Hi all. Been reading the excellant biography Of Peter Stringfellow 'King of Clubs', and it really does reveal a lot about the history of Sheffields pub and club circuit of the 50s 60s and early 70's. Also fascinating insight into local youth culture and trends of the 60's and the rise of the mega succesful MOJO club and the PENTHOUSE. Anyone wanting a good insight into Sheffield of this period should take a look through this book, its not just all glamour and glitzy self praise about being a superstar London club owner, but actually the first half of the book is an extremely well written account of Sheffield socio-cultural life.

Great read, and revealed some aspects of Sheffield culture of the 60's I never knew really existed here. Learnt a few things about the Penthouse (later REBELS) club I never knew about, in that it was not the glamorous "London comes to Sheffield with class and style" club it was supposed to be, but a rough and ready venue with a real reputation for fighting and violence.

Yes, it's a fascinating read from a Sheffield point of view. But, as we've discussed here before, there are several glaring spelling mistakes relating to place names etc in the book (eg "Rivilin" instead of Rivelin).

The mistakes are no big deal in themselves, but a decent proof reader (preferably one from Sheffield) could have quickly fixed them and made it an even better book.

Originally posted by mojoworking
Yes, it's a fascinating read from a Sheffield point of view. But, as we've discussed here before, there are several glaring spelling mistakes relating to place names etc in the book (eg "Rivilin" instead of Rivelin).

The mistakes are no big deal in themselves, but a decent proof reader (preferably one from Sheffield) could have quickly fixed them and made it an even better book.


Good point, I noticed the spelling errors and quite a few geographical errors as well, ie The Penthouse club had a view overlooking the High Street, which it did not, it overlooked the road that runs through the Markets.

.

Didn't know Pete Stringfellow had written a biography. Where can I get one and how much?

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Good point, I noticed the spelling errors and quite a few geographical errors as well, ie The Penthouse club had a view overlooking the High Street, which it did not, it overlooked the road that runs through the Markets.

.

Hi Goldenfleece ,
In a thread about the Penthouse you menntion the boarded up windows at the far end which must of looked out onto the Haymarket and possibly the bottom of the High Street depending of course as to when the buildings across the road were built, although I'd never of described the Penthouse of having windows giving a very scenic view.

Originally posted by extaxman
Didn't know Pete Stringfellow had written a biography. Where can I get one and how much?

I picked up a s/h copy in Rare & Racy in June for a couple of quid. Dunno if it's still available new.

Originally posted by mojoworking
I picked up a s/h copy in Rare & Racy in June for a couple of quid. Dunno if it's still available new.

Got one on Amazon a while back. Great read.

One venue not mentioned is the High STreet underground bar STringfellow ran around 1968/9 before the penthouse. I read this somewhere else that he briefly ran an underground bar on the High Street which apparently was a shoe shop on the ground floor. Now there were and have been a lot of shoe shops on High Street over the years so which one of these might have had an underground bar, apparently a large basement room which was big friday and Saturday night northern soul/disco event in 1968/9? Anyone know of a basement bar on the High street at this time which was a shoe shop upstairs? I believe it was apparently near the Old Bluebell but was this the Bluebell in 1968?

In a thread about the Penthouse you mention the boarded up windows at the far end which must of looked out onto the Haymarket and possibly the bottom of the High Street depending of course as to when the buildings across the road were built, although I'd never of described the Penthouse of having windows giving a very scenic view. [/B]

The Market area was far more fashionable in the late 60's then it became after the 70's. The markets were alive and kicking and the area was not run down and derelict like it is today. The view of course would not have been fantastic, as I checked it down by pulling down one of boards when we looked at the venue interior in 2001, but 30 years ago it might have looked a much better environment. After all, Mr Stringfellow chose the location to build an upmarket club to bring 'London style and class' to Sheffield, and if one was serving chicken in the basket and scampi in the food section in 1969, it must have been a bit better than the fish and greasy chip type area it is now. On the basis I must conclude the market area was an up and coming and fashionable city centre area in the 60's.

The place on High St was just below where Cavells bar is today and just above Pizza Hut. Sorry can't remember the name.

Originally posted by extaxman
The place on High St was just below where Cavells bar is today and just above Pizza Hut. Sorry can't remember the name.

Was it called DOWN BROADWAY?

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Was it called DOWN BROADWAY?

Yes it was, it was a coffee bar. I think I saw "The Shape of the Rain" play there and wasn,t Ray Stuart a DJ there are or am I mixing it up with the Crazy Daisy.

I think "Yes" played there in there early days or it could all be a dream. :)

The clubs around that time were the "ARK" at walkley and "Highway 61" but I can't remember where that was, Heeley maybe.

Memory is not as good as it once was, too many brain cells chemicaly removed around that time. ;)

The ARK at Walkley? Where was that exactly? I know Walkley very well but not heard of that place before.

The band YES played at the Penthouse in 1969.....don't know if they played other Sheffield gigs at that time.

I don't think that Yes played Down Broadway and I don't think that Ray Stewart d.j.d there.
The Ark was on Commonside and you are right Highway 61 was at Heeley oppposite the Bridge Inn .

YES did apparently play DOWN BROADWAY in 1969, see this YES web site link. Wish I was there......

http://yesfans.com/

look under forgotten yesterdays and then the list of gigs from the early years.


Ray Stuart DJ'd at the Black Swan as far as I know, not sure re DOwn Broadway, but as he was a good mate of Mr Stringfellow so no doubt may have done some gigs there. The last time I saw him alive (ray Stuart) was in 1982 supping many pints of ale and knocking back whiskey chasers in the YORK in Broomhill. I knew him vaguely as he was something of a regular in the YORK, as well as numerous other ale houses all over town. A heavy drinker to say the least, he was the size of several buses in 1982.

Originally posted by goldenfleece
YES did apparently play DOWN BROADWAY in 1969, see this YES web site link. Wish I was there......

http://yesfans.com/

look under forgotten yesterdays and then the list of gigs from the early years.




Thanks Goldenfleece, for clearing the YES thing up. I have these little memories hidden away in pockets of my brain, its nice to know that at least some are real and not imagined. :)

pete used to play cards at my grans every weekend with my mom and her brothers.. those were the days......

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Got one on Amazon a while back. Great read.

One venue not mentioned is the High STreet underground bar STringfellow ran around 1968/9 before the penthouse. I read this somewhere else that he briefly ran an underground bar on the High Street which apparently was a shoe shop on the ground floor. Now there were and have been a lot of shoe shops on High Street over the years so which one of these might have had an underground bar, apparently a large basement room which was big friday and Saturday night northern soul/disco event in 1968/9? Anyone know of a basement bar on the High street at this time which was a shoe shop upstairs? I believe it was apparently near the Old Bluebell but was this the Bluebell in 1968?

There were 2 shoeshops in High St about that time.
One was Saxone and one was Dolseys, if I remember right Saxone was where Nat West is now and Dolseys was across the Rd.
I presume all the places had basements cos the place to donate blood was underneath where Marks and Spencers is now.

Hazel

My old fella used to be good mates with Stringfellow, back in their teens.

is it true the mojo club was at netheredge,if so where abouts.

I always thought that the Mojo was up on Barnsley Road, near Burngreave Cemetry

The "King" Mojo was just opposite Abbeyfield Park, where that stone wall goes alongside the main road, there's a flats complex built there now. It was the old Day's dance hall prior to the Stringfellows taking it over.

Saw some great bands there in the sixties... :D

Are you thinking of Turn-ups? That was at the old Nether Edge Dance Hall till some miserable party pooper residents got it closed down in the late seventies. It was a good place to go for the over 25s ... shame there's nowhere like it now. Brian Westlake was the resident DJ.

Suprised to see no one has mentioned The Black Cat . Do not
remember much about it so can anyone else.

Originally posted by thai
Suprised to see no one has mentioned The Black Cat . Do not
remember much about it so can anyone else.

The St Aidens church hall was the BC club, and had quiet a lot of decent bands on, sadly one of the things that stands out are the number of stolen handbags that used to appear on the toilet floor.

Originally posted by hazel
There were 2 shoeshops in High St about that time.
One was Saxone and one was Dolseys, if I remember right Saxone was where Nat West is now and Dolseys was across the Rd.
I presume all the places had basements cos the place to donate blood was underneath where Marks and Spencers is now.

Hazel

Isn't that where the Crazy Daisy was, or is my memory failing me?

Lot's of negatives about the Penthouse but I had some really good nights out down there courtesy of the 10 pence drinks nights. There were rumours of trouble and illegal substances but only if you were looking for them.

Where abouts in Sheffield was Peter from? Where was he born & raised? I heard that he used to work for a money lending firm. Is this true? Anyone out there brought up woth him or know him? Whats he really like? He intrigues me

Peter Stringfellow shaking hands with Maggie Thatcher at a fundraiser in the Daily Mirror what a sick sight.

I was a regular at Down Broadway on Sat nights.

Often kept waiting outside for Stringfellow and his brother
to open up the club.

No drinks license so had to geta pass out to nip into Blue Bell
next door.

Pity it was so small but had some good nights there.

Originally posted by Tim42
Where abouts in Sheffield was Peter from? Where was he born & raised? I heard that he used to work for a money lending firm. Is this true? Anyone out there brought up woth him or know him? Whats he really like? He intrigues me

He was born in Marshall Street, Pitsmoor. The family later moved to Gleadless Valley. They lived on Constable Road and other addresses on the estate.

If you can track it down, his autobiography King Of Clubs is worth a read (despite the spelling mistakes) and will give you all the background info you need. It was published by Warner Books in 1996

Yep I too went "Down Broadway" for about a year afore I was old enough to drink. They played some gr8 stuff. Funny enough we got passouts and went to Stonehouse, we felt Blue Bell was too close for a pull. A number of my m8s got pulled in BB for under aged drinking.

What about the Esquire club that was another of Pete's clubs.
It was down where the Leadmill is.

The Esquire wasn't a Stringfellow Brothers club, it was run by Terry Thornton I'm sure.

It was the first "proper" club I ever went to - I was about 14/15 I think and I can still remember what I wore. It was a great place, but I bet it would never even have been allowed to open these days ... what an accident waiting to happen ... the entrance up that narrow flight of stairs and the open area on the first floor with those flimsy railing round it ...

Hello Ruby Dazzler
Yes you are correct The Esquire was run by Terry Thornton. I work at The Leadmill and my office is the floor underneath the old Esquire.

Yes it was run by Terry but it was Pete Stringfellow I was led to belive that put the money up for it..

Definitely have to agree with you about Turn-Ups, it was a great place to go! Though I am biased as I worked there. After closing we all used to jump in a cab and go to Fanny's at Owler Bar (previously Five Ways). Anyone remember it?Originally posted by rubydazzler
The "King" Mojo was just opposite Abbeyfield Park, where that stone wall goes alongside the main road, there's a flats complex built there now. It was the old Day's dance hall prior to the Stringfellows taking it over.

Saw some great bands there in the sixties... :D

Are you thinking of Turn-ups? That was at the old Nether Edge Dance Hall till some miserable party pooper residents got it closed down in the late seventies. It was a good place to go for the over 25s ... shame there's nowhere like it now. Brian Westlake was the resident DJ.

If I'm not mistaken he also used to live in the Lowedges area, his family had a shop there selling wool and things it was also the Post Office. My mum was good mates with him and he often used to come to my grans house when i was little.Originally posted by mojoworking
He was born in Marshall Street, Pitsmoor. The family later moved to Gleadless Valley. They lived on Constable Road and other addresses on the estate.

If you can track it down, his autobiography King Of Clubs is worth a read (despite the spelling mistakes) and will give you all the background info you need. It was published by Warner Books in 1996

Originally posted by carlishanel
Definitely have to agree with you about Turn-Ups, it was a great place to go! Though I am biased as I worked there. After closing we all used to jump in a cab and go to Fanny's at Owler Bar (previously Five Ways). Anyone remember it?

We all used to go to up to Fiveways after pub closing too ... I wonder if we know one another? After it changed to Fanny's I only went a couple of times - didn't they have bar staff dressed as bunny-girls there?

About the time TurnUps closed I was pregnant with my first baby and I didn't get to go out much for several years after that
and then I just couldn't get into going to the clubs in town somehow.

Albatross - I dont know about Stringy putting up money for the Esquire ... I thought the Esquire was there before any of their clubs were going ...well maybe the BlackCat at St Aidans Church Hall was in existence about the same time - i remember going to see Shane Fenton and the Fentones there (later he became Alvin Stardust) but it was really amateur hour as far as clubs went even in those days ... sorry Stringy if you ever read this :D ... but I could be wrong - it is over 40 years ago... memory plays tricks with us all.

Originally posted by extaxman
Didn't know Pete Stringfellow had written a biography......
Maybe he hasn't. Isn't a biography when someone else has written about 'you' and an autobiography is when you have written about yourself?

the st aidens church hall that as been mentioned....are we talking about the one on manor lane/city road? surley not:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Originally posted by kirky
the st aidens church hall that as been mentioned....are we talking about the one on manor lane/city road? surley not:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Right first time Kirky, it was the Black Cat club for a few years.

Originally posted by goldenfleece
The ARK at Walkley? Where was that exactly? I know Walkley very well but not heard of that place before.

The band YES played at the Penthouse in 1969.....don't know if they played other Sheffield gigs at that time.

The ARK was on Roebuck Road and run by a couple of friends amongst others they were called Peter and Paul Metcalfe.

As for down Broadway went for an audition to d.j there and was glad I did not get it. Was a blood bath all night , afight started in the toilet (it was not sorted) blood everywhere. Then followed up on the dance floor blood all over the plated mirrors on the wall (then they were kicked out ). Then on finishing the fight continued outside and all the kids rushed onto the buses top decks (in the High Street)to get a better view.

Hi all,

Nice to see the great old clubs of Sheffield being discussed. I also went to most of the above mentioned. Had really good times in all of them at one time or another.

Also used to paint wall murals , my first try at that was the Mojo Club. I could draw and paint some, but had never tried murals. Pete talked me into doing it and I found it easier than I thought. In Sheffield I went on to paint up the Ark, Down Broadway, Penthouse and Charade. I hope some of you enjoyed what you saw!

Ah, what days, what music, what bands, what people!

Regards
Paul Norton

Just started doing my family tree and Peter Stringfellow is in it. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing LOL:confused:

I'd be more impressed if you had john stringfellow in your family tree.
http://www.ba-education.demon.co.uk/for/science/poweredflight.html

Also used to paint wall murals , my first try at that was the Mojo Club. I could draw and paint some, but had never tried murals. Pete talked me into doing it and I found it easier than I thought. In Sheffield I went on to paint up the Ark, Down Broadway, Penthouse and Charade. I hope some of you enjoyed what you saw!

Ah, what days, what music, what bands, what people!

Regards
Paul Norton [/B]


I think you ought to write a book! Mr STringfellows book is a real gem of an insight into old Sheffield, I am sure you have some marvelllous stories to tell of the 'old days'?

Could this have been the "Crazy Daisy" or was this venue later ?

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Got one on Amazon a while back. Great read.

One venue not mentioned is the High STreet underground bar STringfellow ran around 1968/9 before the penthouse. I read this somewhere else that he briefly ran an underground bar on the High Street which apparently was a shoe shop on the ground floor. Now there were and have been a lot of shoe shops on High Street over the years so which one of these might have had an underground bar, apparently a large basement room which was big friday and Saturday night northern soul/disco event in 1968/9? Anyone know of a basement bar on the High street at this time which was a shoe shop upstairs? I believe it was apparently near the Old Bluebell but was this the Bluebell in 1968?

Ah, what days, what music, what bands, what people!

Regards
Paul Norton
You sound like agreat guy Paul wish I had met you

Hi Artisan and Golden Fleece,

Artisan, If you were around in 'the old days' I may have met you. Trouble is, I got to know an awful lot of people then, some very well, some casual and some by face only. Thats the way it was in those days. the selection of clubs and gigs was far less than today (but none the worse for it) so you kept bumping into each a lot of folks on a regular basis.

I regularly left home on a Friday to go to the Mojo, latch onto other gig, or a party, or All Nighter in Manchester or somewhere, and get back home sometime Sunday evening! Those were the days!

The sad thing about when the Mojo and others closed is you lost contact with a lot of regular scene faces. Talking of which- Jill Saxilby (as was) are you out there somewhere! You were one of my favourite Mojo dance partners! What a mover! Please get in touch if you are out there.

Golden Fleece, I cant send private messages yet as I havent done enough postings on the forum. But yes, I have some photos of the Penthouse walls. There is also a chance they will be featured in a book about the Sheffield scene. What sort of description of the club layout do you want and, out of curiosity, why!

To anyone else out there, do you have any photos/posters ect of the Mojo or its connected concerts and gig? If so please get in touch as I would love to do a swop with stuff I have.

Regards to all clubbers out there old and new,
Paul Norton

Golden Fleece, I cant send private messages yet as I havent done enough postings on the forum. But yes, I have some photos of the Penthouse walls. There is also a chance they will be featured in a book about the Sheffield scene. What sort of description of the club layout do you want and, out of curiosity, why!

Just interested on the original layout and how it was different from the later Rebels layout....ie stage, bar, food area, etc. No pix seem to exist of the Penthouse interior and I would LOVE to see them......at one time it was painted purple (?) as there are areas of purple paint hidden above the suspended ceiling near the bar, so when that dates from must be pre-1982 Rebels....

It sounds like you guys might be interested in this link.

Hendrix plays the Mojo (http://www.univibes.com/JimiPlaysSheffield.html)

I was too young to get in in those days but it wasn't for the want of trying.
I remember trying to get this lass to sneak me in when Procul Harem played there.
Without sucess.

Hi Goldenfleece/ I have an old black and white picture taken in the Penthouse in 1969. I was with the band playing that night and Pete is up on the stage with us. It was very early days and we were booked through Ray Stuart who I believe was also involved in agent work. The picture doesn't show the decor but I do remember it being purple in some areas, with a strobe light that drove you nuts on the stage. We were an agency band working out of Chesterfield called Friction. Hell of a job to get the gear up the stairs !!

wow this topic has brought back some very fond memories of Pete , Jeff and Teasdale clan at the Mojo and various other clubs. I also remember them hiring the City Hall ballroom for saturday evenings for a time. Does anyone else remember this?. My good friend at the time Wendy Slingsby once cut Petes hair up in their flat over the club. I was the model. What a hoot that was. I look forward to catching up with more tales from those fab days.

It was very early days and we were booked through Ray Stuart who I believe was also involved in agent work.

i did not know Ray was also an agent? I know he fronted the Frankenstein and the Monsters band in the early 60's but had no idea he went into promotions.....thought he became a DJ on Radio Sheffield around 1969/70 actually.....before joining Radio Hallam in 1974.

Hi Goldenfleece/ If it's the same Ray Stuart - he also booked us into the Black Swan for the much sought after saturday lunchtime spot about the same time. Only met him once - a fairly tall, muscular build guy with black hair ? We worked out of the bowling alley in Chesterfield through a manager/agent whose name I can't remember right now. This Ray Stuart handled all our Sheffield gigs, although we mainly worked the Newcastle/Sunderland area on weekends.

Originally posted by mickr
Hi Goldenfleece/ If it's the same Ray Stuart - he also booked us into the Black Swan for the much sought after saturday lunchtime spot about the same time. Only met him once - a fairly tall, muscular build guy with black hair ? We worked out of the bowling alley in Chesterfield through a manager/agent whose name I can't remember right now. This Ray Stuart handled all our Sheffield gigs, although we mainly worked the Newcastle/Sunderland area on weekends.
Yes its the same guy, Ray used to DJ in the Black Swan for a while.....

Hi countrygirl,

Were you a Mojo regular? We may have danced together!

I remember the City Hall ballroom Mojo gigs, especially during the depressing time just after the Mojo had closed. Or should I say had been forced to close! Pete and Jeff weren't particularly popular with the old establishment in the town hall and police depts at that time. Any excuse/reason whether true or not was used to close the Mojo. We all knew that and it didnt make us feel good towards the local police and politicians

The City Hall gigs were good, as they had much of the original Mojo crowd and the same fab music and good live acts. I sometimes filled in as DJ until Pete got there.

You said you were the 'model' when your friend cut Petes hair in his Mojo flat. I assume you meant a model for his haircut?
I remember hearing Stevie Wonder singing in Petes toilet in that flat once when he came for the Allnighter gig Or was thatthe Alldayer? Oh god my memorys hazy again!

Regards,
Paul Norton

I am not sure but i seem to remember Pete Stringfellow as the DJ at ST Peters church on Bellhouse Rd before he had the Mo Jo.

Hi all, my mum used to go out with Peter Stringfellow many moons ago, when she was about 16 or 17. This is not a good thought to have in my head!!

one of the best artists i saw at the esquire was jimmy powell from birmingham he had a belt with mouth organs all the way round like a cowboy wuld have guns he usedto play the mike stand like a lead guitar or base and he was fantastic to watch

I always thought the Penthouse was on Dixon Lane, the Mojo was at the top of Barnsley road near the junction with Pitsmoor road on way to fir vale.

Unfortunately, I m old enough to remember the Penthouse. Does anyone remember the giant bouncer who used to work there? I was pretty young at the time but remember a couple of characters in particular from about 1973. There was the Bowie look alike and the cool dude with short fur jacket and beetle crushers who always did the Roxy Music dance. You know down on one knee? Then there was the old couple, man and woman, probably in their seventies who used to come in and dance. The long staicase up and then down, bit tricky it was. Pete Stubbs had a burger stall outside. Then the walk home back to Page Hall with Mailey, then up for school the next day!! Having said that I always prefered the Crazy Daisy.

Suprised to see no one has mentioned The Black Cat . Do not
remember much about it so can anyone else.

I think the BLACK CAT was in the old church hall on Johnson St just off Nursery St.

I think the BLACK CAT was in the old church hall on Johnson St just off Nursery St.

That was the Blue Moon, in an old warehouse off Nursery Street. The Black Cat was in St Aidan's Church Hall off City Road.

yes I stand corrected,you are right.Its my age you know.

Hi

If anyone wants a copy of the book, 'King Of Clubs' by Peter Stringfellow there is a couple of copies for sale on Abe Books.com today, Saturday 3rd March

Hope this helps.

Happy Days!

Can't find it

Sheffielder

Sorry, try Abebooks.com

Happy Days!

That's where I looked - and the .co.uk version too ?

Sheffielder

Here you go, I've printed the page off for you

(9.53pm Mon 5th March NZ Time) Happy Days!

From Abebooks.com

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1. Publisher Photo King of Clubs: The Autobiography of Peter Stringfellow (ISBN: 0316879339)
STRINGFELLOW, Peter, with Fiona Lafferty
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Book Description: Little Brown & Co., 1996. tall octavo, h/b in fine d/j; gift inscription; 342pp + 40 plates. Shipping enquiries to george@traffordbooks.fsnet.co.uk. Bookseller Inventory # 8704

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I highly recommend the book.I don't usually read ghost-written autobiographies as the ones that I HAVE read were heavily sanitised but Peter S is refreshingly honest.He's quite forthcoming about his criminal record and the short prison sentence he served in the early 60s, and also how he built up his businesses through BS and bank loans.Incidentally,I read earlier in this thread that the Stringfellow Bros.had put up the money for the Esquire club.No bloody way.For one thing they didn't have any money in the 60s, and for another Terry Thornton was a bitter rival.Peter has definitely got some of his facts wrong though..The singer he refers to as Danny Rivers was,in fact,Danny Williams who had a hit with 'Moon River'.I'm sure that Rod Stewart never appeared at the Black Cat or Blue Moon and Heeley was never an upscale area of Sheffield.Anyway,get the book.Pay over the odds if you have to but get it.It's worth it.

He was born in Marshall Street, Pitsmoor. The family later moved to Gleadless Valley. They lived on Constable Road and other addresses on the estate.

If you can track it down, his autobiography King Of Clubs is worth a read (despite the spelling mistakes) and will give you all the background info you need. It was published by Warner Books in 1996the Stringfellow family lived at the bottom end of Abbeyfield rd in the 50ties

I highly recommend the book.

Does he mention any of us? :hihi:

my sister x husband use to work at the penthouse pete stay at my sister

my sister used to work inthe cloakrooms in the mojo club in the sixties she remembers many of the famous bands of that era playing therefrom what i can rember it was painted white and stood right at the the top of the hill at the corner of pitsmoor road and barnsley road

Mikey, the big Penthouse bouncer was Brian Turner. I saw several people who should have known better (and probably would have if they hadnt had a drink!) try to take him on. Those stairs were an awful long way down.
Its sad but true that in the end the first Stringfellow club to have an alcohol licence ended up having far too much booze fueled trouble. An eventual big change of crowd from the original Mojo-ites.

he must have relatives who live on regents court at hillsborough becasue i saw him walking in there the other sunday

Peter Stringfellows club on High Street was underneath Dolcis shoe shop and was called Broadway Bistrotheque, it was managed by Keith Williams who later went on to open Stringfellows in New York.

The MOJO club started life at Heeley next to Heeley Bridge.

'Down Broadway' as the high street club was known, was the first place in Sheffield to have a Microwave oven installed. It was fascinating to watch your pie and peas warm up in 2 minutes - Ho what a mis-spent youth!

the Mojo Club was never ever started in Heeley,that was highway 61 which came about ayear after the Mojo shut.

Feederfil - Your'e right it was Highway 61, remind me where was the MOJO?

I said I had a mis-spent youth........

BillyWhiz

Mojo was up Spital hill poss Burnegreave but he also had the Blue Moon on Nursery st near the Wicker

.One of the first live gigs, and certainly the first live soul gig, which I ever saw was a Mojo Club benefit night at the City Hall. It would probably have been in 1967. The line-up was The Trends, who didn't seem at all trendy as they were a guitar group at a time when soul bands were all the rage; The Amboy Dukes (UK version, not Ted Nugent's noisy lot); Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set; and topping the bill, The Original Drifters (who in fact included only one original Drifter, Bill Pinkney, who incidentally died last month aged 82. He was performing on the Beack Music scene in Carolina until quite recently.)
I cannot quite remember how, but my friend and I got backstage at one point and met Stringfellow who introduced us to The Drifters. I got their autographs on the sleeve of my copy of 'Under The Boardwalk' which I had taken with me on the off chance. I can recall that one of the other members was Mack Williams.
It was a dazzling show and confirmed what I already suspected, that I loved soul music. Any other forum members recall that evening?

Was a regular at the Mojo club about 1965/66 ish... met my husband there at an all-nighter! Can remember the pop art murals well! Saw lots of great acts there too. My friend fainted one night when the Small Faces were performing and the place was packed!.. i carried her outside and was directed into the front room which was where the Small Faces wergetting ready!.. got their autographs and chatted to them. We had some good times there!

Just started doing my family tree and Peter Stringfellow is in it. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing LOL:confused:
Thats interesting peter is my great couson or sumat along that line :hihi:

The Mojo was at the Toll Bar,junction of Pitsmoor Rd and Burngreave Rd.It was Days dancing school previous to being the Mojo and the Kings bingo Club after the Mojo

I remember the Penthouse on New Years Eve 1971. We were trying to get out down the stairway leading into the club - people were still trying to get in!!! We were stuck in a jam on the stairs for nearly an hour, it was insane!!! There was no-one there to take control - had there been a fire there would have been pandemonium. The place was a dump and should have been closed down :gag:

I can remember local people living near the Mojo, top of Barnsley Rd., Pitsmoor, trying to get the place closed down :mad:

They were sick of having to remove used condoms from their gardens :gag:

The people complaining about the condoms in their gardens shouldnt complain at least we had the sense back then to use condoms ( I am an ex Mojo goer). Only joking about the condoms but the Mojo was the best place on earth for us when we were teenagers & say what you want about Pete & Geoff Stringfellow I think they were fantastic guys & were very against drugs at that time when they ran the Mojo. I dread to think what my pals & I would have got upto without the Mojo

Saw lots of great acts there too. My friend fainted one night when the Small Faces were performing and the place was packed!..

The Small Faces were a huge favourite at the Mojo, I remember Steve Marriott saying that the Sheffield crowd were special as they felt they had discovered the band.

You may be interested to know that a plaque is being unveiled on Carnaby Street to honour the Small Faces. Ceremony takes place on Saturday 8 September approx. 1.00pm with lots of bands playing Small Faces tracks. Kenney Jones will be there and some special guests.

The following day, Sunday 9 is the annual Small Faces convention from 4.00 to 11.00 pm at the Carling Academy, Islington. Ticket only, here are the contact details:

TICKETS £20 (IN ADVANCE ONLY)

FROM JOHN HELLIER

7 WATERDENE MEWS

CANVEY ISLAND

SS8 9YP Cheques payable to J Hellier



Or paypal to jjhellier@aol.com

If paying by paypal add £1 per ticket service charge



Or through www.ticketweb.co.uk 0870 771 2000



Enquiries: jjhellier@aol.com or 07899 893089

Might see you there.

Andy

Doe's anyone know what Jeff' Stringfellow's doing now as he's never mentioned with Pete and i always thought they were partners. I know they were inthe Black Cat days

Peter Stringfellows club on High Street was underneath Dolcis shoe shop and was called Broadway Bistrotheque, it was managed by Keith Williams who later went on to open Stringfellows in New York.

The MOJO club started life at Heeley next to Heeley Bridge.

'Down Broadway' as the high street club was known, was the first place in Sheffield to have a Microwave oven installed. It was fascinating to watch your pie and peas warm up in 2 minutes - Ho what a mis-spent youth!
Kieth Williams is the brother of Peter's first wife Norma; Kieth worked on and off for Peter through the years including at the Hippodrome in London which I believe was the last time he worked for him (early 80's).
Kieth never worked in the US for Peter, it was Peter's daughter Karen who ran the New York club.

Doe's anyone know what Jeff' Stringfellow's doing now as he's never mentioned with Pete and i always thought they were partners. I know they were inthe Black Cat days
Jeff & Peter split their partnership in Manchester after the Millionaire club, Peter went from success to success but Jeff tried a couple of ventures on his own which didn't make it then some years later he went to work for Peter. I heard he has now retired due to ill health.

Where abouts in Sheffield was Peter from? Where was he born & raised? I heard that he used to work for a money lending firm. Is this true? Anyone out there brought up woth him or know him? Whats he really like? He intrigues me
He's an amazing, generous, kind, hardworking man.

If I'm not mistaken he also used to live in the Lowedges area, his family had a shop there selling wool and things it was also the Post Office. My mum was good mates with him and he often used to come to my grans house when i was little.
No there was no wool shop in his family nor any owned venture prior to his

Definitely have to agree with you about Turn-Ups, it was a great place to go! Though I am biased as I worked there. After closing we all used to jump in a cab and go to Fanny's at Owler Bar (previously Five Ways). Anyone remember it?

I agree I chris polomski use to work their with my friend charly(collect glasses) pull the girls ,then go to 5 ways .

Vickers(scrap dealer) use to own turn ups then started a club in town centre ,cannot remember its name

I can remember going to see Pete at his mum's house at the bottom of Derbyshire lane back in '69 - am not sure if Pete actually lived there but was under the impression he did. I wander if Pete ever looks at the SF to see what we are saying about him - all good of course!

BillyWhiz

I was always under the impression that Pete originated from Nottingham Street at Pitsmoor.

Just found this thread, fascinating stuff. Does anyone remember a club in Sheffield called Shades? I lived in Wakefield and a boyfriend used to bring me over to Shades in Sheffield. Did anyone ever come over to Wakefield to the first ever disco in Wakefield called The Place. I remember Pete Stringfellow coming over there to see the manager Dave who also used to manage bands in Barnsley. I believe Pete and Dave were friends. I often wonder what happened to Dave.

It sounds like you guys might be interested in this link.

Hendrix plays the Mojo[/URL]

I was too young to get in in those days but it wasn't for the want of trying.
I remember trying to get this lass to sneak me in when Procul Harem played there.
Without sucess.

Hi all,
I dont remember Hendrix playing the mojo, but I think it was the same year he played the City Hall, I remember going to watch him, was about 14 at the time. Twas some gig, the guy was amazing, I guess he was my introduction to Rock/Blues and then onto Black Sabbath at City Hall a little heavier maybe but the beginnings of metal.

When we were younger we all went to a place called 'The Speakeasy' down Darnall, Top Rank, and also the place above the Ice Rink on Queens Road, got it now, Heatbeat. :loopy:

Memories :roll:

Hi

This is my first post, so be nice.

My Uncle used to be good mates with Peter Stringfellow. My mum has told me how Peter used to come round to thier house at Abbeydale to see my Uncle.

My son recently did some renovation work on the old Club 60 in Shalesmore. I understand that it is used for private functions, 1960's parties etc.

pete used to play cards at my grans every weekend with my mom and her brothers.. those were the days......

used to work with norma-petes first wife--knew them both went to a party with them at normas moms--doris--thats a long time ago -happy days

Shades was on Eccleshall Road, right hand side - somewhere just above the right turn onto Greystones Road.

Shades used to be Greystones cinema (I think). Went there a few times 1969/70. Great goat curry. Long walk back home to Fulwood.

Yes, that's the place. I remember the goat curry too. If I remember correctly it was a Caribbean type club that was popular with students. A bit different to the Motown type places mentioned in other parts of this thread.

Getting back to original thread I also used to visit a restaurant in the middle of Sheffield that was in a basement and that had tin cans as light shades. I think this place might have been something to do with Pete Stringfellow because the chap I went there with was a pal of Pete's. Can anybody remember that place?

Long drive back to Wakefield at 2.00 in the morning!:)

Hi, I used to work with JP in 66-67, in Hamburg and the UK. Any idea how to contact him. Would love to have a trip down memory lane. D

Hi, I used to work with JP in 66-67, in Hamburg and the UK. Any idea how to contact him. Would love to have a trip down memory lane. D

Sorry if I sound thick but who's JP???

Hi all. Been reading the excellant biography Of Peter Stringfellow 'King of Clubs', and it really does reveal a lot about the history of Sheffields pub and club circuit of the 50s 60s and early 70's. Also fascinating insight into local youth culture and trends of the 60's and the rise of the mega succesful MOJO club and the PENTHOUSE. Anyone wanting a good insight into Sheffield of this period should take a look through this book, its not just all glamour and glitzy self praise about being a superstar London club owner, but actually the first half of the book is an extremely well written account of Sheffield socio-cultural life.

Great read, and revealed some aspects of Sheffield culture of the 60's I never knew really existed here. Learnt a few things about the Penthouse (later REBELS) club I never knew about, in that it was not the glamorous "London comes to Sheffield with class and style" club it was supposed to be, but a rough and ready venue with a real reputation for fighting and violence.

ive just bought it off amazon for 1 pence lol
theres a few more penny sellers if anybody wants it

Good point, I noticed the spelling errors and quite a few geographical errors as well, ie The Penthouse club had a view overlooking the High Street, which it did not, it overlooked the road that runs through the Markets. Not sure if it's true but I've heard that in the book Pete Stringfellow stated that Peter Green (Fleetrwood Mac) played guitar for 'Screaming Lord Sutch' at the Balck Cat Club in 1963, Our group 'The Drumbeats' supported Sutch & The Savages that night and I certainly doubt that Greenie was on guitar.
The Savages opened up with Griegs 'Dance Of The Imps In The Hall Of The Mountain King' from 'Pier Gynt'.

Good point, I noticed the spelling errors and quite a few geographical errors as well, ie The Penthouse club had a view overlooking the High Street, which it did not, it overlooked the road that runs through the Markets.

.

Dixon Lane

Sorry if I sound thick but who's JP???

Sorry Andy I have asked the wrong person the question. That red wine was stronger than I thought. JP was Jimmy Powell of Jimmy Powell and the 5 Dimensions by the way. Soz:(:(

peter stringfellow ust 2 live at top of my mums road b 4 e became famous jus loook at him now n that was at pittsmoor well done peter stringfellow