In the arse end of Oxford Street in London's West End lies a basement dive that has not only been host to some of the most wondrous and some of the most notorious events in London’s musical history but is also the only venue in London that has been continuously presenting live music since the middle of WWII – that is over sixty years guys and gals and that is also Jive, Jazz, Blues, Rock, R&B (1), R&B (2), Reggae, Punk, New Wave, NWOBHM, Electronica, Rock & Roll, Soul, Afro-Jazz, Kletzmer, New Romantic, Death Metal– every musical trend and movement since 1942 has either had its origins or its best nights at the 100 Club. And now it is threatened with closure. Because the landlords, Lazari Investments, have hiked the rent by 45% and the Council have hiked the Rates to £4000 per month.
There isn’t a problem getting bodies into the place and they have complied with every Health & Safety diktat and still kept the feel and the integrity of the place – it is a dingy and unlovely dive but it is still one of the best MUSIC venues on the planet and it is threatened with closure because an investment company doesn't care about heritage - only profit..
We are, all of us, in danger of losing the means to enjoy live music that is free of Corporate Influence.
Look at what we have already lost and what we have gained in its stead:
Hammersmith Odeon - now Hammersmith Apollo and booked up for weeks at a tiime with Comedy
The Astoria - buried under a million tonnes of rubble, along with its sister the LA2 - its' likely replacement (as promised by the Mayor) a 200 seat air conditioned Theatre with no standing allowed - if it ever gets built
Hammersmith Palais - boarded up and derelict because the property developers who bought it can make more money out of a shell
The Marquee - all three versions gone and the most famous - in Wardour Street - is now a bank
The Spitz - Redevelopment
The Torrington - developed into a Coffee shop and now a KFC
The Electric Ballroom - soon to be part of Camden Station Shopping mall
The Rainbow - a Religious centre
Golders Green Hippodrome - where the BBc televised The Beatles and others - a Religious Centre
The Lyceum - where Marley was recorded for possibly the greatest reggae gig ever - a permanent home to The Lion King
There are so many more.
It wouldn't be so bad if they were being replaced with halfway decent venues but what we have to replace them are venues that are deliberately soulless and perfect opportunities to 'Market Product'. I cannot imagine anyone enthusing about the Islington Academy in 40 years time - can you?
Chaps, the great names that have graced - and sometimes disgraced - the 100 Club and the Marquee and the Spitz and the LA2 may have straddled every kind of music and may have been less than lovely but they were the essence of the spirit of music and of youth and of that individualistic streak that Corporates and Civil Servants cannot abide and if all the little clubs and back rooms of pubs and the like can be eliminated then we will have lost the ability to stand up and do something just because it sounds good to us.
The heritage of the 100 Club is not its history, although that is important enough to be preserved in aspic, it is in having a place that is just below one of the busiest streets in trhe world where anyone can find an audience and where an audience can go and, without spending a fortune, be pretty sure of finding some music that they might like.
The 100 Club means something to us all - it is our heritage and the future and if we let it fail because some already rich venture capitalist thinks that they could make more rent from another shop or another restaurant then we should all hang our heads in shame.
Tell everybody that you know about this. Join petitions, send emails, write to the mayor and to Lazari Investments and tell them that WE want them to see sense.
We have already lost so many - lets all make this one the place where we refuse to just 'Let It Go'.
