Birmingham rock music venue Mothers, which hosted Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath during its 1970s heyday, should be commemorated with a blue plaque, councillors have agreed.
Now a furniture store in Erdington High Street, Mothers was once a major venue on the music circuit and, most famously, where Pink Floyd recorded their live album Ummagumma.
And to celebrate its past as well as future, rock legend Steve Gibbons was special guest as Walmsley’s furniture store reopened following refurbishment.
Conservative councillor for Erdington Bob Beauchamp said: “I can remember coming to Mothers when I was younger and it truly was a special places from 1968 to 1971.
“For those few years it was the biggest rock place in the world with bands like Pink Floyd and DJs like John Peel playing there.”
His colleague Coun Robert Alden saiad: “Mothers should be remembered and a blue plaque would be a very fitting way.
“To help support this I have asked the council to back the request as well.”
Birmingham Civic Society is considering a scheme to recognise venues like Mothers and the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath as places of historic cultural interest.
Erdington Town Centre Partnership is also pushing for the recognition of Mothers.
Town Centre Partnership director David Darkes said: “People have been saying for a long time that recognition for the Mothers site was overdue – not forgetting those who remember it as the Carlton Club.
“We decided recently to explore the options and found the Birmingham Civic Society recognises sites of outstanding musical interest. We will be working with them in the coming weeks to secure the award.”
More than 400 acts played at Mothers, including Fleetwood Mac, Traffic, Free, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Who, Elton John, Fairport Convention, Led Zeppelin and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
