“There was much more mystique to clubbing then; the only way you would find out about these places was by hanging out at the right record shop or around Kensington Market – which was around then. It was all word-of-mouth.”
Graham Smith
Introduction
The 1980s in the UK was a time of unrest and political tensions, but away from the tensions of society, a vibrant and electric music scene existed. Wade, through the mountain of hits and flops churned out by the music industry, the one-hit wonders and the bands that are played on multiple platforms till this very day, you end up with a nostalgic memory. It was a time when people danced past the midnight hour in many clubs and bars across the UK in the fashion of the time. The bright lights and the booming beat from the woofer speakers and venues left you squinting with your ears ringing as you walked out into the early hours of the next day.
The Place to Go
One such London club that springs to mind from this era was the Whiskey A Go Go or WAG Club, as it was branded in the 80s. On Wardour Street, WAG traded at the height of the 80s music scene. When London was part of a melting pot of UK and international music talent, this club had some of the most fantastic walks through its doors: Boy George, Neneh Cherry, George Michael, Keith Richards, Joe Strummer, LL Cool J, Prince, Madonna and David Bowie to name but a few. John-Paul Gaultier and Robert De Niro also visited here. This club caters to all music genres and hosts several different music nights. From jazz and funk to house music, acid jazz, hip hop and rare groove. Tracksuits, ripped jeans, backwards baseball caps, and 50s suits could all be seen here, and they were a fusion of age groups, races, and classes. A club that rocked London for almost two decades.
This was a time before the internet and mobile phones, and you dared to thumb a lift. Feeding a pay phone in a telephone box lets you know your parents when you will be home or maybe not if you dare. WAG became popular through word of mouth and chattering conversations in record shops. WAG was a club where like-minded people came. At this club, you could find brilliant DJs like Hector—someone who played a mix of northern soul, some afrobeat, some reggae – a real mix. WAG was unique because it was here that you could hear music that wasn’t played on the radio. This was a club where you wouldn’t be beaten up for expressing yourself, and you became part of a gang, and camaraderie was guaranteed. A place you left caked in sweat and your clothes not on point as when you entered. The hairdos of the time, waning and tired eyes all around but amidst a friend vibe where you came with your mates.
WAG became an exclusive club. It only held 300 people and had Chris and Holly on the door and a big, burly, West Indian bouncer, Winston, who would turn the undesirable away. A man who had a heart of gold and was remembered by all who went there. It’s a cutting-edge club run by Chris. You had to try harder to look the part to get in there , and in return for your hard work, you had a damn good night out. People here were curious and looking for answers and alternatives—the opposite of the bijou clubs like Samantha’s, where Elton John and Rod Stewart hung out. WAG summed up the time and is part of a growing-up era that is much missed.
