The Palace Theatre in Melbourne is under threat of demolition , and Australian music lovers are up in arms over the fact that yet another stalwart of their live music scene could be taken away from them.
Not to rub salt in the wound, but we thought stirring the fires of past injustices would bring the potential consequences of such a loss into sharper focus. Here’s a few venues that the world is now worse off without…
10 Iconic Venues That Suffered Undignified Ends
Phoenician
Phoenician Club in Ultimo: Nirvana played their first Sydney gig there and Sherbert had a residency. 15-year-old Anna Wood died of an ecstasy overdose there in 1995, the public uproar shut its doors forever.
Cbgb
CBGB in New York City: If you don't know this one, take off that damn Ramones shirt. Legendary owner Hilly Kristal was billed $91,000 in back rent to which he pleaded ignorance. After a failed attempt at getting landmark status for the club and moving it to Las Vegas, it shut its doors '06.
Stagedoor Tavern Ad
The Stage Door Tavern in Sydney: Has had Cold Chisel, the Stranglers and Midnight Oil, with the police once shutting down the latter's gig. Ironically it's now home to the NSW Licensing Court.
MuddClubPlaqueNYC
Mudd Club in New York City: Host to anybody who was anybody in the 70s, from Lou Reed and Iggy Pop to Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Talking Heads. Closing in 1983, regulars said "At the end, it was not much fun anymore. I mean, it had just become--kind of like the hangers-on to the hangers-on at the Mudd Club."
Jade Monkey Live Music Adelaide Adelaide Live Musi11
The Jade Monkey in Adelaide: One of Adelaide's few music venues was closed to make way for a new hotel. Said management: "Because even though we aren't on the exact spot, it seems that the owners don't want a live music venue next to their shiny new hotel, something I'm sure this city needs.”
Hacienda
The Hacienda in Manchester, England: The place rave culture was born. As depicted in the film 24 Hour Party People, ecstasy meant the punters weren't being fuelled by nightclub-lifeblood, alcohol. With the drugs came the shootings and the club eventually imploded.
The Arthouse
The Arthouse in Melbourne: Classic tale of Victorian Liquor Licensing laws requiring them to shut at 1am instead of 3am to avoid labelling as a "high risk" venue. This would mean having roughly one bouncer for every patron in the shack-sized venue.
ErolAlkan
Trash in London: Birthplace of dance-punk, electroclash and the garage rock revival, it closed in 2007 after 10 years. Founder and resident DJ Erol Alkan had enough of the place and handed the reigns over to Trash associates. Ask some punters and they'll tell you that "until 2000ish it was a bog standard indie club."
The Roxy
The Roxy in London: The home of UK punk, hosting bands like The Clash, Buzzcocks and The Jam, was open for all of 100 days before owners sold it to an East End gangland group. It's now a boutique.
Warehouse
The Warehouse in New York City: Where House music got its name. Owned by Robert Williams and led by legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles, the admission fee doubled in '82 and Knuckles left to start his own club to which punters promptly followed.