News and Reviews: 1st October 2003

David Bowie killed off " Ziggy Stardust " 30 years ago at this venue on 03 July 1973. There was a number one album named after it by Motorhead called " No Sleep Til Hammersmith" In the 30 years i have been going there the venue has never had a stalls standing option. It was the first venue i ever went to as a 14 year old and later i spent over 10 years there on front stage security so it is hardly surprising that it is my fave ever live concert venue but the legendary Hammersmith Apollo ( ex Ham Odeon) is about to get a summer makeover .Fed up with all the decent bands using stand up venues like Shepherds Bush Empire,Brixton Academy , Astoria the new owners Clear Channel Entertainments are putting in new seats that can be taken out as and when required in the downstairs stalls area. This will also mean that for standing shows they can sell 5,000 tickets as opposed to the usual 4,000 for a sitdown show.The venue closes for 6 weeks and reopens in early September .This sounds like a perfect way to get back the bands and promoters that once used to love the place. Motorhead,Def Leppard , Bob Dylan ,Simple Minds, Darkness ,Janes Addiction and David Lee Roth are amongst the acts to play soon and there is a one off show by rock legends AC/DC confirmed for 21 October 2003. AC/DC played here often in late 1970s /early 1980s .Ticket details will be in The Evening Standard paper dated 10 October 2003. They last played shows at this venue as part of their "For Those About To Rock " tour in Oct 1982. I was at all 4 of those fantastic shows. On 17 September 2003 the honour of being the first band to play with stalls standing was American soft rock singer John Mayer so it was a shame that he gave one of the most boring shows i have seen all this year.

Posted 1st October 2003