G-A-Y
G-A-Y is a gay nightclub in London. It operated from the London Astoria music venue for 15 years until July 2008. The Boston Globe described it as "London's largest gay-themed club night",NME reported that it "attracts 6,000 clubbers each week", and The Independent described it as "the one London gig that really matters" for "today's pop stars". On Friday 3 October 2008, it moved to famous gay venue Heaven.
G-A-Y is associated with G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late, both of which were also owned by Ryan Clark, Bare. The two bars sell discounted tickets to weekend performances, and are locations in which flyer boys operate. The brand was purchased on 13 August 2007 by the MAMA Group.
History
G-A-Y began in 1976 in the Sundown club (in the basement of the London Astoria, subsequently called LA2, and now demolished) as a Monday night event called Bang!, started by club promoters Norman Scott, Damien Tony and Jerry Collins, who worked as a DJ under the name Gary London. During the 1980s, Bang! (Monday and Saturday) and also Propaganda (Thursday) were run by gay club promoter and DJ Colin Peters (Peter Daubeney), whose brother Jamie continued as promoter for a period following his death. In the early 1990s, Bang! was acquired by DJ and promoter Jeremy Joseph who was formerly employed by Peters, who oversaw its change of name to G-A-Y, its expansion from two nights a week to four, and its move from the LA2 to the London Astoria. For some years G-A-Y operated in both venues: the LA2 on Monday and Thursday nights and the London Astoria on Fridays and Saturdays.
G-A-Y (album)
G-A-Y was a 40-track compilation album which was released by London Records in the UK on Monday 3 July 2000. The album featured songs by 40 different artists who had appeared at London club G-A-Y, and was released on CD and cassette.
Promotion
The G-A-Y album was heavily promoted in both the gay and mainstream media. TV commercials ran on music channels such as MTV and The Box, as well as on terrestrial television channel, Channel 4. A nationwide poster campaign took place, and advertisements were placed in the gay and teen press, appearing in such publications as Gay Times and Smash Hits. Commercials also ran on national radio in the weeks prior to release.
On Saturday 1 July 2000, a show was held at G-A-Y to promote the release of the album. Seven acts who appeared on the album performed. These acts were Shola Ama, All Saints, Bananarama, Dina Carroll, Honeyz and Louise. Each act performed only one song, apart from Louise, who also performed her new single "2 Faced".
