Comments on: Klooks Kleek

By: Rolando Rye

Rolando Rye — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:48:33 +0000

Amazing Tony Bennet. Did you see that Tony Bennett documentary The Zen of Bennett is headed to Netflix? Any idea when this will be out? The film uses footage from 150 hours of recordings made during the studio sessions of “Duets II” with Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Michael Buble… Independently, Tony Bennett is bringing his heart back to San Francisco on Valentine’s Day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. He recorded it for the first time 50 years ago this week. Can you imagine? Get it straight from Amazon … http://goo.gl/dR34D

By: brian

brian — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:49:37 +0000

The Alan Bown Set singing My Girl In The Month Of May will always be my fondest memory of the Klooks Kleek.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:29:15 +0000

I discovered Klooks Kleek when in the sixth form in the late sixties. I loved the informality and being so close to ‘heroes’. Two bands so far not mentioned - Savoy Brown and Chicken Shack. I think it was Savoy Brown that first got me there.

By: Jane (posted above)

Jane (posted above) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 13:47:47 +0000

Well, Patrick, you certainly had varied pub career! I salute you because I know how hard a trade it is, owing to my mum running two pubs.
The Railway will be long remembered. Alas pubs aren’t the same now. There are too many gastropubs and managed houses. Young chaps from all over come for a bit to work in pubs and then move on. One gets no continuity. My own local, the famous Bull and Bush, is something of a wine bar on one side and a bistro of the other. The prices are high and one feels uncomfortable standing at the bar. All the old customers have moved on. I think many more would have closed unless they concentrated on food especially after the smoking ban. I have given up going to London pubs - those that are left that is. Last year I was part of a campaign which “saved” The Duke of Hamilton in Hampstead, it being the last real ale, real pub. there. One hopes it can carry on for a long time to come. It would have been a development of two posh houses by now if we hadn’t had the campaign.
I did go to Georgie Fame and his grown up sons performing at the Castle pub, Childs Hill a couple of months back. The place was packed out by people of all ages. A good evening! Unfortunately, the pub has since changed hands again and the English governors, who did a mean egg and chips, have gone on their way. We’ll see how it goes but I think it will be more of a youngsters’ disco pub now.

By: Patrick Linnane

Patrick Linnane — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:10:11 +0000

At my old age, I know little about computers, so when my daughter Carol showed me a photo on the web of my old pub, The Railway, I was surprised it looked so good.

My name is Patrick Linnane and I was assistant Manager at The Railway Hotel in the 50’s. I then got marrieed and moved as Manager to The Three Pigeons in Richmond, Surrey. A year later in 1959, I came back to The Railway Hotel as Manager. I started Klooks Kleek with Dick Jordan & Jeff Williams about the middele of 1960. My daughter Carol was born there in 1963 and had the pleasure of being bounced on Rod Stewart’s knees on a few occasions when she was a baby and she was fussed over by Georgie Fame & Alan Price to name but a few. I left The Railway about May 1966. I managed a few other pubs after that and then spent 23 years at The Royal National Theatre as part of the Catering Department. I retired in 1993 and returned to Galway, Ireland. I was good friends with John Maher whose son has posted above - John also retired back to Galway like me and we lived only a few miles apart until he sadly passed away. I have a newspaper clipping from The Kilburn Times who did an editorial on myself and The Railway in March 1965 - my daughter says she can’t add it to this site but she can email this to you if you would like to see it. I have so many wonderful memories of The Railway and its good to see that it is still remembered and talked out by so many people.

Patrick Linnane

By: Jane Williams

Jane Williams — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:27:36 +0000

PS to Roger. I went to the Manor House pub to hear Long John Bawdry. He introduced a new singer Rod “the Mod” Stewart and stood aside whilst Rod did his number. Rod looked really cool with a long black hairstyle, black Victorian-style togs and a high collared “mod” white shirt. That was a good gig!

By: Jane Williams

Jane Williams — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:20:16 +0000

I wonder if Roger Phillips will read this? I googled “Klooks Kleek” because it was where I remembered seeing Georgie Fame C. 1965 (?). I just today bought a ticket for a gig he will be doing on Sunday 8th May 2011, at The Castle pub, Childs Hill, Finchley Road. Nowadays he’s accompanied by his two sons.

By: Bill Mathieson

Bill Mathieson — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:34:43 +0000

Played bass guitar in Klooks Kleek with O,Haras Playboys several times in the late 60s.Fab memories. It was one of the best London clubs we gigged regularly, like the Ram Jam -Flamingo- Bag o Nails -Scotch of ST James,etc.

By: Mike Abbott

Mike Abbott — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:01:30 +0000

Think I discovered KK from their ad in ‘International Times’ and went there every Tuesday with Tony, a friend who was also into good music. Today we reminisce about the bands we saw at KK, band that went onto fill stadiums all over the world. In the summer of 66 the Tuesday evening queue wouldn’t number more than about 40 or 50. Within a year or so the line waiting to get in would number 200 or more. Think we stayed the course til it shut but forever thankful we could see and appreciate some v good music from some v talented musicians.

By: Roger Phillips

Roger Phillips — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:21:52 +0000

I was in a band called the Bobolinks that played at Klooks Kleek on 3 occasions around 1965/1966. We were just the ‘fill in’ band between the first and second sets which featured top names. On one night it was John Mayal’s Bluesbreakers, although I’m not sure if Clapton was in the band at that time. On another occasion it was the Steampacket although my recollection is that Long John Baldry played one set and Rod Stewart the other. I also thought that Rod called his ad hoc band ‘Rod The Mod and the Soulmates’ but I can’t find any evidence of that. Lastly it was two top American blues men and as far as I can recall it was Buddy Guy and T-Bone Walker. Having checked other sites that show Klooks Kleek dates of that era, I’ve not been able to tie down exactly when these gigs might have taken place. Unfortunately I lost contacr with my fellow band members soon after, but the drummers name was Pete Vernon and I believe the guitarist was Pete Smith.