Bury Palais

Probably my favourite place in the mid-sixties!

Situated next to the railway station, the Palais was perfectly located for Mancunians without a car. A quick trip on the train from Victoria - plus the bonus of sitting in the luggage rack if no-one else in the carriage!

Outside the club, the scooter boys displayed their Lambrettas - probably too scared to leave them.

Inside was a dream - three or more bands, Dave Lee Travis as dj, great atmosphere.

I can remember the Yardbirds, Paul and Barry Ryan and the excitement of Rev Black and the Rocking Vicars at the Palais.

Pictured right: The Backbeats at Bury Palais

The Jaguars at Bury Palais
Photo courtesy Ian Wallace (on drums)

Palais Memories

"Our roadies somehow managed to be involved with the closing down of the Palais and grabbed a couple of things they thought might be useful. The next gig we were at Hill Stores, Oldham, a fairly large hall but our roadies were well prepared. They had acquired these huge, bloody huge horns - they must have been 3 foot across - and they were perched on top of each PA column.

Remember that this was in the days of the Marshall 4x12 PA cab, no mixers, no foldback - so it was somewhat unusual. We either looked incredibly impressive or bloody awful - not sure which.

They only lasted the one night!"

Paul Mlynarz, Phoenix City Smash

What about "Frankenstein's Monsters", The Small Faces, Nev the Rocker?  Surely everyone remembers how the Rockers stood on one side and the Mods on the other?  Then the dancing began and the glares stopped.  No trouble, just music.

Vanessa Major
21/8/09

Known gigs