T.J.'s
Encyclopedia
TJ's was a nightclub
located on Clarence Place in Newport
, South Wales
. It opened in 1985 and has become a live music venue, particularly for rock music
. It is also an integral part of the so-called toilet circuit
. The club advertises itself as "The Legendary TJ's".
The venue started in 1971 as a restaurant named "Cedar's Rest" before becoming a burger bar named "The Pittsburg Diner". John Sicolo bought the premises in 1973 and extended into an adjoining property to form the nightclub "El Sieco's", during which time a variety of musical artists, including local folk
acts, performed at the premises.
Sicolo established TJ's as a live music venue on the premises in 1985, the name TJ's representing John and his late partner Trilby.
Catatonia
filmed their single "Mulder and Scully" at the venue. It is allegedly the place that Kurt Cobain
proposed to Courtney Love
. . Other bands which played at T.J's early in their careers include Oasis
, Manic Street Preachers
, Green Day
, The Offspring
, Lostprophets
, Primal Scream
and Skunk Anansie
.
TJ's was voted one of the top 50 'Big Nights Out' in the world by FHM
in December 1997.
In 2002 Jeff Killed John (forerunner band of Bullet for my Valentine
released their EP You/Play with Me through radio airplay on BBC Radio 1
's broadcast at Newport
's T.J.'s
.
John Sicolo, owner of the club throughout its period of popularity, died on 14 March 2010, aged 66. A tribute concert in his honour, headlined by Goldie Looking Chain, was held in the city's John Frost Square on 10 July 2010.
On 15th September 2011 TJ's was sold at auction for £242,000 .
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
located on Clarence Place in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. It opened in 1985 and has become a live music venue, particularly for rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. It is also an integral part of the so-called toilet circuit
Toilet circuit
The toilet circuit is the network of small music venues in the United Kingdom which rising indie, rock and metal bands must visit to gain support and promote themselves. It is so named after The Forum in Tunbridge Wells, a staple venue of the toilet circuit, which is actually a public toilet...
. The club advertises itself as "The Legendary TJ's".
The venue started in 1971 as a restaurant named "Cedar's Rest" before becoming a burger bar named "The Pittsburg Diner". John Sicolo bought the premises in 1973 and extended into an adjoining property to form the nightclub "El Sieco's", during which time a variety of musical artists, including local folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
acts, performed at the premises.
Sicolo established TJ's as a live music venue on the premises in 1985, the name TJ's representing John and his late partner Trilby.
Catatonia
Catatonia (band)
Catatonia were an alternative rock band from Wales who gained a national following in the United Kingdom in the mid to late 1990s. The band consisted of Cerys Matthews on vocals, Mark Roberts on guitar, Paul Jones on bass , Owen Powell on...
filmed their single "Mulder and Scully" at the venue. It is allegedly the place that Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
proposed to Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
. . Other bands which played at T.J's early in their careers include Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, Lostprophets
Lostprophets
Lostprophets is a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, formed in 1997. Founded by vocalist Ian Watkins, bassist Mike Lewis, drummer Mike Chiplin and guitarist Lee Gaze, they were originally a side-project to hardcore punk band Public Disturbance. To date, Lostprophets have released four studio...
, Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
and Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
.
TJ's was voted one of the top 50 'Big Nights Out' in the world by FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
in December 1997.
In 2002 Jeff Killed John (forerunner band of Bullet for my Valentine
Bullet for My Valentine
Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck , Michael Paget , Jason James , and Michael Thomas . They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana...
released their EP You/Play with Me through radio airplay on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's broadcast at Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
's T.J.'s
T.J.'s
TJ's was a nightclub located on Clarence Place in Newport, South Wales. It opened in 1985 and has become a live music venue, particularly for rock music. It is also an integral part of the so-called toilet circuit...
.
John Sicolo, owner of the club throughout its period of popularity, died on 14 March 2010, aged 66. A tribute concert in his honour, headlined by Goldie Looking Chain, was held in the city's John Frost Square on 10 July 2010.
On 15th September 2011 TJ's was sold at auction for £242,000 .
See also
- Official TJ's website
- TJTJ-Places:* Tajikistan, ISO 3166-1 country code** .tj, the country code top level domain for Tajikistan* Tianjin, China* a popular nickname for Tijuana, Mexico-People:* Thomas Jones , a Welsh educationalist...
, disambiguation page