Planet Nightclub
Encyclopedia
The Planet Nightclub was an important live music venue in Perth
, Western Australia
. The venue's heyday was in the mid-late 1990s before closing down and reopening as "The Dollhouse" strip club.
. A dedicated stage area, fronted by small dance floor, surrounded by an elevated viewing area in a room with a low ceiling made for a unique and intimate atmosphere favourable for large and medium-sized crowds.
The Planet's location in North Perth
was somewhat removed from other nightlife venues, but this was compensated by the proximity of a 24-hour McDonalds restaurant that was a popular meeting point and post-gig feeding station.
indie-rock scene re-emerged in the mid-late 1990s. The eminent Perth
bands
that led the march to national recognition at this time were Ammonia
and Jebediah
. Much of their formative periods in the public eye were spent on the Planet's stage. Two other bands to reach national success, Red Jezebel
and Eskimo Joe
, were thrust into the public eye after their performances at the 1997 WA final of the National Campus Band Competition
, held at the Planet.
The Planet can be considered to be an important cultural touchstone of the period, not only because of the role it played in the rise of the more successful Perth bands of the time, but also through the plethora of other quality indie
bands that enjoyed as much success on a local level, including: Yummy Fur (aka 6 Mile High), Humbug, Header, Effigy, Flanders and Thermos Cardy.
The Planet also regularly hosted Australian touring bands during their formative years (such as Regurgitator
and Powderfinger
) and other popular bands of the period (such as Custard
, Pollyanna and Sidewinder
). International acts also played at the Planet, such as Ash
, Weezer
, They Might Be Giants
and Bikini Kill
.
The Planet has now largely been succeeded by venues such as the Rosemount Hotel and the Amplifier Bar.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The venue's heyday was in the mid-late 1990s before closing down and reopening as "The Dollhouse" strip club.
Venue
The small to mid-sized venue had a number of attributes that distinguished it from other similarly sized live music pubs and clubs in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. A dedicated stage area, fronted by small dance floor, surrounded by an elevated viewing area in a room with a low ceiling made for a unique and intimate atmosphere favourable for large and medium-sized crowds.
The Planet's location in North Perth
North Perth
North Perth can refer to:*North Perth, Ontario, Canada*North Perth, Western Australia, Australia...
was somewhat removed from other nightlife venues, but this was compensated by the proximity of a 24-hour McDonalds restaurant that was a popular meeting point and post-gig feeding station.
Importance and legacy
The importance and legacy of the Planet Nightclub is most heavily reflected in the musical groups that performed there, often in the early stage of their careers. After a period of relative national obscurity, the PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
indie-rock scene re-emerged in the mid-late 1990s. The eminent Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
that led the march to national recognition at this time were Ammonia
Ammonia (band)
-Studio albums:-Extended plays:-Singles:*"Drugs" - Murmur AUS #32*"Ken Carter" - Murmur AUS #50*"Suzi Q" - Murmur *"Satin Only" - Murmur *"You're Not the Only One Who Feels This Way" - Murmur AUS #83...
and Jebediah
Jebediah
Jebediah is an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia. The group consists of vocalist and guitarist Kevin Mitchell, guitarist Chris Daymond, bassist Vanessa Thornton, and Kevin's brother Brett Mitchell on drums...
. Much of their formative periods in the public eye were spent on the Planet's stage. Two other bands to reach national success, Red Jezebel
Red Jezebel
Red Jezebel is a four piece indie rock band from Perth, Western Australia.-Early years:The band competed in the WA final of the Australian National Campus Band Competition at North Perth's Planet Nightclub in 1997...
and Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....
, were thrust into the public eye after their performances at the 1997 WA final of the National Campus Band Competition
National Campus Band Competition
The National Campus Band Competition is an annual Australian national band competition produced by the Australian Association of Campus Activities. To enter the competition, one band member must be enrolled at a participating university...
, held at the Planet.
The Planet can be considered to be an important cultural touchstone of the period, not only because of the role it played in the rise of the more successful Perth bands of the time, but also through the plethora of other quality indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
bands that enjoyed as much success on a local level, including: Yummy Fur (aka 6 Mile High), Humbug, Header, Effigy, Flanders and Thermos Cardy.
The Planet also regularly hosted Australian touring bands during their formative years (such as Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
and Powderfinger
Powderfinger
Powderfinger was an Australian rock band that formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their breakup the band lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill....
) and other popular bands of the period (such as Custard
Custard (band)
-Overview:The band were originally known as Custard Gun and featured David McCormack on vocals and guitar, Paul Medew on bass, James Straker on guitar and Shane Brunn on drums. After a few shows and line up changes Custard Gun morphed into Custard...
, Pollyanna and Sidewinder
Sidewinder (band)
Sidewinder was a rock band founded in 1991 by brothers Nick and Martin Craft in the Australian capital Canberra. They supported U2 on the Australian leg of their Popmart tour. In the same year. Sidewinder's second album Tangerine received much airplay on Australian radio, most notably on Triple J.-...
). International acts also played at the Planet, such as Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
, Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
, They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
and Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill was an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in October 1990. The group consisted of vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement,...
.
The Planet has now largely been succeeded by venues such as the Rosemount Hotel and the Amplifier Bar.