Thank you to Alan for the photo.


The Odeon 20th April 2009.  A project to breath new life into this much loved Edinburgh landmark has been launched.  The press pack for said project can be found in pdf format here. 

 
Interestingly, when the Odeon signage was removed there remained the faint outline of the "New Victoria" signwriting underneath dating to 1930.


The Odeon back doors.  Just think who has exited here!!

 1970  20th March Deep Purple

1970  23rd-25th July The Corries
1970  26th-29th August, 2nd-5th September, 9th-12th September Corrie Folk (The Corries and guests).
1970  28th November Julie Felix & The McCallums
1970  27th December The Corries
1971  13th August Syd Lawrence & His Orchestra
1971  22nd August Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, & Peter, Paul, & Mary
1971  4th December  Humpherey Lyttelton & Alex Welsh-A Tribute To Louis Armstrong
1971  17th December Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart & The Worlds Greatest Jazz Band
1971  19th December The Corries
1972  19th March David Hughes-A Viennese Evening
1972  28th May The Corries
1972  1st November Up Country
1972  3rd November The Four Tops
1972  8th November Cliff Richard & Olivia Newton John
1972  9th November George Hamilton IVth
1973  7th January The Corries
1973  17th February Freezin' Heat
1973  3rd March Slim Whitman
1973  7th April Roxy Music, Sharks, & Lloyd Watson
1973  23rd May Paul McCartney & Wings
 
Thank you to Tom McClymont for the ticket and poster above.
 
1973  27th May The Corries
1973  31st August The Corries
1973  1st September The Corries
1973  7th September The Corries
1973  13th October Lindisfarne
1973  16th & 17th November Cliff Richard (4 shows in total)
 
1974  8th February Wizzard (2 shows)

1974  5th April The Incredible String Band
1974  12th April Mick Ronson
1974  15th April The Spinners
1974  25th May Alvin Stardust
1974  19th April Deep Purple, support band Elf
"Front row"
1974  29th May Black Sabbath & Black Oak Arkansas
 
 
Unofficial programme bought at this show.
 
1974  4th June Lou Reed (the show was very late to start as Lou was busy drinking in the bar of the Caledonian Hotel).
1974  12th October Mud
1974  19th October Uriah Heep
1974  31st October The Bay City Rollers
1974  21st & 22nd October Roxy Music
1974  15th November  Golden Earing, support band Lynard Skynard
1974  19th November Sparks, support band Pilot 
1974  10th December The Rubettes
1974  13th December Rod Stewart & The Faces
1975  29th April The Bay City Rollers
Rollermania at the odeon!!  Thank you to Alan for the picture.
 
1975  16th & 17th October Sparks
1975  21st October An Evening With Bette Davis
1975  26th November Uriah Heep
1975  6th December Mud, support band Bilbo Baggins
 
1975  14th December Jim Cruickshanks Gala Night, compere Stu Francis
1976  22nd April Nazareth
1976  14th & 16th May The Average White Band
1976  28th & 29th May The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
 
1976  23rd June Slik
1976  8th August Country & Western Festival Ethna Campbell, Carl Gibson, & Wayne Nutt
1976  10th September The Bay City Rollers
Thank you to Andy Mitchell for this ticket.
 
1976  25th September Be Bop Deluxe
1976  24th October Patti Smith, support band The Stranglers
1977  11th March Val Doonican
1977  30th September Dr Feelgood, support band Mink DeVille
 
1977  14th November Thin Lizzy, support band The Radiators From Space
Click the link for a You Tube clip of Thin Lizzy live at the Edinburgh Odeon 14/11/77
 
1977 15th November Gary Glitter, support band Rosetta Stone
1977  25th November Peter Straker
1977  6th December The Boomtown Rats
1978  4th February Judas Priest
1978  18th April The Commodores
1978  5th May UK
1978  23rd May The Maddy Prior Band
1978  28th May AC/DC, support band British Lions
1978  29th May George Benson
1978  31st May Blue Oyster Cult, support band Japan
1978  1st June Ian Dury & The Blockheads
1978  5th June Gerry Rafferty, Dire Straits & Rab Noakes
1978  6th June The Buzzcocks
1978  14th June Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
1978  22nd June The Boomtown Rats, support band Matt Vinyl & The Decorators
1978  30th June UFO
1978  14th July Jasper Carrott
1978  30th August Patti Smith (aftershow party at The Antiquary St Stephen's Street, Stockbridge)
 
Ticket for Patti Smith's poetry reading at the Odeon.  This took place in the afternoon on the day of the gig.  Thank you to Andy Mitchell for this ticket.
 
1978  13th September Blondie, support band The Boyfriends
 
Debbie Harry at the Odeon 13th September 1978.  Thank you to David Miller for the photograph.
 
1978  25th September Brand X, special guest Peter Hammill 
1978  28th September The Tom Robinson Band
1978  1st October Rose Royce
1978  7th October DrFeelgood
1978  10th October Wishbone Ash
Thank you to David Evans for this ticket.
        
1978  11th October Steel Pulse, support band China Street
1978  18th October Kraftwerk
1978  23rd October Buzzcocks, support band Subway Sect
1978  27th October Whitesnake, support band Magnum
1978  31st October AC/DC, support band Blazer Blazer 

 

The pictures above are AC/DC at the Edinburgh Odeon on 31st October 1978, featuring the late great Bon Scott, who sadly died just over a year later.  Thank you to Hugh for these rare pictures. © Hugh C.W. 1978.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The pictures above are Blazer Blazer, support to AC/DC at the Edinburgh Odeon on 31st October 1978.  At one point Blazer Blazer's line up contained Michael "Nicko" McBrain, later to join Iron Maiden.  Thank you to Hugh for these rare pictures.  © Hugh C.W. 1978.
 
Blazer Blazer programme excerpt, thank you to Hugh for this item.
 
1978  1st November Sham 69
1978  7th November Judas Priest 
1978  16th November The Clash, support band The Slits
 
Thank you to Alan for this rare signed flyer.
 
1978  20th November Lindisfarne
1978  21st November The Cheiftains
1978  26th November Devo
1978  1st December John Martyn
1978  13th December Rory Gallagher
1978  22nd December The Rezillos, support band Chou Parrot (The Undertones did not play).
 
1979  15th & 16th January Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1979  23rd January The Kinks
1979  8th February UFO
1979  20th February Herbie Hancock
1979  21st February Steve Hillage
1979  1st March Average White Band
1979  5th March Bad Company
1979  6th March Graham Parker & The Rumour
 
 
 
 
The five photos above are Graham Parker at the Odeon 6th March 1979.  Thank you to Allan McKay for these pictures. ©Allan McKay 1979. 

1979  13th March Eddie & The Hot Rods & The Members
1979  15th March Van Morrison
1979  19th March Elton John
1979  24th March Bootsy's Rubber Band
1979  26th March David Essex        
1979  27th March Motorhead
1979  30th March Folksong '79       
1979  1st April The Hollies
1979  6th April Frankie Miller
1979  16th April Thin Lizzy
1979  27th April JJ Burnel, Support bands Blood Doner & Rapid Eye Movement     1979  28th April Rush
1979  1st May Child
 
 
Mike from the band Child at the Odeon.  Thank you to Chris for the photo.
 
1979  2nd May John Miles, support band Bandit
 
1979  7th May Dennis Brown & The Professionals, support Rudy Thomas
1979  12th May The Tubes
1979  19th May Renaissance    
1979  23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th May Status Quo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The pictures above are Status Quo at the Edinburgh Odeon May 1979.  Thank you to Hugh for these rare pictures. © Hugh C.W. 1979.
1979  1st June The Police, support band The Cramps
1979  3rd June Robert Halpern
1979  9th June The Who

Thank you to David for his memories below of The Who at the Odeon
"In the foyer they had a lot of stands advertising Quadrophenia and the Kids are Alright movie which had just been released. We managed to nick a couple of album covers and hung around outside the back of the theatre in the hope of getting them autographed. We saw John "Rabbit" Bundrick the keyboard player, and my mate swears we saw Kenney Jones as well. We did find out however that the band were staying at the Caledonian Hotel in Lothian Road". 

"So we went down to the hotel and met Roger Daltrey, Bill Curbishley the band's manager and Harvey Goldsmith the promoter. Roger signed the album sleeves. They asked us whether we had been to the recent outdoor rock festival at Loch Lomond, which we had. They seemed very interested in what we thought of the event. We wondered whether they might have been contemplating playing a festival that summer. They didn't as a matter of fact. Interestingly though, their very next gig after the Odeon was Wembley Stadium". The gig was amazing!

1979  10th June Dire Straits
1979  19th June Third World
1979  21st June Steve Hackett
1979  29th June Dave Edmunds Rockpile, support band Lew Lewis Reformer (rescheduled from 6th May)
1979  29th & 30th July Ian Dury & The Blockheads
  
1979  29th August Rickie Lee Jones

Thank you to Gordon for the above NME review of the Rickie Lee Jones Odeon concert. 

1979  1st September Alien film premier
Thank you to Oddfellow for this scan.
1979  7th September The Skids, support band The Berlin Blondes

1979  15th September Louden Wainright III         
1979  20th September XTC, support bands Yachts & Viva
1979  5th October The Boomtown Rats

Bob Geldof & Johnny Fingers autographs obtained outside the Mount Royal Hotel Princes Street.  Thank you to steve for these.

1979  6th October Buzzcocks, support band Joy Division

Thank you to Steve for this Pete Shelley signed ticket
A third ticket for this gig, included for the seat number, stalls A29!  Unbelievable!
 
Thank you to ken for his memories of The Buzzcocks gig
 
   Pete Shelley and the guys were as loud, punchy and frantic as I'd expected but I remember being surprised at the high quality of the sound and the tight musicianship.I guess by that time they were honed by a few years on the touring circuit.
 
The gem above is a period review of The Buzzcocks/Joy Division Edinburgh Odeon gig my Morris.  Thanks go to him for sending this.
1979  17th October Whitesnake
1979  20th October Alien (midnight charity screening of this iconic sci-fi film)
1979  23rd October Camel
1979  1st November Steve Hillage
1979  17th November Hawkwind
1979  21st November Motorhead
1979  22nd November John Martyn
1979  28th November The Kinks
1979  29th November Talking Heads, support bands A Certain Ratio & Section 25 (The support band was due to be The Human League, but on the release of this press release from Bob Last the support slot was cancelled).
"The Human League, intrigued to experience their own performance themselves, have designed a remotely controlled touring entertainment. Therefore, 30 Human League minutes will be available on the upcoming Talking Heads tour. The League themselves may well join the audience on some evenings to savour the occasion. The arrangement will allow them on other evenings to continue working on their second album in their Sheffield workshop."

Human League advert for the cancelled support slot tour with Talking Heads.
 
Thank you to Ken for his memories of the Talking Heads gig                 
"Talking Heads put on a funky but spooky performance...David Byrne was in full-on sweating, awkward psycho/geek mode and hardly ever looked up at the audience!"

1979  7th December The Dickies, support bands Chelsea & The Cheetahs

1979  10th December The Jam, support band The Vapors
1979  11th December Leonard Cohen

 
Leonard Cohen at the Edinburgh Odeon.  © Alan Wilson 
1979  15th December Wings


1979  21st December The Specials, support band The Revillos.  The Specials stayed at the Learmonth Hotel.

1980  1st & 2nd January Blondie, support band Whirlwind

1980  16th January UFO
1980  19th January The Clash, support Mikey Dread & Metropak (took place on the 19th, not the 21st as per the ticket).
1980  20th January The Clash, support band Mikey Dread & Josek K
You can view a YouTube clip of the Clash arriving at the Caledonian Hotel, and some Odeon footage here.  Thank you to My Deathlock for the clip.
 
 
 
 
The four pictures above are The Clash at the Odeon January 1980.  Thank you to Derek Bracks for these photos.  ©Derek Bracks 1980.
 
1980  23rd January Wishbone Ash
 
 
 
Thank you to David Evans for the images above of the Wishbone Ash 1980 tour programme.
 
1980  27th January The Ramones, support band The Boys
 
Poster by Don Huggan.
 
1980  5th February Robin Trower
1980  6th February Iggy Pop, support band The Psychedelic Furs           
1980  16th February Spyro Gyra
1980  22nd February The Tourists
 

The Tourists autographs obtained in Bruce's record shop Princess Street.  Thank you to Steve.

1980  1st March Peter Gabriel

1980  5th March Gillan
1980  9th March Nazareth
1980  19th March Judas Priest
1980  28th March Stiff Little Fingers, support band Another Pretty Face
1980  4th April Jasper Carrott
1980  11th April Gerry Rafferty        
1980  23rd April Genesis
 
 
 
Thank you to David Evans for the programme above.
1980  24th April Judie Tzuke
1980  4th May Thin Lizzy (note the spelling mistake on the ticket below)
1980  8th May Eric Clapton, support Chas & Dave
1980  16th May Black Sabbath

1980  21st May Suzi Quatro           
1980  22nd & 23rd May The Average White Band
1980  30th May The Undertones, support band The Moondogs
 
The Undertones autographs obtained at the Edinburgh Odeon.  Thank you to Shona for this ticket.
1980  1st June Saxon, support band Tygers Of Pan Tang
1980  3rd June Joan Armatrading
 
Thank you to Oddfellow for this advert.
1980  6th June Whitesnake
1980  13th June Steve Hackett
 
 
1980  30th June Magnum
1980  6th August Ted Nugent, support band Wild Horses 
1980  15th September Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard Of Ozz
1980  16th September Secret Affair
1980  20th September Rick Wakeman
1980  22nd September The Tourists
1980  26th September Rory Gallagher And His Band
1980  3rd October The Skids
1980  17th October UFO
1980  23rd October Ian Gillan
1980  24th October The Dooleys
1980  31st October Simple Minds
1980  3rd November Motorhead
1980  4th November Tangerine Dream
 
1980  9th November John Martyn
1980  11th November OMD
1980  14th November Dexy's Midnight Runners
1980  19th November Hot Chocolate
1980  22nd November Sad Cafe

This is an award that was presented to bands when they sold out the Odeon Edinburgh.  This particular one having been presented to Vic Emerson keyboard player with Sad Cafe.

1980  29th November Hazel O'Connor, support band Duran Duran
1980  5th December The Damned, support band The Straps

1980  8th December Ultravox
1980  9th December Madness (2 shows, kids show & evening)
1980  12th December Hawkwind (brought forward from 22nd December)
1980  13th December Saxon
1980  16th December Steeleye Span            
1981  14th January The Boomtown Rats           
1981  20th January April Wine
1981  22nd January Slade
1981  20th February Krokus
1981  9th March Iron Maiden
1981  21st March Mike Harding
1981  10th April Showaddywaddy
1981  21st April Girlschool
1981  29th April Echo & The Bunnymen
1981  1st May Tygers Of Pan Tang          
1981  12th May Japan
1981  13th May Barcaly James Harvest       
1981  16th May The Cure
 
1981  23rd May Stiff Little Fingers,  support band The Wall
 

SLF autographs obtained after the Odeon gig.  Thank you to Steve for these.
1981  28th May Wishbone Ash
1981  29th May Toyah, support band Positive Noise
1981  6th June The Teardrop Explodes
1981  7th June Trust
1981  16th June The Tubes
1981  1st July Diamond Head
1981  6th July Duran Duran          
1981  19th July Def Leppard
1981  23rd August Arthur Negas On Antiques
1981  28th August Simple Minds
This is the actual set list from the mixing desk on the night,  along with the ticket.  Thank you to Phil for this rare item.
 
1981  5th September Michael Schenker Group
1981  16th September Hazel O'Connor        
1981  19th September Nazareth
1981  26th September Ultravox
1981  27th September Sad Cafe          
1981  9th October Gary Glitter
1981  10th October Hawkwind
1981  25th October Andy Williams
1981  7th November Gillan, support bands Budgie & Nightwing 
1981  13th November The Damned, support band The Anti Nowhere League(release date of the Friday 13th EP).
1981  25th November Hot Gossip
1981  26th November The Cure

 

1981  27th November Gary US Bonds
1981  29th November The Pretenders, & The Flying Padovanis 
1981  7th December Squeeze
1981  9th December Slade
1981  15th December Rose Tattoo
1981  16th December Nils Lofgren, support band Grand Prix
1981  17th December The Stray Cats, & Screaming Lord Such and The Savages
 
 
The End..........
 
Thank you to Alan for the Photo.


Above the Odeon in what became the bar area was situated a dancing club.  This was a popular place in the late sixties and into the early seventies.  From the 1968 telephone directory.