The Bridge House Pub in Canning Town London E16 was the premier pub rock venue of the 70's and the first pub in the world with its own record label. This pub became a mecca of music, where any new bands wishing to make it into the music industry had to be seen playing there. This site covers the years 1976 to 1982 when the venue was managed by Terry Murphy and family.
These are some of the many bands and artists that performed at the Bridge. U2 played on their first visit to London from Ireland. Depeche Mode played there for over a year, we helped them get a deal with Mute records. Cafe Racers played and later changed their name to Dire Straits. Paul Young and his band Q-Tips had a residency there for 9 months. Chas and Dave were regulars, recording a double live album there. Iron Maiden played over 35 times with three different singers. Tom Robinson fine tuned 2.4.6.8 while playing there. A Flock of Seagulls got signed there. Billy Bragg won a talent contest there. Steve Marriot on his return from the USA booked a residency, calling the band Blind Drunk. Police were waiting to arrest him before the gig. Charlie Watts and his band Rocket 88 played many times. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards would turn up to support him. Chris Thompson who was lead singer with Manfred Mann's Earthband was a regular and formed his own bands Filthy McNasty and Night that played there. Huey Lewis was a regular with his band called Clover. Paul Jones used to come and jam. He got a band together for one gig only. Today many years later the Blues Band are still playing. The Police used to ring regularly for a gig, but with a name like that we could not give them a gig in Canning Town. Secret Affair started a mod revival with our Mods Mayday 79 album. We got in the main album charts for the first time. Phil Daniels the actor formed a band and played there, almost caused a riot when he would not put an anorak on. Joe Brown on his arrival said, 'see all them electricity wires, 20 years ago i put 'em in'. Post Punk band Wasted Youth were formed there and became the biggest thing around for a while. Modern Romance presented Terry Murphy with a silver disc for the help he gave them. Rory Gallagher was always sensational when he used to jam with all the guys. Alex Harvey booked a secret gig...
Other regulars included; Ginger Baker, Brian Knight, Jeff Beck, Long John Baldry, Manfred Mann, Lindisfarne, Crawler, Paul Kossoff Band, Jo Ann Kelly and her Band, Tony Mcphee & Groundhogs, Zoot Money, Alexis Korner, Geno Washington, Squeeze, Blow Monkeys, Girls School, Sham 69, The Damned, Cockney Rejects, Glen Matlock, Lena Lovich, The Vibrators, Joan Jett, Uk Subs, Stray Cats, The Skids, Soft Cell, John Cooper Clark, Norman Lovett, Gerry McAvoy, Stevie Lange, Jackie Lynton, Remus Down Boulevard and Splodgenessabounds.
Also Tom Watkins, Jazz Summers, Chris Wright, Colin Bell, Miles Copland, Micky Most, Tarquin Gotch, Mutt Lange, John Blake, Gary Bushell, Simon Hills and Ged Doherty were regulars looking for new bands.
Maybe you have some memories that could be included?