The
Kursaal Ballroom was the preeminent venue in Southend during the 1970's.
First established in 1901, it had enjoyed a long musical history, being
especially vibrant during the Swing / Big Band era, but it was in the Pre
- Punk early / mid -'70's that it really made its mark, hosting many legendary
shows. Everyone from AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy etc all
played there. The gigs were often special double bills, such as the classic
Mott The Hoople / Queen gig in 1973, or the Be Bop Deluxe / Doctors of Madness
gig there in 1975. Key counter culture band Hawkwind regularly performed
at The Kursaal, and even incorporated a date there as part of their legendary
Space Ritual Tour.
Dr Feelgood's performance at The Kursaal would be immortalized when a German
TV crew filmed the band live there at the peak of their powers, and this
has subsequently been released on the 'Going Back Home' DVD. The band would
also go on to record part of their legendary album 'Stupidity' at the venue
too. Many classic Glam bands played The Kursaal also, such as The Sweet,
Sparks & Cockney Rebel. The venues famous sprung dancefloor was very
conducive to dancing at the gigs and has helped ensure its legendary reputation..
Bands
such as The Pink Fairies and The Sensational Alex Harvey band filled the
void just prior to punk, and in 1976 the venue was chosen as one of the
venues to host the infamous Anarchy Tour of late 1976, which was to feature
The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers.
Following the fallout post the Sex Pistols interview with Bill Grundy however,
the Kursaal date was one of many that were cancelled by local councils,
and the show never took place. In the immediate aftermath in early 1977,
several other Punk shows were banned and / or cancelled, and it wasn't until
April 1977 when John Cale + The Boys played at The Kursaal that New Wave
groups really started to get any kind of foothold.
As
1977 unfolded, the more punk friendly Queens hotel embraced Punk and many
key bands played there, although is is notable that the Radiators From Space
played a classic show at The Kursaal on December 17th, 1977 (Supporting
Thin Lizzy). Sadly, not long afterwards controversial plans were made to
close the Kursaal Ballroom and its days as a leading live music venue were
sadly over. Despite the best efforts of the Save The Kursaal Campaign, the
whole complex finally closed its doors in 1986. Following years of dereliction,
some restoration and subsequent redevelopment occurred, and in 1998 The
Kursaal reopened and it is now a listed building. Presently, a small function
suite on the site of the venue occasionally hosts live bands, but it is
the classic rock era of the early 1970s, and that special time in 1974 +
1975 when the spirit of change was in the air that the Kursaal will be rightly
celebrated for, as it really did host many, many legendary rock gigs. It
truly engendered a sense of quality and of what was possible and it has
certainly earned its place in history. |