Located at 33/37 Wardour Street, the Whisky A Go Go was a major rock music venue during the mid-late 1960s and was situated in the same building as the Flamingo.

It’s not clear when it first opened its doors to rock artists but according to London Life magazine, occasional live groups did perform at the venue during 1965. This is supported by a club passport (see below), kindly provided by Harvey Jordan.

However, it appears that the club really took off in late 1966, with listings four times a week. I have started to compile a list of artists who were advertised from 1966 to 1970 and would welcome any additions/corrections.

Melody Maker advertised gigs for the Whisky A Go Go every week, although there were gaps in places, particularly in late 1968 and during 1970. All of the shows listed below are from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted. Disc & Music Echo also regularly advertised the venue.

It is important to stress that these are listings for artists who were advertised in the music press so it’s quite possible that changes in the final billing may have taken place. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any memories of particular shows in the comments below.

Source: Melody Maker unless otherwise noted

1966

According to the sleeve notes of RPM’s Timebox CD (and other band sources), the original Timebox, which may have been billed as Take Five at the time, landed a regular Wednesday night residency at this club when they first came to London thanks to manager Laurie Jay who worked at the George Cooper Agency. This would have been around January-March 1966.

18 January – The Key (needs source for confirmation)

17 February – Inez and Charlie Foxx with The League of Gentlemen

Melody Maker notes that Chris Lamb & The Universals play Wednesdays, which would have included 9 and 16 March

17 March – Irma Thomas (backed by The Sons of Adam)

4 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

7 April – Don Covay

12 April – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

14 April – Dee Dee Warwick

21 April – Lee Dorsey

24 April – The Blue Aces

This is Junior Kerr’s (aka Junior Marvin, future Wailers’ guitarist) band, who had played in Dakar from 4-16 April, according to Melody Maker advert

3 May – Lee Dorsey (Disc & Music Echo)

5 May – The Dixie Cups

9 May – Patti LaBelle & The Blue Bells (with Bluesology?)

12 May – Sugar Pie De Santo

17 May – Patti LaBelle & The Blue Bells (with Bluesology?)

19 May – The Original Drifters

26 May – Ben E King

9 June – Roy C

16 June – Stevie Wonder

20 June – Billy Stewart (with Bluesology?)

27 June – Irma Thomas

7 July – Noma Tanega (Disc & Music Echo has 5 July unless both days?)

14-15 July – The Orlons

18 July – Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry

22 July – Rufus Thomas

25 July – Solomon Burke

3 August – Solomon Burke

9 August – Jimmy Cliff (not sure who is the backing band as singer split with The New Generation, who went on to link up with Gary Hamilton as Hamilton Movement, the previous month)

16 August – Jimmy Cliff

23 August – Jimmy Cliff

25 August – The Ikettes (with PP Arnold?)

28 August – The Soul Set (says they play every Sunday)

4 September – The Soul Set

6 September – The Peeps

8 September – The Carnaby

11 September – The Soul Set

15 September – The Vibrations

18 September – The Soul Set (needs confirmation)

22 September – The Bunch

27 September – The Majority

29 September – The Gas Company

4 October – The Mad Lads

6 October – The Five Chants

10 October – The Mad Lads (Disc & Music Echo)

11 October – The Washington DCs

13 October – Alvin Cash & The Crawlers

18 October – Alvin Cash & The Crawlers

20 October – The Spellbinders

24 October – Alvin Robinson

25 October – The Bunch

31 October – Alvin Robinson

1 November – The Bunch

3 November – Lee Dorsey

8 November – The Dixie Cups

10 November – The Dave Davani Four

11 November – The Subterraneans with Nepenthe (Disc & Music Echo has 14 November)

15 November – The Original Coasters

17 November – Joe E Young & The Tonicks

20 November – The Boardwalkers (became Warren Davis Monday Band shortly afterwards)

21 November – The Washington DCs

22 November – The Peeps

24 November – The Original Coasters

28 November – The Subterraneans with Nepenthe

29 November – Malcolm Magaron & The Bluehealers

1 December – The Subterraneans with Nepenthe

5 December – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound

6 December – The Mike Cotton Sound

13 December – The Bunch

15 December – The Orlons

20 December – The Iveys

22 December – The Bunch

24 December – The Sovereigns

25 December – The Flashbakks

26 December – Little People

27 December – The Images

31 December – The Sovereigns

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