Hi folks,
It's been a while since I logged in, what with Real Life committments and ill health. Hope everyone here is keeping well! It's been fun playing "catch-up" and reading all the newer posts!
I noted there were differing opinions regarding the reason why Mothers closed so abruptly. We were told back then that it was due to fire hazard restrictions, as around that time there had been several fatalities at a similar music venue on the Continent somewhere, where the youngsters could not get out due to lack of access/egress to the building. From my recollections I would say there is a good likelihood of this being one of - if not THE reason - for it's closure.
I enjoyed the You Tube silliness, thanks for sharing lol! Wow, the local talent was, and still is, phenomenal! Years ago I wrote to Ozzy Osbourne's "fan club" and they seemed somewhat lacking in knowledge! They were apparently aware of very little of his history from the time leading up to Sabbath performing at Mothers! I knew Ozzy prior to Black Sabbath, circa '67-68 when he was in a local group called The Approach. I'm not sure whether this band preceded Rare Breed or Earth, or maybe even The Approach may have simply been renamed. I was still a schoolgirl at the time and the boys used our gym for their practice sessions (on the Lyndhurst Estate) Erdington, where my friend and I spent hours watching them. Later we would all cram into their battered old van and chug down to the Lyndhurst pub for a jar or ten, all of us in convulsions at Ozzy's antics; like dressing up in his younger brother's batman outfit and jumping out at old lady's as they crossed the carpark..... nothing changes!!!
Tell ya what, that Blue Plaque is spot on - I couldn't be more proud of my hometown!
Cher