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GBR, London - Astoria
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Location info

Type: Club
Location: United Kingdom, London
157 Charing Cross Road
WC2 8EN
Contacts: 020 7434 9592
Website: www.festivalrepublic.com/venues/#Astoria
 
It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. The Astoria closed on the 15th of January 2009

The Astoria was built on the site of a former pickle factory and opened in 1927 as a cinema. It was later converted for theatrical use in 1976 and became an exclusively a music venue with a capacity of 2,000. The Astoria is connected to Astoria 2 such that the two venues can function as a single venue where needed. By far its busiest nights were the G-A-Y promotions; the final G-A-Y at the Astoria was held on July 26, 2008.

It has played host to many up-and-coming bands, such as Radiohead and Nirvana in 1989. The venue would also host world famous bands wishing to play low-profile shows, including U2 in 2001, The Rolling Stones in 2003, Pearl Jam in 2006 and Oasis's first performance of their 2005 tour. Blur also played a five-night residency in 2003. The venue plays host to the popular nightclub G-A-Y, which sees many celebrities visit and perform music for the assembled crowd.

Mean Fiddler acquired the lease for the London Astoria in May 2000, 'securing the future of live music at one of London's most famous rock 'n' roll venues.' It has since been the primary choice for well-established bands' intimate club gigs in London. Big names to have played the Astoria include: Metallica, The Cranberries, HIM, Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Ash, Blur, Radiohead, Funeral For A Friend,Dirty Pretty Things, Supergrass, Foo Fighters, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, Killing Joke, Pendulum, The Libertines, Lostprophets, Megadeth, Martin Gore, Oasis, Amy Winehouse, Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, Sum 41, System of a Down and Geri Halliwell.

Destruction:
The Astoria was sold in June 2006 by Compco Holdings property group Derwent Valley Central for £23.75m, who were rumoured to be planning to convert the site into to a combination of shops, flats and offices to take advantage of an increase in property prices for the 2012 Olympics.

On the 13th of August 2007, Mean Fiddler completed its merger with the MAMA Group and no longer operates the Astoria or the Mean Fiddler venues. These have now been incorporated into the group's "Festival Republic" brand. The Mean Fiddler venue changed its name back to Astoria 2 shortly after this announcement.

The Astoria will be demolished to make way for Crossrail. Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone confirmed that the venue "can't be saved." A "Save the Astoria" campaign was created and run by two English students, in partnership with the Save the London Astoria campaign run by musician 50ft Woman, but was unable to change the outcome.

A replacement for the Astoria would then be developed by the council and leaseholders, with work due to start in late 2008, depending on Government funding.

During their record breaking 6 night residence at the venue, The Enemy's lead singer Tom Clarke announced that the Astoria has been given a 5 year lease.


Past gigs

29.09.2006 Porcupine Tree
28.10.2006 Emperor (3)
17.11.2006 W.A.S.P.: Dominator Tour
13.12.2006 Dragonforce: Inhuman Rampage Second Strike Tour
19.12.2006 Cradle Of Filth: European Tour (1)
14.04.2007 Within Temptation: European Tour
15.05.2007 Saxon: European Tour (2)
16.06.2007 Megadeth (1)
21.06.2007 Type O Negative + Paradise Lost: European Tour (1)
02.11.2007 W.A.S.P.: Dominator European Tour Part II
19.11.2007 Engel: European Tour
11.12.2007 Apocalyptica: European Tour (1)
06.03.2008 Epica
06.03.2008 Symphony X: European Tour 2008
08.03.2008 Children Of Bodom + Moonsorrow (3)
25.03.2008 Nightwish: European Passion Play Tour (2)
27.03.2008 Nightwish: European Passion Play Tour (2)
28.05.2008 Dio
17.06.2008 Cavalera Conspiracy (1)
18.09.2008 Scars On Broadway
01.10.2008 In Flames: European Tour (1)
03.10.2008 DragonForce: UK Tour
15.10.2008 Taste Of Chaos European Tour
31.10.2008 Hanoi Rocks: UK Tour
12.12.2008 Apocalyptica: UK Tour


Map




Comments

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Comments: 7   Visited by: 48 users
29.01.2009 - 21:09
Stuart
MiseryKing
Such a tragedy that this London landmark has been shut down for a shopping centre.
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29.01.2009 - 21:17
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:09

Such a tragedy that this London landmark has been shut down for a shopping centre.

Damn them too. I see they're almost next to where the Marquee's second location was.
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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29.01.2009 - 21:23
Stuart
MiseryKing
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 29.01.2009 at 21:17

Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:09

Such a tragedy that this London landmark has been shut down for a shopping centre.

Damn them too. I see they're almost next to where the Marquee's second location was.

not only that but a slightly lesser landmark, the Electric Ballroom is also going so that camden tube can be extended, plus the fact that ruskin arms shut down a few months ago. Its soooooooooooooo sad. Fucking bastards. but of all those places the astoria is the one with the most history... how can they do this to me?!?!?!?!?!
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29.01.2009 - 21:28
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:23

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 29.01.2009 at 21:17

Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:09

Such a tragedy that this London landmark has been shut down for a shopping centre.

Damn them too. I see they're almost next to where the Marquee's second location was.

not only that but a slightly lesser landmark, the Electric Ballroom is also going so that camden tube can be extended, plus the fact that ruskin arms shut down a few months ago. Its soooooooooooooo sad. Fucking bastards. but of all those places the astoria is the one with the most history... how can they do this to me?!?!?!?!?!

I would say the Marquee had the most history but then again they had already moved from Wardour Street to Charing Cross. Btw, Shades was a great metal store on Wardour Street, I guess that has also been closed long ago?
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

Loading...
29.01.2009 - 21:31
Stuart
MiseryKing
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 29.01.2009 at 21:28

Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:23

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 29.01.2009 at 21:17

Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:09

Such a tragedy that this London landmark has been shut down for a shopping centre.

Damn them too. I see they're almost next to where the Marquee's second location was.

not only that but a slightly lesser landmark, the Electric Ballroom is also going so that camden tube can be extended, plus the fact that ruskin arms shut down a few months ago. Its soooooooooooooo sad. Fucking bastards. but of all those places the astoria is the one with the most history... how can they do this to me?!?!?!?!?!

I would say the Marquee had the most history but then again they had already moved from Wardour Street to Charing Cross. Btw, Shades was a great metal store on Wardour Street, I guess that has also been closed long ago?

never heard of it so probably.
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29.01.2009 - 21:39
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
Written by Stuart on 29.01.2009 at 21:31


never heard of it so probably.

Found an entire thread on Shades on the Terrorizer forums:
http://forum.terrorizer.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7213&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

Loading...
27.03.2012 - 13:54
mojo
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 29.01.2009 at 21:28
Btw, Shades was a great metal store on Wardour Street, I guess that has also been closed long ago?

Long ago. At the moment it's a hairdressers' shop. Words cannot express my hatred each time I pass by.
----
Yeah. No. Wait, what was the question?
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