Crystal Ballroom (Melbourne)
Encyclopedia
The Crystal Ballroom was a prominent alternative rock
venue within the Seaview Hotel located in Fitzroy Street St.Kilda (an inner city suburb of Melbourne
, Australia
). It was run by a succession of Melbourne Rock promoters from 1978 to 1987 starting with Dolores San Miguel (who later ran gigs at the 'Exford hotel', '475 Club', 'Mt. Erica hotel' and the 'Esplanade hotel') and then later on by Laurie Richards (who also founded a number of other prominent Melbourne Rock venues such as the 'Tiger Lounge' in Richmond and the 'Jump Club' in Fitzroy). The Crystal Ballroom, which was also known as the 'The Ballroom' and then as the 'Seaview Ballroom', was given the name because of its significant ballroom and chandeliers on the first floor of the Seaview Hotel. It has often been referred to by major underground bands, alternative music media journalists and music industry identities of that era as being the centerpiece of Melbourne's post punk movement. The Crystal Ballroom is to Melburnians what CBGB
's is to New Yorkers. Prior to the hotel being called the 'Seaview Hotel' it was known as The George Hotel, but was renamed the Seaview Hotel in the 1970s.
The venue first got its start as a major alternative night spot in Melbourne when Dolores San Miguel took charge of the venue from its previous occupants in August 1978. Her first band to play there was JAB which featured notable Melbourne punk / post punk identities such as Bohdan, Johnny Crash and Ash Wednesday in the Wintergarden Room (a side room upstairs). . Then on September the 2nd 1978, Dolores took control of the Ballroom and opened it up as the 'Wintergarden Room' at the Seaview Hotel . The first gig in the Seaview Ballroom was the 'Boys Next Door' who headlined with The 'Little Cuties' as the support act. Dolores continued to run the Ballroom every Saturday night until it was taken over by Laurie Richards in February 1979. Laurie Richards renamed the venue the 'Crystal Ballroom' and operated it under that name until January 10th 1981, although Dolores returned in April of 1980 to run weeknight gigs in what she christened, the 'Paradise Lounge' on the ground floor. Melbournes Little Band scene
flourished here during 1980. Before Laurie left the hotel proprietor approached Nigel Rennard about running the venue and he suggested that both he and Delores run it,they ran the venue as The Ballroom until a falling out in September of ’81, whereby Dolores vacated her position. Nigel renamed the venue the Seaview Ballroom and ran it till the end of ’83. Dolores was back in ’84 but left in early ’85. She ran a few nights in 1986 before the hotel/venue was closed for business in 1987. Dolores San Miguel has since written a book titled 'The Ballroom: The Melbourne Punk & Post Punk Scene' about her times as a promoter of The Ballroom and other venues which is due to be published in November 2011.
The venue was best known as the 'Crystal Ballroom' because this was its name when during its height of significance as a key venue for Melbourne's Post Punk movement as well as becoming a highly recognizable venue from its association with some of the significant international and local music acts of the time who played there during that period. In addition to this, The Crystal Ballroom is also specifically and continually mentioned by prominent interview guests in the Dogs In Space
bonus DVD documentary We're Living on Dog Food which has further crystallized its place in the post punk history of Melbourne.
The Crystal Ballroom was a major staging ground in launching alternative Melbourne Bands such as The Birthday Party
and Hunters and Collectors as well as visiting Sydney bands such as INXS
, The Laughing Clowns
and Brisbane's The Go Betweens. It was also a major club venue for visiting English acts such as The Cure
, Magazine
, The Members
and XTC
as well as many alternative American acts of the time such as The Residents
, Snakefinger
and The Dead Kennedys.
The popularity of the club has enjoyed renewed interest in recent times in Melbourne with the advent of a series of club reunions in 2009 and 2010 of former club punters through the Facebook Group 'I Got Drunk at the Crystal Ballroom' which also hosts many comments from former club goers regarding its history, what the fashions were and what bands played there in various discussion threads and wall posts by its 500 plus members.
(2) I Got Drunk at the Crystal Ballroom - Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=131484480063
(3) Birthday Party Song list from Crystal Ballroom 1981 http://australianmusictrade.50webs.com/Bands/BirthdayParty.htm
(4) The Cure - 1980 Tour advertisement with Crystal Ballroom http://www.cure-concerts.de/concerts/1980-08-23.php
(5) Inner City Sound - Book By Clinton Walker http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/190054
(6) Were Living On Dog Food - Documentary Film by Richard Lowenstein http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490031/
(7) 'Never Say Die' (Story in The Age Newspaper on Australian Punk Movement) http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/never-say-die/2007/05/13/1178994991863.html?page=2
(8) Concerts of The Boys Next Door http://www.nick-cave.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=29
(9) Howard Arkley Exhibition at the NGV - Punk, Primitive and Beyond http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/arkley/education/essays04.html
(10) Melbourne Weekly cover story by Debbie Kruger on Nice Cave, Post-Punk St.Kilda and The Crystal Ballroom http://www.debbiekruger.com/writer/freelance/cave.html
(11) ABC Radio National 'Hindsight' Program: "Do That Dance! Australian Post Punk, 1977-1983" - Broadcast 18th July 2010 http://abc.gov.au/rn/hindsight/stories/2010/2946088.htm
(12) IMDB - Internet Movie Database synopsis of 'We're livin' on Dog Food' documentary which mentions the Crystal Ballroom - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490031/
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
venue within the Seaview Hotel located in Fitzroy Street St.Kilda (an inner city suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
). It was run by a succession of Melbourne Rock promoters from 1978 to 1987 starting with Dolores San Miguel (who later ran gigs at the 'Exford hotel', '475 Club', 'Mt. Erica hotel' and the 'Esplanade hotel') and then later on by Laurie Richards (who also founded a number of other prominent Melbourne Rock venues such as the 'Tiger Lounge' in Richmond and the 'Jump Club' in Fitzroy). The Crystal Ballroom, which was also known as the 'The Ballroom' and then as the 'Seaview Ballroom', was given the name because of its significant ballroom and chandeliers on the first floor of the Seaview Hotel. It has often been referred to by major underground bands, alternative music media journalists and music industry identities of that era as being the centerpiece of Melbourne's post punk movement. The Crystal Ballroom is to Melburnians what CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's is to New Yorkers. Prior to the hotel being called the 'Seaview Hotel' it was known as The George Hotel, but was renamed the Seaview Hotel in the 1970s.
The venue first got its start as a major alternative night spot in Melbourne when Dolores San Miguel took charge of the venue from its previous occupants in August 1978. Her first band to play there was JAB which featured notable Melbourne punk / post punk identities such as Bohdan, Johnny Crash and Ash Wednesday in the Wintergarden Room (a side room upstairs). . Then on September the 2nd 1978, Dolores took control of the Ballroom and opened it up as the 'Wintergarden Room' at the Seaview Hotel . The first gig in the Seaview Ballroom was the 'Boys Next Door' who headlined with The 'Little Cuties' as the support act. Dolores continued to run the Ballroom every Saturday night until it was taken over by Laurie Richards in February 1979. Laurie Richards renamed the venue the 'Crystal Ballroom' and operated it under that name until January 10th 1981, although Dolores returned in April of 1980 to run weeknight gigs in what she christened, the 'Paradise Lounge' on the ground floor. Melbournes Little Band scene
Little band scene
The Little Band scene is the name given to an experimental post-punk scene which flourished in Melbourne from 1978 until early 1981. This scene was concentrated around the inner suburbs of Fitzroy and St Kilda, and was characterised by large numbers of small bands, more concerned with artistic...
flourished here during 1980. Before Laurie left the hotel proprietor approached Nigel Rennard about running the venue and he suggested that both he and Delores run it,they ran the venue as The Ballroom until a falling out in September of ’81, whereby Dolores vacated her position. Nigel renamed the venue the Seaview Ballroom and ran it till the end of ’83. Dolores was back in ’84 but left in early ’85. She ran a few nights in 1986 before the hotel/venue was closed for business in 1987. Dolores San Miguel has since written a book titled 'The Ballroom: The Melbourne Punk & Post Punk Scene' about her times as a promoter of The Ballroom and other venues which is due to be published in November 2011.
The venue was best known as the 'Crystal Ballroom' because this was its name when during its height of significance as a key venue for Melbourne's Post Punk movement as well as becoming a highly recognizable venue from its association with some of the significant international and local music acts of the time who played there during that period. In addition to this, The Crystal Ballroom is also specifically and continually mentioned by prominent interview guests in the Dogs In Space
Dogs in Space
Dogs in Space is a 1986 Australian film set in the "little band scene" in Melbourne in 1978. It was directed by Richard Lowenstein and starred Michael Hutchence as Sam, the drug-addled frontman of the fictitious band from which the film takes its name....
bonus DVD documentary We're Living on Dog Food which has further crystallized its place in the post punk history of Melbourne.
The Crystal Ballroom was a major staging ground in launching alternative Melbourne Bands such as The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
and Hunters and Collectors as well as visiting Sydney bands such as INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, The Laughing Clowns
The Laughing Clowns
Laughing Clowns, commonly misspelled as The Laughing Clowns are a jazz-influenced post punk band who formed in Sydney in 1979. In five short years, the band released three LPs; two mini albums; various singles and a batch of odds and sods compilations...
and Brisbane's The Go Betweens. It was also a major club venue for visiting English acts such as The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
, The Members
The Members
The Members are a British punk band that originated in Camberley, England. Their best known recording is "The Sound of the Suburbs" .-Career:...
and XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
as well as many alternative American acts of the time such as The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
, Snakefinger
Snakefinger
Philip Charles Lithman , who performed under the stage name Snakefinger, was an English musician, singer and songwriter. A multi-instrumentalist, he was best known for his guitar and violin work and his collaborations with The Residents.-History:Lithman was born in Tooting, South London, and came...
and The Dead Kennedys.
The popularity of the club has enjoyed renewed interest in recent times in Melbourne with the advent of a series of club reunions in 2009 and 2010 of former club punters through the Facebook Group 'I Got Drunk at the Crystal Ballroom' which also hosts many comments from former club goers regarding its history, what the fashions were and what bands played there in various discussion threads and wall posts by its 500 plus members.
Sources
(1) Inner City Sound - Post Punk Online Music Archive dedicated to the Clinton Walker book of the same name (Birthday Party Live Recording at the Crystal Ballroom) http://www.innercitysound.com.au/BirthdayParty.html(2) I Got Drunk at the Crystal Ballroom - Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=131484480063
(3) Birthday Party Song list from Crystal Ballroom 1981 http://australianmusictrade.50webs.com/Bands/BirthdayParty.htm
(4) The Cure - 1980 Tour advertisement with Crystal Ballroom http://www.cure-concerts.de/concerts/1980-08-23.php
(5) Inner City Sound - Book By Clinton Walker http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/190054
(6) Were Living On Dog Food - Documentary Film by Richard Lowenstein http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490031/
(7) 'Never Say Die' (Story in The Age Newspaper on Australian Punk Movement) http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/never-say-die/2007/05/13/1178994991863.html?page=2
(8) Concerts of The Boys Next Door http://www.nick-cave.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=29
(9) Howard Arkley Exhibition at the NGV - Punk, Primitive and Beyond http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/arkley/education/essays04.html
(10) Melbourne Weekly cover story by Debbie Kruger on Nice Cave, Post-Punk St.Kilda and The Crystal Ballroom http://www.debbiekruger.com/writer/freelance/cave.html
(11) ABC Radio National 'Hindsight' Program: "Do That Dance! Australian Post Punk, 1977-1983" - Broadcast 18th July 2010 http://abc.gov.au/rn/hindsight/stories/2010/2946088.htm
(12) IMDB - Internet Movie Database synopsis of 'We're livin' on Dog Food' documentary which mentions the Crystal Ballroom - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490031/