...Places of Southend Punk Significance...
The Kursaal
Punk Rock
The Kursaal Ballroom
The Kursaal Ballroom - Flyer - 1973
Hawkwind - Space Ritual Tour Program - 1973
The Kursaal Ballroom - Flyer - 1973
Mott The Hoople Tour - 1973 - Flyer
Mott The Hoople - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 01.12.73 - Ticket
Hawkwind - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 05.01.74 - Flyer
Hawkwind - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 05.01.74 - Ticket
The Kursaal Ballroom - Flyer - 1974
Gong - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 11.10.74
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 19.10.74 - Ticket
Van Der Graaf Generator - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 25.10.74 - Ticket
The Kursaal Ballroom - Flyer - 1974
Hawkwind / Dr Feelgood - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 21.12.74 - Ticket
The Kursaal Ballroom - Flyer - 1975
The Pretty Things - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 15.02.75 - Ticket
Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 26.05.75 - Ticket
Barclay James Harvest - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 04.10.75 - Ticket
The Kursaal Ballroom - Flyer - 1975 Curved Air - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 25.10.75 - Ticket
The Pink Fairies / Clemen Pull - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 01.11.75 - Ticket
Black Sabbath - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 10.01.76 (Rescheduled date) - Ticket
Be Bop Deluxe / Doctors of Madness - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 21.02.76 - Ticket Thin Lizzy / Graham Parker's Rumour - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 27.03.76 - Ticket Thin Lizzy / Clover - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 13.11.76 - Ticket
Lee Brilleaux & Lindsay Sorrell at The Kursaal Ballroom
Thin Lizzy - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom
Anarchy in The UK Tour 1976 - The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers - Black and White Newspaper Advert
Anarchy in The UK Tour 1976 - The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers - Colour Poster
 Can - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 26.03.77 - Ticket
John Cale + The Boys - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 16.04.77 - Evening Echo News Report - 12.04.77
'Banning of Punk Gigs at Kursaal' Letter - Evening Echo News Report - 1977
The Radiators From Space - Live at The Kursaal - Poster
The Radiators From Space - Live at The Kursaal - CD Cover
Save The Kursaal Campaign
Punk Rock
Anarchy in The UK Tour 1976 - The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers - Black and White Newspaper AdvertThe 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..

Thin Lizzy - Live at The Kursaal BallroomBands 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.

 Can - Live at The Kursaal Ballroom - 26.03.77 - TicketAs 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.
Punk Rock

 

 

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