In the last of our series on Isle of Wight nightclubs, Island Echo examines those at the former Ryde Airport, like La Babalu.
The site of La Babalu nightclub, in what was the former control tower of Ryde Airport, is where McDonald’s drive-thru is situated today.
In 1932, 832 acres of Barnsley Farm was bought by Wight Aviation for the new airport, which closed in the early 50s, with the land being bought by Westridge Construction.
In 1962, local businessmen Harry Wills and Jersey-based Bill Knight leased the land from Westridge to build a go-kart track.
They retained the airport’s control tower, opening a nightclub there on 29th July 1966 – the year England won the World Cup.
The nightclub was originally a comparatively sedate affair, with patrons donning a suit and tie to gain admittance. Jeans weren’t allowed.
A sister nightclub – first known as Music Box, then Carousel – also opened on the airport site next to La Bababalu in the summers. In 1969, Music Box hosted 2 massive bands of that epoch: Yes and Black Sabbath.
The legendary Vivian Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band also played there. Further well known artists to have appeared at Carousel include Mungo Jerry and Alvin Stardust. Bands from the punk era to have put in an appearance include GBH and Peter and the Test Tube Babies.
The well known DJ Tony Blackburn once entertained the revellers at Carousel although the evening was apparently ruined by a massive fight. Dave Lee Travis also DJed – wearing a gorilla suit.
In 1972, La Babalu was bought by Dave Radcliffe – owner of Shanklin’s Eastcliff Club and the Coconut Grove in Ventnor.
The following year, La Babalu featured in the famous film featuring David Essex – That’ll be the Day. Many of the regulars were said to have been taken on as extras.
It was from this period that La Babalu also hosted a succession of famous national and local bands. La Babalu is where the legendary drummer Nicholas Dingley – better known as Razzle from Hanoi Rocks – first exercised his drum kit with the lesser known Isle of Wight band High Voltage.
Level 42 played in La Babalu on 5th and 6th September 1980. The most fondly remembered purely local band to make regular appearances there were probably the Pumphouse Gang.
A famous national band to have appeared at La Babalu was Generation X (lead singer Billy Idol) in 1977. They only played for 20 minutes as Idol banged his head on a beam. Legendary punk anarchist punk band Crass also put in an appearance.
Both La Babalu and Carousel had closed their doors by 1983. La Babalu reopened as Hooters in the 80s but without the success of the former venues.
What do former patrons remember of La Babalu and Carousel…? Memories include hordes of foreign exchange students, colloquially known as ‘Ingrids’ and some lass salubrious adult entertainment.
One former habitue commented:
“The 70s rocked. I used to frequent the Carousel in the summers, 5-6 six times a week. La Babalu was the weekends September-May.
“I remember once seeing a stripper with a Boa Constrictor, Radio 1 and Radio Luxembourg roadshows, wet T shirt competitions, steak ‘n’ kidney pies heated up in the micro, and hundreds of Ingrids from Sweden.
“Happy nights.”
Another added
“They used to have these crazy completions like bring your bra up for a bottle of booze or your underwear. The Swedes loved this game.”
A common complaint about La Babalu in the summer was the heat. A further former patron reminisced:
“I remember getting pint glasses filled with ice cubes – so hot and no money. Ice cubes were free.
“And used laugh watching people try and pick up the change embedded in the dance floor of the Carousel.
“Days of our youth, out every night.”
However, most memories of La Babalu were happy and positive:
“I loved going to the La Babalu and Carousel. We danced in a circle with handbags on the floor. Great times, great Music and great friends. Lovely Memories.”
A former Swedish exchange student added:
“Best of times at La Babalu in the 70s. Was like heaven for a Swedish student. Think we must have spent 6 out of 7 nights there during our stay in Ryde.”
Islanders of a certain age recall 70s nightclubbing as the best of times:
“No social media to record or share what we were up to; just before HIV/AIDS; real music by talented, diverse bands; no fitness fanatics preaching at us; smoking and drinking acceptable; partying obligatory; skinny dipping; nearly everyone was slim. Halcyon Days!
But not all agree:
” I hated that era. The fashion was god awful, the chart music was sh*te, and it was horribly racist and misogynistic.”
What do Island Echo readers think? Did you go to La Babalu and/or Carousel? And was it the best or worst of times? Let us know in the comments…
Some great memories were made at both venues. In the winter, it was La Babalu, and in the summer, The Carousel. I remember being encouraged to take 7″ so the DJ could play non-chart music.
It was ’79; I was not old enough to be allowed into La Babalu. However, I got a lad from Ryde High to make up a counterfeit ID. I remember convincing the DJ to play ‘Life in Tokyo’ and ‘European Son’ by the then-unknown band JAPAN. It was the start of the New Romantic era and New Wave.
From then on, both records were played continually at La Babalu and The Carousel. While these songs were enjoyed by punters, my eldest brother disagreed; he thought they, the band JAPAN was shit. He still thinks they are shit. I have, however, one of the world’s largest music collections by JAPAN.
Not to forget Happy Daze and Studio 54, where my collection started.
“I hated that era. The fashion was god awful, the chart music was sh*te, and it was horribly racist and misogynistic.”
What a joy you must be, Enough is Enough??
Nevermind the rest had great fun.
That’ll be the day filmed in Ryde, Shanklin and
Clarence Pier Southsea to name a few locations
is a must watch.
What a shame for our youth not to have experienced all the great nightclubs we used to have. Now all they’ve got is overpriced commercial festivals
I particularly remember the Gloster in Cowes, happy days indeed. Bring back the nightclubs I say.
I played guitar and keyboards with Perkin Warbeck at the Musicbox through spring and summer 1970. It was run at that time by Wilf Pine and there were a host of famous (and famous at the time) bands including Black Sabbath, Black Widow, Van der Graaf Generator, Mathew Southern Comfort, and YES.
The night YES played they had so much gear there wasn’t enough room on the stage for theirs and ours so they very kindly allowed us to use theirs. They were a very gentle, kind and friendly bunch.
In return, after the gig, we helped the two roadies dismantle and shift it all to their truck in the car park. One of them had unfortunately locked the keys inside and a ferocious argument ensued which let to blows and we had to pull them apart.
Ahh. those were the days…. Love, Peace and Fisticuffs.