Posted by Bonovox
Is there anyone here who lives in the Birmingham area or Midlands who used to go to the old Dome nightclub back in the days? That old nightclub whereby i had some cracking times back in the 90s used to hold over 3,000 people. It is now opening this month as the new Birmingham O2 Carling Academy live venue for concerts. It will hold upto 4,000 people and has had a new sound proof roof put in and been completely revamped. The Editors are headling the opening night which i think is on the 10th September. It used to be one of the biggest and most amazing nightclubs many years ago with alot of great memories for me in my young clubbing years. Although some nights were bad due to teenagers getting in. It had around 10 bars a VIP room, diner, and a dance floor which could hold a good couple of hundred people. I felt quite sad when it closed as it was end of an era. But with the new venue it could be good for seeing top artists playing just on my doorstep. Before the Dome it used to be called The Night Out. But anyway i just wondered if anyone on here had ever been there or heard of it? It truly was a great place in the 90s and a place to remember my good times. Oh i feel old now. The building covers 45,000 square feet and will be the 2nd largest O2 Academy after Brixton. Nearby city centre residents were appealling against it because of noise but it will be no different from The Dome hey days also it has a new sound proof roof. The noise will be from people i guess. Sorry i did have a link but it never worked. It was reported on BBC site. [ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2009-09-03 02:00 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2009-09-03 02:01 ]
Posted by thomas93
I missed a Gig up at the Oxford one, hopefully this will bring in more big performers, having a big company owning it can not be a bad thing for pulling big name performers.
Posted by Bonovox
Yes it will indeed. Before the old Academy in Birmingham was a dump but is now being bulldozed. The old Dome site is perfect being city centre and a huge area. Though i gotta go in and see it to see how much its changed. It will bring back many memories cos we used to go sometimes 3 times per week and back then in my early clubbing years there was always an air of excitement about when going out. These days you just get arseholes in alot of clubs. I prefered the old days always a good atmosphere. The one thing back then that was a bit naff was seeing Pete Watermam and Michela Strachan doing The Hitman & Her. They used to film different clubs around the country just filming people dancing having a good time. I was on one video but it was naff with Pete Waterman trying to be cool and trendy. Good fun though. I hope to see some good live acts soon at the new venue its a great thing to come to Birmingham. Anyway anyone that reads this what and where were your best and most memorable clubbing days? Where did you go and what era? I dont go as much now.
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[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2009-09-03 14:02 ]
Posted by hihihans
Go and see the Editors if you can. Live they are even much better as on their records. I recognise the sentiment of a club closing down. I used to go to 3luik and saw hundreds of bands there, they moved and it just isn't the same. Later I worked in a tiny little club, always crowded till it moved, nice place, twice the size but the magic was gone. I grew out of too. There days I only go if the act is good enough. Hmm am I getting old? Yep but thats ok.
Posted by Bonovox
I seen loads of live concerts over the years but not enough local to me. I will check if there are any Editors tickets left. And yes its ok to get and feel a bit older you can look back on your younger days with good memories. Though i am still 37 not that old lol. I would have loved to seen inside the club when it was still derelict because i could then have a trip back down memory lane where we used to have our good times. The club was so huge with 3 floors huge huge dance floor and stage and so many bars and cosy corners it was just superb. No club like it that i ever been in. Though i guess there are bigger ones around. All my friends from them good years i dont see no more except one. Anyway hope to see some good acts. The last time i seen something more local to me was at The Aston Villa Centre years ago Transvision Vamp. Dont ask. Though my best are U2 or bands like Oasis mostly rock but they wont be playing at the O2 Academy.
Posted by hihihans
It's only nostalgia. Not that I would want to go back to those days, been to The Damned recently and it was so out of date. Most bands I saw were dutch. 85% crap 5% brilliant. Best music is British imo ; Blur Bunnymen Editors Chameleons. And very bad lousy punk bands.
Posted by Bonovox
Yes the UK seems to be the main focus on the world with regards to music. So many artists around the world want to crack the UK. Actually regarding punk i am a fan still of Billy Idol who used to be in Generation X. I seen him live years ago in Birmingham he limped on stage cos he had bad motor bike accident. Dont know of any Dutch music. Who is the biggest there? I have my best friend who is living in Hungary. She said her music scene is awful she listens to everything British or American. By the way my cousin in Ireland is in a folk band he is lead singer has released 1 album so far writes his own songs and has quite a following now in places like Norway France Finland Sweden.
Posted by hihihans
My wife is into Irish folk too, and scottish. Big in holland? I'm not really into it, there are a few singers, and Kane, Opgezwolle, Van Velsen, lucky Fons 3rd. Can you give the name of your cousins band?
Posted by Bonovox
The bands name is August Destiny. My cousins name is William Byrne. I dont have a link but if you type into You Tube William Byrne you will see a few videos he posted. The best one is The Patton Flyer. You can also hear tracks from his first album Building Bridges on his Bebo page. Just type in August Destiny on Google and click on first option it should come up with his page. My cousin is the one with ginger hair typical Irish looking. August Destiny meaning is the Irish uprising in August 1916 against the British though they dont sing much stuff about it. One song he wrote he sings about my great uncle Mick in Ireland. The song is Sword Upon The Wall.
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Rock 'n' Roll Will Live Forever
[ This Message was edited by: Bonovox on 2009-09-05 01:27 ]
Posted by hihihans
Thats pretty good traditional music. I would like it a little less brave. I'll check some more later this week.
Posted by Bonovox
Yes cheers he is talented. He is currently working on his second album though he does not have a record deal as yet. He has been singing since he was 3 years old he loved just singing. I am pretty proud to have a cousin in a band
2 members of the band are Irish one being my cousin the 3rd member is from New Zealand.
Posted by Bonovox
I am also a mad John Lennon and Beatles fan too
Posted by hihihans
Aren't we all, or at least should be? There will never be a more innovating band. The made use of every option in the studio that was available at that time.
Posted by Bonovox
Posted by hihihans
Is that gonna be with Shane? If he's still alive? I have seen them in 87 or so, great party with lots of flying beer.
didn't like The Popes though.
Posted by Bonovox
Yes Shane is back with them its great time at their gigs
Posted by COREYJON
The Best days of the 90s I remember my first time ever going to Birmingham at the young age of 21 back in 1991. Me and some mates would travel from Telford / Shropshire to Birmingham. Sometimes we would go on a Friday or Saturday. When we arrived we would start off having a few drinks in Bizzie Lizzies Bar on John Bright Street that was a great place and had a friendly atmosphere. I met my first real true love there Rachel Fox from Sutton Coldfield she was beautiful. Today i always still spare a thought for her.. Hope you are reading this
Anyway after making our way to the Dome 2 nightclub the ques sometimes could be huge, I think we only paid £5 to get in and sometimes with knowing some of the door staff give us discount tickets or you could use Dome membership discount cards to get in cheap......
Walking around the corner up the first few steps you would then be over looking a huge dance floor, above it was a giant white sphere surrounded with rings of lights that moved up and down with the loud music, lasers went off all over the place and two huge Olympic style statues overlooked the stage next to the DJ's pit. the music which just boomed. Some times pop stars would get up on stage and perform...
The atmosphere was unreal and for someones first time going there kind of overwhelming the shear size of the place. just wished i had of took more photos and maybe a video camera....
So sad to see that those days are gone and that the Dome 2 is no longer there including most of the nightclubs that once were in the city center are no longer.
Exile. Pulse, New Orleans, The Ritzy.... 90s were the best
Never will i forget the great times i had there with my mates Anthony, Robbie, Corey Jon and Mark. and the many women we met and friends that we made up in Birmingham.
Sadly my best friend died in 19 July 2005 aged just 30. I wrote this in memory to him the good times that we shared.......
Rip Paul Hanson..
If anyone has any past photos or videos to share please get in touch would be nice to reflect back over the good old days......
Article written 25/08/2013