Due to “permanent venue closure” STAIND will now play the London FORUM on January 26th 2009 instead of the legendary Astoria. The full dates are now as follows and tickets are on sale now:

Wednesday 21 January – GLASGOW Garage

Thursday 22 January – MANCHESTER Academy

Friday 23 January – SHEFFIELD Academy

Sunday 25 January – BIRMINGHAM Academy

Monday 26 January – LONDON Forum

It would seem therefore that the Astoria is indeed due for demolition in 2009. Rumours of it’s demise and saviour have been abound for many many months, but it looks as though it will now indeed be demolished for the development of London’s rail links and a shopping development around the Charing Cross / Tottenham Court Rd area of London.

The Astoria was built on the site of a former pickle factory and opened in 1927 as a cinema. It was later converted for theatrical use in 1976. It has since been the primary choice for well-established bands’ intimate club gigs in London. Big names to have played the Astoria include: Megadeth, Down, Killswitch Engage, Porcupine Tree, DragonForce, Stone Sour, Slipknot, Chimaira, 36 CrazyFists, DevilDriver, Nine Inch Nails, Napalm Death, Metallica, HIM, Nirvana, Muse, Funeral for a Friend, Foo Fighters, Pendulum, Lostprophets, Children of Bodom, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down…and many more. (source Wikipedia)

It’s a venue that will be sadly missed- despite it’s abundance of stairs, the difficulty of loading modern equipment into such an old building, the occasionally stinky hallways- due to it’s amazing history, electric atmosphere, accomodating staff and the many many good times had by many of the bands that have played there.

Lets rip it up at the remaining Roadrunner shows to play there before the year is out, and say farewell in style…

ATREYU- OCTOBER 15TH
KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES- OCTOBER 24TH
KILL HANNAH- (LA2) OCTOBER 29TH
AIRBOURNE- NOVEMBER 27TH AND 28TH

If you have never travelled to a show there, now will be the time to make the trip!