RockScotland

Who remembers the old Apollo in Renfield Street?

What was the best gig you saw there?

rockscotland wrote:Who remembers the old Glasgow Apollo?

I think everyone who was ever interested in rock music remembers the old Apollo in Renfield Street.

However, this is a prime example of a terrible venue remembered with the gloss of hindsight.

It was always dilapidated - paint peeling from the walls, never cleaned etc.

The bouncers were always looking for trouble and thought nothing of kicking the crap out of someone in full view of the punters.

I did see a few good gigs there though, Rush, Status Quo, Dio, MSG, UFO and many others!

This was the only large music venue at that time though and people remember the good gigs (which were down to the bands) and seem to forget that the venue itself was actually crap.

goblin

best ever was the sensational alex harvey band! 74-75! hooooo hooooo! vambo marble eye!

goblin wrote:However, this is a prime example of a terrible venue remembered with the gloss of hindsight.

20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Yes the venue was certainly a minger but it was really all that was available in those days!

The only similar venue still going is the Edinburgh Playhouse where there's a bit of atmosphere compared to the sterile surrounds of the SECC (and / or Armadillo). The old Hammy Odean down South (also minging) is probably the closest to the old Apollo!

Billy Mac

AC/DC wi bon ,quite a few times ,if u wont blood tour ,support wis def leppard,,awsome every time ,ma ears wi be ringing for days , great times dindnt like the playhouse ,,but the edinburgh oden wiz good ,thought there wis gonna be a riot there on highway to hell to tour whn a biker grabbed the singer of the support band, blazer ,blazer,off the stage and every body wis cheering him on ,,bouncers were goin metal bout 20 of them lined up just before the curtain opened in front of the stage,and of course whn acdc hit the stage about 500 people or more surged forward,,,crazy stuff ,Bon told the bouncers to fuck off ,and let the kids enjoy the show in his usal aussie accent ,[A ROCK GOD]

My 1st gig EVER RUSH, June 12th 1977, Ticket £1.50!!! I was 13 years old. Still got the advertising poster signed by Alex Lifeson : ) & the programme that cost 50p & is worth a few bob now.
I saw them everytime they played the Apollo after that & the Apollo became like a second home!

I was really unlucky never to have seen a gig there, although to my shame i did que up for hours to get my sister a ticket to see abba it is reputed that at some pints depending on who was playing the balcony swayed ist this true ?