Description |
Around 1980 the punk bands Total Chaos, The Model Workers and other local bands such as The Reptiles started a venue called The Garage,
in Bells Court, Newcastle. When threatened with closure, the bands, who were mainly from Gateshead, worked with community and youth workers and The Prince’s Trust to lobby Gateshead Council to try to find a dedicated performance/rehearsal space.
The old Police Social Club on Swinburne Street, Gateshead, was identified as a possible venue. These musicians formed themselves into The Gateshead Music Collective, and began weekly meetings
in Gateshead Library. With help from Gateshead Library Services, The Collective successfully applied to The Prince’s Trust for funding to buy equipment and refurbish the newly named Station, which became an independent live music venue and rehearsal space from 1981–85.
Chris Killip, who lived in Bill Quay, Gateshead, from 1975–91, photographed The Station during the summer of 1985 — in the noise, heat and throbbing crowds of rebellious youth, exploding with energy and abandon amidst the throes of Thatcher’s Britain.
Killip is working on a new, large-scale publication, THE STATION, featuring the complete series of 70 photographs from that summer.
This special newsprint edition with a selection from the series is published to accompany the exhibition Idea of North at BALTIC, Gateshead, where 12 of the photographs are on display. |