Bands playing in Coventry before they were famous

Hello all, During the early 70's I recall seeing Cockney Rebel & the Average White Band at the Butts Technical College, Albany Road, and Supertramp at the Matrix Ballroom, not long before stardom beckoned. Also Hot Chocolate at the Belfry, Meriden! Does anyone else have recollections of up and coming bands playing in the city prior to hitting the charts ?

Atomic Kitten performed at my youngest daughter's school, Foxford, Longford, she was in her early teens then, prior to them becoming famous, my daughter is now in her mid twenties.

I saw REM at Warwick University around 1984/85 when they were virtually unknown

My sister saw The Pistols at The Lanch and U2 and The Eurythmics at The General Wolfe. There's a terrific site here of Mark Osbornes with some great photos including the Festival Against Racism gig at The Butts in June '81 and The Cure at Warwick Uni in November 1979 - you won't recognise Robert Smith!!

I saw Katrina and The Waves at the General Wolfe. They had released what I believe was their first single, "Que Te Quiero" and during an interval I told Katrina about this to which she replied " Bl***y Hell. You're the one!"

I know my Mum saw the Beatles at the Coventry Hippodrome and on her return home announced that they were going to make it big!!

I also saw the early Beatles and thought how good they were, I also saw The Pink Floyd in 1967 at the Rockhouse before they were well known Sid Barrett was still with them then.

Vinegar Joe, featuring Elkie Brooks, failed to show at the Royal Naval Club in Spon End circa 1973. The late replacement band was Judas Priest. Admission was a modest 25p. They were absolutely dreadful and the majority of the audience had departed before the end of their second number! I believe they had a reasonable amount of success in the years that followed!!!

I saw Terrorvision supporting Zodiac Mindwarp in the Biko Bar at Coventry Poly in the early 1990s. They went on to have a few hits and became quite popular in rock circles. Named after a low budget 1990s film from the 'Empire Films' stable owned by Charles Band!

Hi all Saturday night at the Lanch (Lanchester Poly now Cov Uni, for the younger ones) was the place to see up and coming bands in the 70's such as: Genesis, Roxy Music, Bowie, Medicinehead to name a just few. Thought nothing of it those days but was young and there for a good night out, which is probably why I can't remember many of the other bands!