Melbourne’s most influential nightclubs: Why this city is the nation’s clubbing capital
CLUB insider in the halcyon days of Melbourne’s incredible night-life Nui Te Koha takes you through the doors of the clubs that made our city the nation’s nightclub capital.
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WHEN demolition crews tear down the Palace Theatre this year, they will bulldoze an important chapter in Melbourne’s rich and vibrant nightclub history.
The Palace, first built in 1912, was used as a live theatre, cinema, religious centre and, in 1986, after a significant refit, a bright beacon of city night-life called The Metro.
“It has hurt to watch new owners modify or destroy part of what we created,” said Sam Frantzeskos, who, with brother George, own and ran The Metro from 1987 to 1999.
“I think the walls of that place still talk to me. I was told once by a shaman to light a candle to pay homage to her, because she’s been such a good dame.”
The Metro also symbolised magic times in Melbourne as clubbers, bored with pub rock, were enticed back to the disco with fresh beats: hip hop, new jack swing, the gay-friendly Hi-NRG and, on the fringe, house, electro and techno.
Melbourne was also keenly tuned into Britain’s so-called Summer Of Love in 1988, and the rise of rave parties, electronic dance music, and designer drugs.
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OUR TAXI DRIVER QUIZ
POLL ON YOUR FAVE RETRO CLUB
SOME OF NUI’S FAVOURITE TRACKS FROM THE ERA
Indeed, that carefree spirit, smiley-face imagery and pounding 4/4 anthems from the northern hemisphere shook up Melbourne almost immediately, with acid-themed nights at city clubs Zuzu and Inflation, and Checkpoint Charlie and Chasers in South Yarra.
As a club writer during those halcyon days — and nights — the strobes, medallions and drink cards often led me to The Metro, Razor, Inflation, Checkpoint Charlie, Commerce Club, Chevron, Zuzu, Redheads, Seven, Dome, Carousel, and The Palace.
Suburban haunts included Juice in Ringwood, 21st Century Dance Club in Frankston and Transformers in Moorabbin.
Popular nights included Goo, Joy and Pop (Metro), Insanity, Sanction, Freakazoid (Chevron), (Chevron), Hard N Fast, Fat, Express, Delirium (Chasers) Electric (Redhead), Better Days (Carousel), Bassline, Monkey, Twister (The Palace), Hellfire Club (Dream), Tasty (Commerce Club), Savage (Royal Melbourne Hotel).
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OUR TAXI DRIVER QUIZ
SOME OF NUI’S FAVOURITE TRACKS FROM THE ERA
The Underground enjoyed extra hype due to Countdown being filmed there, and attracted mainstream punters and private school kids who loved dancing to Top 40 hits. The Tunnel, frequented by cops and footballers, also had a commercial playlist.
Chapel St fashionistas, soapie actors and pop stars hit Chasers, Inflation and The Metro, while the coolest kids chanced their luck, and pride, with the ultra-strict door policy at Razor, which was held every Friday at the now-demolished Light Car Club in Queens Rd, near Albert Park Lake.
Hellfire, a fetish and S & M hang, with techno and trance on the side, drew a diverse crowd, including Hollywood A-lister George Clooney.
Grant Harrison, who worked at Chasers, said: “Every club was chockers, absolutely packed to the rafters because there was nothing else to do. There was no internet, there were no music festivals, and it was only five dollars for a beer.”
Razor boss Gavin Campbell ran with the band scene, had friends in The Models and Hunters And Collectors, and his clubs reflected that alternative clique.
US grunge icons Nirvana, rocker Michael Hutchence, pop star Kylie Minogue and a revolving door of Ramsay St wannabes visited Razor.
Campbell says: “They liked us because our club wasn’t shiny-shiny. But our door policy was always: you had to be cool rather than important.”
Kate Ceberano was a cool kid who emerged, as a singer and performer, from the club scene. She sang at the Grainstore Tavern and Smith St Club before getting her first dose of fame in synth-funk band I’m Talking.
Ceberano laughs: “What Tinkerbell did for Peter Pan, I did as the Jezebel of Melbourne nightclubs in the 1980s. Those times were so heady. It was all wild, bohemian, music, fashion, and dancing from nine at night until five in the morning.
“There were none of the toxic drugs they have today, so you never crossed someone having a narc episode. It was an innocent age.”
Today, after Y2K success stories like Boutique, Eve and Onelove, Melbourne is still the poster child for the best nightclubs in Australia, even more so given the lockouts and liquor licensing laws in NSW and Queensland.
Peter Raff, who worked at Redhead, Onelove, Stereosonic, and now hosts Saturday nightclub, Prince, in St Kilda, says: “People are still out there enjoying themselves; they’re just doing it in different ways. They’ve got more choice now.”
He adds: “It’s always subjective when you talk about heydays. My personal heyday is not the same as a 25-year-old who is probably enjoying their own heyday right now.”
Brian Goldsmith says Melbourne will always be Australia’s nightclub capital. “Thousands of young people are entertained in clubs and bars on any given Saturday night. If you cut clubs out, and with the advent of texting, these kids would be hanging around The Shrine, BYO vodka,” Goldsmith said. “Nightclubs should be praised. They are part of our lives.”
THINK YOU KNOW MELBOURNE’S RETRO CLUBS?
TOP SONGS OF THE ERA
Groove Is In The Heart, Deee-Lite
Ride On Time, Black Box
Movin’ On Up, M People
Pump Up The Jam, Technotronic
The Only Way Is Up, Yazz
Right In The Night, Jam and Spoon
Children, Robert Miles
Open Your Mind, Usura
Don’t You Want Me, Felix
Meet Her At The Love Parade, Da Hool
Everybody’s Free, Rozalla
Beachball, Nalin and Kane
The Power, Snap
3AM Eternal, The KLF
Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room), Paul Lekakis
Passion, Gat Decor
You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), Dead Or Alive
Theme From S’Express, S’Express
Beat Dis, Bomb The Bass
Plastic Dreams, Jaydee
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