An end of an era for all of us – a turning back of our memories and on art & music culture. Very sad that this gorgeous theatre with its many legendary artists who have played there will be shut down. and for what ?
‘The Astoria will be demolished to make way for Crossrail, despite public opposition and an online petition. Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone confirmed that the venue “can’t be saved’
Also to go is the LA2, The metro, Sin – basically a big part of music culture on the fringe of west end and soho
Apparently in the bubble of extortionate over priced property values The Astoria was sold in June 2006 by Compco Holdings property group Derwent Valley Central for £23.75m, who were rumoured to be planning to convert the site into a combination of shops, flats and offices to take advantage of an increase in property prices for the 2012 Olympics .
Now that property prices have turned on thier heads and are going down and down every day as people struggle to keep their business’s, livelihoods going – lets hope that those who put greed and money before art, music & youth culture will pay the price where it will hurts them the most -thier own pockets.
They are ripping down a major part of local peoples, artists and tourists enjoyment. My brain cant make sense of why they need to do this for the 2012 olympics – They should be showing off the best things of London – not tearing it down? Now i hear the railway wont be ready til 2017 ???
I really hope in the most loving way – that all their plans will be scuppered every step of the way .. despite protests – the peoples pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
But lets hope all is not lost .. lets hope somehow there may be some justice and thier development plans will fail & fail somehow someway .. they made thier plans when money appeared to be no object – now money is an object to these people so i hope thier plans will fail – even still.
on 31st January there was going to be a final punk gig at the Astoria, but apparently this plan was met with opposition – so it had to be cancelled.
The Astoria held its last gig last night and closes its doors for the last time on 15th January.
To all the cool people, that worked their and those of us, who go out/went out around their regularly for the love of music, i feel nothing but sadness.
I can’t bring myself to say RIP Astoria because i hope that it doesnt. I hope that the greedy developers and fat cats will lose lose lose for messing with Rock n Roll heritage ..
Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records, said the Astoria, which opened as a cinema in 1927 and became a concert venue in 1976, had “a lot of soul and character”. He added: “In Paris or Mexico places like this don’t get knocked down, they get revamped. It’s criminal they’re knocking down these iconic buildings.”
There you go – nuff said – ‘It’s Criminal’
So i hope the criminals dont win.
by Tara Rez
