Umair Gaines
The Electric Circus was a live music venue in Manchester, England, during the 1970s. It was located in Collyhurst, about a mile from the city centre, on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street. The building had previously been home to the Palladium Variety Club and the Palace Cinema, and it later became a bingo hall. During its time as the Electric Circus, it hosted some of the biggest punk bands of the era, including the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Buzzcocks. The venue was known for its dilapidated state and the sense of running the gauntlet that patrons experienced en route to and from the venue. It closed its doors in October 1977, and a live album featuring bands that played during its final weekend was released by Virgin Records in 1978.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Collyhurst, Manchester |
| Address | Corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street |
| Building History | Originally the Palladium Variety Club, then the Palace Cinema, and the Top Hat Club run by Bernard Manning, later a bingo hall |
| Dates | Late 1960s to 1977 |
| Music Genre | Progressive and hard rock, punk |
| Notable Performers | Buzzcocks, The Clash, The Fall, The Jam, Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Ramones, John Cooper Clarke, Joy Division, Warsaw (later Joy Division), Van der Graaf Generator, Tea and Symphony |
| Ticket Price | 75p to £1.50 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Electric Circus was a live music venue in Collyhurst, Manchester
- It was located on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street
- The building was originally the Palace Cinema and the Top Hat Club
- It was Manchester's premier showcase for visiting punk bands
- The Sex Pistols played there under a hail of bottles and bricks
The Electric Circus was a live music venue in Collyhurst, Manchester
In the early 1970s, the venue became known as a heavy metal club. However, this began to change in 1976 when punk arrived at its doors. The Electric Circus soon became a regular feature on 'So It Goes', Tony Wilson's half-hour television programme showcasing live performances from punk bands. It hosted some of the biggest punk bands of the era, including The Clash, The Fall, The Jam, Buzzcocks, and the Sex Pistols.
The venue was described as "dangerous", with gig-goers often facing violence from locals on their way to and from the venue. Despite this, many ex-patrons remember it as an exciting place, where they found their tribe. The Electric Circus closed its doors in October 1977, and the last two nights were recorded and released as the album 'Short Circuit' by Virgin Records.
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It was located on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street
The Electric Circus was a live music venue in Manchester, located on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street in Collyhurst. It was about a mile outside the city centre. The building was originally the Palladium Variety Club and, for a time, a cinema. It was also once the Palace Cinema and the Top Hat Club run by Bernard Manning, and later a bingo hall.
In the early 1970s, the venue was a heavy metal club, but that changed when punk arrived in 1976. The Electric Circus became a seminal venue for punk rock. Despite its dilapidated state, it hosted some of the biggest punk bands of the era, including the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Fall, The Jam, Buzzcocks, and Motorhead.
The club closed its doors in 1977, and the last two nights were recorded and released by Virgin Records as the album 'Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus'. The venue was in one of Manchester's toughest neighbourhoods, described as a blighted post-industrial wasteland of rubble-strewn lots, abandoned buildings and crumbling housing projects.
The Electric Circus was a dangerous place for punks, who were frequently attacked by locals on their way to and from the venue. Despite this, many ex-patrons remember it as an exciting place where they found their tribe.
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The building was originally the Palace Cinema and the Top Hat Club
The Electric Circus was a live music venue in Manchester, located in Collyhurst on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street. The building that housed the Electric Circus was originally the Palace Cinema and the Top Hat Club, run by Bernard Manning. It was also a bingo hall before becoming the Electric Circus in 1976.
The Electric Circus was a seminal venue for punk rock in the 1970s, hosting gigs by some of the biggest punk bands of the era, including the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Fall, The Jam, and Buzzcocks. It was described as a dangerous venue, with gig-goers often facing violence from locals who disapproved of the punk subculture. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the Electric Circus became a beloved and exciting place for punks to gather and see their favourite bands.
The building's history as a cinema and club is reflected in its later use as a music venue, providing a space for entertainment and community-building. The Electric Circus played a significant role in the Manchester punk scene, and its contribution to punk rock is fondly remembered, even after its closure in 1977.
The Electric Circus was also known for its light shows during performances, which consisted of old black-and-white cartoons or coloured oily moving blobs, adding to the unique atmosphere of the venue. The venue faced backlash from local politicians and authorities, who put pressure on live music venues to stop hosting punk bands. Ultimately, the Electric Circus closed its doors in 1977, and its final nights were recorded and released as the album "Short Circuit".
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It was Manchester's premier showcase for visiting punk bands
The Electric Circus in Manchester was located in Collyhurst, a mile or so outside the city centre, on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street. It was situated in one of the city's toughest neighbourhoods, described as a blighted post-industrial wasteland of rubble-strewn lots, abandoned buildings and crumbling housing projects.
The Electric Circus became Manchester's premier showcase for visiting punk bands, hosting some of the biggest names in the genre. It was originally the name given to Sunday nights at Mr. Brown's, a nightclub on Brazil Street in the city centre, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It featured performances by progressive and hard rock bands, as well as poetry readings by a young John Cooper Clarke.
As the punk scene emerged, the Electric Circus began to host punk nights, providing a platform for new Manchester bands like Slaughter and The Dogs, Buzzcocks, and others. By the mid-1970s, the venue had become renowned as a heavy metal club, but that began to change when punk arrived at its doors. The Electric Circus became a dangerous yet exciting place for punks, who frequently faced attacks from those who disagreed with their lifestyle and fashion choices.
The venue played a significant role in the development of Manchester's punk scene, hosting performances by influential bands such as the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and many others. It was a regular feature on 'So It Goes', Tony Wilson's half-hour television programme showcasing live performances from punk bands. The Electric Circus's contribution to punk rock is fondly remembered, despite its short existence, as it closed its doors in 1977.
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The Sex Pistols played there under a hail of bottles and bricks
The Electric Circus was a live music venue in Collyhurst, Manchester, located on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street. The building had previously been home to the Palace Cinema and the Top Hat Club, and later became a bingo hall. In the early 1970s, it was a heavy metal club, but that began to change in 1976 when punk arrived.
The Sex Pistols played at the Electric Circus in Manchester on December 9, 1976. The band included singer Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), and their clothes were designed by Vivienne Westwood, who called her creations "confrontation fashion". The Sex Pistols' performance was described as taking place "under a hail of gob and bottles", with bricks also being hurled at those queueing outside by locals from the nearby abandoned council estate. The Electric Circus was located in a tough neighbourhood, and the journey to and from the venue could be dangerous for gig-goers, who had to run the gauntlet to avoid attacks by those who disliked the punks' distinctive style and attitude.
The Electric Circus was a seminal venue for punk rock in Manchester in the 1970s, hosting some of the biggest bands of the era, including The Clash, The Fall, The Jam, Motorhead, and Buzzcocks. It was described as "a blighted post-industrial wasteland of rubble-strewn lots, abandoned buildings and crumbling housing projects". Despite its poor state of repair and the dangers of attending gigs there, the Electric Circus is remembered fondly by many ex-patrons as an exciting place to see their favourite bands and find a sense of belonging.
The venue closed its doors in October 1977, and the final two nights were recorded and released as the album 'Short Circuit' by Virgin Records in 1978. The album featured performances by The Drones, Steel Pulse, John Cooper Clarke, The Fall, Buzzcocks, and Joy Division. The Electric Circus was an influential venue in Manchester's music history, particularly for the punk scene, and its contribution to punk rock is still fondly remembered.
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Frequently asked questions
The Electric Circus was located in Collyhurst, Manchester, on the corner of Teignmouth Street and Collyhurst Street.
The building was originally the Palace Cinema and the Top Hat Club, run by Bernard Manning. It was also a bingo hall and a nightclub called Mr. Browns.
Collyhurst in the 1970s was described as a "blighted post-industrial wasteland of rubble-strewn lots, abandoned buildings and crumbling housing projects".
The Electric Circus was located about a mile outside the city centre.
Yes, the Electric Circus was considered a dangerous venue. Patrons were often attacked by locals who disapproved of the punk subculture.
