o / t Rock bands from Lancaster Uni's golden era

[SimplyRed MFC]

To music fans of a certain age, the years between 1968 & 1984 bring back massive nostalgia & superb memories of gigs attended at Lancaster University's Great Hall during those 17 years.

The artists playing Lancaster during that time were a complete Who's Who of Rock Royalty.

Just a short list off the top of my head included Queen, Wings, Roxy Music, Madness, Specials, Bob Marley & the Wailers, U2 and but for finals week in 1982, very nearly even the Rolling Stones.

Why am I telling you all this ?

Because the one guy who booked all these 100s of artists - the legend, and Shrimps fan, that is Barry Lucas has just spent the last 4 years writing a book which is a superb chronological record of EVERY single show during those 17 years - including some hilarious true stories about what went on behind the scenes those days

His book is called " When Rock Went To College " and is being released next month at the Great Hall. The date is FRI 27 OCT at 7-30 for the book launch and all are welcome to pop up and buy a copy.

Its a massive body of work and will undoubtedly become a collectors item very quickly as we will never see those kind of days again - ever.

Last word for now, even Sir Paul McCartney rang Barry at home just last week and ordered a copy !!!

[paulshrimp]

I remember seeing Deep Purple play there.

[Sakhalin Shrimp]

Thin Lizzy, Dr Feelgood, Supertramp.

[SimplyRed MFC]

I only went between about 80 and 83 but saw Judie Tzuke, Average White Band, Haircut 100, Japan, Kid Creole and the Coconuts & the Thompson Twins

[Freez]

In that same time frame you missed out on Blackfoot, the Scorpions, Wishbone Ash, Chevy, Iron Maiden, Sammy Hagar, UFO and Hawkwind as well as Alexie Sayle.

[Alan]

....not forgetting one our most popular avatars, several times at the Uni in the 70's and early 80's...
....Rory Gallagher.

[SimplyRed MFC]

Ah yes, i forgot Alexii Sayle as well !

[Crazeenick]

Bad Company and Camel

[slackAlice2]

Peter Gabriel , Stranglers , Lindisfarne; really great memories. It got me into music and concerts. Still love the small venues and it was affordable at the time.

[mrpotatohead]

China Street........, Natural scientist (supporting ewe two!).....Insurgents.....

[Bare bum]

Bob Marley, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter (I think), John Martyn (time and again), Captain Beefheart and the magic band? (did I really see them?), and the wonderful Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcgee. Amazing looking back, but you just sort of took it for granted at the time.
Alan, didn't The Kinks play as well?

[seasonsinthesun]

I remember a great night in 1975 when a group played there who at the time were at the top of the singles chart with "I'm Not In Love".
The superb 10CC.

[simmy]

They were great days. As well as seeing several of the above named I am pretty sure that I saw Squeeze and Frankie Miller at the Uni.

Did Blondie play at the Uni?

[SimplyRed MFC]

Simmy, yes Blondie did play the Uni on 27 Feb 1978. They were supported by Mungo Jerry, Advertising & Hanleo & Katrina - a knife-throwing act previously known as Las Vivas who had supported Free at the Great Hall in 1972. (Barry just told me !)

[Arnside Red]

, that was my first ever gig......and no one mentioned Eric Clapton either Summer 76, shite for 1 1/2 hours then came back for a 20 mins or so brilliant Layla....Lynerd Skynrd, Wishbone Ash, AC/DC twice, plus tons of smaller acts Joan Armatrading, Echo, Terdrop Explodes, Van Morrison, wow, the list goes on....great times

[Arnside Red]

10cc gig was actually a month or so before the release of I'm not in Love as a single, it was an add on gig for the OST tour, Life is a Minestrone was still in the lower reaches of the chart though, support band were called Fancy......oh and Elton John played there also in the early 70's

[Gone_Shrimping]

10 Years After , with the late great Alvin Lee on lead guitar.

[Christies Child]

Ahhhh.....memories of great nights at Lancaster Uni.....even for this old git of today

[SimplyRed MFC]

So sad to hear about the passing of the legendary Walter Becker of Steely Dan last week at the age of 67.

With fellow New Yorker and co-writer Donald Fagen, Steely Dan are probably the most under-rated rock band of all time - and that's saying something.

From 1972's "Cant Buy A Thrill" album, through "Pretzel Logic", "Aja", "Gaucho" through to recent iconic gigs in the US, their level of musical genius & innovation over the past 46 years has been nothing short of incredible

[seasonsinthesun]

I still regularly listen to Steely Dan,the music doesn't sound dated at all.Becker's guitar playing is just breathtaking, especially on Reelin In The Years.

[SimplyRed MFC]

SITS also check out 3 of Fagen's solo albums - The Nightfly 1982, Kamakiriad 1993 & Sunken Condos 2012

[sandgrown]

back in the 60's I saw King Crimson at the great hall

[broadwayshrimp]

Used to go to the uni concerts in the late sixties early seventies. Bus up to the underpass then leg it into the college bars before going into the Great Hall. Remember getting pissed on Newcastle Brown and McEwans Export. Saw The Who with Keith Moon doing his obligatory smashing of his drum kit at the finale, Jethro Tull and AC/DC among others. Happy days.

[HALMA 1983]

Others included Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Graham Parker And The Rumour, The Buzzcocks, The Damned, The Jam, Ultravox, OMD, The Stray Cats and my very first gig THE RAMONES!!!

[seasonsinthesun]

In my distant memory I seem to recall seeing Procol Harum around 1976 and even Hot Chocolate.
Does anyone recall them playing at the Great Hall?