Influencer behind much of the new wave and electronic music industry – Rusty Egan tells his story in Leighton Buzzard!
Rusty Egan you’re saying – better Google him! What you will find is the story behind one of the most iconic and influential figures in the electronic music industry from the late 1970’s to – well he’s still influencing to some extent!
His career began in the music industry as a runner at DJM studios, followed by a stint at WEA Records. He formed the band ‘Rich Kids’ in 1977 with former Sex Pistols member Glen Matlock (bass and vocals), alongside Steve New (guitar) and Midge Ure (keyboard & vocals) - a new wave band and Rusty was the drummer. They did quite well with a debut album, Ghosts of Princes in Towers released in 1978, but then the band split in December that year! He continued working with Midge Ure and later collaborated with The Misfits, Skids and Shock, and well as being a founding member of Visage
While on tour with the band Egan met Steve Strange and this led to their concept for a club night at Billy's, a Soho venue which catered to fashionable punks and showcased the music they were so passionate about. Moving the club night to the Blitz in Covent Garden in 1979, Egan became the resident DJ where, over the next 2 years he started introducing British, German, and Japanese electronica to the British club scene and nurturing the soundtrack for the burgeoning New Romantic movement. Egan was also DJ at Croc's, in Rayleigh and he introduced the fabulous synth-pop band Depeche Mode getting them a regular Thursday night gig.
To further the New Romantic-era movement, he opened ‘The Cage’, a record store on London's King's Road. He also produced records for some of the bands he used to play as a DJ including Spear of Destiny, Shock, Visage and The Senate.
His next big move in 1982 was to open the Camden Palace nightclub in London along with Strange and Kevin Millins – a venue still famous today.
There is so much more to this fascinating story such as the Isle of Wight Festival, the TV show, Return to the Blitz, the London Palladium, a solo album, but if you want to know the rest you’ll need to come to the event!
Sunday 5th July at 5:30pm at: The Crooked Crow Bar, Waterbourne Walk, Leighton Buzzard. 'An Audience with Rusty Egan’ is promoted by Gazza Records - interview by Gary Ison. Rusty will also have copies of his autobiography available.
Bookings on line at https://link.dice.fm/sW0z9AruP3b or in person at Gazza Records, Bell Alley (open Thursdays – Saturdays 10:00 – 16:00).