NOSTALGIA TRIP 2024 #1
VITAL VENUE
Sadly no longer - The Marquee Club, 90 Wardour Street in Soho, London (now a swish and very expensive appartment block). It was once a small and relatively cheap club, located in the heart of the music industry in the West End, and used to launch the careers of generations of rock acts which included David Bowie,Pink Floyd,The Who, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC as well as punk bands/new wave such as X-Ray Spex,the Damned,the Stranglers, Generation X, the Police, XTC, Buzzcocks,Joy Division. all who played on the Wardour Street stage.
My mission started in Mold heading to London by train with a copy of Van der Graaf's - Vital vinyl in my backpack ,an album that was a blistering ,brutal,sonic assault recorded live at The Marquee Club on 16th January 1978 ,so this visit was nearly 46 years to the day to the band's performance in Soho (just wish i had been there in '78). The aim of reuniting the album (photo opportunity) with the venue or at least where the venue had been is a throwback to my Nostalagia trips which previously involved taking albums I own back to the places where I originally purchased them , so a twist in this instance. Of course it is a completely pointless exercise but one filled with much joy,satisfaction and a map!.
The Album - Van der Graaf - Vital, location The Marquee Club London.
For those eagle eyed, I haven’t missed the 'Generator' off - late in 1976, Hugh Banton (keyboards) quit, and in January 1977 Nic Potter (bass) returned to replace him alongside the violinist Graham Smith (formerly of Charisma folk-rock band String Driven Thing). David Jackson then left resulting in a four-piece line-up with a different sound, and a shortened name of Van der Graaf, to play the spring tour. They produced the album The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in September 1977, cellist and keyboardist Charles Dickie joined the band in August and remained with them for their last year. The live double-album Vital recorderd in January 1978 was to be the band's last of that Century and featured several new songs. all was not lost as David Jackson reunited with the band for these VITAL concerts and appeared on six tracks.The album was a statement to the punks that they too could rip it up, released in July 1978 it bizzarely went to be their best ever selling album.
The 'Generator' returned to the name in 2005 when they reformed with the early classic lineup.
With an Abbey Road half-speed remaster of Vital out in March (Do I need another...yes I do!) its seemed only right to celebrate this in my own special way.
I will be putting a few pics on Social media for anyone interested in this 'busmans holiday' folly.
Which album and where next, that's for another day???
Promise it won't be VDGG or even VDG