Mothers Club, Birmingham

Mothers Club (formerly the Carlton Ballroom) in Birmingham was opened in August 1968 by John 'Spud' Taylor and promoter Phil Myatt. Over the next three years pretty much every big name in British rock music was to play there. The Who played several times at Mothers including one set in 1969 where they played their first rock-opera in its entirety. Mothers quickly established a great reputation for live music, helped in part by the influence of national radio DJ John Peel who appeared there many times and wasn't shy of promoting the venue on air. Live recordings made at Mothers club include versions of "Astronomy Domine" and "Saucerful of Secrets" released in 1969 on [m20692].