LOST Nightclubs of WELLINGTON (with DJ RAW & KOS)

Exploring Wellington's Legendary Nightclubs. DJ RAW and I take a trip down memory Lane, and later we are joined with special guest KOS.
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"Kos I Can" KZbin - / @kosican5147

[@karin7.london]

Willies wine bar, Là Luna, Naked Angel, Paradiso, Banana Court and Cuba street haunts. Wellington in the 80s-90s … brilliant

[@karinkereama]

Raw and Kos. Wellington people are good people. Absolutely Positively Wellington.

[@jadeowenhamblyn4405]

Wow another great tour. I was the house sound tech at Indigo from 1999 to 2004... we were aware of the venue's history and stuck out some pretty tough times at the early stages. The sound system in the late 90s was, frankly, pretty terrible - just a bunch of stuff that Andy wasn't using anywhere else I think. We gradually improved it and it was a fairly decent Nexo set-up by the time I left (about 12k). On the really big nights we had a lot more people in there than we should have. I got to mix some great local and international acts while I worked there. We were also pretty enthusiastic supporters of electronic music, several of the staff including myself were also Radio Active DJs, and live DJs as well. Great work guys!

[@jadeowenhamblyn4405]

Also the Artemis bar! next to La Luna... ah wow

[@WGTN_SiR389]

RAW and KOS are NZ hiphop pioneers and wellington royalty. glad you got the OGs on this Shae! peace and hiphop

[@olibrooke-white2128]

Thanks Shae, this was a great stroll down memory lane. I used to be a doorman at Clares in the late 80s and all these great clubs were my life in those days. One thing I'd like to say is that Kos and Raw don't give themselves enough credit for their part in making the scene. Mad respect to them.

[@mranderson3927]

I thought of you as soon as they rolled up to Clares Oli

[@olibrooke-white2128]

@@mranderson3927 chur!

[@seanrota3359]

Clares was one of my favourites, would go there see my cousin DJ Koa

[@denisegore1884]

The 80s were a fabulous time to be a young person in Wellington. Friday nights would start at the Romney Arms (bottom of Plimmer Steps). They often had live bands. The restaurant was on the mezzanine so you could eat and not miss any of the downstairs fun. We'd then go up Plimmer Steps to Exchequers. I remember there were small basketball hoops on either side of the dance floor. It was quite risky descending Plimmer Steps in high heels and after a load of drinks. Later we changed to Spats. IIRC, there was a club in Bond Street too, before it became TGI Friday. Went to CandyOs, downstairs in Manners Street a few times. Arena once or twice. It was jam packed and you had to rub against people to get anywhere (to the loo or bar, for example). I recall there were flaming torches outside the entrance.

[@jeremycoubrough1145]

Fully into this series your doing Shae! I reckon you should consider doing repeats of each city but with different cats each time. People from different scenes and eras, DJs, promoters, party people, whatever. There's so many legends from back in the day and I'd love to hear more of their stories. Especially their favourite late night/early morning food spots. No better vibe than getting weet-bix or marmite on toast and a gumboot tea at Kenny's after a rave :)

[@shae_sterling]

Thanks Jeremy! I've actually already filmed a follow up for Auckland with another DJ and have heaps more on the way! Standby!!! Thank you for the support!

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Tatou nightclub where it all happened was originally owned by Danny McGrath and Jim Barlow. Managed by Andre and head doormen "Big Joe" Smith, Davy Kuresa and Glen Jarvis "Rookie." I think I still owe a tab, what tab. Thanks uso Joe Smith

[@michaelquillan5325]

Those were the days awesome memories great people good times cheers

[@mikedavid6681]

I visited from chch and vividly remember rolling up to tatou and thinking he was the biggest doorman i had ever seen. Great night

[@seanrota3359]

Joe Smiff, Big Davey...........all the brothers working the doors

[@ladyvanilla06]

And then there was the Minister! Tatou was a movie.

[@seanrota3359]

Some late nights there! Big Joe, Davey and the one and only Stormin Norman

[@jimmykimchi1916]

Shout out to the one like Clinton Smiley '

[@spiders5564]

Was really awesome to watch this as i had worked many of these bars when i was young along some OG doormen, Cedric Williams and his brother Tim. Mark Greig, Brian, Big Joe Smith, Davey Kuresa, Johnny Godinet, Andrew Gibson, Toa, Eddie Nansen, Soull Ramese and many more. Few other bars to mention, Loaded hog bond street, Club Nouveau then became Club, Big easy and a few other others. Cant beat em days and hats off to the uso's Koz and Raw, def pionners of Welly hip hop

[@gilbertkaiwahia4067]

Doc Johns,what a childhood,chuckle

[@drewlees6702]

Nice shout out RAW to Andre Upston! The man is an absolute legend in the music industry. Has engineered so many studio recordings for local and international acts without much recognition. Was also a great DJ back in the day. I moved to Wellington in 1992 from Sydney where I had worked in clubs since 1997. I think if it wasn't for Andre, Steve Hill & Clinton I probably wouldn't be living here in Wellington today . Also loved the Auckland episode. Just missed the shout out to Kevin "The Hat" , best bartender in the world (RIP). Nice to see a cameo of Steve Hill on K Road as a passer by. Thanks Joe Smith for sending me the link MA USO4LIFE . keep up the great work Shae! This is awesome!

[@garthstirrat5596]

Another awesome roll down memory lane Shae - I've been lucky to go to many of the venues in both your Auckland and Wellington "lost" tours. This brought back some fantastic nights, when no one was worried about being videoed or posing for the 'gram on their smart phone!!

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

This venue was originally called Judder Bar (Vulcans Lane in Auckland) and was the first bar owned in Wellington by Mike Hood and Mike Brown. The door featured Norm "the Storm" Taniwha and Johnny "G" Godinet. The uso Leonard, an OG doormen from Auckland came and showcased those "Aucks styles.". The Vespa lounge which was owned by Rodney Haddon RIP brother, showcased a number of well know Wgtn house DJs "Andy B and Danny Boy" Eric Mooiji was the last man standing at the door. Great memories!!!

[@seanrota3359]

Chonny & Stormin lol

[@seanrota3359]

Johnny G and Stormin, many years kicking around with those two, some late nights there

[@mattempyre]

Sandwiches was named after the track by Detroid Grand Pubahs - Sandwiches.

[@shae_sterling]

Nice! Great bit of info thanks!

[@paulmcmaster4047]

Used to drink at Spats 3 nights a week.Ray Johns was an awesome guy.Then moved on to the Arena when it opened.Amazing times.

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Studio Nine is where Mark Greig (OG whose still doing it for more than 40 years) is the most respected Mark!! worked the door with Dion Taniwha. The other venue where the food market was the Lord Nelson

[@denisemcmullen2304]

Great seeing Kos163 again and DJRaw thanks for the vlog

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

The Arena was owned by Ray Johns and had "Don the Rock Morocco." on the door. Uso Sid Hunt stepped out Don after he disrespected uso "DJ Sa" at Hatters Cafe in Courtenay Place. Ray picked up a sign and then it went outside and Don bit Sid's ear. Sid knew Ray as Sid's father was a wrestler from Porirua.

[@seanrota3359]

Yeah Bro! DJ Raw & Kos, going back in time, Diva, La Luna, Vespa, Ecstasy, Tatou, Claires, Exchequers, Chips, Arena and of course Dr Johns. Ray Johns, Godfather of the Night Clubs of WLG.................special appearance by Kosma from the Greek Mafia! and of course photo of Choe Smiff....chehoooooo! good times

[@janemeaclem9504]

That was really cool, brought back so many memories. I feel lucky to have worked and partied in so many of those clubs back in the day

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Chips nightclub, the bouncers wore white shirts, and Frankie Stevens used to wear his shirts rolled up. A good man now, but not during that period, lol

[@speill3826]

Ah, trying to remember the names of the two main guys on the door at Chips. Hard dudes, but good humour. Who were they.. ?

[@djdale.5806]

I remember lol

[@williamwalker4408]

Dr Johns was legendary. Yeah about the fights. I saw someone chucked down the stairs the first time I went when I was 12 years old. The following year I met Dr John himself. When I was in third form I ran away from a Masterton boarding school to hitch hike to Wellington where I near froze to death on the streets one night. I was found and returned. Having just made a promise to my Mum and the principal that I would never run away again, I was eating horrible mince in the mess when another turd approached. 'Hey Willy,' he said, ' I heard you ran away from this place.' 'Yep.' I said. ''I gotta get out of here. Wanna come with me?' ' An hour later I was hitchhiking back over the Rimutakas. When I rang my Mum the next morning, she was beside herself. Scared she was going to kill me, I talked my mate into hitchhiking to Rotoma, a hide-away by Rotorua where i knew there were bush cabins we could enjoy life in. Probably some beer cans in the fridge of one of them. By 2am the next morning, we found ourselves wandering in fog absolutely chilled to the bone, shivering uncontrollably on the desert Rd, wondering whether we would survive the night when a Peugeot slammed its anchors and reversed back to us. The driver was a bloody legend who turned the car heater up for us, gave us something to drink, bought us breakfast in Taupo and gave us a bit of cash before he headed off to Auckland. In fact he really was a legend. When we thanked him and asked his name. He said, 'Do you know Dr John's nightclub in Wellington. Hell yeah. 'I own it, he said.' For what its worth, we survived two weeks, (dodging Police cars etc because we became missing kids on the radio) before my mate got so sick from too many beers and not enough proper food, I had to ring an ambulance for him.) Geez, your program is pressing buttons all over the place. Someone just mention my cousin, Dean Hapeta of Upper Hutt Posse! And it was from Upper Hutt we departed to head north. Memory lane for sure!l

[@DerekBolli]

So good to hear you mention Andre Upston. Great guy and very talented 👍Hope he is still thriving and doing well 🥰

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Matterhorn doormen were Brian (OG grandmaster) who was there for some 20 years (beginning to the end) and was a great host and never saw him throwdown, even though he could fuck you up. A legend!

[@seanrota3359]

Yeah Bro was at school with Brian

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Ecstasy Plus where Big Eddy (RIP), Joe Smith, and Davy Kuresa worked the door. Later on, Wellington Sports Cafe, owned by Nick & Pano Focus, and then the planet lol

[@robertanderson4796]

Paisley Park & Metro? Can remember Frankie Stevens on the door at metro saying “I don’t care if it’s your brothers or your uncles, but I need to see some ID” good old days of paper drivers licenses with no photo. Cheers for the walk down memory lane guys 👍

[@avpr1574]

I remember the dutch guy who ran Paisley Park circa 1990

[@JamesDio-yu5yd]

Paisley park good times

[@rachelcampbell5828]

super cool...loved going down memory lane

[@alexandragallacher3624]

So grateful for this bit of history, you two! I was more in the punk scene so get someone from HLAH to do that tour :D (You had Matterhorn correct - you can see in the shot the frieze on the top of the building that shows coffee and a mountain)

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Ace of Spades uso, DJ Raw and DJ Laina. Kia ora Shae thanks for a great trip down memory lane

[@UrbanMenace0187]

Damn what a blast down memory lane, the mid 90s was my prime and all of those clubs were a big part of it. Great viewing 👍

[@OCEANOUTKAST]

Some old history alright! I grew up listening to DJ raws mixes... Enjoyed the watch. ( fellow greek )

[@Vstar87]

When i was in my prime Rain was my go to club and shooters

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Sandwiches Club was a great venue uso Lu Pua was the doorman and a great host

[@TheKidBjam]

Lu still around these days, think he still lives on ellice street mt vic.

[@edups8925]

Alot of my firsts went down in those doors 💙 Thanks for the trip down memory lane

[@mrMARVILUS]

Semi MCs used to play at Extacy plus every 2nd month, Terry would fly em in and place would pack out with crowds out on the road, place had big windows that open straight out to the street

[@smith47you]

Hi Guys great video you given us the history of nightclubs in Old welly was there in 83 through to early 90s certainly has had been fabulous eras days to go out and dance thank you churooo cheers Bros👍👌👏👐

[@deejayjacobs2018]

loved dj raw, cxl, pmoney, sirvere

[@billbeerfridge]

so good. great times in wellington.

[@xoxo98808]

Hi Shae, I loved your video of clubs from Auckland. I'm 25 and I just moved to Wellington and I wish I could have seen the club scene in its heyday.

[@shae_sterling]

Yeah was an amazing time. I caught the second half of it. Was really cool!

[@Gotti.25]

Kia ora shae love the content! Are you gonna do a Christchurch one?

[@shae_sterling]

Def in the works!

[@alexbrunt897]

​@@shae_sterlingPalladium and Baileys 818....DJ Dale... Rob... Brent ...Greg... good times back in the 90s

[@shae_sterling]

Confirmed and booked.. standby!!!!

[@babyface7596]

Great video thank you for sharing !!!!!!

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

La Luna where Simon Pele and Phil Smith worked the door and many a fight outside, and the Soul bar owned by Danny McGrath

[@richardsingh5827]

Nice to see Wellington

[@twangology]

My list of clubs in chronologicaly order: Clares, Naked Angel, Massive, Escape, Metro, La Luna,Tatou, Pheonix, Studio 9, Shopping, Mercury, Subnine, Sandwiches, there were also the barclubs in between Judderbar/Vepsa, Hummingbird, Paradiso, Ponderosa- was good times went through all the genres of music a these places from Acid House at Clares, Jungle at Studio 9, Trance at Tatou and everything in between that. Great to see the old haunts :)

[@corynhughes7782]

To good Kos and Raw.

[@vickywaihi6574]

Omg...yes iwas one of those,'Checkers (plimmer steps)-Tp Tony pene Dr John's.-Tp&R Bell

[@gilbertkaiwahia4067]

Jungle,Lower Hutt,nutha spot

[@mikebarton]

Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time... 😉😉

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Diva was where "Big Al" managed the door he wore a suit and was a great host

[@TheKidBjam]

First r18 gig i ever went to was at san fran bathhouse,(was 14 at the time) , it was verse two (scribe and ladi 6) , i was hanging outside cause my mum, brother and his mates went up earlier, the man Dulu (footsouljahs manager) comes up to me, "wtf you doing out here ,your cousins performing, hurry up come with me" , even got a shoutout from ladi onstage lol 😎🤣

[@camerondouglas3938]

Studio 9 Lee scratch perry and Mad professor toured 2005!

[@keitekapua7002]

I remember DJ Raw come to my school and DJ'd there. That would have been 20+ years ago. Mans been around for years and still looks the same lol. Good to see him!

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Kia ora uso KOS is the legendary duo of DJ Raw and KOS 163. Just need Fiso (Flowz) and Ali Siloata to turn up and it's the legendary hip-hop group and Welli finest "Footsouljahs"

[@TheKidBjam]

Can't forget shogun aswel, they could all turn up except Ali, he's doing a pretty long lag in rimutaka, good dude regardless though.

[@seanrota3359]

Da Footsouljahs! yeaaah Fiso running with the boys

[@upp.social2490]

God Bless you we so needed this Channel of old Clubs man.. what the hell happened to NZ?

[@mariaobrien5359]

Tony pene awesome doctor johns, wow what cool video ❤

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

You the man Rawski, would have been good remembering the Bouncers who worked there. Uso Sam was the guy on the door at Naked Angel

[@goutOX]

Good luck, motel, hope brothers, no mention of Havana bar…….sandwiches shut at 7am. I would play from 4 till close every fri and sat night for the last five years it was open. Miss those days

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

The era of companies running the doors was First Contact by Darryl Stonnell. Previously C15 Associates which was primarily a Maori and Pacific crew who had been working directly for the owners at all the major Courtenay Place venues for 20 years prior to Certified

[@djdale.5806]

Ex Chequers! Tee Pee was legendary there. Still remember his set lists lol. Multi genre for sure. He even mixed up some of the Stock Aitken Waterman classics in his sets as many of us did. I was in the Navy serving on HMNZS Wellington at the time regularly visiting Wellington our home port. First thing on my mind was always the clubs. While back in Philomel I was Djing in our naval sports bar(junior rates wets) at that time. Was great to see other Djs I aspired to using the same formula.😊

[@jodywyllie6462]

Mean brother Kos. Brought back a few memories. I met my wife at La Luna. That was an awesome club. You were also a good league player brother.....

[@plambrechtsen]

I’m just surprised that you didn’t interview any of the owners of those bars. Paul from Naked Angel. Danny from Tatou Tim from Matterhorn and San Fran. Also really appreciated the shout out to Jason aka Clinton Smiley. ❤

[@iain_nz.]

Now this is cool !

[@cheeseisdelicious111]

Martin Joiner and Gonzo were awesome.

[@papatuanuku3545]

We will start from the railway station Tavern bar and go pub crawling all the way up until we get to Mid City bar to watch the brand's play. "X Chequers" was a cool night club, to get in $20 for women and $25 for guys free drinks all night long.. I'm sure they water the drinks. "Naked Angels" was a cool night club, I remember walking in and they had incense burning.. I went to use the toilet there was a young dude waste as laying in the urinals, so I pulled him out of the urinals and told him why you laying in that filth lol. I remember the "Chips" night club I wish I had the chips as a souvenir. I remember the 3rd nite club was dark as inside.. went to a 21st there and another time with a friend to a private function. "Clears" nite club used to be a gay nite club and then it was checkmate a gay sauna. "Sun Set"nite club went there a few times you went up the stairs, they had a couple of pool tables closed at 6am. Alfie's nite club was a cool night club when I first came out 18 as gay and the gay sauna was across from Alfie's. Went to la Luna Bar up stairs on the right sided and Toledo Bar was on the left sided a gay bar. Down stairs was a bar called "Bamboo Bar" was a gay bar. My uncle bounced at Luna bar and Toledo bar, then he worked at "Mild City Bar" as the bar manager and bounce there. My very first night club I ever went too was "Dr Johns" you have to be under 18 to get in it catered for teenagers only low alcohol.. adult won't allow to enter Dr Johns. The bounces were strict. I was 16yrs old. Been to many bars along courtenay place, "Shooters Bar" was a cool place up stairs and down stairs, heaps of younger people. Been to ecstasy plus bar / club many times was ok just a bar that we have one drink and move on to the next bars, heaps of yuppies will go there. The Dome was another gay bar club, the place used to be toilets at the end of Courtenay place. "Ta toe Ta toe" was a cool night club up stairs and down stairs was the boiler room nite club they played the best club music back in those days.. closed at 6am. Yes I went to the Erina night club once with a friend outside it was flash with the Roman Greek look poles and archways.. inside too, they had the long fish tank trout swimming, behind the bar.. it was very flash night club. We drank cocktails all nite long. Vivian Street, had "Nutcracker club" hole in the wall, you have to talk to someone in the hole in the wall to get in run by the queens community down from there was "Evergreen coffee lounge" the best toasted sandwiches in town and their coffee special whisky and coffee owned by "Chrissy Witoko" after the night clubs we will go there and walk out 8am. Across the road was the straight strip clubs.. on Vivian Street. The girls ( Queens ) own Vivian Street. For there leisure. In the 80's and 90's was the best time of my life from 16 to 30. Beautiful memories back then. In 2000 I moved to Auckland to live. ♥️😊

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Sunset nightclub and later Stacks nightclub owned by Trevor Holder where Tone Fiso worked the door

[@seanrota3359]

Tone Fiso, wow that's going back, another brother from College. His Brother John had an altercation with Ray Johns way back.

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Slowboat Records founder Dennis played in a band at Hotel St George "Soul Fillets" where the head bouncer was Keith Bullock and a group of Fijian men who were awesome fellas

[@alexharding-u5d]

awesome to hear about my fathers legacy!! chur as :)

[@Erelyes]

Awesome video. A suggestion, 'Dunedin pubs and clubs'... possibly Marc Ellis as a guest if you can!?

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Alfies nightclub where the bro "DJ Wayne" from Hutt Valley

[@cesar_yf2637]

10:49 That worker jumps out of the truck......crack up fulla

[@omnapp9]

The Carpark, yes, Daniel, manager from Otaki, hey brother, lotta water under the bridge, Robin

[@NZSPEC]

Can u do a series on the old school boy racer spots of wellington and Auckland and interview some old school boy racer boys tht b cool

[@mranderson3927]

Now I feel old

[@mctree4528]

RIP Sammy's i remember coming out at 6 am and watching all the runners pop out. legit ten years ago. good times

[@4oyageryramaira269]

shuld have got hold of some old time archive pics of the clubs back then to really bring on the memories..

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Dr Johns was where David Marshall and Jeff Spencer sometimes worked on the door. Ray Johns was the original owner and then Billy Martin. It's where a young man was beaten by a "bouncer" and died in hospital 10 days later in 1986. RIP Alexander John Taniwha 😇It's interesting that years later Ray opened up his last bar in the same location some 30-odd years later called "The Big Easy" where Davy Kuresa and Big Martin managed the door.

[@mrman4492]

Wahlee building at 220 Hobson street in Auckland if you want an old wooden building.

[@moderndesign5282]

Naked Angle was a club night but the venue was used a lot for the live Punk scene

[@brainrapist3540]

Im few months off 40 just old enough to remember lot of these clubs. Studio 9 was favorite. Is your brother Ketzel?

[@alexbrunt897]

Metro was one I would visit on the odd weekend in Wellington.... in the Mid City.... DJ Cory... wonder what happened to him???

[@qjb75]

Vespa was the place to be when everything else closed for the night lol shout out to Nathan who was one of the bar managers back then and RIP to Rodney Haddon the owner who has since passed away. The memories!!! 🎉

[@UrbanMenace0187]

Red Square too

[@jimmychoppa1997]

Can add Club 121 to the list officially now

[@stewarthemphill5677]

Also you missed out Spats

[@Timberwulf2]

Candyo's

[@Clithero]

Rare none windy day!!!

[@maximusnz]

I remember the grand/shooters coyotes and even studio9 lol then realised oh shit high octane shae sterling lol you still own the skyline that was buit? Hows your brother. Banzai!!! 😂

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

Kosma "the Greek" how was Hollywood brother?

[@TheKidBjam]

Awesome video shae, what was the record store that was importing drugs in the records? I think they used my dad as the courier service

[@definedphotography]

23:25 Troubador - was in the ground floor of James Smiths (possibly somewhere else before that?) I used to buy records off Mu (Fat Freddy's) who worked there

[@WahsUpTV]

Thats Crazy Don Muraco was doing doors, Mustve been on a tour doing wrestling for Vince or something, whats that early 80s?

[@KylieMackLA]

Late 80's - not sure when he left but I remember 6th and 7th form so he was there at least '89 + '90. All this time I thought his name was Don the Rock lol

[@VKM33]

Full wrestling name was The Rock Don Moraco billed from Hawaii. I remember taking a pic with him as a kid in the late 80s in Porirua, massive smile and a gentleman. US Wrestlers would often do shows in NZ back then.

[@CRAIG5835]

Jack Nichols was the name of the DJ when Frank Stevens ran CHIP's in Willis Street he had a click in his neck that made it list to port. RIP Jack.

[@ljawgtn1393]

Vertigo - Blow - Tattoo

[@iain_nz.]

lol traffic guy was funny !

[@tuhoro09]

They forgot the legendary Visionz lol

[@cheeseisdelicious111]

😂

[@stewarthemphill5677]

FYI Franky didn't own chips he ran it . Mr Turner from Turners steak house owned it.

[@cheeseisdelicious111]

That place was delicious

[@fadul9991]

good stuff

[@DavidGraeberWasRight]

staunch ao!

[@jayxknight]

so good

[@tammyedwards8100]

Trojan house deserved a shout out 😂✌️

[@honeheketaniwha5735]

The Patton brothers (Louis) ran this door at Claires