Rockies Sheffield (The Forgotten Gay Nightclub?)
The Cossack on Howard Street (Now Demolished) was the first Gay Venue I was ever taken to followed by a pub called The Albert Which is where I saw my first ever male stripper and drag artiste.
Don't like strippers the baby oil stains your shirt if you get too close
So it got me thinking about Rockies the nightclub that I was introduced to in November 1989
Rockies was a Gay Club and you didn't dare mention your sexuality for fear of being beaten up by some Homophobic THUG.
Queer Bashing was common in the late 80s.
The late 1980s & early 1990s were an Awful time to be growing up as a Gay man. Section 28 didn't help matters. So much rampant Homophobia and Abuse from people I never really expected to get it from
Rockies Sheffield was sister club to Rockies Manchester owned by a guy called Michael Snailham.
The club was housed in the former "Attercliffe Non Political Club"
Rockies was a game changer for the Gay scene in Yorkshire when it opened.
It enabled people who weren't "OUT" at the time to go somewhere safe for a decent night out. Entry was strictly controlled.
The club was amazing the drinks were cheap the men were even cheaperThe DJ played some great High Energy (HI-NRG) tunes
The main DJ at Rockies Sheffield was WAYNE 'WINNIE WHIZZ' SIDDALL
I'd love to know how he got that DJ nickname but I could probably guess! (HA!)
I visited Rockies Sheffield at least once a month for a night out back in the early 1990s.
It was where I first saw acts such as Hazell Dean, Lily Savage & Take That.
Once saw someone famous off the TV in there I'd love to tell you who but that wouldn't be fair on them now would it?
I became good friends with Terry one of the door staff which resulted in me getting to stay after hours.
One of the bar staff was decent enough to give me a bed for the night on a few occasions.
It's been a thing I've done: Get to know the staff at a bar or a nightclub because you never know when some drunken idiot is likely to try and spoil your nights enjoyment
I never witnessed any trouble at Rockies Sheffield not inside or outside the club.
I never had a bad night out in the place the crowd were friendly which made nights out all the better.
Rockies Sheffield still sticks out in my memory because it was so much better than clubs I visited when I lived in London.
London's Gay scene was just too sporadic.
I think it's great that a few people still remember Rockies and speak fondly of the place, but what's even more amazing is how easily people forget about a Gay club that stood for much more than just having a night out.
What were the pubs near Rockies?
The Bulldog
Cavaliers
This bar has been under a few names Breakers, Cavaliers and then was the Bronx Sauna.
Confusingly it was called The Norfolk Arms.
Now a Sauna called The Boiler Room according to a Google search.
The Norfolk Arms
Club Xes (formerly The Norfolk Arms Hotel) 195/199 Carlisle Street
Ran by Gary and Simon who used to be bar staff at Rockies.
The Albert
The Albert was demolished to make way for a road scheme in the 1990s.
Michael Snailham sold Rockies in 1993 & it became a club called The Planet and the place just lost its amazing atmosphere.
They even took down Rockies trademark Iron balconies which is where I would sit after a stint on the dancefloor.
As far as I'm aware that shut in the late 1990s and then after that the building housed a Strip Club.
These days the building looks like it houses a bath/shower showroom. What a waste of such a wonderful building!
Rockies Sheffield The Forgotten Gay Club?I certainly won't forget the place I had some amazing nights out at Rockies
I lost all my flyers from Rockies after someone threw out a box containing some magazines.
I found these Rockies Manchester flyers while searching for Rockies Sheffield
Never got to Rockies Manchester but did meet some of the crowd the night they came over on coach to Sheffield.
There were even records released under the Rockies label mixed by Winnie Siddal.
P.S. Yes it was Rockies not Rockshots that was in the North East