Wow! My memories go back even further than that to when the 'Russell Club first opened it's doors! (I'm 73 today!) If my memory serves me right it was then owned by a Mr Derbyshire from near the Vine pub in Sale! I lived just round the corner and was invited to the opening night, but I can't remember the date! I do remember that one night I had been at the Golden Garter when there was a police raid and was thoroughly checked over before being pronounced clean! The following night I was in the Russell Club when the same bunch of police burst in again! I was greeted with a "Not you again!!"
Not long after I became a 'Roadie' to a couple of well known Manchester groups! 'Johnny Peters and the Crestas' and 'The Fabulous Fourtones'. We played the Russell Club on a few occasions but were glad that we had other bookings that same night! It did get that way you didn't want to hang around very long!! I could write a book on that, but my spein aint that good!
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