Legendary bands who played in Blackpool

AClockworkTangerine

Well-known member
Who are some legendary acts who you remember playing in the town over the years, or might have seen? Jimi Hendrix played the Winter Gardens in the 60s, Black Sabbath, Rolling Stones famously got banned after a mini riot. The Beatles at the old ABC
 
It all depends on how far you want to go back. Don't forget there was a show at a different theatre for every night of the week in Blackpool's hey day with a Sunday show at each venue aswell. Loads of bands and acts appeared in those theatres.
 
The Police (84-85 ish), Kool and The Gang (80s) both at The Opera House.
Roy Wood and Wizzard (ABC) mid 70s......my first ever gig 😎
 
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The Kinks toured almost continually for decades... hundreds of gigs.
 
Can you believe the bill at the Winter Gardens in 1967? Jimi Hendrix, PinkFloyd, The Move, Amen Corner, The Nice, Manfred Mann. What a night and still remember it well. I think the tickets were about 7shillings and 6pence (37.5 pence in new money)!

 
The Jam Opera House on the last tour.
Stone Roses August 1989
Happy Mondays GPO Club on George St early 80s
U2 in either 1980 or 81 at the venue that went on to be Brannigans I think.
Two Tone tour in 1979 at the Mecca. I don't think The Clash ever played here did they ?
 
Considering Blackpool's heyday was well over and done with its crazy that two modern(ish) bands had two of their most iconic gigs here:

Stone Roses @ Blackpool in 1989 is considered a huge gig in their history (Liam Gallagher attended as well)

The White Stripes "Under Blackpool Lights" is considered one of their best gigs, if not the best.
 
As a Joy Division fan whom was also a fan at the time i have always deeply regretted not going to see them in particular at the Imperial. I have heard so many good things about the gig and i could cry. I was going to get around to seeing them. New order, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan were brilliant. Australian Pink Floyd were not bad either. Too young to see the bands Johnno mentions but the guy across the road from me raves about those concerts.
 
Considering Blackpool's heyday was well over and done with its crazy that two modern(ish) bands had two of their most iconic gigs here:

Stone Roses @ Blackpool in 1989 is considered a huge gig in their history (Liam Gallagher attended as well)

The White Stripes "Under Blackpool Lights" is considered one of their best gigs, if not the best.

The Roses gig came completely out of the blue. There'd not been a gig in Blackpool worth going to for years up to that point.

I got into album release in the Spring/Early summer of 89 from footage on Granada TV and the NME. They played Lancaster Uni in about the May or June but I couldn't get there. I couldn't believe it one day when I opened up the NME to see the big full page advert for the Empress Ballroom gig a few weeks later. I nipped down to the box office that day rather sharpish and bought three tickets. £6.00 each.
 
A Certain Ratio at the bandstand, wowser, when was that?
Back in the day, I used to go every week - maybe I am getting mixed up, it could have been actually Section 25, it was a long time ago but it was one of the bands that released on factory records. Tony Wilson was there.
I think maybe it was A Certain Ratio, a sort of jazz but it all sounded a bit tuneless, they had a very loud trumpet player. I saw Section 25 aswell a few times from memory, I think that they were from Blackpool. It was around 1979 or 1980 I would guess.
Edit to add, I think that they both played the bandstand that day, maybe someone else on here can correct me if I am wrong.
The Smeggo Brothers at the bandstand was good though, they definitely played there!
 
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I remember that it was kicking off all over the place if memory serves me right!
What happened was during Ever Fallin in Love.... some Nobbers right hand of the stage (from audience) started chanting PRESTON, PRESTON. The rest of the audience rushed over shouting SEASIDERS and gave the Preston lot a good hiding. Meanwhile on stage Pete Shelley stopped singing and said into the mic (and this is pretty much word from word- just something I've never forgot) 'WHOA, WHOA, when I'm up here singing songs about people who love each other and you Seasiders are down there doing that, you fuck me up, you do'. It calmed down aftre that and there was a bit of trouble outside too.
 
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Back in the day, I used to go every week - maybe I am getting mixed up, it could have been actually Section 25, it was a long time ago bbut it was one of the bands that released on factory records. Tony Wilson was there.
The Smeggo Brothers at the bandstand was good though, they definitely played there!
Good times EBSN 😎
I saw A Certain Ratio at Green Man Festival, 2 years ago, they were without doubt the highlight of the festival. Their marquee was rammed (about 3000 of us)....they were awesome.
 
Nearly every 60's band of note played Blackpool...at the WG, Opera House, ABC, Mecca and the piers. A couple not mentioned were The Equals and Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band.
 
What happened was during Ever Fallin in Love.... some Nobbers right hand of the stage (from audience) started chanting PRESTON, PRESTON. The rest of the audience rushed over shouting SEASIDERS and gave the Preston lot a good hiding. Meanwhile on stage Pete Shelley stopped singing and said into the mic (and this is pretty much word from word- just something I've never forgot) 'WHOA, WHOA, when I'm up here singing songs about people who love each other and you Seasiders are down there that, you fuck me up, you do'. It calmed down aftre that and tyhere was a bit of trouble outside too.
That’s some memory fcb! l was left of the stage and l remember even on that side pockets of people were getting amongst each other big style.
 
Showaddywaddy at the Opera House, Stray Cats at the Norbreck, Saxon at the Norbreck and Girlschool before they toured with Motörhead
 
The Rolling Stones causing a riot:

My uncle was working at the WG that night and also did gigs at other Blackpool venues in the 60s and 70s. He said he had never seen anything like it before or since. He said that there was a large group not from Blackpool who were really tanked up and just spoiling for a fight, which was not helped by the fact that they could take glass bottles into the audience. He said it was a pure riot at one point and quite frightening, even for someone quite hardened as him. He said he was surprised that the Stones were banned as they clearly did not instigate the trouble and thought it was more to do with their general reputation.
 
My uncle was working at the WG that night and also did gigs at other Blackpool venues in the 60s and 70s. He said he had never seen anything like it before or since. He said that there was a large group not from Blackpool who were really tanked up and just spoiling for a fight, which was not helped by the fact that they could take glass bottles into the audience. He said it was a pure riot at one point and quite frightening, even for someone quite hardened as him. He said he was surprised that the Stones were banned as they clearly did not instigate the trouble and thought it was more to do with their general reputation.
I've heard a similar story told from quite a hard bloke who said it was terrifying. Must have been mental.
 
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