Pistols - with guarantee
The controversial punk rock group Sex Pistols, booked to appear at the Winter Gardens in Cleethorpes next Monday night, have given a guarantee about their behaviour.
The band hit the headlines a few days ago after a television interview with Bill Grundy in which their contribution to the dialogue is alleged to have included four-letter words.
The Sex Pistols have been described as exponents of the latest music cult which, in its extremes, aims at shocking the audience with the use of obscenities and language described by some as rich and by others as blasphemous.
The group has ridden this wave of mixed publicity to embark on a nationwide tour which has brought them success at some performances but which has also seen them booed off stage in Leeds and banned from places elsewhere.
The director general manager of the Winter Gardens, Mr. Ian Galloway, told the Evening Telegraph today: We have booked this group simply to give a musical performance of heavy rock. We have received a written guarantee from the promoters of this band that the conduct of the group will be in accordance with the accepted behaviour of a rock band in 1976. There will be no obscenities or anything the slightest bit suggestive on stage or during their visit. This whole thing about their performance has been exaggerated.
Two other rock bands will be appearing with Sex Pistols — a group from America called The Heartbreakers, and a new group, Clash.
Last week a rock group which plays in a similar vein, Eddie and the Hot Rods, was very well received at the Winter Gardens.
Mr. Galloway added: This was a dance organised through the Grimsby College of Technology. The group was good and everyone enjoyed the performance.
Although councils elsewhere in the country have raised objections to this sort of music and Sex Pistols, the Mayor of Cleethorpes, Coun. Alan Green, said he thought there would not be much to worry about.
Cleethorpes' Winter Gardens nightclub where Sex Pistols, ACDC and The Clash once played
PHOTO: Johnny Rotten singing with The Sex Pistols performing at the Winter Gardens in 1976.(Image: Paul Tidswell/Grimsby Telegraph)
Published 2022-02-18 RuPenson
Cleethorpes' Winter Gardens nightclub where Sex Pistols, AC/DC and The Clash once played
The Cleethorpes venue was a magnet during the 70s and 80s for rock legends like The Sex Pistols, AC/DC and Queen
Johnny Rotten singing with The Sex Pistols performing at the Winter Gardens in 1976.(Image: Paul Tidswell/Grimsby Telegraph)
During the height of punk rebellion many venues had banned the likes of The Sex Pistols, AC/DC and The Clash after the British press had boycotted the punk movement. But not Winter Gardens.
They were just one of five of the venues in the U.K. that were still open to host the likes of The Sex Pistols, The Clash and even AC/DC at one point.
The Sex Pistols gig formed part of their Anarchy tour, which also brought along Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers - one called the New York Dolls. The venue held around 350 people and with just £1.50 admission it went down in history for more reasons than one.
An orange ticket stub that reads in black writing: WHISTLE PROMOTIONS presents AC/DC supported by SUBURBAN STUDS at the WINTER GARDENS, CLEETHORPES on TUESDAY 18th October 1977. 8.p.m to midnight. Licensed bar. Buffet. TICKETS £1 in advance. £1.25 on the door.
Ticket stub for AC/DC performing at Winter Gardens for only £1.
Ad for punk group the Sex Pistols, along with American group The Heartbreakers and new punk group Clash, appearing on Monday December 20th 1976. It reads: Dave Cork promotions presents at the WINTER GARDENS, CLEETHORPES. Exclusive: SEX PISTOLS. Plus, from America... THE HEARTBREAKERS. And new group: THE CLASH. Monday, December 20th. Admission £1.50 at the door.
Ad for punk group the Sex Pistols, along with American group The Heartbreakers and new punk group Clash, appearing on Monday December 20th 1976.(Image: Grimsby Telegraph )
The gig, that took place in 1976, ended with six 'denim-clad' youths being hustled out of the Winter Gardens venue for fighting. A story published in the Grimsby Evening Telegraph the day after reported that three of the windows outside the venue were kicked in during the gig as well as stating that the audience threw beer and eggs while the Holidays in The Sun band played.
PHOTO Suzi Quatro, who appeared at the Winter Gardens on August 2nd of 1973.
The setlist was crammed full of punk record hits like Anarchy in The UK, I Wanna Be Me, God Save The Queen and Pretty Vacant.
It was rumoured at the time that there was a 'new' group called The Clash touring them. Of course, we now know just how big and influential they went on to be. But back in 1976 they were just starting up.
The list of groups and solo artists who played the Winter Garden and then went on to stardom during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Big names like Suzi Quattro, Doctor Feelgood, Queen and The Damned .
When Queen performed there in 1974 they not only performed their own songs like Father to Son and Doing All Right and Liar but covers from other icons including Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley and Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis.
Advert for Queen, appearing at the Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes on 29 January 1974.
One night that does hold a special place was The Grimsby Live Aid Concert in 1985. Local legends like The Rumble Band and Brothers Band got together for the event. Other honourable mentions include Dexy's Midnight Runners performing the very same evening they were on Top of The Pops.
PHOTO People enjoying the rock marathon for Live Aid, held at the Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes in 1985.
Winter Gardens was first designed in the 1920s as an amusement hall before a post-war refurbishment saw it open as the Winter Gardens ballroom in December of 1947. Built with an art deco style, the music that it went down in history for was stark contrast to the surroundings.
The venue itself, located on Kingsway, was truly beautiful and boasted chandeliers draped over the dancefloor. After it closed its doors in 2007 it was demolished and the space was made ready for a £3.5 million housing development back in 2013. During its heyday, thousands of people flocked there for the unbeatable music experience only Winter Gardens could offer.
Let us know in the comments if you have any memories of Winter Gardens and the gigs you attended there.
READ MORE: The eerie calm of Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes after it closed for the last time
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1976/77 Julian Temple's early footage 50hrs
[Extract] ... Malcolm’s (Mclaren) band had a promo film, so Bernie’s (Rhodes) band had to have one too.
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