Gigography 1970s

This page is no longer being updated. Please see the Gigography pages for the individual years (eg, Gigography 1970).
== 1970 ==
Unknown dates (1970 or 1971)
Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich: John Peel RoadshowPeel writes about the gig, which no one else turned up for, in a Disc & Music Echo column from 1970 or 1971, exact date unknown, republished in Olivetti Chronicles (p. 119-21). 
Talk Of The Town, London: Jackson 5 media showcaseDisc & Music Echo column from 1970 or 1971, exact date unknown, republished in Olivetti Chronicles (p. 197-200). A Guardian article by Richard Williams following the death of Michael Jackson confirms that Peel attended the event.
Unknown venue (Polytechnic in Hamstead): Loudon Wainwright IIIDisc & Music Echo column from 1970 or 1971, exact date unknown, republished in Olivetti Chronicles (p. 327-30). Peel says the gig was a few month's after the artist's debut album was released (in 1970).
Nag's Head, Wollaston, Northants: Peel had regular Friday night gigs at the venue for around a year from spring 1970. Margrave Of The Marshes, p. 198. The venue was run by Peel's long-time friend "Big Bob" Knight, who was also involved in the nearby Blisworth Hotel. A BBC Northampton documentary on the Nag's Head, including Peel's role, is available online.
Jan
9 Mothers, Birmingham: John Peel (no listed band) [148]
23 Mothers, Birmingham: Medicine Head [149]
25 Coventry, Lanchester Festival: Ron Geesin, Bridget St John, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (Others appearing at the ten-day included Jack Bruce, Yes, Free, Roland Kirk, Chicken Shack, Roy Harper, Duster Bennett, the Strawbs )
Feb
6 Mothers, Birmingham: Black Sabbath [152] 
13 Locarno, Sunderland: Blodwyn Pig, Audience 
20 Mothers, Birmingham: Siren [153]
Mar
6 Mothers, Birmingham: Medicine Head [154]
20 Mothers, Birmingham: Forest [155]
April
3 Mothers, Birmingham: Asgard [156]
17 Mothers, Birmingham: David Symonds, Stackwaddy, Vision Workshop Lights [157] - clashes with date below
17 Royal Albert Hall, CBS Records' "Sounds of the 70s" concert:Steamhammer, Flock, Johnny Winter 
18 Royal Albert Hall, CBS Records' "Sounds of the 70s" concert: It's A Beautiful Day, Taj Mahal, Santana 
20 Roundhouse, "Pop Proms": Traffic, Mott The Hoople, Bronco, If 
21 Roundhouse, "Pop Proms": Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brinsley Schwartz, Elton John, Curved Air 
22 Roundhouse, "Pop Proms": Johnny Winter, Juicy Lucy, Quintessence 
23 BBC Sunday Concert recording: Mike Cooper, Mott The Hoople 
24 Roundhouse, "Pop Proms": Fleetwood Mac, Mighty Baby, Hookfoot (Peel went home early and missed Fleetwood Mac) 
May
1 Mothers, Birmingham: Conchise [169]
15 Mothers, Birmingham: John Peel (no listed band) 
23, 24 Hollywood Music Festival, Leycette near Newcastle Under Lyme: Mungo Jerry, Grateful Dead, Free, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Colosseum, Family, Black Sabbath, Traffic. Peel compared the first day. 
29 Mothers, Birmingham: John Peel (no listed band) [171]
June
1 Royal Festival Hall: Van de Graff Generator, Audience, East of Eden 
27-29 Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music
Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music: Formerly Fat Harry, ,Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Keef Hartley Band, Donovan, Joe Jammer, Fairport Convention, Colosseum, Its A Beautiful Day, Steppenwolf; Johnny Winter, Pink Floyd, John Mayall, Canned Heat, Frank Zappa, Santana, The Flock, Led Zeppelin, Hot Tuna, Country Joe McDonald, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Dr John (Peel advertised as one of two continuity announcers but was apparently prevented from getting to the stage by Hell's Angels security for at least part of the event). 
Sept
20 Blisworth, Helenors Club (Blisworth Hotel): "John Peel invites Van der Graaf Generator and Medicen light show (bar) 8/-" 
Nov
29 Blisworth Hotel, Northants: Hawkwind 
Dec
13 Blisworth Hotel, Northants: Delivery 
17 Tamworth, Polesworth Memorial Hall: Medicine Head 
== 1971 ==
Jan
1 Blisworth, Blissworth Hotel: Audience 
March
6 43 King Street, Covent Garden (The Old Middle Earth), "Oz Police Ball - A Gala Benefit For The Oz Obscenity Trial": "A star-studded all nighter starting at 8.30 with: Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come/Viv Stanshall's Seanhead Showband/Gene Vincent's Houseshakers/Pink Fairies/Egg/Third World War/Gnidrolog and John Peel holding it together." 
26 Locarno, Sunderland: Mott The Hoople, Medicine Head 
30 Portsmouth, Tricorn Club: Audience 
May
9 Roundhouse, BIT Benefit: Funkadelic, Little Free Rock, National Head Band, Good Habit, Zoo, Zoot Money 
June
1 (or 23 Aug. 1971) Talk Of The Town, London: Lovelace WatkinsPeel wrote about the evening, which he attended with John Walters and their respective wives, in an Disc & Music Echo column republished in Olivetti Chronicles (hardback edition, p. 146-50) and dated 1970 or 1971. An online record of the venue's schedule suggests two possible dates in summer 1971.
22-28 Glastonbury Fayre: Melanie, Quintessence, Edgar Broughton Band, Pink Fairies, Terry Reid with David Lyndley and Linda Lewis, Gong, David Bowie, Hawkwind, Arthur Brown, Brinsley Schwarz, Fairport Convention, Family, Traffic The BBC says this was Peel's first-ever Glastonbury, although the man himself was also known to claim he went with Marc Bolan to the first one in 1970.
July
5 Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh: A weekend long Pop Festival, final night concert featuring Fairport Convention, Stealer's Wheel and a 'pop forum'.  The forum consited of John Peel, John Walters, Tony Palmer, Stuart Henry, Nick Cohn, Bruce Finlay
(exact date unknown) Royal Albert Hall: Liverpool Philharmonic OrchestraDisc & Music Echo column, 1971-07-31, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles.
Dec
7 Hobbit's Garden, Wimbledon: Genesis, Roxy Music, Gravy Train Observer column, 1989-01-22, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (hardback edition, p. 92). There may have been a venue of the same name in Leytonstone, and Peter Gabriel (singer with Genesis at the time) has put the gig with Roxy Music attended by Peel as taking place there, during an interview with Mojo magazine (April 2010, p. 82). A reader's letter to the same magazine the following month, however, confirmed that the Genesis/Roxy gig took place at Hobbit's in Wimbledon.
== 1972 ==
Mar
23 Royal Albert Hall: Leonard Cohen Disc & Music Echo column, 1972-04-01, republished in Olivetti Chronicles (p. 30-41). Peel mentions the gig was two days before the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest. For more details of the Cohen gig see here. Earlier the same day, Peel attended a reception for Captain Beefheart at the Speakeasy in London.
27 Royal Albert Hall: Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (message to Discussion section of this page) Peel can be heard introducing Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band at the Royal Albert Hall in London on March 27, 1972- there's an extant audience recording of the show: "This is something that I've been waiting for for six years, and I hope it means as much to you as it does to me. Captain Beefheart!"
May
26-29 "Great Western Express" festival, Bardney, Lincolnshire: Rory Gallagher, Wishbone Ash, Roxy Music, Strawbs, Stone The Crows, Faces, Genesis, Status Quo, Don McLean, Humble Pie, Sha Na Na Joe Cocker, Lindisfarne, Average White Band, Slade, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Beach Boys and others . Peel was DJ from 27-29 May, following Bob Harris.
Oct
4 Bumpers all-night club, W.1, benefit concert for Release: Quintessence, Quiver, Global Village Trucking Company, Lol Coxhill, John Peel, Bishop Big Boppers, Smith, Perkins and Smith, Bitch, The White Panther Street Band, Bridget St. John, Pisces, Tir na Nog and others 
Dec
3 Fairfield Hall, Croydon, Benefit for the Spastic Society: Soft Machine, Medicine Head, Ron Geesin, Ivor Cutler 
== 1973 ==
April
6 Hull Arts Centre: John Peel Roadshow with Jo'burg Hawk Disc & Music Echo column 1973-04-14, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 260-2).
7 Cleethorpes, Dreamland: John Peel RoadshowDisc & Music Echo column 1973-04-14, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 260-2).
13 Sunderland, Locarno: Faces (often cited as among Peel's favourite gigs; for example, Margrave pg. 225) ) 
27 Sunderland, Locarno: Status Quo, Good Habit (and/or John Peel Roadshow date in Hull)Peel's Disc & Music Echo column 1973-05-12, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 141-2), gives a roadshow date in Hull the night before Liverpool clinched the championship at Anfield that season, in a match that took place the following day, as shown here and . If the Quo concert in Sunderland and the Hull date were at different times on the Friday evening, Peel may have done both gigs.
28 Newcastle, City Hall: Captain Beefheart (possible)In his 24 July 2003 (Radio Eins) show, Peel recalls hearing the Magic Band perform 'Circumstances' in Newcastle. As the track is from Clear Spot, released in 1973, 1973-04-28 appears the most likely date for the Beefheart gig mentioned, particularly if Peel had introduced a Status Quo qig in nearby Sunderland the previous evening, at another concert promoted by his friend Geoff Docherty (A Promoter's Tale, pg.245). On the other hand, in the afternoon of the Beefheart appearance in Newcastle, Liverpool won the league at Anfield and Peel claimed to have been there in his Disc & Music Echo column of 1973-05-12, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 141-2). While it would certainly be possible to travel between the two northern cities in a few hours, it seems unlikely Peel would have failed to mention in his column the perfect end to a perfect day (LFC win the league, followed by a Beefheart gig in the evening). Beefheart's next date in Newcastle was 1974-06-04 (), which may have been the performance referred to by Peel in 2003.
June
25 Queen Elizabeth Hall, London: Mike OldfieldPeel writes about the upcoming gig in The Listener, issue 1973-06-07, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 311-3). Although he doesn't confirm he will be attending in person, he writes about the event in such glowing terms that it appears unlikely he wasn't planning to go.
July
15 Great Western Express at White City. Edgar Winter Band, Sly and the Family Stone, Barclay James Harvest, Canned Heat, Lindisfarne, JSD Band; Special guest stars The Kinks. Your Hosts: John Peel, Jerry Floyd, Bill Barclay. 
21 Buxton "Pop" Festival at Booth Farm, near Buxton, Derbyshire. Chuck Berry, Wizzard, Groundhogs, Nazareth, Canned Heat, Medicine Head, Edgar Broughton Band. This may be the "unspeakable" festival, marked by Chuck Berry's non-appearance, that he describes on pp.55-58 of Margrave of the Marshes - although he believed it took place in 1969. 
Aug
Exact date(s) unknown: Alexandra Palace, London Music Festival: Appears to have been a series of gigs at the Ally Pally early in the month, with those appearing including Incredible String Band and Steeleye Span (both 1 Aug), Black Sabbath (2 Aug), Alvin Lee & Ten Years After (3 Aug), Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (5 Aug)l. The band Fumble played a ten-day residency. Peel seems to have been booked to compere, but whether this was for all or some of the gigs is currently unknown. 
25 Reading, 12th National Jazz, Blues and Rock Festival: JP hosts second day of three-day event, with The Faces, Jon Hiseman's Tempest, Caravan, Jack The Lad, Fumble, Andy Bown, Tasavallan Presidentii (Finland), Strider, Claire Hamill, Riff-Raff, Quadrille, Dave Ellis. Special guest stars Status Quo and Lindisfarne 
== 1974 ==
July
5 Knebworth Festival: Pink Floyd, Linda Lewis, Monty Python, Steve Miller, Captain Beefheart, Roy Harper 
Aug
23-25 Reading Festival: lineup included Alex Harvey, 10cc, Traffic, Focus, George Melly, Thin Lizzy, Kevin Coyne August 
Sept
8 Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: Robert Wyatt & Friends 
Oct
5 Southend Festival: John Peel comperes and introduces Nic Jones, Benfleet Hoymen, English Tapestry, Mervyn Clayton, Gymel, Journeymen, Thameside Mummers, Chingford Morris Men, Kiti Theobald, and lots more.. Workshops and children's events during the day and a five-hour finale at the Cliffs Pavilion make up 'Folkeast 74', organised by the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Some events at the Queen's Hotel.NME Gig Guide, 1974-10-05 issue
Nov
1 London City University: Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers, Marmalade, Gonzalez, Love Machine, Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias NME Gig Guide, 1974-11-02 issue
Dec
15 Hammersmith Palais, London: Osibisa In Concert with Special Guests, Casablanca and The Funkees (Nigeria's Top Rock Band), Compere & DJ ~ John Peel, Tickets £1.10p in advance or £1.20p at door.Ad from NME 14th Dec 1974 edition (in shops 12th), Many thanks to Mick C of the Marmalade Skies site and Peel Mailing List for this information.
== 1975 ==
Jan
19 Rainbow, London: Little Feat, Doobie Brothers (Warner brothers tour) 
Feb
21 (or 22) Tiffany's, Newcastle(?): Jack The Lad, Snafu. Medicine HeadSounds column, 1975-03-01, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 263-5).
28 Hull University, John Peel Roadshow Sounds column, 1975-03-01, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 263-5).
29 Bolton Institute Of Technology: John Peel Roadshow Sounds column, 1975-03-01, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 263-5).
Mar
2 Coventry, Mr George's: John Peel Roadshow Sounds column, 1975-03-01, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 263-5).
16 Rainbow Theatre, London, last night at venue: Sassafras, Procol Harum, Frankie Miller,
Richard & Linda Thompson, Hatfield & the North, John Martyn, Kevin Coyne Peel appears on a bootleg recording introducing the Richard & Linda Thompson set. An official live compilation LP of the event called Over The Rainbow was released.
Apr
2 Royal Albert Hall: Tangerine Dream 
10: Ronnie Scott's: Arthur Brown Sounds column, 1975-04-19, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 166-8).
July
5 Knebworth: Pink Floyd, Steve Miller Band, Captain Beefheart, Roy Harper, Linda Lewis (DJ's John Peel and Pete Drummond) Sounds column, 1975-04-19, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 166-8).
Oct
12 London, New Victoria Theatre: Thin Lizzy 
17 or 18, London, Empire Pool, Wembley: Sadistic Mika Band, Roxy Music 
20 York Minster: Tangerine Dream 
 - Peel later recalled sitting between Sheila and Richard Branson at the gig
Nov
18 (or 24) Hammersmith Odeon, London: Bruce Springsteen Sounds column, 1976-02-07, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 27-9). The first of Springsteen's two debut London dates was released officially as Hammersmith Odeon London '75 as video and live album.
== 1976 ==
Unknown
(First half of the year?) Speakeasy, London: Eddie & The Hot Rods 
Aug
27-29 Reading Festival: Lineup included Eddie & The Hot Rods, Supercharge, Mighty Diamonds, Mallard, Gong, Van Der Graaf Generator, Phil Manzanera, Camel, Rory Gallagher, AC/DC, Sutherland Bros & Quiver, Ted Nugent, Black Oak Arkansas 
Oct
22 (or 23) Hammersmith Odeon: Patti Smith, Stranglers Ken Garner, The Peel Sessions, p. 94
== 1977 ==
Jan
29 Roxy, London: Generation X, Penetration Ken Garner, The Peel Sessions, p. 93 - Peel's first punk gig
April
19 Upstairs at Ronnie Scotts: XTC Peel mentions going to the gig in the first show of the first series of John Peel's Classic Sessions on 24 June 1996. He says that after seeing them live, he promptly booked the band for a session.
May
9 Rainbow Theatre: Clash, Buzzcocks, Jam, Subway Sect, Prefects (the latter opened the show with a song called "VD," which had the briefest of lyrics, as Peel would later relate on various occasions) 
Aug
15 Vortex, London: Slits Ken Garner, The Peel Sessions, p. 93
26, 27, 29 Reading Festival: Staa Marx, Salt, Five Hand Reel, Uriah Heap, Eddie & The Hotrods, Ultravox, Little River, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Quartz, Motors, Electric Chairs, Hawkwind, Doobie Brothers, Frankie Miller, Alex Harvey Peel also wrote at length about his weekend at the festival for Sounds, in a piece that was republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (pg. 245-50).
29 Vortex, London: Chelsea 
Sept
17 Chelmsford City Punk Festival: Slaughter & The Dogs, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Doctors Of Madness, Chelsea, Aswad (Damned didn't show up) Peel mentions the event in his end of year write-up for The Listener in a piece later republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (pg. 182).
Oct
8 Southampton University, Pleasers 
(Exact date unknown): West Midlands College Of Education: John Peel Roadshow[[Sounds column, 1977-11-05, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 80-3). Peel also mentions a recent Roadshow gig in Norwich, presumably also in October, and "three remaining dates on my pre-Yule British tour", presumably in November or December.
== 1978 ==
April
5 Rochester Castle, Stoke Newington, London: Skids 
May
10 Speakeasy, London: Snivelling ShitsSounds column, 1978-05-27, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 226-9). The gig took place on the same evening Liverpool won the 1978 European Cup Final at Wembley. A photo of Peel looking the worse for wear and introducing the band was published in the following week's Sounds and is also reproduced in Olivetti Chronicles.
15 "Pinkpop", Burgemeester Damen sportpark, Geleen, Holland: Partner, Mothers Finest, Robert Gordon & Link Wray, Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Journey, Thin Lizzy 
June
(exact date unknown) Dingwalls, Camden Lock, London: George Thorogood & The DestroyersSounds column, 1978-06-24, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 341-4). Peel introduced the band, after an earlier wine-tasting session with John Walters.
July
11 London (unknown venue): Etta James 
Aug
25-27 Reading Festival: Lineup included Sham 69, Pirates, Ultravox, The Jam
Lindisfarne, Spirit, Motors, Status Quo, Tom Robinson Band, Chelsea, Foreigner, Tom Robinson Band, Patti Smith Sounds column, 1978-08-26, republished in The Olivetti Chronicles (p. 341-4).
== 1979 ==
Jan
28 Brighton, Alhambra: Piranhas, Chicane 
 - exact date and Brighton venue not confirmed
Feb
23 Nottingham University: Stiff Little Fingers, Essential Logic, Robert Rental & The NormalFrom message to the Peel Quotes thread at ILX. The title is "Wolverhampton '78" but the football result, session and gigs mentioned suggest the events took place in February 1979, as follows: (Wed 21 February 1979) Essential Logic session; (Fri 23 Feb.) SLF gig in Nottingham, (Sat 24 Feb.) Derby 0 - Liverpool 2 , followed by John Peel Roadshow at Wolverhampton Poly.
24 Wolverhampton Polytechnic: John Peel Roadshow, unknown bands From message to the Peel Quotes thread at ILX. The title is "Wolverhampton '78" but the football result, session and gigs mentioned suggest the events took place in February 1979, as follows: (Wed 21 February 1979) Essential Logic session; (Fri 23 Feb.) SLF gig in Nottingham, (Sat 24 Feb.) Derby 0 - Liverpool 2 , followed by John Peel Roadshow at Wolverhampton. Poly
Apr
Exact date unknown - Harpole, Northants, The Barrow: John Peel Roadshow, punk night (bands unknown) 
May
11 Hatfield: Leyton Buzzards 
June
4 "Pinkpop", Burgemeester Damen sportpark, Geleen, Holland: Massada, Average White Band, Dire Straits, Police, Elvis Costello, Rush, Peter Tosh 
16 Harpole, Northants, The Barrow: Coil, Sincere Americans, Disco Zombies and Bauhaus, with John Peel Roadshow 
July
29 Manchester, The Factory: The Fall 
Aug
1, 2, 3, or 4 Marquee, London: Undertones, Donkeys 
18 Harpole, near Northampton, The Barrow: Russians, Selections, Cigarettes 
Oct
6 Aston University, Birmingham: The Beat - appears to be the occasion when Peel gave his gig fee to the band
19 Huddersfield Polytechnic: Undertones ("Undertones in Huddersfield" often cited as among Peel's favourite gigs; for example, Margrave pg. 225, ) 
Nov
16 Guildford, Surrey University: The Beat, The Vapors, Tickets £1.50 
18 Liverpool, unknown venue: John Peel Roadshow (bands not known) 
Dec
8 Aston University, Birmingham: The Quads 
16 Wollaston, Northamptonshire, unknown venue (Nag's Head?): John Peel Roadshow (bands not known) 
== Notes ==
Category:Gigography