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:::: METRO CLUB VENUE CLOSURE ::::

press release 16/1/2009

:::: SATURDAY 17th JANUARY 2009 ::::
:::: LAST EVER NIGHT OF THE METRO CLUB ::::


This Saturday the 17th January 2009 will be the last night ever of the Metro Club, 19-23 Oxford Street, London W1.

The Blow Up club will be final event, before it moves every Saturday to Bar Rumba from Sat 24th January. Please arrive early for the last night, doors will open at 10pm and close at 4am for the last time.

The venue will be acquired on Monday 19th using a compulsory purchase order issued by Transport For London under the Crossrail Act. This is for the proposed Tottenham Court Road extension.

We have had over seven great years running the Metro Club. The end has come far quicker than we could have imagined but it is beyond our control and we are left without a suitable venue to relocate to. The Metro is one of the last independent live music and club venues in the West End.

Blow Up took over the running of The Metro Club as a separate venture to our club night and record label on November 5th 2001, just as the new new wave of bands were about to really start making their moves, many of them at the venue. From debut UK appearances from The Killers, Kings of Leon, to early shows from Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Kaiser Chiefs, to hundreds of new and breaking acts as well as a few legendary characters such as Dion (his first and only UK show in 18 years) and madcap krautrockers Faust. And from the pop world: Mika (first ever show), Scissor Sisters and Robyn.

So to all the great bands that have played here, some of whom have gone on to become household names and some never to be heard of again, to all the promoters, audiences, club nights and all the wonderful staff thank you for making it happen.

The powers that be have decreed that this Rock 'n' Roll corner of London has to go. So be it. Roll on more retail space and a bigger station, but something will be missing the next time that you walk out from Tottenham Court Road Station onto Oxford Street. But not the great memories.

Paul Tunkin
Blow Up Metro