100 Club

The 100 Club is a music venue situated at 100, Oxford Street, London W1, UK.

The punk years

September 20 and 21, 1976, saw the 100 Club play host to the first 'International punk festival', an event which helped to push the then new punk rock movement from the underground into the cultural and musical mainstream. Bands which played at this event included the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Clash, The Buzzcocks and The Damned.

Related Topics:
1976 - International punk festival - Punk rock - Sex Pistols - Siouxsie & the Banshees - The Clash - The Buzzcocks - The Damned

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Under the promotion of Ron Watts, the venue then became a regular venue for 'old school' punk bands like Angelic Upstarts, UK Subs, as well as, from 1981 onwards, hardcore punk bands such as The Varukers, Discharge, Charged GBH, Crass, Picture Frame Seduction, English Dogs, etc.

Related Topics:
Ron Watts - Angelic Upstarts - UK Subs - 1981 - Hardcore punk - The Varukers - Discharge - Charged GBH - Crass - Picture Frame Seduction - English Dogs

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The 100 Club is still going strong today, with decor unchanged since the 1970s, although the punk bands no longer appear there regularly. Instead there is a busy programme often booked up many months in advance by canny promoters who are aware of the cachet of having a sold-out night at the venue. Occasionally, big-name touring bands will play "secret" or low-key unadvertised gigs there, relying on word of mouth to fill the 350-capacity space. Other nights will see a range of old-school jazz, rhythm-and-blues and soul groups on the famous stage.

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