Le Phonographique

Le Phonographique (often called the Phono, and later renamed to Bar Phono)[2] was a gothic nightclub located underneath the Merrion Centre in Leeds.[3] It was the first goth club in the world,[4] opening in 1979[5] and eventually closing in 2005.[6] Disc jockeys at the club, such as Marc Almond (a member of Soft Cell),[7] DJ Mark M (previously of Tiffany's), Anni Hogan (a member of Marc and the Mambas)[8] and Claire Shearsby (previously of the F Club)[9], would play gothic rock and dark wave music.[10] In 1985, the Clash played an impromptu gig at the venue while attending.[5]

Le Phonographique
The Phono
AddressMerrion Centre, Leeds, U.K.
Coordinates53°48′07″N 1°32′40″W
TypeNightclub
Genre(s)
Capacity180[1]
Opened1979
Closed2005

Closure and legacy

The club was foundational to the emergence of the goth subculture,[11] by helping it differentiate itself from the conventions of punk.[12]

It influenced the opening of other influential goth clubs, namely the Batcave.[13] There was a rivalry between it and the Bassment, another goth club that opened around the corner in the Merrion Centre a few years later.[14]

The Sisters of Mercy song Floorshow was inspired by the dances commonplace at the club.[2] In an article for Dazed, it was stated that the "two steps forward, two steps back" style of dancing originated at the club, due to the pillar in the centre of its dancefloor.[4]

The club closed in 2005, claiming "redevelopment",[15] the site is now a retail storage unit.[6]

References
  1. Hutchinson, Andrew. "42 places you probably visited in Leeds during a night out in the 2000s". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  2. Ladouceur, Liisa. Encyclopedia Gothica.
  3. Walsh, Tina. "Ten things you might not know about Leeds". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  4. Dawson, James. "Life as a goth in 1980s Yorkshire". Dazed. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  5. "Sounds of the underground! Night of nostalgia for former regulars at Leeds's legendary Phono club". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  6. "5 Place That Made Leeds a Goth Culture Hub in the 1980s". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  7. "SUBCULTURE LOST & FOUND: LEEDS". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  8. Robb, John. "A Goth life – from Bowie kid to leading Goth DJ – DJ Mark M on his life". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  9. Haslam, Dave. Life After Dark: A History of British Nightclubs & Music Venues.
  10. Spracklen, Karl; Spracklen, Beverley. The Evolution of Goth Culture: The Origins and Deeds of the New Goths. p. 49.
  11. Fryer, George. "The History Of Music Venues In Leeds". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  12. Goth in Leeds. BBC. 1987.
  13. Ripped, torn and cut: Pop, politics and punk fanzines from 1976. 2018.
  14. Davies, Jonathan. "Mourning the loss". BBC. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  15. "Tuesday Ten: 220: Nightclubbing". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
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