Imagine This Casino2008

[Speedlimit]

I know what your going to say here we go again , well imagine this if the casino was still open and there wasn't 50 + venues per weekend on would the top 60's , 7o's and crossover discoveries of today as played by butch , mr dyson ,mr .h, kitch etc be bigger records if they had been played by mr searling , mr roberts , mr winstanley etc . would they have been more widely accepted because they were played at the casino ? let's keep this sensible no slagging of or backstabbing just honest opinions

[Steve G]

I know what your going to say here we go again , well imagine this if the casino was still open and there wasn't 50 + venues per weekend on would the top 60's , 7o's and crossover discoveries of today as played by butch , mr dyson ,mr .h, kitch etc be bigger records if they had been played by mr searling , mr roberts , mr winstanley etc . would they have been more widely accepted because they were played at the casino ? let's keep this sensible no slagging of or backstabbing just honest opinions

No, I think the scene would have stagnated. WIgan had a shelf life and people would not have kept going to it / would have lost interest - that was already happening. The variety of venues (and DJ's), and the fact that it went underground, has added a lot to the scene's vibrancy, and meant that more sounds have been broken. If the Casino was still open I'd imagine they'd still be playing Dana Valery and Helen Shapiro, but to a near empty dancefloor.

[Guest Roddy]

anyone mentioning the c or w words from now on should be fined 50p per mention and it should be paid to charity at the end of the year imho.

[Phil_H]

Please feel free to be narrow minded and critisise just Wigan, after all no other venue has been open for more than weeks have they?

After some of the dross played at venues today would have been laughed at in the 70's

Edited May 23, 2008 by Philh

[Winnie :-)]

Wouldn't fancy the stairs

[Wiganer1]

Please feel free to be narrow minded and critisise just Wigan, after all no other venue has been open for more than weeks have they?

After some of the dross played at venues today would have been laughed at in the 70's

===

id have kept on going even if there were only 10 people in !!!

everyone should have been able to experience a wigan casino allniter when it was packed and the atmosphere it generated

i only got there on 3 occasions but boy did they change my life!

to answer the question if it was able to keep open theres no reason it couldnt have,,remember stafford had very low numbers on some nights but didnt stop gr8 music being listened to by the die hards!

and some of the big records since 81 would have been brilliant at the casino

spencer wiggins , chris clark , suspicion , tony galla ,

there u go where do i put my 50p??

[Harry Crosby]

Smoking ban would go down a STORM

[Guest]

I know what your going to say here we go again , well imagine this if the casino was still open and there wasn't 50 + venues per weekend on would the top 60's , 7o's and crossover discoveries of today as played by butch , mr dyson ,mr .h, kitch etc be bigger records if they had been played by mr searling , mr roberts , mr winstanley etc . would they have been more widely accepted because they were played at the casino ? let's keep this sensible no slagging of or backstabbing just honest opinions

I would keep it quiet if I were you , or there will be mass hysteria in the streets when some people have found out it is closed ........

Malc Burton

[Guest]

===

id have kept on going even if there were only 10 people in !!!

everyone should have been able to experience a wigan casino allniter when it was packed and the atmosphere it generated

i only got there on 3 occasions but boy did they change my life!

to answer the question if it was able to keep open theres no reason it couldnt have,,remember stafford had very low numbers on some nights but didnt stop gr8 music being listened to by the die hards!

and some of the big records since 81 would have been brilliant at the casino

spencer wiggins , chris clark , suspicion , tony galla ,

there u go where do i put my 50p??

No Mark - you owe more than 50P ........

1 x the " W " word , and 2 x the " C " word : that is £ 1.50 ..........

Malc Burton

[jocko]

Slightly twisting the question - as usual when the place whose name should never be mentioned is brought up the same arguments happen,

Forget the place the question to me that is more about what it would be like if everyone went to one venue, all the progressive crowd going to the same place, Butch djing weekly with all his records, and supported by the people likeminded (Mr Dyson, Mick H etc) then yes the records would be more accepted and the scene would be a million times better, it would be a scene which it isn't now. Mediocre flavour of the week records wouldn't be heard of other than in the local youth club nights (well if you can call gathering of 50 somethings a youth club!)

The majority who say it is better with the million soul nights are generally wannabee DJ's more interested in thier own "fame" or the millions of local soul night DJ's that seem to think they are the saviour of "the scene" and aren't thinking logically.

Actually that's not totally true as that description is not descriptive of Steve G - C'mon Mr G with all your records you could be one of the supporting cast at the same venue weekly!!

Okay the logistics like are there enough records, do people go out enough, are all the people asking for this just armchair critics probably make it a pipe dream but anything less to me is not a scene, just a group of buddies playing records in their local pub.

Okay back to my armchair for the next 3 days for me dreaming of a long gone youth...........

[Mark Bicknell]

Slightly twisting the question - as usual when the place whose name should never be mentioned is brought up the same arguments happen,

Forget the place the question to me that is more about what it would be like if everyone went to one venue, all the progressive crowd going to the same place, Butch djing weekly with all his records, and supported by the people likeminded (Mr Dyson, Mick H etc) then yes the records would be more accepted and the scene would be a million times better, it would be a scene which it isn't now. Mediocre flavour of the week records wouldn't be heard of other than in the local youth club nights (well if you can call gathering of 50 somethings a youth club!)

The majority who say it is better with the million soul nights are generally wannabee DJ's more interested in thier own "fame" or the millions of local soul night DJ's that seem to think they are the saviour of "the scene" and aren't thinking logically.

Actually that's not totally true as that description is not descriptive of Steve G - C'mon Mr G with all your records you could be one of the supporting cast at the same venue weekly!!

Okay the logistics like are there enough records, do people go out enough, are all the people asking for this just armchair critics probably make it a pipe dream but anything less to me is not a scene, just a group of buddies playing records in their local pub.

Okay back to my armchair for the next 3 days for me dreaming of a long gone youth...........

Spot bloody on mate.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Guest posstot]

anyone mentioning the c or w words from now on should be fined 50p per mention and it should be paid to charity at the end of the year imho.

think we're on a winner....I'd like to put forward a charity. Whoops i don't think i will. I was gonna put forward....Buy me lots of vinyl...yet that breaks down into BMLOV....JUST FORGET IT!!!

[Guest posstot]

===

id have kept on going even if there were only 10 people in !!!

everyone should have been able to experience a wigan casino allniter when it was packed and the atmosphere it generated

i only got there on 3 occasions but boy did they change my life!

to answer the question if it was able to keep open theres no reason it couldnt have,,remember stafford had very low numbers on some nights but didnt stop gr8 music being listened to by the die hards!

and some of the big records since 81 would have been brilliant at the casino

spencer wiggins , chris clark , suspicion , tony galla ,

there u go where do i put my 50p??

Actually it's a pound!!!

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Slightly twisting the question - as usual when the place whose name should never be mentioned is brought up the same arguments happen,

Forget the place the question to me that is more about what it would be like if everyone went to one venue, all the progressive crowd going to the same place, Butch djing weekly with all his records, and supported by the people likeminded (Mr Dyson, Mick H etc) then yes the records would be more accepted and the scene would be a million times better, it would be a scene which it isn't now. Mediocre flavour of the week records wouldn't be heard of other than in the local youth club nights (well if you can call gathering of 50 somethings a youth club!)

The majority who say it is better with the million soul nights are generally wannabee DJ's more interested in thier own "fame" or the millions of local soul night DJ's that seem to think they are the saviour of "the scene" and aren't thinking logically.

Actually that's not totally true as that description is not descriptive of Steve G - C'mon Mr G with all your records you could be one of the supporting cast at the same venue weekly!!

Okay the logistics like are there enough records, do people go out enough, are all the people asking for this just armchair critics probably make it a pipe dream but anything less to me is not a scene, just a group of buddies playing records in their local pub.

Okay back to my armchair for the next 3 days for me dreaming of a long gone youth...........

Can you name one of the majorities that says it is better?

Just curios because I don't know any my self.

To say that a wannabee DJ is more interested in there own fame is bullocks as most local "Wwannabee" DJ's are collectors first but like to shear the music they love given the chance and in a lot of cases play a better spot than a so-called big guest DJ.

A few years back standing with a few mates at the West End in Coalville a very good and well respected midlands DJ received a phone call the dick head that rang him told the lad that if he took a booking for the weekender in north Wales he would never DJ at the Kings Hall again or any venue run by them perhaps they where thinking logically! To say he was shocked and very upset is an understatement of the highest order,

Are these the kind of guy's that should be running a big national venue if all the soul night's closed there doors I think not, Ever since that night I have never attended any of there All-nighters or Weekenders and never will. I would rather stay in the pub with a few mates playing soul records!.

Steve J

Edited May 25, 2008 by SteveJohnston

[Guest posstot]

Can you name one of the majorities that says it is better?

Just curios because I don't know any my self.

To say that a wannabee DJ is more interested in there own fame is bullocks as most local "Wwannabee" DJ's are collectors first but like to shear the music they love given the chance and in a lot of cases play a better spot than a so-called big guest DJ.

A few years back standing with a few mates at the West End in Coalville a very good and well respected midlands DJ received a phone call the dick head that rang him told the lad that if he took a booking for the weekender in north Wales he would never DJ at the Kings Hall again or any venue run by them perhaps they where thinking logically! To say he was shocked and very upset is an understatement of the highest order,

Are these the kind of guy's that should be running a big national venue if all the soul night's closed there doors I think not, Ever since that night I have never attended any of there All-nighters or Weekenders and never will. I would rather stay in the pub with a few mates playing soul records!.

Steve J

power to the people!!!

[Harry Crosby]

Would love to know what them THREE PIES in that pie warmer at the end of the record bar would look like now!!! the same ones were there every week as long as i went we even marked one of them to see if they were allways the same ones national treasures them pies, they wanted carbon dating

[Guest gordon russell]

Can you name one of the majorities that says it is better?

Just curios because I don't know any my self.

To say that a wannabee DJ is more interested in there own fame is bullocks as most local "Wwannabee" DJ's are collectors first but like to shear the music they love given the chance and in a lot of cases play a better spot than a so-called big guest DJ.

A few years back standing with a few mates at the West End in Coalville a very good and well respected midlands DJ received a phone call the dick head that rang him told the lad that if he took a booking for the weekender in north Wales he would never DJ at the Kings Hall again or any venue run by them perhaps they where thinking logically! To say he was shocked and very upset is an understatement of the highest order,

Are these the kind of guy's that should be running a big national venue if all the soul night's closed there doors I think not, Ever since that night I have never attended any of there All-nighters or Weekenders and never will. I would rather stay in the pub with a few mates playing soul records!.

Steve J

Ithink you should have another look fella.....most wanna be djs are not collectors at all they buy records just to dj with and because they don't have the tunes or the knowledge to be invited to dj at quality venues regardless of music policy....they open their own little tin pot soul night......an guess who the resident dj is ?.....yep Mr wanna be himself. What is even worse they don't really want to hear anything outside the top 500.....because they feel uncomfortable out of their little goldfish bowl.

[jocko]

Can you name one of the majorities that says it is better?

Just curios because I don't know any my self.

I would say the plethora of new nights kicking up around all over would suggest the guys running these obviously think it is better to run lots of small nights rather than support the already going on events. Saturday was a good example with Burnley on there was at least one relatively local do, allegedly playing something different, on same night as Burnley, sounds a bit crazy to me.

Are these the kind of guy's that should be running a big national venue if all the soul night's closed there doors I think not, Ever since that night I have never attended any of there All-nighters or Weekenders and never will. I would rather stay in the pub with a few mates playing soul records!.

At what point did I mention large or National venues, I said it would be good if people into progressive side of Northern all went to the same venue, history tells us that does not normally require a huge venue. I don't think even Kev Roberts would try and sell Kings Hall as a progressive venue so I see no relevance to my point. He does what he does, and arguably does it well, it has no relevance to the sort of people I consider progressive however.

To say that a wannabee DJ is more interested in there own fame is bullocks as most local "Wwannabee" DJ's are collectors first but like to shear the music they love given the chance and in a lot of cases play a better spot than a so-called big guest DJ.

,

The sort of DJ's I mentioned, Butch, Andy D, Mick H, and also people like Arthur Fenn, Steve G (who interestingly was the one who said he preferred current situation) & Cliff Steele, guys like that with collections big enough to rotate, or who chase things that are new, different and top quality, often rare - although never at the cost of quality with these guys. Following behind that you have guys like Karl Heard, the DDA guys (and girl!), out there doing it now, not living on their reputation, always looking for something new and worth hearing out. If you genuinely think there are guys out there at their local do's can do better than these guys, I would love to hear about it.

My whole point was a regular do featuring all these guys in one do is how it should be for MY ideal scenario, if you read on I was also saying I realised it was unlikely if not impossible these days. I fail to see how you can argue this point, if you really are into something different.

I love to share my music, I always have done. However I do it via CD (formerly tapes) and talking about great records, nowadays even the odd MP3 of my records, I certainly don't really think about starting my own night and DJ'ing at it just because I have some nice records (even though I do say so myself). I read these playlists of nights "with something different", and often they are great records but ones that are owned by the majority of collectors with reasonable sized collections, and often have been played out reasonably regularly in years 1985-2000, that isn't being that different to me.

I have no real vested interest here , I am just an old armchair critic, and to be honest as time goes on I see that the local dos do serve a purpose these days as people travel less, and yes its nice to hear some nice records and only have a £2 cab ride home. However they are not and should not be the centre of a progressive scene, arguably they are killing it. I can see why people prefer them but to say the majority are anything other than a comfy British Legion type place for ageing Northern fans is just wrong, IMVHO.

[Guest Trevski]

Slightly twisting the question - as usual when the place whose name should never be mentioned is brought up the same arguments happen,

Forget the place the question to me that is more about what it would be like if everyone went to one venue, all the progressive crowd going to the same place, Butch djing weekly with all his records, and supported by the people likeminded (Mr Dyson, Mick H etc) then yes the records would be more accepted and the scene would be a million times better, it would be a scene which it isn't now. Mediocre flavour of the week records wouldn't be heard of other than in the local youth club nights (well if you can call gathering of 50 somethings a youth club!)

The majority who say it is better with the million soul nights are generally wannabee DJ's more interested in thier own "fame" or the millions of local soul night DJ's that seem to think they are the saviour of "the scene" and aren't thinking logically.

Actually that's not totally true as that description is not descriptive of Steve G - C'mon Mr G with all your records you could be one of the supporting cast at the same venue weekly!!

Okay the logistics like are there enough records, do people go out enough, are all the people asking for this just armchair critics probably make it a pipe dream but anything less to me is not a scene, just a group of buddies playing records in their local pub.

Okay back to my armchair for the next 3 days for me dreaming of a long gone youth...........

Spot on there Jock, Oh, for an unmissable, everyone there, 'must be at' venue instead of dozens of 'can I be arsed to go out' ones. Bit like the place that cannot be mentioned!  Ah, W.C, "The love that dare not speak it's name" springs to mind!

Edited May 25, 2008 by Trevski

[Guest mel brat]

Would love to know what them THREE PIES in that pie warmer at the end of the record bar would look like now!!! the same ones were there every week as long as i went we even marked one of them to see if they were allways the same ones national treasures them pies, they wanted carbon dating

:lol: Nah! - I reckon by now they would surely have evolved into a multi-limbed primordial lifeform and would be winning all the PIE Disco Demand dance competitions and getting occasional guest DJ spots at Cleethorpes!

Edited May 25, 2008 by mel brat

[Pete S]

Please feel free to be narrow minded and critisise just Wigan, after all no other venue has been open for more than weeks have they?

After some of the dross played at venues today would have been laughed at in the 70's

Well said Phil.

I stopped going to Wigan in the latter years but have heard enough tapes to know what the playlists were like and apart from the appalling modern stuff, the 60's newies were as good as any from any other period of the scene, especially RS circa 79-81...no sign of a Dana Valery or Helen Shapiro anywhere, no dubious UK B sides, just quality Northern which was continued at Stafford after Wigan closed.

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

I would like to have seen Wigan still being there so i can at least go once to see what it was like.

but i guess as most say it got boring well maybe they had there own set music list but didn't many of the songs get played elsewhere it's hard to find a record that is associated with 1 club without someone saying it's been played at another club

as for DJ's new ones no idea what they go in for but i would love to DJ more if i had the chance, i am a collector well not a big collector because what i buy goes with what dad buys so that we create a joint collection. Dad would rather i djed and not him if given the chance so maybe one could say i have the collection. But sadly there are lots of promoters out there who won't give people like me a chance

I did it once and got a good reaction but it's promoters who are not intrested maybe they want new sounds or rare stuff not the typical worth £10 record that is in your box and as someone said playing stuff which you think is great might not be different if it's been played out before in the last 20 years or so but what about playing a set of tunes that's been played out less ie not played out in 5 or 10 years only a few times and not the countless of songs being played all the time, one example is Messing with my mind, i would play Otis Clay which i know round here has never been played.

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Ithink you should have another look fella.....most wanna be djs are not collectors at all they buy records just to dj with and because they don't have the tunes or the knowledge to be invited to dj at quality venues regardless of music policy....they open their own little tin pot soul night......an guess who the resident dj is ?.....yep Mr wanna be himself. What is even worse they don't really want to hear anything outside the top 500.....because they feel uncomfortable out of their little goldfish bowl.

Hi Fella

You are trying to tell me that most "wanna be" DJ's would go out and buy records to fill say a 50 box, Then go and buy two decks a mixer the amp and speakers all leads, headphones and microphone plus back up parts. Before they have even paid out for a venue and all the advertisement just to so they can be a resident "wanna be" DJ!

I just can't see this at all.

As far as wanting to hear something out side the top 500 as you put it,

That is up to the individual and nobody as the given right to say they should be not be doing it!

Over the weekend I spoke to all the local lads that I know DJ now and them and all are collectors first and foremost.

Steve J

[Guest gordon russell]

Hi Fella

You are trying to tell me that most "wanna be" DJ's would go out and buy records to fill say a 50 box, Then go and buy two decks a mixer the amp and speakers all leads, headphones and microphone plus back up parts. Before they have even paid out for a venue and all the advertisement just to so they can be a resident "wanna be" DJ!

I just can't see this at all.

As far as wanting to hear something out side the top 500 as you put it,

That is up to the individual and nobody as the given right to say they should be not be doing it!

Over the weekend I spoke to all the local lads that I know DJ now and them and all are collectors first and foremost.

Steve J

sorry can't agree, I have stopped going to the local do's in this area because of this reason.Of course they're gonna tell you they're collectors......how many people want to say they are wanna be's. Definition of a wanna be play music off

any old format,only go to the venues they set up and they're friends venues nearby as guest dj's,never go out as punters, cause not interested......I go out and about all the time and all the wanna be's from my area go NOWHERE unless someones daft enough to give em a dj spot. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE CALLED WANNA BE'S.

As far as the tunes played now,as compared to the wigan days of course they're up there because most of the shit gets filtered out,there are a few exceptions.......joe jamma being the worst that comes to mind.

[Steve G]

The sort of DJ's I mentioned, Butch, Andy D, Mick H, and also people like Arthur Fenn, Steve G (who interestingly was the one who said he preferred current situation) & Cliff Steele, guys like that with collections big enough to rotate, or who chase things that are new, different and top quality, often rare - although never at the cost of quality with these guys. Following behind that you have guys like Karl Heard, the DDA guys (and girl!), out there doing it now, not living on their reputation, always looking for something new and worth hearing out. If you genuinely think there are guys out there at their local do's can do better than these guys, I would love to hear about it.

Think I am being misunderstood on my original point. Wigan was at the end of it's life a complete dump, and still under the control DJ wise of Russ who'se got about as much taste as a cheap sausage when it comes to picking quality soul music. Frankly most people would have stopped going sooner or later anyways and the place had had it's day, was rank on the inside etc etc.

Just to clear up I am not advocating any more soul nights - there's too many as it is - and as Terry Rider says all with their own resident wanna be DJ and his mates plus a guest. But my point was rather that the scene has been better served over the years with varied soul nights (Stafford, 100 Club, Parkers, Abshott, Essence, Lifeline etc etc), rather than some great big hall where the same old anthems get chucked out week in week out by the same old dozen ageing moustachiod DJ's from the Casino.

Edited May 28, 2008 by Steve G

[TOAD]

, and still under the control DJ wise of Russ who'se got about as much taste as a cheap sausage when it comes to picking quality soul music

WHICH IF YOU WHERE THERE AT THE TIME YOUD HAVE NOTICED HIS SELECTIONS WERE VERY POOR,,ONE EXAMPLE THE SEEDS PUSHING TO HARD AND CASINO CLASSICS

[Ged Parker]

sorry can't agree, I have stopped going to the local do's in this area because of this reason.Of course they're gonna tell you they're collectors......how many people want to say they are wanna be's. Definition of a wanna be play music off

any old format,only go to the venues they set up and they're friends venues nearby as guest dj's,never go out as punters, cause not interested......I go out and about all the time and all the wanna be's from my area go NOWHERE unless someones daft enough to give em a dj spot. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE CALLED WANNA BE'S.

As far as the tunes played now,as compared to the wigan days of course they're up there because most of the shit gets filtered out,there are a few exceptions.......joe jamma being the worst that comes to mind.

Mr Darcy,

That's a sweeping generalisation that holds some truth.

I know DJ's in both camps I personally am a collector but load many promotors near me want to play the sounds they like what ever format and generally stick to the tried and trusted. Whatsmore their venues are full.

So who are we to critisise them they are enjoying the music and playing to other of a like mind. They are not part of the Rare Soul scene but more a Northern Nostalgia scene. The northern equiavalent of a tribute act if you like.

Incidently there are DJ's at Every big venue (including Burnley) that are not collectors.

I suspect we have a similar outlook on places we like but I would choose to live and let live where the others are concerned they don't do me any harm.

[Rob Wigley]

Think I am being misunderstood on my original point. Wigan was at the end of it's life a complete dump, and still under the control DJ wise of Russ who'se got about as much taste as a cheap sausage when it comes to picking quality soul music. Frankly most people would have stopped going sooner or later anyways and the place had had it's day, was rank on the inside etc etc.

Just to clear up I am not advocating any more soul nights - there's too many as it is - and as Terry Rider says all with their own resident wanna be DJ and his mates plus a guest. But my point was rather that the scene has been better served over the years with varied soul nights (Stafford, 100 Club, Parkers, Abshott, Essence, Lifeline etc etc), rather than some great big hall where the same old anthems get chucked out week in week out by the same old dozen ageing moustachiod DJ's from the Casino.

There was a thread recently that said could a WEEKLY all-nighter/venue survive now ?

I doubt if ANYBODY would keep the faith as we did back in the 70's

1) We were young, enthusiastic, had OPEN minds, energy (artificially stimulated or not) and didn't have 1,000 other day to day things to do!

2) There is not the depth of "Right" records to fuel such a venue without dipping into the past.

3) You'd have to hand it back to "the Kids" to keep it going and the music would change.

A weekly all-nighter COULD survive if there were no others on ANYWHERE full stop.

But you would also have to have some serious DJ rotation

You also would have had the "Smashie and Nicey" DJ syndrome if the Casino had carried on reguardless. Like Radio One , it had to change, our music was underground, from the street or ghetto man, un -available and un-heard outside of the clubs and all-nighters.

Now its all over the place in its most popular form, Telly, radio, CDs, MP 3 downloads.

It WILL go back underground, the signs are already there and it will also travel away from this Island Kingdom of ours.

The Casino every week, been there and done that and loved it at the time, but I now need clean toilets, somewhere to sit (those of you who have seen the state my knees are in will understand) and a warm comfy bed within 30 miles (or less) of the venue. Thank God for Travelodge !

Rob

[Paul Shirley]

apears to me some people here dont half think they are somthing so f... what if some bloke for whatever reason decides to buy some records and play them , some of us dont see a need or desire to want to play at er? quality venues i have freinds that have mutch of the same tunes that some of the biger names have in fact beter( including my self) they just dont go around doing there best to get noticed they have other lives and interests , i like many other people have been around this scene a long time and like many others lost intorest years ago but started in to it again in 96 my records where stolen back in the 70s i also dj'd only at my local youth club years ago' i go to burnley i go to my mates club down the rd that is fast gaining a realy good reputation' burscough legion .i go to as many clubs as i can get to clubs all over the place i have a leg in the old '(people that went to the casino sort of clubs )as wel as what i call (progresive underplayed stuff clubs)dda room and so on , i found that apart from my mates club once a month in my neck of the woods there was no place to go apart from the endles amount of clubs that all played the same old tunes , so i started to buy records again records that i liked and when i played them i found that loads of other people liked them`so are you teling me thats wrong ??? ,i was never one for going around shaking every buggers hand and making my self known to people yes i started my own place as i think in my part of the woods it would stand it ' i spent a fortune on a good pa system and finding the right club wasant easy , i had over 110 people in at our first do i had shorny and his mates come up from wolverhampton peeps from bolton all over the place . we have what we think is a cracking club ,any body reading this that knows me will tel you am a very humble sort of person , now i would sugest that acording to what some people have writen on this thred i sopose i would be one of there wanna be's AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY THERE IS NO NEW PEOPLE COMING IN TO THIS SCENE WITH ATITUDES LIKE ON HERE I WONDER WHY ???

Edited June 2, 2008 by mepaul50

[Guest]

Hi Fella

You are trying to tell me that most "wanna be" DJ's would go out and buy records to fill say a 50 box, Then go and buy two decks a mixer the amp and speakers all leads, headphones and microphone plus back up parts. Before they have even paid out for a venue and all the advertisement just to so they can be a resident "wanna be" DJ!

I just can't see this at all.

Steve J

I can £100 for 50 bootlegs,and £50 for the Citronic set up and your away your own do.

[Steve G]

, and still under the control DJ wise of Russ who'se got about as much taste as a cheap sausage when it comes to picking quality soul music

WHICH IF YOU WHERE THERE AT THE TIME YOUD HAVE NOTICED HIS SELECTIONS WERE VERY POOR,,ONE EXAMPLE THE SEEDS PUSHING TO HARD AND CASINO CLASSICS

Think I was there actually Toad, that's how I know.

[TOAD]

WAS AGREING WITH YOU, SOME STILL THINK HE WAS THE BEST DJ THERE

[Wiganer1]

WAS AGREING WITH YOU, SOME STILL THINK HE WAS THE BEST DJ THERE

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i dont think Russ was the best dj at Wigan and never said that.

But I firmly believe that over the eight years Russ Winstanley has spun some FANTASTIC records that out weigh the crap ones..many dont realise how many sounds he did actually spin as well break onto the scene..

i may be one voice in a million soulies but for me he will always be an inspiration due the sounds he spun and the ones hes put me onto directly and undirectly and i dont care what others think.

also not trying to re-write history either because i do know what he played over this time as ive got access to 1/5 of his playlists.

also can i add that currrently some indemanders being respun currently all ex Russ sounds

Love - leon thomas

posse - evil

marty lewis - cant do without you

dee dee barnes - do what you gonna do

sammy lee - what goes around

regards

mark winstanly ..i mean freeman

[Paul Shirley]

i was also thinking that a monkey could be a dj even beter a monkey with a lot of money and he would be a star!!! i realy do fail to see why some people hold some dj's in such high regard ? wanna be dj's no i dont think so' a big diference is some of the established dj's now a days is that they purchased there records back in the day when they was 2'6 in old money' this gives them a real big advantage now dont you think ??on the other hand you have granny rich died last week and you now have money to burn you buy the best tunes you can get your grubby little hands on and as many as you can get' you then get your self known by playing your tunes at a few dumps that are over the moon that there club is on the map again thanks to the unknown star !!! you now are begining to build up an ego' the size of a football pitch and word travals fast you get invited up and down the m6 and your a star!!! the other way is this` you work hard for a living you go to listen and dance to music you may never aford to buy it but dont mind paying to hear it' with the bit of money you have left over you save up and buy the records you love thinking may be one day you will be able to play them out at some place then one day a little club opens near you they get to know you and like the records you have worked so hard for every day of your life . and the next thing every body is happy in the little club including you ` your never ever going to be playing at a big er?"quailty" venue but you and the punters at the little club are happy

[Paul Shirley]

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i dont think Russ was the best dj at Wigan and never said that.

But I firmly believe that over the eight years Russ Winstanley has spun some FANTASTIC records that out weigh the crap ones..many dont realise how many sounds he did actually spin as well break onto the scene..

i may be one voice in a million soulies but for me he will always be an inspiration due the sounds he spun and the ones hes put me onto directly and undirectly and i dont care what others think.

also not trying to re-write history either because i do know what he played over this time as ive got access to 1/5 of his playlists.

also can i add that currrently some indemanders being respun currently all ex Russ sounds

Love - leon thomas

posse - evil

marty lewis - cant do without you

dee dee barnes - do what you gonna do

sammy lee - what goes around

regards

mark winstanly ..i mean freeman

i agree with you mate i get realy pissed off with people slaging the casino and russ, its easy for people to look back and say in hindsight that or this record was crapp when since then so many tunes have evolved some of the stuff being played now is bloody terible and dosent come close to the stuff being played out back then and never will , dont get me wrong when i say this but some of the underplayed stuff is underplayed for a reason "it was crapp"compared to what was being played then but then again the amount of clubs playing the casino play list week after week is a joke but then again if those people enjoy it so be it live and let live!!! ,for me i think you got to cherry pick from the underplayed and progresive venues , i also think russ shuld now pack it in and behave himself now as he is well past his sell by date cant see him doing the dda room can you haaaaaaaaa lol

Edited June 2, 2008 by mepaul50

[Steve G]

i also think russ shuld now pack it in and behave himself now as he is well past his sell by date

He's not still going is he?

I mean I know he leads the annual torch vigil up to the site of the Casino on the night of the anniversary every year, but I thought he'd put his DJ box out to grass ages ago.

Some good points by Rob - the toilets, the bar area, the tables and chairs were all well past their sell by date then. God knows what they'd be like now

And hey Fluff you missed out Millie Jackson "A house for sale" and Willie Hutch "Love games" - Russ's other good ones.

[Paul Shirley]

He's not still going is he?

I mean I know he leads the annual torch vigil up to the site of the Casino on the night of the anniversary every year, but I thought he'd put his DJ box out to grass ages ago.

Some good points by Rob - the toilets, the bar area, the tables and chairs were all well past their sell by date then. God knows what they'd be like now

And hey Fluff you missed out Millie Jackson "A house for sale" and Willie Hutch "Love games" - Russ's other good ones.

yes he is stil going saw him at a do 3weeks ago with same records lol i have always found his hair fasinating it was at the going going gone stage years ago and yet the other week it was like a birds nest all thick again and dark brown as aposed to gray' re toilets at the casino i stoped going in 77 your not teling me they never did anything to them and left them in that state for another 4 years or so did they ??? all that dosh gerry marshal "the owner" made hard to understand

Edited June 2, 2008 by mepaul50

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

well in terms of what some say here about wannabe DJ's i am not one well not in the way some think.

I go to as many venues as i can in Peterborough usually 4 and i love to hear the music played including unknows as well as ones i download (very few) and ones from CD's in collections which go on IPod and i try and buy when i can usually end up with stuff i didn't know which is cheap but when or if i can anything i hear out i really like if i can get the money i like to buy. To DJ would be a dream only if i knew i would be accepted for me and my music and not for the snobs and so on who don't want new DJ's

There are loads of promoters out there who wouldn't dare put on new or DJ's with less experience. But i know a few people would but they don't have a say so much in what clubs want the less experience of new DJ's.

I want to say that if i was offered to DJ more i would be greatful and would treat myself as just a DJ same as everyone else but with my own collection in hope the paying punters will like what i play

[Wiganer1]

He's not still going is he?

I mean I know he leads the annual torch vigil up to the site of the Casino on the night of the anniversary every year, but I thought he'd put his DJ box out to grass ages ago.

Some good points by Rob - the toilets, the bar area, the tables and chairs were all well past their sell by date then. God knows what they'd be like now

And hey Fluff you missed out Millie Jackson "A house for sale" and Willie Hutch "Love games" - Russ's other good ones.

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and

g davis and r tyler - hold on help is on the way - bob hinsleys been thraping that one for a year!

[45cellar]

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id have kept on going even if there were only 10 people in !!!

everyone should have been able to experience a wigan casino allniter when it was packed and the atmosphere it generated

i only got there on 3 occasions but boy did they change my life!

to answer the question if it was able to keep open theres no reason it couldnt have,,remember stafford had very low numbers on some nights but didnt stop gr8 music being listened to by the die hards!

and some of the big records since 81 would have been brilliant at the casino

spencer wiggins , chris clark , suspicion , tony galla ,

there u go where do i put my 50p??

I do agree with you here, but either way, what a shame the building didn't survive to present day.

For such an Important building to be closed & demolished,

along with The Torch & Recently The Winter Gardens it's just not right.

The recent Interest in Dancing on T.V. becoming popular again, The Casino had that loverly sprung dancefloor.

The decision to close it's doors to any type of function for such a grand building, to me was short sighted.

And for what, A CAR PARK.

Now we have the Wigan Cafe, actually celebrating the very Venue that others decided to close.

Quite right too, it should be remembered. Along with other Venues, it changed so many lives.

Edited June 4, 2008 by 45cellar

[Guest]

I do agree with you here, but either way, what a shame the building didn't survive to present day.

For such an Important building to be closed & demolished,

along with The Torch & Recently The Winter Gardens it's just not right.

The recent Interest in Dancing on T.V. becoming popular again, The Casino had that loverly sprung dancefloor.

The decision to close it's doors to any type of function for such a grand building, to me was short sighted.

And for what, A CAR PARK.

Now we have the Wigan Cafe, actually celebrating the very Venue that others decided to close.

Quite right too, it should be remembered. Along with other Venues, it changed so many lives.

The closure - for whatever reasons - of buildings that once housed soul venues / clubs and other flourishing entertainmant businesses , has been an ongoing saga for many years .......

Your highlighted statement is very much evident - and true - in respect of The Ritz at Brighouse , Roger ........

The Ritz is a wonderful example of design , but it has the threat of closure hanging over it . The family that own The Ritz have stated that , despite the building having an architectural heritage , they are to sell it in order to provide financial stability for their futures / retirements .....

This is where the problem lies : economics outweigh sentimentality . The Ritz may be - and is - a viable business , but the land it stands on is worth far more than any business that does come , and will come if it stays open , throught its' doors .........

Malc Burton

[Guest in town Mikey]

I'm quite happy with the modern day casino at the 100 club.

Is there a more forward thinking DJ/promoter than Ady C? There are many that are in the same company, but if ever a club holds the ethic of Wigan Casino it is the 100, it has just changed the size to fit the climate.

[Guest]

I'm quite happy with the modern day casino at the 100 club.

Is there a more forward thinking DJ/promoter than Ady C? There are many that are in the same company, but if ever a club holds the ethic of Wigan Casino it is the 100, it has just changed the size to fit the climate.

Exactly - and to the ethics of Stafford as well , in relation to its' positive and creative musical policy .........

Malc Burton

[Guest Roddy]

An interesting but pointless topic imho let it die and be remembered for all tht was good and bad on this wonderful scene of ours.

If the climate politics and circumstances dictate that a large venue holding 800 plus people is needed wanted by the punters then it will happen like everything else that has happened,serendipity,marvelous coinsedences,and pure luck will combine and it will occur or maybe not.... and again if it does it wont be in the uk.

Re the 100 Club, Lifeline, Middleton they have the ethos,sensibilities and crowd to remind me of my early days on the scene as well as the will to carry on traveling to listen to this fantastic music of ours (I would add that every trip to soul dos,weekenders,nighters leaves me humbled by the enthusiasm of the youth involved)

Now can we please put the grand old lady to bed and let her rest in peace.

[Steve G]

I do agree with you here, but either way, what a shame the building didn't survive to present day.

For such an Important building to be closed & demolished,

along with The Torch & Recently The Winter Gardens it's just not right.

The recent Interest in Dancing on T.V. becoming popular again, The Casino had that loverly sprung dancefloor.

The decision to close it's doors to any type of function for such a grand building, to me was short sighted.

And for what, A CAR PARK.

Now we have the Wigan Cafe, actually celebrating the very Venue that others decided to close.

Quite right too, it should be remembered. Along with other Venues, it changed so many lives.

But let's not forget the context of the time (1891 oops 1981)

1) it was losing money in the end - 300 in at the all nighters no other bookings

2) it was a dump

3) it was a fire risk and burnt down soon after closure

It's all very well being romantic and saying it should have been preserved for future generations, but who would have paid to maintain it / upgrade it etc? It would have needed millions spent on it. Sorry but it had had it's day, and the scene moved on.

[Mach]

Yeah,i agree Roger was a shame it ended up a carpark of all things.

Makes me sn***** though,thinking about,the amount of people that if it was still on the go, would even enter it nowadays.It never came into the equasion back then it was a complete and utter dump,one could even say dangerous...and thats without the funny stuff! It was in the past and will never be replicated,things have moved on and so they should..but having said that it was a truly unique venue,and will always hold treasured memories for me,and i enjoyed some of the best times of my life there..(even to this day,if someone comes near me with BRUT aftershave on, i,m transported back to the early hours in the gents of the casino in the 70s... and i cant help it!.)..but it was in the past.and i,m all for PROGRESS SO ONWARDS!.

[spot]

"Imagine the Casino in 2008", I can only say one thing to that question, "No Thank You", it was bad enough being there& having wet socks & ankles from paddling through piss & water in the gents, never mind looking like a rust coloured Dalmatian from the nicotine & sweat dripping on you from above.

Take care, be safe & remember, "Memories are made of this, sweet,sweet, the memories you gave to me",

Spot.

[Guest Black Gold of the Sun]

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and

g davis and r tyler - hold on help is on the way - bob hinsleys been thraping that one for a year!

Levine /Curtis @ Mecca an age before wigan played it

[Guest Budgie]

Would love to know what them THREE PIES in that pie warmer at the end of the record bar would look like now!!! the same ones were there every week as long as i went we even marked one of them to see if they were allways the same ones national treasures them pies, they wanted carbon dating

They're now on display in the Casino Cafe in the new shopping centre.

All the best

Budgie

[barney]

He's not still going is he?

I mean I know he leads the annual torch vigil up to the site of the Casino on the night of the anniversary every year, but I thought he'd put his DJ box out to grass ages ago.

Some good points by Rob - the toilets, the bar area, the tables and chairs were all well past their sell by date then. God knows what they'd be like now

And hey Fluff you missed out Millie Jackson "A house for sale" and Willie Hutch "Love games" - Russ's other good ones.

house for sale does my napper in its bin up for sale for donkeys years,its probably been condemded. cant have been that good or somebody would have bought it ps this was going in the pet hates thread