Sadly it was damaged by fire in the early 1980's in an arson attack by the the owners that failed to reap the financial benefits they anticiapted but did get them an extended stay at Her Majesty's pleasure and robbed the punters and bands of a decent venue.It became a new romantics hang out...shudder.

My first visit to this venue was alcoholically induced... I lived at the time in Milton Keynes (Well somebody had to!) running a rock disco for the benefit of the local biker population (all 30 of them) thru which I got to know a local band called Teaza who had Phil Banfield for a manager who also managed Ian Gillan.

He'd booked Teaza for the support slot at Gillans' third gig prior to the release of "Mr Universe." But I didn't know that until we were there!

I'd met up with Teaza in a pub in MK that Saturday lunchtime and got mightily slaughtered with them throughout the afternoon as you do (and as I recall got barred from that pub for ordering and drinking three Guinesses with cider top with a cherry in it, don't ask why!)..."were doing a gig in London tonight come with us" they slurred "OK give us a lift home to get me cameras" was I think my fateful reply. and soon afterwards their roadie who wasn't quite as pissed as we were drove us all down to Camden in the ubiqutis Ford Transit.

Teaza do their thang

Whilst they were on and two very drunk bikers stared at them (This was the same weekend that Zeppelin played Knebworth) I literally bumped into Jon McCoy at the "backstage" bar who reasonably terrified me: Huge man, Bald, wearing a kimono, "Don't fuck with him" I thought "Must be a roadie!" Sorry Jon.

Then Gillan went on. What a blast!."There's a maniac attacking a 'strat' stage left and on stage right with have that "roadie" slamming his bass into the floor." I thought. "Uhm."

Great gig. First time I'd ever seen anyone play the opening bars to Smoke on the water with their teeth. Loon.It may have sounded awful but who cared it looked fucking A and strats are supposed to scream aren't they?! I became a firm fan for life of Mr Bernie Torme from that moment on.

Right: Ian Gillan, sings "If you believe in me"

Left: (From left)Bernie Torme,
Ian Gillan, Jon McCoy. Unchaining our brains!

Bernie Torme chews out the opening bars of "Smoke on the water"