TJ's

{{See also|Music of Newport}}

John Sicolo started the venue with his then wife Vivienne in 1971 as a restaurant named "Cedar's Rest" before becoming a burger bar named "The Pittsburg Diner". Sicolo bought the premises in 1973 and extended into an adjoining property to form the nightclub "El Sieco's", during which time a variety of musical artists, including local folk acts, performed at the premises.

{{Disputed section|date=August 2019}}

Some sources have suggested the venue was named using the initials of founder John Sicolo's two most important people, his sister Jeanette Sicolo, and partner Trilby Tucker, forming Trilby and Jeanette.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-35721141|title=The legend lives|last=Wood|first=Chris|date=2016-03-04|access-date=2019-08-30|language=en-GB}}

However others have indicated the name is a combination of Sicolo's and Tucker's, as it was Tucker was apparently the person who established TJ's as a live music venue on the premises in 1985, naming it Trilby and John's.

A further proposed connection exists which claims it was his daughter, Janet Sicolo,{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} who worked with Sicolo's partner, Tucker, to save the club from bankruptcy in the 1980s,{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} and as a result the name was changed from Sieco's to TJ's, meaning Trilby and Janet.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Trilby reportedly owned TJ's until her death in 1993{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} however media reports indicate John would then survive her ownership in the 2000s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/16086309.tributes-paid-to-ex-owner-of-legendary-tjs-john-sicolo-on-eight-year-anniversary-of-his-death/|title=Tributes paid to ex-owner of Legendary TJs on eight-year anniversary of his death|website=South Wales Argus|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30}}

On 3 May 1994, the then up-and-coming Manchester band Oasis performed at TJ's following a small venue tour of the UK. The band were in South Wales frequently that year, recording at Loco Studios near Usk and Rockfield Studios in Monmouth,{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/oasis-played-tjs-newport-just-16213469|title=When Oasis played TJ's just weeks before they became the biggest band of the 90s|last=Williams|first=Nino|date=2019-05-05|website=walesonline|access-date=2019-05-09}} and had begun performing shortly after the release of their single "Supersonic". In a setup similar to the present day Clwb Ifor Bach, the band played to the Newport crowd on an un-raised stage, practically level with the crowd. The band performed with local group 60 Ft. Dolls, and among the concert goers were members of the Manic Street Preachers. It was later that week that Liam Gallagher was photographed for their first NME cover in Newport's King's Hotel on High Street.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stickitonyourwall.com/product/nme-magazine-front-cover-1994-oasis-nme-covers/|title=NME MAGAZINE FRONT COVER 1994 Oasis NME Covers - Mini Poster - Stick It On Your Wall|website=stickitonyourwall.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}

Catatonia filmed their single "Mulder and Scully" at the venue. It is allegedly the place that Kurt Cobain proposed to Courtney Love.{{cite news |title= TJ's music venue owner John Sicolo dies in hospital |newspaper=BBC |date=15 March 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8526914.stm |accessdate=23 October 2010}} Other bands who have played at TJ's early in their careers include The Manic Street Preachers, Green Day, The Offspring, Lostprophets, Iron Maiden, Sabaton (band), The Stone Roses, Muse, Primal Scream, Descendents, NOFX, Misfits, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Lagwagon, The Bouncing Souls, The Vandals, The Ataris, and Skunk Anansie.[http://www.dominorecordco.com/uk/features/31-03-10/john-sicolo---owner-of-the-legendary-tjs-venue-1944-2010- Domino records on TJ's]

In 2002, Jeff Killed John (forerunner band of Bullet for my Valentine) released their EP You/Play with Me through radio airplay on BBC Radio 1's broadcast at Newport's T.J.'s.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/genres_artists/rock_pop/bfmv.shtml|title=Bullet for My Valentine biography|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=8 April 2009}}

TJ's was voted one of the top 50 'Big Nights Out' in the world by FHM in December 1997.{{cite news |title=Owner of legendary TJs - John Sicolo - dies |first=Ruth |last=Mansfield |newspaper=South Wales Argus |date=15 March 2010 |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/5060735.Owner_of_legendary_TJs___John_Sicolo___dies/ |accessdate=23 October 2010}} John Sicolo, owner of the club throughout its period of popularity, died on 14 March 2010, aged 66.{{cite news |title= Tributes paid to John Sicolo - TJ's owner and hero to music lovers |newspaper=South Wales Argus |date=16 March 2010 |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/5063420.Tributes_paid_to_John_Sicolo___TJ_s_owner_and_hero_to_music_lovers/?ref=mr |accessdate=23 October 2010}} A tribute concert in his honour, headlined by Goldie Lookin' Chain, was held in the city's John Frost Square on 10 July 2010.{{cite news |title= Newport tribute gig to TJ's owner John Sicolo |newspaper=BBC |date=10 July 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8804000/8804419.stm |accessdate=23 October 2010}} On 15 September 2011 TJ's was sold at auction for £242,000.[http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9255947.Newport_s_legendary_TJ_s_sold_at_packed_auction/ TJ's Sold at Auction] On 2 February 2013, the building was damaged by a fire, suspected to be arson.{{Cite news|newspaper=South Wales Argus|title=Police investigating suspected arson at former nightclub TJ's|date=2 February 2013|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/10203064.Police_investigating_suspected_arson_at_former_nightclub_TJ_s/

}} In 2019 the South Wales Argus reported that the building was to be converted into a hotel, under development plans approved by Newport City Council. The development will restore the Grade II listed buildings facing Clarence Place, which had become dilapidated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17689423.tjs-in-newport-to-become-a-58-bed-hotel/|title = Legendary city music venue that played host to the Stone Roses, Manic Street Preachers and Oasis - among others - set to become 58-bed hotel}}

{{See also|El Sieco's}}

El Sieco's, on Market Street, Newport, featured similar sounds and design cues from the original TJ's. The venue was adorned with salvaged memorabilia and features from TJ's premises on Clarence Place. It was run by John Sicolo's grandson, Ashley since 2016 until its closure in 2020.

• Music of Newport
• Music of Wales
• Newport city centre
• Diverse Vinyl
• Le Pub

{{reflist|colwidth=35em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218015451/http://www.tjsnewport.com/tjs/siteroot/ Official TJ's website as at 18 February 2010]
• [https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Siecos/1709900905932313 El Siecos - Facebook]

{{Culture of Newport}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Newport, Wales

Category:Nightclubs in Wales

Category:Culture in Newport, Wales

Category:Former music venues in Wales

Category:Art Deco architecture in Wales

Category:Grade II listed buildings in Newport, Wales

Category:Landmarks in Newport, Wales

Category:Theatres completed in 1938

Category:Music venues in Newport, Wales

Category:Grade II listed theatres