18 | FOREVER Keele
New book revisits a golden age of Keele gigs
In a new book written by alumnus Dave Lee ( Education and Mathematics , 1982 ) and due to be published later this year , The Keele Gigs ( The Classic University Concerts Volume 1 ) looks back at some of the 200 bands who played at Keele between 1978 and 1982 . Dave writes :
“ Forty years ago , the planets aligned for music fans at Keele .
“ For often less than £ 1 a ticket they could see a band almost every week at the Students ’ Union Ballroom .
“ Some were in the more mature stages of their career ( The Kinks , Wishbone Ash , Alan Price , Dr Feelgood ), some were hungry wannabes ( Dire Straits , Thompson Twins , Jools Holland , UB40 , Level 42 , Simple Minds ), but many were on the very cusp of success and fame ( The Pretenders , U2 , Dexys Midnight Runners , Cheap Trick , Teardrop Explodes , XTC , Theatre Of Hate ) with Keele students seeing them first and raw ( before they became battle-scarred and bitter !)
“ Volume One covers all these bands and many more in that peak era 1978-82 ; from the Ballroom ’ s expansion ( allowing bigger bands ) to the Thatcherite cuts ( culling the budgets of both the venue and the students ).