The Astoria. Your memories?

[LeslieB]

I always saw loads of adverts for that metal club night in Kerrang, I never did get to go.

 

[purves grundy]

Not a London person so only managed to make it there a few times, best was Bad Brains in 1989 - I'd been in awe of them for ageas and they were everything I hoped they would be. I went with a semi-famous BMXer and he absolutely loved me for introducing him to their music *ahem*

 

[danski]

Not a London person so only managed to make it there a few times, best was Bad Brains in 1989 - I'd been in awe of them for ageas and they were everything I hoped they would be. I went with a semi-famous BMXer and he absolutely loved me for introducing him to their music *ahem*

Who was the BMXer?

 

[purves grundy]

Who was the BMXer?

Andy Brown, a great rider and such a nice bloke.

 

[NeuroticNikki]

I'm a bit late to this news, been banging my head to remember where my husband and I saw Drowning Pool back in early 2000's, just before the late great Dave Williams died. The Astoria popped up on my Facebook Timeline and it all came flooding back! So sad to see it go as it held a great many memories for so many people! It was my first ever gig.

 

[Chris P Duck]

The only ones I can remember definitely going to at the mo are - Big Audio Dynamite a couple of times in 1987 and Westworld (with the wonderful Elizabeth Westwood)

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Jam! They found ancient jam!
Crossrail in a jam with Astoria nightclub discovery

 

[districtline]

Went to see Joe Strummer at a 'pop and poetry' night in 2000. Memorable primarily because the crowd can't have been more than a few hundred, but at least me and the Japanese punk couples who came to see Joe were happy.

 

[ice-is-forming]

I work with someone who always speaks about the Astoria. He was stage manager at many gigs, he always gets a bit of a tear in his eye and a 1000 mile gaze when he talks about it...

 

[salem]

It was about this time of the year it shut down (I met an ex-gf on the night of the last gig - don't quite remember our anniversary but it was mid- Jan) and can't believe it's been gone 8 years!

I seem to remember there was talk that there would be a replacement for the various clubs that were demolished for the TCR Crossrail works. Anything ever come of that?

 

[Lurdan]

Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers in '87. Mixed memories of the gig but he was great.

 

[19sixtysix]

Still pisses me off that our society values the Astoria less than any of the other building in the area to knock down. Primark opposite, an empty church next door. FFS and for what to let folks from reading an easier ride into the city and create another fucking monument to betty windsor. Think it will annoy me for ever.

I could go some chips from Dionysus now.

 

[lefteri]

First gig I went to there was Sonic Youth on Daydream Nation tour supported by Dinosaur Jr. - loved every minute

 

[boohoo]

Saw the Cardiacs twice. Also saw New Model Army. Went to LA2 a couple of time... not sure for what... my brain aint what it use to be.

 

[plurker]

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.

yep, cut my London raving teeth at Orange and Busbys, in spring into summer 92. Used to come up on the Oxford Tube on a Thursday for Rage at heaven, get supplies from a dodge estate in Edgware, and then stay with mates all weekend before returning much worse for wear

Not the best venue by far, but great memories.

 

[ice-is-forming]

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.

Neville

 

[Thimble Queen]

Went to loads of metal and punk gigs and club nights at the Astoria and LA2, and other venues around town. I worked at Metro (Beautiful People) for a bit so could blag my way into things, which was useful since I was incredibly poor.

My favourite Astoria memory is when I went to see Machine Head play there in the late 90s. I met Rob Flynn and Logan Madder and they kissed me on each cheek at the same time. A moment of teenage bliss

 

[ice-is-forming]

Crossrail in a jam with Astoria nightclub discovery

 

[ice-is-forming]

 

[ice-is-forming]

 

[misskitty]

I work with someone who always speaks about the Astoria. He was stage manager at many gigs, he always gets a bit of a tear in his eye and a 1000 mile gaze when he talks about it...

Hi,wondered if you or your friend could help, I'm trying to find someone who used to work at the London Astoria in march 1988-1994 roughly, and either before or since then,his name was Steve and he used to work sitting in the foyer as security I think,and had a Rottweiller 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

 

[ice-is-forming]

Hi,wondered if you or your friend could help, I'm trying to find someone who used to work at the London Astoria in march 1988-1994 roughly, and either before or since then,his name was Steve and he used to work sitting in the foyer as security I think,and had a Rottweiller 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

I can ask.

You've been looking for this Steve, who you spent 3 days with in the late 1900's for a while now. What happened?

 

[Sirena]

I saw my best-so-far reggae gig there. It must have been round the late 1990s

It started with Little Roy and then the Twinkle Brothers (who were fantastic) and it finished with Max Romeo and his full band.

Afterwards, backstage, Little Roy had cooked all the food (he's a bit of a chef) and it was all like a Rasta gathering....

 

[plurker]

Hahaha. this is great. A Darren Murphy, presumably same one, manages the Hammersmith Apollo now

 

[editor]

Ten years ago

Ten Years Ago: London’s Astoria Theatre closes for good, Jan 2009 – in photos

 

[iamwithnail]

Gosh, ten years. Saw some of my favourite gigs there, all the metal and emo stuff from when I was a teenager/early twenties.

 

[skyscraper101]

Ten years and still no trains yet. Load of arse.

 

[TopCat]

Saw Burning Spear there. twenty five years back. Got searched and found to have large bag of weed. Pleaded that at least I had no weapons and was given weed back and let in.