Book on Birmingham clubs, music and 1980s life to be launched on Westside

Memories of Birmingham in the 1980s with the likes of Duran Duran, the Rum Runner and the Handsworth Riots are the focus of a new book to be launched on Westside.

Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Birmingham by Jim and Ron Simpson relives the highs of the era’s iconic club venues, but also highlights the challenges the city faced, such as the infamous riots and the city’s industrial decline.

The book, which follows the best-selling Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1970s Birmingham, released in 2022, will be launched at Snobs in Broad Street on Tuesday 19 November as part of the weekly Henry’s Blueshouse night, headlined by jazz band The Shufflepack.

Jim and Ron spent more than a year researching the book, which contains scores of rare and never-before-seen photos and interviews.

It covers numerous venues that helped define the decade, including the Rum Runner, Snobs, The Powerhouse, Burberries (The Click Club), The Barrel Organ, Edwards, The Odeon (New Street), and Digbeth Civic Hall (The Institute).

Also in the book are the home-grown artists that provided the soundtrack for the era, with bands like Duran Duran, UB40, Black Sabbath (without Ozzy), Steel Pulse, Swans Way and Musical Youth, who all went on to enjoy national and international success.

The book launch, which will include an array of guest speakers, will run from 6.45 to 8pm on Tuesday 19 November, before Henry’s Blueshouse takes over.

Jim Simpson (pictured above), the founder of Big Bear Music and Black Sabbath’s first manager, said: “From running Brum Beat to managing King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and starting the jazz festival, it was a privilege to be part of such a transformative era for the city. It was wonderful to revisit those times while researching the book.”

Ron (pictured above with Jim when their first book on the 1970s was published) added: “Although I spent much of the 1980s away from Birmingham, the stories of the city’s thriving music scene and its incredible venues always reached me. Writing this book has allowed me to relive those legendary nights and bring them to life for others.”

The book covers a variety of events during the period, from the Birmingham Superprix and the demise of Crossroads to violinist Nigel Kennedy’s Aston Villa obsession and the recording of the groundbreaking Brum Beat album at The Barrel Organ.

Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Birmingham is available from www.dirtystopouts.com for £21.95, with a special collector’s edition on sale for £29.95. The book is also available from all good bookshops.

ENDS

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