Basement Tracks (From The Argus)
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Basement Tracks
12:12pm Thursday 3rd December 2009
The Basement Club was the University of Brighton-run club which hosted bands, club nights and all manner of excesses.
The Basement began life in the 1950s, when I’m told it was called the Tin Hat.
It closed in 1997 after 40 years of entertaining the masses. The venue in Grand Parade was demolished to make way for the redevelopment of Brighton University art faculty.
Over the years the venue played host to many a rock 'n' roll legend: New Order, U2, The Christians, The Fish Brothers and many more.
It pioneered the growth of indie and Britpop with nights such as Whirlpool and POD and was the home of Zincbar.
It was Brighton's favourite drinking den of the marginalised, misunderstood and general misfits.
I can remember many a psychedelic night intertwined with copious amounts of snakebite, the student staple.
I always remember being greeted at the door by Antonius's smiling face. I remember walking in and there being streams of toilet paper hanging from the ceiling on one of their Hawkwind nights, strange but effective.
The doors closed finally on December 9, 1997 with live bands followed by a party. A photographic record of the last three months of the club was produced called Sticky Floors and Sweaty Walls was on show between December 10-28.
The photographs were by Graeme Hope who was a staff member at the club for over a decade.
I remember going to this event and also buying a copy of the booklet. It acted as a funeral programme for the Basement.
I attended this event with a friend/boyfriend at the time I wasn't sure what we were. Never one to be upstaged he arrived dressed in a full cavalier costume, complete with wig and beauty spot in the shape of a heart.
Having never seen this costume before you can imagine my surprise. I have never laughed so much in my life - all helped along with vast amounts of free red wine.
Oh Happy Days...
