Former DJ’s plea to help record Blackburn nightclub memories (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Former DJ’s plea to help record Blackburn nightclub memories

6:03pm Friday 19th February 2010 in

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ANYONE around on the club and live music scene in the mid eighties is likely to have a special place in their hearts for Blackburn’s C’est la Vie.

For 10 years, the club in Market Street Lane was home to an ecletic mix of DJs and live acts, often attracting major names on the music scene to leave the big city venues behind and come to Blackburn.

Now one of the men behind the C’est La Vie story wants to record the club’s glory years in a book.

Ronnie Brown, owner of the North Bar in Blackburn was a DJ at C’est la Vie for 10 years between 1986 and 1996.

He said: “There isn’t a week goes by without someone coming in the North Bar and talking about C’est la Vie.

“It just struck me that there are so many memories of the place, it would be a shame if they just disappeared.

“One of the attractions of C’est la Vie was the wide variety of music that was played.

“The chances are you would hear things you’d never heard before but would come to love.”

Among the bands who played live in Blackburn were the Manic Street Preachers, the Inspiral Carpets and 808 State.

The club also hosted some of the first Acid House nights in East Lancashire.

“When the club opened in the basement there were only about 20 people there,” remembers Ronnie.

“But we played music we wanted to hear and the word got around.

“There must be so many stories from the days of C’est la Vie – it was a special place.”

Ronnie is hoping to put regulars’ recollections into a book with author David Parker.

Anyone with C’est la Vie memories should email thenorthbar@hotmail.com