Rockgarden/Bongo Memories Wanted

[Redwurzel]

I only went a couple of times with other students from the Poly. Some of them stuck out a bit because they were not from the area many came from Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle etc. It sounds from other posts it had gone down hill a bit then, with the NF affecting things.

I remember when we played Newcastle in August 1977, the Sex Pistols had played I think the night before at te RG under the name of the Stooges, and some fans in the Holgate were still buzzing. I was too young, but I remeber a friend at school in Whitby said his sister went, it was like saying you had seen the Beatles when they were brand new i.e very cool for a teenager.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

I only went a couple of times with other students from the Poly. Some of them stuck out a bit because they were not from the area many came from Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle etc. It sounds from other posts it had gone down hill a bit then, with the NF affecting things.

I remember when we played Newcastle in August 1977, the Sex Pistols had played I think the night before at te RG under the name of the Stooges, and some fans in the Holgate were still buzzing. I was too young, but I remeber a friend at school in Whitby said his sister went, it was like saying you had seen the Beatles when they were brand new i.e very cool for a teenager.

They played as Acne Rebble. These were posted on here a while back.

 

[gizasqueezemister]

They played as Acne Rebble. These were posted on here a while back.

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I was chatting to Ten Pole a couple of years back in Dubai at a SP tribute gig and he said that night at the RG was one of the roughest the Pistols played. Definitely seemed etched into his memory.

 

[bungydinsdale]

Yep, WY supported the Furs at the Rocky. I went to see them a few weeks back in Stockton at the old Peppermint Park.

Quite a few old RG regulars there, including a few of the Brighton posse.

Even videoed one song:

Good to see they are still going. And Peppermint Park, wow that brings back memories. just down from the Corporation Hall wasn't it?
Cheers for the video too Cogs

 

[Cogeur_le_Conq]

Good to see they are still going. And Peppermint Park, wow that brings back memories. just down from the Corporation Hall wasn't it?
Cheers for the video too Cogs

Further along the same road I think. I'm not a Stocktonian but went to the Corpie Hall and Dovecott a few times. The normal haunts over that side of the river were the Spread Eagle, Blue Post, the Talbot and getting back towards civilisation the Teessider and the Haywood Arms.

 

[bungydinsdale]

Further along the same road I think. I'm not a Stocktonian but went to the Corpie Hall and Dovecott a few times. The normal haunts over that side of the river were the Spread Eagle, Blue Post, the Talbot and getting back towards civilisation the Teessider and the Haywood Arms.

Yep, just down Prince Regent St from Corpie hall, which used to have a great disco on I think tuesday's that played all the latest punk and new wave numbers.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

They played as Acne Rebble. These were posted on here a while back.

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My mother in laws handwriting there on the ticket...

 

[fmttmadmin]

A Man From Adam have been putting together a Spotify playlist no small part helped by the various posts on this thread.
Remembering the Rockgarden is 13th August and Over The Border - featuring the Bongo on 20th August - both 12.30-3.30pm at mima. So still plenty of time to contribute to remembering these iconic Teesside venues. On 27th August there will be a debate about the current state of things and the way forward. Hopefully the past can help shape a way forward again, as Middlesbrough is not lagging so far behind Stockton following closure of Basecamp arts space and the Westgarth.

 

[Sally R]

Hey Everybody, thanks so much for these memories and lists!

I've taken your suggestions (and added a few of my own) and made a Rock Garden ( Punk Disco) Spotify playlist. I appreciate not everyone on your lists played there but it does all make for a brilliant selection...

The Rock Garden (Punk Disco) 1976-1981

The Rock Garden (Punk Disco) 1976-1981 · Playlist · 91 songs · 1 likes

open.spotify.com

Also thanks for the pictures - we can have a screen to show images at the MIMA event so if anyone has any more great pictures from either RG or Bongo, and doesn't mind us including them please post here. I'm chatting to Steve Harland too so hopefully we'll get some nice content there.

As far as The Bongo Club goes, looks like people have mixed experiences as far as anecdotes go But images and music, all gratefully received. I'm sensing it was a kind of Lovers Rock, softer, more commercial reggae sound??? We'll make a playlist for that too.

We've got a nice sound system, vinyl and digital playback at MIMA so hope to see you and happy to take suggestions as to how we can celebrate both venues.

Really, thanks again,
Sally

 

[Sally R]

Hey All,

I've updated the ever growing playlist with all your suggestions and more gathered from Steve Harland's Rock Garden group on Facebook. Here's it is in all it's glory!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6JVkVZviAOk5qAUmJ4OqJ8?si=a880d00691d84707

Just FYI, we've done a couple of our Sunday music sessions at MIMA so far and it's quite relaxed, just nice music people chatting while we play music on a nice system in the gallery. I hope some Rock Garden goers will attend and tell some stories about their experiences?? I'm going to make a slide show of images to show on a screen for the afternoon and if you did have any anecdotes you wanted to share on the day, or here in text, that would be great. I'll try to compile some of them and print a little handout of RG stories, and maybe band bios...

Basically, I managed to persuade Pioneer to lend us a lovely sound system and MIMA to let us set it up in there so the sessions are themed around Teesside music and legacy, it's not a big event - just something nice and chilled to tie in with their Stories from the River Tees exhibition.

Many Thanks again, hope to see you there
Sally

PS. This is me (in the middle in blue) at the Rock Garden with my sister (we tried to work it out and think I was maybe 13 or 14 - eek!)

 

[asredastheycome]

You of course meant the Aftermath by Cowboys International and Original Sin by Theatre of Hate

No J.V.M is correct. It was the title track of their debut album. Wich I still have

Cowboys International - Original Sin

 

[asredastheycome]

They played as Acne Rebble. These were posted on here a while back.

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Thats correct that was my ticket and poster which I sold about a couple of years ago to a collector from Newcastle. Probably could have got a lot more for it but he was a decent gut who loves his punk music. I took the poster off the wall on the night so I know it was Rebble and not Rabble. That mistake came from an error in the avert in the Gazette. Who would have thought they would get it wrong

 

[Johnny Vincents Motorbike]

Hey All,

I've updated the ever growing playlist with all your suggestions and more gathered from Steve Harland's Rock Garden group on Facebook. Here's it is in all it's glory!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6JVkVZviAOk5qAUmJ4OqJ8?si=a880d00691d84707

Just FYI, we've done a couple of our Sunday music sessions at MIMA so far and it's quite relaxed, just nice music people chatting while we play music on a nice system in the gallery. I hope some Rock Garden goers will attend and tell some stories about their experiences?? I'm going to make a slide show of images to show on a screen for the afternoon and if you did have any anecdotes you wanted to share on the day, or here in text, that would be great. I'll try to compile some of them and print a little handout of RG stories, and maybe band bios...

Basically, I managed to persuade Pioneer to lend us a lovely sound system and MIMA to let us set it up in there so the sessions are themed around Teesside music and legacy, it's not a big event - just something nice and chilled to tie in with their Stories from the River Tees exhibition.

Many Thanks again, hope to see you there
Sally

PS. This is me (in the middle in blue) at the Rock Garden with my sister (we tried to work it out and think I was maybe 13 or 14 - eek!)

Thats Guy, Kath O'Neil, Big Duncan and Mick H around you and your sister in that photo.

 

[Easterside_Red]

And while on the subject. Re The Psychedelic Furs. I remember seeing them in Boro on tour for their debut album and thought it was at the Rock Garden, but a mate who went with me thought it was at Town Hall or elsewhere in town. Can anybody here confirm where I saw them (saw so many bands back then that It's sometimes difficult to remember where)???

As already confirmed it was the Rock Garden. 15th March 1980 and they played Eric's Liverpool the night before.

 

[fmttmadmin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1690275949969846272

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cv1ajLKN23X/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

[Sally R]

Thanks so much Rob, and all here on the forum for your contributions. It feels like there's so much more to be said and celebrated about this amazing time in Teesside. Hopefully this is a jumping off point and a permanent archive or stand alone exhibition can be achieved at some point in the future. I'd be glad to help in any way I can with all that. Looking forward to seeing any of you that can make it tomorrow

 

[Decent_Left]

Cant believe I completely missed this thread, so suppose it’s too late now but the Friday night hard rock gigs have been missed.

Saxon doing 2 shows in one night.

Girl after their big break from the previous nights Top of the Pops

Marillion getting bottled off

Def Leppard straight after the only Friday night home game at Ayeesone I can remember

Terrible burgers

The bikers with their “reserved tables

Good nights

 

[Sally R]

Ha! Brilliant, I shall mention them tomorrow

 

[fmttmadmin]

Don't forget this starts in a few mins time at mima.

Hope to see you soon.

 

[Fattyfoggon]

Hey All,

I've updated the ever growing playlist with all your suggestions and more gathered from Steve Harland's Rock Garden group on Facebook. Here's it is in all it's glory!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6JVkVZviAOk5qAUmJ4OqJ8?si=a880d00691d84707

Just FYI, we've done a couple of our Sunday music sessions at MIMA so far and it's quite relaxed, just nice music people chatting while we play music on a nice system in the gallery. I hope some Rock Garden goers will attend and tell some stories about their experiences?? I'm going to make a slide show of images to show on a screen for the afternoon and if you did have any anecdotes you wanted to share on the day, or here in text, that would be great. I'll try to compile some of them and print a little handout of RG stories, and maybe band bios...

Basically, I managed to persuade Pioneer to lend us a lovely sound system and MIMA to let us set it up in there so the sessions are themed around Teesside music and legacy, it's not a big event - just something nice and chilled to tie in with their Stories from the River Tees exhibition.

Many Thanks again, hope to see you there
Sally

PS. This is me (in the middle in blue) at the Rock Garden with my sister (we tried to work it out and think I was maybe 13 or 14 - eek!)

Brilliant playlist but maybe missing Bauhaus Bela Lugosi's Dead