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. 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
1968
1 January – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
2 January – Granny’s Attic
4 January – Wilson’s Transaction
7 January – Freak-Down-Lucifer
9 January – Garnet Mimms (either backed by The Senate or Clockwork Orange)
11 January – Warren Davis Monday Band
13 January – The Castaways (probably Tony Rivers’ band)
14 January – Freak-Down-Lucifer
16 January – Garnet Mimms (either backed by The Senate or Clockwork Orange)
18 January – Watson T Browne (& The Explosion)
20 January – Love Machine
21 January – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
22 January – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound
23 January – Locomotion
27 January – Purple Pipe Line
28 January – The Gold
30 January – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound with Lamb Bros & Co)
1 February – Warren Davis Monday Band
4 February – Glenroy Oakely & The Oracles
6 February – Locomotion
8 February – Clyde McPhatter (with The Trend backing?)
11 February – Glenroy Oakley & The Oracles
13 February – Clyde McPhatter (with The Trend backing?)
15 February – Clyde McPhatter (with The Trend backing?)
18 February – Locomotion
20 February – The Diplomats
22 February – Margitte Bardot
23 February – The Chanters
25 February – Mr Mo’s Messengers
27 February – The Original Drifters
29 February – Watson T Browne & The Explosion
3 March – Sonnie Burke
5 March – The Original Drifters
7 March – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
10 March – The Ice Show
12 March – The Marvels
14 March – The Shiralee
16 March – Philosopher’s Stone
17 March – The Chanters
19 March – The Fabulous Impressions
21 March – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
23 March – The Art Movement
24 March – The Gold
26 March – The Fabulous Impressions
28 March – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
31 March – Warren Davis Monday Band
2 April – The Fabulous Platters & Group (with The Trend backing?)
4 April – Mr Mo’s Messengers
6 April – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s Roy Tempest contract)
7 April – The Bunch
9 April – The Original Drifters
11 April – Glenn Oakely & The Oracles
14 April – Dr Marigold’s Prescription
16 April – Fantastic Little Anthony & The Imperials
18 April – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
21 April – Dr Marigold’s Prescription
23 April – Garnet Mimms (most likely with The Village Green backing)
25 April – Fantastic Little Anthony & The Imperials
28 April – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
30 April – The Fabulous Ronettes
2 May – The Fabulous Platters (with The Trend backing?)
5 May – Sonnie Burke
7 May – Duane Eddy
9 May – The Chanters
12 May – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
16 May – The De-Tours with Gene Latter
19 May – Sonnie Burke
21 May – The Diplomats
23 May – Warren Davis Monday Band
26 May – The Breakthru
28 May – The Crickets
30 May – The Coasters
2 June – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
3 June – Warren Davis Monday Band
4 June – The Coasters
Melody Maker stopped providing full listings for the club until December but I’ve found individual shows in New Musical Express, which suggests the club still put on shows during this period
20 June – Ruby & The Romantics (New Musical Express)
30 June – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound and Keef Hartley (New Musical Express has The Crystals)
6 July – The Crystals (New Musical Express)
28 July – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound
5 August – The Crystals (New Musical Express)
11 August – The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ diary)
25 August – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound
8 September – The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ diary)
25 September – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (cancelled)
6 October – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (postponed until 13 October)
Paul Griggs’ diary notes that The Cortinas played on 6 October so it looks like they replaced Freddie Mack.
13 October – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (marks the group’s third anniversary)
22 October – Dee Dee Warwick (New Musical Express)
24 October – Interstate Road Show
31 October – Dee Dee Warwick (New Musical Express)
10 November – The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ diary)
12 November – The Impressions (aka The Topics) backed by Village Green (Steve Fitzgerald’s gig diary)
14 November – The Impressions (aka The Topics) backed by Village Green (Steve Fitzgerald’s gig diary)
21 November – Garnet Mimms backed by Village Green (Steve Fitzgerald’s gig diary)
24 November – J J Jackson (Melody Maker advert says Sunday, 24 December but November is correct)
28 November – Garnet Mimms backed by Village Green (Steve Fitzgerald’s gig diary)
3 December – The Chiffons
5 December – The Bandwagon
8 December – Interstate Road Show
12 December – The Track
14 December – South Sea Bubble
15 December – Toast
17 December – Sea Jam Blues
19 December – Bunkers Brain
21 December – Jalopy Ride
22 December – Cherry Smash
24 December – Rainbow Ffolly and The Riot Squad
26 December – The Nite Walkers (The All Night Workers?)
28 December – Spring
29 December – Octopus (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
31 December – Jay Lane
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