What ever happened to The Caringbah Inn - Australian Rock Music Venues

The Caringbah Inn was once Sydney's Number 1 live music venue for several years and deservedly so. Join me as I venture into the Shire and see how the pub looks and feels in 2024.
Both local and international bands played at the Caringbah Inn regularly in the 80s and 90s. Old gig guides advertising them all, as well as some great photos of various bands taken by photographer Bob King, are included in this vlog.
Credit also to Craig Barman at I-94 Bar for his input of some of the the musical and historical elements of the culture of the venue and of the Shire region.
www.i94bar.com/
There's a sneak peek of my chat with guitarist and producer Randall Waller, the full video will be uploaded soon.
Leave a message if you have any stories or fond memories of the much loved pub.
if you enjoyed this video, support the channel and buy us a ☕️
buymeacoffee.com/robdido
Cheers ✌️

[@masteryoda498]

The live pub rock scene in Sydney was absolutely cooking in the 70’s and 80’s. I’d go as far as saying Australia produced the best live rock bands in the world. Great video, subbed and liked.

[@stephenfox4278]

I checked out many good bands at that venue in my youth. Fond memories of that joint.

[@masteryoda498]

@@stephenfox4278 Lucky you, you would have seen some truly legendary Aussie pub rock.

[@Gioia67]

Cheers ✌️ thanks ..next Syd one is Capitol Theatre but Playroom Qld too

[@terriewarner5799]

So many memories of the Caringbah Inn.I spent pretty much every Tuesday to Sunday here watching the bands back in the mid 80s.. The green room would of had a lot of stories..lol behind the stage.. thanks for sharing the memories.. I'm fortunate to own my own live music venue now in Melbourne..and if I could I would be playing live music every night . We do play it 3 nights a week ..with sometimes up to 6 bands in a weekend .. Keep Live Music Alive.. sad how it looks now ..

[@Gioia67]

Thank u for this feedback. Great to hear from those who lived it so personally . You were lucky to live in such a beautiful part of Sydney too. I'll have to visit your venue ✌️💓

[@kitwalker2968]

What:s the venue in Melbourne? Giola looking forward to seeing the full interview with Randall. I have Avion;s first album on vinyl from back in the day. Never Let Me Go was their standout hit for me.

[@Gioia67]

@kitwalker2968 yeh I'll do it in the next 2 weeks. Doing Playroom Gold Coast next

[@jpracing6913]

@@kitwalker2968 I had the pleasure of working with them in the mid eighties, I was at their last gig before Evan died on the way home, So sad.

[@Gioia67]

😪

[@petercross8620]

Thanks for the great memories. I was a roadie back in those days and worked at Caringbah Inn many times for many different bands. Loved it as I lived local. It was an easy lug compared to most venues and the short drive home after the gig was always good. On rare nights off I would go to Caringbah Inn to see bands, Jon English and the Foster Brothers were always fantastic, same goes for Stormy Monday. I miss those days and I'm proud to have been a small part of it all. Again, thanks for the memories.

[@Gioia67]

Thanks for the feedback ..roadies were very cool people and it might be time I devoted a vlog to them 👌👏😃

[@michaelrussom9347]

Love your channel, so glad I found it, I was born in 75 and we moved to Hawks Nest in 77 from Sydney, I moved to Newcastle in 94, was still a great time, a lot of pubs still had live music, favourite places was the Hunter on Hunter and the Cambridge, would love to see a vid on the playroom on the Gold Coast, keep them coming, love it.💚

[@Gioia67]

Playroom is my next one ✌️✌️ thanks for the support 🥰

[@tonydoggett7627]

Was the first pub I ever went to, I was fourteen! I remember seeing Spy vs Spy and another time hunters and collectors.

[@Gioia67]

Cool!

[@sheenakim6894]

I wrote gig reviews for OTS and the Venetians first gig print review at Caringbah Inn. It was my local and the band room capacity used to also stretch out into the back beer garden. Packed band room or not so packed, the pub was one of the Sydney venues. UK bands also played there before they became world wide entities. I was seeing bands from Yr 10 (as underage) onwards. The pub and band reviews you do are a great snapshot of what was once a brilliant and vibrant Sydney music scene.

[@Gioia67]

Thank you...I have a few old OTSs 👌👌 great street press. Thank u...it needed to be documented. Such a glorious era

[@iancampbell7171]

Luv that pic of Matt Moffit @ 14.00....such a talent. Saw the Divinyls at Caringah, 1982.

[@1lorko]

Me too

[@alancharlton3867]

While doing a 1 off @ Cronulla Leagues for Midnight Oil, I did lights for a new band, The Divinyls. My first time hearing them, didn't like the music, but since then, it's grown on me.

[@paulchasteauneuf2098]

Just found your channel, love your passion for Aussie rock and the places that made them. Beautifully presented 👍👍

[@adamnewman7778]

In the 90s the stage was where the kitchen is now. Theres a full gig by Propagandhi on KZbin from that era. They are slowly starting to have original music again after a long hiatus of tribute acts only.

[@chazchuckyboyz4733]

Great drinking hole with many other pub music venues. The Bondi lifesaver was a classic.

[@craighawkins3137]

Seeing the gig guide brings back so many memories - you literally could go to a gig any night of the week, and it wasn’t just cover bands. My tinnitus is the medal of honour from that era

[@aldunlop4622]

Oh yeah, the Gig Guide was our Bible back then. Used to chase bands all over Sydney.

[@jimhales40]

Yes good video I used to see heaps of aussie bands there during 1980's like Kevin Borich Express and Party Boyz 🥳 that was classic time at the Kasbah!

[@Horatio411]

Cronulla Workers was brilliant too, in the 80s. Played at the C'bah myself. Walls have gone up in that area so it looked a lot different back in the day. I was at that Oils gig too. Born and bred Nulla boy, saw so many top bands at the Cbah. Went there from 80 to late 90s. If you want stories, Im your man

[@Gioia67]

I'll be doing Cronulla workers for sure I'll be in touch

[@Horatio411]

@@Gioia67 Sent an email with a piccy too

[@gregstubbings7643]

Yep, spent a fair bit of time at the Caringbah inn during late eighties/early nineties. Was there for that Hummingbirds gig, good band.

[@726brendan]

It still has its moments. Tumbleweed and the meanies did a gig a few yrs ago, frenzal rhomb played there last yr. The Miranda hotel had a yr prob 6yrs ago where they had a bunch of good bands play Fri nights, Hard-Ons, celibate rifles, tumbleweed, British India come to mind. But there’s no consistency with bookings anymore at either spot

[@kristopherlewis]

Used to work there in the early 90,s. I had to go up and often, change the board that was showing upcoming events(bands). Good times,good memories.

[@user-oo1mz9cj4s]

Great vlog! Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories.

[@Gioia67]

Glad you're enjoying ✌️✌️✌️

[@peterbenson5990]

My father, Jack Benson, RIP, used to manage Caringbah inn, this was around 1973-76, had my 21st birthday in the bar waiting to pick up the booze for said party,needless to say the party started way early, pub rock was alive and kicking back then

[@Gioia67]

@@peterbenson5990 that's great to hear from you. God bless your dad ❤️

[@brucesps]

The Saint’s went off that night. It was the best jig, Chris Bailey the legend of all legends and a female horn player that was unbelievable.

[@speedypete5445]

My mum was the booking manger for the bands for years . Got to see all the top bands. From 16 years old . We used to get all the posters and know the riders. Was a good era for live music.

[@chuckselvage3157]

The Casbah i still pop in for a beer every now and then.

[@timskin6259]

I was there one night watching D Minor and a beer got thrown onto their mixer after 3 songs..show was called off so around the corner to bedrock for a jaffel and most nights a lift back to Cronulla.. great times 👍

[@Gioia67]

Fun times indeed 😍

[@teebchain8217]

Thank you. This was a great trip down memory lane.

[@Gioia67]

Glad you enjoyed it✌️✌️✌️

[@berniebourke5225]

great trip down memory lane for me spent a lot of time there , saw some awesome gigs at that pub, few stories can't be told

[@Gioia67]

Cheers 🤩

[@Trumpy1963]

Great memories this place. I was there for Bo Didley and it was a very small crowd from memory but he gave it his all . Fantastic . One occasion I remember my now wife and I went to Cronulla for a swim from memory on a Sunday afternoon and went home via the Caringbah Inn . Now this was very early days of trying to impress this wonderful woman and bugger me we get there get a drink and on comes The Psychotic Turnbuckles , well did I leave a large impression on this girl . 34 years married now but I`m sure she is happy to let me loose to go see them. One other thing was the bakery across the road was fabulous at about 2-3 am after a skin full. Wonderful times

[@Gioia67]

Great story. Thank u for sharing 💓

[@benspencer9523]

I'm extremely jealous of the Bo Diddley bit 😔

[@Trumpy1963]

@@benspencer9523 I remember the guitar he had I can’t tell you the brand but it was like a cricket bat shape. His signature guitar I’m sure

[@benspencer9523]

@@Trumpy1963 yep that's correct. A lot of people reckon that the Bo Diddley beat was the birth of rock and roll.

[@johnhopwood9548]

I was a Bouncer there in the mid to late 80s. Seen all of the big Aussie bands. It was the best venue hands down

[@SoundDeskMan-eu1ry]

How good was that !!! Getting paid to see some of the best all time bands.

[@Philsfrets]

Remember seeing Uriah Heep at the Caringbah inn in the 80s. With Bob Daisley on bass and Lee kerslake on drums. Fresh from leaving Ozzy Osbourne after doing the Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a madman albums. I was gobsmacked to be standing at the front of the stage within metres of these guys who were just music legends.

[@Gioia67]

Wow! Bob D ? Very cool 👏👏

[@jpracing6913]

Gioia.. I have worked with many of the bands in many of the venues that you showcase. I love your series...Keep up the good work. I toured extensively through the eighties to 2000's, In relation to your video, I lived with Harry Slee in Caringbah and the last gig of the week for Stormy Monday was on Sundays at the Caringbah inn . We had Mondays off ( of course) yet I would still go to see a band at the Caringbah Spy V Spy was a special show, Then have a run of 6 gigs and a day off at the Inn again....Good old days,

[@Gioia67]

Great to hear from people who worked there. I remember Stormy Monday they were a good band abs the Spy's always brought the house down . I miss the excitement of that time...whilst I still see bands today it really doesn't compare to then....and being 20 in 1987 i was very placed ..Great days indeed

[@jnic2165]

Interesting to hear the history of the place. I went to a cover band there recently. Fun night, maybe 100 people in the crowd.

[@tadsky5418]

Hi Giola I have been enjoying your videos and may be able to help some of your research. I was heavily involved in the music scene in the mid-1970s. I worked at the Taren Point Dance, where I ran the cloak room, which was a hugely popular venue in the Sutye4rland Shire. It was run by Phil Smiles who later became a prominent NSW Politician. Phil was also a major music promoter and he took me on tour with Sherbet, TMG and many others. I was actually the solo support act for many of those gigs and was named Tad Kemps. I do not have any current contacts for Phil but he would remember me. Just up the road near Caringbah Inn was the Caringbah YMCA that was run by a guy named John Logan. I also worked with John on tour with Hush and others but was not the support act. John now lives in Coffs Harbour and runs many events in that area. I am a songwriter and Stormy Monday recorded two of my songs on their 1st and I believe their only album. I would be happy to share some of my memories. I can be found via Facebook. Kind regards Tad Kiemski (Tamworth NSW)

[@Gioia67]

Thank you. I'll be in touch if I need any info. How exciting to be involved in the industry...Australia has a lot of very talented artists and production crew

[@voxac30withstrat]

The Caringbah Pub. LOL if you wanted a fight THATS where you went. Ah back in the day when the Oils weren't MASSIVE hypocrites. Hey Pete, have you given YOURS back yet? You Certainly got 'richer' Petey boy. I remember bands like Mother Goose, Bondi Cigars, Doug Parkinson, Dragon. Captain Matchbox Whoopee band. I saw the mighty Ayers Rock killing it at Gymea pub one night as well. There was also an open air venue just near Cronulla station where bands played of a weekend arvo.

[@AB-kx4nc]

Was that in gunnamatta park?

[@wascawywabbit0987]

@@AB-kx4nc Yep. I lived in Clyde Ave. at the time. Just a minute walk away.

[@AB-kx4nc]

@@wascawywabbit0987 I've seen them steps, thought it must be some sort of amphitheatre👍

[@maxwellbowden9961]

I was there. Double J used to put on free concerts in parks like Gunnamatta, Wanda Beach, and Victoria Park closer to town. Music was everywhere in those days. I count myself lucky to have been around during those times 😊

[@aldunlop4622]

Yeah, I saw a good punch-up in the carpark one night as we drove in.

[@michaelmcdonald3275]

There was also Sylvania Hotel known as Promises and Carmens in Miranda Hotel used to have bands Early Thursday nights.

[@aldunlop4622]

I went to Carmens the night it opened. I got a ticket from someone.

[@grantfurlong2116]

Saw so many great gigs at C.I! We drove from Pennant Hills way which seemed to take forever but was all part of the fun. Some of the locals weren’t keen on us “spanner heads” coming from “out west” to their local but we managed to not get into any fights!😂

[@snipppa]

Good vid. I drummed for the Tribesmen, so many friends bands. 👍👍

[@Gioia67]

Awesome Love the Tribesmen 😍 👌

[@rockriff696969]

My mums cousin was the drummer for Machinations wow! what venue to play at.

[@anniecrestani1121]

Loving your Channel if only I had more time to watch I loved it there Band's and arvo Session's I was going around 1978 into the 80s I went to a few New Year's Eves there saw John English and The Foster's Brother's there a lot also the Sundowner Hotel Punchbowl where I used to see Cold Chisel before they broke through I lived at Panania baci x

[@jaffa3910]

I was always at the Caringbah Inn to see some really cool bands in the late 80s. 🤗

[@gregoryhughes1030]

Great content Gioia and well researched. Really enjoy your work. One of my favorite venues was The Sea Breeze at Tom Uglys Bridge. It was a fab venue, full of neon lighting and psychedelic patterns. Well known surfers would hang out there (pardon the pun) I even tried dying my hair blond back in the day.. The only problem was trying to get a parking spot on the Princess Highway. Pretty sure we used to park on a gravel section on the opposite side. Wow...great memories.

[@Gioia67]

I knew hundreds of venues back then but this one I haven't heard of...will have to vlog on it now lol ✌️✌️

[@Edwardscissor]

Gary Hughes Charm School, the old cronulla surfer was an interesting bloke

[@raynalusted3159]

I know I dated him😂

[@bloodyfingers1on1]

Bloke runs a surf school at pacific palms now...!

[@mtnmonk2301]

Good times! Great bands! And surprisingly, very little violence. Sadly, pub rock is dead. Can't even begin to list all the awesome bands I saw there.

[@michaelmcdonald3275]

Should do one on the sleazebreeze at blakehurst.

[@Gioia67]

What's the proper name of it, bands played there yeh?

[@chuckselvage3157]

Lol i remember that joint from the 90s

[@AB-kx4nc]

​@Gioia67 the seabreeze, was on Tom ugly bridge just about

[@Edwardscissor]

Haha I remember that place

[@robertcatterson8835]

Saw moving- pictures there great band and a very blurry night.🍺🍺🍺🍺💨💨💨💨

[@Gioia67]

Top band !!✌️✌️✌️

[@theselector4733]

04:03 Hoodoo GURUE 😅... It's those typos from 80's flyers that make the era so great. The 80's were a special time, live music was at it's pinnacle in Sydney. I think the closest I got to The Caringbah was The Brass Monkey in Cronulla. Other notable's were The Hopetoun, Harold Park, The Annandale Hotel, Sweethearts, The Sandringham and so many others. GREAT TIMES!!!!

[@rickkinlay9514]

Played there frequently with my old band Just Lust in the day. Also at Carmens and Cronulla Workers.

[@peterbluesman]

Yeah, me too.

[@stevewhite7084]

Ahh Carmen's,what a club. No denim jeans allowed, one night had to go via my house to lend the others some trousers to wear as i worked in a bank at the time . Was only 16 but we still got in somehow.

[@johnhopwood9548]

Stormy Monday played and brought with it $1 Southern Comfort drinks

[@CryptoSteve007]

Thanks so much. My fav YT channel!

[@Gioia67]

Our pleasure!

[@CryptoSteve007]

​@@Gioia67 Mona Vale Hotel pleeeze.

[@Gioia67]

OK Need to drive there lol but yeh will do that one too

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

@@Gioia67☝️❤️🙏 take a week up in queensland

[@Gioia67]

I'm doing Playroom GC next 🤪

[@navarrenavarre]

Paisley shirt, stove pipe black jeans. Winkle picker boots and a black motorcycle jackets. It was the indi bands like the Lime Spiders that wiped the floor with the old farts. Great to be part of it.

[@Gioia67]

Amazing tunes and memories 👏👏👌👌

[@stevewhite7084]

Hey, Did you steal my clothes cause that is exactly what I was wearing,the shirt courtesy of dad's wardrobe. At least you didn't have my brothel creepers. Pawned my jacket for $20 whan I didn't have enough food in the cupboards. Pretty sure I had spent it on beer though.

[@navarrenavarre]

@@Gioia67 My Goth- punk girlfriend wore a black mini with pointy leather boots with suspenders and stockings that showed way too much ass and was heavy on eye make up. She didn't stand out at all. We were able to go from the the 'Bah' to the trade Union club, the Evil star - all the inner-city venues and it was the same and even more radical which we liked. On the street magazine's gig guide was the oracle and my girlfriend's flatmate Charlotte wrote gig reviews for them, in an age of so called diversity nothing tops this era

[@navarrenavarre]

@@stevewhite7084 Nah, I shopped at Blue Beat in town and my leather was from George street. Sorry you were on hard times.

[@stevewhite7084]

@@navarrenavarre Trying to be funny in my comment obviously didn't work. I know you didn't steal my clothes I probably saw you and tried to copy/steal YOUR look.

[@raynalusted3159]

Best Sundays ever seen all the best bands there for free used to sneek though the toilets

[@grantatkinson4570]

The good old 80s remember it well wat a time

[@bloodyfingers1on1]

I remember the riot at cronulla workers when the celibate rifles and dead kennedys played....! Was also at the casbah in 82 for the inxs concert, way over crowded.

[@Wondertok]

Remember the night well. Coppers did laps in the Paddy Wagons with punters in the back

[@bluesfor]

Friday nights in the mid 80's me and my friends used to do the double. Start at the Sutherland Royal which finished at 11.45, then race down to the Caringbah for the 12.15 main headliner.

[@Gioia67]

Love it!

[@GilbertMcGovern-ys2ji]

Another venue that really shined during this period of the late 1970s to mid 1980s was the Cronulla Workers club Most friday nights it always had big names playing there INXS ,cold chisel ,men at work,Australian Crawl ,mi sex,midnight oil,the angels,Matt finish,choir boys,Rose Tattoo,you name them,they played there I remember once when I was making my way to the workers club walking the Main Street of Cronulla seeing Peter Garrett riding a push bike down the road before the gig,he’d just been for a jump in the ocean being a hot summers night International bands played there as well Mick Fleetwood,the dead Kennedys Suzie and the banshees, and on the list went Was one of my favourite places to go of a Friday night and was always packed. The bands used to play on the top level of the club in a large auditorium with a big stage, Many great times and memories The club came undone one night in the early 1980s …. 83 or 84 I think it was the night the dead kennedys played We would often before the main band came on go up through the fire exit of the floor below Which brought you out at the back of the stage You would then run across the corner of the stage dive into the crowd and get in for free,it was just a stupid dare that us as young blokes would do This night One of us got caught after going to the bar to get a beer He was grabbed by a couple of bouncers thrown into the lift against the wall breaking the schooner glass against his neck causing him to bleed to death in the lift. Will never forget that night The club went down hill from that night It had to pay serious money out because of those thug bouncers,people began boycotting the place And it slid into financial ruin Was bulldozed and turned into a strip of restaurants and bars

[@Gioia67]

Oh my God that's so sad . I ha e Cronulla Workers on my list for sure Before end of year 👌

[@GilbertMcGovern-ys2ji]

Thank you Gioia … Yes it was tragic night He was only 21 years old In those days Sutherland shire had 4 big playing venues … North was Sylvania Hotel South Cronulla Workers Club East,Cronulla leagues Club And West Carringbah Inn That’s as far as you had to travel to see the cream of Oz Rock in those days Though I would often go to pubs and venues all over Sydney to see bands and photograph them And then. Once a month I’d put a BBQ on at my place And have a slide night showing my friends the latest pics I had taken of such bands Wonderful times 👍 I also want to thank you for what you do regarding all of these old venues where bands once played Most people approach this kind of thing with the bands and not the venues but you have done it the other way A unique way And all the research you have gone through to do this has brought back so many memories You have done a wonderful job and the way you speak about these places and times in your efforts is priceless Full credit goes to you Gioia Thank you Girl x

[@joevass5172]

As someone who worked for various promoters and bands doing their doors (stamping wrists, taking the money and counting the numbers) for about 5 years (1979-84), I worked at many many venues across the Sydney Metropolitan area. Most venues were very well run and safety was not an issue. Whilst you would see the odd incident over time the only venue where I genuinely felt uncomfortable was the Cronulla Workers Club. It was late 1983 and it was a sold out gig with entry being by ticket only. When I arrived at the entrance to the auditorium to set up I was told by the bouncer (a former well known TV wrestler) that I wasn't welcome and to basically piss off. When that issue was finally resolved after a discussion with my boss (the promoter) it didn't take long to see why my presence was an issue for him. During the night a number of people without tickets (usually attractive young women or people who obviously knew him) would approach him to gain free entry which he would oblige. When I stepped in to try and stop what was going on I was physically threatened. There was also a lot of drunken behaviour that went unchecked. I remember saying to my boss this place had a very aggressive vibe about it and I would be reluctant to do another gig here. I wasn't surprised when only a few months later I read of the young man's death.

[@voxac30withstrat]

Mal Eastick Band. I am the proud owner of his 1952 Telecaster. He had a habit of getting the shits with the world when he was pissed and scratching FTW into his guitars. The shop I bought it off reckoned it was an '84/52 reissue. Little did they know, when I took it to Jacksons Rare Guitars that used to be in Annandale they immediately identified it as Mals '52 Tele and offered me $32K for it. I only paid $1300.00. No I didnt sell it because its a fantastic guitar. Feels awesome sounds awesome. Sometimes good things just fall in your lap.

[@Gioia67]

Wow!!!

[@stevefleming356]

Went to the Caringbah inn many times .

[@maxwellbowden9961]

I was there the night that Jimmy and the Boys played. Ignatius Jones aimed a kick at some grub who decided to pour his bear down the fold back. Well, he missed, and got a female friend of mine in the head. The crowd rioted. Ignatius was carried out in a guitar road case, but the truck carrying their gear had flat tyres and broken windows. I feel lucky to have been alive in the era of plentiful live music.

[@markgrace1254]

Hi Do you remember these Venues. War & Peace in Parramatta Family Inn Rydlmare Sefton. playhouse. General Burke Sundowners Bankstown. Thanks love your show.

[@Gioia67]

Subscribe to my channel. Most of these I've already done ✌️✌️✌️

[@kevinmillergaragerock]

Well done❤ ...I was there late 80s at C.I. Me and band mates travelled from Guildford Western Sydney..back then an hour drive.. Screaming Tribesmen I remember But, Cattletruck!, great band.. I will subscribe

[@Gioia67]

I grew up in Smithfield 🤪🤪

[@kevinmillergaragerock]

@Gioia67 shit girl!! I played Smithfield Tavern..a fight broke out..onlyb3 people in audience 😀😀

[@petercampbell7958]

This is a great story, but there were other music venues in Caringbah during the 70s. The Taren Point Youth Centre had shows most Friday nights; I remember Lobby Loyde and his Coloured Balls being a regular, also Tamam Shud played there a bit. My first decent concert was seeing Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs at Caringbah YMCA in maybe 1973 when he was touring with two drummers, one of whom was Johnny Dick. Warren 'Thumping Pig' Morgan was on keys. I remember the floor vibrating from the drums and my ears rang for three days, and yes, my hearing is a bit dodgy now. I don't know if you've covered Cronulla Theatre - I remember seeing Skyhooks there in 1975. Hush were also on the bill that night but didn't turn up.

[@Gioia67]

You were lucky to have seen some of these early RnR gigs 👌👏👏👏

[@alancharlton3867]

As a freelance lighting show planner/operator, I worked there regularly, with many bands. The 2 audio people I worked there with the most were Ken Starr & Gabby Venditti. I worked on call with many bands from 1975 - 2001, much of it through Now Studios in the early years, but as it was sporadic with long hours & low pay, I also had a day job which I could get away from to work with bands either doing loadins/outs & lights, with the added advantage of working on certain concert tours shows which needed a few extra hands. Some of the bands I was lucky to work with as regular crew were Feather, Ayres Rock, Chubby Checker (3 Sydney tours), Dallymore, Moonlight, Flotsam Jetsam, Outline, TMG, Candy Harlots, The Tigers, Airstrike, QVs, Class, Boss, Loaded Dice, Lightning Rock, Cold Chisel, Dragon, Stockade, Alley Boyz, Stevie Wright (on & off 87-91?), Lipstick Killers, Wa Wa Nee, Abbey Road, Your Fanatics, Jeff St. John, Dutch Tilders, Fat Lip/Heaven, Bleach Boys, Fat Out Of Hell, The Crocodiles, Ted Mulry Benefit Concert 9&10-Mar-2001. Bands I regularly worked with as an extra pair of hands include Mother Goose, Taste, Texas, Real Life, Sherbet, Midnight Oil, Jimmy & The Boys, & at The Bondi Lifesaver as loader, lights, picking up glasses, etc; for John Swan, assisted John F (ex Manly Vale Hotel Mngr), Bertie M & Danny D (Mardel Music) @ Greenfield Tavern (2,000-3,000+ Wed & Thurs). I was also lucky to get to work in some capacity with Garry Puckett & The Union Gap, Brian Ferry 1988, Mick Jagger, The Osmonds 1980, Uriah Heep (Sydney leg), Alice Cooper 1976?, TheRockArena 1977?, 1st Festival Of Sydney Haymarket (Jan 1976 or 7?), Concert Of The Decade (1977?, 1979, 1980?), Vietnamese New Year Festival (1983-2007?). Many of those who chose to be crew worked with many bands, started their own one stop shop equipment/truck/crew hire, even went overseas on tour, far more exciting than what I achieved.

[@Gioia67]

Wow that's pretty impressive still 👏👏 I've probably seen u around the traps 😜✌️😊

[@alancharlton3867]

@@Gioia67: Greenfield Tavern Mimosa & Greenfield Roads Greenfield Park, was opened while Ross Trevaud still had the Stardust. He later moved across the tracks to Cabramatta Inn when Ross & Tony bought it, but they couldn't compete with Greenfield. I helped out on band nights with Birtie M., who lived about a block away, & Danny D. I had to get rid of a number of bouncers over time, 1 didn't last half a shift, as their job is to quell arguments & disagreements, not start brawls. My aim was to ensure it was a safe venue to attend, with both John & I picking which bands out of those on offer, would be best. It becàme the most successful pub in the metro area for a while, some nights having nearly 4,000 patrons paying the entry fee, usually on the Wednesday nights, Fridays & Saturdays were disco, but then owner, Mark Whitehead, decided to sell, with the new owner putting on unknown cover bands instead of the popular ones, and the audience then went to The Stardust/Sweethearts. John wasn't happy staying & left. He later took on Sheilas North Sydney & Jindabyne Hotel. He was a pleasure to work with, always polite. Since then I've seen a couple of the agressive bouncers at different times/places notorious for brawls & not conducive to patrons enjoying the night out.

[@Gioia67]

@alancharlton3867 I went to high school across the road from Greenfield Tavern lol know it well 😜✌️✌️

[@alancharlton3867]

@@Gioia67 : I just left a comment on a post by Sam Righi. I'd like to track down my friend from long ago, John F. Haven't seen him since he took over Jindabyne Hotel in the late 80s or early 90s I think.

[@theoddcollectivealt]

Still there friends gig there regularly

[@sth892]

I remember the night Billy Smith took a horse into the public bar.😊.

[@Gioia67]

What?,,

[@troy906]

It was Billy’s pub & everyone was just visiting

[@aldunlop4622]

Oh shit, I LOVED Avion, I had their album on vinyl. The purple and silver one. Had The Expression album too. I went to a concert at Lidcombe Oval and I'm pretty sure it was called 5 bands for 5 Bucks, and Triple M sponsored it. From memory, The Angels were the headliners, I remember Doc Neeson dressed in black with his red scarf and he climbed up to the top of the massive speaker stack next to the stage. Great concert. I saw Johnny Diesel and the Injectors at Caringbah in 1986. I still remember because I played football that day and I was sore as shit, I could barely lift my drink up haha.

[@Gioia67]

Agree, Avion were a great band, Randalls vocal are top notch. I bought the Eureka Rock tshirt from the Lidcombe oval concert -and had it for years...It was my first outdoor concert and I was all of 16 - it must have been all ages to think of it....Cheers Glad youre enjoying my channel

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

❤️ you’ve got a great channel

[@Gioia67]

Thank you so much!

[@GilbertMcGovern-ys2ji]

Hi Alan … Yes Well said I saw my first several concerts outdoors and for free with much of the cream of either big bands of the 1970s or up and coming bands that would go on to being big Those outdoor concerts … ie … Victoria Park Sydney were golden times Never too be repeated. All that you said is true mate It is a shame what became of something that was so enjoyable and Australian Happy days Alan

[@BDHO73]

On The Street was an awesome street mag.

[@WharfSomewhere]

Great vid.

[@GilbertMcGovern-ys2ji]

My slant on Carringbah Inn and the time line of the “ glory days “ of Oz pub rock Firstly The Carringbah Inn … Alan Reid was a very smart Pub owner In the late 1970s and especially the early mid 1980s He would often have bands with huge pulling power to play for free or only a few bucks and he would as a result pack the Band playing bar till you could literally not move or close the entrance door it was so packed Patrons would drink the place dry and the bands would get a percentage of the bar sales It was a win win for him and the bands especially the exposure they would get,for back in those days there was no KZbin ,social media etc if you were a band you were literally out there at least five nights a week playing gigs,often 2 gigs a night One at somewhere like the Bexely North hotel and then over to Coogee Bay hotel where they would come on at 1.00 and play till nearly 4.00 in the morning Carringbah Inn won hotel of NSW back to back for several years during this time probably on that set up alone Especially Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons were renown for free gigs with bands such as the Radiators Mental as anything,etc etc It wasn’t the smallest venue nor was it anywhere near the largest it sat somewhere in the middle I think I saw bands in some pubs where you could hardly swing a cat The Carringbah Inn had immense pulling power to draw in the cream of Oz pub rock music And I saw virtually every major band go through there. Secondly The glory days of Oz pub rock … To me that period was more narrow than a lot of people realise Like evolution it’s a gradual thing Hard to pinpoint the actual beginning or end There had been live music playing to audiences since the 1950s and 1960s but most of that was in halls,civic centres night clubs and outdoor areas But not a lot was happening in pubs then though.During the early to mid 1970s Disco was huge and a lot of pubs played disco music Even before a band would come on The old disco ball would be spinning By the mid 1970s there was a growing trend of Australian Bands with there unique sound coming through such as the skyhooks ,the Dingoes, AC/DC,LRB,Dragon,Sherbert and so on and they started off playing in these pubs and the crowds grew every passing year from the mid 1970s but by the mid 1980s it had well and truly already peaked and was on the descend A lot of bands by then had either broken up such as cold chisel or they were to big and successful to play a lot of the Pubs that they would once play almost Every night of the week,crowd restrictions became very tight,limiting the head count,random breath testing was introduced so you could no longer get tanked and drive home,noise restrictions were also introduced more heavily and pokies were probably the final nail in the coffin as well as greedy developers,especially in Sydney. Sydney held the crown as the place for bands in Australia to make it They all either come from Sydney or would move to Sydney to make it Dragon from NZ the Angels and cold chisel from Adelaide so on and so on. I think that the actual peak in my opinion was from 1979 - 1983 maybe for or five years tops But this is just my opinion What I do know is like a lot people that lived and breathed that period Believe they were the best years of Oz pub rock It had not existed before that time and i doubt it will ever be seen again It was like one incredible storm that came and went But it was an amazing time Happy days

[@Gioia67]

Very insightful. I need to interview you. Truth 😍

[@joevass5172]

I agree that the peak for the pub rock era in Sydney at least was 1979 to 83 perhaps 84. One of the biggest factors in it's demise was the enforcement of fire regulations. Many venues only had one way out and that was the entrance. Depending on the size of the room you could have anywhere between 600 to 1200 packed in with no smoking restrictions. On reflection it was fortunate that a major incident didn't occur. Another factor was a lot of the bigger bands after doing the pub circuit in the major cities and the odd regional tour for 5 or 6 years straight had decisions to make. Can we take the risk and try our luck overseas in bigger more competitive markets or do we keep slogging away at home. For a lot of them it probably came down to the economics of having to make a decent living to provide for their families. It was a truly amazing time though and one that is a significant chapter in Australian music history.

[@alancharlton3867]

I think the move away from halls to pubs & clubs for louder rock bands started with 2SM/3XY/5A? & 2JJ putting on free open air live concerts. The halls were echo chambers. Many of single buying youth never went out to see bands as they often didn't know who was on where & transport to was o.k. but getting home was a problem. The family had 1 car, if they were lucky, and it was often hard to get an often pissed dad to go & pick you up not long after the pubs shut at 10pm. The daytime free concerts allowed the youth to see their favourite bands, and no excuse for not knowing, it was blasted over the airwaves between nearly every song at times. Once the youth got a taste of live pop & rock, they were hooked. The pubs started to change the type of act they employed, clubs followed, half going to the trouble to build new, larger stages with 2" bars to hang lights & 32amp 415v 3 phase outlets to power them. They were putting on mini concerts, eventually with some bands exceeding the number of lights for Sherbet @ The Hordern Pavlova, in a pub with a low ceiling from stage floor height. Then came the 1st State Gov fiasco, to charge entry, patrons must partake of a meal. The 2nd fiasco was the fire exits. 3rd fiasco Woolworths buying the pubs from the breweries as well as Stockland Shopping Centres, which usually had a pub also. WW didn't like so much space being empty most of the time, they had their bottle shop expansion to roll out, so both stages & any kitchen/dining area too big had to go. 4th fiasco was lobbying for poker machines as a highly profitable form of entertainment, citing machines are a game with tunes. 5th fiasco was another crackdown on DUI followed by no smoking in all but gaming lounges. 6th fiasco - Australian Idol, X Factor, Australias Got Talent, with contestants preferred to do US/UK songs, resulting in far fewer bands signed to recording contracts, now reserverd for the lucky few winners & runners up, therefore fewer new Aust songs played. 7th fiasco is, of course, the streaming services, which pay a pittance, if anything to most, while a select few in the US & UK get royalties far in excess that their downloads dictate.

[@alancharlton3867]

​​@@Gioia67: I think you might like my reply above. There are a range of factors which catapulted Aust music & venues as well as caused their rapid & increasing demise.

[@Gioia67]

@@alancharlton3867 agree 👍 thanks for the feedback. I'm doing the Playroom in Qld next - that was pretty popular too

[@MattDollMusic]

Loving your channel :)

[@Gioia67]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@douglasbanks3318]

Been at this Venue as well ,The Church played at this Venue a lot ,also at Selinas at well

[@allicafilms2467]

My Mum used to go the Caringbah Inn & see tons of bands in the 80s. She has vivid memories of seeing Midnight Oil, The Radiators etc I currently work there & from what ive been told its completely different now comapred to when my mum would hangout with her friends seeing gigs

[@olderthandirt7023]

I was there the nite Angry fell off the stage, the place was absolutely packed

[@gregorymichell7844]

I lost my shirt at that gig, dunno how

[@watersportsgooff]

Ah “Caringbah Inn” so many memories, grew up In Caringbah in the 80’s & 90’s The venue was completely different then, the Green room was were the kitchen is now, you walked through the beer garden from the car park to access Green room & saloon bar then through to the public bar were they play now at the front. It was a great venue!

[@mrmr314]

What happened was the Ryan family sold the pub and the new guy was a boofhead (the Ryan sons were and still are all friends of ours). The bands stopped and the pub ran down. Now it's just a shadow of itself ... and who is going to pay more than $7 for a schooner nowadays anyway? Just as a memory we saw a new and raw INXS at Caringbah with about 10 people in the joint. We saw the Angels multiple times with only about 30 people in the joint (way before the bogans started yelling out no way etc). We saw Midnight Oil at Sylvania with only about five people in the joint, and on another night the guitarist didn't turn up and Garrett came out and walked around the room and apologised to everyone in there personally. Cold Chisel was actively avoided because they weren't a hard rocking band. All this just depends on how old you are - at what point did you go to these local pubs (the Lifesaver at Bondi Junction, the Stagedoor Tavern at Central, the Civic Hotel at Central, Gymea Hotel, the Revesby Roundhouse, the Royal Antler at Narrabeen ... you guys remember all this.

[@Gioia67]

Thanks for the feedback. Amazing memories if u were lucky enough to see those bands on their infancy ...I never really went there often but I know I know it was hugely popular 👍👍

[@alancharlton3867]

While doing a 1 off rigging gig on behalf of Jimmy Murrie for Midnight Oil, I did the lights for a Stones cover band which also had a few originals called The Farris Bros @ The Antler. I told them the original songs were good & to ditch the Stones covers asap.

[@whitenoiseproaudio]

I saw Spy V Spy there and I just remember Blox screaming Carringbah!!! The floor also had a slope at one point or was that the alcohol talking? 😅😅 I do live sound production and stopped doing the venue a few years back as it was so hard setting up with all the Saturday afternoon punters complaining and being abusive while you are trying to setup.

[@lundsweden]

The Casbah!

[@TimS-pg5pv]

Hey Gioia Thanks for this. Don't think I ever went to the Caringbah but I did occasionally venture into the Shire in the early 80s and recall seeing INXS, Mondo Rock and Moving Pictures at different times in a venue in Sylvania - Sylvania Hotel maybe? Most of the time I went to Selinas but then I moved down Camden way for work and it became more difficult! BTW I now have tinnitis which I always say was due to listening to live bands in confined spaces! Thanks heaps for your channel.

[@Gioia67]

Yes, Promises was another very popular venue too. Great days weren't they 👌👌

[@TimS-pg5pv]

@@Gioia67 Sure were..The other thing I was reminded of from your gig guide cuttings is how relatively cheap it all was. $3, $6 or maybe $10 or something. I know things weren't like today and we were paid far less but I'm sure I saw Cold Chisel in Campbelltown for $10 or maybe $15. Wow!

[@Gioia67]

I remember FREE gigs all the time or $5-10 max. Late 80s were the best 👌

[@teariki-barefist2932]

Souls.

[@Gioia67]

cheers

[@gloryglory5688]

The band room was wider back in the day, that view you showed shows it much narrower

[@edwardcatton1047]

isn't sad?, that todays youth!, don't get that rock experience that WE!, old farts!, Loved? Love!.

[@Wondertok]

Who could forget the night of Jimmy and The Boys. Complete carnage. Roadies bashed and their truck smashed. Ignatius Jones belting out Baby's On Fire with a burning doll :)

[@imaginimage6207]

I know that night and who did it lol and why. ignatious jones kicked a girl in the face. I remember the old greeks lady Mary who used to cook sausages which you were supposed to eat at a certain time of the night. she got attacked one night everyone throwing sausages at her lol. a guy called robin hunt was the pre bands dj that used to play. I loved watching the numbers back then. meo245. soo many good bands back in the 70s

[@Gioia67]

Oh no😳😳

[@ruffben4159]

I saw John Farnham there at interesting time in his career in the early eighties with a small crowd of energetic older ladies mainly

[@deemccormick5381]

Roger Felice was the Band Booker of the Caringbah Inn. He took an suburban pub, and made it into a landmark venue. Just thought you needed the update. These rooms dont just happen by themselves.

[@Gioia67]

Thanks. His name isn't mentioned anywhere online or in print unfortunately.... I tried to ask for stories on the FB Caringbah Page ....noone came forth . The bookers were absolutely crucial. Hopefully they can tell their stories somewhere

[@BROOKS39]

I used to frequent the Caringbah Inn often. 1982 - 1988. I used to drive down from Beecroft mid week to see bands like Swanee and others play. I did see John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Mick Taylor play and also Canned Heat when Walter Trout was doing a stint with them. The band room was much wider but yes that was the area. You generally entered the venue from the rear car park in those days. I actually went back to the Caringbah Inn recently after like 36 years as I went with a mate to watch the Sharks play. They still have bands but it’s like those show bands like the INXS show or Rattle & Hum U2 type tributes which I hate. Oh yes and I was at Eureka Rock at Lidcombe Oval that day!! I remember Rose Tattoo were bloody loud and Angry Anderson swearing like a trooper!! 🤣

[@Gioia67]

Fantastic feedback, Thanks heaps. Yes I think I was 16 at Eureka Rock I had the T shirt for years 🤩 very cool u saw John Mayall and Canned Heat there 👌

[@kencratchley8697]

That used to be my local. Best memories were the Damned, Motörhead, D minor and the discords Spy vs Spy and the Allniters.

[@Gioia67]

Wow..great memories ✌️✌️

[@dropbear6740]

Spent many a great Friday/Saturday night seeing the Oils, Jimmy & Boys, Chisels. Radiators and many many more for a couple of dollars entry , they were great times in the 80's you had a big night for less than $20

[@Gioia67]

Amazingly cheap nights out with some pretty cool entertainment

[@kombi1970]

I was there everywhere.

[@aldunlop4622]

I saw the Radiators there multiple times.

[@Gioia67]

The Rads are still going strong to this day god love em Cheers

[@jimhales40]

Also I used to go to Southie Pub (Kings Head Tavern pub) in South Hurstville to see 4 day riders on Monday nights then after that I go to the casbah late after closing at southie pub😂

[@Gioia67]

I used to see Black Cat Moan there. Wayne Jury was tops!

[@jimhales40]

Thanks Gio

[@leavemealone344]

It'd be great if you did Martini's in Carlton. Birthplace of Skyhooks, Sports, Bleeding Hearts, Paul Kelly And The Dots, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band.. I used to see a lot of bands there in the 70's. I'd eat little during the week, then go straight to The Pancake Parlour and eat up on a Friday night, pop some pill and then off to Martini's I'd go to see The Sports .. all on a Friday night

[@Gioia67]

Sounds good 👍

[@Horatio411]

When that Oils gig happened, the place was packed but then the word went out that they werent playing so most people left. I stayed with my brother and some mates and then about 30 mins later the oils came out under a fake nmae and we saw them with about 20 people until the word, or spund got out and the joint filled up again. Funny as. the Emanuel brothers played there a lot too. Saw the Party Boys there once when Joe walsh from the Eagles was playing with them. Canned Heat also played at carmens in Miranda on that tour.

[@Gioia67]

Amazing How cool!

[@RolandElliottFirstG]

wELL stuff Caringbah inn, what about Sylvania Hotel in the late 70's 80's they had the best line up.

[@Gioia67]

Doing Promises too soon 👌

[@michaelearthling]

🤣🤣🤣 next you'll be trying to convince the good people of youtube that a Paul's hamburger was better than a Bedrock burger after a dozen 🍺 back in the day.

[@RolandElliottFirstG]

@@michaelearthling pAULS is not as good as it was back in the 70's and 80's , Auntie Franks was a good plac e for late burgers , Lindys was crap food, the Coffee perc was good.

[@grahambingham1649]

We saw The Psychedelic Furs there in March '83 ...... sparse gig room , low stage great gig

[@regaustin953]

Me to, the Shire had the best live venues, Cronulla Workers, Sylvana pub.

[@jimhales40]

Ah yeah I remember Bo Diddley that was cool 😎 at the Carringbah Inn 1984 or 5 🎉

[@Gioia67]

Wow. How great u saw him at a smallish venue like this 👏👏👏

[@jimhales40]

@Gioia67 yes I was a former local of Taren Point in the Shire and funnily I played in a band called Bentniks and I remember playing at Carringbah Inn 1983. Yeah you posted a great video awesome mate 👍

[@jimhales40]

@Gioia67 Thank you keep up the good work 👏 🙌 👍 👌

[@Gioia67]

Cheers ✌️✌️

[@1lorko]

Best shows at Caringbah Inn 1)All nighters 2) Los Lobos

[@GilbertMcGovern-ys2ji]

Hello Gioia

[@idolbass]

Played there many times in 79-82 'The Reels'.

[@Gioia67]

Oh cool. Great band love them 👌 I me tion u guys in some of my vlogs

[@user-bg7rb6oh7s]

Saw The Party Boys with Angry Anderson

[@Gioia67]

@@user-bg7rb6oh7s I saw them with Tyrone

[@aldunlop4622]

The other mid-late 80s places I used to go to see bands were St George Sailing Club, Sweethearts at Cabramatta, Selinas at Coogee Bay Hotel, Dee Why Tavern, others I'm forgetting. My mate's girlfriend didn't drink so she was our designated driver, and we'd get her to drive us all over Sydney, mostly wherever The Radiators were on, but also Johnny Diesel and others. I hated The All Nighters lol and sometimes they were on the ticket and I'd spend the whole time whingeing haha.

[@Gioia67]

Will be doing St George Sailing club ...to be honest I wasnt an Allnighters fan either LOL Cheers

[@ianmunn]

Pretty sure I saw Blink 182 there supported by The Living End. I also gigged there back in the day.

[@Gioia67]

Yea they did play there Great night that would have been ✌️✌️

[@bobmetallicafreak]

This place will never be the same :( coyotes should of stayed :)