Anyone got got any favourite memories or stories from the Leadmill from the late 80's to early 90's, circa 1988 - to 1994.

This is roughly the period that I worked there, and I'm just interested in any snippets that I might recall.

I used to work behind the main bar on Friday and Saturday nights, and more often than not on the Jazz for lunch on a Sunday.

A couple of my favourites;

You used to get solid plastic pint pots which we'd throw about in the air or at each other for a jape. One night, one of these pots hit the fans that reside above the main bar and smacked a punter on the side of the bonce at the end of the bar. He went down like a sack of spuds. We laughed heartily, but got a severe b*ll**king. The guy was non the worse for it.


Do you remember the little bar that sat on the edge of the dance floor near the cloak room. One night a cs gas canister was let off in the main bar and the "Amazing Grace" record came on to evacuate the club. I was working in the little bar that night and pulled down the shutters and got merrily hammered.

It would be nice to hear some stories from very happy times for me.

Cheers
Jim:thumbsup:

Hi Jim, i actually worked on the leadmill when it was being rebuilt from some old factory. I went in there Thursdays during the years you mention, great times the place would be packed. Was you there when a lot of people from the student games were coming in ?. I remember Percy on the door, and a kid called paul behind the bar, do you remember him and what he did?. Went in there on a thursday a few years ago and the place was nowhere as good as 80s/90s or maybe im just getting old lol.

The band I was in rehearsed in a large room above the Leadmill in the autumn of 1988. It was ideal but there was always the inevitable stairs to contend with and we were, naturally, reluctant to leave our equipment there.

I used to enjoy the Leadmill but in a sense it became a victim of its own success. The queues became too long, you had no guarantee of getting in due to moronic bouncers and the place became too busy for my liking. The thought of going there these days sends a shudder down my spine (though that applies to going to any nightclub).

I've seen a couple of decent bands there, both in the early-to-mid 1990s. Shed Seven were great and Dodgy were also excellent before they received too much airplay and 'sold out'. The La's (sic) on the other had were disappointing. I also recall a group called Everyday People who were quite impressive.

[QUOTE=only_me] I remember Percy on the door, and a kid called paul behind the bar, do you remember him and what he did?.

Only-Me. Yes I know Percy, he was there all the time I worked there. His brother is Uriah Rennie, don't know if you knew that.

If you mean Paul who was the bar manager, then yes I know him. We were pretty pally at the time. With the "What he did?" are we talking about how he came to leave the Leadmill????:hihi:

Jim:thumbsup:

Yes :hihi: :hihi: :thumbsup:

all i can remember about the leadmill in the late 80's/early 90's was the ceiling dripping on you towards the end of the night...yuck!!!

oh, and the great chips you used to get from that little cafe ... last time i went in the leadmill was about 3 years ago, and i agree with ousetunes - it wasnt as good as it used to be.

Yes :hihi: :hihi: :thumbsup:

I don't think it would be a problem to post it seeing as he was convicted for it!

What do you think?

Would have been even funnier if he'd gotten away with it. I seem to remember he managed to get locked into the cellar as well to make it more convincing....... Don't know how he managed that.

yep i was there a lot of friday nights late 80,s. sometimes on a saturday as well,could be wrong but didn't you pay to watch a band then after they would chuck you out so you'd pay again to use the club.
a friend of a friend was determined to be a dj and he got a slot, DJ MORGAN was his name.
i used to talk to one of the bar staff always wore a FRANKIE t-shirt, about collecting FGTH records, cant recall his name though.
some of the bouncers were quite scary esp a coloured woman, not to be messed with.if you were caught smoking weed they used to nick it off you, i presume for themselves cos they didn't lob you out.
sure i was there when the cs gas went off, remember been moved out and lots of police arriving but can't recall why.
happy days, have been since agree its not as good..

yep i was there a lot of friday nights late 80,s. sometimes on a saturday as well,could be wrong but didn't you pay to watch a band then after they would chuck you out so you'd pay again to use the club.
a friend of a friend was determined to be a dj and he got a slot, DJ MORGAN was his name.
i used to talk to one of the bar staff always wore a FRANKIE t-shirt, about collecting FGTH records, cant recall his name though.
some of the bouncers were quite scary esp a coloured woman, not to be messed with.if you were caught smoking weed they used to nick it off you, i presume for themselves cos they didn't lob you out.
sure i was there when the cs gas went off, remember been moved out and lots of police arriving but can't recall why.
happy days, have been since agree its not as good..

On a saturday night you'd pay to get in and see the band and then stop all night although there was usually a big exodus around midnight once the band had finished.

The female bouncer sounds like Winnie. She went on to be one of the bar managers. Don't know what she's doing nowadays.

I remember DJ Morgan. He was resident for pretty much all the time I worked there. The guy with the FGTH t shirt sounds like my mate Sean. He was from Luton with a bit of a late 80's mullet going on.

Jim:thumbsup:

I remember seeing The Mighty Lemon Drops at the Leadmill, in about 1987. Excellent; my brother his mates and I were quite drunk (and had smeared our faces liberally with Calamine lotion for some reason unknown). Also saw The Family Cat around the same time. Went to the Jazz on Sunday lunchtime thing too - good food and groovy tunes. Newspapers. (I think kids were allowed in too ) Like being at home, but better.

How about that series of satirical revues they used to have on Fridays in the mid-eighties - it was called The Sheffield Friday Show or something like that. It was fairly patchy, which is only to be expected when they were writing a lot of material so quickly, but the whole concept was entirely commendable. I recall you could pay to see that, then hang around and stay for La Videotech (Mark 1 version).

Hmm, and, I recall a bloke in shorts and a bowler hat working on the turnstile in the early days. Strange.

just remembered some more-
guy with beard who used to dance on his own, then at the end of the night go out and unlock his push bike from the scaffold next door. he'd then drunkenly wobble off into the night, no lights on either.he must have been pulled by the police. we saw him quite a few times though.
queing to get in for a band, there was a lad who was quite obviously under age trying to get in.he'd scratched off his DOB on his passport and tried penning a new one over the top, made a right mess, passport would have been knackered. the bouncers thought it highly amusing and had a good giggle, needless to say he didnt get in.

I remembered queuing at the bar for a pint of cider and Old Peculiar when the Cramps came on. I said "I really like this song, what's it called?" and a bloke said "You've got good taste". I said "Thanks, do you know what its called?" Then I felt really stupid.

I worked behind the bar in the leadmill for a few years, between 91 and prob 94. I think I know who you must be surfinjim. Could be wrong. I havent kept in touch with anyone from there.
I have some fab memories from those days :-)

i only really went to a few gigs at the leadmill

although i remember chumbawamba playing and there was some nazis heckling from the crowd ..not sure but i remember they got beat up eventually??

i also went to see jah shaka and mi mate was at the front by the speaker and he'd been partaking in a bit of weed and alcohol, when the dub bass kicked in he promptly threw up over the barrier lol

Hi melthebell, hope surfinjim dont mind me going off subject but jah shaka is a great sound. I dont know if you ever seen the film babylon (1980) but it involved the jah shaka sound, he was actually in the film as well.

Hi melthebell, hope surfinjim dont mind me going off subject but jah shaka is a great sound. I dont know if you ever seen the film babylon (1980) but it involved the jah shaka sound, he was actually in the film as well.
yeah i used to have a few jah shaka lps back in the day and love babylon, its one of my fave films ever.
trouble is ive not been able to locate it to buy OR download as yet :(
yeah the other soundsystem is played by aswad i believe :P

but didn't you pay to watch a band then after they would chuck you out so you'd pay again to use the club...

They didnt start doing that till quite a few years later. In fact in the mid 80s the main band would come on at 11ish, but then they started putting them on earlier to get two crowds (one for band + one for disco), then they twigged they could make even more cash by throwing everyone out after the band & making them pay to come back in again!

I was a regular on saturdays for most of this period & saw some great bands - and as it was so cheap to get in - didnt matter if they were rubbish - you just went to the bar till the disco started!

I think the most surprising band, who I'd never heard of before, were the Fench Funk Federation - a big french funk band (strangely enough) who took the roof off the place - they were brilliant. Janes Addiction (89?) also goes down as one of the best gigs I've ever been to anywhere.

I worked behind the bar in the leadmill for a few years, between 91 and prob 94. I think I know who you must be surfinjim. Could be wrong. I havent kept in touch with anyone from there.
I have some fab memories from those days :-)


You need to give me a few clues mum23 as to who you are then?

I used to work on Friday and Saturdays only, and had another job during the day. I lived at Grenoside at the time when I worked in the Ledders.
I used to knock about with Sean (from Luton, now lives in Michigan) and Kim (from Gleadless, now lives in Norway).

I think I know who you could be, but I need a clue as old age is setting in.....;)

Cheers
Jim:thumbsup:

Gig wise- i only remember seeing Bassomatic.
DJ wise- Carl Cox, Astrix & Space, LTJ Bukem & many more.
Remember going to a very good boxing day rave up- probs '91.

Hiya Surfinjim,
I'm pretty sure I know you - in fact, if you're who I think you are, we had a fling way back then?! I worked behind the bar too around that time.

Not worked out who mum23 is yet? Anymore clues?

Remember the Steamer on Wednesday nights- a fantastic night that was until it became quite dodge with stabbings and the like.

I remember Paul too but can anyone remember before then when Mick was Bar Manager?

I remember Percy, Winnie (worked in the cafe too), Russell, Wayne, Tracy, Mark - names ring any bells?

Hiya Surfinjim,
I'm pretty sure I know you - in fact, if you're who I think you are, we had a fling way back then?! I worked behind the bar too around that time.

Not worked out who mum23 is yet? Anymore clues?

Remember the Steamer on Wednesday nights- a fantastic night that was until it became quite dodge with stabbings and the like.

I remember Paul too but can anyone remember before then when Mick was Bar Manager?

I remember Percy, Winnie (worked in the cafe too), Russell, Wayne, Tracy, Mark - names ring any bells?


Hey Up alw1201.

Well I recognise all those last names you mentioned. Would Mark happen to be a relation of yours??????:hihi:

I think its safe to call it a fling really. I'd never have gotten a job at the Ledders if it wasn't for you.:thumbsup:

Not only do I remember Mick the bar manager, and that big photo of hom over the bar, but also his lesser known assistant, Alan!

To be honest, the first 2 years when I worked there for Mick/Alan, were the best by a long way. You could have adrink behind the bar at that time so long as you didn't abuse it.

Do you still keep in touch with any of them?

I think mum23 was after your time behind the bar. I think I know who she is though.

Keep in touch

Jim:thumbsup:

I've had many great nights there and have been to a few fantastic gigs. Steve Earle, Green on Red, Deus, The Goats, Spearhead, Teenage Fanclub, Miracle Legion, It's probably the best live music venue I've been to.

Trying to remember who else was there around the same time as me...
Bar managers while I was theer included Winnie and Mark, Tony ( red hair??Irish??), and also remember Paul.
Behind the bar, most nights, you would find Tom.....now, I might be making this up, but couldnt he talk backwards??, Julian, also from Grenoside, Mark and Rachel ( werent they nurses?) Diane.
Then there was a glass collector who I can picture signing "born to drink mild???" little fella with long hair, Adie?
Ged, Mia, MArk mclelland, Viv
So was I before your time alw1201??, or have I named you??
C'mon surfinjim, help me out.
Who was the fella around when Paul was, big old fella with a huge black quiff. Was always around door, but not a bouncer?

Jim - how could it have been a fling? you're gay!

enjoy your week off matey and think of me on nights this weekend with Mrs P

Jim - how could it have been a fling? you're gay!

enjoy your week off matey and think of me on nights this weekend with Mrs P


Yes Mr Coopster, you would know!:hihi:

If I was gay, which I'm not by the way, you certainly wouldn't be one I'd fancy:gag:

Jim:thumbsup:

Trying to remember who else was there around the same time as me...
Bar managers while I was theer included Winnie and Mark, Tony ( red hair??Irish??), and also remember Paul.
Behind the bar, most nights, you would find Tom.....now, I might be making this up, but couldnt he talk backwards??, Julian, also from Grenoside, Mark and Rachel ( werent they nurses?) Diane.
Then there was a glass collector who I can picture signing "born to drink mild???" little fella with long hair, Adie?
Ged, Mia, MArk mclelland, Viv
So was I before your time alw1201??, or have I named you??
C'mon surfinjim, help me out.
Who was the fella around when Paul was, big old fella with a huge black quiff. Was always around door, but not a bouncer?

The little fella was Adie.

The guy with the black quiff, I'm guessing that was Colin and can you remeber Molly who worked on the door as well?

I remember all those people as well as Chris who went out with Rachel, and welsh lynne.

Mum23 you were well after alw. You still haven't enlightened us with a name?:huh:

Jim:thumbsup:

Hi jim...alw's bro here.

Just spent half an hour writing all my memories, and it wouldn't let me post them without logging on...AGAIN. so I lost it all and can't be arsed to do it again. sorry:rant:

Hi jim...alw's bro here.

Just spent half an hour writing all my memories, and it wouldn't let me post them without logging on...AGAIN. so I lost it all and can't be arsed to do it again. sorry:rant:


Hey up Mark!


Nice to hear from you. Getting posting those Leadmill stories.

I always remember the night of the CS gas canister going off. I made a b line for the little bar off the dance floor and got wrecked in there with Sean and Russ. I think we were getting evacuated about an hour after the cs had gone off and the punters where coming back in!

Jim:thumbsup:

The little fella was Adie.

The guy with the black quiff, I'm guessing that was Colin and can you remeber Molly who worked on the door as well?

I remember all those people as well as Chris who went out with Rachel, and welsh lynne.

Mum23 you were well after alw. You still haven't enlightened us with a name?:huh:

Jim:thumbsup:

The little fella was called AJ, and do you remember Diane's boyfriend who was also the oldest glass collector in Britain.......Scotty! So called because he was Scottish! Never knew his real name.

Also remember Serena who worked the cloak room and many many others.

Jim:thumbsup:

Would love to see an archive of all the bands to play at the Leadmill, I recall Teenage fannies and 1,000 yard stare to name a couple but a lot i can never recall? (thnx to the "part 2" trip self abuse days before,during and after the 'madchester' era :-#)

A list of names I remember:
Kim, Winnie, Mick Muir, Colin...& his son (looked like a rockin' Glen Madeiros), Russ, Wayne & Mick O'neil, Wayne Helliwell, Mark Ward (Pob dressed as Morrissey), Scotty, Jim (head Doorman), Graeme Park, Stephen 'Del' Ellis, Our Amanda, Tracy Lee (now Oldfield), Alan Charlesworth, Diane (Scotty's Bird), Vanessa, Martin Boyle (bouncer who owned Gym), Donna, I think there was a greek bouncer too!??...don't know his name though.
Ged,.... who was the skinny bird who looked like Olive Oyl from Popeye? A big daft bouncer who reminded me of Barny Bear?(white fella). Another bouncer who was white with black slick hair and thought he was gods gift. Lisa (Whittaker?) and her mad Irish mother.

Anyway, Jamie, do you remember doing a Frog impression up and down the bar?...I do (why, I don't know, but I do)

Remember Wednesday nights?...'Yo!, Pils!'...thats all you used to get off the punters...got on my nerves, the ignorant sods.

I remember the little bar too...me and Russ used to sit there all night, smoking free roll ups, drinking free cocktails and beer, and serving the lovely ladies without having to get off our arses...everything was to hand!...excellent.

Kebabs and wait for your taxi.... maybe Dave and his 'Sweeny' Rover.

I always said it was the best job I ever had.

Here's one for you all...top tunes of the day in the Leadmill?

Some I remember are:
Voodoo Ray, Jump Around, Sit Down, most Smiths, Happy Mondays and Stone Roses, the only way is up! (jesus, I actually used to quite like that one!) one that was a rap track and used to say 'cos I'm the Godfather' in the chorus bit, but I can't for the life of me remember who did it, I've looked all over the internet trying to get it to no avail. Russ O'neil would know but I don't see him now. Doug Lazy (let it roll), and loads more to mention.

will keep an eye out for any suggestions to my music puzzle.

See you later....Me.

A list of names I remember:
Kim, Winnie, Mick Muir, Colin...& his son (looked like a rockin' Glen Madeiros), Russ, Wayne & Mick O'neil, Wayne Helliwell, Mark Ward (Pob dressed as Morrissey), Scotty, Jim (head Doorman), Graeme Park, Stephen 'Del' Ellis, Our Amanda, Tracy Lee (now Oldfield), Alan Charlesworth, Diane (Scotty's Bird), Vanessa, Martin Boyle (bouncer who owned Gym), Donna, I think there was a greek bouncer too!??...don't know his name though.
Ged,.... who was the skinny bird who looked like Olive Oyl from Popeye? A big daft bouncer who reminded me of Barny Bear?(white fella). Another bouncer who was white with black slick hair and thought he was gods gift. Lisa (Whittaker?) and her mad Irish mother.

Anyway, Jamie, do you remember doing a Frog impression up and down the bar?...I do (why, I don't know, but I do)

Remember Wednesday nights?...'Yo!, Pils!'...thats all you used to get off the punters...got on my nerves, the ignorant sods.

I remember the little bar too...me and Russ used to sit there all night, smoking free roll ups, drinking free cocktails and beer, and serving the lovely ladies without having to get off our arses...everything was to hand!...excellent.

Kebabs and wait for your taxi.... maybe Dave and his 'Sweeny' Rover.

I always said it was the best job I ever had.

Here's one for you all...top tunes of the day in the Leadmill?

Some I remember are:
Voodoo Ray, Jump Around, Sit Down, most Smiths, Happy Mondays and Stone Roses, the only way is up! (jesus, I actually used to quite like that one!) one that was a rap track and used to say 'cos I'm the Godfather' in the chorus bit, but I can't for the life of me remember who did it, I've looked all over the internet trying to get it to no avail. Russ O'neil would know but I don't see him now. Doug Lazy (let it roll), and loads more to mention.

will keep an eye out for any suggestions to my music puzzle.

See you later....Me.

Can't say i remember the frog impression, but there were many nights working there that I couldn't remember anything much about!

Some classic names there and some classic tunes. Mark Ward and wayne Helliwell! Crikey thats going back some.
I seem to remember a big greek bouncer as well as Big Joe who was also an Irish fella like martin Boyle.

Tunes I always remember from a saturday night....

Anything by The Pogues. Cruisers Creek by the Fall.

Thursday Nights- I believe in Miracles by The Jackson Sisters


Mark, other then your Amanda are you still in touch with any of these characters? Fancy pulling a reunion night together???


Jim:thumbsup:

Hmm!!.... I'm a bit disappointed that my name wasn't mentioned in any posts on this thread, after all I did work at the Leadmill practically every night from when it first opened with Oddessy in 1982 until I'd had enough & left in 1989.

I was a 'bouncer', usually on the door trying to stop indesirable types from entering the Leadmill, on most nights I did a good job, but often put my life in danger by having to disarm people with knives & other weapons, save others from imminent harm & stop many fights caused mainly by such gangs as the 'BBC' & most of the time the punters & staff were not even aware of what was going on, all they would see was a bouncer AGAIN being heavy handed, when most of the time I used a softly softly approach.
Julie Tippins (a DJ at the time) hated my guts, but then again I was on a different wave length to many who worked there & the punters.

I know I helped to make the Leadmill a reasonably safe place to be, but towards the end I felt that I could not rely on some of the other staff so I decided to leave, which I'm glad I did, because a few weeks later unfortunately, three bouncers on the door were badly hurt by a gang with knives.

Believe it or not tho' I have a lot of happy memories working at the Leadmill & even after all this time I still miss the place.

Novice,

Colin's son.

Do you mean, "I'm a rocker....... Carl!":hihi:

Need to find out out who datal is then????


Cheers
Jim:thumbsup:

That's it !...Carl!

Dunno, who the bouncer is though?

not in touch with any of 'em really...but would be good to have a re-union.

I was lucky enough to catch some BRILLIANT gigs at the Leadmill between 1991 and 1995/96 -
including the utterly superb Marion in 1995 - my favourite gig ever. :thumbsup:

Also saw an incredible gig by the Manics in August 1991, and Peter Perrett with his new band The One, I think it was in 1995.

If I remember right, I've described all those gigs at length already on SF, so I won't repeat myself!

Also saw Big Audio Dynamite, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, the Buzzcocks, etc, etc.

Along with Rock City in Nottingham, at that time I rated the Leadmill as the best gig venue I'd ever been to.

As people have said - happy days, very happy days :)

StarSparkle

I remember when the music stopped and the place started emptying, if you were one of the stragglers you'd get drops of sweat that had condensed dropping from the ceiling - nice!!!

I never wore a FGTH t-shirt and I didn't have a mullet! I wasn't cool enough for a mullet.
The bouncer was Dawn, and she looked mean but was a real sweetheart!
She spent all night looking for money on the floor.

I never wore a FGTH t-shirt and I didn't have a mullet! I wasn't cool enough for a mullet.
The bouncer was Dawn, and she looked mean but was a real sweetheart!
She spent all night looking for money on the floor.

Well if it wasn't you then Sean, who was it????

Jim:thumbsup:

Other top tunes when I was there.

Been caught stealin - Jane's Addiction
Monkey gone to heaven- the Pixies
Wide Open Space - mansun
Glider - My Bloody Valentine


Jim:thumbsup: