The Heavy Metal Soundhouse and Bandwagon. (original) (raw)

		Neal became an instant success. As well as a one-night-a-week slot he took over the coveted Sunday night residency which became the most popular night of the week, with 500 plus attendees and lock-outs becoming common place. >>"All across the land every rockin' band was blowin' up a storm..." With its word-of-mouth reputation spreading, "London's Only Heavy Rock Disco" began taking place five times a week, and "The Wagon" was soon pulling a denim-clad crowd from all over London, drawn to the sounds of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Rush and Thin Lizzy. Neal Kay's Heavy Metal Soundhouse became the only alternative to the punk and new wave venues popular at the time, and The Wagon began to stage gigs by newer, allegedly younger hard rock bands -Samson, Angelwitch, Praying Mantis, Nutz and, er, Saxon (though experts on ancient civilisations report that Saxon's singer Biff Byford was prehistoric even then). Iron Maiden, a band who were gaining a name for themselves playing to pubs in the East End, sent Neal a four-track demo to play, at a venue which was fast becoming the place for up-and-coming bands recorded output to be heard since largely being ignored by radio. While Neal resembled a 60's remnant, he had his finger on the pulse of heavy metal. Fiercely championed by Neal and the regulars, Iron Maiden even titled their debut EP, The Soundhouse Tapes. This now legendary rare EP's cover features pictures taken while on stage at The Bandwagon preserving another Soundhouse legacy. >>"And the guitar man got famous..." "I suppose the most important thing was the demo tape was being played at the Soundhouse by Neal Kay, because that was the thing that started people getting interested in the band. We did a four-track demo and then we gave it to Neal Kay and he started playing it at his Soundhouse and people started voting for it as their favourite tracks or whatever, and we started getting into these Sounds charts which were compiled by requests there, and stuff like that. So that's really what got the ball rolling , we all had a bit of a buzz about us, so that really was the first break... It was with Neal Kay" - Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
	History The Soundhouse Story - Part 1>> >>Let There Be Rock As AC/DC once - almost - sang, In the beginning, back in 1975... a walrus-moustached, long-haired DJ brought his collection of rock records to the backroom of the Prince Of Wales pub in Kingsbury, and the Soundhouse was born. Known as The Bandwagon, a disco-cum-night club attached to a less than exotic drinking establishment on the outskirts of North West London, the club opened in the early '70s. But it wasn't until the mid-70s when, already dipping into the rock scene with a resident Sunday Night band Bethnal, who mixed their own material alongside Led Zeppelin and Who covers, resident DJs started throwing in the odd Deep Purple number as well as Rose Royce and The Fatback Band tunes during the regular disco nights. In 1975 realising - cue deep voice - "The Power Of Rock", DJs John, Paul and Steve decided to stage an experimental evening of music. And as a banner adorning the back bar of the Bandwagon announced "London's only Heavy Rock Disco" was born. Although the Bandwagon's interior was designed to resemble that of a wild west town, complete with barrels as makeshift tables, a mock-up saloon bar and even a cantina, it wasn't until Neal Kay rode into town that the real story started. >>"Man Didn't Know about a rock 'n' Roll show.." Although the club had been staging rock nights before Neal's arrival, with the best of intentions it lacked any presentation or real foresight. One evening in 1975 DJ Steve Bubb put out a plea to anyone wanting to spin a few discs to apply... to the stage. In The Bandwagon that night was a West End DJ known as Neal Kay who offered his services. With his larger than life personality, passionate knowledge of the current rock scene (gained from working on the Berlin nightclub scene) and huge moustache, what better choice!
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