Fans and musicians share memories of Sheffield’s Leadmil

It is a place that has been associated with music in Sheffield for 45 years, but Leadmil has hosted his final gig and club night after losing a long battle with his landlords. For fans, musicians and city it marks the end of an era.

For Neil White, a gig-goer on its golden day, this site will always be “distinguished”.

The 52 -year -old said, “People of my age who came to Uni in Sheffield, this is a great difference in our memories.”

“You feel part of the Sheffield. This is a dirty brick. You think you are part of Steel City.

“What you are experiencing is gold due to music.”

His memories for Mr. White are always associated with those students nights and £ 1 vodka and Red Bulls in the 1990s.

“It was fantastic and people came here, in the week and out. I remember the sticky floor.”

For Sheffield guitarist and singer Richard Hale, who played with pulp, Leadmil was equivalent to other great northern craddles of live music.

He said, “This is our Cavern Club, our Hasend and once the doors shut that history,” he said.

Haley has played more Leadmils with her father and uncle with her first gig of 16 years of age, which is 42 years later, through her most recent show, at 58.

“I danced with my wife and on the floor with friends who are not here.

“This is just a special place. It is woven in a lot of clothes who we are.”

Electric Group acquired freeholds for the building in 2017 and left the management of Leadmill notices.

The owners have said that it will remain as a music site, but there is a possibility of a name change.

Despite a long legal battle, Leadmil’s expectations Stay in the building ended in May,

The electric group said: “What we are intending to do is refurbishing the building to create a touring standard space, hosts the best club brands and music and live shows, such as we do in BRICTUNT, Newcastle and Bristol.”

Haley has said that he will not return to the venue on theory.

“I really feel for those who work here and are the people of the Sheffield,” he said.

“Due to the success of people like me, Arctic monkey, pulp and all other great bands, John McCler, The Rev Scene.

“It is not right that someone who has received a lot of cash from outside, just goes away, ‘I will have it because it is really successful.” ,

One of the staff members of the staff of the staff, who spoke about the effect of its closure, was Events Assistant Mike Cross.

“I know a lot of sheffields are feeling,” he said.

“It is difficult to lose a ground level site, especially when they are the heartbeat of the community and provide a safe place to so many people.”

He said that it can impress artists with closing so many places at the beginning of their music career.

He said, “It is probably low and low homegron coming through British artists,” he said.

Woodhouse, Allen and Paula Ricwood of Sheffield have been married 41 years and have participated in Gigs in Leadmil for four decades.

Mr. Rickwood said that the draw of the site for years was the limit of the artists he supported.

“Bands like Pulp. Many people started from here.

“The way they are ready to place on the local band and then see them growing. This is a great view.”

Mr. Rickwood was not sure that he would return after taking over the new owners.

However, his wife was more positive.

“I think I will come back to see how it is,” he said.

For decades, Leadmil has hosted pulp, coldplay, arctic monkeys, stone roses and oasis.

At the age of 21, Thomas Ball is too young to remember these bands in his pomp, but a 50 -year -old student and his father Jonathan have participated in the recent giggs.

“I think this is history,” he said.

“I have been in a big way in music over the years, looking at some bands that have started here and performed here, I have always felt more connections from elsewhere.”

He said that the site “felt a little like another house”.

“Walking there and looking at the same familiar faces – this will always be a special place for me.”

Jonathan, who travels from the lecester to be a part of the audience, said: “We always keep an eye on who is performing who is performing.

“It is not the closest (site), but there is any opportunity to come. We saw that Kux sets a little impromptu acoustic, but actually Leadmil is the house of Richard Haley and we have seen him a few times.”

His son said: “You look at the same four to five walls, the same face, the same people, behind the bar. It looks more like a family in that sense.”

Thomas was not sure that he would return after closing.

“As much as I love the building, maybe not.

“It would be an disagreement for Leadmill to go to almost a new place. I can’t do it. It willn’t just feel so.”