Manchester's police chief criticised the clubs as unsafe, dark and rife with immorality and drug dealing
In the 1960s, Manchester's underground club scene thrived with a dynamic mix of dossers, beatniks, mods, rockers, and drag queens. The unlicensed clubs and coffee bars they frequented didn't just influence the city's nightlife - they transformed it forever.
But Manchester soon had its own scene, with clubs named The Bamboo, The Forty Thieves, Three Coins, The Half-Moon, and Heaven and Hell. A stand-out venue was the Oasis, which not only staged shows by The Beatles and the Rolling Stones but also hosted Patti Labelle and Elton John's early band, Bluesology, on the same night.
Many of these clubs were under respectable ownership - but the emergent youth culture scene angered senior police in the city at the time, who associated it with drug use, delinquency and sex. In 1965, police described the clubs as "Dirty, poorly illuminated and being patronised by individuals of exaggerated dress and deportment, commonly known as mods, rockers and beatniks."
Adding: "Wearing old jeans, thick anoraks and shoulder-length hair, they look and sometimes smell formidable. Their clubs are, like them, unpretty, and the music rough, bluesy and strident, and much more forceful than the Mods." During this period of the 1960s, having a licensed club was rare in Manchester, with most of these being "out of bounds" to youths with little money to spend.
However, as Manchester's Beat clubs of the 1960s came under greater scrutiny, they were frequently targeted in police raids. Rumours circulated that the venues were gathering spots for underage youths while drugs like cannabis, cocaine and heroin were peddled freely. Mr McKay said the clubs were mainly in warehouses, or on top of office blocks, and attracted young people of both sexes interested in listening to music in places where they could escape adult supervision.
Manchester City Centre Manchester Music Manchester Nightlife M.E.N. Explore Manchester Arndale
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inside Manchester's new hidden bar with tacos, tequila and late-night poolThe new Mexican-inspired bar is offering free games of pool until Friday, alongside tacos and tequila-based cocktails
Read more »
Inside the magical Christmas light show taking over a Greater Manchester parkThe Twilight Trail at Mayfield Park in Manchester officially returned for the winter season
Read more »
Inside Manchester's £1.2mn charity ball with superstars' £32,000 gestureA huge night in Manchester - with some A List stars delivering a very kind gesture on the way to a record-breaking total
Read more »
Inside Manchester's awe-inspiring and immersive David Hockney exhibitionThe breath-taking exhibit is in Manchester until the end of January
Read more »
Hidden Angels: Inside Greater Manchester's 24/7 Transport Control RoomThe Manchester Evening News takes a look inside the new control room at Transport for Greater Manchester, where a team of hundreds work around the clock to keep the region's transport system running smoothly.
Read more »
Inside Greater Manchester's failing mental health trustWards were found to be dirty and poorly maintained while patients said they didn't feel safe and staff lacked training
Read more »