“People used to go out closer to home,” he tells us, which is why Parramatta CBD was once home to more than 20 nightclubs in the 70s and 80s. The night started with champagne cocktails at the Information and Cultural Exchange and a historical talk by the organisation’s executive director John Kirkman. They were good old days. What a time we had. It was a place where all the big bands played.
Regards Rick, DJ was Holger Brockman…worked at 2JJ and did voice over for the then Austero Radio Network….he also does voice over for the ARN….and Radio Today….he is still around, Does anyone know of a Karen Penn or a Michael (Mick) King that used to frequent the War and Peace back in ’78’? PJ. He leads the tour and keeps the crowd entertained with behind-the-scenes stories about the clubs and the big names from AC/DC and The Radiators to Midnight Oil that used to hit the stage in Sydney’s west.
I had one funny incident – I rocked up wearing jeans and white cricket shoes ( no spikes ) and the guy on the door told me no white sport shoes were allowed. Lots of music and fun people. I am desperately trying to find my father Mick and this is where they met. The staff kept buckets of ice behind the bar to plunge their hands into because of the frequent fist fists. Luckily they had a drink menu and I spotted something that looked familiar, Bacardi & Coke for $1.20.
Wow, hearing all this brings back the memories. Read more, 39 comments . Peter it was a great time for sure. Awesome! 37 comments Great place to see a band. I lived close by and would always try to catch Heaven there. Had never seen anything like it, like a scene out of Sat night Fever. Did I really see them at WAP or did they never perform there ? / This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. Went there with Wendy and Sue Hayes from Carlingford . Kevin borich. But the night is young and I’m with a group with a mission to relive the heady days of clubbing with a tour of the city’s lost discothèques.
I worked with can in the early 80’s. I worked at WAP , Tues – Friday early 80s for 3 years behind the bar with Angela, Caz, Punkannella, Gayle, Denise, Debbie, Jennifer, Anton the owner, Greg & Marie-Ann in the kitchen, Richard W DJ Tuesdays & Sharon DJ other days, Birds of Prey favourite band, married the guitarist.
War & Peace was right down the other end of Church Street just past Victoria road intersection. Deb Patterson…known then as Debbie Clark.Please pass my regards to mum and dad for me. Still have the original War and Peace stickers, Previous post: Australian Singles Chart for 1990. Sorry… I forgot to mention the band…. Read more, 19 comments That’s right, I’ve never seen a band at The Manly Vale. Peter. If only we could turn back time if only for a day.??? The question re are you having a meal was the same at the West Tower Tavern at Parra. INxs were one of the bands I saw on a Thursday night and years later I was telling some Americans how I saw INXS for 33 cents. I played in a band called Outline and we played at The War & Peace many times, usually to a pretty packed house. You can listen to the stories of people including someone who met the love of his love on the dancefloor at Traders. I used to go there heaps. Hi Jennifer….I was the Debbie that you mentioned.It was a great time in AustraIia music history.We never knew it then but it was such great time. Read more, 34 comments regards, Spider. Is Mick King a Muscian.
Band members were Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. Read more, 24 comments I worked with you on the door for a couple of years with Ian Riley, Richard Chinzani, crazy days. Venues – S, Selina’s in the Coogee Bay Hotel was one of Sydney’s best venues for a number of decades. Are you on face book.
The “lifesaver”, as it was widely known, started out as a wine bar in a couple of terrace houses but eventually, walls were knocked down to… here. Hi Shaun, its Jennifer, I think we dated, you were a punk, you came to my house, we saw the models, I worked at WAP behind the bar. / Like a cocktail, the tour is a mix: history, art, and the odd performer riding the escalators at the Connection Arcade dressed in glitter heels and gold sequins. To join the conversation, please log in.
They weren’t on,I think they were on there way to the USA for bigger & better things, so we got “DRAGON” instead,& that was great ..We now live on the Gold Coast Qld.
The “lifesaver”, as it was widely known, started out as a wine bar in a couple of terrace houses but eventually, walls were knocked down to… Just have a look at the list of classic Australian acts… I can not see any listing or other comments about DRAGON -Mark Hunter. Yes I did grow up in Dundas Valley. Should bring it back….lmao. Yes Shaun.
W&P, Sometimes after gigs or to see a band or 3. Great fun and made some great friends. PJ – is that you mate? Don't have an account? I’d love to hear your stories of the place and what bands you saw in the comments section below. This was all a bit sophisticated for me.
Used to get liquored up at parramatta leagues then stumble up there most weekends, Seen many bands there….misex were a standout….and the family hotel at Rydalmere….the local inn at West Ryde hosted some of the best rock acts on the planet…..midnight oil….skyhooks …Aust crawl….radiators and too many to list. / Greg Morris I mentioned a girl Eva with long brown hair, and drop dead gorgeous. I’m comment 3 on the list. Beautiful… Everybody stopped when she went in the dance floor. ? 1/9/1983: War & Peace with Hoodoo Gurus and Soft Toys. Ol warries, loved the place, would go there most nights during the week and our local Parramatta band Parole played there many a Friday night…I loved the place as there was so much variety in the people, rockers, westies, punks in the corner, sharpies, footballers, and Pat benatar look alikes…Hedly was the manager at the time and I would be drinking double op rum with coke, schooner glass no ice and the music was great,,,loved the heavy metal nights in particular with heaven and such.
You could wander down to your… “People used to go out closer to home,” he tells us, which is why Parramatta CBD was once home to more than 20 nightclubs in the 70s and 80s. Anyway my mate who had been there before stepped in and explained that I would love a meal and we were in. / Mark Gibson Izzy used to be one of the first late night infomercial people on TV. Once we had Billy Thorpe (Most People I Know Think That I’m crazy) playing and the manager told us to make everyone sit down.
Lots of great bands getting their first shots at the industry happened there. / I was a member of “The War & Peace Band” That opened and played at this venue Monday to Thursday back in 1976 (I Have live recordings from the venue) Then we played in Newcastle Fri day & Sat at the other venue that Warwick Miller owned – “The Castle Grape & Grill” Steel St Newcastle
Copyright © 2007– 2020 Australian Music History. Due to the fact that the drinks were $1.20 and I’d had about $25 worth by the time the band came on I don’t remember the guy’s name but he was in Young Doctors. Great memories. The first memories I have of the place is that it was dark & dingy and you could get spirits for about $1.20. Back in those days there was some pretty whacky liquor licensing laws and somehow you could get around it by claiming to be a “Restaurant that sold a few drinks” so the meal was compulsory whether you ate it or not. I’d been to a pub or two & seen some bands but this was like, at least in my 17 year old head, the big time! I never had much trouble . How are you. Read more, 40 comments It’s Friday night in Parramatta, and sadly the site of the old nightclub is no longer buzzing, in fact it’s been turned into a block of apartments.
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I worked on the door for 3 years back through the early to mid 80’s. Peter Grant – Bass / Vocals You can find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out Thankfully the live bands grew in popularity and pushed the disco crowd to the side. And a party pie and chips at midnight always tasted good. I think it was on the corner of Ross street. Hi was War & Peace in front of the now Westfeild with the funnt round roof Thanks. Not sure she worked there? Moving pictures . For even more gigs check the War & Peace page in our database. Good Luck. How are you. Hi Bob, I don’t have any specific information to say whether they did or didn’t but I’d be very surprised if they didn’t. I was a dedicated disco girl… My partner worked on the door in 1978… Trevor Chillingworth and our friend John Unis and of cause George the cook. I went round the corner and took my black socks off and put them over my shoes and went back to the door – the bouncer pissed himself laughing and let me in – no way would that happen these days – happy memories. Great place to play and we never saw any of the trouble that people talk about.
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I certainly was around there in the Early 80’s. / Late 70s early 80s I remember seeing finch. Read more. Venues – W. War & Peace Nightclub Parramatta was an iconic live music venue of the seventies and eighties and was probably the first real nightclub that I ever went to as a fresh-faced 17 year old in 1979. 19/8/1982: War & Peace Hotel Supporting Tiny Tim with Spy Vs Spy The Radiators played gigs in Parramatta … / Mark Gibson NUANCE (Parramatta ASYLUM Niteclub) NUGGATTIES (Kings Cross) OLIVE BAR (William St) ORB; ORIENT (The Rocks) OZ ROCK; PALMS HOTEL; PARADISE (Parramatta) PARADISE (Kings Cross) PASSIONS (Maroubra Seals) PATCHES; PEANUTS (North Sydney) PHIONX BAR; PINK PEPPER LOUNGE (Parramatta) PINKIES; PITT STREET GARDENS; PLAYERS; POLISH CLUB (Ashfield) PROPAGANDA … The red velourish seats. 29/4/1982: War & Peace Hotel Supporting Jon English I only just saw this post. First time I saw INXS there… Great memories. It was a place that was always jumping, especially in the wee hours of the day. / Mark Gibson If you have any info it would be much appreciated. Many a wild story from there and many from that band room. Any help is greatly appreciated! The Oxford Funhouse at Taylor Square Sydney had just closed its doors to Punk… Caz was her name. It was a large, purpose-built venue with a big stage and a mezzanine level for the really big shows.