Performed there in the 60s. Is the building still in existence?

The Imp is well gone.

The Zoo is still there though, where they stayed for the night.

Cheers.

Think they played there twice. The stones did. As well as Jimi Hendrix.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... r_auction/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RingoMcCartney wrote:Think they played there twice. The stones did. As well as Jimi Hendrix.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... r_auction/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow, what a history!

I notice that they haven't mentioned Mungo Jerry.

I expect that it's to do with his pleasure of people drinking and driving.

The bloody monster.

Marc Bolan and T-rex (could've been solo but certainly Bolan) and the Kinks. Too!

Very impressive. I'll see nelson in a whole new light next time I'm there now.

The Imperial burnt down in about 1970-ish.

Recently looked for the venue the Beatles performed in Blackpool, but that appears to be gone now too. V sad.

What's your favourite Beatles song Saxo?

Fool on the hill.. its not just the Beatles, I like musical history in general.

RingoMcCartney wrote:Marc Bolan and T-rex (could've been solo but certainly Bolan) and the Kinks. Too!

It certainly was Marc Bolan but he and his mate, percussionist Steve Peregrin Took,went by the name of Tyrannosaurus Rex,
and played mainly acoustic sets.

Saw them twice before they became T Rex.

Funkydrummer wrote:It certainly was Marc Bolan but he and his mate, percussionist Steve Peregrin Took,went by the name of Tyrannosaurus Rex,
and played mainly acoustic sets.

Saw them twice before they became T Rex.

Thanks for getting back and clarifying. Appreciated.

I actually think the coolest and underrated act from the 60s is Steve Marriott of the small faces. Been trying to get a print of the small faces for my wall, but they are pretty rare and expensive.

Better when he was with Humble Pie IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tNoSmlnxwQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Funkydrummer wrote:Better when he was with Humble Pie IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tNoSmlnxwQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Possibly. I'm still learning! I've seen footage of him live not long before he died, he was a physical wreck from his wild lifestyle, but could still perform amazingly. What a voice.

£30 will get you this poster.

http://www.rockpopmem.com/Humble-Pie-Bi ... /54329.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Funkydrummer wrote:£30 will get you this poster.

http://www.rockpopmem.com/Humble-Pie-Bi ... /54329.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm after a canvas and have spotted one on eBay. Its mine!

Saxoman wrote:I actually think the coolest and underrated act from the 60s is Steve Marriott of the small faces. Been trying to get a print of the small faces for my wall, but they are pretty rare and expensive.

saxo is correct in this....the SF's were the best saturday night band...not bummed hy the media as much as the Who..or the Kinks...but just cooler in every way...

The Who also played the Imp. I think it was 1976 when it was destroyed by fire.

Ike and Tina Turner, The Byrds, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Bo Didley, Cilla, the list is endless.
My brother was the last person to walk out of the Imp.

JegunClaret wrote:Ike and Tina Turner, The Byrds, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Bo Didley, Cilla, the list is endless.
My brother was the last person to walk out of the Imp.

I'm sure he'll be grateful that you've just grassed him up for torching it

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/imperial-b ... 7765e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Reads like a who's who of music history

This was the picture in the Burnley Express following their first visit there on 31/07/1963

Think they were also there in 68 but happy to be proved wrong

Never went to "The Imp".I was a"Rawtenstall Astoria" person.We did very well for top groups but never had "The Beatles".The good old days.Sadly "The Astoria closed in 1966.I then became "Burnley Mecca"person where I met the wife and have been married 44 years in Feb next year.

We forget that there weren’t the big venues backi in the 60s like we have today so the bands of the day had to play in the small venues up and down the country. The Who, The Kinks and The Small Faces all performed at the Astoria in Rawtenstall. http://www.manchesterbeat.com/venues/ra ... storia.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I always thought the Who Live at Leeds was recorded at Elland Road or somewhere equally as big but it was recorded at the refectory in the university. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_Leeds" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Interestingly, I’m led to believe that Jini Hendrix stayed the night in the Station Hotel in Nelson after his performance at the Imp.

BFCmaj wrote:We forget that there weren’t the big venues backi in the 60s like we have today so the bands of the day had to play in the small venues up and down the country. The Who, The Kinks and The Small Faces all performed at the Astoria in Rawtenstall. http://www.manchesterbeat.com/venues/ra ... storia.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I always thought the Who Live at Leeds was recorded at Elland Road or somewhere equally as big but it was recorded at the refectory in the university. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_Leeds" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Interestingly, I’m led to believe that Jini Hendrix stayed the night in the Station Hotel in Nelson after his performance at the Imp.

The first band I saw was The Moody Blues on 31/12/64.I was 15 at the time and went every week till it closed in 66.May have missed a couple of weeks for holidays thinking about it.

Seen all the big stars down T'imp from mid sixties till it burnt down .. Some fabulous groups and solo acts.All the big names used to go there..

JegunClaret wrote:Ike and Tina Turner, The Byrds, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Bo Didley, Cilla, the list is endless.
My brother was the last person to walk out of the Imp.

I didn't know the Byrds had played there!

Imagine the culture shock of coming from California to a 1960s East Lancashire!.

Rentokill probably best bet pal.

Saxoman wrote:Performed there in the 60s. Is the building still in existence?

Hi Saxo, The Imperial ballroom was lost, I think in March 1976. It is thought to have been arson but not sure anything was proven.

In the years before many top acts played there - Stones, Hollies (local lads), Beatles to name just 3. It was one of the largest venues in the country.

Just down the hill there was the football stadium and cricket field (still there). The football team were a football league club and did play for a spell at the current level of Rovers. Though Rovers have never beaten Real Madrid away. Nelson did in the 1920's. Nelson cricket club once had England's highest paid sportsman in Leary Constantine. One of the finest batters, bowlers and fielders in the world.

Bit more info on the Imp... http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/le ... _released/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nelson FC. Possibly the only team in the world, to remain undefeated against Real Madrid!

It burnt down in March 1976. That weekend I was going to see Thin Lizzy there. I was gutted

So was The Imp .

Was it just over the bridge on the left as you come down Carr Road? I thought that was "The Column" or are they actually one and the same. I remember that burning down as although I lived in Rossendale I was at Nelson college between '74 and '76 and we all went for a gander at the smoldering embers next day. My older brother went to The Column a number of times to see bands, but I never did.

Mud played the Imp as well.

The Imp/Imperial was the original name when I was 13-14 1974-75 it was called the Column.

I'm trying to picture the Beatles in Nelson now.

Imagine all the people.

Herts Clarets wrote:The Who also played the Imp. I think it was 1976 when it was destroyed by fire.

The Who did indeed play the Imp - 5 times between Sept 65 and Nov 67. The first gig there would have cost you 8 shillings on the night, or 7 shillings in advance.............less than the price of a twix these days!! They were supported by The Raging Storms and The Wayward Sect ....according to the ticket "Ties must be worn" & "No Jeans allowed" !! Guessing the 2 support bands were local groups - anyone heard of them?

CnBtruntru wrote:Mud played the Imp as well.

The Imp/Imperial was the original name when I was 13-14 1974-75 it was called the Column.

Cheers for that. I assumed it was the same place, but wasn't sure as I traveled from Rossendale every day to college '74 - '76 and didn't really know Nelson very well initially.

I was there. Great times as a 16 year old.

Bit off topic but I saw that the Fall's gigography has a show at Burnley Football Social Club 19th May 1982. Anyone know where this was, presumably The Centre Spot? Cannot remember bands playing there?
http://thefall.org/gigography/gig82.html

I'm awestruck at the artists that have performed at nelson and surrounding venues. What a proud history!

I can remember seeing the small flyers for the Imp stuck on the upper deck inside windows of the BCN buses , they were always on the window just where you came down the stairs - my cousin used to pinch them for her bedroom wall! I distinctly remember seeing the Otis Redding one.....

Used to love going to the Imp in the 70s few beers a good band then hitching it home to Rawtenstall,we used to get picked up by all kinds of wierdo's

My parents went to a few gigs there - including the Beatles one in’63.

Ringo - the Nelson Imp was the first UK gig for the Byrds, and if you’re curious about what they thought, just read the lyrics to Eight Miles High.

My parents went to a few gigs there - including the Beatles one in’63.

Ringo - the Nelson Imp was the first UK gig for the Byrds, and if you’re curious about what they thought, just read the lyrics to Eight Miles High.

AndrewJB wrote:
Ringo - the Nelson Imp was the first UK gig for the Byrds, and if you’re curious about what they thought, just read the lyrics to Eight Miles High.

Just googled, brilliant!

Used to put posters in the bus windows , advertising which group's where playing .
Me and mates used to nick them to put on bedroom wall when I was a kid .

Steve Chappell's book, 'Goin' Down the Imp' lists all the bands whoever played there.