The Venue Spotter's Guide To
The Leadmill

[ Back To Main Homepage The Engine Room ]
[ Back To Pub Index ] [ Back To Nightclubs ] [ Hangovers ]
[ West Street ] [ Brewing In Sheffield ] [ Are You A Townie? ]
[ Life In The Hare ] [ The Limit Nightclub ]

The Leadmill From Leadmill Road January 2000

     Nowhere epitomizes Sheffield's position as, city of steel and heavy industry and self styled mecca of rock and pop, than The Leadmill. This former factory is one of the U.K's most popular venues for seeing live music. A nationally recognised venue, with as much prestige as The Hacienda ( Manchester ) and The Marquee ( London ).
     As far as I can make out, the building ( or part of it ) was first used as a music venue in 1962. It was the Esquire Club, which took up three floors. Reception on the ground floor, Stage on the first floor, and coffee bar, looking down from the second floor above.
Thr Esquire Club was operating from 1962-1966, and Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker, The Kinks, Rod Stewart, The Walker Brothers, Joe Cocker and Dave Berry all played there.
I don't know what the building was used for in the 1970's however it opened, or reopened in 1980, and now is Celebrating it's 20th birthday.

     As the Leadmill, the greatest rock and alternative acts of the past 20 years have played. Many up and coming bands on the way up, and many still great established bands, continue to prefer the atmosphere of this, a proper club gig, than another faceless box that is the all purpose arena of the 90's. There appears to be quiet a few departments of people working there, they have their own in house printers, for the band advertising posters that they produce, and a sizeable technical area with all the extra cabling and miking equipment. The booking department is very successful, they seem to always book bands just before they make it big, with a massive record, and sell out the concert very quickly. Often the queue has gone right around the block, and punters haven't been able to gain entry because it was full.
     There is a large main stage area, a smaller bar area, which can be partitioned off, for smaller gigs, and a second room with a more intimate bar, and tables. The main stage is a fully fitted modern club stage, with top notch sound system, lights, drum risers, dressing rooms, the lot. If you are ever lucky enough to be inside during the day, and sober, it is amazing how small it all seems, without a show going on.
 
 

The Leadmill is a hard working 7 days a week venue. When there's no band on, there will be a disco type night, or a dance D.J.  They have special nights when local promoters, put on small local bands, as a sort of showcase. This kind of thing is often the biggest thrill of their lives, to play on a big stage with a proper P.A. system.

     From a personal angle, one of the most memorable, and unexpectedly remarkable gigs I have ever seen, was Jane's Addiction, at the Leadmill, in about 1988 or '89. I can't thank Bish enough for dragging me along! There was no support band and they didn't grace the stage until well after midnight. This was the day when I ended my narrow mindedness to music, and learned to listen.And i've still got the pin badge that says " I'm in the midst of a trauma ", I can remember them starting with the haunting bass tones of Ocean Size, and finishing with Most of the members of the band playing percussion to Jane Says.
 
 

Another memorable gig was Gun in 1994 on their Swagger tour. The heavens opened outside, and the roof of the leadmill leaked!. A torrent, like a waterfall fell on the front of the stage for most of the gig, but it added a great deal to the proceedings, and the atmosphere. The support band that night was Baby Stafford, who used to be one of the guitarist's in Gun.      This was the time when the band were doing Word Up.

 

     Many times I have been " swinging my pants " to the disco, well into the small hours. The floor is sometimes slippery, but the Joint always jumps, as they used to say.
 
 

     The Subterranians used to get regular gigs at the Leadmill, sometimes in the bar, sometimes on the main stage, I was usually there shouting things at them, in between the songs and taking pictures, I used to go to the front and start dancing, and then everybody else joined in.
One time they were playing in the bar at a sort of festival with The Seaside, and the venue was full to capacity, and during the set, there was a total power cut for five minutes. Anyway Matt on the drums, new exactly what to do, and immediately launched into an Improvised Syncopated Jazz Drum Solo, which had the whole venue clapping in time, those of us that followed the band everywhere, were in awe, with the hair on the back of our necks standing on end, with relief and a kind of pride, that they could pull of a moment like that with such aplomb, competence and professionalism.