The Army & Navy, Chelmsford
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Preserved Library interview/source material concerning the Army & Navy venue and former promoter Sean Hudson. Dates and recollections remain source-derived rather than newly verified.
Original Library source: Army & Navy.pdf
18/05/2021 Army & Navy
The Army & Navy Chelmsford
I recently met with Sean Hudson former promoter of the Army &
Navy music venue in Chelmsford.
What sort of pupil were you at Boswells
I did not care very much for school, I was absent towards the end of
the fourth year onwards. I never really cared much for rules etc, my
uniform consisted of black trousers, Doc Martins, silk black shirt and
an American baseball jacket! (this was the 80s). I sat one exam. I
have an older sister who influenced me very much musically as she
was very into her music and I have two younger brothers. All my family
still reside in Chelmsford.
What sort of bands were you
seeing before you music
promoting days.
Punk really, never saw any other
bands as I was at that point pretty
blind to other genres. I have
always liked rock & heavy metal
though.
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What sort of albums did you have in your collection in your
youth.
Surprise, surprise, punk & skinhead music. I was a massive Oi! fan
(still am ) and the first record I bought (in 1981) was The Sex Pistols
'God save The Queen' and my second was The Exploited 'Dead
Cities'. Although I have to admit to being a big Adam Ant fan and a
closet Gary Numan fan!
What did you do when you left
school and how and when did
you become a music promoter
When I left school I joined a
travelling fair but soon came back
and became a tyre fitter. I did this
for a year before going off the rails
for two years, in and out of various
jobs and many a run in with the
police. In 1990 I started work at the
Little Chef in Widford and stayed
there for two years. It was at this
time ( or slightly before ) I had
been doing mail order records
which led me into doing a punk/Oi!
fanzine called Welcome To The
Real World which ran for 5 issues
and was distributed all over the
world. I also did a little bit of writing
for Metal Hammer magazine who
were doing a punk section. Whilst
doing this I got to interview all my
heroes such as Cock Sparrer, Glen
Matlock, Sham 69, The Last
Resort, Splodge and also met
some great people. I remember
interviewing Ronnie Thomas from
the Heavy Metal Kids and we went
for a meal on Carnaby Street and I
felt like I had met royalty. That was
one of my best interviews but I
could do so much better now.
I started going to the Stick of Rock
in Bethnal Green that was run by
Steve Bruce, the drummer with
Cock Sparrer sometimes I stayed
there for the weekend seeing all
types of bands. I then thought to
myself why was I here in London
when I could promote a venue in
Chelmsford and bring the bands to
the towns so I set to work on
achieving this goal. This was 1992
and I originally booked
Chelmsford’s YMCA for a Heavy
Metal Kids, show with their new
singer 'Dave Demarco, gig for
December 11th 1992 but switched
to the A&N and the rest is history!
In fact the first band I booked was
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a Psychobilly band called the
Klingonz about 140 turned up for
this gig. Previous to this the so
called Kings of Psychobilly The
Meteors had played the venue.
Army & Navy Flyer c/o Steve Clark
Can you tells more about the early days and the Army and Navy
became a major venue on the music scene.
The Landlord of the Army & Navy was Martin, at first myself and John
Dunn were allocated two nights a week to promote new acts to the
venue. I remember booking Glen Matlock a former member of the Sex
Pistols the fee was £250.00 and only 120 turned up and we lost
money on that gig. Admission was £2.50. He told me the Sex Pistols
would never reform! We also booked many other Punk bands
including UK Subs, The Exploited, 999, Peter & The Test Tube Babies,
The Anti Nowhere League, Splodge etc etc
John Dunn was the former promoter at the Y Club but now we were
working together and our 2 nights a week at the A&N had now been
increased to include an Indie night on a Thursday. And soon we were
booking alternate Fridays and Saturdays and later Mondays &
Tuesdays.
I understand you booked in
Oasis
No, I didnt, John Dunn did. I turned
them down to headline an alldayer.
Oasis were booked in 1994 and we
sold 350 tickets in advance of the
show, the official capacity of the
venue was 260. Oasis had just
released their first singl and by the
time they played it had just gone
into the UK charts. The support
were called 'Elemental Child' there
was another band that night but I
cannot remember their name, I
remember the Gallagher brothers
having a massive water fight in the
corridor and back room before the
gig. So to put pay to all bullshit
rumours, 350 turned up, it was sold
out in advance and they never
played more than once. According
to Chelmsford folk lore, there was
20,000 people there on the night!
Around this time we had booked in
Canadian band Moist and
Scandinavian rockers Clawfinger,
in 1995 John had left the A&N and
I was booking all the bands myself.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays. Wednesday and
Sunday night were designated as
gay evenings that proved to be
very successful. ( The gay nights
actually kept the venue afloat) We
also booked tribute bands and I
remember putting the Australian
Pink Floyd on, one of their first gigs
in the UK. I also booked them in
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Southend and it was a joint
promotion. The promoters pulled
out a week before because they
had no confidence and on the day
the pier caught fire but the gig sold
out and I made a fortune. They are
stadium fillers now all over the
world!
When did the Brewery first try close the A&N down.
The Brewery wanted to close the Pub in 95 and John went to the Y
Club, but a campaign was launched to save the now famous venue. A
petition of 6500 names signed and together with the help of the
Chelmsford Yellow Advertiser newspaper who headlined the fight, the
Venue was saved for now.
What other big name bands did you book in from 1995
Just to name a few Kula Shaker, Sterophonics, Headswim, Super
Furry Animals, Idlewild, Elastica, Longpigs,Wishbone Ash, Feeder,
Garp, Sleeper, The Mission, and Dogs D' Amour. Midge Ure, In fact
the V festival had started in 1994 and a lot of the acts that played here
went on to headline or be a major attractions in future festivals at
Hylands Park.
In 1999 Martin the landlord left the Army & Navy and I took over the
whole venue, that by now was well established, this was a busy time. I
had booked in such local bands as The Filaments, The Big, Ac Slater,
Thaed, Tellercreep, ISM and created a scene with these bands. The
last 18 months of the Navy was the busiest and the local scene was at
its best since 1993 when we had great local bands like Garp, The
Kites & Vybe Trybe. They were great times.
What was your personal best
moment
My best moment was booking in
my favourite band from Australia
who played their first UK show
here at the Army & Navy in 19
years, the band were called Rose
Tattoo , the lead singer was called
'Angry Anderson' they had worked
with AC/DC the sound was a
heavy metal mix with blues and
rock. There’s nothing like having
your own personal favourite band
play in your venue. There was lots
of other moments but looking back,
the A&N could never happen now,
you would never get away with
what we did, nor would a brewery
let it happen. It never turned over
fortunes for anyone.
I wanted to book Sham 69 but
Jimmy Pursey refused to play here
as he thought that Chelmsford was
a Fascist town and his band may
get targeted.
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Did you book bands right across the music spectrum.
Yes we booked soul bands like Junior Jump who played a summer gig
and a Christmas show every year, this band always attracted a full
house, Ska bands included The Beat, Selecter, and Bad Manners,
Reggae bands like Bush Fire and even Judge Dread. Psychobilly
bands like the Meteors. Blues bands such as Nine Below Zero and Dr
Feelgood. So as well as all the Rock, Indie, and Punk we did have a
good mix of music. In 1992 we booked a four band real skinhead gig
which included Argy Bargy, no venue at that time was touching such
stuff. We tried comedy in the later years at the back of the venue and
Tim Vine played there and we did accoustic nights in there as well with
the likes of The Almightys Ricky Warwick and Jim Diamond (
remember Boon theme tune ) who played a blinder with Snake
Davies. We did AOR ( Tyketto, Magnum etc) Folk metal ( Skyclad),
tribute bands, thrash, death metal etc etc.
I remember reading in the local
press about controversial
bands, Rockbitch and Impotent
Sea Snakes.
Rockbitch was a female
Punk/Metal/Goth type band that
were known for performing with
their kit off and incorporating
sexual acts into the show. The first
time we booked them only about
50 people turned up, three of the
girls went nude, they would throw
out into the audience a condom
and who ever caught it would be
offered oral sex or more The next
time we booked them word had got
out about them and the local Edge
Magazine ran with the headline
“LOCK UP YOUR SONS, ROCK
BITCH ARE IN TOWN” needless
to say we had 500 turn up that
night. We did book them for a third
time and one of the female band
members fell over on stage and
twisted her ankle that night.
I then booked in a band called The
Impotent Sea Snakes they were
from Atlanta. America’s answer to
Rockbitch. They are also known for
sexually explicit performances and
lyrics, the male member’s dressed
in drag and the female wore next
to nothing. The gig went well and I
re-booked them and this time I
made a huge banner that hung by
the Army & Navy roundabout for all
to see. The banner with American
stars and stripes said “MOVE
OVER ROCKBITCH THE YANKS
ARE IN TOWN”. Things were
going well I had sold 350 advanced
tickets but unfortunately the day
before the gig the Police turned up
with two council officials. I was told
if the show went ahead my licence
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could be in serious jeopardy, so
after considering the situation the
concert was cancelled.
Favourite memories
Lots!! Loads of late night drinking sessions with various bands, most
memorable being Buster Bloodvessel from Bad Manners who told
some great stories. Drinking with various ska faces and the drummer
from the Specials telling me they would never reform. The band
competitions bringing in huge audiences and big money. The infamous
promoters diary which was my chance to sound off about what I really
thought. I once said a tribute to Ian Dury called The Blox sounded like
Chas & Dave building a shed! It wasnt a popular comment. It got
serious hits on the website and I wish I still had it. Even the late
Melody Maker magazine commented on it! Making Back To The
Planet sell out and then touting our own tickets outside!!
Best shows
The Dogs D'amour were veery special to me for personal reasons.
Reef were great and Skyclad were very captivating. There was too
many really, ten years on my memory is a bit hazy. I still have the
diaries from 1992 - 2002, there isnt much missed out of them.
Did any VIPs come to gigs here.
Yes Fergal Sharkey, Gary Numan, members from The Prodigy and
Blur could often be seen in the audience and Reg Holdsworth!.
Your Worst Moment
My worst moment was when the Army & Navy closed in Oct 2002 to
make way for a new sports bar called Arena Army & Navy. Our last gig
was on the 20th October 2002, we had over 800 people turn up. Top
of the bill that night was 'The Big” The gig ended a bit sadly really with
the entire place getting trashed. Bit sad really and I never got my head
around it.
What did you do after the A&N
I brought Colchesters Twist and renamed it the Soundhouse. It was
the worst move I ever made! I lost 90K and never got paid for the
venue when I supposedly sold it. I nearly had a breakdown because I
was going through court cases over trying to keep my licence.
Chelmsford would have given their right arm for a venue like the Twist,
Colchester never deserved it. I nearly did a year there and again
booked some great acts like Snow Patrol etc but by January 2004 I
had had the music knocked out of me. Whilst at the Twist, I was
running fortnightly gigs at the Marconi club in Beehive Lane
Chelmsford. These were stormers in terms of attendance, nearly 800
at each gig just with local bands! I was also involved with Chelmsfords
Cave but was only being used for the licence! It was such a shame no
venue could be found in Chelmsford full time. Marconis eventually
stopped the gigs because of idiots trashing the place. So from
Colchester I went onto Ilfords 'famous' music venue The Cauliflower.
This venue stood for everything I hated about live music venues. It
was full of tribute bands and cover bands just like the Twist was when
I took it over but there was no point changing it. The venue and its
crowd were so set in their ways. I had death threats from regular
bands that played because I wanted to upgrade things etc. I was only
a manager and didnt have to pay the bands as the brewery paid them.
I tried a bit of alternative but it never really worked. I got sacked!!This
was because I had thieving bar staff and I was loved up and the last
three months I was hardly there. I deserved it. Believe it or not I do
have a few good memories of the Cauliflower and there was some
genuine people there. I did nearly a year there. I then went onto run
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'normal' pubs before retiring in 2007. I dont miss pubs or running a live
music venue.
What music do you listen to now and do you still go to live music
gigs.
I still like to listen to range of music from AC/DC. Elvis to Johnny
Cash. Also this year I will be attending the Rebellion Punk Festival in
Blackpool.
Maurice Hyde
E-Mail Chelmsford Rocks!
chelmsfordrocks@yahoo.co.uk
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now demolished venue.
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