Camden's Koko club (Music Machine/Camden Palace) is on fire: 6th Jan 2020

[editor]

This looks bad

Firefighters battle blaze at famous Camden music venue Koko

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters fought the blaze last night.

metro.co.uk

 

[salem]

Gutting, beautiful venue and spent a lot of time there over the years. They did a great job when they refurbed it from Camden Palace into Koko (even if it did lose a bit of it's character). think they were changing it into some eating complex (do we need any more of those) - hopefully not a developer fire to ease the process.

 

[MrSki]

What a shitter. Had some great nights there in the late 80s & early 90s at the Feet first on a Tuesday night. Saw a few bands too.

 

[oryx]

That looks bad. I hope they can save it. I have happy memories of going there when it was the Camden Palace.

 

[fishfinger]

That looks bad. I hope they can save it. I have happy memories of going there when it was the Camden Palace.

I remember when it was the Music Machine

 

[MrSki]

I remember when it was the Music Machine

Watched Breaking Glass on NYD again on youtube that is partially filmed there.

 

[editor]

I remember when it was the Music Machine

Saw Psychedelic Furs and Dexy's first tour there amongst others - and played there quite a few times when it was the Palace. Great venue.

Music Machine, London - Live MusicPage 4 -

www.45worlds.com

 

[MrSki]

Saw Psychedelic Furs and Dexy's first tour there amongst others - and played there quite a few times when it was the Palace. Great venue.

Bloody expensive bar though. Used to get pissed in the World's End (when it was a small pub) before paying their prices. Agreed great venue.

 

[Ceej]

Watched Breaking Glass on NYD again on youtube that is partially filmed there.

I'm in the audience in the Eighth Day sequence! Filmed after a Tom Robonson gig. Hoping the damage isn't too extensive - I walked past just before 9pm and there was nothing to be seen. At least no-one is likely to have been hurt as its been closed since Feb.

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

Oh shit. Spent a bit of time in there about 12 years ago when I lived in North London, hope it’s not too badly damaged.

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

I clearly remember people texting the screen in there saying Bradley from Eastenders was about but it was actually just some random ginger.

 

[salem]

Looks like the damage was contained in the roof area and most of the main venue has been saved which is good news!

http://camdennewjournal.com/article/main-building-at-koko-saved-by-firefighters-after-nightclub-blaze

 

[blossie33]

BBC this morning

Koko Camden: Fire engulfs famous music venue

The owner of the venue in Camden says he is "deeply saddened" by the blaze at the "iconic building".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

I was really sad about this last night, that building means so much to me. Its where i took my first few wobbly steps as a raver at Peach on a Friday night when it was Camden Palace, and remains my favourite venue in world, bar none.

It was bad enough when it closed in 2004 when sold to the Mint Group, a relief when it opened again and not a great deal had changed, concerning it shut last year for this big 'refurb' (why the fuck does it need changing!), but watching it burn last night on social media was genuinely upsetting.

Happy to hear it may not be as bad as first thought, and its just the roof. I really hope not too much damage has been done.

 

[kalidarkone]

Camden Palace was the first nightclub I ever went to. That was in 1984.

 

[blossie33]

I'm not too sure what is being done in there?
The front has been boarded up for a while - there was a planning notice on the side of the building and it looks like they are extending the venue out at the back into the space where the old pub was on the corner of Bayham Street.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Building recording studios, a hotel, a bar and various other bits apparently. I believe the actual venue theatre bit was not supposed to be changed much at all. But after this fire, who knows what changes may be made to this plan.

 

[ska invita]

Building recording studios, a hotel, a bar and various other bits apparently. I believe the actual venue theatre bit was not supposed to be changed much at all. But after this fire, who knows what changes may be made to this plan.

add another floor on top

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

This is it this morning, the famous copper dome roof has gone

 

[blossie33]

It will be interesting to find out what caused the fire.

 

[Badgers]

It will be interesting to find out what caused the fire.

Aye.

I am probably cynical but whenever I see a commercial building on fire my first thought is 'insurance job'

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

its hard not to be cynical here. I know they wanted to somehow build a bar and 'function room' within that copper dome, i suppose it'll be much easier now its all burnt away.

 

[Pickman's model]

Aye.

I am probably cynical but whenever I see a commercial building on fire my first thought is 'insurance job'

and so often you'd be right

 

[blossie33]

I imagine the contractor is going to have to answer questions, if it was an 'accident' they may have left some electrical connections in an unsafe way.

 

[Pickman's model]

I imagine the contractor is going to have to answer questions, if it was an 'accident' they may have left some electrical connections in an unsafe way.

left a quart of unleaded near a candle while the nightwatchman went to get some coffee

 

[andysays]

I saw the Dead Kennedys play at the Music Machine many many years ago.

I seem to remember it was a fire which caused the MM to close, later to return Phoenix-like as the Camden Palace.

 

[polly]

Oh no I used to love Feet First when I was a teenager, and been to a few raves there over the years. Such a beautiful venue. I didn't know they were going to redevelop it - cunts would probably ruin it anyway, fire or no fire.

 

[ska invita]

Oh no I used to love Feet First when I was a teenager, and been to a few raves there over the years. Such a beautiful venue. I didn't know they were going to redevelop it - cunts would probably ruin it anyway, fire or no fire.

itll be back same as and even better now theyve got some insurance money to play with

 

[polly]

itll be back same as and even better now theyve got some insurance money to play with

Ha. Did I misunderstand then? They're not going to turn it into a KFC??

 

[maomao]

I hated Feet First but somehow used to end up there every other week. And always appreciated the magnificence of the building itself. Saw a couple of very good gigs there when it was Kokos too.