The earliest poster for Eric's is from October 1976, the first gig listed is The Stranglers, but Deaf School played a pre-opening show.
According to the Deaf School website it took place on August 3rd, which was a Thursday.
According to Bill Sykes' Sit Down & Listen to This Eric's opened on September 24th, a Friday.
According to Paul du Noyer's Deaf School: the Non Stop Pop Art Punk Rock Party "Before the downstairs venue was ready, Deaf School played a pre-opening night in Gatsby’s. On the next night, 1 October, the Stranglers played the same stage for Eric’s official unveiling."
At the beginning of August Deaf School played Drury Lane Theatre in London on the 4th, before coming back to Liverpool for a show at the Empire on the 6th.
In the early days Eric's Club was a one night a week takeover of the Revolution Club. The main band played upstairs at Gatsby's, the support bands played downstairs at the Eric's we all know and love. As all the Eric's gigs for the rest of 1976 were on Fridays I would suggest that 24th September would be the most likely date. Deaf School (according to their website) only played one gig in September, at Mr Digby's in Birkenhead on the 16th, so they would be free.
Friday September 24th Deaf School
Eric's Club opened, taking over the Revolution Club at 9 Mathew St, Liverpool 2. The Revolution Club wasn't ready yet so the opening night was upstairs at Gatsby's. Liverpool's best band of the time, Deaf School, played.
Friday 1st October The Stranglers
+ The Brownies
The Stranglers at the Nashville, London, 10th October 1976
Friday 10th December Slaughter & the Dogs + Berlin
Friday 17th December Flamin' Groovies
Friday 24th December Deaf School + Albert Dock + O'Boogie Brothers
Deaf School poster courtesy of Alexander Reynolds
Ambrose Reynolds began making music as a chorister at Liverpool Cathedral at the age of 7. A few years later, teaming up with David Knopov in a street busking band called The O'Boogie Brothers. The O'Boogie Brothers expanded its membership to include an Ian Broudie (Lightning Seeds) on Guitar and Nathan McGough (later to manage the Happy Mondays). With a new 6 piece line up they became a proper band after supporting legendary Liverpool band Deaf School on Christmas Eve 1976 at Erics Club, Mathew St, Liverpool. The O'Boogie Brothers eventually split (as bands do) in 1977.
Friday 31st December The Brownies
On Saturday 11th December Roger Eagle was promoting the Sex Pistols Anarchy tour at Liverpool Stadium.
poster copyright www.sex-pistols.net
The Liverpool Echo reported the gig was cancelled but the band planned to play a city centre club, the Cavern. That didn't happen either.
Friday 14th January The O'Boogie Brothers Saturday 15th January The Anti Disco Disco Friday 21st January Saturday 22nd January Roogalator Friday 28th January Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers - cancelled Generation X
The Damned
From Liverpool History Society
Just to put things in context, here's the Top of the Pops, Supersonic and Old Grey Whistle Test line ups for January 1977. Don't forget this was all the pop and rock music you could see on tv back then. Look out for Deaf School on Supersonic.
Thursday 6th January 1977 Top of the Pops (BBC1)
Host: David Jensen
Sheer Elegance Dance the night away
10cc The things we do for love (promo)
Tina Charles Dr Love
Smokie Living next door to Alice
Gladys Night & the Pips Nobody but you
Jethro Tull Ring out those Solstice bells
David Soul Don't give up on us (Legs & Co)
Drifters You're more than a number in my little red book (promo)
Clodagh Rogers Save me
Boney M Daddy Cool
Donna Summer - chat with host -
Johnny Mathis When a child is born
Abba Money, money, money (play out record)
Saturday 8th January 1977
Supersonic (LWT)
The Hollies Daddy don't mind
The Hollies Dragging my heels
Mud Somebody
Phoenix Easy
Andy Fairweather Low Bebop and holler
Flintlock
Brotherhood of Man
an aside:
Sunday 9th January
Liverpool Empire Genesis
In April 1975 I'd been to my first gig - Genesis with Peter Gabriel at the Empire. It was excellent. So when tickets for the first post-Gabriel Genesis tour went on sale roundabout October 1976 me & My Mate Dave got tickets for the Liverpool show the following January.
Punk happened pretty quickly. NME and Sounds might have articles about Punk but there were no records, there were hardly any Peel sessions. Hard to be a punk in a provincial town when you'd never heard a punk band. But then in October the Pistols signed with EMI and at the end of the month Neat, Neat, Neat by the Damned was released. Stuff started happening. The Sex Pistols went on Bill Grundy's show on 1st December and the rest is history.
Consequently by January 9th me & My Mate Dave were not all that interested in seeing Genesis - but we went anyway. Phil Collins had started doing the singing so they had the great Chester Thompson in on drums. He was the drummer on Frank Zappa's Roxy & Elsewhere which was pretty cool. We were loitering in Lime St on that Sunday afternoon and saw this bunch of guys walking towards us. Obviously we recognised them, and being 15 year old scouse kids, totally ignored Messsrs Collins, Rutherford, Banks and Hackett. Instead we bounded over (well, maybe not bounded) and said to Chester Thompson "hey mister, didn't you useta be in Frank Zappa's band?"
Tuesday 11th January 1977
Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC2)
Ace Rock & Roll Singer
Ace You're all that I needed
Daryl Hall & John Oates Back Together Again
Daryl Hall & John Oates Rich Girl
Roy Carr interview
Free The Stealer (promo)
Graham Parker & the Rumour That's what they all say (promo)
Boston Rock & Roll Band (promo)
Thin Lizzy Rocky (The Odeon, Hammersmith)
Thursday 13th January 1977
Top of the Pops (BBC1)
Host: David Hamilton
Gallagher & Lyle Every little teardrop
Barry Biggs Sideshow
Rose Royce Car Wash (Legs & Co)
David Parton Isn't she lovely
Julie Covington Don't cry for me Argentina (stills of Eva Peron)
Status Quo Wild side of life (promo)
Liverpool Express Every man must have a dream
Pussycat Smile
David Soul Don't give up on us (promo)
Stevie Wonder I wish (play out)
Saturday 15th January 1977
Supersonic (LWT)
Gary Glitter
Deaf School Taxi
Deaf School What a way to end it all
Jessie Green Flip
Jessie Green Nice & Slow
John Miles Manhattan Skyline
John Miles Music Man
Tuesday 18th January 1977
Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC2)
Larry Coryell's The Eleventh House in concert
Thursday 20th January 1977
Top of the Pops (BBC2)
Host: Noel Edmonds
Slade Gypsy Road Hog
Donna Summer Winter Melody (promo)
10c The things we do for love
Jesse Green Flip
Elvis Presley Suspicion (Legs & Co)
Drifters You're more than a number (promo)
Leo Sayer When I need you
Thin Lizzy Don't believe a word
Gary Glitter It takes all night long
Silver Convention Everybody's talking about love
David Soul Don't give up on us (promo)
Boney M Daddy Cool (play out)
Saturday 22nd January 1977
Supersonic (LWT)
Ace How Long
Ace You're all that I need
Dodgers Don't it always get you down
Eddie & the Hot Rods All I need is money
Eddie & the Hot Rods Teenage Depression
Liverpool Express Every man must have a dream
Slik Don't take your love away
Tuesday 25th January 1977
Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC2)
Leon Redbone Mr Jellyroll Baker
Leon Redbone I Ain't got nobody
SAHB without Alex Pick it up & kick it
SAHB without Alex Smouldering
Dory Previn Brando (promo)
Emmylou Harris Pancho & Lefty (Townes van Zandt cover)
Rick Wakeman White Rock (film clip)
Thursday 27th January 1977
Top of the Pops (BBC1)
Host: Tony Blackburn
The Brothers Sing Me
David Parton Isn't she lovely
Eagles New kid in town (Leggs & Co)
Barry Briggs Sideshow
Status Quo Wild Side of Life
Mr Big Romeo
Julie Covington Don't cry for me Argentina
Andy Fairweather Low BeBop & Holler
Moments Jack in a Box (promo)
New Seekers I want to go back
David Soul Don't give up on us (promo)
Rose Royce Car Wash (play out)
the unwitting cause of punk rock
Saturday 29th January 1977
Supersonic (LWT)
Mr Big Romeo
Andy Fairweather Low Be Bop & Holler
Real Thing You'll never know what you're missing
Real Thing Hallelujah Man
Leo Sayer When I need you
Leo Sayer You make me feel like dancing
Scrounger Our love
info from http://www.tvpopdiaries.co.uk/1977.html
go visit!
Saturday 5th February Plummet Airlines Friday 11th February Little Bob Story
NME , 11 days later, 22 February 1977
Friday 18th February Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias
Saturday 19th February Cherry Vanilla & her Staten Island Band Friday 25th February John Martyn
Saturday 26th February Stranglers
New Old Gig Review – Eric’s Liverpool 1977
Folk’s answer to Ted Nugent?
John Martyn: If he’s too loud then you’re too old!
FOR THOSE of you who do not know, let me merely say this: John Martyn is Britain’s number one singer/songwriter. Absolutely.
Without doubt. His fine, unique vocals excellently complement his subtle blend of guitar pyrotechnics. You heard correctly – pyrotechnics! (And if any of you Ted Nugent/Buck Dharma/Ace Frehley fans wanna argue, come right up!).
After a plea for ‘a bit more juice in the monitors’ (which is only significant in the fact that it commenced a running verbal battle which the guy at the mixing desk which lasted for all of Martyn’s one-and-a-half hour long set) and a final drink out of his ubiquitous bottle of beer, Martyn went straight into an incredible version of ‘One Day Without You.’ Just check out those vocals. Perfection. Next came the highlight (for me, any way) of Martyn’s set, ‘Outside In.’ During this, he brought to the fore his whole battalion of effects – wahwahs, boosters, fuzztones, copycat, in fact, you name it, and Martyn’s got his foot on it. The way this song progresses is just amazing. It seems to possess a magical inherent non-verbal imagery, providing excellent fodder for all us would be amateur escapists.
After this song, Martyn Went about developing his rapport with the highly appreciative Eric’s audience before treating us to an ‘acoustic guitar solo’, and following that with a ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide Ballad (Traditional).’ How can I, a mere mortal, ever hope to convey the many facets of loveliness songs like ‘Over The Hill’ or ‘Make No Mistake’ or for that matter ‘Bless The Weather’ possess?
If your answer to the question, ‘Have you heard John Martyn?’ is in the negative, God help your souls. But it’s not too late. Quick! There’s still time if you hurry.
back of a Deaf School programme from March 11 1977
Friday March 4th
Plummet Airlines
Saturday March 5th
Anti Disco Disco
Monday March 7th Warm [Warm Gun?]
Thursday March 10th The Heartbreakers + Cherry Vanilla + The Police
Above: Cherry
Vanilla's song about Liverpool inspired by this gig at Eric's.
I made the mistake of
saying that The Police acted as Cherry Vanilla's backing band. I was put in my place by
Zecca Esquibol, Cherry Vanilla's keyboard player.
Zecca says:
No, No
and NO! How many times must I correct this? Sting and Stewart joined me and
guitarist Louie Lepore to be Cherry's backing band, NOT the entire Police.
Please read Sting's book for details. Below is a pic of me and Sting on stage
in Newcastle with Louie's guitar neck and hand between us. Also, note the
references to me and Louie in verse 1 of "Liverpool".
Well, there's no chance I'm going to read Sting's book but I'm sure Gordon backs up Zecca's story. There's a bit more detail in this very entertaining piece from www.punk77.co.uk read it here
Note the references to
Louie: Louie left his shoes at the Lion Hotel
(Lion Hotel in Warrington, where Cherry Vanilla played the previous evening)
Zecca Zecca getting cruised every night
Stewart (Copeland): Stewart said this is where the Beatles had played
and Sting Sting was eating lunch from a box
Friday 11th March Darts
Saturday 12th March Rockpile
Friday 18th March Buzzcocks or Bert Jansch
the poster says Bert Jansch, Bill Sykes book says it was Buzzcocks.
have both
Roger Eagle would have played them back to back
Saturday 19th March Frankie Miller
This is Jackie Leven covering a Frankie Miller song
Jackie did play Eric's twice with his band Doll by Doll
but this is just because I love this song and I love Jackie's version of it
Friday 25th March Silly Wizard
Fun Fact: The bass player from The REZILLOS, William Mysterious, was in Silly Wizard!
During the Everyman Theatre's 13th season the rebuilding project forced the company out and into a year of touring, playing school gymnasiums, pubs and working men's clubs throughout Merseyside. one of the most popular shows was The Western Kirby Cowboy starring Bob Mason (a Mersyside version of Shane Connaughton's Weston Coyney Cowboy). The play opened in Eric's before touring around Merseyside. Shane Connaughton was an Irish actor and writer who played Gipsy John Smith in Coronation St (1970) and co-wrote the Oscar nominated screenplay for My Left Foot (1989).
Hi Phil. in a
nutshell, on an afternoon in late March early April 77 Roger held a battle of
the bands. there was us, the spitfire boys and half a dozen others. Roger told
the spitfire boys they were history and we opened that night for Wayne
County. From then on we played pretty
much every thursday, friday, twice on saturdays and many sundays until around
October 78, by which time we had outgrown the place. We played Erics well over a hundred
times. I will get you the first date as the wayne county bill is on
your blogspot. for some reason BMG are
blocking the youtube links to our records on the detour label, in the UK. It's not like they'll retire on the
publishing rights haha. We did appear on
some posters as headliners at Erics but we were mostly billed as "plus
support". When we got concurrent residencies at the swingin apple and
(much to our shame) Thursdays at the Wispa in Litherland Roger was a bit pissed
at us. But as he'd never paid us more than 4 bottles of beer each he'd had his
money's worth out of us. Unfortunately
we were young and nieve. we didn't pose
for photos or give interviews. That wasn't punk. The Echo did a full 2 page centre spread
about us in early 1978 and none of us kept a copy. I will give you more concrete dates. Ian
The Destroyers
Submitted by Ian Barry for Eric's - all the best clubs are downstairs
March 77, Gibbo and I had been refused entry to a club off
Dale street as I didn’t look old enough (I wasn’t), but Gibbo who was 6’4” had
heard of a rock club” The Revolution” where they weren’t so choosy” “You wont
like it in here lads its punk night” the bouncer said, but we blagged entry
anyway. The stage was in complete darkness except for John Foxx 12 string in hand
singing “I want to be a machine” It is still difficult to express the emotions
that ran through me that night, stunned senseless yet alive and tingling in a
way I imagined only a tab of acid could make you and all this on brown bitter! Next week we were there in ripped shirts 2nd hand shoes and of course safety
pins, our memberships for Erics said “does not guarantee entrance to “The
Revolution” we were of the first and we knew it.
Doreens lasagne Coming from
Kirkby and before that Everton, having never been abroad and my mum working in
the Birds Eye, our diet at home was somewhat restricted to fish fingers, pies
and “boil in the bag beef”, so Doreens Lasagne was the first real foreign food
I had tasted. It was fantastic, about 4 inches thick and gave your stomach a
really good lining god bless you Doreen wherever you are!
Lads would dance on
their own, Julian Cope in Nylon boiler suit and altogether too much blonde hair
looking slightly deranged, Holly Johnson too in overcoat and red shoes although
he wouldn’t be alone for long as Wylie wouldn’t be far behind he was at the uni
but desperate that no one knew he was from Norris Green! Pete Burns was a
really scary looking bloke him and lynn (which was which?) all in black, but he
was a really nice and genuine bloke if you plucked up the courage to speak to
him (books, covers)
By August we had formed “The Destroyers”, Roger liked us we
played a Saturday afternoon and then stayed over to support Wayne County &
the Electric Chairs, now that was odd! Roger saw something in us we didn’t, to
us it was just a laugh (and we had no talent) he put us supporting some of the
best, Clash, Black Slate, Ultravox The Slits, and tried to give us advice which
we never took. He would introduce us to people randomly, one night at the bar
he brings up this tall skinny Irish bloke, who looked and smelled like a
pikey,”you two should talk he said” would you loike a derink the pikey says
“fuckoff nobhead Gibbo says” (people usually did what he said) years later the
pikey earned a few quid for charity with a shit xmas song and some open-air
gigs!
We never got paid, he would give us a mixed crate, lager (our kid got
these he was older) brown (gibbo got these he was bigger) Pale Ale (fred got
these he was faster) and I got the cider I’ve never been able to drink it
since! Roger lent us “Trout Mask Replica” and told us this was our future we
gave it back the next week we liked “falling ditch” but the rest was shit to
our young ears, god bless the Captain. We would walk to the front of the long
queues in Mathew street and never paid to get in we were “The Destroyers” from
Kirkby we thought we were fucking ace! I could go on but you’re probably
asleep.
it was me (Ian Barry), our mark, tony Gibbo gibson on mouth
noises and Fred Palethorpe on drums.
yeah resident band in the Swinging Apple at the same time as the
resident band in Erics. made for some late nights in the apple as we played
there after erics. after we opened for the clash they walked over to the apple
with us to watch us again.
Saturday 16th April Gorillas (aka Hammersmith Gorillas)
?did they even turn up?
Wednesday 20th April Jazz Night [possibly with Henry Cow]
Thursday 21st April John Cale
+ Count Bishops [no show]
+ The Boys
Friday 22nd April Little Bob Storey
Saturday 23rd April The Pirates
Tuesday 26th April Deaf School
graffiti appears to read: (Deaf) School Eric's Tues 26th April 7
other graffiti: Ultravox! played Eric's September 23rd 1977
The Crabs - Great Yarmouth band, played Eric's 14 October '77
Skunks - also played Eric's 29th October '77
Also Wirral's own Radio Blank (Dave Balfe, Alan Gill) played Eric's 5 times during 1977, before splitting late '77
and Liverpool band 051 (Dave Jackson, Paul Hornby) summer '77 to Oct '78
