The Astoria. Your memories?
- Thread starter Lionman
- Start date
Cloo
Banana for scale
Queueing hours and hours to get my coat, mainly 
But enjoyed many, many gigs there in the mid 90s. Saw Green Day play a fantastic not long after their second album broke here - didn't know much about them, but a friend was mad about the. Saw Skunk Anansie when they were very new, on the lower part of a Brat Awards bill, cheered on Sleeper, who we'd been following since early days at the Garage and the like, fantastic, amazing Le Tigre show (before going on to Ministry of Unsound that night). Watching Fridge (Adem from Fridge was a halls-mate of mine at uni) supporting Elastica, who were great live as ever.
There must have been a bunch of others, but those are the ones that come to mind.
But enjoyed many, many gigs there in the mid 90s. Saw Green Day play a fantastic not long after their second album broke here - didn't know much about them, but a friend was mad about the. Saw Skunk Anansie when they were very new, on the lower part of a Brat Awards bill, cheered on Sleeper, who we'd been following since early days at the Garage and the like, fantastic, amazing Le Tigre show (before going on to Ministry of Unsound that night). Watching Fridge (Adem from Fridge was a halls-mate of mine at uni) supporting Elastica, who were great live as ever.
There must have been a bunch of others, but those are the ones that come to mind.
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
The sheer obscene amount of gigs i went to there...... Seriously that place plays a very major part in my 16-19 age gap, i could list the bands i saw there but i'd be here all day...... and then you'd all take the piss out of my music choice anyway.....
I always remember the big bouncer with dreads who looked after the crowd surfers...... he used to bop about to all the metal, i think he was particularly into sepultura.....
I always remember the big bouncer with dreads who looked after the crowd surfers...... he used to bop about to all the metal, i think he was particularly into sepultura.....
Metal Malcolm
ODT resident emo
Second or third gig ever.
Machine Head / Napalm Death / Skinlab / Coal Chamber
Rocked my little nu-metal socks off.
Machine Head / Napalm Death / Skinlab / Coal Chamber
Rocked my little nu-metal socks off.
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
Last gig I saw there was the Cramps. 
(actually, that may not be correct...
)
e2a: Ok, yes it is. Suddenly had a moment of venue confusion.
(actually, that may not be correct...
)e2a: Ok, yes it is. Suddenly had a moment of venue confusion.
Last gig I saw there was the Cramps.
(actually, that may not be correct...
e2a: Ok, yes it is. Suddenly had a moment of venue confusion.
was it the one a few days after Cash died, and the guitarist had already had the "Cash finger" tattooed on his flank?
chico enrico
No hair shows you care.
Played there twice. I remember the dressing rooms being really squalid and for some reason most of the rest of the band simply pissing against the walls; deflected droplets of urine landing on an unfolded wrap of coke much to the chagrin of the rest of us.
saw David Bowie there in about 1999 which was quite phenomenal.
saw David Bowie there in about 1999 which was quite phenomenal.
I'm very sad to report that this is true, possibly a hit and run if memory serves, but I might be wrong. That guy was a legend, and used to allow stage diving at some of the LA2 shows.
stupid dogbot
Haughty and Superior
Nah, later. August '06, if my flakey memory serves.
Gerry1time
Did a wee in Dirac's toilet
Remember a messy day round soho, drunkenly saying to a friend that a friend's band were supporting some really massive metal band that night and that i could get us guestlist. Thing was in reality i didn't massively know this bloke in the support band, or how to get in touch with him, but my mate called my bluff, so we wandered over to the astoria.
Lo and behold, there was the bloke i know by the buses round the back, he acted like we were old mates, and got us both in for that night. Awesome gig, legendary day. Just wish i could remember who the headliners were.
Lo and behold, there was the bloke i know by the buses round the back, he acted like we were old mates, and got us both in for that night. Awesome gig, legendary day. Just wish i could remember who the headliners were.
Spandex
A crazy bulbous punchbag of sound
I get a bit confused about who I saw where in the early 90s.
I definately saw Fields of the Nephilim there. But that's not something to be proud of
I'm pretty sure I saw Meat Beat Manifesto there, but I saw them loads of times around 93ish, so I could be confusing it with somewhere else. They were brilliant every time I saw them.
I saw Underworld there, but my memory of the night is a bit vague for some reason.
Then there was the Astoria 2 downstairs, which I preferred as a venue.
I saw a Dub Syndicate/African Headcharge night there, which was amazing. I saw Consolidated there too, but they were past their prime by then.
I definately saw Fields of the Nephilim there. But that's not something to be proud of
I'm pretty sure I saw Meat Beat Manifesto there, but I saw them loads of times around 93ish, so I could be confusing it with somewhere else. They were brilliant every time I saw them.
I saw Underworld there, but my memory of the night is a bit vague for some reason
.Then there was the Astoria 2 downstairs, which I preferred as a venue.
I saw a Dub Syndicate/African Headcharge night there, which was amazing. I saw Consolidated there too, but they were past their prime by then.
StanSmith
Three Lions on my shirt
I only ever went to the place twice and it was alright not great, not shit but just alright.
The 2 gigs I went to see though (Kings of Leon just before they released Youth and young manhood and The Twang about 2years ago) were both very good.
So whats it going to be now then?
The 2 gigs I went to see though (Kings of Leon just before they released Youth and young manhood and The Twang about 2years ago) were both very good.
So whats it going to be now then?
Lisarocket
In bed with me dinner
That TG gig we went to was pretty fab too
My favourite memory though is when Ken Livingston dropped Magic Moments into a mix at the All Back to Mine gig during Fatboy's set. The crowd just went completely bonkers for it
Actually, there's loads...
Saw Morrissey almost pogoing and singing along on the edge of a mosh pit at a Sham 69 gig. It was really funny watching nearby punks realise who it was
ska invita
back on the other side
Used to go to Orange at the Astoria - around 92/3 I think. As far as uptown west end raving goes it was great - messy, but great. Quite a mixed up mashed up crowd. Two special times both involved coming out in the morning. One time in December, 2000 e'd up ravers came out to find a deserted charing cross road covered in snow - was magical. Another time when a car pulled up with a big sound out the back and the party spilled out on the street - madness.
For the headstrong there was always the breakfast club at Astoria 2/busbys - dont actually remember anything from going there though!
Also went to see Living Colour play there - fun gig - had to sit upstairs, and i was pretty much at the end of the row - was fun to look along the row of seats and see waves of long haired headbangers all banging in their seats, rows and rows of hair flying up and down!
I think theres some great video footage of that knocking around. Acid Teds in effect!
Who with Chico?
Space Girl
twp
I only went there the once with a dual perpose - to see Bad Brains and also to get a job - I remember going to meet the guy who either owned or managed the astoria - it was in a grotty back room upstairs and he looked like Adam Faith - got the job (working at another club of his) and saw Bad Brains who were mighty loud but cool
stethoscope
Well-Known Member
I'm trying to find someone who used to work at the London Astoria in march 1988 and either before or since then,his name was Steve and he used to work in the foyer as security I think,and had a Rotweiller called Ben.I was there for 3 days for The Mission during my goth era. Does anyone know him,or anyone else I could try who was working there at the time that might have some information,manager head of security or any other staff? I would really like to contact him again,and any help would be appreciated. Thanks a lot
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
Saw loads of gigs there. I used to be a glam metal head so went to the club loads (Royal George, The Ship or the Intrepid Fox before hand). Got into see Tigertailz free once (claim to fame that). Met Metallica (minus Ulrich) in there. Saw the Foos on The Colour and The Shape tour there. I could never jack my hair up properly so a girl called Ali used to get the Flexnet out when I got in. Thing is it was all the same length so I ended up looking like Tyla from the Dogs D'Amour. Happy days.
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