I wonder who like me, remembers a delightful little 70s pub called The Bucaneer

Hidden beneath the sprawling acres of the Grand Hotel in Barkers Pool, the doorway, like the entrance to a secret little Aladdins cave, was tucked away on Leopold Street, in an area now occupied by a trendy wine bar.

The source of many magic moments, it was responsible for introducing much of Sheffield to Progressive Rock and some of the more extraneous bands of the day. Long will I remember a bespectacled, lank haired DJ, hiding inside a plexiglass booth, raving about Rick Wakeman’s keyboard solo on “Roundabout”, or extolling the virtues of Carlos Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti”. He seemed to favour longer tracks, and is still the only DJ I know who has played the full version of “In A Gadda Da Vida” in public. (Come to think of it, hes the only one I know who has played it in private)

The clientele were a mixed bunch, varying between ageing hippies, who called for the Grateful Dead to be played at every opportunity, and those Art School sophisticates for whom a Steely Dan “E minor seventh sharp fifth ” was the ultimate chord. Boys outnumbered girls about 5 to 1, but it wasn’t a place for meeting the opposite sex. Its sole itinerary was music. Loud, wall-throbbing, ear-splitting music. Not humble but heavy. The kind of music that came back and haunted you in your dreams. It was John Peel’s Perfumed Garden incarnate – and we lapped it up.

Most wore denim, although later the fashionable townies, in their Ben Shermans and two-tone Sta Prest, started to wander in, just as Bowie began blurring the boundaries between rock and pop. Mein-host would pander to these occasionally, by slipping “All The Young Dudes” in between “Communication Breakdown” and “Faith Healer”. However these lapses were rare, and regulars could normally guarantee hearing at least one Velvet Underground track during the course of an evening. Certain records gained a notorious popularity, and there was always a cheer when The Archangel started singing about his wardrobe, or The Ox’s base fed us his arachnic fears. And riots took place whenever those crimson boys told their stories about going to court.

The predominant smell was “Brut” for the guys and “Charlie” for the girls, although both genders could get away with Hai Karate on a Friday night, so dense was the ambiance. The sticky carpet was a deposit for any form of detritus, and was I’m sure, the inspiration for the motto “If the floor is full, please use the ashtrays”. Unusually for a Sheffield pub, the beer was of little or no import. It was a generic ‘Red Barrel’ type brew, and came in plastic glasses. Getting served was a life changing experience, as most groups bought three or four rounds in one go, to save having to brave the fourteen deep crowd at the bar more than once. The bar staff comprised students, and fans of “Stone the Crows”. It was compulsory for them to smoke and serve pretty girls first, and they always complained that they didn’t play enough Vinegar Joe.

If the atmosphere got too heavy, and occasionally it did, we would carry our beers down Pinstone Street to the wide open spaces of The Nelson and put “See Emily Play” on the juke box - then we'd go back three days later to hear it, such was the backlog. There was a deep groove in the pavement between the two pubs, and on some evenings it was possible to meet the same people three or four times without ever being in the same building.

For me, it was the first place in the town centre where I felt like a local, and it changed my musical tastes for life. I shed a genuine tear the night it closed, and wore a black armband for weeks after it was pulled down. For those of us of a certain age, I truly believe that we never saw its like, before or since. The one consolation is that I can revisit The Buc at will, simply by digging out my “Aqualung” vinyl, or “Music from a Doll’s House” CD.

Do others have similar memories or did I dream all this?

you didnt dream it at all every word is true!I had just to be remindered memories,ta!

Wasnt old enough to get in there, but years later went to Stoke Hall at Grindleford for my birthday (why) and someone told me the furniture and tables with compasses on and some mermaids fastened to the wall had come from the Buccaneer.

Dragonsoup

I can honestly say that, although I went in the Buc regularly for two years, it was never light enough to see the furniture. "Compasses and Mermaids?" Wow, I really missed something didn't I? I don't even remember them having tables

The Buccaneer, on it's sad passing, had a poem written about it.

there is a slight bad language warning....

the opening lines are:-

"There's many a night I've spent in the buck,
Drunk as a F*rt and couldn't care a F***!"

sadly I cannot remember the rest of it. can anyone help?

as I understand it, the Buck's crowd sort of migrated round the corner, to the Wapentake.

PT

Nicely written Bushbaby.

Not only do I still have my original LPs by Yes, Family, Iron Butterfly, Alex Harvey, Mott The Hoople, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull etc, but in many cases have upgraded them to CD as well.

Speaking of Iron Butterfly, when you say the "full version In A Gadda Da Vida", I presume you mean the mammoth live version which runs for the whole of side one of the LP, and not the ten minute studio version which is strictly for lightweights and weekend hippies?

The long winter evenings must just fly by.

Originally posted by Tony
The long winter evenings must just fly by.

Yes, you must pop 'round sometime. We can listen to all four sides of Tales From Topographic Oceans, before we get stuck into the King Crimson box set.

BYO sandalwood incense and 6 pack of Strongbow

From Mojoworking:
"Speaking of Iron Butterfly, when you say the "full version In A Gadda Da Vida", I presume you mean the mammoth live version"

From Bushbayby:
Yes of course I do. I recently found out that the title is a bastardisation of the phrase "In the Garden of Eden". How innocent we all were back then.
I saw "Yes" playing "Topographic Oceans" live at the City Hall. Wow, that was heavy. I loved "Roundabout", "Your's is no Disgrace", and "And You and I", but a musical tribute to the Shastric Scriptures was asking a bit much of even the most devoted hippy. Made the "Mahavishnu Orchestra" seem mainstream by comparison

Am I wrong or was I hallucinating but I seem to remember there being a parrot in the Bucc. A very large one in a cage somewhere near the bar.

Thanks for the memories,time spent there was unforgettable. I remember some of the furniture ending up at Stoke Hall where I was also a regular. it also found it's way to the Wapentake as did the legendary landlady, Olga Marshall.

Great times -sadly missed.

Originally posted by PHILIP
Thanks for the memories,time spent there was unforgettable. I remember some of the furniture ending up at Stoke Hall where I was also a regular. it also found it's way to the Wapentake as did the legendary landlady, Olga Marshall
I have to say that the ale in The Bucaneer was 'orrible and indescribable in The Wapentake....how can it taste that bad?

you are bang on there Ned....although after the first five or six it always seem to improve.....or was it the combination of the plastic glasses and sweating it out faster than it went in.unless you stood near to the back door and kept going upstairs into the lounge for your beer.......much quicker than queueing up down stairs.....ahhhhhh happy days pre Arthritis and high blood pressure.

Buccaneer and Claymore were fantastic. Went there twice a week.
No time to say anymore for now, but I'll get back on that subject soon as poss.

Definite happy days from Alanbro

I, for one, didn't like the Buccaneer. It just got too packed. It was a nightmare getting served and I didn't like the plastic glasses.

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I wonder who like me, remembers a delightful little 70s pub called “The Bucaneer”.


The predominant smell was “Brut” for the guys and “Charlie” for the girls, although both genders could get away with Hai Karate on a Friday night, so dense was the ambiance.

No matter how much brut you chucked on yourself, you could never mask the aroma of Patchouli oil, (m.a.r.i.j.e.w.a.n.a.) or the rotting flesh smell of somebodys Afghan coat!!

Wonderful memories though, your very descriptive and accurate posting brought a tear to my eye - Happy Days.

Anyone remeber "yes" playing "Down Broadway" or The incredible & sadly missed Mike Patto at the Mucky Duck. Oh and who drooled over a half naked Elkie Brooks with Robert Plamer and Vinegar joe at the Duck. I still have their album. What about Mcluskies Apocalypse at the Broadfield, what happened to them. I have some photos somewhere of them, Mcluskeys on this page (http://s758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/lostrider/Weston%20Park/) I took at a concert in Weston Park when Peter Green turned up un-anounced and played a set. And Folk nights at the Highcliffe Hotel to see Hedgehog Pie. I think the highcliffe folk night are being relaunched tonight FRIDAY with Roy Bailey.

Originally posted by Lostrider
[B]Anyone remeber "yes" playing "Down Broadway" or The incredible & sadly missed Mike Patto at the Mucky Duck. Oh and who drooled over a half naked Elkie Brooks with Robert Plamer and Vinegar joe at the Duck. I still have their album. What about Mcluskies Apocalypse at the Broadfield, what happened to them. I have some photos somewhere of them, I took at a concert in Weston Park when Peter Green turned up un-anounced and played a set. And Folk nights at the Highcliffe Hotel to see Hedgehog Pie.
B]

Jeez, I was at every one of these. Do we know eachother.
Pete Green was actually invited along by a hippy who shared a flat with him in Brighton, cannot remember his name, tall, long curly blonde hair, rimless glasses. It will come to me soon.
He jammed with a band called Redhead Yorke who were terrible and Pete looked very uncomfortable for most of the set.

Also at Weston Park, what about Shape of the Rain (Black Swan regulars) or McCloskeys doing their versions of Wild Thing and Summertime Blues. What a summer that was!!!

The best bands were always on at the Students Union, Free, Genesis, Who, Humble Pie, great days.

I've just read Chris Wilson's post about the "Mucky Duck". It got me thinking about "The Buccaneer" This place had a well know repartition……..At the time it closed I was just too young to go drinking in there. Yes, even by the Buccaneer's Standards!

I’ve head some cracking stories about the place. I suspect some stories were *spiced up a bit”. But they still made good listening.

[ And Folk nights at the Highcliffe Hotel to see Hedgehog Pie.

I remember seeing "Boys of the Lough" at the Highcliffe, introduced by Capstick. Those guys could play, I tell you
There was also a guy who recited some Pam Ayres poems, years before anybody had heard of Pam, the one about teeth.
Then there was three guys who were all the spitting image of Tomorrow's World's James Burke.
AAaah Glory days..

Originally posted by stevie1957
It got me thinking about "The Buccaneer"
I’ve head some cracking stories about the place. I suspect some stories were *spiced up a bit”. But they still made good listening.

Actually Stevie they were all true....

Originally posted by Bushbaby
Actually Stevie they were all true....

Find out the truth behind the myth:

A big thanks to Briggsey who sent me the Sheffield Forum link and to Bushbaby, AndyMan, LostRider, Mojo et al for bringing back some very good memories.

I remember the Buc as if it was yesterday and particularly remember being ****** as a fart in there the night before I was due to sit one of my A-level papers. There were some good barmaids in there and if you knew them, they would give you 19p change out of the 20p you gave them for a pint of the gnats that they used to sell (thanks Claire). I don’t remember guys outnumbering girls by such a large amount though, in fact it was a pretty good place to ‘connect with chicks man’ (where are you now Mary Roberts?). I remember the placcy glasses, the compass tables, Brut, the sweet aroma of ‘pacouli and sour aroma of wet afghans. What about loon pants, headbands, let-ins on your Levis, baseball boots and army surplus jackets and greatcoats? We were the young dudes huh??

The other pubs as well: the Wapentake and Nelson (where I first heard Roadhouse Blues) were mentioned, but what about the one across from the City Hall that had a good juke box? Was it the Albert?

The local bands: Shape of the Rain, McCluskey’s and Vinegar Joe at t’ Mucky Duck, there were so many in those days. I was back in the UK a few years ago and my bro in law who is 10-years younger than me told me of a good band playing at the pub at Sheffield Lane Top. He took me along and lo and behold it was Frank White, another Sheffield icon.

The Highcliffe; full of sincere folksey types who sang with one finger stuck in their lug. Saw a guy called Mike Cooper there who was a bluesy sort of acoustic artist and only recently managed to get a couple of CDs of his.

continued on the next post ......

... continuation of last post (hey, there's a good name for a trumpet tune)

The Weston Park concerts: I was there for the Peter Green gig ( I think Fleetwood Mac had been playing the uni the night before) and he still ranks in my book as one of the most tasteful guitarists ever. I think I even remember the guy who Andyman mentioned who was a regular at most of these places. Dunno how Andyman managed to get to see gigs at the Uni, ‘cause the snotty student types would never let us in.

Concerts at the City Hall (‘put that cigarette out!’) and getting busted for under age drinking in the bar at a Pink Floyd gig by a copper who’s name, (and I kid you not) was Arthur Ball. Saw Floyd, the Who, Led Zep, Savoy Brown, The Nice, Blodwyn Pig, Family, Steeleye Span, Yes. Humble Pie and many others.

I am in the process of collecting lots of 1970’s music for my iPod (in fact, as I type this, Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats has just shuffled into play). Again thanks for the memories. I had almost forgotten about such bands as Family and King Crimson, so they are now on the list.

Lostrider mentioned another club called Down Broadway which was under a shoe shop near the Telegraph and Star building and I think it was owned by none other than Peter Stringfellow. It did not have a booze licence and we used to go there on Saturday afternoons before we were old enough to get into pubs, so I guess that would have been in about 1969 or so. The DJ, as I remember was called Pete (maybe Pat) Sweetwater. Because we were poor school kids and could not get into pubs, we did not have many opportunities to hear alternative music and this place was my introduction to music which formed musical tastes that last until this day.

Once again, thanks for the memories.

Originally posted by Lostrider
What about Mcluskies Apocalypse at the Broadfield, what happened to them. I have some photos somewhere of them, I took at a concert in Weston Park when Peter Green turned up un-anounced and played a set.

Hmm..
I was on my way to see McC at the Broadfield when I popped into the wap, first after work. That's when I first met da wife ( just had 26th anniversary)

D'ya have any photos of the Weston Park gig posted anywhere ( or e-mailable) ?
I was playing on the "B" stage with a young local blues band (Menagerie) the afternoon Peter Green was there. Everybody rather reality-adjusted and paisley-foliage indulgent, as I almost recall.

I'd love to see any pics of the day, if anything is available.. ?? TIA

DJs at Bucc mainly George Webster and Dave Bates, I think, with a few apprentices doing stuff. There may have been loads more but the Bucc was an alternate dimension type thing, and instead of hanging your coat up inside, you kinda hung up your everyday reality as you went in and collected (most of) it on the way out. The long track stunt was dead handy for the DJ to go out, have a ****, get a pint and a grope before getting back to work. Try THAT in a early 70s soul club playing three-minute singles.


The groove between the Bucc and Nelson actually went via The Albert and the Wapp.

Bucc for the general ambience and meeting the ladies (and The Man,) T'Nelson for _choice_ music - it had a juke box full of custom-made singles of album-only tracks - The Albert for a cheap pint or two and the Wap to get your ears working again. Many of us did the circuit continually several times a night, avoiding the Barleycorn (somebody else explain, ;-p )
If The Man hadn't showed up, some people wanderd off to The Raven where he was always in residence, mainlining Brasso or snorting Ajax or somesuch. (The Raven crowd was a bit more hardcore.)

The Bucc cross-section was more all-week weekend hippies ???? and album-heads.
Bucc closed in '73, the year Margaret Thatcher, an up and coming education secretary @£$%^&*( decided to eliminate school milk and sow the seeds for the dismantling of the welfare state...

Lost Youth.

Originally posted by Ivan


Many of us did the circuit continually several times a night, avoiding the Barleycorn (somebody else explain, ;-p )



A bit too much Judy Garland and Kathy Kirby on the Juke Box?

Originally posted by Bushbaby
A bit too much Judy Garland and Kathy Kirby on the Juke Box?

EErr not quite Bushbaby, more likely the Judies and Kathies outside and round the back (wink wink) that were worrying Ivan;)

Yes i remember the Buccaneer! .... was only talking about it a few months ago at work with a workmate but neither of us could remember the name of it until my mate asked his wife.

I wasn't what you could call a regular, (hence sadly forgetting the name) .. but i did go there a good few times in the very early seventies.
The main things i remember about the place ...

The horrible plastic glasses.
The beer wasn't too good. (understatement).
There were no tables and chairs in the place, (is that right?)
The music was played full blast.
Large fishing nets were hung on the walls.
You went down loads of stairs to get in.

Don't get me wrong ... i loved the place, .... it was the place to be in those days in Sheffield.


HAPPY MEMORIES ... THANKS FOR BRINGING THEM BACK AGAIN.

Originally posted by Ivan
Hmm..

D'ya have any photos of the Weston Park gig posted anywhere ( or e-mailable) ?
I was playing on the "B" stage with a young local blues band (Menagerie) the afternoon Peter Green was there. Everybody rather reality-adjusted and paisley-foliage indulgent, as I almost recall.

I'd love to see any pics of the day, if anything is available.. ?? TIA



Just uploaded these photos!

Western Park Photos etc (http://www.moss-net.co.uk/gallery.htm)

Just recently I got hold of a DVD of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on EBay
Wow! What a great band they were.
It contained most of their UK TV footage (OGWT, TOTP etc) and some concert stuff from the US.
It was always a delight for me when they played "Next" by SAHB, in the Bucc, and I have since discovered it's a French (actually Belgian) song about doing national service in Algiers in the late 50s.
The great thing about the band was that they always seemed to really enjoy themselves, and "Delilah" was the epitome of that, with the two dancing guitarists.
Aren't DVDs great!!

Scratched deep in the plaster over the gents urinal was the name Pink.
It was scratched so deep it was there for years. well the Bucaneer may have gone but he is still around in the next office to me but not as pretty as he was in 1970.
Ahh just hearing 'Horse with no name' 'Reeling in the years' and 'Brown eyed Girl ' takes me back

THERE WAS A TOILET??

Originally posted by Bushbaby
THERE WAS A TOILET??

Oh my god, the Mens toilet, just the thought of it makes me feel sick. Talking about sick. :gag:
By the end of the night the floor was covered in it. The Penthouse bogs were the same. I'll leave it there, it's time for my dinner.

The Penthouse toilets though never hadd any working lights in them so you couldn't see the 'surroundings' One reason to wear very substantial footwear!!

Lostrider.
Your picture of Norfolk Park with friends remember a few faces, Kev and his brother, shared a few pints with them in the RICHMOND, BALL and WOODTHORPE. BUC no one mentioned the spiral staircase.

I noticed last weekend that one of my favourite Bucaneer bands, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, are on at the Mucky Duck in October.
Now obviously Alex himself isn't part of the set up, as he went to visit the great Faith Healer in the late 1970s, but does anyone know if the rest of the band are involved? Zal, and the two cousins? (names escape at the moment)
I did look closely at the poster and it didn't say "tribute band" or anything.

i was went there the first or second week it opened some time 67 ,68 i think? we thought it was fantastic ,pirate theme and all that ,but the ale was ****,they usesed to sell a drink called a zombie, .i remember a parrot but it died of lung cancer.it was nothing like the pub your all describeing ,when did it close down.???by the way anybody rememmber a bloke joe hancock getting stabbed to death outside the nelson round about that time???/

Originally posted by deadgobby
i was went there the first or second week it opened some time 67 ,68 i think? we thought it was fantastic ,pirate theme and all that ,but the ale was ****,they usesed to sell a drink called a zombie, .i remember a parrot but it died of lung cancer.it was nothing like the pub your all describeing ,when did it close down.???by the way anybody rememmber a bloke joe hancock getting stabbed to death outside the nelson round about that time???/

Funny you should mention the murder, my late Dad was one of the coppers that attended the incident.

Originally posted by Lostrider
Funny you should mention the murder, my late Dad was one of the coppers that attended the incident. from what i can remember lost rider the bloke that stabbed him did so out of fear,hancock had been bullying this youth for awhile ,i suppose the bloke what did it is married with kids now forgetting the past .i ;d be intrested to know what your late dad thought about it.it put me off the nelson or a while.

Originally posted by deadgobby
from what i can remember lost rider the bloke that stabbed him did so out of fear,hancock had been bullying this youth for awhile ,i suppose the bloke what did it is married with kids now forgetting the past .i ;d be intrested to know what your late dad thought about it.it put me off the nelson or a while.

Yes, it was not the place to go for a quite pint.

All I remember my Dad saying was that someone had pulled the knife out (which you are apparently not supposed to do) and this caused the guy to bleed to death. You can't really blame anyone in that situation.

I didnt start going in the Nelson until about 1972, It was OK then. One of the best Jukeboxes in Sheffield if I remember.

Originally posted by Lostrider

I didnt start going in the Nelson until about 1972, It was OK then. One of the best Jukeboxes in Sheffield if I remember.
The best thing about it was that it had imports on it, so you would get tracks like "Communication Breakdown" '"Freebird" and Springsteen's "Rosalita" on it.
It's difficult to imagine now, but it was hard to get hold of some of these records. There was no internet to download from. LPs were expensive, and taping onto cassettes was still in its infancy. And as for the BBC Radio?? Well, the less said the better. Suffice to say that even in those days, John Peel was exception to a very dull rule.
I will always hold fond memories of both these places because of the music

Originally posted by Bushbaby
The best thing about it was that it had imports on it, so you would get tracks like "Communication Breakdown" '"Freebird" and Springsteen's "Rosalita" on it.
It's difficult to imagine now, but it was hard to get hold of some of these records. There was no internet to download from. LPs were expensive, and taping onto cassettes was still in its infancy. And as for the BBC Radio?? Well, the less said the better. Suffice to say that even in those days, John Peel was exception to a very dull rule.
I will always hold fond memories of both these places because of the music

The tracks I always put on were.

Paranoid - Grand Funk Railroad,

Mckenna Mendohlson Mainline the one with the following lyrics:

I think I'm Losing my marbles
And I think that it,s a darn gone shame
There are so many deranged people
there driving me, there driving me insane

You dont get lyrics like that anymore :heyhey:

Groundhogs - Cherry Red

Originally posted by Bushbaby
The best thing about it was that it had imports on it,

I wonder if that had anything to with Violet Mays being just around the corner.

Possibly....
I bought my first Billie Holliday album at Violet's

Originally posted by Lostrider

Mckenna Mendohlson Mainline the one with the following lyrics:

I think I'm Losing my marbles
And I think that it,s a darn gone shame
There are so many deranged people
there driving me, there driving me insane



Was it called "Watch out baby" or something similar??

Originally posted by Bushbaby
Was it called "Watch out baby" or something similar??

These are the tracks on the Album "Stink"

1 One Way Ticket 2:46
2 She's Alright 3:28
3 Beltmaker 2:40
4 Mainline 6:41
5 Think I'm LosingMy Marbles 2:23
6 Drive You 3:01
7 T.B. Blues 2:08
8 Better Watch Out 4:38
9 Bad Women 12:18
10 Don't Give Me No Goose For Christmas, Grandma 2:31

"Better watch out" is the one I remember - Goes something like "You'd better watch out baby - 'cause your man's about to come!" in a gruff drawling voice.
They don't make em like that anymore

i remember the plastic glasses
the big speakers
and a bloke who danced all the time called mighty melvin

Originally posted by mojoworking
Nicely written Bushbaby.

Not only do I still have my original LPs by Yes, Family, Iron Butterfly, Alex Harvey, Mott The Hoople, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull etc, but in many cases have upgraded them to CD as well.



Ah, a fellow Yes fan. Ive still got Close to the Edge on vinyl as I used to have the poster on my bedroom wall.

I went to see them in Birmingham a couple of years ago, they were excellent.

Anyone remember seeing the Alan Bown Set at the Mucky Duck? Brilliant band and produced some tremendous albums. If memory serve me the sax player went on to form Supertramp and of course the lead singer was the one and only now departed Robert Palmer.

Originally posted by thejoker
i remember the plastic glasses
the big speakers
and a bloke who danced all the time called mighty melvin

Mighty Melvin? Wasn't he famous for being a male stripper?

PT

I used to work as a glass collector in the Buccaneer when it first opened, great job I could chat up the girls and get paid for it. Any spare rooms in the grand were available as well if you struck lucky!!!!!!!!.

Originally posted by tommo
Anyone remember seeing the Alan Bown Set at the Mucky Duck? Brilliant band and produced some tremendous albums. If memory serve me the sax player went on to form Supertramp and of course the lead singer was the one and only now departed Robert Palmer.

I remember them, didn't realise it was Robert Palmer. I've got a picture in my 60's scrapbook. I'll have to dig it out and have a look.
I remember RP playing the MD when he was in Vinegar Joe (http://www.alexgitlin.com/vj.htm) (dada) with Elkie Brookes (she was one raunchy chick in those days). I suppose RP was pretty raunchy on stage with his tight brown leather jeans ------- (Lostrider wrote that in a deep brown voice should anyone have any funny ideas about his inclinations) :heyhey:

By the way, didn't The Alan Bown(e) group have a hit in the sixtys?

Originally posted by Plain Talker
Mighty Melvin? Wasn't he famous for being a male stripper?

PT

Reading that, it has just occured to me who he was. If it's the same one, I remember me and my mate having a chat with him on a bus, he said he was divorced on the grounds of cruelty, It was his wife who was beating him up.:heyhey:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lostrider
[B]I remember them, didn't realise it was Robert Palmer. I've got a picture in my 60's scrapbook. I'll have to dig it out and have a look.

He wasn't in them long and was replaced by a singer called (I think) Jess Roden. My memory for names is as good as Jack Charlton!
Before they went progresive they broght out a version of the Little Anthony and the Imperials song Gonna fix you good and had a minor hit with it.

Jess Roden had his own band in the early seventies. They were quite good too. I saw them at the swan, and then again at the city hall as a support act. Can't remember who they were supporting though. Was it the Tull?

Originally posted by Bushbaby
Jess Roden had his own band in the early seventies. They were quite good too. I saw them at the swan, and then again at the city hall as a support act. Can't remember who they were supporting though. Was it the Tull?

Tull were supported by Tir na Nog on one of their tours, and I can't ever remember seeing Roden back Tull, but I have been known to be wrong.

Originally posted by owdlad
Tull were supported by Tir na Nog on one of their tours, and I can't ever remember seeing Roden back Tull, but I have been known to be wrong.

I think it's me that's wrong but I can't remember who Roden did support.
I do remember a Black Acapella group (The Persuasions?) supporting Lou Reed, and Leo Sayer when he was still a clown, supporting Roxy.
Gosh what a great life I've had

Originally posted by Bushbaby
I think it's me that's wrong but I can't remember who Roden did support.
I do remember a Black Acapella group (The Persuasions?) supporting Lou Reed, and Leo Sayer when he was still a clown, supporting Roxy.
Gosh what a great life I've had

I think varied would be a better description :D

Originally posted by owdlad
I think varied would be a better description :D

Yeah, you're probably right there...Although one truly great "Support Act" moment was when I saw Feelgood on the Stupidity tour. Support was a group of Asbos from Manchester (doing Care in the community I think) called "Alberto Y Lost Trior Paranoias" They were very much a mickey take of evrything around at the time, but they did it with such panache it was irrestible

I wonder who like me, remembers a delightful little 70s pub called The Bucaneer

beers down Pinstone Street to the wide open spaces of The Nelson and put “See Emily Play” on the juke box - then we'd go back three days later to hear it, such was the backlog. There was a deep groove in the pavement between the two pubs, and on some evenings it was possible to meet the same people three or four times without ever being in the same building.

For me, it was the first place in the town centre where I felt like a local, and it changed my musical tastes for life. I shed a genuine tear the night it closed, and wore a black armband for weeks after it was pulled down. For those of us of a certain age, I truly believe that we never saw its like, before or since. The one consolation is that I can revisit The Buc at will, simply by digging out my “Aqualung” vinyl, or “Music from a Doll’s House” CD.

Do others have similar memories or did I dream all this?

I remember it well Bushbaby they were the days eh? :thumbsup:

I remember the lights in the Buccaneer when we were dancing. Anybody wearing white would really glow and you could tell who had the most dandruff.

I remember the lights in the Buccaneer when we were dancing. Anybody wearing white would really glow and you could tell who had the most dandruff.

Yes, and false teeth, they used to show up yellow.:hihi:

[QUOTE=Lostrider]And Folk nights at the Highcliffe Hotel to see Hedgehog Pie.

Yes I remember Highcliffe Hotel and seeing Tony Capstick and Hedgehog Pie perform.
I still have my Capstick LPs, of which I pride.
23rd October 03 was a sad day for the folk and comedy scene.

:love: The Buccaneer. Just seeing that name brings waves of nostalgia washing over me. I adored that place, plastic glasses and all. It was the first place I ever felt comfortable in, even though at times there was no room to breathe, it felt like home and I enjoyed the companionship of the other punters. The music was perfect for the time and that pub attracted so many gorgeous ladies and yes I can remember most of them. I would agree the toilets were very rough, especially around 10.30pm when the lavs were overflowing! The other downside was when the lights suddenly appeared usually to the accompaniment of Van Der Graaf Generator`s "Theme One", after hours of darkness it really hurt the eyes. We were so sad when it closed that final night, then elated when someone said it was still open the following dinnertime so we all raced up from Pond Hill for a drink, arranging to meet again that night. But that really was it! Gone Forever! I can still visualise that night stood on the steps looking at all the bewildered punters wondering where to go. That place had its faults but I would do anything just to go back for one more night, especially if all those lovely nurses were there!:love:

Me and my friends went to the last night shindig. I can remember the last song to be played was Hey Jude by the Beatles. Everyone in the place was standing and singing along. When the DJ said goodnight everyone started to grab things. I only wanted something like an ashtray as a keepsake but within thirty seconds nothing was left but a small table. I grabbed ran out on to Leopold Street and raced round to West Street. I remember standing on it whilst trying to direct the traffic!! (You have to remember I was only 17 at the time) I still have the table.

What date did this place close down? I never had the pleasure of going here....maybe I arrived in Sheffield too late........

Must have been about 1973 - God, I feel old

Must have been about 1973 - God, I feel old

Yes, it was the summer of 73. I missed the closing down due to working away. Followed Olga to the Wap when I came home but it just wasn't the same. :cry:

Hi casten, I believe you are right with 1973. I proposed to the missus in the Buccaneer and we were married in July 1974. We did not have a long engagement because after the Bucc. closed we really had nowhere to go!:hihi: We certainly married sooner than later, I believe the closure had a fair bit to do with it, but as we have been together for almost 32 years, its nice to think something good came from its demise.:) However, I still wish I could go back in time for one long endless night in that wonderful place.:love:

Yeah we all remember the good old Buc, the plastic pint pots, the bogs that were always swimming by closing time, beer like rat pee, warm Newcy Brown, sweating like a dog because it was packed solid day and night, the stench of Patchouli Oil, and paying too much for the beer cos that's where ya mates were going to meet you................>sigh< yes I remember it well, and would I go back to all the crap? You bet your sweet life I would, it was my second home. :love:

The “Bucc” was quite clever at theming their music in line with concerts at the neighbouring City Hall
So, for instance, on a night when Bowie was performing next door, there would be lots of Lou Reed, Roxy, and maybe even some records by Bowie himself playing. This meant that concertgoers could warm up for the gig, while having a pint in a plastic mug (instead of hanging around the city hall shouting ”Wally!!”) and they could meet up again afterwards and discuss the highlight of the night (Life on Mars) before heading down to Pond Street for the “Last Bus Whistle”
I remember on the night of a scheduled Steely Dan concert which had been cancelled, (Don Fagen had a throat infection) they played quite a few tracks from the band’s first two albums, as many of the pub’s punters would have been in the auditorium. It was a kind of consolation prize (Let’s see what you would’ve won!!) and took away the sting.
(By the way, we were told to hang on to our tickets as the concert would be rescheduled. When? I’ve still got mine and it’s been over thirty years now!!)
On another occasion, when Yes were debuting their Topographic Oceans set, those of us left behind in the pub were treated to a selection of songs from a period when they were still a good band, and not totally lost up their own aerosols. (Yours is no disgrace, Roundabout etc)

I don’t know if places like the Nelson and the Corp are able to create this kind of “personal” touch these days. It would be sad if they can’t.

What about the back room at the Albert opposite the City Hall? Tank up in there and then on to the Bucc!

Once stood behind Entwhistle at the bar in the Albert!! - My claim to fame!! Then saw em knock our socks off across the road..

Jeez, I was at every one of these. Do we know eachother.
Pete Green was actually invited along by a hippy who shared a flat with him in Brighton, cannot remember his name, tall, long curly blonde hair, rimless glasses. It will come to me soon.
He jammed with a band called Redhead Yorke who were terrible and Pete looked very uncomfortable for most of the set.

Also at Weston Park, what about Shape of the Rain (Black Swan regulars) or McCloskeys doing their versions of Wild Thing and Summertime Blues. What a summer that was!!!

The best bands were always on at the Students Union, Free, Genesis, Who, Humble Pie, great days.
I was the one who organised the Weston Park concerts and although I never shared a flat with Peter Green the rest of your description of me is accurate.Incidentally. my mates and I never went to the Buc on a point of principle.When they opened the place, the manager gave an interview to the Star saying long haired lads wouldn't be admitted as they were troublemakers.Somewhere along the way the management changed their minds but didn't give another interview saying they had been wrong and apologising for the insult.We were all well and truly P'd off and refused to go.Anyway,alcohol was not suited to that kind of music.We had something else.Heh heh.

Yeah, you're probably right there...Although one truly great "Support Act" moment was when I saw Feelgood on the Stupidity tour. Support was a group of Asbos from Manchester (doing Care in the community I think) called "Alberto Y Lost Trior Paranoias" They were very much a mickey take of evrything around at the time, but they did it with such panache it was irrestible__________________


Saw alberto lot at top rank they had single out head down nonsense mindless boogie in top fifty
they were supported by three blonde haired guys called The police

Once stood behind Entwhistle at the bar in the Albert!! - My claim to fame!! Then saw em uknock our socks off across the road..

Met townsend in the old red lion at back of city hall he was hammered two of the roadies were holding up hour later christ knows how, he was playing like a gudn

__________________
Saw alberto lot at top rank they had single out head down nonsense mindless boogie in top fifty
they were supported by three blonde haired guys called The police

It should have stayed that way round - at least the Albertos had a sense of humour!

I was the one who urganised the Weston Park concerts and although I never shared a flat with Peter Green the rest of your description of me is accurate.


Hey Glyn,

great to hear you are well and living in the land of the rising sun.

We were never big buddies but I used to bump in to you all over the place. Mojo and Down Broadway in early days. Once met you at Middle Earth (Mid Earth?) and you introduced me to a couple of bands, Groundhogs or Uriah Heap rings a bell, definitely prog outfits but it was a long time ago and that is probably total rubbish. Do you still have the Afghan coat????????

You also turned me on to Robert Johson who I had never heard off at the time (around '69) but you told me to rent his album from central library. Life changing moment, thanks.

Andy

Hi all. Thanks for rattling the memory cells. The Buccaneer will always be the place. I even had a wedding reception there! It must be the only pub where people actually queued to get in on Saturday afternoons. The live bands at the Mucky Duck were legendary whatever happened to Alberto y los trios Paranoias and yes I was there at the legendary Pattos Christmas pantomime

Does anyone know where I can see some pics of the place ?

Great memories. I was lucky enough to be in Weston Park - all of 5 feet away from the bandstand - when Pete Green played, what a day!! Does any one remember the Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford. What a jukebox easily as good as The Nelson. We used to have the occassional Friday night out there & sometimes called into The Marquis of Gramby if there was a band on.

I was the one who urganised the Weston Park concerts and although I never shared a flat with Peter Green the rest of your description of me is accurate.Incidentally. my mates and I never went to the Buc on a point of principle.When they opened the place, the manager gave an interview to the Star saying long haired lads wouldn't be admitted as they were troublemakers.Somewhere along the way the management changed their minds but didn't give another interview saying they had been wrong and apoligising for the insult.We were all well and truly P'd off and refused to go.Anyway,alcohol was not suited to that kind of music.We had something else.Heh heh.

Hi Glyn

Can you put a name to the Unknown band playing in the old bandstand at one of your concerts. Weston Park Free Concerts c.69/70 (http://s758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/lostrider/Weston%20Park/)

We seem to have got seriously off thread but sorry lostrider I can't help you.I'll get in touch with some old mates and see what they think.Incidentally,I can't remember any of the performances because I never saw them.. Once I'd announced a band I had to run round getting the next lot sorted out.It was great fun though but probably wouldn't be allowed these days;too much red tape.

Great memories. I was lucky enough to be in Weston Park - all of 5 feet away from the bandstand - when Pete Green played, what a day!! Does any one remember the Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford. What a jukebox easily as good as The Nelson. We used to have the occassional Friday night out there & sometimes called into The Marquis of Gramby if there was a band on.

I used to frequent the Yorkshire Bridge in the 70's, and the occasional night in the Marquis. You're right. The jukebox in the Yorkshire Bridge was sound!!

I can't believe there's no pictures or photo's of the Buccaneer ?

Some places just didnt' have anyone taking pictures of them which is a crying shame - the Buccaneer and Redgates building near the top of the moor are two places the Sheffield History website is trying to trace photo's of

http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk

If anyone has any photo's I'm sure they would be extremely grateful !

I can't believe there's no pictures or photo's of the Buccaneer ?


I can't help but think that if we saw piccies of it we'd be disappointed.
In our heads (some of us at least) is a place of magic. Fotos would show it to be the dark and dingey place it really was

I was listening recently to BBC 6 Music and Stuart Maconie played a track by Aphrodite's Child called "It's Five O'Clock!. I was immediately transported back to the best pub in town, and I could even smell the lingering odours
("Din't 'ave no Leopold Square in my day")

I can't help but think that if we saw piccies of it we'd be disappointed.
In our heads (some of us at least) is a place of magic. Fotos would show it to be the dark and dingey place it really was

It certainly didn't have the same atmosphere at lunchtimes. I can remember the sun reflecting light inside off the shiney matted carpet areas.

Wasn't there a glass display on the wall outside the entrance (between the steps going up and the steps going down) with photos of the interior as it used to look when it was new?

Great memories. I was lucky enough to be in Weston Park - all of 5 feet away from the bandstand - when Pete Green played, what a day!! Does any one remember the Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford. What a jukebox easily as good as The Nelson. We used to have the occassional Friday night out there & sometimes called into The Marquis of Gramby if there was a band on.

I went to the Yorkshire Bridge every Saturday night in 1966/7. The Juke Box was opposite the door as you entered. From there I went on to the 'As You Like It' Disco at The Marquis of Granby. Half a Crown to get in. Happy times.

Okay so I'll scrap starting a thread about the Bucc... it's nice to be amongst friends.
My own most endearing memory was standing by the speakers by the DJ booth when Highway Star came on and nearly took my ear drums out.
There was a corner round to the right when you went in where it was rumoured that you could buy herbal cigarettes and tablets to help keep you awake... hmmmm.

I used to frequent the Yorkshire Bridge in the 70's, and the occasional night in the Marquis. You're right. The jukebox in the Yorkshire Bridge was sound!!

I started going to the Yorkshire Bridge ona Friday night in 69 with three mates in an old Moggy 1000, then race back to Two Steps chippy at Hunters Bar.
Then we discovered the Grapes on Trippet lane upstairs a couple of guys rana disco playing Grateful Dead and the like.

Trying to re-create some of the best music from this period, see the below details, on THURSDAYS at the Dove....any suggestions for classic songs, please let me know, as really want to put together one hell of a definitive playlist that captures the spirit of this time and place.....

http://www.tangrammedia.co.uk/dove/images/daze.jpg

If you like your rock extremely archive and of the more psychedelic and progressive slant, then check out our new THURSDAYS at the Dove from this week, as we do something totally different to our other nights and feature an entire evening of classic rock from the 60's and 70's crypt...

Think like a blend of Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Hawkwind, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Chicago, T Rex, Rolling Stones, Beatles (magical mystery tour era), Uriah Heep, Procol Harum, The Animals, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Love, Gong, Free, Moody Blues, ET AL and you have a vague idea of what its about......a weekly festival of psychedelic gems that will evolve week by week.......

We don;t know where its going but we will know when it gets there.........some psychedelic classic rock bands will feature on this night in the future too.....

GROOVY BABY

Trying to re-create some of the best music from this period, see the below details, on THURSDAYS at the Dove....any suggestions for classic songs, please let me know, as really want to put together one hell of a definitive playlist that captures the spirit of this time and place.....



Will this be any help tp you -_

http://www.moss-net.co.uk/buccaneer/

Will this be any help tp you -_

http://www.moss-net.co.uk/buccaneer/

yeah have seen that before.....just wondered if there was anything more out there.....pictures for example.....anything to help create that classic 'ambience'

yeah have seen that before.....just wondered if there was anything more out there.....pictures for example.....anything to help create that classic 'ambience'
Van der Graaf Generator - Plague of lighthouse keepers
Aphrodite's Child - Rain and Tears
King Crimson - Lark's Tongues In Aspic
Genesis - Fountain of Salmacis
Steely Dan - Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)
Steve Forbert - There's Everybody Else (And Then There's You)
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tuesday's Gone
Yes – Yours is no disgrace
Its a beautiful day - White bird
Polly Come Home – Gene Clark
The Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow's Parties
Grateful Dead - St Stephen

Roger Chapman-Family,
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vdGTXcRyiKI&feature=related

gimme an F-
Altogether now.

.
There was a corner round to the right when you went in where it was rumoured that you could buy herbal cigarettes and tablets to help keep you awake... hmmmm.
So THAT's what the funny smell was!!

Just been listening to "Glass Harp" - the only time I'd heard them before was in "The Buck"
Memory Lane's getting shorter!!

I used to visit this great pub with its unique atmosphere most nights and some Saturday lunchtimes.

Remember the 'packed together like sardines' feeling, fizzy beer, the fish nets and ship's wheels and stuff...but mostly fantastic and very loud music! :)

Some favourites include Kevin Ayers 'Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes'; Argent 'Hold your head up high'; Santana 'Soul Sacrifice'; Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention 'Tears began to Fall' and others; Country Joe and the Fish 'Vietnam'; Apache Dropout (Edgar Broughton Band):

(I tried to post the YouTube links to the above coz most if not all are on there but wouldn't allow me coz not made 5 posts yet)

Many great memories, was there on the last night also, if they hadn't have closed it would probably still be going even now!

In the seventies it was the place to be.
The Doors, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin & Cream blasting out made the queing at the bar almost worthwhile.
Fantastic atmosphere and a great place to get well lathered before heading off to the the Penny or Uni.
Wow - What memories!!

Didn`t that close down and become the pig and whistle

Didn`t that close down and become the pig and whistle
It was actually demolished, as it was a part of The Grand Hotel. The Pig & Whistle was built on roughly the same spot, but was certainly never the same pub

Eddy is looking for Maureen and Roger who worked with him in the Buccaneer in the late 60s

I was 18 the year the Buccaneer closed so only spent a short time going in. I loved it and was as upset as anyone that had been going in for years when it closed down. Have great memories of it. Happy days.

Held my "stag night" in the Buccaneer in1968. Had a great time as I remember (but it is becoming more vague as time passes). After the Buccaneer we went to the West St. Hotel to finish the night and me off.

Just listening to “Them Crooked Vultures” Dave Grolsch’s new band, when suddenly my watch started going backwards, and went back all the way to The Buccaneer, and got jammed between Man Who Sold The World, and Court of The Crimson King!! How surreal is that? Brilliant album though

Just listening to “Them Crooked Vultures” Dave Grolsch’s new band, when suddenly my watch started going backwards, and went back all the way to The Buccaneer, and got jammed between Man Who Sold The World, and Court of The Crimson King!! How surreal is that? Brilliant album though

And Houses of the Holy & Disraeli Gears. What a brilliant album. It's on my Chrstmas list.

Pub's like that don't close down, They always live on. and can't be replaced What a great true story about the Buccaneer, well done Bushbaby. JP

And Houses of the Holy & Disraeli Gears. What a brilliant album. It's on my Chrstmas list.

In my head I could hear whisperin' Bob announcing them as tonite's session band

can anyone remember the twins names who worked there as bouncers thanks

Heard Van Morrisons "Brown eyed girl" on the radio today, I can never hear that or Americas "Horse with no name" without thinking of the Buccaneer. Can never drink out of a plastic glass either without being taken back in time.

Heard Van Morrisons "Brown eyed girl" on the radio today, I can never hear that or Americas "Horse with no name" without thinking of the Buccaneer. Can never drink out of a plastic glass either without being taken back in time.

:wow: I never realised it was recorded way back then!

It's a bit of a timeless track I suppose.

:wow: I never realised it was recorded way back then!

It's a bit of a timeless track I suppose.

First released 1967 :o

im glad people remember the buccaneer i spent along time dj ing there an yes i played the full version of in a gadda da vida an loved every minute of it

I used to hang out there a lot in 1971 when I was under-age. The police once came in and removed all my friends around me leaving me with six pints to drink - one of the advantages of being premature balding and looking older, I suppose!

Whenever I hear Born to be Wild it reminds me of the place.

Both loved it and hated it. Music was great, beer truly awful, atmosphere almost unbearable. There was a more chill bar upstairs we would adjourn to when the smoke and crowd got too bad.

The easy way to get talking to girls was to drop your empty plastic beer glass on their foot. It's the only way you could get rid of the glass anyway. The floor was littered with them and it was someone's job to go ferreting for them then walk around with them stacked six feet high.

Pub's like that don't close down, They always live on. and can't be replaced What a great true story about the Buccaneer, well done Bushbaby. JP

It closed down.

Hi. I may be wrong here, but wasn`t the entrance to the Buccaneer on Leopold
St? Downstairs entrance to the left of the upstairs Bar/place?
Then again I`m losing the little gray cells as Poirot says.

Hi. I may be wrong here, but wasn`t the entrance to the Buccaneer on Leopold
St? Downstairs entrance to the left of the upstairs Bar/place?
Then again I`m losing the little gray cells as Poirot says.

yes it was.

I was 5 to 10 years too young to remember the Buccaneer. I can remember one story that my dad told me about a shirtless barman who had a tattoo of a man on one shoulder blade and a tattoo of a woman on the other. He could flex himself so that they came together and 'kissed'. Maybe they did kiss, or maybe something else, but can anyone verify this.

I see that "Them Crooked Vultures" are doing some live gigs - Download and maybe one or two others

Great film out called "Oil City Confidential" Directed by Julien Temple it's about the early days of Dr Feelgood
We used to watch them at the Swan and go up to the Bucc to talk it about
Halcyon Days indeed!!

I remember they used to sell some pretty lousy keg beer in the Buccaneer :gag:

Dragonsoup

I can honestly say that, although I went in the Buc regularly for two years, it was never light enough to see the furniture. "Compasses and Mermaids?" Wow, I really missed something didn't I? I don't even remember them having tables



It was affectionally know as the Musical Coal Mine !!

I used to hang out there a lot in 1971 when I was under-age. The police once came in and removed all my friends around me leaving me with six pints to drink - one of the advantages of being premature balding and looking older, I suppose!

Whenever I hear Born to be Wild it reminds me of the place.

Both loved it and hated it. Music was great, beer truly awful, atmosphere almost unbearable. There was a more chill bar upstairs we would adjourn to when the smoke and crowd got too bad.

The easy way to get talking to girls was to drop your empty plastic beer glass on their foot. It's the only way you could get rid of the glass anyway. The floor was littered with them and it was someone's job to go ferreting for them then walk around with them stacked six feet high.

I was 16 when it shut, only went in a couple of times and then it was gone :-(

So for me Born to be Wild is a reminder of the Nelson which I soon moved on to (likewise Feel Like Makin Love really reminds me of the Penthouse).

I was 16 when it shut, only went in a couple of times and then it was gone :-(

So for me Born to be Wild is a reminder of the Nelson which I soon moved on to (likewise Feel Like Makin Love really reminds me of the Penthouse).

my penthouse track would be allright now or soul sacrifice

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1289035@N25/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1289035@N25/

forgemasters???

ITS CALED FORGEMASTERS & SHEFFIELD CHECK OUT PICTURES OFF PUBS THAT HAVE GONE,sportsman,magnet,plumpers etc

ITS CALED FORGEMASTERS & SHEFFIELD CHECK OUT PICTURES OFF PUBS THAT HAVE GONE,sportsman,magnet,plumpers etc

OK, I'm with ya now. The Victoria on Neepsend Lane is familiar. My dad used to work near there at the Hallamshire Rolling Mills (became part of James Neill, and then they were all laid off in 1981). I remember that one and also the Malton Hotel where I was occasionally allowed in as a kid with him on a lunchtime and I played on the pinball for free for ages. The landlord was a great guy called Bill Drury.

I've some happy memories of the Buccaneer and it's good to hear everyone else's reminiscences. It was an original place as a city centre venue in the
60's / early 70's and had its own unique atmosphere which made it sometimes unbearably popular.
When it was pulled down in 1973 the demolition company, which was situated just off Wensley Street in the East End, took all the reclaimable materials to their yard. Didn't get any mermaids, anchors or barrels but at the time I needed some timber beams for the house I was renovating so I bought a job lot. In a way, therefrore, its spirit still survives in the fabric of the place where I still live 37 years on.

at the time I needed some timber beams for the house I was renovating so I bought a job lot. In a way, therefrore, its spirit still survives in the fabric of the place where I still live 37 years on.

Do the beams still smell of dodgy cigarettes?

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1289035@N25/

Lovely pub fotos - not sure about the lorries though

my penthouse track would be allright now or soul sacrifice
Milk and Alcohol by The Feelgoods for me

Do the beams still smell of dodgy cigarettes?

Yeh man, they must do 'cause I couldn't even spell "therefore" correctly in my original post!

An old friend of mine, KateT, and I have just met up on the forum
We’ve been discussing, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gene Clarke’s original version of Polly Come Home, and the best anti-vietnam song of them all, John Prine’s Ballad of Sam Stone
Lawdy lawdy!!

you didnt dream it at all every word is true!I had just to be remindered memories,ta!
hi my names killer i was a dj at buccaneer anyone remember me

hi my names killer i was a dj at buccaneer anyone remember me
I remember you playing "And You And I" by Yes. It was glorious!! :help::help:

I remember you playing "And You And I" by Yes. It was glorious!! :help::help:

glad you remember it i still play it in my car as for anti war songs what about country joe and the fish, have you seen dirty stopouts guide to the seventys theres a pic of me and george webster in the buccaneer

i've some happy memories of the buccaneer and it's good to hear everyone else's reminiscences. It was an original place as a city centre venue in the
60's / early 70's and had its own unique atmosphere which made it sometimes unbearably popular.
When it was pulled down in 1973 the demolition company, which was situated just off wensley street in the east end, took all the reclaimable materials to their yard. Didn't get any mermaids, anchors or barrels but at the time i needed some timber beams for the house i was renovating so i bought a job lot. In a way, therefrore, its spirit still survives in the fabric of the place where i still live 37 years on.

thats great its when are you going to have open day and bring out all your old frank zappa records - just pity he's no longer around along with many others of our day. I saw hendrix at city hall when i was 16 and mothers in manchester when i was 17 - great days

I remember the bucaneer well - used to go in regular with the girlfriend who is now my wife and a load of mates, we use to stand at the bottom of the stairs just inside the doorway right next to the column speaker blasting out in our ears.....couldnt hear for days afterwards, wont forget those plastic pint pots either - beer tasted horrible in them.
Me and the mates had long hair then.....right down our backs - none on top of our head just down our backs, and dressed in denim - jeans and shirts.
Remember them playing Faith Healer ( Alex Harvey ) they use to play Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh a lot as well, and a number called Long Train Running....... it was the Bucaneer that started me off with a liking for Deep Purple and Cream.

Just been reading this post I made and realised the mistake I made !
Although I did use to go in the Bucaneer with my girlfriend ( who is now my wife ) and remember it well, the description I have given of the pub and of the music relates to the Wapentake .......... not the bucaneer.
The Bucaneer as I remember it didnt play such heavy stuff as the Wapentake.

Although I did use to go in the Bucaneer with my girlfriend ( who is now my wife ) and remember it well, the description I have given of the pub and of the music relates to the Wapentake .......... not the bucaneer.
.
To be honest, your description fitted the Bucc perfectly. The tunes you mentioned were all played in there. Faith Healer was a particular favourite. As was "Nantucket Sleighride" by Mountain
The Wap became more popular after the Bucc closed (sad day) as many of the same customers moved across

I've put some pictures of Frank White on my Flickr site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushbaby387/?saved=1

the buccaneer was all heavy metal, alex harvey ,led zepp,sabbath ,purple

the buccaneer was all heavy metal, alex harvey ,led zepp,sabbath ,purple
No it wasn't. There was lots of lighter stuff. The main thing is that it wasn't chart music. It was mostly contemporary stuff - kind of thing you would see on Old Grey String Vest
Anyway - we didn't have Heavy Metal in those days, We had "Progressive Rock" :P

I worked at the Buccaneer when I was in the 6th form (before I went to Art college :D):DIt was a hectic place to work and I remember only because your posts have reminded me, that the tables had mermaids and compasses - I "cleaned" them at least once a week! one night I seemed to be getting more than my fair share of attention from some of the usually too cool punters. I was congratulating myself on the black micro mini dress and false lashes when someone pointed out that the ultra violet lighting was giving everyone a good view of my white underwear. I was so embarrassed to be so exposed. So I took them off! No-one took any notice after that and went back to their pints.

the ultra violet lighting was giving everyone a good view of my white underwear. I was so embarrassed to be so exposed. So I took them off! No-one took any notice after that and went back to their pints.
That's what you think....:)

I remember the last day, we were all going to go to it at night, but it closed at lunch time.

i remember the plastic glasses
the big speakers
and a bloke who danced all the time called mighty melvin

Would that be the same Mighty Melvin from The Merry England?

It must be about 40 years ago, but I can still hear that Jo Jo Gunn record in my mind.

It must be about 40 years ago, but I can still hear that Jo Jo Gunn record in my mind.

Run...Run...Runnn A classic, I still get a fix on You Tube every now and then.

Don't forget Blowin' Free ..... Wishbone Ash

Wishin' Well .... Free

A few beers and You tube .... only thing missin is the crush at the bar :hihi: :hihi:

Run...Run...Runnn A classic, I still get a fix on You Tube every now and then.

Don't forget Blowin' Free ..... Wishbone Ash

Wishin' Well .... Free

A few beers and You tube .... only thing missin is the crush at the bar :hihi: :hihi:

. . . and the feeling that your shoes are nailed to the floor.

Where did it all go wrong ?

. . . and the feeling that your shoes are nailed to the floor.


Nantucket Sleighride by Mountain
Still send shivers down the old spine...

Nantucket Sleighride by Mountain
Still send shivers down the old spine...

Even a young Mr Ferry singing " In every dream home a heartache " very atmospheric........You blew my mind... :)

What about the DJs hatch in the area that was walls of speakers and soundboxes..... the sound almost unstuck your feet from the floor :hihi:

Even a young Mr Ferry singing " In every dream home a heartache " very atmospheric........You blew my mind... :)


Great guitar solo from Manzanera at the end. First time you hear it, it comes as a real surprise
For me that was Roxy's finest hour :|

I'm sure that I saw some of the nets and those glass balls in another pub after it closed, but too much stout has gone under the belt since then for me to remember where . :(

Great guitar solo from Manzanera at the end. First time you hear it, it comes as a real surprise
For me that was Roxy's finest hour :|

Then from the sublime....... to Urban Spaceman...... how diverse can music get, and everyone a classic. :)

Then from the sublime....... to Urban Spaceman...... how diverse can music get, and everyone a classic. :)
Viv Stanshall on "Do not adjust your set" playing a washing machine tube - glorious!!:love:

Viv Stanshall on "Do not adjust your set" playing a washing machine tube - glorious!!:love:

"My pink half of the drainpipe, I may paint it blue" -you just dont get lyrics like that today. :hihi:

Bonzo Dog (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aolMV0oNCBE)

I went in the Bucaneer on its opening night, Unfortunately we were not allowed in from the street entrance because it was for invited/hotel guest only. So we went in thro the hotel as guests and were allowed in.It was "THE" pub for many people and has never been replaced.

I've some happy memories of the Buccaneer and it's good to hear everyone else's reminiscences. It was an original place as a city centre venue in the
60's / early 70's and had its own unique atmosphere which made it sometimes unbearably popular.
When it was pulled down in 1973 the demolition company, which was situated just off Wensley Street in the East End, took all the reclaimable materials to their yard. Didn't get any mermaids, anchors or barrels but at the time I needed some timber beams for the house I was renovating so I bought a job lot. In a way, therefrore, its spirit still survives in the fabric of the place where I still live 37 years on.

We have a Buccaneer table complete with compass top standing proud of place in our lounge, my partner will never part with it.

see it got a mention in the new book by Neil Anderson (Signing on for the devil) got my copy today cheers Neil :)

I remember a Three Tuns was that near?

Sad things with these threads is that we used to go in these iconic pubs,Stonehouse, Buccaneer, wapentake, Museum and thought nothing of it as long as the beer was good. If only we'd known

We have a Buccaneer table complete with compass top standing proud of place in our lounge, my partner will never part with it.

I have a plastic "Watneys Red Barrell" glass with a crack in it. It's yours for three and ninepence

Sad things with these threads is that we used to go in these iconic pubs,Stonehouse, Buccaneer, wapentake, Museum and thought nothing of it as long as the beer was good. If only we'd known

Blue Bell, Dove and Rainbow, Nelson, Three Cranes
Even the "Hen and Chickens" was a good night out. You'd need typhoid shots to go in there now.
Mind you, The Sportsman and The Norfolk Arms are both still good value

Blue Bell, Dove and Rainbow, Nelson, Three Cranes
Even the "Hen and Chickens" was a good night out. You'd need typhoid shots to go in there now.
Mind you, The Sportsman and The Norfolk Arms are both still good value

another 5 good ones there

Blue Bell, Dove and Rainbow, Nelson, Three Cranes
Even the "Hen and Chickens" was a good night out. You'd need typhoid shots to go in there now.
Mind you, The Sportsman and The Norfolk Arms are both still good value
nelsons still going innit? aint that the new wapentake?

aint that the new wapentake?

No
The Nelson was The Nelson even before the Wap.
During the early seventies it had the best juke box in town, by a mile.
The landlord used to put his own records on and not rely on an agency.
This meant you could listen to Led Zep and co on the system.

Mind you, the queue for records was that big, if you put a record on on Saturday night, you had to go back Tuesday lunchtime to hear it..

Wasnt old enough to get in there, but years later went to Stoke Hall at Grindleford for my birthday (why) and someone told me the furniture and tables with compasses on and some mermaids fastened to the wall had come from the Buccaneer.

I wasn't old enough either but I still went in! hehehe

The Buccaneer, Leopold Street

The Buccaneer was a place I frequented frequently in 1970-73 usually Friday neets and Saturday dinner times. The fellows who played the music did a great job in my ears because every piece they played always seemed to meet with my approval and I always looked (heard) forward to them playing Jig-A-Jig by East of Eden. Yes, my days of shoulder length hair parted in the middle plus my garb which was an Afghan coat and sometimes an R.A.F. greatcoat with neutral buttons. The ultra 'thin' beer that was served was I think Youngers Tartan, Watney's Red Barrel and 2 Lagers, Hofmeister and Carling and Gaymers cider all somewhat tasteless but they did their job. I remember the bogs tended to be leaky so it would have been better for us to have worn wellingtons, but not to worry because I was used to it being a regular visitor to places like Penthouse, Students Union Bar and the outside lav at the Albert pub...Lol. I also went in the Buccaneer in midweek and would often chat with Trevor Hockey the United player who owned a Velvetex car and those evenings we drank from dimpled beer glasses with the handle but the beer still tasted crap. There was also a door inside the Buccaneer that led to a stairway that in turn led to the American Bar (Captains' Cabin) upstairs. Two doormen I recall were Tom Lynch and Martin Bellamy, I saw Martin recently at Gleydless Tahnend and Tom is a regular drinking mate of mine in Broomhill.
One Friday night I went into the Buccaneer with a group of pals and along the bar was a bunch of birds and out of the blue one of them came sauntering over to me and offered to buy me a pint and I didn't decline. To cut a long story short we were 15 minutes later going up and out of the Bucc turned right, hurried along past the Town Hall and just before the Surrey Pub were a row of offices (possibly solicitors) ready for demolition (roughly where the Winter Garden is now) and we disappeared along an alleyway and got busy. After a post coital ciggy we returned to the Buccaneer and she went back to her mates and I went back to mine. This turned out to be a regular thing with this bird who's name I never knew. During those 2 months or so I always looked forward excitedly to a knee trembling experience and a free pint on those Friday nights......Cum what may! (In) decent days, I miss 'em.

P.S. I think the Buccaneer was owned by Trust House Forte which also owned the Grosvenor Hotel nearby that later had the Wapentake (poor man's Buccaneer) underneath it. I do stand to be corrected.
I think the last song to be played was Lola by the Kinks?

Well I’ll be blowed! Don’t you just love technology??
I’ve just been on to my digital music supplier, Ovi Music, and there, as large as life, is “Billy Porter” by Mick Ronson – downloadable for the princely sum of 79 New Pence (£0 -15/10d in old money) so now everyone can get hold of it (It wasn’t there last time I checked, just before Christmas)
Go to http://music.ovi.com/global/en/pc/storeselector and do a search on Mick Ronson. It’s on the album “Play Don’t Worry” which you can buy in its entirety for 8 quids. The album also has a stunning version of “White Light White Heat” on it, worth the entrance fee on its own
I suspect that if it is on Ovi it will be on other download systems

I now have it blaring out from my PC in glorious technocolour!!! The Gods are smiling
:headbang::headbang:

met my first husband at the Bucaneer - aged 17 - lasted 29 years.

Oh yeah - i remember The Buccaneer, exactly as you say. Spent many a happy night (and Saturday lunch-time) in the Bucc, and it was usually the scene of a Saturday Night ruck if Newcastle Utd had been playing in Sheffield.
The only other pubs in town i can remember where you were guaranteed to hear good music was The Nelson, just off the Moor, which had a blinding jukebox and was run by a guy called Don Millward, who later went off to manage a pub in Grimsby, and The Albert (long gone), across the road from the City Hall, where beer wasn't the only drug of choice on offer......
The Bucc was taken over by Olga Marshall (god bless her) and she later moved to the Wappentake - which carried on the tradition, more or less.
Great days Eddie, great daze

Denim flares, denim jean jacket, shoulder length hair, a tie die or cheese cloth shirt. Throw a pint down your neck, throw the plastic glass on to the cobbles and guess which way its gonna bounce and Chicago`s 25 or 6 to 4 at full volume. Take me back ! please !

Chicago`s 25 or 6 to 4 at full volume.!

And its wonderful 'b' side - "Does anybody really know what time it is?"

yes I agree, very fond memories of visiting with mates, dave, Alex Parkin and Big Steve Marshall; also recall the crubnchy glass underfoot.

I worked in the Bucc. as a glass collector - free beer and rock music every night all night – fantastic!!!!!!!!!!

yes I agree, very fond memories of visiting with mates, dave, Alex Parkin and Big Steve Marshall; also recall the crubnchy glass underfoot.

And Dave remembers you, Alex, Steve, Richard as well. Met my wife here about 41 years ago - happy days

hi my names killer i was a dj at buccaneer anyone remember me

No I don`t but thanks for playin, Chicago`s 25 or 6 to 4.

had my first one night stand in there{well outside there}.

Did anyone manage to find any photos of The Buccaneer ?

The best thing about going into the Buccaneer on Saturday afternoon was coming out again
Nevertheless we still kept going in and when it closed we just picked up our beer, Pretty Things albums and girlfriends (in that order) and moved to the Wap for more of the same..

I wonder who like me, remembers a delightful little 70s pub called The Bucaneer

Hidden beneath the sprawling acres of the Grand Hotel in Barkers Pool, the doorway, like the entrance to a secret little Aladdins cave, was tucked away on Leopold Street, in an area now occupied by a trendy wine bar.

The source of many magic moments, it was responsible for introducing much of Sheffield to Progressive Rock and some of the more extraneous bands of the day. Long will I remember a bespectacled, lank haired DJ, hiding inside a plexiglass booth, raving about Rick Wakeman’s keyboard solo on “Roundabout”, or extolling the virtues of Carlos Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti”. He seemed to favour longer tracks, and is still the only DJ I know who has played the full version of “In A Gadda Da Vida” in public. (Come to think of it, hes the only one I know who has played it in private)

The clientele were a mixed bunch, varying between ageing hippies, who called for the Grateful Dead to be played at every opportunity, and those Art School sophisticates for whom a Steely Dan “E minor seventh sharp fifth ” was the ultimate chord. Boys outnumbered girls about 5 to 1, but it wasn’t a place for meeting the opposite sex. Its sole itinerary was music. Loud, wall-throbbing, ear-splitting music. Not humble but heavy. The kind of music that came back and haunted you in your dreams. It was John Peel’s Perfumed Garden incarnate – and we lapped it up.

Most wore denim, although later the fashionable townies, in their Ben Shermans and two-tone Sta Prest, started to wander in, just as Bowie began blurring the boundaries between rock and pop. Mein-host would pander to these occasionally, by slipping “All The Young Dudes” in between “Communication Breakdown” and “Faith Healer”. However these lapses were rare, and regulars could normally guarantee hearing at least one Velvet Underground track during the course of an evening. Certain records gained a notorious popularity, and there was always a cheer when The Archangel started singing about his wardrobe, or The Ox’s base fed us his arachnic fears. And riots took place whenever those crimson boys told their stories about going to court.

The predominant smell was “Brut” for the guys and “Charlie” for the girls, although both genders could get away with Hai Karate on a Friday night, so dense was the ambiance. The sticky carpet was a deposit for any form of detritus, and was I’m sure, the inspiration for the motto “If the floor is full, please use the ashtrays”. Unusually for a Sheffield pub, the beer was of little or no import. It was a generic ‘Red Barrel’ type brew, and came in plastic glasses. Getting served was a life changing experience, as most groups bought three or four rounds in one go, to save having to brave the fourteen deep crowd at the bar more than once. The bar staff comprised students, and fans of “Stone the Crows”. It was compulsory for them to smoke and serve pretty girls first, and they always complained that they didn’t play enough Vinegar Joe.

If the atmosphere got too heavy, and occasionally it did, we would carry our beers down Pinstone Street to the wide open spaces of The Nelson and put “See Emily Play” on the juke box - then we'd go back three days later to hear it, such was the backlog. There was a deep groove in the pavement between the two pubs, and on some evenings it was possible to meet the same people three or four times without ever being in the same building.

For me, it was the first place in the town centre where I felt like a local, and it changed my musical tastes for life. I shed a genuine tear the night it closed, and wore a black armband for weeks after it was pulled down. For those of us of a certain age, I truly believe that we never saw its like, before or since. The one consolation is that I can revisit The Buc at will, simply by digging out my “Aqualung” vinyl, or “Music from a Doll’s House” CD.

Do others have similar memories or did I dream all this?

You didnt dream it, or you and my Dad have had a similar dream, I've got to say, I wish my generation a pub like that. All we have is Corp, Nelson or Leadmill and they're really not the same thing. There are modern bands who you can draw a comparison against the bands you mentioned and I'm certain there would be a crowd to fill a bar like that these days.
But then, I guess its impossible to recreate a certain time in history.
Thanks for confirming my Dad's addled ramblings about hobbits and fairies running around inside an underground galleon, much appreciated ;)

Whilst sorting through my vinyl yesterday ( I now have a record player set up in my attic/bedroom and play at least one LP every day) I came across "Mass in F Major" by The Electric Prunes. Wow! It is absolutely glorious. If you can get hold of a copy, do so.

In response to the Peter Green concert, I was there also. The band that backed PG was, I think, Redhead Yorke, who were from Brighton. I also knew the Buccaneer well and I remember you Glyn and your birthday "happening" at the Oval Hall.

I was also at the Peter Green concert. I think the backing band was Redhad York from Brighton. I also remember the Buccaneer and you Glyn. I also remember your birthday "happening" at the Oval Hall.

On reflection, it was the Memorial Hall.

On reflection, it was the Memorial Hall.

Publisher Neil Anderson is compiling memories of the City Hall for a book to be published later this year
Send any good stories to neil@allcreditmedia.com

Thanks BB. I don't remember much more. Everyone rec'd a present from Glyn at the door. Perhaps he could remind us? If others were there, they could perhaps contribute?