Back in November 2016, I was delighted to be asked by the Seven Dials Trust to organise the ROXY Plaque launch party. My name was suggested to David Bieda and Kathy Pimlott of the trust by the ROXY Club creator, Andrew Czezowski (who opened the club in 1976 with his partner Barry Jones) and Susan Carrington. Thanks very much to them for this: it was an honour to have been asked to do it.
Much research followed, as I tried to locate those bands and their original members that played the club. Many musicians were contacted and came down for the unveiling and party – the subject of my next post! You will see we all had a good time!
Exhibition
The Fear & Loathing exhibition came about at the request of Shaftesbury PLC, who asked me to organise and curate an exhibition about this legendary venue – I had extensively researched the club for my Regeneration City Blues show in 2015, so had a good understanding of the key dates and the many momentous events in the history of the ROXY.
My concept for the exhibition was ‘spirit of ’77/rough and ready/do-it-on-the-fly/shoe-string’ – I felt that this was fitting seeing that the ROXY Club was borne out of little money but tons of anti-establishment creative energy, drive and great spirit. This demanded, then, the same sort of presentation! And so the wonderful photographic work I was able to show in the exhibition was affixed to the walls – with white tack! Now I hasten to add that I’d never approached presenting an exhibition like this before – but I was glad to have taken this risk, as many original ROXY goers were kind enough to say that they liked this ‘irreverence’ and didn’t want their club turned into some kind of museum.
That would not have felt right to me either.
I couldn’t have created Fear & Loathing without the kindness and generosity of the photographers involved: I am indebted and offer enormous thanks to Derek Ridgers, Ray Stevenson, Jeremy Gibbs and Rebecca Hale (AKA Crystal Clear). They made the exhibition very special for me and for all the people who came down to see it. And very many thanks to Andrew and Susan too, who allowed me to raid their ROXY archive to present old ROXY fliers (all designed by Barry Jones) and rare photos from their wonderful book, The ROXY Our Story.
Most of the photography was shot in the early months of Punk, when the scene was in it’s embryonic form. Hence I love the ‘purity’ of these works – the photography here is an important social document of the life and early times of a new subcultural scene – of individuality and how early Punks styled themselves…
So here are some gallery views of the Fear & Loathing at the ROXY exhibition for those who might have missed it.
Fear & Loathing – exhibition opener. Buzzcocks audience shots, 2nd April 1977. Courtesy Derek Ridgers
Eater headlines the ROXY. Exterior of club, courtesy Jeremy Gibbs. Followed by the ROXY ‘Hall of Fame’, to the delight of many…
Generation X, ROXY ‘trial’ night and the Clash, opening night, New Years Day ’77 – all courtesy Ray Stevenson…
Johnny Thunders Heartbreakers at the ROXY – ROXY flier, 1977. Courtesy ROXY Archive – Andrew Czezowski & Susan Carrington. Flier artwork designed by Barry Jones…
Audience shots, courtesy Derek Ridgers…
And more audience shots. Courtesy Derek Ridgers
Audience watching the band, courtesy Derek Ridgers. And two great shots of the Damned, both Jeremy Gibbs…
Jordan with Adam Ant, courtesy Jeremy Gibbs; The Adverts courtesy Ray Stevenson; Sid (with Brian Blessed in the background!), courtesy Jeremy Gibbs…
Some further great audience shots, courtesy Derek Ridgers…
Step forward ladeez: Chrissie Hynde (with Siouxsie & Severin), courtesy ROXY Archive – Andrew Czezowski & Susan Carrington; Jayne County, courtesy Rebecca Hale; Poly Styrene, Gaye Black (Adverts), Siouxsie, Pauline Murray (Penetration), courtesy Derek Ridgers; Jordan onstage with Adam & the Ants, courtesy Jeremy Gibbs; Ari Up, courtesy Derek Ridgers…
After the Heartbreakers, courtesy Ray Stevenson and Adam & the Ants, courtesy Jeremy Gibbs…
ROXY ‘USA Week, March ’77 and ROXY flier both courtesy ROXY Archive and designed by Barry Jones; and a great shot of Michael Allen, The Models, courtesy Jeremy Gibbs…
Jeremy Harrington of Mean Street and Shane McGowan, both courtesy Jeremy Gibbs
More information about the People’s Plaque scheme and the Seven Dials Trust can be found here: http://www.sevendials.com/
Fantastic work Jane. Congratulations and cheers from Perú.
Oops….Pauline Murray of Penetration not Pauline Black…Great exhibition though none the less.
Thanks Colin. Brain had a meltdown. Amended.
Sorry I missed it. Was there anything on The Murders / Dole Q /The Skunks. This was my old band who were spotted and signed by The Who in 1977/78. Kind Regards.. n b We supported Eater at the Roxy. Plus Swapped musicians with Jane / Wayne County !
Hi Gerry, Nice to hear from you. I put together quite a comprehensive (very long list!) of ‘The ROXY Hall of Fame’, closely studied by all who came down to see the show. That covered the whole period of the ROXY from 1976 – 1978. It could be that you are down on it – what dates did you do and what was the band you’re enquiring about/who did you support on those nights?
Jane