History

American Blues

Chris Barber brought some of the finest American Blues artists to the 100 Club including Muddy Waters, Little Brother Montgomery, Cousin Joe Pleasant, Albert King, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Span, Jimmy Rushing, Louisiana Red, Bo Diddley and B.B. King, alongside their American soul cousins Jackie Wilson and George Jackson.

The British Blues and Beat Scene

The British Blues and Beat scene was also well represented in this period with Steam Packet featuring Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry and Julie Driscoll, along with Alexis Korner, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Pretty Things, The Spencer Davis Group and The Animals. During this time, Roger Horton had also struck residency deals with the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and The High Numbers, who went on to become The Who.

1976
The Birth of Punk

The mood of the nation eventually manifested itself in the biggest music phenomenon since Mersey Beat, and the 100 Club was the home of its dissidents. Punk was born.

On the 20th and of 21st September 1976 The 100 Club hosted the first ever Punk festival, the Punk Special. On the 100 Club stage, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Siouxsie & The Banshees, the Buzzcocks, the Vibrators, Subway Sect, Stinky Toys, from France, and Chris Spedding were all on stage together over those two days for the first (and last) time in London. All of them were unsigned.

The Spiritual
Home of Punk

“The 600 strong line that stretched across two blocks was indisputable evidence that a new decade in rock is about to begin.” – Melody Maker

It was to be one of the most famous events in the club’s history.

It changed the 100 Club’s fortunes as well as its image for good. The Punk scene was deemed undesirable for other venues, but the 100 Club lead the way, championing bands from the 2nd wave of Punk such as UK Subs, G.B.H., Peter & the Test Tube Babies, The Adicts, The Exploited, ANWL, Subhumans, Discharge and many, many others. For many, the 100 Club is still to this day, the spiritual home of the Punk movement.

The Rise of Reggae

Around this time, the Saturday lunchtime Reggae sessions were becoming the go-to place in central London. Notable reggae artists to have played the Club included the Equals with Eddie Grant and The Mighty Diamonds, Toots and the Maytals and Steel Pulse. This event wasn’t welcomed by the authorities at the time and considerable pressure was put upon the club to stop these events, including the threat of shutting down the venue. But Roger resisted and the lunchtime Reggae sessions went on to deliver countless more shows featuring some of the best Reggae about.

May 1980

The famous 6T’s Northern Soul All Nighter made its 100 Club debut. Organised and promoted by Northern Soul DJ and Record Collector Ady Croasdell, the All Nighter has included live sets from Soul luminaries such as Doris Troy, Ray Pollard, Barbara Acklan, Tommy Hunt, The Flirtations, Terry Callier, Lou Ragland, Tony Middleton, and has had famous Northern Soul DJ’s such as Ian Levene spinning the decks frequently. The night still continues to feature regularly in the 100 Club calendar today and is the longest running club night in the UK.

South African Jazz

South African jazz/township music left a huge mark on the venue in the 80s. Julian Bahula, the distinguished South African drummer, ran weekly nights that featured many South African musicians who were political refugees, isolated from their homeland because of apartheid laws and membership of the outlawed A.N.C. A lot of these musicians were now living in London, away from their homeland because of fear of persecution and arrest.

Great African Musicians

Through Bahula’s work, Friday nights became a whole movement for change. Great African musicians like Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela appeared on the Friday night bill as did Youssou N’Dour, Thomas Mapfumo, Dudu Pukwana and Spirits Rejoice. They ran for almost ten very successful years until Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on Robben Island after 27 years meant that the campaign for awareness around apartheid and South African politics at the time had ended successfully.

28th September 1984

Current owner Jeff Horton worked his first shift behind the bar. His first shift featured a jazz night with The Ken Colyer Jazzmen and he became aware very quickly of the club’s music policy when, the following evening, he was serving to hundreds of punks at an Eraserhead show.

The Night Music Changed Forever

The 100 Club built a strong relationship with SJM concert promoter Chris York. Among the first incredible shows Chris promoted were Suede (1992), Echobelly (1993) and Oasis (1994). The Suede show caused tremors of great excitement in the music press with The NME dedicating page after page on the 100 club show and its front page headline yelling “The Night Music Changed Forever”

Paul Weller, Kula Shaker, Catatonia, Travis, Embrace, Cornershop, The Aloof, Heavy Stereo and Baby Bird would be just a few of the names to play the club and up to the end of the 90’s. Semisonic, Muse, Shack, Doves, JJ72, Joe Strummer and the Mesceleros, Squarepusher, Ocean Colour Scene and The Webb Brothers would also play the famous stage.

Alongside an Indie cultural phenomenon, The White Stripes, The Libertines, Primal Scream all play the 100 Club, alongside other shows from Paul Weller as well as Aerosmith’s Joe Perry.

July 2007

The smoking ban had a huge initial impact on the hospitality trade. But just as people were getting used to it, the 2008 financial crisis hit along with unprecedented historical rent increases for the 100 Club.

22nd September 2010

After battling on from these rent rises, Jeff eventually made the decision to announce that the Club would have to close at the end of the year. The future was simply untenable.

This triggered massive outcry with an online “Save the 100 Club” campaign garnering nearly 18,000 members, backed fiercely by rock icons like Mick Jagger, Liam Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, and Mick Jones.

December 2010

Sir Paul McCartney played a legendary, intimate lunchtime set that helped draw international attention to the campaign.

A few months later in February 2011, Jeff announced a historic multi-year sponsorship deal with Converse. Crucially, the agreement preserved the club’s independence, with no ownership stake or naming rights exchanged for financial support.

2011-2016

The Converse partnership ushered in another remarkable period in the club’s history. Intimate performances by artists including Blur, Paul Weller, Nas, The Vaccines, Enter Shikari, Plan B, Gorillaz Soundsystem, Run the Jewels, Madness, Savages, SBTRKT, Santigold, Toots and the Maytals, Palma Violets, Graham Coxon, Ghostface Killah & MF DOOM, Gallows, The Cribs, Joey Bada$$, Peace and many others reaffirmed the venue’s reputation as one of London’s most important stages.

Outside of Converse, other promoters took to both rising artists, and bands playing under plays to the venue. Notably for events such as BBC Radio 2 ‘2DAY’ Special featuring Chris Rea, Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Keane, Jamie Cullum, Bellowhead, Jersey Boys Cast; and artists such as Various Cruelties, Blood Orange Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Orianthi ft. Alice Cooper, Sleaford Mods, The Horrors, The Courteeners, Ho99o9, Twin Peaks, John Lydon, Black Mountain, Slaves, Nine Below Zero played the venue.

December 2016

The Converse era drew to a close, but a new partnership followed with Fred Perry. The 100 Club continued to balance established artists with emerging talent through the Subculture Live series, and festivals including All Our Tomorrows.

This partnership brought in some incredible moments with new and emerged talent alike, including shows featuring The Fall, The Pretty Things, Bakar, Cosmo Pike, Black Grape, Black Country New Road, Squid, Fat White Family, The Orielles, Shame and many more, reflecting the venue’s continuing role as a home for new music.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the first prolonged closure in the club’s 78-year history, with the venue surviving through Arts Council support and the occasional socially distanced gig.

When coming out of restrictions, Jeff recognised a need to take greater control of the 100 Club’s programme. In doing so, he hired his daughter and 4th generation of the family, Ruby Horton, as Venue Manager, and Matt Taylor as in-house booker.

The Next Wave

Setting themselves the task of bringing through the next wave of young, culturally important artists, Ruby and Matt began putting on regular nights with bands including Do Nothing, Ugly, and Wet Leg, as well as forming a live partnership with DORK Magazine to supplement the in-house calendar with co-promoted shows with the magazine. Covering genres from Jazz to Rap, Rock and Electronic, the in-house promotions have formed a fundamental part of the 100 Club’s offering and brought the next-generation of music lovers into the venue.

December 2022

The first show in the venue’s End Of Year Festival was programmed as a standalone Christmas Party. This was expanded to 8 sell-out shows in 2023, before a fully-formed 24-date run was programmed in 2024. Since launching, the multi-genre festival has expanded year-on-year and featured a broad spectrum of artists including CASISDEAD, Working Men’s Club, English Teacher, Lambrini Girls, Working Men’s Club, Snapped Ankles, Willie J Healey, Warmduscher and many more highlights.

More than eighty years after its first jazz performance, the 100 Club remains one of the world’s most celebrated independent music venues – a place where musical history has been made across every genre, from jazz and blues to punk, soul, reggae, rock, hip hop and beyond.