North Devon. It was an L shaped room with awful acoustics. As a young band in North Devon, it was a great venue. It could be hired, with the bar for £20. Bands would charge £1 on the door, and always get 100 or 120 people through the door. The ceiling was very low, the walls were a very rough texture, but despite the acoustics, the atmosphere was always electric. Sweat would be dripping down the walls.
The first band I saw there were Cut & Run. This was the tail end of 1985. I had not long moved to Ilfracombe, from Great Wyrley, Staffordshire. I thought they were great. I remember them playing Silly Thing on that occasion, still one of my favorite Sex Pistols songs. I later became friends with members of Cut and Run.
My own band, The Pyromaniacs From Outerspace played many gigs there, both as headline and support act. I have many videos of the gigs. Sadly, they are all on VHS, so consequently, have not been seen for years.
Some of the other bands I saw there were, Cult Maniax, Fatal Attraction, Beat the Retreat, Burning Fantasy, Blyth Power, The Gotham City Gangsters and The Stan and Eddie Chain. The first time ever saw Jive Turkey was at the Vaults Bar. They were a Torrington band, doing Stranglers covers. They went on to to become a great band with Radio 1 air play.The last gig I played at the Vaults Bar was with The Backtrackers. It was a party for the Sure Start. Someone stole my capo at that gig.
Of course, the Collingwood Hotel is now knocked down after a fire, and the Vaults Bar was closed years before that. Whenever I walked past the derelict bar, before the fire, I would have a tear in my eye, and a lump in my throat. I could hear the muffled sound of ghost bands still bashing away. But they've all gone now, not even the ghosts can be heard.
There is nothing like it in Ilfracombe now. I do miss the venue and the great times I had there as both a performer and as a member of the audiences. What memories of the Vaults Bar do you have? What bands did you see gig there?
The Backtrackers http://paulclews888.weebly.com/backtrackers.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbUqv_qNxXw
50 Dollar Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GycTj6EFzg
Never Say Goodbye Johnny Ray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxKyZwASTCU
Giro Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9-7lit5Gg
The Fix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I-ymOrp1Ck
Lucy Looe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmZ7mEBqB8k
No More Beach Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_nsLNjCJaE
Road To Nowhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lCXnUW2MHY
American Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FubjTrPNwU0
Blitz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uGSwR8y1Ys
Cities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPySWMR7imQ
The Amazing Adventures Of Johny The Duck And The Bathtime Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6FvdY1bpQU
Black Horse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji24Qm17S_g
Harry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ28vVXsnDk
Poison Pen Letter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6U4WTTqPBI
Blue Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLsmokxdPP4
Cool Cats Dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g71U3DL50-U
Inside the Horse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObRXb5xTP9k
Chevy Chase
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTeiiR5qaFc
Bricklayer's Arms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS7jKnNdbcI
Stitching Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Np-qwwLS1w
The Bishop At The Gate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPiPyFR80l0