Mayfair Ballroom

{{Short description|Former music venue in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England}}

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File:Mayfair Ballroom Newcastle - Dance Floor.jpg

Mayfair Ballroom was a ballroom and concert hall situated on Newgate Street in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The oblong room was built to hold 1,500 people and had a small stage along one of the longer walls.[http://homepage.mac.com/blackmarketclash/Bands/Clash/recordings/1980/80-06-12%20Newcastle/80-06-12%20Newcastle.html The Clash Mayfair, Newcastle - 12 June 1980] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206105343/http://homepage.mac.com/blackmarketclash/Bands/Clash/recordings/1980/80-06-12%20Newcastle/80-06-12%20Newcastle.html |date=6 December 2007 }} It was opened in September 1961 by the Mecca organisation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/gallery/newcastles-mayfair-ballroom-how-legendary-21555254|title=Newcastle's Mayfair Ballroom - how the legendary venue was born 60 years ago|first=David|last=Morton|date=September 13, 2021|website=ChronicleLive}}

File:Mayfair Ballroom Newcastle - Ticket Hall.jpg

It was also host to a popular rave music event during the early 1990s called the Rezerection. DJs and live PAs including Carl Cox, Joey Beltram, Grooverider, Njoi and The Prodigy performed there.

Artists that played the venue, early in their careers, include AC/DC, The Who, Free, Pink Floyd, Queen,{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/gallery/how-rock-giants-queen-conquered-20998739|title=Rock giants Queen conquered Newcastle United's St James' Park 35 years ago|first=David|last=Morton|date=July 9, 2021|website=ChronicleLive}} the Police, Shy, the Prodigy, Black Grape, the Cross, Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, Tin Machine, U2, the Clash, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Faith No More, Judas Priest, Bodycount and Nirvana, The Glitter Band among others. Jet played at the venue in 1975, when guitarist David O'List tied himself up with his guitar cord, collapsing to the floor and unable to resume a vertical position until rescued by the road crew.

Led Zeppelin's first ever live performance in the United Kingdom was at the Mayfair Ballroom on 4 October 1968, albeit billed as "The Yardbirds featuring Jimmy Page".Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, {{ISBN|0-7119-3528-9}} Free's final live performance in the UK took place at the venue on 20 October 1972. At the end of the show, guitarist Paul Kossoff broke the neck of his cherished Les Paul guitar after uncharacteristically throwing it into the air in frustration.

In 1999 the Mayfair was demolished and replaced with a retail and entertainment venue called The Gate.{{cite web|author=David Morton |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/legendary-mayfair-nightclub-newcastle-still-4024139 |title=Legendary Mayfair nightclub in Newcastle is still a miss |publisher=Chronicle Live |date= 28 May 2013|accessdate=2017-07-08}} The closing night was attended by 5,000 people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/newcastles-legendary-rock-venue-mayfair-16789178|title=Newcastle's Mayfair Ballroom closed its doors 20 years ago|first=David|last=Morton|date=August 21, 2019|website=ChronicleLive}}