The 100 Club

The 100 Club
Majo76 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	The 100 Club
Location	Oxford Street, London
Opened	1942
Capacity	350
Genres	jazz, punk rock, rock music

The 100 Club is a historic live music venue on Oxford Street in London known for hosting influential jazz and punk rock performances. Founded during World War II by Ralph Reader and United Service Organizations-affiliated entertainers, the venue quickly became a hub for touring American jazz artists and later pivotal scenes in British punk rock and rock music. It has welcomed a wide array of performers from Dizzy Gillespie to The Sex Pistols and remains a symbol of grassroots live music in central London.

History

The club opened in 1942 amid World War II air raids and postwar cultural exchange, attracting visiting American jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, and Benny Goodman. During the 1950s and 1960s it hosted residencies by Monty Sunshine, Alex Welsh, Kenny Ball, and visiting Americans like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, linking it to the transatlantic jazz circuit that included venues like Birdland and festivals like the Newport Jazz Festival. In the 1970s and 1978 punk explosion it became notable for staging shows by The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Buzzcocks, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, intersecting with scenes around King's Road, Camden Town, and the CBGB-influenced DIY ethos. Subsequent decades saw performances by Paul Weller, Oasis, The Rolling Stones members, and Madness, maintaining links to Britpop and ska revival movements. The venue survived threats of closure and redevelopment involving local authorities and property developers in Westminster, with support from figures such as Bill Bailey and campaigns invoking heritage protections similar to those used for Royal Albert Hall and The Roundhouse.

Venue and Facilities

Housed in a narrow Oxford Street frontage, the venue offers an intimate 350-capacity space with features suited to small touring acts and residencies. The layout includes a raised stage, a standing audience area, a bar, and backline facilities used by artists including John Coltrane-era jazz ensembles, The Who-adjacent musicians, and punk lineups like The Clash supporters. Technical upgrades over time brought modern sound reinforcement comparable to installations at Shepherd's Bush Empire and Hammersmith Apollo, while retaining period elements akin to Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and The Marquee Club. The club's proximity to Oxford Circus tube station and shopping districts facilitated audience access from across Greater London and touring circuits from Europe.

Notable Performances and Residents

The club's stage hosted landmark performances and residencies by a wide range of artists. Jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker appeared alongside British stalwarts like George Melly and Humphrey Lyttelton. Punk and post-punk milestones included concerts and short tours by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Buzzcocks, and The Jam. Later notable appearances featured Paul Weller, Oasis, Blur-era figures, The Libertines associates, and reunions by members of The Specials and Madness. The club also hosted benefit shows featuring personalities such as Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney alongside contemporary acts like Arctic Monkeys alumni and Florence Welch-linked ensembles.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

The venue influenced the development of multiple scenes, connecting the postwar jazz revival to the 1970s punk rock insurgency and subsequent indie movements. It served as a proving ground for acts who later played venues such as Wembley Stadium, Royal Albert Hall, and international festivals including Glastonbury Festival and Isle of Wight Festival. Cultural figures from Vivienne Westwood-adjacent fashion circles to broadcasters at BBC Radio 1 cited the club in narratives about British music history. Documentarians and authors referencing the club include those who covered Swinging London, Mod culture, Britpop, and the punk movement, solidifying its place in accounts alongside institutions like Ronnie Scott's, The Marquee Club, and CBGB.

Management and Ownership

Over decades the venue passed through private ownership, management by music promoters, and stewardship by preservation-minded trustees and grassroots campaigners. Operators have negotiated with Westminster City Council and local planning bodies to resist redevelopment proposals similar to disputes faced by venues like The Astoria and The Hacienda. Promoters and bookers associated with the club have included figures linked to independent labels such as Rough Trade, Factory Records-adjacent teams, and management connected to artists represented by agencies like William Morris Endeavor and CAA-style firms. Benefactors and patrons from entertainment and political spheres have intervened to secure its continuity.

Awards and Recognition

The venue has received honors and recognition from industry bodies and heritage organizations, cited in listings alongside accolades given to Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre, and Southbank Centre. It appears in music journalism retrospectives by outlets covering NME, Melody Maker, and Rolling Stone histories, and it has been commemorated by plaques and anniversary concerts featuring alumni from The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Ella Fitzgerald-era ensembles, and contemporary headliners.

Category:Music venues in London Category:Jazz clubs Category:Punk rock venues