Rum Runner nightclub

The Rum Runner nightclub was opened on Broad Street in the Birmingham city centre in 1979.

Related Topics:
Birmingham - 1979

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The founding members, Paul and Michael Berrow, opened their new club with an eclectic power playlist borrowed from Studio 54 in New York.

Related Topics:
Studio 54 - New York

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Roxy Music and David Bowie nights were accompanied by jazz funk nights which were strongly influenced by New York's Chic Powerdisco.

Related Topics:
Roxy Music - David Bowie - Jazz - Funk - Chic - Powerdisco

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A real milestone in the history of the Rum Runner was when a newly-formed group of musicians called Duran Duran walked in one day with a tape. There was an instant mutual appeal between the Berrows and the band, and the Berrows offered Duran Duran a place to rehearse and play gigs. The band found themselves becoming heavily involved with the running of the club with John Taylor working the door, Nick Rhodes deejaying for £10 a night, Roger Taylor working as a glass collector and Andy Taylor polishing mirrors, painting and cooking burgers for cash. Duran Duran quickly became the resident band at the venue.

Related Topics:
Duran Duran - John Taylor - Nick Rhodes - Roger Taylor - Andy Taylor

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After many months, Michael and Paul Berrow signed as Duran Duran's managers. The Berrows and the band then formed the Tritec Music company (named after the triangular-themed bar inside the club). The label used the Rum Runner office upstairs from the club as its official address.

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In developing the club's musical identity they also gave free rehearsal space to bands like Dexys Midnight Runners and UB40, with The Beat filming a video for their song 'Mirror In The Bathroom' taking full advantage of the many mirrors that walled the club.

Related Topics:
Dexys Midnight Runners - UB40 - The Beat

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As time went by they opened more and more different evenings and one of the residents became DJ Dick who later went on to form Rockers Hi-Fi and who now hosts the city's main Funk Acid Jazz night called Leftfoot, situated at The Medicine Bar.

Related Topics:
Rockers Hi-Fi - Funk - Acid Jazz - Leftfoot - The Medicine Bar

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