Famous Rum Runner nightclub immortalised with blue plaque
A BLUE plaque has been unveiled by Birmingham Civic Society at the site of Birmingham’s famous Rum Runner Club, where Duran Duran played some of their earliest gigs in 1979.
The club was near current JD Wetherspoon pub, The Solomon Cutler, in Broad Street.
The renowned venue was right at the heart of the 1980s New Romantic pop scene and had an ‘anything goes’ attitude as far as attire was concerned.
As well as attracting fashion designers, other bands to play there included The Beat, Dexys Midnight Runners and DJ Dick (Richard Whittingham).
Birmingham Music Archive founder Jez Collins said: ‘It’s fantastic that the Rum Runner is being recognised with a Blue Plaque from the Birmingham Civic Society, following on from the award for the DJ Tony De Vit which is on Gibb Street in the Custard Factory.
“This award is a brilliant end to a fantastic year for Birmingham and our music culture. We’ve had the incredible Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies that highlighted the city’s amazing music, which Duran Duran performed at.
“They have also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside fellow Brummies and Black Country legends Judas Priest.”
The Berrow family first opened the Rum Runner site as a nightclub in 1964.
But it was a trip to New York’s famous Studio 54 by brothers Michael and Paul Berrow which was to prove transformative – the club was then given a new music policy and rebranded.
It was at the club that Duran Duran initially worked and partied in 1979 and 1980. The Berrows managed the band and they went on to achieve worldwide fame in the 1980s.
Original house band Magnum went on to have a 50-year career with their own brand of melodic rock.
Birmingham Civic Society is a charitable organisation that ‘champions civic pride and aims to make Birmingham a better place for its citizens, visitors and workforce’.
The society celebrated its centenary in 2018 by having the Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Square fully restored.