Live music has been played at the premises of the 100 Club since 1942 and throughout the intervening years more great bands have played there than I’ve had hot dinners, but sadly the legendary venue is about to close down due to high rent, rates and tax increases over the last few years. The statement by 100 Club director, Jeff Horton, on their blog says that the “writing has been on the wall” since 2007, which makes you wonder why more hasn’t been done earlier to raise awareness over the situation with the club.
The way that BBC 6 Music was saved earlier this year is the most brilliant example of people power in recent years and paves the way for more of these interventions getting things changed. Hopefully it’s not too late for the 100 Club to mount a similar campaign to save itself from sinking out of the music scene forever.
I’ve never been to the 100 Club. I’d been meaning to head down since I moved to London, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. My band have been talking about a gig there, but if the close comes about that may never happen. Worst case scenario, I’ll go down for a short hello goodbye, but hopefully the place can be saved too.
To add whatever to the campaign to save the 100 Club, I’ll be featuring a 100 Club gig or news item every month until it is either sadly no more or saved mercifully. For people that have never been, go, and for people who love it, go more, because if we don’t fight to keep stuff all we’ll have is Chris Moyles on the radio, X-Factor winners for Christmas number 1s and banker-broker night clubs on Oxford street.
