Shepherd's Bush Empire

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For the Joe Bonamassa album, see Shepherds Bush Empire (album).

O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Shepherd's Bush Empire.jpg
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire is located in London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Location within London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Former namesShepherd's Bush Empire (1903–53; 1994–2009)
BBC Television Theatre (1953–94)
AddressShepherd's Bush Green
London, W12
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′13″N 0°13′28″W / 51.50349°N 0.22433°W / 51.50349; -0.22433Coordinates: 51°30′13″N 0°13′28″W / 51.50349°N 0.22433°W / 51.50349; -0.22433
Public transitLondon Underground Goldhawk Road
London Underground Shepherd's Bush
London Overground National Rail Shepherd's Bush
OwnerAcademy Music Group
OperatorAcademy Music Group
Capacity2,000
Construction
Opened17 August 1903; 118 years ago (1903-08-17)
Renovated1993
ArchitectFrank Matcham
Project managerOswald Stoll
Website
o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk

Shepherd's Bush Empire (currently known as O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the BBC Television Theatre) is a music venue in Shepherd's Bush, West London, run by the Academy Music Group. It was originally built in 1903 as a music hall for impresario Oswald Stoll, designed by theatre architect Frank Matcham; among its early performers was Charlie Chaplin. In 1953 it became the BBC Television Theatre.[1] Since 1994, it has operated as a music venue. It is a Grade II listed building.[2]

History[]

Queue for Pearl Jam at the Empire in August 2009
Shepherd's Bush Empire

Origins[]

The Shepherd's Bush Empire was built in 1903 for impresario Oswald Stoll, designed by theatre architect Frank Matcham.[3] Ashly's Circus performed at Shepherd's Bush Empire and presented to George Strong a trophy for riding The Bucking Mule "Sloper' on 8 September 1905. The first performers at the new theatre were The Fred Karno Troupe including Charlie Chaplin (1906). The Empire staged music-hall entertainments, such as variety performances and revues, until the early 1950s, by which time the popularity of these forms of entertainment was declining.[4]

WW2[]

During World War II, the Shepherd's Bush Empire narrowly escaped being hit by a flying bomb, which in 1944 hit the neighbouring Shepherd's Bush Pavilion, destroying the original interior. The Pavilion did not re-open until 1955.[5][6]

Post war era[]

In 1953, the Empire was sold to the BBC, which put it to use as a television studio–theatre, renaming it the BBC Television Theatre.[3] Among the programmes produced there were Crackerjack, The Old Grey Whistle Test, That's Life!, The Generation Game, Juke Box Jury, This Is Your Life, Jim'll Fix It, most of the BBC's light entertainment music shows, such as those starring Cliff Richard, Lulu, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Vera Lynn, Harry Secombe, Petula Clark, Val Doonican, as well as the UK's Eurovision Song Contest preliminary heat, A Song For Europe. In 1985, the theatre was turned over for exclusive use by Wogan, which was broadcast three nights a week from the theatre.[7] The BBC vacated the building in 1991.

In 1993 The Shepherd's Bush Empire was acquired by entrepreneur Andrew Mahler, who invested over £1m in the building in improvements and refurbishments.[3] In 1994 the building re-opened under its original name of the Shepherd's Bush Empire; since then it has hosted gigs and dance nights.

Shepherd's Bush Empire today[]

Live performances filmed at the venue and released on DVD include a King Crimson concert on 3 July 2000, presented on the two-disc set Eyes Wide Open, Siouxsie and the Banshees' The Seven Year Itch album and DVD recorded over two nights In July 2002, Frank Turner's "Take to the Road" DVD, Opeth's first live DVD (Lamentations) recorded at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on Thursday 25 September 2003, a November 2005 concert by indie band The Wedding Present and The Only Ones comeback concert in June 2007. In November 2007, Amy Winehouse recorded I Told You I Was Trouble: Live in London. On 27, 28 and 29 February, and 1 March 2008, gothic rock pioneers The Mission recorded their farewell concerts, The Final Chapter, for release on CD and DVD. In addition to this, Transatlantic's third live release, "Whirld Tour 2010: Live in London", was recorded and filmed at the venue. Folk-rock band Mumford & Sons recorded their album Live from Shepherd's Bush Empire there. In 2015, Public Image Ltd recorded their album "Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire" there.

In the dance music community it is also known to host raves and hard dance events, such as Frantic or Heat.[citation needed]

The Empire has a capacity of only 2,000, but it has been chosen as a venue for small gigs, or as a venue for 'surprise' warm-up gigs. Prior to their 1999 tour, the Rolling Stones put in a performance, with Sheryl Crow as support, on 8 June.

The Chicks singer Natalie Maines made a controversial remark about George W. Bush at the club in 2003.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  • Denny, Barbara, Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush Past, Historical Publications Ltd, London (1995), ISBN 0 948667 32 X

Notes[]

  1. ^ BBC handbook British Broadcasting Corporation – 1961 "In 1953 the old Shepherds Bush Empire was acquired mainly for the production of light entertainment shows."
  2. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1358593)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Denny, p.93
  4. ^ Venue History (Official site) accessed 19 August 2008
  5. ^ Shepherd's Bush Blog. Retrieved December 2011
  6. ^ Denny, p.101
  7. ^ Unofficial History of Shepherds Bush Empire as BBC Television Theatre. Retrieved 19 August 2008
  8. ^ Clarke, Betty (12 March 2003). ""The Dixie Chicks" concert review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
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