Venue Press >> Blow Up presents The Metro Club: 19-23 Oxford St. London W1

metro club: venue press...

17.01.09
The Guardian Guide, London:
Clubs preview - Blow Up, London
"It's time for mod hotspot Blow Up to pack away its liquid eyeliner, box its patent go-go boots and fold up its Serge Gainsbourg-worthy cravats, because once again the long-running club is on the move, as the venue it's shook all night long for the past seven years is set to close for good this week. The same thing happened with former home The Wag back in 2001, and now the Metro too is set to pass into the annals of long-lost Soho party palaces due to the extension of Tottenham Court Road station. Granted, its not all doom and gloom - the night's picking up again next Saturday at its new residence, Bar Rumba, with live guest the Bongolian - but if you can't have an excessively emotional blow out goodbye party in January, then when can you? Shimmy to sweet 1960s sounds and the very best of British indie and mourn the loss of another London venue ."
Click here to view original article

15.01.09
Time Out London:
Nightlife - The Final Countdown
"The Metro Club, one of the best small live music and club venues, also closes after Blow Up on Saturday. ...It seems plain wrong that kids who go to Denmark Street to buy guitars will soon be unable to see bands playing guitar-driven music anywhere nearby, apart from the intimate 12 Bar Club or 100 Club. Here's hoping 2009 leads to a rebirth of nightlife opportunites." Click here to view original article

15.01.09
Time Out London: Nightlife - Blow Up Finale
"There is nowhere else quite like Blow Up, and it many ways it's still unique. ...When the Wag closed Tunkin shifted to the bijou Metro Club, where he also programmed the bands and created a Time Out-award wining venue." Click here to view original article

15.01.09
The Guardian: Final gigs at much-loved London clubs as Crossrail project forces demolition
"In order to accommodate a six-times larger ticket hall at Tottenham Court Road tube station, the 2,000-capacity venue, which has hosted hundreds of famous names, will be knocked down. So too will its sister venue, the 1,000-capacity LA2, and the Metro, the dingily atmospheric downstairs club along the road that hosted early gigs by the likes of the Killers, Kings of Leon and Kaiser Chiefs. Paul Tunkin, of Blow Up, which took over the running of Metro in 2001, said: "The end has come too quickly ... It might be rough and ready but we've had a lot of fun, it's going to be sorely missed." Click here to view original article

15.01.09
Metro London: Farewell to classic indie venues
"The final hurrah for indie lovers with a penchant for Zone 1 arrives this week, as a clutch of the West End's scruffy, guitar-driven clubs drop the curtain. ...indie institution Blow Up is hosting the leaving party for dinky student hang-out Metro (another Crossrail victim) on Saturday. Blow Up (launched for Britpop lovers by DJ Paul Tunkin in 1993) is moving to Bar Rumba on January 24."
Click here to view original article

12.01.09
CMU Daily
"The Metro club will also go as part of the redevelopment of the area around Tottenham Court Road tube station."
Click here to view original article

07.01.09
Billboard: Final week for London's Astoria
"A third venue, the Metro Club on Oxford Street, is also affected by the works. The Blow Up club night will be the final event on Jan. 17. The venue has previously hosted early shows by the Killers, Kings of Leon, Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kaiser Chiefs."
Click here to view original article

28.12.08
853 Blog: Not long left for the Astoria and Metro
"The two Astorias are joined on the closure list by Oxford Street's Metro club, and another club in the same block has already upped sticks. I’d actually argue that the loss of Metro, which played host to countless up and coming bands (the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Kings of Leon and Kaiser Chiefs played early shows there), will be more keenly felt than the loss of the Astoria, whose more lucrative acts will find willing venues elsewhere."
Click here to view original article

24.12.08
Plummet Onions Blog: Goodbye, Astoria
"Sadly, the nearby Metro Club will be going, too. ...that'll be one less venue for up-and-comers."
Click here to view original article

23.12.08
Londonist.com: Last Days Dawn For London Venues
"The Metro's owners are far more vocal about their disappointment. In a press release they lambast TfL for only giving 28 days' notice and the impossibility of finding a new venue over the Christmas period. Many gigs that were lined up have had to be cancelled. The Metro's last night will be Blow Up on Saturday 17 January. They've also published a photo gallery to commemorate the little subterranean venue that hosted early gigs for lots of big names."
Click here to view original article

18.12.08
Time Out London: Club Culture in Crisis
"The latest victims, legendary West End live locations The Astoria, the Astoria 2 and The Metro Club, are all being sacrificed to the plans for Crossrail. Okay, so the little Metro club on Oxford Street may not be that famous, but small venues in the West End showcasing new bands (it staged early gigs by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Kings of Leon and Kaiser Chiefs for starters) and rockin' DJs are already hard to find. It'll soon be a lot harder."
Click here to view original article
Or click here to view online version

14.12.08
Muso's Guide: Sad news for fans of dingy '60s-London basement venues
"London loses one of its most unique venues - the Metro club on New Oxford Street. Defining this half of Muso's Guide's coming-of-age, it's unbelievable to conceive that it won't be there inhabiting its sly shopfront amidst the bargain basement souvenir stores. The venue - home to early gigs from Klaxons, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Faust amongst others - will shut on January 20th, to make way for the development of London's Crossrail network, or more specifically, the expansion of Tottenham Court Road station. It's another kick in the balls to the once independent spirit that defined London’s small gig venues, a frankly disheartening sign of future times to come."
Click here to view original article

07.12.08
AudioScribbler: The Metro club to close next month
"As the long anticipated closure of central London venue the Astoria actually gets close, there was confirmation last week that neighbouring venue Metro will also disappear."
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04.12.08
Camden New Journal:
The latest casualty of Crossrail's expansion
"Over the years The Killers, Kings of Leon, Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kaiser Chiefs, Mika, Scissor Sisters and Robyn have all played at this truly independent venue. In a letter to music editors this week, Blow Up Metro's Paul Tunkin said: 'Ultimately it is another nail in the coffin for central London's live music and club scene.' Is he right? Where's left in the West End for good live music? Where's the richest area of London for good music – Shoreditch, Brixton, Camden, or somewhere else? Metro goes out with a bang at the final Blow Up Club night on January 17."
Click here to view original article

01.12.08
Night Magazine: THE METRO TO CLOSE
"Feted Oxford Street nightclub The Metro is being forced to close because of the terms of the Crossrail Act. As with the Astoria venue, which will close early next year, The Metro, which hosted the popular Blow Up nights, will be demolished to make way for an the new Tottenham Court Road railway station."
Click here to view original article

01.12.08
Unlimited CMU Daily:THE METRO CLUB TO CLOSE NEXT MONTH
Click here to view original article

01.12.08
Tixdaq: Famous London Club Set to Close to Make Way for New Rail Link
"One of London's best-loved live music venues is set to close its doors next January to make way for the new Crossrail trainline. Paul Tunkin, promoter of Metro's Blow Up, commented on the news: 'At present we are looking for new premises to relocate the venue to but have yet to find one suitable. Ultimately it is another nail in the coffin for central London's live music and club scene.' The famous venue has played host to a number of well known bands including The Klaxons and Courtney Love."
Click here to view original article

29.11.08
My musical adventures Blog:
Loss of London live venue, Metro
"The best thing about club Metro was how hot it was on accepting demos and giving bands their first exposure, no bullsh*t or networking attached, not sure that roots level pureness is prevalent and paramount in other London venues. A thing of beauty is the archive of acts who've played at Metro..."
Click here to view original article

My musical adventures Blog:
Loss of London live venue, Metro
"The best thing about club Metro was how hot it was on accepting demos and giving bands their first exposure, no bullsh*t or networking attached, not sure that roots level pureness is prevalent and paramount in other London venues. A thing of beauty is the archive of acts who've played at Metro..."
Click here to view original article

29.11.08
allgigs.co.uk: Blow Up Metro: Another London venue to close
"Get your tissues out as yet another live music venue in central London is facing closure!"
Click here to view original article

29.11.08
SoundsXP.com: London's Metro Club to close
"It was non-corporate, independent and had a fantastic central London location. It also hosted debut UK appearances from The Killers and Kings of Leon, as well as early shows by Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kaiser Chiefs, as well as hundreds of other new and breaking acts."
Click here to view original article

29.11.08
Nerds Attack Blog (Italy): Metro Club
"Chiude il 20 Gennaio il celebre Metro Club di Londra. L’ultima venue sarà dunque quella del 17 Gennaio con la Blow Up Night, serata che nei 7 anni di “vita”, ha ospitato tra gli altri The Killers, Kings of Leon, Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Kaiser Chiefs etc. Il Metro invece aveva visto sfilare J Mascis, Klaxons, Courtney Love e tanti altri ancora."
Click here to view original article

28.11.08
MusicWeek.com: Central London venue to close
"The Metro Club in central London is to close in January as a result of the proposed extension to the nearby Tottenham Court Road underground station."
Click here to view original article

28.11.08
NME.com: London Metro club to shut due to Crossrail
"The venue, which has hosted acts such as Klaxons, J Mascis and Courtney Love in the past, is, like it's near-neighbour the Astoria, being forced to close because of the terms of the Crossrail Act."
Click here to view original article

28.11.08
Start The Revolution Without Me Blog: Transport For London - Building a Bypass for Music
"I've been a big fan of the Metro Club since it was brought out of moth balls by Blow Up in 2001. Since then it's become one of the most important, independent 'grass roots' venues on the circuit (honest to goodness original new acts for a few measly quid), giving some of today's biggest indie names a foot on the ladder in the process...."
Click here to view original article

28.11.08
Tastes Like Caramel Blogspot: Metro Club in London to Close
"Yet another casualty because of plans to build a new cross rail – Metro club is closing. I’m sure my fellow New Yorkers will testify that we’ve had many great times there and it will be a real shame for it to go."
Click here to view original article

28.11.08
Blow Up Metro Official Press Release:
METRO CLUB CLOSURE - January 2009
Announced today on blowupmetro.com.
Click here to read full press release

21.06.08
Billboard (USA)
Article on London City Showcase Festival 2008 featuring Billboard's nights at The Metro highlighting new international bands. Click here to view

06.12.07
"Page & Plant’s big night out" - Mojo Blog
"THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE GASP in London’s tiny Metro Club on Monday evening as it became clear that the headline act – Sons Of Albion, starring one Logan Plant on vocals – had attracted two stellar onlookers. Not only had Jimmy Page and Robert Plant materialised in the humble Oxford Street venue, but there they were, together, having a chat, like they liked each other! And Jimmy’s finger looked OK, too." Danny Eccleston
Click here to view original Mojo blog

08.11.07
On tour: hanging with Dion - OMM and Robert Plant watch Dion
"Dion DiMucci: what a dude. It's not just this writer who thinks so - last night he played his first gig in the UK for 17 years at Blow Up Metro on Oxford Street and among the couple of hundred greying punters were Bobby Gillespie (what do you mean of course he was?) and also Robert Plant." Caspar Llewellyn Smith
Click here to view original Observer Music Monthly Blog

24.10.06
Jamelia films 'Beware Of The Dog' video at The Metro Club
Jamelia recently filmed the video for her forthcoming single "Beware Of The Dog" at The Club. All the indoor and live shots were filmed at the club, although it might be hard to recognise!
Click here to view Director's Cut (Flash player required)

10.06
NME Student Guide 2006
3 clubs to go to in London: Metro, KOKO & Electric Ballroom: "The drinks at bargain prices and the music different every night. Essential."
Click here to view

15.07.06
Billboard (USA)
"Global Embrace" article on London City Showcase Festival 2006 featuring Billboard's night at The Metro highlighting new Canadian bands. Click here to view.

20.02.06
NME: "Morrissey makes surprise London appearance"
"The singer turned up to the capital's Metro Club on Saturday (February 18), initially catching the end of the set by support band Swimmer One, causing mayhem amongst the audience." Click here to view full article .

01.05
Gigwise.com Top 50 Gigs of 2004
The Metro features twice in the Top 10 of Gigwise's Top 50 Gigs of 2004: The Departure at No.8 and The Bravery at No.10. Click here to view

15.01.05
NME Subways photoshoot at The Metro
NME 'Faces '05' photoshoot of The Subways The Metro by Dean Chalkley. Click here to view.

02.05
Audience Magazine:
"Blow Up Club gets MIDAS Touch"
Feature in 'Production News' on installation of the new MIDAS desk at the venue. Click here to view.

10.04
Time Out London Visitor Guide 2004-5
"This basement space cemented a reputation as the place to play for many of the county's fast-rising indie
acts". Click here to view.

10.04
Itchy Guide to London 2004
"Blow Up on Saturdays rocks the house and there's plenty of rock star spotting potential". Click here to view.

10.03
Time Out London Visitor Guide 2003-4
"This sticky-floored basement dive has been the epicentre of the current rock'n'roll explosion, booking upcoming guitar-slingers from underground scenes all over the world". Click here to view.

09.05.03
Metro Newspaper: 'Indie Clubs'
Article on the rise of indie venues in London featuring The Metro. Click here to view.

05.02.03
Time Out Venue of The Year 2003
The Metro was awarded "Venue of The Year" during Time Out's Annual Live Awards this February: "Virtually every kick-ass rock'n'roll band to pass through London last year played at Metro: Oxford Street's finest basement dive." Other winners in the Music category were Brian Wilson at the RFH (Live Event of the Year) and across the road from us, Oxford St. Virgin Megastore (Best Free Music Programming). Click here to view.

05.10.02
NME Student Guide 2002
"A great low-ceilinged club that's fast becoming an established venue for cool gigs." Click here to view.

04.09.02
Time Out 'Ace Place': The Metro
"Sweaty rock heaven. The garage rock explosion has found its home here. Since the Blow Up promoters moved over from the Wag Club on Wardour Street, everyone from the Bellrays to Interpol to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have strutted their stuff on the little stage". Click here to view.

28.06.02
NME: "The Libertines Play Secret London Show "
"The East End quartet played an electrifying 25-minute set featuring their Top 40 debut single, 'What A Waster'. Libertines frontmen PETE DOHERTY and CARL BARAT ignored any heckles, however, and didn’t address the crowd during the performance. Click here to view full article.

30.03.02
NME: "Love unveils new Nirvana song - Former Hole star makes suprise London DJ debut"
Article and photo from Courtney Love's suprise DJ slot at Alan McGee's Death Disco at The Metro where she gave exclusive airing to an unreleased Nirvana track. During her set she also dedicated 'Swastica Eyes' to Antia Pallenburg who was there. Click here to view.

coming soon:

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