This little known rock club was opened around late June/early July 1967, according to Disc & Music Echo, which noted in its 1 July issue (page 2) that the venue had opened recently. Ginger Baker from Cream and Mike Wilsher from The New Vaudeville Band appeared at the club reception.
One of the earliest dates I have is 14 July 1967 when Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede, The Ford Foundation and The Survivors appeared late in the evening (see poster).
I would welcome any additional information about the club, which was located at 70 New Bond Street, including details of acts that played over the years.
I have found the following and included the sources:
1968
23 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
24 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
25 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
26 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
27 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
30 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
31 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
1 February – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
13 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
14 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
15 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
28 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 March – Cliff Bennett (Melody Maker)
25 March – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
26 March – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
27 March – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
20 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
29 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
30 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
1 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
2 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
3 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
5 May – J J Jackson (Melody Maker)
12 May – Edwin Starr (Melody Maker)
17 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
24 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
5 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
7 July – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ diary)
15 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
16 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
17 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
18 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
6 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
7 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
8 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
9 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
10 August – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
According to The Stroud News, Gass played Rasputin not long before 14 September
6 September – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
7 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
8 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
12 September – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
13 September – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
17 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
18 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
19 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
24 September – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)
9 October – Ferris Wheel (Time Out/Fabulous 208)
18 October – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 October – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
21 October – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
15 November – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
1969
20 February – My Dear Watson (Melody Maker)
21 March – Black Velvet (Time Out)
1 April – Girl Talk (Melody Maker)
29 April – Milwaukee Coasters (Fabulous 208)
12 May – The Shades (Melody Maker)
29 August – Glass Menagerie (Time Out)
11 September – Sonority (Jack Drew’s diary)
12 September – Sonority (Jack Drew’s diary)
30 October – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)
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According to an advert in Melody Maker on 23 December 1967, page 18, this club was run by Rik Gunnell
Our band played at the Rasputin club in 69. We were called Genisis. It was the same weekend blind faith played in Hyde Park June 7th . I remember going to see them (blind faith) but there was too many people. We did a short tour on the continent afterwards and I packed the band up shortly after that. We were told it was Oxford Street. I have had no contact with the other band members since then sadly. The only other member I remember was Bob Hewitt who played guitar.
Interesting
1972
It Became the Kabaret Club
Dancing Girl’s, then British Luxury Club after hours
2 -6am for club and Restaurant staff, I had it , till 2009
Regards Tony Engleman
In the mid-60s when the Bag was at its trendiest fame gaining entry was difficult so…you went instead to Rasputin’s. Always famed for attractive women, and placing sandwiches on tables around midnight, Rasputin’s had its moments…
I saw Long John Baldry sing there! 🙂
I played there around 1972 – 3 it was owned by John Bloom – a cabaret club with topless barmaids & the usual escort girls & stripyease acts. Occasionally, we would ba k up some cabaret artists such as Dana Gillespie – always remember her doing ” These Boots Are Made For Walking”!
We had a reside ncy there for about 3 months or longer – an organ trio – Smooth Gravel – Jon Hall – organ/vocals Mick Treasom – guitar – DC- dru.ms. We also used to double at The Candy Box after our gig at Rasputin’s – the. Candy Box stayed open until 6am. Loads of musicians used to come & jam with us + all the late night crowd would hang out.
La Valbonne was opposite the Candy Box