissive of other types of music,very unfairly i think.Northern Soul events are only a tiny part of the venue`s long history.

Its been influential in so many different areas.

The powers that be however,really dont understand this,or really give a shit either do they. You know,iv`e spent all my adult life in or around London and you see it everywhere. Look at the farce that is Carnaby St........Plastic or what ? Look at the nightmare of Camden market,a dreaful pastiche of its once former radical identity...... Anyone remember Kensington Market ? The Marquee? The Astoria?Its everywhere you look people....

The minute big business moves in,its only ever gonna end one way,the greedy bastards. Anything that genuinely becomes popular due to counter culture will be swallowed up and killed off by the big business vultures. They buy something out then turn it into something thats so unrepresentative of what it was before,killing the area off in the bargain...The Brick Lane area will be next in their sights if its not already .... Spitalfield market anyone ?

The 100 Club is just the latest in a long line of brilliant places that may fall victim to the greed of big business. I for one hope it doesnt happen,

Yours Sincerely, Ivor

Thanks Ivor.

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

When the 6ts niters moved to Jaks under london bridge station for a few months it was not the same, not as many people came and the atmosphere was lost, so it's not as easy as saying "If the 100 club shuts, 6ts niters will just go else where"

...Those of us with longer memories will recall that, when 6Ts was forced to move from West Hampstead to the West End, not everyone fell immediately in love wth the 100 Club.

Many, myself included, thought that a lot of the atmosphere was lost - but it built up again fairly quickly once people realised that it was going to be 6Ts' home for the foreseeable future, didn't it?

It should be the crowd and the records that make the atmsophere at a venue, not the venue itself. So if you want the niters to go on elsewhere - as they will have to, when the 100 Club closes - surely their future is in the hands of you, and everyone else who goes to Ady's dances

Same crowd, same DJs, same type of records should equate to the same kind of entertainment experience, regardless of the four walls it's housed in.

Sorry about the sidebar - I've already said that I don't want to lose yet another central London music venue, but I felt I had to say this, too...

[Guest steve64]

...Those of us with longer memories will recall that, when 6Ts was forced to move from West Hampstead to the West End, not everyone fell immediately in love wth the 100 Club.

Many, myself included, thought that a lot of the atmosphere was lost - but it built up again fairly quickly once people realised that it was going to be 6Ts' home for the foreseeable future, didn't it?

It should be the crowd and the records that make the atmsophere at a venue, not the venue itself. So if you want the niters to go on elsewhere - as they will have to, when the 100 Club closes - surely their future is in the hands of you, and everyone else who goes to Ady's dances

Same crowd, same DJs, same type of records should equate to the same kind of entertainment experience, regardless of the four walls it's housed in.

Sorry about the sidebar - I've already said that I don't want to lose yet another central London music venue, but I felt I had to say this, too...

A fair point, but I think it would have been harder to move from West Hampsted if it had been your regular venue for 31 years. I will support the 6ts R&S club no matter where it moves to..but.like a lot of people I have grown up going to the 100 club & just thought it would always be there

[Guest]

I've sent a letter to Lazari in hope of appealing to their charitable side; indicating their partnership with an historical musical phenomenon that deserves to live on

[Guest]

Like i keep saying Tony. It's not all about the 6ts is it I'm sure Ady could take that anywhere and it be successful , Maybe even more than it is now. The History associated with the club cannot be replicated, it's unique. Just because the majority on here can see only the 6ts as the only worthwhile event doesn't mean it is. Just a quick look through this months listings i can see 9 below zero playing. There are new bands being showcased, live jazz trad and modern and even Lindy Hop classes. You won't get anything that diverse any where.

[Guest Paul]

It has to be said that many large towns and cities outside of London are losing (and have already lost) important and historic buildings - including music venues etc.

Apart from excessive rents driving businesses out, redevelopment in some areas has replaced popular historic buildings with drab casinos, luxury apartments (for the rich), posh hotels, more supermarkets and expensive office buildings.

No thought is given to the wishes of local residents and consumers and it's ironic that most new offices stand empty because the rents and rates are so high.

But that's the way it is in this country, someone is making a lot of money at the expensive of everyone else.

So please don't make the mistake of raising money from poor and working-class people to make Lazari Investments even richer than they already are.

Edited September 25, 2010 by Paul

[Guest]

Exactly Paul, hence my email to them in the hope of reducing costs rather than meeting them

[Amsterdam Russ]

No one seems to have yet considered why it is that the 100 Club had such dramatic rent increases imposed upon it year after year (or even noticed as it was happening). The reason, of course, is profit aka return on investment. The venue has been squeezed out of existence, pound by pound, over a number of years. Its demise was heralded from the moment the ridiculous rents were set. The coffin was ordered well before it came to be aware of its impending death.

No one, apart from those burdened with paying the bills, complained. No one raised their voice and cried "this Stonehenge of musical venues is under threat; we must save it before progress dooms it completely." No one seems to recall the recent thread started by Ady about how numbers were down at the 100 Club nighters, and how everyone subsequently promised to do good and avert a crisis already made by turning up to show their 'faithful' support.

It's all a little too late...

Having said that, what is it that needs saving? The building in which the venue is situated (I remember having appointments with the recruitment agencies in the floors above - if the building is doomed, should they be saved?), or the legend of some nearly dark secret held in the basement? Is it bricks and mortar that need to be saved, or a musical legacy that can exist in hearts and minds, cd's, video's, 45s and countless memories. Of course, it is the building that's of value to its owners, not some 50-year old dive that's never brought in the desired financial returns - and probably never could. If you only know the building as the space in the basement in which a music venue is sited, then you have missed the larger commercial picture, as sad as it is.

They say that you are only live for as long as the last person to remember you. I remember the 100 Club as it existed s a dive in the basement of the building on Oxford Street. I never went to the Wigan Casino, the Torch or Catacombs - far too young for that - but I can nonetheless feel the impact and vibrancy of these venues, and the events that took place in them, through the experiences of those who share and keep their memories alive.

Long live the 100 Club.

Edited September 26, 2010 by rigilbert

[Barry]

Not read the thread, so just sticking me ha'penny in....used to go up with Brian on a Thursday and stay at Cliff Whites - Kenny Ball on as we entered, Prior we'd do Ions early do wherever that was and invariably I'd get left at Kenny's dodgy flat on occassion....just me and a strange tailors dummy....then Bri would pick me up and we'd go knocking Robert Cray albums out at the local markets on the way home to make the petrol money up.

Top!

[Barry]

Just noticed that it was you Hayzer that started this 'death' post!!??

Remind you of anyone else's posts?

he he

[Guest]

Just noticed that it was you Hayzer that started this 'death' post!!??

Remind you of anyone else's posts?

he he

You should read it then Worzel i'm trying to drum up support to help.

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

A fair point, but I think it would have been harder to move from West Hampsted if it had been your regular venue for 31 years.

The 100 Club has been 'my regular venue' since for a lot longer than that, and for a lot more than 6Ts. If your assumption is that I shall miss it any less than you, just because I haven't been to every single 'niter since Ady started them, then it's a wrong one.

The venue has provided me with some of the best nights of my life and, to be honest, a few of the worst ones. I've seen acts as diverse as Sidney Barnes, Darts, Maxine Brown, the Pretty Things, Rosco Gordon, Lonnie Donegan and Oasis there - hundreds of acts over a 40 year period, in fact - and it galls me that future generations will not get the chance to enjoy their own Maxines, Lonnies, Sidneys and whoevers at this historically important venue.

[Guest steve64]

The 100 Club has been 'my regular venue' since for a lot longer than that, and for a lot more than 6Ts. If your assumption is that I shall miss it any less than you, just because I haven't been to every single 'niter since Ady started them, then it's a wrong one.

The venue has provided me with some of the best nights of my life and, to be honest, a few of the worst ones. I've seen acts as diverse as Sidney Barnes, Darts, Maxine Brown, the Pretty Things, Rosco Gordon, Lonnie Donegan and Oasis there - hundreds of acts over a 40 year period, in fact - and it galls me that future generations will not get the chance to enjoy their own Maxines, Lonnies, Sidneys and whoevers at this historically important venue.

I was not my assumption that you or anybody else would miss it more than me. My point was if a venue has been used for the past 31 years it will be harder to relocate due to the memorys people have of the venue. It was not meant as a personal attack on you or your post

[mischief]

Just see this... sorryif already seen it

https://uk.news.yahoo...ub-c60bd6d.html

Edited September 26, 2010 by mischief

[Guest]

. My point was if a venue has been used for the past 31 years it will be harder to relocate due to the memorys people have of the venue.

try telling that to man city fans that have moved to eastlands after god knows how long and other fans whose teams have moved grounds

memories dont fade but new mories are made and if the 100 club night gets a new venue it can only be better then the present one

moldie

[Guest steve64]

try telling that to man city fans that have moved to eastlands after god knows how long and other fans whose teams have moved grounds

memories dont fade but new mories are made and if the 100 club night gets a new venue it can only be better then the present one

moldie

I do support a team that moved grounds and it nearly killed the club

[Guest]

I do support a team that moved grounds and it nearly killed the club

who is that then?

most things that move do survive

moldie

[Guest Phoenix8049]

great post, yourself and tony are 100% correct, remember kensington market?, what about the great gear market kings road,everything that has made london different is slowly being taken away for greed.i could name a 100 venues shops etc etc , there used to be a A-bomb in wardour street now there,s a strip club for rich fat arabs.

Sadly its not just the 100 club or London.

The Property developers are doing it to every major city in England.

Soon there will be no heritage left in this country.

Stu.

[Maria O]

Not much has been said of Lazari Investment Limited who increased the rent by 45% two years ago, but here are a few things I've found out, Chris Lazari 'owns Forty-five acres across London, worth £450 million' and 'Lazari still plans to float the company, perhaps in three to five years' time when he hopes its portfolio will have topped £500m.'.

See: https://chrislazari.crazybillionaire.org/chrislazari.php

And he is 'the 125th richest British man in the Sunday Times Rich List 2010'

See: https://www.greekrichlist.com/category/news/page/2/

To increase the rent of any small business by 45% is completely immoral on every level, especially if you are worth half a billion and must know that it will almost certainly drive a family business to close.

I don't think donations are the answer , the club has lost 100K for the past three years, what is needed is Government or private intervention with a take over that allows Chris Horton to run the club with a realistic rent (not to even mention the unbelievable rates!). With enough publicity and high level and grass roots support I think even at this 11^th hour it can happen (it has before).

All the best to everybody!

Sean

It seems The Soulgirl Karen has already grasped this after reading your post, that if Lazari is planning to develop his company into listed company, surely public relations count for a hell of a lot?

These days, major corporations are increasingly answerable to society (e.g. the development of corporate social responsibility initiatives, charity alignment and bending to major protests on work practices, pollution, etc) so letting the parties know how a lot of people feel right now, could just work. But only if numbers are seriously great enough.

Both Lazari and the council would therefore benefit from being reminded of how many people this club matters to. It seems the ideal solution would be that it then "made sense" to him to sell the building at a reasonable cost to a share investment group of 100 Club supporters. That way, instead of donating money to keep things going a little bit longer, people who want to give money can invest it there instead. Can't see the government pitching in for history in its next spending review, but perhaps the council might ease off its rates, if a special cultural/historical listing was possible after MAJOR public support.

And yes, I think I read recently that Oxford Street is one of the most expensive fashion strips in the world, so no surprise about the rent being so high there and that any "reasonable price" to buy the building would be a frightening sum.

Time to ask the experts. My thoughts are merely speculative and my free time to research further is limited these days.

m

[Guest steve64]

who is that then?

most things that move do survive

moldie

The move from the old den put us in to administration & was saved from being closed at the last minute by Theo, anyway thats off topic, as I said in my earlier post I will support the 6ts R&S club where ever it moves to, its just that I never thought the 100 club would ever close

[Chalky]

leave the football out of this, it's about the 100 Club so stick to the topic please.

[Guest steve64]

leave the football out of this, it's about the 100 Club so stick to the topic please.

Isnt that what I put in my post?

[Chalky]

Isnt that what I put in my post?

no you just said it was off topic. I'm telling you all leave the footie out of this and to knock the off topic on the head.

[Kevinkent]

try telling that to man city fans that have moved to eastlands after god knows how long and other fans whose teams have moved grounds

memories dont fade but new mories are made and if the 100 club night gets a new venue it can only be better then the present one

moldie

Regarding the second part of your post Mick, that's not neccessarily the case. Plenty of unsuitable venues about, and some still in use. Like it or not the 100 Club is an iconic venue. Even without the iconic status and the history attached to it, it's atmospheric. Being at a niter on one of the busiest streets in London, having a cool-down outside and watching all the other clubbers and piss-heads staggering home and knowing that down those stairs you've still got a few hours of something special, means a lot to me . That at least will be irreplaceable. It is special.

Kev.

[Guest]

leave the football out of this, it's about the 100 Club so stick to the topic please.

posts have mentioned about moving venues and how it might not be the same..i used football as an example...

so its hardly off topic is it

moldie

[Chalky]

posts have mentioned about moving venues and how it might not be the same..i used football as an example...

so its hardly off topic is it

moldie

personally can't see how you can relate moving a football club to a Soul Club maybe having to move venues. In my opinion , and at least one other member it is off topic so leave the football for freebasing sports. Not gonna keep wasting my time debating this with you or anyone else, any more posts and I'll remove them, stick to the topic in question.

[Guest]

. Being at a niter on one of the busiest streets in London, having a cool-down outside and watching all the other clubbers and piss-heads staggering home and knowing that down those stairs you've still got a few hours of something special, means a lot to me . That at least will be irreplaceable. It is special.

Kev.

you can do this in almost any city in england kev.........ive not said it isnt special

moldie

[Guest]

personally can't see how you can relate moving a football club to a Soul Club maybe having to move venues. In my opinion , and at least one other member it is off topic so leave the football for freebasing sports. Not gonna keep wasting my time debating this with you or anyone else, any more posts and I'll remove them, stick to the topic in question.

i think moving venues is the clue chalky

delete my posts if you want

moldie

[KevH]

Re:9th rate punks at the 100 club and its history.Who are/were the bands etc you refer to SoulJihad?

[Airfixkid]

Hi, by coincidence I was in Oxford St the other day looking at all the redevelopement along the street from tottenham ct rd towards the 100club. When I saw this news I wasnt unduly surprised, I work in a property related industry and when you see tiny bedsits in London still fetching 300 grand, even now in the middle of a recession its no wonder the owner of building along the most famous shopping st in the world wents the grubby smelly little basement club out, is it?

I have seen many gigs there and attended quite a few allniters too and I love it for the history and atmosphere but face up to it folks its doomed like everything thats worth something other than money in this country. Somebody mentioned briefly mentioned the 12 Bar Club, well this building is earmarked for demolition in a couple of years despite the fact it is a LISTED building because it is a 500 year old forge, easily one of the oldest buildings in central london still in use it is to be replaced by some modern rubbish.

You havent a hope in hell of getting any help from govt to save a building or club when they are encouraging developers to do these things.

Unless you have a club in premises it owns Lock stock & barrel, ie Freehold, then they always at the mercy of greedy Leasehold Landlords.

Best get down there while you can!

[Guest]

Re:9th rate punks at the 100 club and its history.Who are/were the bands etc you refer to SoulJihad?

I never called anyone 9th rated punks i was repeating some on else's comment

If you really want to know what bands i've seen down the 100 club we could be here all night.

[Guest]

It has to be said that many large towns and cities outside of London are losing (and have already lost) important and historic buildings - including music venues etc.

Apart from excessive rents driving businesses out, redevelopment in some areas has replaced popular historic buildings with drab casinos, luxury apartments (for the rich), posh hotels, more supermarkets and expensive office buildings.

No thought is given to the wishes of local residents and consumers and it's ironic that most new offices stand empty because the rents and rates are so high.

But that's the way it is in this country, someone is making a lot of money at the expensive of everyone else.

So please don't make the mistake of raising money from poor and working-class people to make Lazari Investments even richer than they already are.

The time it took you to post that oh here could have been used in sending an email to some one like Lazari explaining why the 100club should be saved instead of telling the poor not contribute.

There is a scheme in the pipeline to become a friend of the 100club and help pay the rent. Don't worry it's not compulsory and the working class can sleep soundly in their beds.

[KevH]

I never called anyone 9th rated punks i was repeating some on else's comment

If you really want to know what bands i've seen down the 100 club we could be here all night.

Sorry,got the wrong end etc...Kev.

[Guest Simon]

I think we need a mass demonstration at some point, would obviously need to get a few famous faces involved who've played there, Weller, Siouxsie, some Jazzers etc for full publicity affect.

This can be overturned, the Romans fell, the nazis were defeated, walls come tumbling down!

It might not work but you'll feel better at least knowing you gave it a try & at least attempted to save it.

I'm not going along with all this 'let's just move on & get a new glossy venue etc', there's Soul in them there bricks, get your hands dirty & stop these money men killing your heritage & memories.

[Prophonics 2029]

I must have a look next time I am down the street what's in other basements, I know 99 % of what's on the ground floor but that seems to change by the week as more coffee and underwear shops open every time I go there.

[Guest Paul]

The time it took you to post that oh here could have been used in sending an email to some one like Lazari explaining why the 100club should be saved instead of telling the poor not contribute.

There is a scheme in the pipeline to become a friend of the 100club and help pay the rent. Don't worry it's not compulsory and the working class can sleep soundly in their beds.

1. What makes you assume I haven't already sent an email to someone?

2. I haven't told the poor not to contribute.

3. I make contributions to many good causes but I don't like to see people raising money to make the rich even richer.

If you calm down a bit, drop the arrogance and actually read my posts you'll see that I'm in favour of raising money ...but to BUY a venue in a cheaper area, not to rent one in a ridiculously expensive area.

[Guest]

1. What makes you assume I haven't already sent an email to someone?

2. I haven't told the poor not to contribute.

3. I make contributions to many good causes but I don't like to see people raising money to make the rich even richer.

If you calm down a bit, drop the arrogance and actually read my posts you'll see that I'm in favour of raising money ...but to BUY a venue in a cheaper area, not to rent one in a ridiculously expensive area.

1 I'd say that was a fair assumption

2." So please don't make the mistake of raising money from poor and working-class people"

Erm what's that then

3.I take it you don't shop in Tesco, asda etc etc. By Petrol buy anything to be honest

I'm quite calm i'm and not arrogant i just can't understand why some people on here have to comment on a thread if they don't want to get involved in helping.

If we fail we fail at least we tried.

[Guest Paul]

1 I'd say that was a fair assumption

2." So please don't make the mistake of raising money from poor and working-class people"

Erm what's that then

3.I take it you don't shop in Tesco, asda etc etc. By Petrol buy anything to be honest

I'm quite calm i'm and not arrogant i just can't understand why some people on here have to comment on a thread if they don't want to get involved in helping.

If we fail we fail at least we tried.

You're welcome to your incorrect assumptions but don't try to twist what I said by shortening my sentence. Other people read what I actually said and some agreed with me.

Rather than be falsely accused of not wanting to help, I won't bother to comment in future.

[Simsy]

I think we need a mass demonstration at some point, would obviously need to get a few famous faces involved who've played there, Weller, Siouxsie, some Jazzers etc for full publicity affect.

This can be overturned, the Romans fell, the nazis were defeated, walls come tumbling down!

It might not work but you'll feel better at least knowing you gave it a try & at least attempted to save it.

I'm not going along with all this 'let's just move on & get a new glossy venue etc', there's Soul in them there bricks, get your hands dirty & stop these money men killing your heritage & memories.

I just hope that some of these now famous bands who have played down the 100 Club, do remember the venue and dig deep before Christmas. None more wealthy than the Rolling Stones who could save the club's problems in a flash.

I fear we may witness some selfish bastard syndrome though sadly. There was a link from some Clash guitarist calling on someone to start a campaign to save the 100 Club. You be that someone mate and f***ing crack on!

[Guest James Trouble]

You can't have a mass collection each year to pay the inflated rents, it won't work.

It could be saved if a group of rich celebs buy the place out, is that likely? I doubt it. And if they did who would police the values, morals and ideas that made the place 'great' in the first place?

I think it's a sympton of most city centers in this country, genuine alternative venues are squeezed out by the mass homogonised commercial sprawl. The onyl way an alternative hole like the 100 Club can survive on it's own merit is if there was a converging genuine demand for a cultural and social melting pot on Oxford Street. I'm not sure that is the case.

Can a case be made to show that the 100 Club is an important cultural and symbolic representation of London? Is it in a higher sphire of importance like museums and galleries that receive lottery funding? I'm not sure about that.

Personally, I think I'm with Ken. F'ck it and move on. If it's saved by a campaign of memories of times gone by I think it's soul and cultural impact will be dead anyway. Physically it will still be there, but the old ideas and cultural explosion will be replaced with a dry nostalgic freeze frame, not far removed from Wigan Casino memorials in shopping centers. If what makes the 100 Club special is just the venue then I've been very confused for half my adult life. Move on build a new monument to worship at. It's not the end of the world.

Think about it, the 100 Club is/was more than just the venue, but the 'more than' is what has gone, the world doesn't want it any more. It wants coffee houses, H+M style discount clothes stores and restaurants which can afford to pay more rent than night club promoters, jazz bands and punters who want to stay up all night dancing to old records without spending much money at the bar.

I was DJing in Cambridge on Friday, some bloke came up to the DJ booth puleld his todger out and pissed all over teh DJ booth and dance floor. Folk just laughed and carried on dancing in his piss and coming up to me with requests for Dolly Parton, Dizzy Rascle and Emenem. That's what the world has come to. People don't care any more, they want cheap booze, cheap shags, throw away music and crap clothes. And they don't mind getting covered in piss.

We're better than that, and we're more than just one building, no matter how many memories you have there.

Edited September 27, 2010 by James Trouble

[Prophonics 2029]

I was DJing in Cambridge on Friday, some bloke came up to the DJ booth puleld his todger out and pissed all over teh DJ booth and dance floor. Folk just laughed and carried on dancing in his piss and coming up to me with requests for Dolly Parton, Dizzy Rascle and Emenem. That's what the world has come to. People don't care any more, they want cheap booze, cheap shags, throw away music and crap clothes. And they don't mind getting covered in piss.

We're better than that, and we're more than just one building, no matter how many memories you have there.

Nice!

I bet he isn't the one doing backdrops.

[KevH]

You can't have a mass collection each year to pay the inflated rents, it won't work.

It could be saved if a group of rich celebs buy the place out, is that likely? I doubt it. And if they did who would police the values, morals and ideas that made the place 'great' in the first place?

I think it's a sympton of most city centers in this country, genuine alternative venues are squeezed out by the mass homogonised commercial sprawl. The onyl way an alternative hole like the 100 Club can survive on it's own merit is if there was a converging genuine demand for a cultural and social melting pot on Oxford Street. I'm not sure that is the case.

Can a case be made to show that the 100 Club is an important cultural and symbolic representation of London? Is it in a higher sphire of importance like museums and galleries that receive lottery funding? I'm not sure about that.

Personally, I think I'm with Ken. F'ck it and move on. If it's saved by a campaign of memories of times gone by I think it's soul and cultural impact will be dead anyway. Physically it will still be there, but the old ideas and cultural explosion will be replaced with a dry nostalgic freeze frame, not far removed from Wigan Casino memorials in shopping centers. If what makes the 100 Club special is just the venue then I've been very confused for half my adult life. Move on build a new monument to worship at. It's not the end of the world.

Think about it, the 100 Club is/was more than just the venue, but the 'more than' is what has gone, the world doesn't want it any more. It wants coffee houses, H+M style discount clothes stores and restaurants which can afford to pay more rent than night club promoters, jazz bands and punters who want to stay up all night dancing to old records without spending much money at the bar.

I was DJing in Cambridge on Friday, some bloke came up to the DJ booth puleld his todger out and pissed all over teh DJ booth and dance floor. Folk just laughed and carried on dancing in his piss and coming up to me with requests for Dolly Parton, Dizzy Rascle and Emenem. That's what the world has come to. People don't care any more, they want cheap booze, cheap shags, throw away music and crap clothes. And they don't mind getting covered in piss.

We're better than that, and we're more than just one building, no matter how many memories you have there.

Welcome back JT.Was it a punk night you were djing at?.If it was a soul night,why didn't you do the right thing and drop the geezer?.

As for "f*ck it and move on".I suppose that might pave the way for another club to jump in the vacant date in London.

Retro/history is the name of the game.Most of us want to look back fondly on the soul scene.Not say "f*ck it " as if we couldn't give a toss.

[Guest in town Mikey]

You can't have a mass collection each year to pay the inflated rents, it won't work.

It could be saved if a group of rich celebs buy the place out, is that likely? I doubt it. And if they did who would police the values, morals and ideas that made the place 'great' in the first place?

I think it's a sympton of most city centers in this country, genuine alternative venues are squeezed out by the mass homogonised commercial sprawl. The onyl way an alternative hole like the 100 Club can survive on it's own merit is if there was a converging genuine demand for a cultural and social melting pot on Oxford Street. I'm not sure that is the case.

Can a case be made to show that the 100 Club is an important cultural and symbolic representation of London? Is it in a higher sphire of importance like museums and galleries that receive lottery funding? I'm not sure about that.

Personally, I think I'm with Ken. F'ck it and move on. If it's saved by a campaign of memories of times gone by I think it's soul and cultural impact will be dead anyway. Physically it will still be there, but the old ideas and cultural explosion will be replaced with a dry nostalgic freeze frame, not far removed from Wigan Casino memorials in shopping centers. If what makes the 100 Club special is just the venue then I've been very confused for half my adult life. Move on build a new monument to worship at. It's not the end of the world.

Think about it, the 100 Club is/was more than just the venue, but the 'more than' is what has gone, the world doesn't want it any more. It wants coffee houses, H+M style discount clothes stores and restaurants which can afford to pay more rent than night club promoters, jazz bands and punters who want to stay up all night dancing to old records without spending much money at the bar.

I was DJing in Cambridge on Friday, some bloke came up to the DJ booth puleld his todger out and pissed all over teh DJ booth and dance floor. Folk just laughed and carried on dancing in his piss and coming up to me with requests for Dolly Parton, Dizzy Rascle and Emenem. That's what the world has come to. People don't care any more, they want cheap booze, cheap shags, throw away music and crap clothes. And they don't mind getting covered in piss.

We're better than that, and we're more than just one building, no matter how many memories you have there.

Hi bud. Good to see you back. And back with a bang. There are some really strong points in the post. Some I'd not really considered, in my grief at hearing the news.

[Anais nin Carms]

One would have to ask for what purpose are you saving the building ?

It would take a lot of investment to make it pay , do you want to turn it into a museum or a Zoo to be able to raise the required yearly revenue to keep it open "long term ?"

Surley that would be the worst thing ever ?

People can't keep dishing out donations to pay the rent each year when most of them have higher priorities like surviving in todays very unstable economic climate.

[Guest James Trouble]

Welcome back JT.Was it a punk night you were djing at?.If it was a soul night,why didn't you do the right thing and drop the geezer?.

As for "f*ck it and move on".I suppose that might pave the way for another club to jump in the vacant date in London.

Retro/history is the name of the game.Most of us want to look back fondly on the soul scene.Not say "f*ck it " as if we couldn't give a toss.

He was thrown out, but it's pretty typical of town centers in the UK.

I was reading an article written by a war photographer, he was saying the most scary places he has been to on earth are city centers in the UK after 9pm. Violent culture vacuums. That's why the 100 Club is closing. That and the commercial pressures of course.

I hear what Irish Greg and others are saying, and Kev the 100 Club is so much more than the home of 6TS. I just fear it's a losing battle, so typical of what is hapenning all over the UK. Reread what I wrote about holding it up on a higher cultural plane of importance as a way of saving it. If it is possible to do that, and I'm not sure it is, it would probably lose what it was that made it special in the first place anyway. It would become a museum for musical tourists.

How many decent atmospheric clubs are left in the city centers? That's why the music scene in this country is a bit crap. The internet and social networking are the new underground venues.

Venues that used to be culturally important have fallen to commercial pressures, they now have to be used during the day as well as night, serving breakfasts, lunches, buy one get one free offers, lots of open glass inviting families in during the day while they shop for crap consumables in the crap homogenous shops and then at night need to pack in the masses looking for cheap booze, cheap fun, throw away x factor music, mass consumption on a huge scale.

I don't think the battle can be won, but from the soul scene's perspective we can take what it was that made it special for us and take it to another place, make new memories, create new legends if that's your thing, or hear and dance to exciting new music if you're into that sort of thing. I can't see folk letting Ady allow the 6TS to die with the closure of The 100 Club? It might not be on Oxford Street, but it will happen somewhere.

Edited September 27, 2010 by James Trouble

[Dave Thorley]

He was thrown out, but it's pretty typical of town centers in the UK.

I was reading an article written by a war photographer, he was saying the most scary places he has been to on earth are city centers in the UK after 9pm. Violent culture vacuums. That's why the 100 Club is closing. That and the commercial pressures of course.

I hear what Irish Greg and others are saying, and Kev the 100 Club is so much more than the home of 6TS. I just fear it's a losing battle, so typical of what is hapenning all over the UK. Reread what I wrote about holding it up on a higher cultural plane of importance as a way of saving it. If it is possible to do that, and I'm not sure it is, it would probably lose what it was that made it special in the first place anyway. It would become a museum for musical tourists.

How many decent atmospheric clubs are left in the city centers? That's why the music scene in this country is a bit crap. The internet and social networking are the new underground venues.

Venues that used to be culturally important have fallen to commercial pressures, they now have to be used during the day as well as night, serving breakfasts, lunches, buy one get one free offers, lots of open glass inviting families in during the day while they shop for crap consumables in the crap homogenous shops and then at night need to pack in the masses looking for cheap booze, cheap fun, throw away x factor music, mass consumption on a huge scale.

I don't think the battle can be won, but from the soul scene's prespective we can take what it was that made it special for us and take it to another place, make new memories, create new legends if that's your thing, or hear and dance to exciting new music if you're into that sort of thing. I can't see folk letting Ady allow the club to die with the closure of The !00 Club? It might not be on Oxford Street, but it will happen somewhere.

Morning young man, you feeling alright, this is a very measured post. Agree with most of what you say, as a historic site, it would lose what makes it special. But as Tony said way back in the thread, music venues like this have all but gone from central London.

Dave

[Prophonics 2029]

Another option I have thought about is if Jeff hands the 100 back then a new licencee/promoter has the free rains to run the club for a profit or is the market dead for a venue like this in central London. Sadly for Jeff and his family history running the club for so many years has the future of the club no hope or is it just in need of a cash injection to get the money flowing again for more nights, bands and punters to grace those steps and mahogany dance floor again.

Edited September 27, 2010 by Prophonics 2029

[KevH]

He was thrown out, but it's pretty typical of town centers in the UK.

I was reading an article written by a war photographer, he was saying the most scary places he has been to on earth are city centers in the UK after 9pm. Violent culture vacuums. That's why the 100 Club is closing. That and the commercial pressures of course.

I hear what Irish Greg and others are saying, and Kev the 100 Club is so much more than the home of 6TS. I just fear it's a losing battle, so typical of what is hapenning all over the UK. Reread what I wrote about holding it up on a higher cultural plane of importance as a way of saving it. If it is possible to do that, and I'm not sure it is, it would probably lose what it was that made it special in the first place anyway. It would become a museum for musical tourists.

How many decent atmospheric clubs are left in the city centers? That's why the music scene in this country is a bit crap. The internet and social networking are the new underground venues.

Venues that used to be culturally important have fallen to commercial pressures, they now have to be used during the day as well as night, serving breakfasts, lunches, buy one get one free offers, lots of open glass inviting families in during the day while they shop for crap consumables in the crap homogenous shops and then at night need to pack in the masses looking for cheap booze, cheap fun, throw away x factor music, mass consumption on a huge scale.

I don't think the battle can be won, but from the soul scene's perspective we can take what it was that made it special for us and take it to another place, make new memories, create new legends if that's your thing, or hear and dance to exciting new music if you're into that sort of thing. I can't see folk letting Ady allow the 6TS to die with the closure of The 100 Club? It might not be on Oxford Street, but it will happen somewhere.

Agree James that the 100 is more than just a soul club.Have you been getting a shot of Michael Moore while you 've been away.? ( 4th paragraph - VENUES etc...).

Edited September 27, 2010 by KevH

[Guest HindleyPhil]

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[Guest HindleyPhil]

would love this as a badge for mi bag