The Apollo (Glasgow)

Infobox Theatre
name=The Apollo


caption=
address=126 Renfield Street
city=Glasgow
country=Scotland, United Kingdom
designation= Music Venue
Cinema
latitude=
longitude=-
architect=John Fairweather
owner=George Green Ltd
capacity=3,500
type=
opened= 5 September 1973
yearsactive= 12 Years
rebuilt=
closed= 16 June 1985
othernames= Green’s Playhouse
production=
currentuse=Demolished
website=

The Apollo, formerly known as the Green’s Playhouse, was opened by Unicorn Leisure in September 1973 after acquiring a lease from the owners George Green Ltd. The venue's debut live performance was by Johnny Cash on 5 September 1973.

History

The Apollo became the leading concert venue in Glasgow and Scotland throughout the 1970s and 1980's, playing host to artists, bands, and groups that expressed a desire to perform to a Glasgow audience. The cinema tradition was initially continued until it was seen as financially unviable and discontinued.

The lease to the Apollo was held by Unicorn Leisure, the management company for comedian Billy Connolly and singer Christian, as well as the operator of many of Glasgow's pups, clubs, and discotheques during the 1970s.

Above the main concert auditorium operated the ballroom, originally known as Clouds through various name changes including Satellite City and The Penthouse. The ballroom became a music venue for up-coming and relatively lesser-known bands (such as Simple Minds, Elvis Costello and The Rich Kids), who were unable to attract a paying audience capable of filling the concert venue.

Despite the Apollo's success as a music venue, the building was in a poor condition continuing to deteriorate structurally, with maintenance repairs being done on a 'make do' basis. In mid-1977, the owner of Unicorn Leisure relocated to the warmer climes of Florida, USA. The lease was acquired by Apollo Leisure Group. The new leaseholders experienced considerable problems with the buildings structural condition, to the extent they considered relinquishing the lease in 1978, with Mecca Bingo interested in the acquiring the building.

After a first 'final gig' with singer Christian as the headline act on 5 July 1978, The Apollo resumed business as music venue less than a month later. The resumption was to herald a seven-year downward spiral until the venue finally closed for business on 16 June 1985, with the Style Council the final performers on the bill.

The building was demolished in September 1987 following a fire that rendered the building structurally unsafe and is now the site of a multiplex cinema complex.

Performers

The following artists performed at the The Apollo between 1973 and 1985.
* 10cc
* Abba
* Accept
* Adam and the Ants
* Alice Cooper
* AC/DC
* Argent
* Average White Band
* Bachman Turner Overdrive
* Bad Company
* Barclay James Harvest
* Bay City Rollers
* Beck, Bogert & Appice
* Billy Connolly
* Billy Squier
* Black Oak Arkansas
* Black Sabbath
* Blondie
* Bob Marley & The Wailers
* Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
* Bon Jovi
* Boomtown Rats
* Budgie
* Camel
* Caravan
* Cat Stevens
* Chas & Dave
* Chris de Burgh
* Christian
* Cliff Richard
* Cocteau Twins
* David Bowie
* David Essex
* Def Leppard
* Diamond Head
* Dio
* Dire Straits
* Don McLean
* Dr. Feelgood
* Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
* Elton John
* Elvis Costello & The Attractions
* Eric Clapton
* Fairport Convention
* Family
* Fleetwood Mac
* Frankie Miller
* Gallagher and Lyle
* Gamma
* Gary Moore
* Gary Numan
*
* Gillan
* Golden Earring
* Graham Parker & The Rumour
* Hall & Oates
* Harry Chapin
* Hawkwind
* Humble Pie
* Ian Gillan Band
* Iron Maiden
* Jethro Tull
* Joan Armatrading
* John Denver
* John Miles
* Johnny Cash
* Judas Priest
* Kiki Dee
* Kiss
* Krokus
* King Crimson
* Leo Sayer
* Leonard Cohen
* Lindisfarne
* Lou Reed
* Lynyrd Skynyrd
* Marillion
* Michael Schenker Group
* Mick Ronson
* Mike Oldfield
* Motörhead
* Nazareth
* Neil Sedaka
* Neil Young & Crazy Horse
* Ozzy Osbourne
* Paul Kossoff
* Peter Gabriel
* Phil Collins
* Pilot
* Procol Harum
* Public Image Limited
* Queen
* Quiet Riot
* Rainbow
* Rod Stewart
* Rory Gallagher
* Roxy Music
* Rush
* Sammy Hagar
* Sailor
* Santana
* Saxon
* Scorpions
* Sensational Alex Harvey Band
* Simple Minds
* Slade
* Squeeze
* Status Quo
* Steel Pulse
* Steeleye Span
* Steve Hillage
* Supertramp
* Sutherland Brothers & Quiver
* Tangerine Dream
* Ted Nugent
* Television
* The Chieftains
* The Clash
* The Cramps
* The Eagles
* The Faces
* The Jam
* The Kinks
* The Osmonds
* The Ramones
* The Police
* The Rezillos
* The Rolling Stones
* The Rods
* The Rubettes
* The Runaways
* The Skids
* The Small Faces
* The Stranglers
* The Who
* The Wombles
* Thin Lizzy
* Todd Rundgren
* Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
* Tom Robinson Band
* Toyah
* Traffic
* Triumph
* UFO
* Ultravox
* The Undertones
* Uriah Heep
* Van Halen
* Van Morrison
* Wally
* Weather Report
* Wings
* Wishbone Ash
* Whitesnake
* Y & T
* Yes
* ZZ Top

External links

* [http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/glasgow/playhouse/index.html Scottish Cinemas and Theatres - The Apollo archive photographs] [http://www.talismanfilmsscotland.co.uk]
* [http://www.glasgowapollo.com The Glasgow Apollo Website] T.REX