Hi,love what you do,one memory of the Cricketers was seeing Inner City Unit there and indulging too much Grolsch, very cheap for some reason, anyway I was living over in Romford and was a bit of an adventure getting home. Keep doing what you do Ta Phil
Thank you so much for those kind words and for sharing your story of getting home from an Inner City Unit gig. I'm betting quite a few people had trouble travelling after Nik Turner's gigs for one reason or another! Cheers!
Sad that its gone. I remember seeing The Groundhogs there. Other South London venues, The White Lion, Putney, 101 Club, Clapham Junction, those were the days!
I don't know if you are aware but the 101 Club was managed for a long time by the writer Mark Timlin (before he was a novelist), creator of Nick Sharman, as played on TV by Clive Owen.
As a Roy Harper reference which seems relevant: When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease… Love your videos, Jim. Great editing with humorous and on the money clips. Keep up the great work on this channel and RIP to this historic venue and major piece of your past.
Sad to hear the Cricketers is no more. One of many iconic London music venues that are long gone and never to be replaced. Most of them slightly dishevelled in appearance and upkeep, but in hindsight jewels in the live music scene.
I've just come home from the Half Moon, I'm now aged 56.. But when I was 16 I saw Steve Marriott at the Cricketers and it forged my musical tastes forever, it was a really hot summer's night and the pub was absolutely heaving
On a good night Steve was unbeatable, wasn’t he? I look back at those times and genuinely can’t believe I was part of so much great music, albeit on the edges. Thanks for sharing that and I hope you watch more of my videos. Cheers!
Your list is like a who's who of top indie music through the ages. I didn't know Zoot Money has died, missed that one. RIP. And a possible video about The Pretty Things? Yes, please!
Love the vid ,some great bands played the cricketers ,seen some elsewhere, lucky enough to see Desmond decker at the hermitage, hit hitchin not long before he passed, also my fav band inspiral carpets and not forgetting uk subs ..keep up the great vids ,looking forwards to next one 😊
Thanks very much for the kind words, I really do appreciate it! To be honest, it's a lot easier when I have such great memories of great events to recount. Cheers!
Thanks for watching and for for taking the time to comment, I did quite a bit more about Burlesque on this video: th-cam.com/video/_-IYMbeqKtk/w-d-xo.html
Wow amazing bands. Fantastic video!!.....sad sad sad....but lets face it all the great places have gone (or changed beyond recognition) but i am a happy person. All the best ,Jim.......👍58......
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated! Many great places have changed, but it's terrific to hear you're finding happiness despite it all. Cheers!
Yes, the venue had a certain something. When we were there, Kenny the Landlord was meticulous about the cleaning and making sure everything was spotless. Anything broken or tarnished was instantly replaced. Little things like that make a difference, especially as The Cricketers wasn't the best appointed venue in Town. And every one who worked there loved it and their jobs. Happy daze…
Weird when you see parts of your life demolished. My band only ever played about 12 gigs one of which was at The Cricketers. I remember in the 90s one night watching the early evening news and seeing Edgware General Hospital maternity unit had been demolished and that was where I was born in 66! It’s kinda like seeing your history erased. Hard to put in to words. Getting old, there ya go theres the words!
Thank you for sharing your memories! It’s amazing how music and places are often intertwined in our lives. Your reflections remind us of the importance of cherishing those memores.
dear God Jim...that's a list to kill for...but all things sadly come to an end...times and things constantly change but as Ray Davies wisely said memories of people can remain...Cheers Jim, thanks for the trip!
Thanks for the kind words! Despise what I said in the video, I do realise that the times are a changing. It was sad to see so many memories being crushed with a digger that. Oh well, onward and upward!
Great video I saw quite a few of those bands, Please do a Pretty Things episode I saw them in 1999 promoting Rage Before Beauty after loving them for decades and they blew everyone's mind
The Pretty Things were a great band weren’t they? The more I see there past performances the more I realise it. Thanks for joining in conversation and I hope you keep watching my channel. Cheers!
Playlist featuring some of the acts who played The Cricketers and appear in this video: th-cam.com/play/PLeEUmIKakqXNMsUc33iUdCLmNcvFWSZpX.html&si=y_61Q_ID37o8HF1z
Thanks for the kind words. I had another 100 outstanding bands I could have read out, but I was conscious that attention spans these days can be a limited… 🤓
Great video! Would be very keen to know if you came across XTC any time in the late 70s early 80s? And in particular, were there any interesting stories. Cheers
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I only came across XTC playing at gigs I attended. I was never fortunate enough to book them though someone told me they saw them at an early support at one of my gigs at Chelmsford Chancellor Hall. Who knows?! Thanks again!
I was at the Oval last Tuesday (17th), on a a tour of the cricket ground and museum. I mentioned the pub, its importance on the circuit, and your TH-cam channel to the tour guide. He had highlighted the flats being built into the gas holder. Didn’t know the pub was being demolished within days! I took a few pictures from the highest stand, but not to the north. Curses. (Last band I saw there was Vicious Kiss).
Great story and thanks for sharing it. Many years ago, in the late 1990s, I was invited to a box at the Oval for a Surrey county cricket match (against Yorkshire, I think) because of a freelance job I was doing for The Roadhouse in Covent Garden, and the guy sitting next to me turned out to be the same man who, in 1990 had decided that the rent of the Cricketers had to double because of market forces, etc. It seemed the bikers were already offering much more for our successful venture than we were paying (or was economic to pay) so, for the corporate suits, it was a no-brainer. He said it was purely business, etc, and it may have appeared like a mistake in retrospect (it was he who told me how much rent the Portuguese restaurant was paying!) but because the balance sheet is budgeted annually… blah! blah! blah… I remember Vicious Kiss: they were good but I have no idea what happened to them!
@@JimDriver Great stuff Jim. There used to be a plaque in the cricket ground marking my ancestor Les Ames - of Kent and England - scoring the most runs before lunch in a test (in 1935). There are now people in the Oval trying to find it! Meanwhile, all those years I worked at the MU, from 1999 to January this year, we were just a short walk from The Cricketers. My manager was Horace, sax player with Darts, who are back out gigging. I played the Roadhouse once - but that's another story.
I saw the Undertones at the Marquee. I think it was their second UK gig. No-one could understand a word Feargal was saying, except me (half Irish). I bought him a Guinness in that horrible little bar. Didn't get one back.
Great story. Thanks for sharing it! On the other hand, many years later, Feargal paid for my coffee at a Costa at a major London railway station. It's a long story and pretty boriung!
Screaming blue messiahs were off the scale as a live act ...went to see them many times in the 80s as a very young teenager.. still play the records to this day..
The Screaming Blue Messiahs and Bill in particular, were spectacularly good. For me, the records serve to remind of the absolutely amazing live shows. Cheers!
Slim Gailard and his partner Slam Stewart were doing the Flat Fleet Floogie as far back as the 1920s. I had the great honor of meeting him a few times. The band I was in had a connection through the drummer (and founder’s) father, who had his own swing band on the Mile End Road during the 1960s. Yes Jim, I know you are not big into jazz! We were mostly a busking act in Convent Garden and we had his blessing to cover that immortal song in our set (mostly covers of radio friendly jazz classics from the likes of Louis Jordan). I also met him a few times at the Chelsea Arts Club, which I would occasionally manage to sneak into. He was going to play with us one time but it never happened because of a bazaar accident… Charring Cross Road outside St Martian’s in the Fields. The pedestrian crossing. Circa 1982. Slim, a very tall, enormously elegant and serene figure was crossing the road. He hadn’t noticed the car one side of the crossing had stopped in traffic and was towing the car on the other side of the crossing, and he tripped up over the tow rope. I will never forgive whoever was towing that car!
Thank you very much for sharing that very sad story and all the information about Slim and the jazz scene. As you say, chairs is not my forte. I can remember bumping into Slim somewhere (I think it was Paddington) and having a chat over coffee in which he told me a lot of great stories about his timing New York. Unfortunately, age and time has eroded, practically everything he told me! Thanks again!
Oh, that is sad to see. I played at The Cricketers more than once, though I am struggling to remember exactly which of several bands it was with, and visited regularly as a punter. Still one of my all-time best gigs was being down the front right by Norman for Wilko Johnson at the back end of the 80s. It was blooming loud! I swear my ears have never quite recovered :-)
Yes, there was some fantastic gigs at the cricketers and I was very fortunate to be part of it all! Thanks for sharing your memories and for taking part. Please keep watching!
@@JimDriverwill do! As it happens, I am a few minutes from seeing John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett come on stage (at The Sound Lounge in Sutton) so some things don’t change *that* much
I managed a band called Rochee and the Sarnos, who Jim booked a couple of times, one particular gig with Demented are Go was a cracker. I also remember seeing Howlin Wilf and the Vijays, Ray Campi, Cat Talk and Ronnie Dawson there. Probably quite a few others too, but the memories of the decade are clouded by time and alcohol... Great times. RIP Cricketers, thanks for the memories.
@@JimDriver - I can reveal all... It was a misheard song lyric, from Surfin' USA. The line: "You'd see 'em wearing their baggies, huarache sandals too...". The last line misheard as "Rochee Sarnos too...". So now you know. 😃I am still in touch with all the band, and will be seeing three of them next weekend in London for my 60th birthday celebrations.
Very sad. I have even been to the Cricketers at the Kennington Oval ! All of the venues that you list in the grey panel above, they used to be in those little tiny adverts in the back pages of the NME.
It's definitely a sad feeling to see those venues disappearing over time. The memories we make at places like the Cricketers will always hold a special place in our hearts! Cheers!
My grandparents held the licence here in the 40''s or 50's and my mother was brought up there before the family took on a pub in Camberwell. Used to seea lots of bands here in its final days was sad to see it go
Wow, that's really interesting. I'm guessing it was still the Clayton Arms then, as in Clayton Street, which joins Kennington Oval at that corner? Thursday was a sad day for many people - including me!
It was indeed my mother (who passed away on Thursday just gone,)spoke fondly of the times she spent there and in the other pubs. My grandparents last pub was the Gun Tavern on Croydon (also long gone) which was well known for putting on Jazz. (Which ironically my grandmother could not stand!)
Today I went past The White Lion Putney, where I did my first ever gig in1981 and where I believe you once booked the bands? Sadly it was boarded up and very much closed for business. Sad....The Half Moon was still going strong however.
Yes, I was at the white lion before I was at the cricketers. I hope that’s sprung dance floor is still there and in working order and that it will be revived if and when the pub finally reopens. I did stuff at the half moon after I left the cricketers but only occasionally. It’s good it’s still one of the few left in working order! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Please keep watching my videos!
@@JimDriver My pleasure. By the way 20mph speed limit all over London makes driving to the various old pub rock venues a nightmare nowadays. I went to have a look at The Cricketers and do a bit of filming for a forthcoming project, gave up at Clapham North...traffic flow too restricted and too annoying!
Nice to see George Melly there. I know it's not really your thing, but George and John Chilton's Feetwarmers worked as hard as any pub rock band. I saw them two, maybe three times at the Tramshed, Woolwich, which was a great little venue way back when. Iwent to see The Fundation every week. Joe Griffiths lead that cabaret, and Hale and Pace were part of it. New show every week. I feel privieged to have seen what was in effect the last of its kind.
Great memories, thanks for sharing them! I think you'll be surprised to hear that George and the Feet-warmers played a few times at The Cricketers. Usually on a Sunday night. Quite often the audience was full of celebs. I remember Michael and Mary Parkinson and Tommy Cooper showing up, though not on the same night!
Because we were young teenagers at the time we were reliant on busses and walking to get about in those days. (Nothing like Uber existed and no one had a car) Therefore geography very much played a part in which venues we visited the most. I was a north Londoner so I remember places like Covent Garden Rock Garden, Dingwalls, 101 Club, Marquee, Half Moon in Hampstead, the Astoria, Mean Fiddler, Town and Country . . . . Most are gone now too. Or poshed up, like The Roundhouse in Camden which is now a fantastic multi use venue rather than the rough, smoked dump it was when I was a teen ager 😂
JB'S Dudley was recently knocked down. Backdrop was clear to see whilst they tore out the walls Very Sad that old iconic venues are now consigned to history never to return
That is sad. I used to book bands into there regularly when I was an agent back in the 1970s and 1980s. I seem to recall Jake was the guy who booked them for JB's/ The times they are a-changing. Thanks for sharing that!
That was probably in the first incarnation of JB's the old school behind the pathfinder I saw an early FM in there. Bouncer was Jimmy the Con R.I.P he kept a lid on the madness (There was a sister club called Junction 10 in Walsall Custard Beasts Rock Disco Saturday Nights again no longer around ) JB's moved to a new location the rear old Cromwells Nightclub this is the building that has been cleared to make way for a college. Great memories very sad as things move on.
@@JimDriver Fraser was overly fond of alcohol, which sadly led to his demise, I remember hooning down the A1 with him in his mini sitting on a Tom Tom case where the passenger seat used to be listening to the Stones full volume which was his favourite band.
The Nashville reverted to the Three KIngs and stopped doing music, It's in West Kensington (Cromwell Road) and is now a sports bar called the Famous Three kings. I made a "very entertaining" video about it a while ago: th-cam.com/video/SkO54zeXRUY/w-d-xo.html
Must mention Alan Murphy's SFX that had a number of residencies at the pub until his sad demise in 1989 . Great band , stonking guitarist and a real pub filler and always worth a trip across London , risking a boozy drive home ......
Yes, indeed. SFX were there more before my time at the Cricketers: I know Gordon Hunt was a big fan, as were Roy and Kenny the "management team". I put them on a few times when I was there. Of course, the era of drink driving has hopefully passed: especially in London. Things were different back then! Thanks for sharing those memories!
I don’t recall what happened there, I suspect Billy Jenkins knew the band but that’s just speculation. I knew Bush at the Marquee because he booked quite a few acts from me and it could’ve been something he put together. I know a similar arrangement supporting Ginger Baker led to him foreman the Nutters, with Ian and Billy. There’ waa lot happening back then, some of it good! Thanks for asking and thanks for watching!
@@JimDriver Thanks Jim, Nigel is putting together a book about the Marquee and can be found on facebook. Didn't know Bush booked the bands so thanks for that. Enjoyed the video, thanks for posting. Appreciate you telling me what you know.
I only went once there Late 80s The shamen played during their Shoe gazing faze l was there for the support band Hells Angels always a Red Light a tool to close down venues worse Riot witnessed was 1977 Hastings on Sea Crazy Cavan all hell let loose Hells Angels trashed the joint.
Haha: the Hastings incident was probably the same gang because the Road Rats were based around there. I think their pub was The Carlisle Arms in Hastings, if memory serves me… The guy they put in charge was later convicted of murder at a pub in Thornton Heath. Funny days! Thanks for sharing those memories. I'd forgotten The Shamen played there. Thanks!
@@JimDriver The Hastings incident was a All day Rock N Roll festival on the pair it was a great day out until They turned up l was 17 one took a swing at my l dodged it and kept out the way l watched from the sidelines it was a massive blood bath was glad to be on the mini Bus back to Hertfordshire Crazy Cavan probably did 3 numbers before it was out of control.
Great to hear that you had Slim Gaillard in that context. He was definitely one of the most "punk" musicians amongst the 1930s/40s NY scene. Love him.
Slim was great. We had some great chats about his life and experiences but I wish we'd had time for more. Cheers…
Hi,love what you do,one memory of the Cricketers was seeing Inner City Unit there and indulging too much Grolsch, very cheap for some reason, anyway I was living over in Romford and was a bit of an adventure getting home.
Keep doing what you do
Ta
Phil
Thank you so much for those kind words and for sharing your story of getting home from an Inner City Unit gig. I'm betting quite a few people had trouble travelling after Nik Turner's gigs for one reason or another! Cheers!
Great little window into London in the 90s. Love it.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled you loved the video and appreciated the nostalgia. Cheers!
Sad that its gone. I remember seeing The Groundhogs there. Other South London venues, The White Lion, Putney, 101 Club, Clapham Junction, those were the days!
Thanks for taking the time to comment and to share your memories of pub Rock.
The 101 Club in Clapham Junction was brilliant. I once saw Splogenessabounds doing a New Year celebration there, unforgettable!
I don't know if you are aware but the 101 Club was managed for a long time by the writer Mark Timlin (before he was a novelist), creator of Nick Sharman, as played on TV by Clive Owen.
As a Roy Harper reference which seems relevant: When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease…
Love your videos, Jim. Great editing with humorous and on the money clips. Keep up the great work on this channel and RIP to this historic venue and major piece of your past.
Thanks for the great feedback! I appreciate the support.
Cheers!
Sad to hear the Cricketers is no more. One of many iconic London music venues that are long gone and never to be replaced. Most of them slightly dishevelled in appearance and upkeep, but in hindsight jewels in the live music scene.
I've just come home from the Half Moon, I'm now aged 56.. But when I was 16 I saw Steve Marriott at the Cricketers and it forged my musical tastes forever, it was a really hot summer's night and the pub was absolutely heaving
Who did you see at the Half Moon?
On a good night Steve was unbeatable, wasn’t he? I look back at those times and genuinely can’t believe I was part of so much great music, albeit on the edges. Thanks for sharing that and I hope you watch more of my videos. Cheers!
@@JimDriver He really was, we were extremely lucky to have seen him play in pubs. Wonderful memories.
I don't think I ever went to the Cricketer's but I remember seeing gigs advertised there. I still mourn the loss of The Astoria and The Marquee.
Yes, there was a lot of good music around back then. Thanks for commenting!
Same here, The Marquee was a fantastic venue.
Your list is like a who's who of top indie music through the ages. I didn't know Zoot Money has died, missed that one. RIP. And a possible video about The Pretty Things? Yes, please!
Thanks very much. I look forward to interacting in the not to distant future! Cheers!
Saw Terry & Gerry there back in the day!
Terry and Gerry were great weren't they? I was so lucky to be part of a great venue at a brilliant time for live music. Thanks for sharing the memory!
Love the vid ,some great bands played the cricketers ,seen some elsewhere, lucky enough to see Desmond decker at the hermitage, hit hitchin not long before he passed, also my fav band inspiral carpets and not forgetting uk subs ..keep up the great vids ,looking forwards to next one 😊
Thanks very much for the kind words, I really do appreciate it! To be honest, it's a lot easier when I have such great memories of great events to recount. Cheers!
I'd forgotten about Ian Trimmer, Billy Jenkins and Burlesque. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for watching and for for taking the time to comment, I did quite a bit more about Burlesque on this video: th-cam.com/video/_-IYMbeqKtk/w-d-xo.html
Quite a list! Frank Sidebottom!
Happy days! Thanks for coming in and for watching. Please stick around!
Wow amazing bands. Fantastic video!!.....sad sad sad....but lets face it all the great places have gone (or changed beyond recognition) but i am a happy person. All the best ,Jim.......👍58......
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated!
Many great places have changed, but it's terrific to hear you're finding happiness despite it all.
Cheers!
Nice one. A favourite pub of mine when I lived up the road in the 80s.
Yes, the venue had a certain something. When we were there, Kenny the Landlord was meticulous about the cleaning and making sure everything was spotless. Anything broken or tarnished was instantly replaced. Little things like that make a difference, especially as The Cricketers wasn't the best appointed venue in Town. And every one who worked there loved it and their jobs. Happy daze…
Weird when you see parts of your life demolished. My band only ever played about 12 gigs one of which was at The Cricketers. I remember in the 90s one night watching the early evening news and seeing Edgware General Hospital maternity unit had been demolished and that was where I was born in 66! It’s kinda like seeing your history erased. Hard to put in to words. Getting old, there ya go theres the words!
Thank you for sharing your memories! It’s amazing how music and places are often intertwined in our lives. Your reflections remind us of the importance of cherishing those memores.
@@JimDriver Nice one Jim and to you for sharing yours!
Looking forward to a video on the Pretty Things, one of my favourite bands.
Thanks, Peter. They were great, weren't they?
I'm starting work on it now and it'll hopefully be done in a couple of weeks. Cheers!
That was very interesting snapshot of what seems like a really good venue. 👍
It was! (Just don't ask Carter USM!) 😄
Thanks for the kind words and for your support.
Cheers!
dear God Jim...that's a list to kill for...but all things sadly come to an end...times and things constantly change but as Ray Davies wisely said memories of people can remain...Cheers Jim, thanks for the trip!
Thanks for the kind words! Despise what I said in the video, I do realise that the times are a changing. It was sad to see so many memories being crushed with a digger that. Oh well, onward and upward!
Great video I saw quite a few of those bands, Please do a Pretty Things episode I saw them in 1999 promoting Rage Before Beauty after loving them for decades and they blew everyone's mind
The Pretty Things were a great band weren’t they? The more I see there past performances the more I realise it.
Thanks for joining in conversation and I hope you keep watching my channel. Cheers!
Playlist featuring some of the acts who played The Cricketers and appear in this video: th-cam.com/play/PLeEUmIKakqXNMsUc33iUdCLmNcvFWSZpX.html&si=y_61Q_ID37o8HF1z
Fascinating jim ! So many gigs so many bands it’s mind blowing
Thanks for the kind words. I had another 100 outstanding bands I could have read out, but I was conscious that attention spans these days can be a limited… 🤓
Great video! Would be very keen to know if you came across XTC any time in the late 70s early 80s? And in particular, were there any interesting stories. Cheers
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I only came across XTC playing at gigs I attended. I was never fortunate enough to book them though someone told me they saw them at an early support at one of my gigs at Chelmsford Chancellor Hall. Who knows?! Thanks again!
I remember seeing Gino Washington at The Cricketers, back in the day... great times :)
Great days indeed. Happily, Geno is still around, as are we. 😄
Cheers!
I used to go there in the 80s often. Zoot Money especially
Zoot (George) was a great character and always good fun. Thanks for your support, both then and now! Cheers!
I was at the Oval last Tuesday (17th), on a a tour of the cricket ground and museum. I mentioned the pub, its importance on the circuit, and your TH-cam channel to the tour guide. He had highlighted the flats being built into the gas holder. Didn’t know the pub was being demolished within days! I took a few pictures from the highest stand, but not to the north. Curses. (Last band I saw there was Vicious Kiss).
Great story and thanks for sharing it. Many years ago, in the late 1990s, I was invited to a box at the Oval for a Surrey county cricket match (against Yorkshire, I think) because of a freelance job I was doing for The Roadhouse in Covent Garden, and the guy sitting next to me turned out to be the same man who, in 1990 had decided that the rent of the Cricketers had to double because of market forces, etc.
It seemed the bikers were already offering much more for our successful venture than we were paying (or was economic to pay) so, for the corporate suits, it was a no-brainer. He said it was purely business, etc, and it may have appeared like a mistake in retrospect (it was he who told me how much rent the Portuguese restaurant was paying!) but because the balance sheet is budgeted annually… blah! blah! blah…
I remember Vicious Kiss: they were good but I have no idea what happened to them!
@@JimDriver Great stuff Jim. There used to be a plaque in the cricket ground marking my ancestor Les Ames - of Kent and England - scoring the most runs before lunch in a test (in 1935). There are now people in the Oval trying to find it! Meanwhile, all those years I worked at the MU, from 1999 to January this year, we were just a short walk from The Cricketers. My manager was Horace, sax player with Darts, who are back out gigging. I played the Roadhouse once - but that's another story.
I saw the Undertones at the Marquee. I think it was their second UK gig. No-one could understand a word Feargal was saying, except me (half Irish). I bought him a Guinness in that horrible little bar. Didn't get one back.
Did you stick to the carpet and was Lemmy glued to a one armed bandit? That's my memory of the place.
Not sure if your memory ties in with mine. When I was there, no carpet (except maybe in the bar), it was lino all the way, baby!
Great story. Thanks for sharing it!
On the other hand, many years later, Feargal paid for my coffee at a Costa at a major London railway station. It's a long story and pretty boriung!
I saw the cardiacs at the marquee. Strange gig that was, but very enjoyable.✌️
Screaming blue messiahs were off the scale as a live act ...went to see them many times in the 80s as a very young teenager.. still play the records to this day..
The Screaming Blue Messiahs and Bill in particular, were spectacularly good. For me, the records serve to remind of the absolutely amazing live shows. Cheers!
Saw them at Nottingham Rock City. Fantastic band
Slim Gailard and his partner Slam Stewart were doing the Flat Fleet Floogie as far back as the 1920s. I had the great honor of meeting him a few times. The band I was in had a connection through the drummer (and founder’s) father, who had his own swing band on the Mile End Road during the 1960s. Yes Jim, I know you are not big into jazz! We were mostly a busking act in Convent Garden and we had his blessing to cover that immortal song in our set (mostly covers of radio friendly jazz classics from the likes of Louis Jordan). I also met him a few times at the Chelsea Arts Club, which I would occasionally manage to sneak into. He was going to play with us one time but it never happened because of a bazaar accident…
Charring Cross Road outside St Martian’s in the Fields. The pedestrian crossing. Circa 1982. Slim, a very tall, enormously elegant and serene figure was crossing the road. He hadn’t noticed the car one side of the crossing had stopped in traffic and was towing the car on the other side of the crossing, and he tripped up over the tow rope. I will never forgive whoever was towing that car!
Thank you very much for sharing that very sad story and all the information about Slim and the jazz scene. As you say, chairs is not my forte. I can remember bumping into Slim somewhere (I think it was Paddington) and having a chat over coffee in which he told me a lot of great stories about his timing New York. Unfortunately, age and time has eroded, practically everything he told me! Thanks again!
Oh, that is sad to see.
I played at The Cricketers more than once, though I am struggling to remember exactly which of several bands it was with, and visited regularly as a punter. Still one of my all-time best gigs was being down the front right by Norman for Wilko Johnson at the back end of the 80s. It was blooming loud! I swear my ears have never quite recovered :-)
Yes, there was some fantastic gigs at the cricketers and I was very fortunate to be part of it all! Thanks for sharing your memories and for taking part. Please keep watching!
@@JimDriverwill do!
As it happens, I am a few minutes from seeing John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett come on stage (at The Sound Lounge in Sutton) so some things don’t change *that* much
I managed a band called Rochee and the Sarnos, who Jim booked a couple of times, one particular gig with Demented are Go was a cracker. I also remember seeing Howlin Wilf and the Vijays, Ray Campi, Cat Talk and Ronnie Dawson there. Probably quite a few others too, but the memories of the decade are clouded by time and alcohol... Great times. RIP Cricketers, thanks for the memories.
Thank you for the great story. I remember Rochee and the Sarnos well and I still don't know what the name means. 😄Thanks again!
@@JimDriver - I can reveal all... It was a misheard song lyric, from Surfin' USA. The line: "You'd see 'em wearing their baggies, huarache sandals too...". The last line misheard as "Rochee Sarnos too...". So now you know. 😃I am still in touch with all the band, and will be seeing three of them next weekend in London for my 60th birthday celebrations.
Very sad. I have even been to the Cricketers at the Kennington Oval ! All of the venues that you list in the grey panel above, they used to be in those little tiny adverts in the back pages of the NME.
It's definitely a sad feeling to see those venues disappearing over time. The memories we make at places like the Cricketers will always hold a special place in our hearts! Cheers!
Great video, sad though.
Sad? Tell me about it! 😎
Thanks for the kind words. Cheers!
My grandparents held the licence here in the 40''s or 50's and my mother was brought up there before the family took on a pub in Camberwell.
Used to seea lots of bands here in its final days was sad to see it go
Wow, that's really interesting. I'm guessing it was still the Clayton Arms then, as in Clayton Street, which joins Kennington Oval at that corner?
Thursday was a sad day for many people - including me!
It was indeed my mother (who passed away on Thursday just gone,)spoke fondly of the times she spent there and in the other pubs. My grandparents last pub was the Gun Tavern on Croydon (also long gone) which was well known for putting on Jazz. (Which ironically my grandmother could not stand!)
Today I went past The White Lion Putney, where I did my first ever gig in1981 and where I believe you once booked the bands? Sadly it was boarded up and very much closed for business. Sad....The Half Moon was still going strong however.
Yes, I was at the white lion before I was at the cricketers. I hope that’s sprung dance floor is still there and in working order and that it will be revived if and when the pub finally reopens. I did stuff at the half moon after I left the cricketers but only occasionally. It’s good it’s still one of the few left in working order!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Please keep watching my videos!
@@JimDriver My pleasure. By the way 20mph speed limit all over London makes driving to the various old pub rock venues a nightmare nowadays. I went to have a look at The Cricketers and do a bit of filming for a forthcoming project, gave up at Clapham North...traffic flow too restricted and too annoying!
Nice to see George Melly there. I know it's not really your thing, but George and John Chilton's Feetwarmers worked as hard as any pub rock band. I saw them two, maybe three times at the Tramshed, Woolwich, which was a great little venue way back when. Iwent to see The Fundation every week. Joe Griffiths lead that cabaret, and Hale and Pace were part of it. New show every week. I feel privieged to have seen what was in effect the last of its kind.
Great memories, thanks for sharing them!
I think you'll be surprised to hear that George and the Feet-warmers played a few times at The Cricketers. Usually on a Sunday night. Quite often the audience was full of celebs. I remember Michael and Mary Parkinson and Tommy Cooper showing up, though not on the same night!
Because we were young teenagers at the time we were reliant on busses and walking to get about in those days. (Nothing like Uber existed and no one had a car) Therefore geography very much played a part in which venues we visited the most. I was a north Londoner so I remember places like Covent Garden Rock Garden, Dingwalls, 101 Club, Marquee, Half Moon in Hampstead, the Astoria, Mean Fiddler, Town and Country . . . . Most are gone now too. Or poshed up, like The Roundhouse in Camden which is now a fantastic multi use venue rather than the rough, smoked dump it was when I was a teen ager 😂
I totally agree, though I'm still a bus and tube person!
Thabks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Cheers!
Saw Alternative TV there 6th Oct 1987
Very specific, I like it! It was almost like a hom,e gig for them, as I recall.
Thanks for sharing that. Cheers!
Pubs and music clubs closing down rapidly...Horrible.
JB'S Dudley was recently knocked down.
Backdrop was clear to see whilst they tore out the walls
Very Sad that old iconic venues are now consigned to history never to return
That is sad. I used to book bands into there regularly when I was an agent back in the 1970s and 1980s. I seem to recall Jake was the guy who booked them for JB's/
The times they are a-changing. Thanks for sharing that!
That was probably in the first incarnation of JB's the old school behind the pathfinder I saw an early FM in there.
Bouncer was Jimmy the Con R.I.P he kept a lid on the madness
(There was a sister club called Junction 10 in Walsall Custard Beasts Rock Disco Saturday Nights again no longer around
) JB's moved to a new location the rear old Cromwells Nightclub this is the building that has been cleared to make way for a college.
Great memories very sad as things move on.
My old friend Fraser who is sadly no longer with us was drummer for Nico for a while back then.
I can't imagine drumming for Nico would have been very easy! She was a bit of a handful! Thanks for sharing!
@@JimDriver Fraser was overly fond of alcohol, which sadly led to his demise, I remember hooning down the A1 with him in his mini sitting on a Tom Tom case where the passenger seat used to be listening to the Stones full volume which was his favourite band.
Too many venues are being lost . There will be nothing left soon.
Yes, indeed. But on the other hand, we need progress and that often means moving on. It's a funny old world!
@@JimDriverTrouble is, it seems to be just mega-venues. Nothing small.
@@aaaatttt101 exactly
Is 'The Nashville' still standing ? (I forget which part of London it was in).
The Nashville reverted to the Three KIngs and stopped doing music, It's in West Kensington (Cromwell Road) and is now a sports bar called the Famous Three kings. I made a "very entertaining" video about it a while ago: th-cam.com/video/SkO54zeXRUY/w-d-xo.html
Must mention Alan Murphy's SFX that had a number of residencies at the pub until his sad demise in 1989 . Great band , stonking guitarist and a real pub filler and always worth a trip across London , risking a boozy drive home ......
Yes, indeed. SFX were there more before my time at the Cricketers: I know Gordon Hunt was a big fan, as were Roy and Kenny the "management team". I put them on a few times when I was there.
Of course, the era of drink driving has hopefully passed: especially in London. Things were different back then! Thanks for sharing those memories!
How did you get Trimmer and Jenkins the support for Max Webster at the Marquee for 2 nights ? Did you know both Nigel and Bush ?
I don’t recall what happened there, I suspect Billy Jenkins knew the band but that’s just speculation. I knew Bush at the Marquee because he booked quite a few acts from me and it could’ve been something he put together.
I know a similar arrangement supporting Ginger Baker led to him foreman the Nutters, with Ian and Billy. There’ waa lot happening back then, some of it good!
Thanks for asking and thanks for watching!
@@JimDriver Thanks Jim, Nigel is putting together a book about the Marquee and can be found on facebook. Didn't know Bush booked the bands so thanks for that. Enjoyed the video, thanks for posting. Appreciate you telling me what you know.
Yes, aside from Jack in earlier days, my booking contacts at various times (I forget which) were Bush and Nigel. Cheers!
I only went once there Late 80s The shamen played during their Shoe gazing faze l was there for the support band Hells Angels always a Red Light a tool to close down venues worse Riot witnessed was 1977 Hastings on Sea Crazy Cavan all hell let loose Hells Angels trashed the joint.
Haha: the Hastings incident was probably the same gang because the Road Rats were based around there. I think their pub was The Carlisle Arms in Hastings, if memory serves me…
The guy they put in charge was later convicted of murder at a pub in Thornton Heath. Funny days!
Thanks for sharing those memories. I'd forgotten The Shamen played there. Thanks!
@@JimDriver The Hastings incident was a All day Rock N Roll festival on the pair it was a great day out until They turned up l was 17 one took a swing at my l dodged it and kept out the way l watched from the sidelines it was a massive blood bath was glad to be on the mini Bus back to Hertfordshire Crazy Cavan probably did 3 numbers before it was out of control.