Todsy
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:27 am Post subject: The Grey Topper |
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Hi
My name is Tony Hill – author of If The Kids Are United (‘the working-class Fever Pitch’) published by Victor Gollancz and reprinted by Orion.
I’m from a Nottinghamshire pit village called Jacksdale, once home to legendary (and infamous during the punk years) music venue The Grey Topper. It’s currently being demolished and I’m writing the history of the place.
It seems a bit surreal now that the likes of Bill Haley, The Bay City Rollers, Mud, The Sweet, Jimmy Cliff, Tina Turner, UFO, Blackfoot Sue, Judas Priest, Girlschool, The Stranglers, Saxon, Adam and the Ants, Simple Minds, UK Subs, Toyah, The Ruts (shortly before singer Malcolm Owen died of a drug overdose), The Specials, The Pretenders, Ultravox and loads more played in a mining village (imagine all these playing in a community like the one in Kes)
My aim is to try and track down as many groups as possible for their memories of playing there (be it the good, the bad – the funny – and the ugly). I’ve already had great feedback from The Members, UK Subs, The Vibrators and one of The Specials, there’s a great story emerging.
I’d love to hear from any of the remaining members of Mud if they can remember the Grey Topper. I’m sure they do as they played there several times in the early 1970’s and I have heard they used to get to the gig’s early to meet up with the owner Alf. Also it possible that someone from the group turned up at court to be a character witness for Grey Topper owner Alf when he was again fighting for his license.
Any tour poster (a scan would do) with the Grey Topper on would be great.
Best wishes
Tony Hill gordonhill76@hotmail.com
12 St Mary’s Walk, Jacksdale, Notts, NG16 5LN – tel (01773) 783802
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