The Marquee Club was a legendary live music venue in London. Originally opened as a Jazz club at 165 Oxford Street back in 1958, its most famous period was from 1964 to 1988 at 90 Wardour Street in Soho. It finally closed in 1996, then located at 105 Charing Cross Road. It was launchpad to numerous famous Rock bands.
Almost every major Rock band played the tiny stage. It was even the location of the first-ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962. View a setlist of the evening here.
Live acts during the 1960s included Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Yes, Jethro Tull, and Pink Floyd.
In the 70s, Queen performed three times here in the beginning of their career. In 1972, Status Quo took the stage.
The Marquee Club also embraced the Punk movement of the late 1970s and regularly promoted Punk and New Wave nights with bands such as The Sex Pistols, Joy Division, and The Cure.
Other Rock acts like Dire Straits also appeared regularly at the venue. During the 1980s the club became an important venue to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, called NWOBHM, with acts like Def Leppard or Iron Maiden playing legendary sets.
Metallica performed their first ever UK show on 27 March, 1984. View a setlist of the evening here.
The historical importance of the club led to a number of bigger, established artists playing secret gigs here. Among them were Marillion, Prince, Genesis, and Mötley Crüe.
With Jimmy Page re-opening the club at Charing Cross Road, it successfully featured over 500 new and established bands during its time here, including Ozzy Osbourne, Green Day, Billy Idol, and Snow Patrol.
Today, a blue plaque outside the Wardour Street location reminds of this unique music place. It is a homage to The Who drummer Keith Moon. For further inspiration read this article or watch a video snippet of a 1967 The Who gig.
Marquee Club (Photo by Google Streetview)
Global success made in London
A leading figure in music
Founders of Punk Rock
Lemmy’s legendary Heavy Metal
Once performing at Woodstock
Legendary Heavy Metal with Eddie
Key player in British Punk Rock
London Pop Rock superstars
Legendary Freddie Mercury
Britpop at its best
The one and only Rock stars
Formed in 1965 in London
British Rock with Sting
With origins in Blues music
Named from Shepherd’s Bush
Indie Rock since 1998
Indie from Southern London
From London to worldwide success
From the 60s until today
Alternative Rock from outsiders for outsiders
One of the Britpop giants
Just legendary
Part of Genesis or as solo artist
An 80s icon
Iconic Camden artist
Pop Rock meets Wave and Gothic
Legends from the 60s
Mark Knopfler and his fellows
Britpop meets Psychedelic