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was formed which aside from Pike and Stopps, featured also John Fowler (initially as he had made a financial investment) and local youngsters Adrian Roach, Jerry Slater and Terry Harms. Roach and Slater were pupils of Pike and ran their own enterprise running the Bog Hog Folk Club at the now defunct Derby Arms pub in
Aylesbury. Collectively they promoted the early gigs and sold underground magazines that at that time could only be purchased in London. The first gig on Monday 2 June 1969 with blues guitarist
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venue in
Aylesbury's Market Square despite misgivings of the venue's acoustics and its poor reputation from when it had been previously called The Grosvenor (although as The Grosvenor, acts such as Jimi Hendrix played). Stopps subsequently said that if the first gig hadn't have been a success, he would have closed Friars and taken up a career in advertising. As it was, that first gig on 17 April 1971 was a complete sellout featuring
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Having already tried the
Borough Assembly Hall for a couple of bigger gigs in 1969 (Fat Mattress and The Third Ear Band were the gigs concerned and the Friars team cheekily referred to the Borough Assembly Hall at that time as the 'Friars Auditorium'), the decision was taken to restart Friars at this
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in
Birmingham. Stopps was initially reluctant feeling it may work better in nearby High Wycombe which had a bigger population. Persuaded otherwise, Pike had sounded out premises in Aylesbury, namely the ex-Servicemen's club in Walton Street, Aylesbury, known also as the New Friarage Hall. A committee
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David Stopps, due to the phenomenal rise of Howard Jones who he was managing, was devoting less of his time to Friars, but the reasons it shut were not down to Jones' success, but more to the harsh financial reality that Friars had started to lose a lot of money. Whilst no-one knew it then, the last
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Stopps issued a press statement in spring 1985 stating that Friars was going to be closed down because of increasing running costs, and because bands were trading on favours and coming back to Friars at lower fees because they loved the place. The last straw was a 'well known band' pulling out of a
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Although the quality of gigs in 1983 and 1984 was generally high, it was proving difficult in the advent of the video age to attract decent working bands as fewer were touring. This resulted in some big gaps in the Friars schedules. In 1984 there were some weaker concerts culminating in Friars 15th
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headlining in the Market Square to 20,000 people and this was subsequently filmed for ATV's
Stardust Man documentary (this documentary was originally going to be about Friars but the producers decided to pick up Otway's story). In 1978 the biggest production ever seen at Friars arrived in the shape
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twice in 1971 and early 1972, the third appearance on 15 July 1972 is seen by many as the greatest ever Friars
Aylesbury concert when Bowie unveiled his Ziggy Stardust persona on the Aylesbury audience and many members of the press, including US journalists, who had been flown in especially for the
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The club was started after local school teacher Robin Pike suggested to David Stopps, a budding music manager whom he had previously bumped into when he was managing local band Smokey Rice and they appeared at the school dance that Pike was heavily involved with, that
Aylesbury needed a music club
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between 1969 and 1984 in three distinct phases denoted by the venue in the town. Over these fifteen years, there were various trials and tribulations which saw Friars close to bankruptcy more than once but it survived and presented the best artists of its day and is acknowledged as being heavily
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The new Civic hall was originally called the Vale Hall in keeping with local historical name themed rooms in the building. It was officially renamed the
Maxwell Hall in 1977 in honour of late Councillor Reg Maxwell. The move to a new 1,250 capacity venue offered Friars opportunities it had only
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Much delight amongst Friars members when it was announced that there would be a Friars Phase Four in its biggest venue yet. This started on 8 October 2010 in what was, aside from Friars first gig there, also the first proper paying event at the new theatre. The concert was headlined by
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The Friars
Aylesbury website, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Friars and with the agreement of Stopps, has been awarding special engraved Friars Heroes Awards through 2009 and again in 2010 to those artists whose performances are etched in the Friars fabric.
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Genesis and The Police, world superstars by the time they came to Friars in 1980 and 1982, ensured demand for tickets for far outstripped supply. On both occasions, Aylesbury Cattle Market had hundreds of people queuing overnight and press and television attention.
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The day the Pretty Things tickets went on sale for the first Friars gig in 25 years, a large crowd gathered at the Civic Centre box office along with journalists and BBC News. BBC News also came back on the day of the Kid Creole gig to report on the proceedings.
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To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Friars, an anniversary concert was organised by Stopps and his team for 1 June 2009 almost exactly 40 years to the day since the first concert and nearly 25 years after the last.. This featured bands from the early era,
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gig in 1969), Bedford, and
Watford. This Phase ended prematurely when the committee overseeing the ex-Servicemen's club refused to allow Friars to continue running there after August 1970 due to complaints about the noise from local residents.
656:, Wing, Bucks. This celebrated the artists who had played Friars and also the distinctive imagery of the posters and flyers. This was unveiled in September 2010 by Friars promoter David Stopps and was covered by amongst others, BBC TV news.
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played there. During this time, Stopps was standing out as the promoter and public face at Friars and the only one able to do the job full-time. Gigs were starting to be put on at other venues in Dunstable (including a very successful
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and The Disco Students selling out well in advance for SLF's return after 27 years. The final anniversary concert, billed as the probably last Christmas party took place on 27 November and featured memorable performances from
302:, England. It opened in 1969 but closed down twice, once in 1970 for a period of nine months and again in 1984 for a period of twenty-five years. Friars Aylesbury reopened in June 2009 to tie in with its fortieth anniversary.
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In April 2008, the official Friars website www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk launched with the aim of documenting every gig at Aylesbury and the other towns. Many fans have supplied their memories and artists too.
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as their reputations were taking off. Friars in this time presented two open air festivals in Rabans Lane in Aylesbury in 1973 and 1974. The years up to the end of Phase Two saw memorable performances from
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Friars continued its rebirth into 2010 and with the Civic Centre shutting in June 2010, it presented one last opportunity to bow out of the venue. This it did in style as Friars secured the services of
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having played on the up in 1979 came back as world superstars in 1982. Like the Genesis gig in 1980, the stage had to be specially extended in terms of width and depth to cater for the lighting rig.
649:. Tickets went on sale for this gig on 15 May 2010 with a queue stretching through the Market Square. This and the subsequent online demand ensured this became the most in demand Friars gig ever.
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Inspired by the Friars Aylesbury Cup awarded for many years by David Stopps to artists who had made sensational breakthroughs in different ways. Recipients of this award included
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Vale/Maxwell Hall, Civic Centre, Aylesbury – 13 September 1975 – 22 December 1984 and 1 June 2009 – 4 June 2010 (capacity approx 1,250, decreased to 1,100 by 2009).
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sports hall. This venue was never used again despite its size due to the logistical problems of presenting a gig in a venue not designed for that purpose.
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and many more. Phase Two came to an end in August 1975 when the hall closed in favour of the new purpose-built Civic Centre and Friars relocated there.
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gig at Friars to earn more elsewhere. The band was never officially named but strongly thought to be King, who were about to go very big.
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dreamed of in terms of artist stature and physical presentations and this helped cement Friars reputation in the music industry.
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A major coup for Friars and a lot of press attention was the first live appearance anywhere in five years of
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Birthday Party with the Scottish band Fiction Factory being attended by not much more than 100 people.
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Friars championed local music and bands and aside from John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett, bands like
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Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square Aylesbury 17 April 1971 – 30 August 1975 (capacity approx 800)
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Another free festival followed in 1978, this time with local act, now a celebrity and hitmaker,
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New Friarage Hall, Walton Street Aylesbury – 2 June 1969 – 6 August 1970 (capacity approx 400)
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drew a crowd large enough to suggest that this might be a viable proposition. The next week,
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Also in 2010 saw the unveiling of a permanent art installation created by Year 10 pupils at
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Aylesbury Ex Services Club · 62-64, Walton St, Aylesbury HP21 7QP, United Kingdom
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Pete Frame's rockin' around Britain: rock'n'roll landmarks of the UK and Ireland
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and 999 and was deemed a huge success. Further concerts are planned for 2011.
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in 1977. His band featured David Bowie on keyboards returning to Friars.
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gig turned out to be Marillion's sold-out homecoming in December 1984.
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who played Friars for the first time since 1980 and was supported by
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Phase Three – Vale Hall (renamed Maxwell Hall from 1977), Aylesbury
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Friars Aylesbury ran as a music club in the market town of
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and their huge production played Friars, other bands like
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responsible for the subsequent success of such artists as
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made his long-awaited return to Friars in 1979 featuring
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made the step up and the concerts got bigger and bigger.
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coming back to one of their favourite early venues.
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87:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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193:of quality, and to make it neutral in tone.
50:Learn how and when to remove these messages
682:Friars Heroes Awards / Friars Hall of Fame
542:'s huge production and trumped in 1980 by
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890:"Welcome to the Friars Aylesbury website"
660:Phase Four – Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
227:Learn how and when to remove this message
209:Learn how and when to remove this message
147:Learn how and when to remove this message
579:were strongly supported and encouraged.
359:Phase One – New Friarage Hall, Aylesbury
925:Schinder, Scott; Andy Schwartz (2008).
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445:occasion. 1972 saw performances too by
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865:"Bucks Herald article 2009 April 08"
85:adding citations to reliable sources
963:"Bucks Herald article 2009 July 21"
713:Awards have been made thus far to
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993:Friars Aylesbury official website
793:, Simon Cheetham/Disco Students,
31:This article has multiple issues.
595:Rebirth of Friars Aylesbury 2009
440:. Having successfully presented
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39:or discuss these issues on the
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294:is a music club that runs in
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623:Kid Creole and the Coconuts
384:and progressive rock group
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935:Greenwood Publishing Group
273:Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
558:Stoke Mandeville Stadium
771:Mandrake Paddle Steamer
386:Mandrake Paddle Steamer
779:Eddie and the Hot Rods
676:Eddie and the Hot Rods
462:, the breakthrough of
174:may be written from a
894:Aylesburyfriars.co.uk
180:neutral point of view
755:Edgar Broughton Band
723:Stiff Little Fingers
614:Stiff Little Fingers
606:Edgar Broughton Band
344:Stiff Little Fingers
81:improve this article
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176:fan's point of view
739:Wild Willy Barrett
526:as special guest.
96:"Friars Aylesbury"
967:Bucksherald.co.uk
948:978-0-313-33847-2
869:Bucksherald.co.uk
850:978-0-7119-6973-5
837:Music Sales Group
805:, Robin Pike and
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799:China Crisis
743:Howard Jones
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270:Headquarters
250:Members club
247:Company type
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199:October 2019
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137:October 2015
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79:Please help
74:verification
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33:Please help
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839:. pp.
827:Frame, Pete
803:Paul Weller
791:Penetration
767:Mike Cooper
643:Paul Weller
618:Penetration
505:Dr Feelgood
472:Dr Feelgood
442:David Bowie
382:Mike Cooper
316:David Bowie
187:clean it up
937:. p.
813:References
807:Kris Needs
783:Stackridge
763:Ian Hunter
735:John Otway
696:John Otway
647:John Otway
573:Kajagoogoo
550:The Police
540:Gary Numan
531:John Otway
501:Stackridge
455:Roxy Music
438:John Otway
415:Pink Floyd
350:and more.
340:Stackridge
107:newspapers
36:improve it
1010:Aylesbury
727:Marillion
672:Buzzcocks
569:Marillion
554:The Clash
348:Marillion
307:Aylesbury
296:Aylesbury
259:Aylesbury
42:talk page
1004:Category
829:(1999).
516:Iggy Pop
451:Lou Reed
410:Hawkwind
371:Source:
363:Source:
972:9 March
874:9 March
719:The Jam
700:Genesis
674:, with
544:Genesis
447:Genesis
406:Genesis
377:Mothers
354:History
320:Genesis
278:Website
255:Founded
185:Please
121:scholar
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847:
715:Sailor
688:Sailor
497:Sailor
468:Sailor
336:Sailor
123:
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102:
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841:11–12
704:Toyah
509:Camel
128:JSTOR
114:books
974:2023
943:ISBN
876:2023
845:ISBN
731:Fish
702:and
625:and
608:and
575:and
503:and
470:and
453:and
408:and
394:Free
100:news
939:489
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