The Rock Garden was a music venue located at 6/9 The Piazza, Covent Garden in London.
Opening in 1976, the basement venue hosted thousands of live music acts and became popular with up-and-coming punk rock and new wave artists of the time. [1] It has been widely reported that U2 played their first London gig at the venue and that Dire Straits had a weekly residency at the club for a number of months. [2] The Smiths played their first ever London show at the Rock Garden on the 23 March 1983. [3] Talking Heads played the band’s first UK gig at the Rock Garden on 13 May 1977. [1] Other artists that performed at the venue include: The Faces of Murpy, Iron Maiden, Symposium, The Police, XTC, Legacy of Lies, Adam and The Ants, Patti Smith [1] and Suede. [4]
In 1990s it become a nightclub and music venue called The Gardening Club. [5] In August 2010, Apple opened an Apple Store across 1-7 The Piazza, Covent Garden on the former site of the Rock Garden restaurant and the Gardening Club. [6] [7]
References
- ^ a b c Talling, Paul; Whitmore, Greg (2020-05-30). "London's lost venues – in pictures". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ Muehlbradt, Matthias; Axver, André. "U2 Covent Garden, 1979-12-05, Rock Garden, Early Days - U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "The Smiths And Rough Trade Records: How Soon Is Now?". Magnet Magazine. 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "The Rock Garden". www.shadyoldlady.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "The Gardening Club, London (6 - 7 The Piazza, )". www.londononline.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ Whitehead, Jennifer (July 30, 2010). "Covent Garden site to be Apple's biggest store". www.campaignlive.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "The big Apple comes to Covent Garden with 'best' store". Evening Standard. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2023-01-07.