With the demise of the Astoria, Mark Ellicott – the Astoria’s long standing general manager and previously at the Kentish Town Forum & Brixton Fridge, moved over to Heaven with the remit to get going a regular live music scene and to put the place on the live map.
Popcorn – the UK’s busiest monday night continues to pack them in each week with a rousing all nighter featuring the best house and R & B – 15 years old and still going strong. G-A-Y was moved over from the Astoria, which was in the process of closing down and this now occupies the main club sessions on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday and has featured notable performances since that time by Adele, Lady Gaga, Jessie J, Miley Cyrus, One Direction amongst many others. In 2008 MAMA Group (now MAMA & Company) went into partnership with G-A-Y founder Jeremy Joseph and purchased Heaven from the pure group (Jeremy took over sole ownership of Heaven in 2013). Bauhaus were filmed at Heaven also in 1982 performing their classic ‘Belo Legosi’s Dead’ the footage for which was used in the Catherine Deneuve / David Bowie film ‘The Hunger’ – one of the original ‘sexy vampire’ movies. Nick Cave’s original band The Birthday Party played a storming set at Heaven in 1982 that 33 years on is still spoken about. Throbbing Gristle, the original industrial pioneers played at Heaven in 1980 – and reacquainted themselves with the place 29 years later in what became their last London show before splitting. Their London show 33 years ago has since passed into legend. The renamed band minus Curtis had much to prove. Barely six months earlier, when they had been called Joy Division their lead singer Ian Curtis had committed suicide. New Order played their first London show here in 1981. There were periodic live shows featuring bands who fancied playing an off the wall venue rather than the usual spit and sawdust live music venues. Over the years nights such as ‘Bedrock’ ‘Pyramid’, ‘ Shoom’, ‘Rage’, ‘Megatripolis’ amongst many others all attracted a predominantly straight crowd for whom Heaven represented a delicious step into the decadent unknown.
Its long standing creative director and general manager David Inches ensured that it never grew tired and always had a bookings policy that set it apart from its rivals. It did however establish itself as a club venue that constantly re-invented itself. Heaven bore the brunt of some of that intolerance and in those days was regarded warily by the authorities.
When Heaven opened its doors in 1979 only 12 years had elapsed since the decriminalisation of homosexuality and at the time there was still a lot of overt prejudice against gay men & lesbians. Heaven quickly became the focal point for what had until then been a fairly understated gay scene that hitherto had been based in small hidden cellar bars or pub discos. Heaven was the brainchild of Jeremy Norman, responsible for the Embassy club, and which was seen as the nearest London had to Studio 54 in new york. London needed a splash of colour & flamboyance to counter balance the otherwise grey monochrome that was the reality of the british capital. The ‘Swinging London’ of the 1960s a distant memory.
The sense of decay and gloom was palpable. Six months earlier Mrs Thatcher had been elected and an era began that saw unemployment rise to levels last seen in the 1930s. To that end a group of innovative characters got together and took over the site that was a run down old roller disco called Global Village and in December 1979 Heaven opened its doors for the first time. It compared very unfavourably with New York and many european cities and the concept of ‘clubbing’ as we understand the term today simply did not exist. London clubland in the 1970s was a fairly dismal place. Please be aware we do not allow large bags/cases into the venue, that is any in size like carry-on case and above will not be accepted!Īll our Clubnight events are STRICTLY 18+, Photo ID is required by all. If you do not have valid photo ID or you are under 16 years old and are not accompanied by an adult (18+) you will be refused entry to the venue.
VALID PHOTO ID IN THE FORM OF DRIVING LICENSE OR PASSPORT IS REQUIRED BY EVERYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21. All 14 & 15 year old’s must be accompanied by an adult (18+). ALL LIVE EVENTS AT HEAVEN ARE STRICTLY 14 YEARS OLD PLUS.