Invented June 8th 2004 - Latest Update - Sunday, 24-Feb-2008 11:34:33 CET
Standing about a mile and a half south of the city centre is the old Abbeydale
picture palace,
beneath which was the Kay Gee Bee a heavy rock haven for several years.
Written by Roy a.k.a. "Andy's Dad"
When the Penthouse closed down it left Sheffield without a
rock venue, although there were several pubs that still catered to bikers
and denim clad rockers.
Then in the late 70s two men, Lou and Mal hired the huge ballroom and began
to advertise the fact that heavy rock was alive and well.
Customer numbers swelled rapidly as news of the venue spread bringing people
in from Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster, many more coming from nearer home,
regulars from pubs such as The Wap, The Nelson, The Cambridge, The Sportsman,
The Yorkshireman’s Arms, The Dog and Partridge, The Foresters and The
White Lion, like one huge family everyone seemed to know if not by name then
certainly by sight everyone else.
Open Friday and Saturday nights from eight till one in the morning the Kay
Gee Bee could hold 300 people easily and still give plenty of room to move.
The rectangular sprung ballroom floor was made to look slightly smaller by
bringing the small circular tables and chairs that lined the back and side
walls out across the rear of the floor, though anyone sitting here had to
remember to keep a wary eye on their bottle of Newcastle Brown as as the entire
floor bounced slightly beneath them
On the far side was the long narrow lounge bar where four bar staff often
had a bar packed three deep with customers who went through gallons of Newcastle
Brown as the draught bitter wasn’t to be recommended. A kitchen served
the basic chip butties and burgers but if you were feeling posh they also
sold scampi and chips in a basket. Next to the bar the buffet counter sold
cigarettes and after a few drinks a diverse display of chocolate and sweets
could begin to look very tempting.
With two long term DJ’s Russel Palmer who loved AC/DC and could be persuaded
to play their distinctive hits every second track and Bob Maltby who went
on to be the regular DJ in Rebels. Once a month there’d be a live band
playing two half hour slots and although sadly most of these bands are no
more one or two did go on to bigger things. Who remembers bands such as Saracen,
Avalanche, Chinawite and Geddes Axe, there were occasionally guest DJs the
most well known of these was The Bailey Brothers, whilst they were still struggling
to make a name for themselves, even then though their stage show included
a smoke machine and a huge range of flashing lights..
 |
Here is an impression of the inside of the venue from memory But 'twas a long time ago, please send in corrections if you know better. |
The staff were all friendly and approachable, with the possible exception
of Dez, a large heavily tattooed swarthy character who nobody wanted to
get on the wrong side of as he took his job as bouncer very seriously. The
other two bouncers were familiar faces from the door of the Wap, both called
Mick and both friendly characters, it was rare though that any of the bouncers
had to be called upon.
A cloakroom at the foot of the stairs was were the numerous afghans, leathers
and helmets could be left safely but if you lost the flimsy ticket you had
to be able to describe your item of clothing in minute detail or know to
the smallest piece of lint what was in the pockets, if unsuccessful you
just had to wait till everybody else had collected their gear before recovering
yours.
 |
An actual member of the Kay Gee Bee staff, caught un-awares with crazy trousers on, while on duty |
Unfortunately with the opening of Rebels the Kay Gee Bee lost many of
it’s customers and so sadly was forced to close, however some of the
friendships made in the place are still flourishing after twenty years or
more.
