Photograph
The Electric Circus
1976

“I don't think this is the Electric Circus, not Collyhurst Road anyway! I was at the Circus the first night it opened, it was a rock disco that first night. It always looked pretty much the same as it always did, the only real change was "The Electric Circus" being painted on the backstage wall at some point in '77. I have spent ages trying to pinpoint exactly when the Circus opened and nearest I can figure it was early October '76. So it was open just less than a year. Happy if anyone knows better”

“Thanks for that. I first went around October/November 76 and remember someone saying it was a new club opened. I do vaguely remember reading somewhere that the Electric Circus had been the name of a previous smaller club in Manchester, possibly run by Allan Robinson and/or Graham Brooks.”

“Those guys started the Circus after a rift with the management at Waves which was a club in Dantzic Place and a proper dive too. They probably lifted the name from a night run at Mister Smiths in the early 70's who in turn got it, no doubt, from the original New York club.”

“Its definitely NOT from Electric Circus May 76. They did in fact apparently play that venue in May (or early June) 76 (I dont have the exact date, if there's anywhere where that can be checked I would be thrilled, flyer, advert, etc !!)
Could be from the March 77 gig but not May 76. Malcolm has his red Gretsch wit the white board on it which he started using in October 76.
Also, do you know who supplied this photo? Would LOVE to see if there are others... AC/DC playing a venue like that is classic...

I see you have issues of Penetration fanzine in there... There's one that I'd be particularly interested which featured AC/DC on the cover 7 had photos from the Marquee in mid-76. Any way to reach the people who used to do this zine???

By the way, is this you who took those instamatics at Electric Circus in 77? Would you still happen to have the negatives by any chance...?

Thanks for your help!!

Arnaud Durieux”

“According to the AC/DC official website, they played the Electric Circus, Manchester on 1 May 1976 as part of the "Lock Up Your Daughters' tour. Like Fran I thought the Electric Circus opened in the autumn of 1976.

The picture was sent to me by a guy called Dave from France who runs an AC/DC website. Apparently he got the photo from an ex member but I don't know which one. I have tried to find the website but I can't find it through Google.

It's definitely not from the March 1977 gig at the Electric Circus. The stage had the black and white backdrop as you can see in the photos of that gig. If Malcolm's guitar dates it from October 1976 or later the only Manchester gig from that time was at Manchester University SU on 3 November 1976.

I don't know how you'd get in touch with the guys who ran Penetration. You do see these come up on eBay from time to time fetching about £30 or sometimes less.

I did take the pictures. Unfortunately I don't still have the negatives. I have the original photos that I took scans from.”

“I don't think the picture is from the UK at all! Shame it's not clear enough to read the posters properly. A quick google of "New Jazz Festival 1976" throws up results for Germany. I think that's a good bet for the venue.”

“The "Lock Up Your Daughters" tour did visit Germany in September and October 1976. The Electric Circus gig in May 1976 will have to remain a mystery, unless someone can confirm where it happened.”

“It's not the Electric Circus. It does not look like it. I was going there early summer 1976.It was a Rock venue at first then Punk nights were added later on in 76, as I saw The Sex Pistols on a Sunday night in November, I think?”