The Bridge House Pub in Canning Town London E16 was the premier pub rock venue of
the 70's and the first pub in the world with its own record label.
This pub became a mecca of music, where any new bands wishing to make it into the
music industry had to be seen playing there.
U2 played there on their first visit to London from Ireland. Depeche Mode played
there for a year, we helped them get a deal with Mute records. Cafe Racers played,
they later changed their name to Dire Straits. Paul Young and his band Q-Tips had
a residency there for 9 months. Chas and Dave were regulars, recording a double live
album there. Iron Maiden played over 35 times with three different singers. Tom Robinson
fine tuned 2.4.6.8 while playing there. A Flock of Seagulls got signed there. Billy
Bragg played and won a talent contest there. Steve Marriot on his return from the
USA booked a residency, calling the band Blind Drunk. Police were waiting to arrest
him before the gig. Charlie Watts and his band Rocket 88 played many times. Mick
Jagger and Keith Richards would turn up to support him. Chris Thompson who was lead
singer with Manfred Mann's Earthband formed his own bands Filthy McNasty and Night.
Huey Lewis was a regular with his band called Clover. Paul Jones used to come and
jam. He got a band together for one gig only. Today 20 years later the Blues Band
are still playing. The Police used to ring regularly for a gig, but with a name like
that we could not give them a gig in Canning Town. Secret Affair started a mod revival
with our Mods Mayday 79 album. We got in the main album charts for the first time.
Phil Daniels the actor formed a band and played there, almost caused a riot when
he would not put an anorak on. Joe Brown on his arrival said, 'see all them electricity
wires, 20 years ago i put 'em in'. Phyco band Wasted Youth were formed there and
became the biggest thing around for a while. Modern Romance presented Terry Murphy
with a silver disc for the help he gave them. Rory Gallagher was always sensational
when he used to jam with all the guys. Alex Harvey booked a secret gig...
Other regulars included; Ginger Baker, Brian Knight, Jeff Beck, Long John Baldry,
Manfred Mann, Lindisfarne, Crawler, Paul Kossoff Band, Jo Ann Kelly and her Band,
Tony Mcphee & Groundhogs, Zoot Money, Alexis Korner, Geno Washington, Squeeze, Blow
Monkeys, Girls School, Sham 69, The Damned, Cockney Rejects, Glen Matlock, Lena Lovich,
The Vibrators, Joan Jett, Uk Subs, Stray Cats, The Skids, Soft Cell, John Cooper
Clark, Norman Lovett, Gerry McAvoy, Jackie Lynton, Remus Down Boulevard and Splodgenessabounds.
Also Tom Watkins, Jazz Summers, Chris Wright, Colin Bell, Miles Copland, Micky Most,
Tarquin Gotch, Mutt Lange, John Blake, Gary Bushell, Simon Hills and Ged Doherty
were regulars looking at new bands.
The landlord and owner of Bridge House records, Terence Murphy will be posting regular
memoirs of the place, the bands and the events that happened there. Excerpts from
a forthcoming book.
Maybe you have some memories that could be included?
