| ||||
| ||||
| | | | |
| | |
 | it's quite possible that the new cross road looks slightly different to this, but this flyer from the paradise bar sums up the vibe of what went on inside pretty well... | |||||||
The day dream started over some beers. The hottest new bands that could liven up Top Of The Pops would come and play in the unhippest part of town. No more trekking over the river to Camden, bring it all to the door steps of us, the city’s pleb scum, nut jobs and scruff bags. . . .Yeah, right. Like that’s really gonna happen. Well, how will you ever know if you can make something happen, if you never even try...? Early in ‘003, "situationist punks" (apparently), Corporation:Blend, were having one of their band meetings in the Paradise Bar. The subject arose of what a great place it was and how great it would be if loads of bands played there and they got carried away. C:B and friends got off their collective arses and made it happen. Is that situationist? Is what’s started to grow around there, ever since? It began with the creation of the world's first rock'n'roll republic (one Friday afternoon, Apr 003). An imaginary place as giant art - Rocklands - across the river from Docklands. On 22nd April, C:B (supported by The Measures, dance floor antics courtesy of Unemployable Welsh Scum DJs) launched a suitably unworldly club - Pop Of The Tops. Rocklands became a real place. C:B have a habit of getting together with pro-active people but nobody that turned up to the unassuming music bar on the New Cross Road that night could have imagined what fun was in store. The night was a stormer and making friends was on the agenda from day one. It was aimed at the skint and lively and they turned up in droves. Chris Chinchilla took early pix of C:B. Also in the audience was Eddie Argos, who C:B knew from Bournemouth. Chris and Eddie went on to Form A Band. Loads of other Pop Of Topsters have made their mark since. Totally UN-London uncool, unpretentious, untrendy, unapologetic, it was in an area seemingly off the map but actually drenched with the highest population of creatives and performers, due to being the cheapest. There were around twenty to thirty bands, and their friends, in the crowd and a definitive anti-scene was born. Life started to imitate art. As part of the penniless revolution it realised that fun costs too much in the capitalist age. Most people are poor are in debt! With no hype, the spectrum of bands that graced the stage, created a weekly event. The Paradise Bar lived up to it’s name. Entry was £0 before 8pm when the already open doors opened (so laid back that soundcheck was usually only just finishing) then only £3/£1 after, beer was £1 a bottle while stocks lasted and it was pub prices anyway. Affordable great nights, future stars close up, it soon got popular enough to pay the bands decently. at first they did it for love and beer. The bar actually opened at 5pm, so soundchecks might be watched by schoolies on their way home and anybody that didnt mind being in the place while that was going on. Music fans decorated the venue with art and photos. Sometimes the cloakroom would be abandoned if whoever HAD to get on the dance floor. People didn’t mind, hung their own coats up and joined them. Friends on the wavelength often helped run the box office/cloakroom and a posse of regulars came from as far as the home counties to join in the chaos which was a mixture of the hottest new tips, the most pro-active new rock bands and the thriving local scene with varying degrees of success and surrealism. The level of laid back friendliness never varied though, nobody felt awkward coming alone. It was basically a hangout for wasted youth and creative sparks. | ||||||||
you can just see a glimpse of chris blaine of digital sneakers filming ludes, on this flyer | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | |
so anyway, who wants to live in the world on The "New"s? especially when it's like another planet where you live. Inspired by music, cuba, daydreams, the local community (who consciously choose to - mainly - live in peace) and the local motto YOU CAN'T KILL THE SPIRIT, Rocklands was declared a republic from the 51st state in Apr-003. Tongue still firmly in cheek, and aware of the need for our alternative music community to hang out and help their talented and therefore thriving activity a new kind of club - Pop Of The Tops - was born. Part of the penniless revolution, it's something completely different. Friendly, untrendy and gazing at the stars.The wealth of local creatives, otherworldy folk and the diversity of the community makes for an interesting mix. We have attracted visitors from all over the world too. Many of the crowd are in bands themselves or take turns on the stage or DJing (or in my case, nearly learnt to press the right buttons to play CDs! - but nobody heckles, the vibe is rock'n'rtoll), bands bring their CDs and ask the DJ to play them and kind hearted music industry folks send promo stuff to give away in the Share The Joy box. It's a place for bands that are looking for gigs, for local musicians to perform and for pro-active rising stars to do their rising star thing. Most of the acts booked come highly recommended. You can pop in for a drink (by yourself if you like - I've had a few great nights with only £3 in my pocket!) and just hang out. "Hey it's lovely in here" is a remark that we've heard more than once. Sometimes you can see the moon through the glass ceiling at the back by the pool tables. There are video games too. There have been many truly legendary nights/debauched moments and there will no doubt be many more. Drank the bar nearly dry on more than one occassion too. Although there's a posse of Rocklanders that put the club on (and hats off to our resident DJs, Unemployable Welsh Scum) Pop Of The Tops isn't just a club, it's the people that play there - on stage or off! At time of writing, the club is nearly six months old. Phase 1 so to speak. In that time, many of the bands that have played that have already moved on/up (hooray!). Escape Planet Earth - Step through the door to Planet Water... love and funny business, Minxy McNaughty (love pirate) x | ||
| | |