The Scotch of St James • London • UK

Ace clubs for pop stars both on and off duty

Whatever the statisticians may say about our spending close to a half of our life in bed, I doubt very much whether this applies to pop people.

On a working day, a pop singer (if you’ll pardon that outmoded expression) will probably not get up much before noon. He will arrive at wherever he is working that night in the early evening, and stay there until near the midnight hour.

If he’s unlucky, he might not be able to get away until later, and when his day begins he will zoom straight for “The Club”. The place where the music is sweet and the lights are always low.

There, he’ll be able to relax a little and forget about the tensions of the daytime. And he knows he will not be alone. All his showbiz friends—or at least a star-spangled sprinkling of them—will be there, where they can let their hair down!

In London town the place of the moment to find your fave raves enjoying themselves is undoubtedly The Scotch, in Duke Street, St. James’s. Most nights a good half of the club’s customers are in some way connected with the Music Industry. It’s not cheap and you need to be a member to get in.

The action takes place downstairs. Not by any stretch of the imagination could it be called spacious. However, a club isn’t judged so much by its size as the atmosphere it generates. By this I mean that people like Paul McCartney can be seen with Jane Asher or the John Lennons joking with their friends.

The dance floor, compared with the average ballroom is small and packed to crushing capacity. But you can dance (dance?) shoulder to shoulder with Dusty Springfield, Mick Jagger, The Moody Blues, Lulu, Zoot Money or Georgie Fame if you wish.

Everyone seems to have left The Ad-Lib and it is mostly patronised by wealthy people who were attracted by the club’s reputation. Occasionally some of the big star names, like Natalie Wood or Steve McQueen drop in to see what’s happening.

The Cromwellian has changed its clientele; the pop people don’t go down there so much these days, though it’s still a fun place. Blaises, where The Byrds played one night, attracts a few of the up-and-coming groups.

The Pickwick, once a very exclusive restaurant, has opened a discotheque for its members. (Don’t go there unless you’re feeling flush). Donovan and Cilla Black are among its regulars. Peter and Gordon were discovered singing there. So were Paddy, Klaus and Gibson.

A successful “in” place can expect a life span of between six months and a year.

Then the word goes round and a new club finds among its customers one night half-a-dozen Top Twenty names, ordering steak sandwiches and bottles of rosé wine.

There’s a club hopefully calling itself the “In Place” waiting for some pop trend-setters to sample its very splendid decor. But everyone was at the opening night, and it’s less expensive than the other top-spots. The Crazy E, which was the scene of many a wild rave about a year ago, has recently reopened under the name of “Dollys.”

Not all the clubs are like these, though. The Marquee is often packed to capacity when people like The Yardbirds, The Moody Blues, The Vagabonds or The T-Bones are playing, and it’s not expensive. Don’t be surprised to see some of The Animals in the audience watching the fantastic Spencer Davis Group.

It’s not a club but “The Ship” pub in Wardour Street, takes the overflow from The Marquee and you often see Eric Burdon or one of The Fairies supping a thirst-quenching pint.

The all-nighter at the famed Flamingo in Wardour Street (ten bob to get in if you’re not a member) is the scene for some real wild sessions. Whenever any American soul artistes are in town performing, The Stones and The Animals are generally there. Zoot Money draws big crowds and so do Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds.

Out of London, there seem to be few clubs that can compare with those in London. Liverpool’s Blue Angel boasts the cream of visiting star names after-hours, so does Manchester’s Mister Smith’s and Birmingham’s The Cedars. The Mojo in Sheffield is a lively spot, too.

The surroundings may change and clubs may come and go, but wherever the action is you can be sure the names will be there.

Where to next, I wonder? Watch Fab to find out. MICHAEL ALDRED

From Fabulous208 – November 1965