Festivals | The Marquee Club

1987 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Liford Park, Reading, UK
August 1987

In 1987 the festival celebrated it's the 25th anniversary.

Headliners: The Mission, Status Quo, Alice Cooper

Marquee Promotions' Festivals

An introduction to the festivals

The name of the Marquee club has been mainly associated with one of the most important jazz, blues and rock festivals in the UK since it's owner Harold Pendleton started organizing the National Jazz Festival in 1961, under the wing of the National Federation of Jazz Organizations of Great Britain (NFJOGB). The federation, which later renamed National Jazz Federation (NJF), was originally created by 1945.

Jazz trombonist Chris Barber was one of it's first secretaries and in 1948 he was replaced by the owner of the Marquee club, Harold Pendleton. The NJF moved it's offices to the upper floor of the Marquee club at 90 Wardour Street in 1968.

Another important jazz event in the UK was the Daily Mail International Jazz Festival, which took place at the Belle Vue, Manchester, 6–9 June, 1963. The festival was organised in association with the National Jazz Federation and its direction was shared by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Harold Davison and Harold Pendleton, with the artistic advice by Gerald Lascelles.

The roll that the NJF played in the development of the jazz, blues, rhythm and blues and rock culture was decisive, bringing the music of new talents to bigger audiences than the ones at the Marquee club. This way, the National Jazz Festival became the first and most important rock event in the UK, later known as the Reading Festival.

In this section there is a brief description of the history of the different music festivals related with the Marquee club between the 1st National Jazz Festival in 1961 and the Reading Festival of 1988.

To learn more about the festivals we you can also visit this non-official web site dedicated to the history of the National Jazz Festival

NJF and Marquee Promotions Festivals

1988 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1988

This year the troubles caused by the constant bottle throwing from the audience got out of control and Meatloaf left the stage. Security men were placed on stage with bin bags and the crowd was asked to chuck the bottles to them for collection. This was the last year that Marquee Promotions was ever involved in the organization of the festival since it passed the production to the organization of Mean Fiddler, managed by Vince Power. This management lasted for three years until 1992. Vincent Power started later the Phoenix festival in 1993.

Headliners: Ramones, Starship, Squeeze

1986 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1986

In 1984 the council of Reading reclaimed the original site to build a hotel and a leisure centre. The festival was re-arranged at Lilford Park in Northamptonshire, but in the last moment it was forced to be cancelled after the refusal from the local council to get the license. The Reading festival was not celebrated during two years until it got the permissions back in 1986.

Headliners: Killing Joke, Hawkwind, Saxon

1984 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1984

Headliners:Stranglers, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy

1983 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1983

Headliners: The Stranglers, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1983

Headliners: The Stranglers, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy

1982 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1982

Headliners: Budgie, Iron Maiden, Michael Schenker

1981 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1981

Headliners: Girlschool, Gillan, The Kinks

1979 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 24th-26th 1979

Line-up:
Bite the Pillow, the Jags, Punishment of Luxury, Doll by Doll, the Cure, Wilko Johnson, Motorhead, the Tourists, the Police, Fame, the Yachts, Root Boy Slim, the Movies, Bram Tchaikovsky, Gillan, Steve Hackett, Cheap Trick, Inner Circle, Thin Lizzy, the Cobbers, After the Fire, Speedometers, Zaine Griff, Wild Horses, Molly Hatchett, the Members, the Ramones, Climax Blues Band, Whitesnake, Peter Gabriel

LEAVE YOUR COMMENT:

1980 - Reading Rock Festival

Reading Rock Festival
Richfield Avenue, Reading, UK
August 1980

This year the Reading festival re-affirmed as a hard rock and heavy metal event, with the presence of Rory Gallagher, UFO, Whitesnake, Blizzard of Oz, Angel City, Wishbone Ash, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard.

Headliners:
Rory Gallagher, UFO, Whitesnake

The Marquee Club - A tribute site dedicated to the history of the legendary Marquee club at London's 90 Wardour street.

Summary