The Goldhawk Social Club, located at 205 Goldhawk Road in Shepherd’s Bush, west London is perhaps best known as being the venue where The Who regularly played during their formative years (as The Detours).
Unfortunately, very little has been documented about this important club so I would really welcome any additions in the comments below.
I do know from various sources that Adam Faith, Shane Fenton, The Birds (with Ron Wood), The Macabre (with Peter Vernon-Kell, a former member of The Detours), Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Clique, The Undertakers, The Herd, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Jeff Curtis & The Flames, The Dae-b-Four, The Meantimers and John Brown’s Bodies played at the venue at some point.
This is an incomplete list. I would welcome any additions and corrections as well as memories. If you happen to have any posters, I would be happy to add them with credits.
26 April 1963 – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette)
7 June 1963 – The Detours (became The Who in 1964) (Andy Neill’s research)
5 July 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
12 July 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
16 August 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
6 September 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
25 October 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
8 November 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
22 November 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
29 November 1963 – The Detours (Andy Neill’s research)
6 December 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
10 January 1964 – The Detours and Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
17 January 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
31 January 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
7 February 1964 – The Kinks and The Who (needs source)
8 February 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
28 February 1964 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
6 March 1964 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
20 March 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
27 March 1964 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
Between April and November, The Who worked as The High Numbers
10 April 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
11 April 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)
17 April 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)
1 May 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
2 May 1964 – Millie & The Five Embers (needs confirmation) (http://www.indyrs.co.uk/2014/04/millie-at-the-goldhawk-club-in-1964/)
8 May 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)
15 May 1964 – The Kinks (needs source)
22 May 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
30 May 1964 – The Mojos (Beat Monthly)
12 June 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
3 July 1964 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
24 July 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
It is possible that The Kinks also played on 24 July
31 July 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)
28 August 1964 – The Kinks and The Clique (Poster from Adrian Stambach)
12 September 1964 – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
24 September 1964 – The Graham Bond Organisation and The Clique (http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)
24 October 1964 – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s Yardbirds book)
22 November 1964 – The Who (http://www.thewholive.net/tour-list/index.php?GroupID=1)
20 February 1965 – Mike Dee & The Prophets (Don Martin’s gig diary)
12 March 1965 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
20 March 1965 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
16 April 1965 – The Who and The Loose Ends (poster)
17 April 1965 – The Boys (soon to become The Action) (poster)
23 April 1965 – The Birds with John Brown’s Bodies (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)
1 May 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
11 June 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
18 June 1965 – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s gig diary)
2 July 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
23 July 1965 – Tom’s Rigg and Flight One (Poster and Ken Samuels’ recollections)
24 July 1965 – The Shevells (Poster)
30 July 1965 – The Steampacket (needs confirmation) (http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html)
6 August 1965 – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Poster and Beat Instrumental)
27 August 1965 – The Action and The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)
4 September 1965 – The Shevells (needs source)
1 October 1965 – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)
9 October 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
23 October 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
5 November 1965 – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)
14 November 1965 – The Moody Blues (Record Mirror)
3 December 1965 – The Who and The Cast (poster)
4 December 1965 – The New Jump Band (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
24 December 1965 – The Birds (Melody Maker)
27 December 1965 – The Action (Melody Maker)
31 December 1965 – The Cast (Melody Maker)
The Cast later morphed into Tangerine Peel
21 January 1966 – The Small Faces (Record Mirror)
24 January 1966 – Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas (Boyfriend magazine)
28 January 1966 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Boyfriend magazine)
13 May 1966 – The Carl Douglas Set (Ken Baxter gig diary)
4 June 1966 – The Carl Douglas Set (Ken Baxter gig diary)
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
Hi,Nick. Played the Goldhawk with John Brown’s Bodies,supported ; John Mayle Blues Brakers in 66.
Found three more dates in the Melody Maker:
24 December 1965 – The Birds
27 December 1965 – The Action
31 December 1965 – The Cast
I played the drums in a band that played regularly at the Goldhawk club in the sixties we were called the vincents
Hi Tony
Can you remember the other members? Pretty sure you played ealing club too a lot
I remember this group.
Hi nick, The other members of the vincents were lead Ian dale,bass tony craven ryhtm Pete farmer singer Pete the pig dann and me Tony Vass. We didn’t play Ealing but we did play the old field at Greenford ,the who played there a lot when they were the detours. We played a gig at the Goldhawk with the yardbirds, they were about to do a tour with sonny boywilliamson,sonny boy was on bbc tv that night he came down to thegoldhawk and did an impromptu session with the yardbirds, a good time was had by all
Regards Tony vass
Hi Tony
would it be possible to drop you an email and ask a few more questions about the Vincents? My email is Warchive@aol.com
The Cast who played in Dec 65 became Tangerine Peel in 67
I’m sure that I saw The Kinks, & The Animals play there not long after The Kinks had just had their first hit,’ You really got me’, the Animals weren’t on the same bill, but I remember them wearing Matelot Shirts, which were all the go for the Mods at the time.
Yes The Kinks and The Animals used to play at the Goldhawk Club, possibly the Greenford Hotel, The Notre Dame and White Hart, Acton
I’m glad somebody else remembers The Animals playing at the Goldhawk.
I remember when The Kinks, The Yardbirds and The Animals played there entrance fee was 6shillings instead of the usual 4.
I saw the Kinks play there just after their first hit “You really got me”. I remember they kept pretending to faint and had to be held up. Something borrowed from James Brown, I imagine.
Used to go there from when I was 14 every weekend am a local girl and saw lots of stuff with the who and Pete Townsend smashing up everything it was a greAt. Luv am nearly now but that was a great club and so was the embassy cafe in Goldhawk Road which featured on quadrofinia
What I meant to say is that now I am 66 but went there every weekend for years and saw all the bands and it was a great club
Hi, I ‘m from Norway, and was thinking to see this club? Is the house ther still? So I can see the place? Mvh Johnny Hansen
Hi.
Me and my mates used go there every Friday, 63-64, we were a bunch of Mod’s. Loved seeing the Detours, they played a number called Day & Night seemed to go on for ever, we danced a lot. We often hung out in the bar when the band took a break with Roger Daltrey and the rest drinking beer, of course they were all unknowns then on the verge of the big time as the who. I often wonder if quadrophenia was loosely based on the club?
I used to go there and remember The Detours always wore maroon jackets. This would have been 1963. they used to play, I think, one or two days a week. They also played at the White Hart, Acton, and The Greenford Hotel. Possibly the Notre Dame. The Animals also played at one or more of these clubs. I knew the man that employed these singers/groups at the time
I played in a band in the ‘60’s called “Flight One”. On the 23rd July 1965 we played at the Goldhawk ‘beat’ Club as the support band to an outfit from Manchester called Tom’s Rigg. I can remember the little dressing room (cupboard!!) with loads of names written on the walls by previous bands! Georgie Fame was due to play there on 6th August ‘65.
Hi
Does anyone recall anything to do with a band called The Next Move. They would have been around just before or at the same time as The Detours / Who.
My Dad was in the band and I am trying to see what old photos may be around.
Thanks
Pretty certain I have seen this name crop up. Will dig around
I’m sure I saw the Small Faces there.
You’re right…so did I !
Hi I was a regular at the Goldhawk Club I am still in touch with Irish Jack and a few others from back in the day
Esther
met my wife ann at the goldhawk club. her mother was wyn sleeman the bar_maid..
the club went through some hard times and would have folded without the support of the welsh boys.
Hi, just come across this site. I live in Shepherds Bush and know the Goldhawk Club well as do many members of my extended family. Really interested in what I have read about the Who and all the other great 60’s Bands who have played at the Goldhawk Club. Is their a membership I can join and share experiences with others.
Thankyou
Maureen.
I saw The Animals there sometime in 1964 65
Hello, I have a Goldhawk Social Beat Club 1965 Membership Card Serial Number: C1893, which I have just listed on eBay, item number: 363218598990. At a starting price of £1.26 + P&P
According to this great site, The Cardinals opened for The High Numbers and The Small Faces at this venue:
https://barnsburyboys.weebly.com/music—movin-on.html
Hi my name I JACK ORTIZ I was the DJ playing the records
Before their acts have you got any record of me doing this
It may be the call me DJ JACK OTTIS
Hope for some news on this I did this in the 60 & 70
My uncle (Norman Swettenham) was landlord at the White Hart, Acton in the early / mid 60’s when the Detours played. I have little info. on who else played there. I do know there were jazz nights. Only got one photo of uncle Norm behind the bar but nothing else. Any information / photos appreciated. Thank you.
I saw John Mayall and the Blues Breakers at the White heart ,PeterGreen played the first half of the set and a different lead played the second half, Eric Clapton.
Hi Don
When you say White Hart, do you mean in Hounslow? This must have been July 66 time around when the World Cup took place?
No definitely Acton (even then I would not walk from Shepherd’s Bush to Hounslow)
I remember queuing to see the Who.I lived on the Bush from 1964 until 2004.Dotted around the streets in those days was stencilled copies of the Who logo. The Beat Club had infra red lighting (I think) and people tended to wear white as it shone like luminescence. Great nights..we were so lucky to be young then.
This film has contains a shot of a poster at 14.44 which suggests that the Moody Blues played there 12th June 1965
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-what-and-where-is-paradise-1960s-1960-online
The weekend club was run by a Bob Druce, who also managed Commercial Entertainments, a booking agency with bands as the Bel-Airs, Federals, Wainwright’s Gentlemen, Clique, Macabre and… the Detours, which all most likely performed here.
What memories.lived in Cathnor Road just a minute from the Goldhawk.same Road as Tinker berry, and Terry and Linda Roche.Lived and died for the Goldhawk every Friday and Saturday. The Who and the Action.my friend Alice,Ray Brooker and Gwyneth.All the great dancers!!.
The White City gang.
Tom Grant , Frank,Kevin,Terry oldfield and his sister what crazy dancers.
How we loved it.Ada and Ted Woodgar on the door. Anthoula
Hi , I have been trying to track down ANTHOULA ( now i believe McCarthy. any relative?) I went to primary school with her and her mum worked with mine. I lived at 194 Goldhawk rd , oposite the club, and visited regularly . Came across this site in my search.
Nobody has mentioned Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds. I recall seeing fliers for them, so pretty sure they played there .