The Damned secret gig

[sue]

Hello all,
I have many fond memories of going to the Bridge House back in 1979. It is where I met my husband Steve for the first time and it was at the Damned's secret gig on 12th March. They went under the name of School Bullies but it wasn;t a well kept secret as the place was packed. I have some dodgy photos of the gig including a band called The Tickets who must have been the support. Do you know anything about them? Back in 1979 I was a Punk but already bored with it and looking for something else. My brother Pete was getting into the Mod thing and he told me to come down the Bridge House on a Monday where there would be lots of Mods and Mod bands. So I did and got hooked. As I recall alot of Punks went to the Mods Monday night and there was no trouble, it was just good fun. Steve actually asked me out on the Mods May day night and yes we've got the album (a copy with the spelling mistake)! It would be great to hear from some of the faces who went to the gigs. Where are you now? Steve and I live in Brighton now. PS I also have some dodgy photos of Secret Affair.

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Sue, these are the type of letters we like.and why the forum was formed.
I am Terry,the owner of the Bridge house,in them good old day.Well the Tickets,was a Bridge house band who we  recorded a single with.they were a 3 piece.Ken and Andy Scott,and John McGeady,when the broke up ,Ken And Andy with my son Darren formed Wasted Youth, who had 3 great years together,John came and work with me in my offices booking bands and helping with the record company.he sadly died about 10 years ago.Yes that was amazing no trouble with the punks and Mods.Love to see the pictures you have,it do not matter in they are bad qauility,its the memories that matter.
the mods album you have is a rare,first adition ,after the first 1000.we corrected the error,We did have some good gigs with the Dammed,,there was a bit of trouble ,in the dressind room upstairs when the singer David Sylvan,got beat up,he was out of order and paid for it. that was the only time there was trouble,Rat Scabies,and Captain Sensible always kept the peace, thanks for your mail, download or attach the pics and we will post them on the forum

[lira]

One of the greatest punk bands of that time! They were intense but short-lived. I have a record of them playing in a revival (1988). Would luv to see the pics... cheers

[sue]

Hi Terry, Hi all,

I have sent the photos from the Bridge House 1979 as promised. I have manipulated them as best I could.
Just a few more memories about that night. As I mentioned that was the night I met my future husband Steve. He was one of my brother Pete's Mod friends and they were in the same year at school. In fact they hadn't actually left school at that time. Oh dear, I've let the cat out of the bag now, underage drinkers!! I was not quite so naughty, being two years older. Anyway, when I spotted Steve he was playing pool with Rat Scabies and he beat him. Later that night Steve ended up with Rat Scabies drumsticks but they were quickly dispersed (he's not star struck). I never really took the Damned seriously as a Punk band but they were good fun and had some great tunes. That night I remember they did a version of the Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" their version was called "Great Big Tits"
Thanks for the info about the Tickets. I forgot about them being a Bridge House band and about Kenny going onto Wasted Youth.
Found out I am getting The Bridge House book for Xmas. Can't wait!
Got some more stories to tell about Mods May Day,  a Secret Affair gig and Depeche Mode. Next time!! Ta Ta for now

[suzy]

Hi,
I used to come down to the Bridgehouse with my sister and friends round about 79. We were at the Damned gig as well.
My sister had a kind of romantic fling with Kenny Scott who was then in the Tickets and she says a few words on their single.  I think she says something like "he spoke to me" or something similar.

[marguerite]

hi suzy. i remember those days well. was your sisters name tracy by any chance?

[adrian]

Hi Terry, Hi all,

I have sent the photos from the Bridge House 1979 as promised. I have manipulated them as best I could.
Just a few more memories about that night. As I mentioned that was the night I met my future husband Steve. He was one of my brother Pete's Mod friends and they were in the same year at school. In fact they hadn't actually left school at that time. Oh dear, I've let the cat out of the bag now, underage drinkers!! I was not quite so naughty, being two years older. Anyway, when I spotted Steve he was playing pool with Rat Scabies and he beat him. Later that night Steve ended up with Rat Scabies drumsticks but they were quickly dispersed (he's not star struck). I never really took the Damned seriously as a Punk band but they were good fun and had some great tunes. That night I remember they did a version of the Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" their version was called "Great Big Tits"
Thanks for the info about the Tickets. I forgot about them being a Bridge House band and about Kenny going onto Wasted Youth.
Found out I am getting The Bridge House book for Xmas. Can't wait!
Got some more stories to tell about Mods May Day,  a Secret Affair gig and Depeche Mode. Next time!! Ta Ta for now


Hey Terry,

Were you able to use the pic's Sue sent? As you say it not the quality but that fantastic time. Just interested...

As ever hope all is well

Adrian

ps Sue - share some of your other stories

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Adrian, hope you are well,I got the pics from Sue.the only excuse i can have ,is Jeff was very busy over the xmas period,and the pics needed a lot of work.so they got neglected. (hows that for a excuse) i will meet with Jeff next week and have a looK again.
regards Terry M

[sue]

Hi Terry, Hi all,

Hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. I received the Bridgehouse book for Christmas and loved every single page of it. There were a couple of people that me and Steve knew who were mentioned in the book so it made it more personal. I never realised that so many great bands played at the Bridgehouse and it was only down the road! Shame on me.
I will tell you the story about the Secret Affair gig as promised. It was on a Mods Monday 18th June 1979. I turned up with my American pen friend and her friend who were travelling around Europe that summer. I was meeting Steve who was already inside the pub, waiting by the door. Well I was denied entry by the bloke on the door (everyone called him "Chinny" I can't remember his real name but I think he is in the football team). He says to me "How old are you underneath all that make up?"  I was actually nine days away from my 18th birthday and besides I had been coming to The Bridgehouse for months. Also Steve was only 15 then and he was let in. I was having none of it so I jumped on the next 58 bus back to Upton Park and went home and got my passport, got another 58 back and presented my passport. I thought he can't be that cruel and not let me in being only nine days away from being 18. He couldn't believe that I went to the trouble of getting my passport and allowed me in. He did apologise, saying I looked young, which is not what you want to hear when you're that age. Anyway it was a great night and the American girls loved it too. I sent the photos of that night. Hope you got them ok.

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Sue,thanks for a great letter,if you had told me the story on the night,i would have sack the doorman and let you all in for free,(make out).
They use to call John McGeady chinny.then Johnny tickets,,when he played in the band Tickets,he was also my assistent in my office.glad you eventuely got in.Could you send the pics again i cannot remember getting them,but it was a busy time pre xmas,Regards Terry M.
Glad you liked the book,thank you for that.TM
I did get some pics of the Dammed gig Dave V and Rat,were they yours?

[sue]

Hi Terry,

Looking back I can laugh about it now but believe me, I was very angry at the time.
Yes the pictures were from me. I also sent a couple of Ian Paige from Secret Affair.Did you get those?

[Lee Drury]

We first saw the Damned at the roundhouse in early 77 supported by Motorhead and the Adverts. It was called 'Tax exiles return Hoorah for the captains birthday' when the Damned had just come back from the USA. On the bridge night I was asked to be the DJ! First time for everything. I was having a great time playing all my faves cranked up really loud when the captain came out of the dessing room and said '' do us a favour and turn it down a bit. We cant tune our guitars'' They were using electronic tuners that were sensitive to the background music. I thought it would only be my dad who asked me to turn it down. Not one of the Damned! I got to know Dave Vanian well in later years as he joined the same bike club as me. He let me in on a few old secrets and even came to Holland with the club for a vintage rally. I had sung with a belgium rock and roll band the previous year and everyone had a wild time. This time they tried to get Dave up but he wasnt having any of it. I didnt come here to work he said. Some of the older more straight types in the club werent too sure about Dave as he still had the black hair and shades with the deathly white palour and they nicknamed him the phantom. I wonder if he still has his 45 as ive still got mine.
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

hi Suzy ,we have just uploaded the Tickets single Il be your pin up,+guess i have to sit alone,while in the studio Jeff Ellis and I were wondering who the girls were who spoke on the record,and Who is the Girl on the cover of the single,we thought it was a girl called Mandy,but that has now been ruled out,have you any ideas,you can here a samply on the download page on the web site,hope you can help us Thanks Terry M