Music / Al Read
Obituary: Al Read
Legendary Bristol DJ Al Read, a star of the city’s booming rock and roll movement in the 60s and 70s has recently passed away.
During his music career, Al hosted rock and roll nights at The Granary nightclub – a historic building on Welsh Back that is now home to restaurant Loch Fyne and a number of high-end flats.
There, Al and his agency Plastic Dog booked an impressive series of high-profile acts in the 60s and 70s before they became famous, including Genesis, Def Leppard and Iron Maiden.
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Together they transformed The Granary and established it as a premier destination on the British rock and roll circuit. Under their lead, the venue dropped the ‘Old’ from its name to suit its transformation from a jazz club into a modern rock and roll venue
Al was also the club’s resident DJ for a number of years, and established Monday nights at The Granary as one of Bristol’s best nights out.
From left to right: Al Read, Maggie Holland, Ian Anderson and Terry Brace
In an interview in 2014 with Radio Bristol’s Steve Yabsley, Al said that The Granary “was something that was ours”.
After becoming manager of the venue he stayed until 1982 before joining BBC Radio Bristol. He hosted the young people’s programme ‘Six O’Clock Rock’ and later took on the late-night music show ‘‘Til Midnight’.
Al’s impact on the Bristol music scene started in his teenage years. He founded the Beeches’ Skiffle Club in Filton and according to his life-long friend Mike Tobin, it was an “old man’s club” before Al turned it into one of the city’s first teenage music venues.
Al performed once a week with Mike, later collaborating to form the soul outfit Franklyn Big Six in the early 60s and perform on Monday nights at the Dugout, where Chinese restaurant Great Chongqing now stands in its place.
Al’s career wasn’t all rock and roll however. After leaving Radio Bristol in 1990, he completed an A-level art course and eventually joined the Bristol Zoo graphics team. There he painted delicate watercolours of the different animals on show for the zoo’s promotional material until he retired in 2007.
Making a consistent effort to keep The Granary community going after the club finally closed its doors in 1986m, he organised regular ‘Granareunited’ reunions at his local, The Golden Lion on Gloucester Road.
A final event has been organised for April 21 in tribute of Al at The Golden Lion. It will feature performances from Lost Eleven and The Uncles, two bands with members that played at The Granary in years gone by. Money will be raised on the night for the Bristol Area Kidney Patient’s Association.
Find out more information about the event at www.thegranaryclub.co.uk/granareunited
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