KOKO (music venue)

KOKO

Camden Palace Theatre, now KOKO
Former names
  • Camden Theatre (1900–1909)
  • Camden Hippodrome Theatre (1909–1913)
  • Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre (1913–1945)
  • BBC Camden Theatre (1945–1977)
  • The Music Machine (1977–1982)
  • Camden Palace (1982–2004)
Address 1A Camden High Street, NW1 7JE
Camden, London
England
Coordinates 51°32′05″N 0°08′18″W / 51.534722°N 0.138333°W / 51.534722; -0.138333
Owner The Mint Group
Designation Grade II listed
Type Concert venue
Capacity 2,434 seated on 4 levels (1901)
1,410 (2008)
Current use Concerts
Construction
Rebuilt 2004 refurbishment
Years active 1900 - 1913 as theatre
1913 - 1939 as cinema
1945 - 1972 BBC studio
Architect W. G. R. Sprague
Website
www.koko.uk.com

KOKO (formerly The Music Machine and Camden Palace) is a concert venue and former theatre in Camden Town, London, England. The building was known as Camden Palace from 1982 until its 2004 purchase and extensive restoration led by Oliver Bengough and Mint Entertainment.[1][2] Since, the club has been known as KOKO and serves as one of the premier live music venues in London.[1][3][4][5][6]

History

The Camden Theatre opened on Boxing Day 1900.[7][8] With a capacity of 2,434 it was one of the largest theatres in London outside the West End. The theatre was designed by the prolific theatre architect W. G. R. Sprague.[9] The theatre was opened by Ellen Terry, then the most celebrated actress in England, who had lived in nearby Stanhope Street as a child.[10]

The St Pancras Gazette, a local newspaper, commented as follows in a review of the theatre's production of an opera called The Geisha in 1901:

"It is a matter of special gratification that the opera was presented at our beautiful local theatre on a scale of magnificence and completeness which would do credit to a West End theatre, but this is nothing new at the Camden Theatre, being rather a continuation of the policy with which the proprietors started their enterprise, viz. to offer nothing to their patrons but standard work, which has received the unmistakable approval of critics and public."[11]

On 6 December 1909 it reopened as a variety theatre and became the Camden Hippodrome Theatre.[12] By 1911 films were being presented as part of the programme and in January 1913 it became a cinema known as the Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre. In January 1928, the theater was taken over by the Gaumont British cinema circuit.[10]

Closed during World War II, it outlived many similar buildings, including Camden Town's other theatre, the Bedford Theatre, largely because it became a BBC radio theatre from 1945 and is Grade II architecturally listed since 1972.[13] Among the first weekly series to be broadcast live from here were The Richard Tauber Programme [1945-47]. Later programmes recorded at the theatre included The Goon Show and Monty Python's Flying Circus album (2 May 1970) until the BBC moved to the Golders Green Hippodrome in 1972.[14]

In 1977 the venue was then renamed The Music Machine. The venue was the central location for the 1979 Disco Dance film The Music Machine.[10] The venue was popular with new wave and first wave punk bands, hosting groups including The Boomtown Rats, The Clash and The Dickies.[12] It was the last venue AC/DC's Bon Scott was seen drinking at before his death from alcohol poisoning in 1980.[15]

In 1982 the venue was renamed Camden Palace. During this period it hosted the rock night "Feet First" on a Tuesday and trance electro night "Peach" featuring Graham Gold on a Friday night. The nights were hosted by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan of electronic band Visage.[10] Camden Palace was the location of Madonna's first UK performance.[12][16][17]

2004 restoration and relaunch

By 2004 the Camden Palace was rundown and in a state of disuse.[8][12][18] That year the theatre was purchased by Oliver Bengough and his company Mint Entertainment.[1][8] Bengough saw the potential of the theatre and embarked on a multi-million pound restoration process lasting more than six months.[2][12] The restoration process included all new technical facilities, enabling the scope of operations to be broadened to include live concert performances, club nights, corporate events and television production.[19] The Daily Telegraph described the modern interior amenities and the building's historic facade as "lend[ing] a sense of grandeur to any gig".[2][4][20]

Since restoration, KOKO’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised with an award for Environmental Excellence in Camden Organisations (EECO), for Innovation in Waste Management and Recycling.[21] The venue has been praised for ‘the continued exceptional effort by staff to achieve a 95% recycling rate in the difficult events and entertainment industry, and for the use of recycled materials within the building in order to close the recycling loop.’[22]

The key points in KOKO’s innovative recycling and waste management strategy include:

Notable Events

On 19 March 1964, The Rolling Stones performed there. On 10 March 1970, The Faces performed there. In 1972, the theatre was the host for The Goon Show's reunion episode The Last Goon Show of All. The event was attend by several senior Royal Family members. The show was filmed and recorded.

On Friday 14 November 1980, The Music Machine hosted an infamous gig by London mod revival band the Chords where onstage interactions between the band members ranged from frosty to outright hostile and following the gig, the Chords' frontman Billy Hassett left the band acrimoniously and was later replaced by Kip Herring.

1n 1985, Steve Marriott performed there with his band, Packet Of Three.

The cult London electronic band You You You, consisting of Karen O'Connor, Laurence Malice and Iain Williams,[23] performed their debut concert at the Camden Palace on 13 January 1987.[24] The band billed their first series of concerts as 'Stage 1' of their 'World Domination Tour'[25] and enlisted the help of illustrator Mark Wardel to design their publicity. Their appearance at the Camden Palace attracted over 1,000 people on what the Met Office recorded as probably being England's coldest night of the 20th Century.[26]

In 2005, a year after restoration, Coldplay chose KOKO to launch their album "X&Y".[27] Later that year, Madonna also hosted her album launch of Confessions on a Dance Floor at KOKO.[17]

The next year, in 2006, Elton John hosted a benefit party at KOKO for his AIDS Charity Bash, attended by Natalie Imbruglia, Elle Macpherson, Jade Jagger, and Kevin Spacey.[8][28]

Prince performed a secret show at KOKO in 2007, his first UK show in over 10 years, with David Walliams, Damien Hirst, Will Young, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, David Furnish, Boy George and Pete Burns in attendance.[29] The American band My Chemical Romance also played a private show at KOKO in 2007, hosted by Radio 1.[14] Later in 2007, The Disney Channel used KOKO to host Hannah Montana's Live in London, an exclusive one-off event broadcast globally for her fans.[14][30][31]

In 2009, KOKO hosted the iTunes festival, which extended over 30 nights and featured guests including N.E.R.D, Paul Weller, James Blunt, Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal and over 45,000 people.[32]

In 2010 KOKO also hosted fundraiser for the Institute of Contemporary Arts featuring a performance Lily Allen and Bryan Ferry and attended by Vivienne Westwood, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.[33]

Since restoration, the club has attracted well known musicians including Al Murray, Irfan Latif, Don Broco, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Prince, Coldplay, Tori Kelly, Katy B, My Chemical Romance, Oasis, Bruno Mars, Thom Yorke, Amy Winehouse, La Roux, Skrillex, Lady Gaga, The Killers, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Lily Allen, Demi Lovato, Usher, Noel Gallagher, Swedish House Mafia and many others.[12][17][34][35]

On 4 May 2014 Koko hosted the Peach Camden Palace Reunion headlined by Graham Gold and featuring Darren Pearce, Pele, Dave Lambert and Craig Dimech.[36]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ashley, Blaine (6 September 2010). "Haute Media Mogul: Oliver Bengough". Haute Living.
  2. 1 2 3 "Camden Palace reinvented as KoKo". Design Week. 5 August 2004.
  3. ↑ "The best music venues in London". Time Out London.
  4. 1 2 Robins, Danny (5 April 2012). "Where are London's best live music venues?". The Telegraph.
  5. ↑ Porter, Laura. "Top 10 London Nightclubs". Go London (About.com).
  6. ↑ Porter, Tom (3 August 2009). "Top 100 UK music venues revealed". Music Radar.
  7. ↑ "The Camden Theater". British Council of Visual Arts.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Nukleuz, Frantic (11 August 2007). "Frantic presents A Brief History of KOKO". Don't Stay In.
  9. ↑ "The Camden Theatre, Camden High Street and Crowndale Road, Camden Town". arthurlloyd.co.uk.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Roe, Ken. "Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre". Cinema Treasures.
  11. ↑ St Pancras Gazette (1901)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Porter, Laura. "KOKO Nightclub". Go London (About.com).
  13. ↑ Grade II architectural listing Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1272425)". National Heritage List for England.
  14. 1 2 3 Stezmatic (7 April 2010). "Koko in Camden". Lomography Magazine.
  15. ↑ "Sleaze Roxx: Bon Scott". Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  16. ↑ Mills, Bart (15 October 1983). "Madonna at Camden Palace". The Guardian.
  17. 1 2 3 Martin, Dan (30 November 2005). "Madonna: Camden KOKO, London: Tuesday, November, November 15". NME.
  18. ↑ "KOKO". Dont Stay In.
  19. ↑ "KOKO: London’s New Live Music Venue".
  20. ↑ Fumagalli, Max. "KOKO There's no business like monkey business". unlike.
  21. ↑ "News / Julie's Bicycle".
  22. ↑ http://www.greenlondon.net/content/koko-wins-environment-award
  23. ↑ "You You You - British Band 1987 Photo by Beatrice211 - Photobucket". Photobucket.
  24. ↑ "You You You". Photobucket.
  25. ↑ "You You You - Concert Ticket, 23 January 1987 Photo by Beatrice211 - Photobucket". Photobucket.
  26. ↑ For more information about the band You You You see the Wikipedia page for the band Big Bang which Iain and Laurence formed after You You You disbanded in 1988.
  27. ↑ "Coldplay's album launch". London Evening Standard. 7 June 2005.
  28. ↑ "Famous Face Make The Right 'MOVE' AT LONDON GALA". Hello! Online. 8 November 2006.
  29. ↑ Smith, Caspar Llewellyn (12 May 2007). "Prince turns into a Pearly King". The Guardian.
  30. ↑ "Hannah Montana Live in London". 1 Channel. 1 May 2007.
  31. ↑ Scherer, Antonia (28 March 2008). "Hannah Montana Phenomenon Hits George at Asda". Disney Consumer Products.
  32. ↑ "iTunes Festival 2008 Announced". Londonist.
  33. ↑ "ICA Fundraiser at KOKO". View London.
  34. ↑ Miller, Melody (7 May 2011). "Katy B, Koko, London". The Independent.
  35. ↑ "History KOKO". KOKO UK.
  36. ↑ "Peach Camden Palace Reunion". KOKO UK.
Bibliography

External links

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