The Buzz Club London: December Yeah Jazz 1986

I’ve just remembered this Buzz Club! It’s not written down anywhere in my notes so I’m not 100% sure when it actually took place. This review from ‘Sounds’ reminded me of it. Breaks my heart a little bit to read the review, ‘So that big time, small-brained music business no marks can forget to turn up. Jo is a very special person and she has it within herself to be a big time rock ‘n’ roll star.’ *Sigh*.

Funnily enough, the ‘fanzine ed’ referred to in the review actually did become a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll star – Iain Baker, of Jesus Jones.

I seem to recall we decided to take The Buzz Club up to The Clarendon in Hammersmith as a few A&R men had said they’d like to see my band, Bluetrain. As we gather from the review, they didn’t turn up.

Working in Our Price, I had got a 7″ by Yeah Jazz – clear vinyl with confetti sprinkled through it. I really liked it and so contacted them and asked them if they’d like to headline this gig. I hired the basement of The Clarendon in Hammersmith, put a small advert in the N.M.E. and that was it – The Buzz Club went to London!

My friend from the same shop as me, Julie was on the door and was quite surprised when Martin Gore from Depeche Mode turned up and said he was on the guest list. I don’t know who was more confused, Julie or Martin. It turned out the Mute Records Christmas party was upstairs in the far larger venue and he had made a mistake. Maybe the A&R men were all up there too?