Flyer
Slaughter and the Dogs, Ed Banger
The Oaks Hotel
26th April 1977

“Another one of mine. Hand lettered, and the character at the top is a Mekon, copied from a Dan Dare comic. We didn't have any money for typesetting or Letraset (this was in the days before personal computers) ... come to think of it, I probably didn't even get paid for doing these flyers ... so I used to have to hand letter these things. In a rush.”

“Pretty sure Johnny Thunders played there too.”

“According to Mick Middles' book on the Stone Roses Thunders, Siouxsie, Buzzcocks' and the Vibrators played there. Is this it? Now called the Royal Oak.
farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/22679845...”

“The Oaks wasn't the same building or location as the Royal Oak in centre of Chorlton. From what I remember the Oaks was situated near the far end of Barlow Moor road (close to junction with Princes rd) and opposite the cemetary. Think it changed into a Berni Inn restaurant before being boarded up?”

“Dave is right. The Oaks was opposite the cemetery, so everyone from Wythenshawe would come up and get off the bus at the corner of Princess Parkway and Barlow Moor Road. Vini Faal and Rob Gretton started the promotion there ... before that it was strictly a cabaret lounge. I remember seeing Foo Foo Lamarr play there once! Rob and Vini started a new wave night in early 1977. Johnny Thunders played there, Siouxsie played. (I remember doing a flyer for The Jam but I don't think they played the promotion, so they must have bailed.) Vini began promoting there on his own after a few weeks. Sad Cafe played there and I believe that's where Paul Young got the idea of doing some promoting himself, so he teamed up with Dougie James (of Dougie James and The Soul Train) and they started promoting at Rafters, although it very quickly ended up as Dougie's promotion. Dougie brought in everyone, from Elvis Costello to Dire Straits, from Sham 69 to XTC. There was also a heavy metal night where they'd get in bands like Whitesnake and Motorhead. Rob Gretton was Dougie's deejay and that's where he got to know the lads in Warsaw, who soon became Joy Division.”

“Don't forget the Oaks was probably one of the best local disco's you could go to. Paul Crane was an amazing dj who always played Eddie Kendricks as his final tune, so you knew it was time to go home. The three oak trees with yellow ribbons around them, thought it was so good. Cider and Stones green ginger wine!!!!!”

“Also appeared at the Oaks, The Adverts, Little Bob Story, Spider Mike King and a splendid T.Rex tribute band (must have been one of the first tribute bands, and this was before Marc's death)
Yes, a great spot for us Wythenshawe lads (before The Ranch)”

“Heard a rumour recently that Iggy Pop supposedly played a secret gig at the Oaks, Barlow Moor Road the day after his Apollo gig in Manchester in March 1977. I personally think this is bullshit. Can anyone on here confirm whether this gig happened or not. It was supposedly just Iggy accompanied only by Bowie on keyboards and occasionally guitar. Total fabrication in my opinion.”

“The Oaks was opposite Southern Cemetery on the corner of Barlow Moor Road/Princess Parkway…in the same space that is now the Christie Fields Beefeater!!!”