Rum Runner (nightclub)
Encyclopedia
The Rum Runner nightclub was opened on Broad Street, Birmingham
in the city centre in 1964. It was demolished in 1987 to make way for the Hyatt Hotel.
One of the first 'house' bands, playing the cover versions of the day, became Magnum
featuring Bob Catley
and Tony Clarkin
. They left the club in 1975 to play their own material of melodic rock.
Paul and Michael Berrow, sons of the club's founder, relaunched the club in the late 1970s after visiting Studio 54
in New York
. They borrowed some of 54's flashy look: mirror flex, pink neon flashes, moving lights and palm trees, as well as its eclectic power playlist. Roxy Music
and David Bowie
nights were accompanied by jazz
funk
nights with DJs Shaun Williams and Dave Till which were strongly influenced by New York's Chic
power disco.
A real milestone in the history of the Rum Runner was when a newly formed group of musicians called Duran Duran
brought in a demo tape. There was an instant mutual appeal between the Berrows and the band, and the Berrows offered Duran Duran a place to rehearse and play gigs. The band found themselves becoming heavily involved with the running of the club with Roger Taylor working as a glass collector, Andy Taylor
polishing mirrors, painting and cooking burgers for cash, John Taylor working the door, and Nick Rhodes
deejaying for £10 a night. Duran Duran became the resident band at the club, going on to play venues and arenas all over the world, including a 1983 charity concert at Villa Park. After this event they held a "homecoming" party at the Rum Runner. In 2006 John Taylor and Nick Rhodes released a compilation album entitled Only After Dark
, featuring their favorite songs from the Rum Runner playlist.
After many months, Michael and Paul Berrow signed as Duran Duran's managers. The Berrows and the band then formed the Tritec Music company (named after the triangular-themed bar inside the club). The label used the Rum Runner office upstairs from the club as its official address. Michael mortgaged his house to make funds for their supporting act roll for Hazel O'Connor
's UK tour.
In developing the club's musical identity the Berrows also gave free rehearsal space to bands like Dexys Midnight Runners
and UB40
, with The Beat
filming a video for their song "Mirror In The Bathroom" taking full advantage of the many mirrors that walled the club.
As time went by they opened more and more different evenings; one of the residents was DJ Dick who later went on to form Rockers Hi-Fi
and who now hosts the city's main Funk
Acid Jazz
night called Leftfoot
, situated at The Medicine Bar.
Notable denizens of the club included De Harriss, Mulligan, and Marlon Recchi of Fashion
, Martin Degville
and other members of Sigue Sigue Sputnik
, managers Nigel and Jimmy, bouncer Al Beard, and the socialite Liam.
Ironically, a branch of the 1980s-themed club chain Reflex - named after the Duran Duran hit of the same name
- is now situated roughly opposite from the old site of the club (in the former building of The Crown pub).
Broad Street, Birmingham
Broad Street is a major thoroughfare and popular nightspot in Birmingham City Centre, United Kingdom. Traditionally, Broad Street was considered to be outside Birmingham City Centre, but as the city centre expanded with the removal of the Inner Ring Road, Broad Street has been incorporated into...
in the city centre in 1964. It was demolished in 1987 to make way for the Hyatt Hotel.
One of the first 'house' bands, playing the cover versions of the day, became Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
featuring Bob Catley
Bob Catley
For the Australian politician, see Bob Catley Robert Adrian 'Bob' Catley is a British musician, perhaps best known as the lead singer of the rock band Magnum. He is also an accomplished solo artist.- Early years :...
and Tony Clarkin
Tony Clarkin
Tony Clarkin is a British musician, best known as the guitarist of the rock band Magnum...
. They left the club in 1975 to play their own material of melodic rock.
Paul and Michael Berrow, sons of the club's founder, relaunched the club in the late 1970s after visiting Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. They borrowed some of 54's flashy look: mirror flex, pink neon flashes, moving lights and palm trees, as well as its eclectic power playlist. Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
nights were accompanied by jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
nights with DJs Shaun Williams and Dave Till which were strongly influenced by New York's Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
power disco.
A real milestone in the history of the Rum Runner was when a newly formed group of musicians called Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
brought in a demo tape. There was an instant mutual appeal between the Berrows and the band, and the Berrows offered Duran Duran a place to rehearse and play gigs. The band found themselves becoming heavily involved with the running of the club with Roger Taylor working as a glass collector, Andy Taylor
Andy Taylor (guitarist)
Andy Taylor is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a member of Duran Duran and The Power Station....
polishing mirrors, painting and cooking burgers for cash, John Taylor working the door, and Nick Rhodes
Nick Rhodes
Nick Rhodes is an English musician, is best known as the keyboardist of the pop rock band Duran Duran...
deejaying for £10 a night. Duran Duran became the resident band at the club, going on to play venues and arenas all over the world, including a 1983 charity concert at Villa Park. After this event they held a "homecoming" party at the Rum Runner. In 2006 John Taylor and Nick Rhodes released a compilation album entitled Only After Dark
Only After Dark (album)
"Only After Dark" is a compilation CD album that was compiled by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor from Duran Duran, and recreates a night at Birmingham's Rum Runner nightclub, during the post punk days of the late 70s/early 80s when a new sound of glam/punk/electronica started to crystallize...
, featuring their favorite songs from the Rum Runner playlist.
After many months, Michael and Paul Berrow signed as Duran Duran's managers. The Berrows and the band then formed the Tritec Music company (named after the triangular-themed bar inside the club). The label used the Rum Runner office upstairs from the club as its official address. Michael mortgaged his house to make funds for their supporting act roll for Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of a soldier from Galway who settled in England after World War II to work in a car plant...
's UK tour.
In developing the club's musical identity the Berrows also gave free rehearsal space to bands like Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
and UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
, with The Beat
The Beat (band)
The Beat are a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock, and their lyrics deal with themes of love, unity and sociopolitical topics....
filming a video for their song "Mirror In The Bathroom" taking full advantage of the many mirrors that walled the club.
As time went by they opened more and more different evenings; one of the residents was DJ Dick who later went on to form Rockers Hi-Fi
Rockers Hi-Fi
Rockers Hi-Fi were an electronic dub/dance outfit formed in Birmingham, England in 1992 as Original Rockers. In 1994 they changed their name to Rockers Hi-Fi...
and who now hosts the city's main Funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
Acid Jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
night called Leftfoot
Leftfoot
Leftfoot is a musical event. It started life in Birmingham's Medicine Bar and the Bulls Head Public House in the suburb of Moseley in the late 1990s.Primarily an acid jazz night, many other major music styles such as hip hop, funk and dub are included....
, situated at The Medicine Bar.
Notable denizens of the club included De Harriss, Mulligan, and Marlon Recchi of Fashion
Fashion (band)
Fashion were a British New Wave band consisting of Dee Harris, Al 'Luke Sky' James, Alan Darby, John Mulligan, Marlon Recchi, and Dik Davis.The band had two or three eras...
, Martin Degville
Martin Degville
Martin Degville was the lead singer and co-songwriter of the UK pop-cyberpunk band, Sigue Sigue Sputnik - which had a worldwide hit single in 1986 with "Love Missile F-1-11" - and six other EMI single releases...
and other members of Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Sigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band created in 1982 by the former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band had three UK Top 40 hit singles, including the song "Love Missile F1-11".-Early years:...
, managers Nigel and Jimmy, bouncer Al Beard, and the socialite Liam.
Ironically, a branch of the 1980s-themed club chain Reflex - named after the Duran Duran hit of the same name
The Reflex
"The Reflex" is the eleventh single by Duran Duran, released worldwide on 16 April 1984.The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger.-Song history:...
- is now situated roughly opposite from the old site of the club (in the former building of The Crown pub).