The sad news that a great London music venue,the Bull & Gate,in Kentish Town, is closing its doors,got me thinking about one of Portsmouths long-lost venues, The Cumberland Tavern, in Eastney.
Not only was it home to the Birdcage club,a legendary Mod venue thatsaw bands such as The Who,The Creation,Pink Floyd,and The Action, to name just 4 who passed through its doors,, but it was also the scene of the very first gig by Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience.
The year before I had met Gosport Mod band The Now,became friends with them,introduced them at gigs,and released a cassette-only album by them called "Miles High"on my Groovybeat label.
Playing live at the launch party for the album seemed to be a good idea.So,bottom of a bill to Secret Corners and The Now, February 1st,1984 saw me perfom 2 songs (Gold Painted Nails-a Nikki Sudden song,and the TV Personalities Back To Vietnam),before snapping the head off of my guitar. I'd just finished spray-painting a sheet pinned to the wall behind me and as I turned hit my guitar against the P.A. The neck snapped,strings whipped out,and the amp went into feedback overdrive. Set over.
I collected up the bits of shattered guitar and they hung on my wall for years,and can be seen in the video for Andy Watch Out,as it happens
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