G-A-Y

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G-A-Y
G-A-Y London Club logo.jpg
StatusActive
GenreNight club
Location(s)London, England
Years active45 years
Inaugurated1976; 45 years ago (1976)
LeaderJeremy Joseph
Organised byG-A-Y Ltd by Jeremy Joseph
PeopleJeremy Joseph
SponsorG-A-Y Ltd, MAMA Group
Websitewww.g-a-y.co.uk

G-A-Y is a long-running gay nightclub, based at Heaven in Charing Cross, London. It originally started in 1976, and for many years was based at the London Astoria.

History[]

G-A-Y originally began in 1976 in the Sundown club in the basement of the London Astoria (later LA2) as a Monday night event called Bang!. It was started by club promoters Norman Scott, Damien Tony and Jerry Collins, who worked as a DJ under the name Gary London. During the 1980s, Bang! (which had by then also expanded to Saturday night) and Propaganda (Thursday night) were run by gay club promoter and DJ Colin Peters (Peter Daubeney), whose brother Jamie continued as promoter for a period following his death. In the early 1990s, Bang! was acquired by DJ and promoter Jeremy Joseph, formerly employed by Peters, who oversaw its change of name to G-A-Y. At this point, G-A-Y expanded further from two nights a week to four, hosting at the LA2 on Mondays and Thursdays and the London Astoria on Fridays and Saturdays.

It operated from the London Astoria music venue for 15 years until July 2008. The Boston Globe described it as "London's largest gay-themed club night",[1] NME reported that it "attracts 6,000 clubbers each week",[2] and The Independent described it as "the one London gig that really matters" for "today's pop stars".[3]

G-A-Y is associated with G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late. A major stake in the brand was bought on 13 August 2007 by the MAMA Group.[4] On Friday 3 October 2008, G-A-Y moved to the famous gay venue Heaven, which MAMA Group had acquired a few weeks earlier on 22 September 2008.[5]

The G-A-Y Album[]

Main article: G-A-Y (album)

In 2000, a 40 track compilation album was released, featuring songs from some of the artists who had appeared at G-A-Y. A promotional campaign took place in the weeks leading up to release, including television and radio advertisements, a nationwide poster campaign and magazine advertisements in both the gay and teen press[citation needed].

On Saturday 1 July 2000, a show was held at G-A-Y to promote the release of the album. Seven acts who appeared on the album performed. These acts were Shola Ama, All Saints, Bananarama, Dina Carroll, Billie Piper, Honeyz and Louise. Each act performed only one song, apart from Louise, who also performed her new single "2 Faced".

The G-A-Y album was released on Monday 3 July 2000 and peaked at number 18 in the UK compilations chart[citation needed].

G-A-Y brand[]

The G-A-Y brand has expanded to two other bars in the same area: G-A-Y Late (located near the former Astoria site) and G-A-Y bar (located nearby in Soho's Old Compton Street). In April 2011, the G-A-Y brand arrived in Manchester's Canal Street gay village, with a G-A-Y bar opening in the former venue of Spirit Bar.[6] The brand is now 100% owned by Jeremy Joseph.[7]

Controversies[]

In March 2019, staff refused comedian Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, entry into one of his nightclubs after they believed she was drunk. Owner Jeremy Joseph later apologised on Twitter.[8]

In 2011, Joseph tweeted that straight people were not welcome to a One Direction gig, stating: "My birthday wish is for little girls to realise that G-A-Y is a lesbian and gay club so there's only one direction and that’s no direction for them".[9]

Joseph was also accused of racism after blaming a rise in crime in Soho on "Somalians";[10] this led to criticism from Black and South Asian LGBT groups.[11][12]

Performances[]

Saturday nights at G-A-Y/Heaven have seen many performances from a wide selection of artists and genres. Acts who have appeared at G-A-Y include:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "London has hot tickets, big hair, and a club night for every taste". Boston Globe online. 28 April 2004.
  2. ^ "Sing If You'Re Glad To Be at G.A.Y." NME. 19 June 2000. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  3. ^ "Why they're all glad to be G-A-Y". The Independent. London. 28 October 2003. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Music group buys into G-A-Y bars". PinkNews.co.uk. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  5. ^ "MAMA Group "delighted" at acquisition of Heaven". PinkNews.co.uk. 25 September 2008.
  6. ^ "GAY Website". Archived from the original on 4 August 2011.
  7. ^ Tony Grew (13 August 2007). "Music group buys into G-A-Y bars". Pink News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  8. ^ ""Bloody flabbergasted": Disabled woman turned away from G-A-Y nightclub after confused bouncer thinks she's drunk". outnewsglobal.com. 19 March 2018.
  9. ^ Cullen, Jack (18 January 2011). "Is there only One Direction for G-A-Y?". the Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  10. ^ Jourdan, Edwin (31 December 2016). "Jeremy Joseph apologises for racist outburst".
  11. ^ "Racism is rife in the LGBT community. Gay people can't demand equality while discriminating themselves". The Independent. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Why G-A-Y nightclub owner was wrong to scapegoat Somali people for crime in central London". gal-dem. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Resurrecting at G-A-Y". Gaypers. London. 2 August 2014. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  14. ^ "G-A-Y Divas Album Launch with B*Witched @ G-A-Y". QX. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Britney Spears partying at G-A-Y Nightclub in London". Brit-s.net. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Back on? Niall Horan cheers Ellie Goulding on at G.A.Y gig". Glamour. 18 November 2003. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  17. ^ Staff, B. T. L. (12 July 2007). "Enrique Iglesias gets G-A-Y".
  18. ^ "Lady GaGa storms G-A-Y in London". Gigwise. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Madonna Plays G-A-Y at Astoria – Getty Images". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Marina Diamandis Pictures And Photos – Getty Images". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  21. ^ "Check out McFly at G-A-Y on View. For further info, reviews, tickets and to see what's on". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  22. ^ "McFly Get Naked at G-A-Y". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Olly Murs at G-A-Y". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  24. ^ "One Direction @ G-A-Y". QX Magazine. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  25. ^ "THE HUMAN LEAGUE". Retrieved 20 June 2016.

External links[]

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