The Revolution Club was a popular rock venue in Bruton Place, Mayfair, central London that opened around January 1968. Yes were regulars and other notable outfits like Deep Purple also played there.
Jim Carter-Fea who managed Blaises and the Speakeasy also managed the Revolution.
I have started to compile a list of artists that performed there but would welcome any additions/corrections and photos.
1968
Melody Maker’s 27 January issue notes that Blues Train, The Downliners Sect, Monopoly and The Web were set to appear at the Revolution.
I think also Linda Lewis and Junior Kerr’s band White Rabbit may have played in February 1968.
Bass player Mo Umansky says his band Mr Mo’s Messengers played here too, most likely in 1968.
18 January (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
19 January (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
20 January (Saturday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
22 January (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 January (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
26 January (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
17 April (Wednesday) – Delroy Williams (with The Sugar Band) (Melody Maker)
23 April (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
24 April (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Drummer Keith Guster says that the group rehearsed at the venue over three days ahead of its performance at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland on 27 April.
25 April (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
According to Keith Guster this was the second day that The Fleur De Lys rehearsed at the Revolution before the Swiss festival.
26 April (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
According to Keith Guster this was the third day that The Fleur De Lys rehearsed at the Revolution before heading to Switzerland for the Montreux festival on 27 April.
27 April (Saturday) – Ike & Tina Turner (Melody Maker)
22 May (Wednesday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
18 June (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
19 June (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
24 June (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 June (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
26 June (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Keith Guster says that The Web played this night after his group had rehearsed at the Revolution.
27 June (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
28 June (Friday) – Circus (Melody Maker)
11 July (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
12 July (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
17 July (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
New Musical Express’ 3 August issue has a large spread on the club and notes that Ike & Tina Turner, Tim Rose and Eric Burdon & The New Animals had appeared recently. The music magazine says that Ben E King and O C Smith will appear soon.
New Musical Express adds that the club is open from Monday to Saturday every week. It notes that John L Watson & The Web, Terry Reid Fantasia and John Drevars’ Expression play regularly at the Revolution. When its reporters attended (presumably in late July), Pattie LaBelle & The Bluebells were performing.
8 August (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
14 August (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
16 August (Friday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
5 September (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
New Musical Express has Canned Heat performing on 5 September.
9 September (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
24 September (Tuesday) – Glass Menagerie (Melody Maker, Time Out and Fabulous 208)
New Musical Express lists Sly & The Family Stone for 24 September but it is doubtful this happened.
25 September (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
30 September (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
14 October (Monday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
15 October (Tuesday) – Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity (New Musical Express)
17 October (Thursday) – The Grateful Dead (New Musical Express)
22 October (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
23 October (Wednesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
29 October (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
According to guitarist Peter Mizen, in an interview with Stefan Grandos, The Majority played at the Revolution shortly after he joined in October 1968.
1 November (Friday) – The Shy Limbs (Melody Maker)
12 November (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
13 November (Wednesday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
19 November (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 November (Monday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
27 November (Wednesday) – Muddy Waters (Time Out)
30 November (Saturday) – The Idle Race (Time Out)
10 December (Tuesday) – The Isley Brothers with Art Regis & Brass Cannon (New Musical Express)
The Isley Brothers’ gig was cancelled at the last minute. It sounds like the entire tour may have been cancelled.
11 December (Wednesday) – Yes (Yes website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)
12 December (Thursday) – Yes (Yes website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)
15 December (Sunday) – Yes (Yes website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)
19 December (Thursday) – Locomotive (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
1969
According to guitarist Peter Mizen, The Majority played at the Revolution regularly from late 1968 through to summer of 1969.
13 January (Monday) – The Idle Race (Time Out)
14 January (Tuesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)
New Musical Express lists Junior Walker & The All-Stars for 14 January.
15 January (Wednesday) – Harmony Grass (Fabulous 208)
17 January (Friday) – Freedom (John Warburg’s research)
24 January (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
30 January (Thursday) – Paul Williams Set (Fabulous 208)
4 February (Tuesday) – Little Richard (Time Out)
27 February (Thursday) – Ben E King (Time Out)
New Musical Express reports that Ben E King is backed by Chris Shakespeare Globe Show for this February UK tour.
28 February (Friday) – The Gods (Time Out)
18 March (Tuesday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
26 March (Wednesday) – Marv Johnson (John Warburg research)
27 March (Thursday) – Affinity (Time Out)
31 March (Monday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)
15 April (Tuesday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Time Out)
22 April (Tuesday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
1 May (Thursday) – Bob & Earle (Melody Maker)
4 May (Sunday) – Desmond Dekker (Melody Maker)
14 May (Wednesday) – King Crimson (Melody Maker)
24 May (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (Time Out)
27 May (Tuesday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
2 June (Monday) – King Crimson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website (see above): http://www.donpowellofficial.com/dons-gigs-1963—1970.html)
3 June (Tuesday) – The Marbles and The Majority (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
4 June (Wednesday) – Root and Jenny Jackson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
5 June (Thursday) – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker and gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
6 June (Friday) – The Flames (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
7 June (Saturday) – Arcadium (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
9 June (Monday) – King Crimson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
10 June (Tuesday) – Three Dog Night and The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
11 June (Wednesday) – Jo Jo Gunn (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
This was the original, UK Jo Jo Gunne, formed in Feltham in late 1965. Although advertised, the band didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.
12 June (Thursday) – The Ohio Express (Melody Maker)
The Majority may also have played on 12 June.
13 June (Friday) – Circus (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
16 June (Monday) – Samson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
17 June (Tuesday) – Chris Barber (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
18 June (Wednesday) – Terry Reid (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
19 June (Thursday) – The Wallace Collection (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website and Time Out)
20 June (Friday) – Sk’boo (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
21 June (Saturday) – Heaven (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
23 June (Monday) – The Springfield Park (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
24 June (Tuesday) – The Web (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
25 June (Wednesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
26 June (Thursday) – Sarolta (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
27 June (Friday) – The Flames (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
This is the South African band that recorded as The Flame (see below).
28 June (Saturday) – Deep Purple (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website and Time Out)
30 June (Monday) – The Majority (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
2 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
3 July (Thursday) – Jo Jo Gunne (possibly Melody Maker)
Although advertised, the band didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.
4 July (Friday) – Arrival (possibly Melody Maker)
5 July (Saturday) – Cressida (possibly Melody Maker)
7 July (Monday) – Babylon (possibly Melody Maker)
8 July (Tuesday) – Samson (possibly Melody Maker)
9 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
10 July (Thursday) – The New York Public Library (possibly Melody Maker)
14 July (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (possibly Melody Maker)
16 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
17 July (Thursday) – The Web (possibly Melody Maker)
19 July (Saturday) – Phase of Reality (possibly Melody Maker)
21 July (Monday) – Velvet Opera (possibly Melody Maker)
23 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
24 July (Thursday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (needs source)
25 July (Friday) – Circus (Time Out)
28 July (Monday) – Entire Sioux Nation (possibly Melody Maker)
30 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
31 July (Thursday) – Audience (possibly Melody Maker)
13 August (Wednesday) – Deep Purple (Melody Maker)
18 August (Monday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Melody Maker and Time Out)
20 August (Wednesday) – Deep Purple (Time Out)
Melody Maker lists Marsha Hunt & White Trash on 20 August so perhaps Deep Purple didn’t play as billed for the previous Wednesday.
22 August (Friday) – Audience (Melody Maker)
26 August (Tuesday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
27 August (Wednesday) – The Wallace Collection (Melody Maker)
28 August (Thursday) – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)
30 August (Saturday) – Freedom (Time Out)
2 September (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
4 September (Tuesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)
7 October (Tuesday) – Ruby James (Time Out)
14 October (Tuesday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
16 October (Thursday) – Members of Hair cast (Time Out)
17 October (Friday) – Lee Dorsey (Time Out)
23 October (Thursday) – Renaissance (Time Out)
24 October (Friday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)
25 October (Saturday) – Pink Cheeks (Time Out)
27 October (Monday) – Poet & The One Man Band (Time Out)
28 October (Tuesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
30 October (Thursday) – Rada Krishna Temple (Time Out)
31 October (Friday) – Audience (Time Out)
4 November (Tuesday) – Delaney & Bonnie (Time Out)
12 November (Wednesday) – Fat Mattress (John Warburg’s research)
13 November (Thursday) – Skin Alley (possibly Melody Maker)
20 November (Thursday) – Gene Vincent (John Warburg’s research)
22 November (Saturday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
27 November (Thursday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker and Time Out)
2 December (Tuesday) – Chicago Transit Authority (Time Out)
4 December (Thursday) – Billy Preston and Timebox (Time Out)
5 December (Friday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
8 December (Monday) – Gary Hamilton (Time Out)
Former lead singer with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement and part of the Hair cast.
9 December (Tuesday) – The Liverpool Scene (Time Out)
16 December (Tuesday) – Hawkwind (Melody Maker)
Time Out has Skin Alley on 16 December.
18 December (Thursday) – The Box Tops (Time Out)
The Box Tops’ UK tour may have been cancelled.
20 December (Saturday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
22 December (Monday) – Linda Kendricks (Time Out)
23 December (Tuesday) – Pavement (Time Out)
26 December (Friday) – Murray Head and Salt & Pepper (Time Out)
29 December (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Time Out)
1970
15 January (Thursday) – Kenny Rogers & The First Edition (Melody Maker)
22 January (Thursday) – The Web (Time Out)
24 January (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)
27 January (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)
28 January (Wednesday) – Marsha Hunt (Time Out)
10 February (Tuesday) – The Rainbow People (Time Out)
17 February (Tuesday) – Cressida (Time Out)
19 February (Thursday) – Freddy King (Melody Maker)
20 February (Friday) – Skin Alley (Melody Maker)
25 February (Wednesday) – Genesis (Melody Maker and Time Out)
5 March (Thursday) – The Graham Bond Initiation (Melody Maker)
24 March (Tuesday) – The Wild Angels (Time Out)
25 March (Wednesday) – The Shy Limbs (Time Out)
26 March (Thursday) – Heavy Jelly (Time Out)
27 March (Friday) – Freedom (Time Out)
28 March (Saturday) – The New Arrivals (Time Out)
30 March (Monday) – Rada Krishna Temple (Time Out)
14 May (Thursday) – Lord Sutch (Time Out)
18 June (Thursday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
24 June (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Melody Maker)
26 June (Friday) – Black Velvet (Time Out)
29 July (Wednesday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)
8 August (Saturday) – Flare (Time Out)
10 August (Monday) – Kingdom (Time Out)
12 August (Wednesday) – Paladin (Time Out)
14 August (Friday) – Osibisa (Time Out)
15 August (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)
17 August (Monday) – Deep Joy (Time Out)
18 August (Tuesday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)
19 August (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Time Out)
20 August (Thursday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
21 August (Friday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)
25 August (Tuesday) – Elton John (Time Out)
27 August (Thursday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)
29 August (Saturday) – Mirrors (Time Out)
4 September (Friday) – Cressida (Melody Maker)
5 September (Saturday) – Deep Joy (Time Out)
19 September (Saturday) – Osibisa (Time Out)
13 October (Tuesday) – Kiss (Melody Maker)
28 November (Saturday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
This was the South African band, The Flames (see above)
30 November (Monday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
1 December (Tuesday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
2 December (Wednesday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
3 December (Thursday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
4 December (Friday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
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.
In 1971 Ginger Baker used the Revolution to rehearse his new band Airforce. It was the first day in the band for me and and fellow sax player Steve Gregory, also on saxes were Graham Bond and Harold McNair. All the band were there waiting for Ginger to arrive when suddenly the door burst open and in flew Ginger followed by his wife shouting and throwing missiles at him.
I was the chef there from 1968 until it closed!
Hi, was it featured in the film ‘I don’t want to be born ‘ 1975 ? Do you know what it was used for at that time? thanks
I’m so glad to see the REVOLUTION on a vintage boardgame of Chartbuster which I bought on ebay. I am writing a list down of the most popular acts that gigged there to see who comes out on the top five or ten.
I remember your fantastic steak sandwiches !
I was an American waitress at the revolution club during the sixties and seventies The Hair band a play few and they had the landing on the moon televise from their do you have anything on that?
My email is tr@hawaii.rr.com
I was the dispense barman the night of the Moon landing & the club had hired colour TV’s for the event .I remember some of the English patrons jumped up on the stage & dropped their pants that night !
Pete Mizen of The Majority here,we were the band at the Rev on the night of the moon landings, my main memory is of our other guitarist Bob Long having a shouting match with Richard Harris who swore at us as we were tuning up !
I have a party invite for the launch of Steamhammer’s L.P “Mountains” at 6.30 pm Thursday Nov 12 1970?. Did they play ?s
Re the band from Hair playing at the Revolution: my girlfriend at the time was babysitter for Andy Forray from the London cast of Hair and his wife Maxine in 1969. I know Andy played at the club, and caused a bit of a stir by taking his clothes off during the show. They had photos of the event. Not sure if this was as part of the ‘Hair band’, or whether he was performing in his own right. Would have been late 1968 or early 1969. Incidentally, the Revolution was at the same location as a club called Le Prince. Can anyone shed light on this?
I saw the Hair Bands shows at the Rev. The Majority was managed by Jim Carter Fea, and we basically lived there every night.
He did strip off !
Also Alex Harvey was the guitarist in the Hair Band, and I had a few conversations with him in the dressing room.
Update to previous post: the Andy Forray dates at the Revolution would have been late 1969 / early 1970, not 1968 /1969. Apologies, but it was a long time ago!
Joe Cocker had his first record reception at The Revolution. Fantastic.
I worked as waitress at The Revolution and was there when it closed…I remember White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane being last number played every night..I wish I made a note of every band I met !! Good days…🎶🎵 Angie
I bought a record today with the Wild Angels. Recorded Tuesday, january 13 1970 in Revolution Club
. Mal Gray vocals.
Hello There!
Personally I don´t know about that Greatful Dead gig in 1968, but Paul Talling, in his book “Londons’s Lost Music Venues 2” (page 54) claims that this gig was cancelled.
Joni Mitchell played two nights at the Revolution Club in September 1968:
https://jonimitchell.com/chronology/detail.cfm?id=2087
Nice site!
As a member of The Majority ( managed by Jim Carter Fea) we spent most free nights at The Rev, and looking at the gig sheet I appeared to be there for most of the bands shows.
We did appear with Ohio Express ,as I remember it was a Press event in the afternoon. Also watched Ginger Bakers Air Force rehearsals in the afternoons.
Good memories of Jim Carter -fea and you playing at Revolution
I played at the Revolution Club in March 1972.
I was in the band The Q Set – who backed up Ben.E. King on his Britsh tour that year in March 72.
We recorded a live gig there. I have a copy of ‘ Take Me To The Pilot’ by Ben E.King which was recorded at the club. It can be heard on Sound Cloud by Bombo Combo. It can also be good by a Google search – the live version.
Can anyone remember which date Peter Sarstedt ( Where Do You Go To My Lovely ) played at the Revolution ? Plz . I think it would have been around early 1969 .
I remember the Revolution with much affection. I went with a Dorset band called The Web. I also enjoyed watching Terry Reid and have followed his music to this day. It was a great club.
Robert Hilburn in his book on Randy Newman ‘A Few Words in Defense of Our Country’ reports Newman as flying to London -sometime in late 1970 to perform songs as a promotional event with other artists at ‘the popular Revolution Club’. The event didn’t go well Newman having problems with the microphone cord and unhappy with the room’s ’noisy environment’. He played for less than five minutes before saying bye bye to the rude audience and quitting the stage’. P123