Rocking all over the city
From the Who and Jethro Tull to Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, some of the biggest bands of the 1960s and ‘70s played in Birmingham – and on our campus.
Soaking up every last bit of it was Graham Willett (BSc Physics, 1971) who studied at Birmingham as the Swinging 60s gave way to the prog rock and psychedelia of the 1970s. Graham, a member of the ‘Dull Boys’ group of student physicists recalls the anything-but-dull gigs he went to, the stars he saw – and the rules he broke.
Most of the gigs Graham and his friends went to were in Birmingham, but not solely on campus. Alongside the Student Union, he also went to events at different halls of residence, Aston University, Mother’s Club in Erdington, The Rep Theatre and the Mayfair Suite in town.
Birmingham Rep Theatre – 17/11/1968 – The Who, Idle Race. Mindbenders, Small Faces, Crazy World of Arthur Brown & Free
Graham says: ‘This was essentially a “pop concert”. We sat in the balcony and the gig comprised short sets from each group. Arthur Brown had a real flame on his head, but did not set off the fire alarm.’
Mother’s Club, Erdington – 24/11/1968 – Jethro Tull
‘This was my first visit to Mothers, and I still have my membership card. My great schoolfriend, Ed Hawks, and I were only 17 when we went to Brum, and we had to lie about our age to join Mothers! Jethro Tull played a great gig, to a packed audience and John Peel was the DJ.’
Mayfair Suite, city centre – 23/2/1969 – The Who, Idle Race & Honeybus
‘The main “Rag Week” concert. The gig was packed. Ed and I were standing in the front row, next to the speaker stacks. Our bodies were nearly liquidised when Pete Townshend hit the first power chord.
‘Ed had Pete’s plectrum from that gig. The performance was electric; classic high-energy Who. The Idle Race often played in Birmingham. Their leader Jeff Lynne went on the form E.L.O. and was a member of the Travelling Wilburys.’
Deb Hall, Students Union – 3/10/1969 – Pink Floyd
‘This gig was memorable not only for the performance, but I recall the whole audience sitting down during the gig, which was pretty unusual at that time. The entrance was 8/- (40p).’
Other bands Graham saw, either on campus, in halls or at Aston included Family, The Move, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker, Love Sculpture, Mungo Jerry, Curved Air, Deep Purple, Marsha Hunt, Juicy Lucy, Bakerloo Blues Line, Black Sabbath (R.I.P. Ozzy) and Ten Years After. ‘Alvin Lee was a tremendously fast guitar player, for Ten Years After, and always wore wooden clogs on stage,’ he recalls.
We were blessed by being in a period where top groups still regularly played smaller venues and the “college circuit”. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!’
Outside Birmingham, Graham also jumped at the chance to see bands like the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park; and Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin at the Bath Blues Festival.
‘In Hyde Park it was steaming hot and we were miles back from the stage,’ Graham says. ‘This was just days after Brian Jones [Stones guitarist] died and was Mick Taylor’s debut.’
On the way to Bath calamity almost hit when Graham and Ed skidded on gravel and came off their Lambretta scooter. ‘We had to take a detour to Cheltenham A&E for repairs to my elbow, and then spend an hour at a Lambretta dealership. Nevertheless it was worth it. We stayed overnight in a large uncomfortable festival marquee and hit the road home early the following morning.’
Reflecting on his student experiences, Graham said: ‘These gigs ranged from a crowd of 500,000 down to small halls. They were fantastic, loud, exciting experiences…..and affordable! We were blessed by being in a period where top groups still regularly played smaller venues and the “college circuit”. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!’