Feeder were awful that night. Can kinda understand the reception that Mark B and Blade got since they weren't expected, but thought they were actually pretty good. Dealt with the worst of the hecklers pretty well too.

that trail of dead gig sounds amazing.

I saw the Trail of Dead one the following year too, with British Sea Power, The Faint, and Clinic. Wasn't quite as good though.

My other favourite Astoria gig was seeing a Beta Band live Japanese broadcase at 1 in the afternoon. I went with my dad and bought 'The Big Dig' by Billy Mahonia in Charing Cross Road afterwards. I think I was 15

at that Tomahawk gig. I was there but not within piss distance from the stage.

Other fine moments I've seen there:

Faith No More on the King For A Day tour (my first Astoria gig). No piss, but blood from when Patton smacked his head on the mic during Caffeine.

Ministry just before Paul Barker left the band. Gig did have a pissy element when AJ urinated on the US and Iraqi flags before throwing them into the crowd. Thankfully I was on the balcony.

Mr Bungle, with magician as support act.

Aphex Twin and DMX Krew - featuring Aphex Twin DJ set with him hiding at the side of the stage.

SFA/Mogwai/Arab Strap all on the same bill. The first band, Campag Velocet were shit though.

Saw as many good gigs downstairs at the LA2, but as neither venue rarely has anything as good these days I'm not overly sentimental about it closing.

the Mogwai one so badly but I wasn't allowed. I was about 13 to be fair.

TO THE POINT OF DEATH.

Back when I was into Eels..

once played the astoria.

I missed it.

gorky's, broadcast and mogwai all on the same bill.
Seen some great bands there but the venue itself is pretty ropey

loser

This is an email I got back from Ken's office after I sent him an email calling him a bastard:

Dear Mr Earl,

The Astoria music venue has been identified as a location required for construction access of a Crossrail Station at Tottenham Court Road and is safeguarded as a 'surface interest' location in the Crossrail Bill currently going through parliament. For information regarding the current status of the Bill go to www.parliament.gov.uk.

No development proposals have come forward; however, the Mayor has stated that he would seek a replacement music venue of the same size within any redevelopment. The Bill is still being debated in both chambers of Parliament and until it receives Royal Assent the specifics of the Crossrail project are not known.

Any redevelopment is likely to be referable to the Mayor of London under the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008. The Mayor will consider any planning application on its individual merits and until such time cannot comment any further.

The following websites have up to date information which you may find useful:

www.crossrail.co.uk
www.parliament.gov.uk
www.tfl.gov.uk
www.london.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

******* **********
Co-ordinator, Planning Decisions

Original message:

You bastard.
I have just heard that you have approved the demolition of the Astoria
to make way for an East/West London train station.
Buildings like the Astoria with decades of history simply cannot be
replaced by new venues. All that Londoners will get in return is a
boring, modern metal/glass, bland, soulless club.
This keeps happening with music venues in the capital and it's
extremely depressing.
You have lost my support of your position as Mayor.

From that reply, I couldn't work out what was happening with the Astoria. Sounds like closure might still be a long way off though.

The White Stripes were pretty good there, as were the Flaming Lips circa The Soft Bulletin. I was also at the Quasi + Hefner + Elliott Smith + Sebadoh someone else mentioned......Didn't Lou Barlow go a bit mental on stage?

In that case, Electrelane / M83 / !!!, which is still the best gig I've ever been too, and I saw Springsteen that year.

but I seem to remember a really good Deus gig there too. And Fatima Mansions, come to think of it.