http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 549396.eceIt is cramped, sweaty and defiantly uncomfortable but no one lucky enough to see the Rolling Stones, Nirvana or Arctic Monkeys perform at the Astoria ever minded.
But sentiment, popularity and the lack of other substantial live music venues in Central London will not be enough to save the historic auditorium from demolition.
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has confirmed that the 2,000capacity former theatre will be knocked down to make way for the capital’s new Crossrail service, and will close at the end of the year.
“The construction of Crossrail means that the Astoria can’t be saved,” the mayor said. He added that a new, plusher concert venue would be included in the new development in Tottenham Court Road. Mr Livingstone said: “It wasn’t at the cutting edge of modern comfort.” Barry Hyde, the lead singer of the Futureheads said: “Venues should be dirty, they should be a bit smelly because smelly things happen in venues. Sweaty people had fun and the Astoria was always something you’d look forward to.”
My memory will be the TD's bass reverberating round the gents bog under the stage!