The Radio 1 Club comes to Sunderland Top Rank 4th May 1971
The Radio 1 Club was launched in October 1968. The aim of the club was “to provide a link between the listeners at home, the DJs and stars”. It consisted of 2 hours with a top D.J. and a guest D.J., “leading groups” performing live, current hits, and requests/interviews with members. The show was broadcast live on Radio 1 at lunchtime. The first club date was on October 21st at London’s’ Lower Regent Street (a former cinema). It was hosted by Keith Skues, with guest D.J. Tony Blackburn and the Tremeloes played live. So that was the format; a couple of hours over a lunchtime, with a Radio DJ, a local DJ and a pop group playing live. Membership to the club was free of charge, by sending your details to the BBC. I’m sure I did so, and had a membership card somewhere, but I can’t find it (which is strange as I have kept most things to do with rock and pop music). Radio 1 boasted ‘a different DJ in a different Town each day’. The Radio 1 Club would tour the country and came to Sunderland Top Rank in 1971. I remember because I went along with loads of mates from school, proudly holding my Radio 1 Club membership card. The Radio 1 schedules archive have a record of it as “Radio 1 Club Dave Lee Travis 4 May 1971 from the Top Rank Suite, Sunderland 12.00 to 14.00.” I also remember that the “leading group” was none other than Paper Lace, who were unknown at the time, but hit the UK singles charts a couple of years later with “Billy Don’t be a Hero”.
It was an exciting day; we all got the bus to the town on our lunch break from School. The Rink was packed and we saw lots of people we knew from the town and from other schools. DLT was playing all of the chart hits of the time. “Double Barrel” by Dave and Ansel Collins was No. 1 and the Top Ten also featured T Rex (Hot Love), Dawn (Knock Three Times), Ringo (It Don’t Come Easy) and the Rolling Stones (Brown Sugar). Cool or what?! I remember being very upset at having to leave to go back to school. Missed most of Paper Lace. Some of my more fearless school mates decided not to return for the afternoon. Not sure if they received any comeback as a result. Great days.
Found this, which happened one month earlier: “April 1971 – students at St.Mungo’s High School in Falkirk threatened strike action as their headmaster would not grant permission to attend the lunchtime ‘Radio 1 club’ at the Town Hall!” Now they were cool guys. Classic!
19 Mar
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by anita on October 10, 2016 at 4:11 pm
i remember it well I skived off school that day and remember dlt and paper lace
Posted by Kenneth Richardson on December 31, 2023 at 3:24 pm
Sure I saw Paper Lace at Shiney Row Club just before they hit big. In fact I think they had just hit the charts but were contractually obliged to turn up.
Posted by vintagerock on December 31, 2023 at 3:52 pm
Great story Kenneth. It reminds me of the time I saw Goldie at Southwick club on the same night they appeared on Top of the Pops performing Making up Again. Similarly they had been contracted to play before the song became a hit. Happy days. The workingmen’s clubs hosted some great bands during the 1970s Peter
Posted by Kenneth Richardson on December 31, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Thursday nights at Shiney Row were real highlights. Mentioning Goldie, I still see their bass player, Geoff Robson at the gym of all places! I taught two of his kids years ago. I’ve appeared on stage in musicals with Dave Black’s (RIP) wife and daughter. Crazy links knocking about.
Take care, have a great 2024.
Posted by vintagerock on January 1, 2024 at 12:12 pm
There were many great local bands playing working men’s clubs in the 1970s including Brass Alley, Lucas Tyson, Geordie, Becket, and many many more. Yes Dave Black was an excellent guitarist. Happy days Peter