MONROES....TOTALLY BURNT DOWN to the ground

[Northern Star]

The end of an era eh!!!! aye the best days for me have gotta be from 1990 to 1992......ill see if i can dig sum stuff up too.......should make a good thread that Sarg!!! N1

Gutted Pete....keep us posted of ur further adventures if u are planning any eh......!!!!

 

[ScouseCol]

i don't know the place but I'm really sorry to hear that m8, bad news.

sounds like a definate case of someone not wanting that club to stay open, it's obvious this was purposely burnt down. absolute disgrace m8. I'm gutted for you, lets hope the police do their upmost to find who did this and bring them to justice.

hope things work out in the end, for you and everyone involved.

i noticed people talking about a court case, could anyone tell me what that was about? just interested to know to give me a clearer picture. thanks

 

[turpieaj]

So whats the story behind all the shenanigans then and why would someone want to go to some lengths?

Andy

 

[Pete Daley]

well, when "somebody" came to power 7 years ago, somebody pledged to "get rid of drugs in blackburn", broad i know, i suppose this included a smear campaigned on the club...but since then the club has been on the recieving end of some vicious attempts to close it.
After a 2 year long police operation caled " Escort" the club was still open and monroes had dified all attempts to close it... then the ASBO reared its ugly head up and Ian , our manager, was arrested .
After being freed on bail, before serving 3 months in Preston Prison, the stop and searches on the club had produced practically nothing to warrent the closer of the club, the case went on...
After 10 weeks of court, the case went to Not Guilty aganist Ian Jackson.. 2million pounds...yes 2 million.... ltr the club was free to open again....
Looks like "somebody" was unhappy! This was just 2 weeks ago!

"Somebody" remembered their pledge! The club was broken into last night and the rest is history......................................

I mean i could be wrong i my assumptions....but we have no enimies and we have had an incident free 14 years of trading.....

2 WEEKS AFTER A "NOT GUILTY"...READY TO OPEN...AND WE GET BURNT DOWN......yer right!

U TELL ME.........

 

[Super Freak]

well, when "somebody" came to power 7 years ago, somebody pledged to "get rid of drugs in blackburn", broad i know, i suppose this included a smear campaigned on the club...but since then the club has been on the recieving end of some vicious attempts to close it.
After a 2 year long police operation caled " Escort" the club was still open and monroes had dified all attempts to close it... then the ASBO reared its ugly head up and Ian , our manager, was arrested .
After being freed on bail, before serving 3 months in Preston Prison, the stop and searches on the club had produced practically nothing to warrent the closer of the club, the case went on...
After 10 weeks of court, the case went to Not Guilty aganist Ian Jackson.. 2million pounds...yes 2 million.... ltr the club was free to open again....
Looks like "somebody" was unhappy! This was just 2 weeks ago!

"Somebody" remembered their pledge! The club was broken into last night and the rest is history......................................

I mean i could be wrong i my assumptions....but we have no enimies and we have had an incident free 14 years of trading.....

2 WEEKS AFTER A "NOT GUILTY"...READY TO OPEN...AND WE GET BURNT DOWN......yer right!

U TELL ME.........

That kinda speeks for its self Pete. I have never been, but i've herd of the club and it was a lendgend.
Have you spoken to the press about it... If those who come to power on an moral high ground anti drugs agenda they can also lose power by apearing to be an over vealous currupt dictaorship, if you get me. You might not be able to get the club back but you might be able to give the powers behind it a bloody nose

 

[Jonno]

Definitely the end of an era. I without doubt had some of the best years of my life there in 90-91. New Year's eve 1990 was particularly special. A real shame for all involved that the club has gone.

However (and I hate to be the voice of reason here), Monroe's has always been synonymous with serious recreational drug use. That is the truth of the matter. You could literally count on one hand the people that weren't off their heads back in the day, and from younger heads I know, that continued until that night it was raided, and led to the court case. In fact on that very night over 200 pills were found amongst 150 clubbers - that speaks volumes. All night clubs are not fuelled by love - Monroe's especially.

As such the club has been a thorn in the side of the police and authorities for years, they're not that stupid, they knew what was going on. Hence operation "Escort" and such like. It was a campaign to stop illegal activity (I don't know whether it was vicious).

So the question - did the authorities torch it? I'd be very suprised. Unfortunately, and I'm not saying it's the case here, the most common reason for torching a club is insurance. I've never read or ever heard about a case of torching by the authorities in the UK - it would make for good reading if it was mind.

 

[Northern Star]

I hear what ya saying Jonno hun...but....if the authorities think that wiping our Monroes in a bid to cease drug use in the Blackburn area is sumwhat naive to say the least!!!!

As you say 150 tabs found between 200 clubbers does speak volumes and said clubbers will just move on and find sumwhere else to partake in such activities!!!!!

The battle against drugs in a small town like Blackburn is lost...its always gonna be here its been here since the day dot..........they will push it further underground eventually, i remember similar things happened with the sett end in 1989 where the authorities started throwing their weight around, winding up the residents, printing loasds of bull in the papers saying it was all down to drug fuelled yobs, and that they were goin to put a stop to it!!! Well they may have won the battle....as sure enough the sett end did indeed close down...but the war was won by us....we are still here...we are going no where!!!!

That i hope gives some comfort, as one chapter closes another one begins!!!!

 

[Wolfy]

Last tune of the night?

Prodigy - Firestarter.

Soz, couldn't resist. j/j pete.

 

[sirius]

Have you spoken to the press about it... you might be able to give the powers behind it a bloody nose

Sirius.

 

[Jonno]

I hear what ya saying Jonno hun...but....if the authorities think that wiping our Monroes in a bid to cease drug use in the Blackburn area is sumwhat naive to say the least!!!!

Monroe's was a thorn in the police's side for a long time - hence the ASBO case.

However, I don't think the police or the authorities burnt the place down. That would be too bizarre.

 

[Northern Star]

Monroe's was a thorn in the police's side for a long time - hence the ASBO case.

However, I don't think the police or the authorities burnt the place down. That would be too bizarre.

I agree with u Jonno !!!! It has been And i truly dont see how this can be the authorities doing (hence my nieve comment) they are not that stupid to believe that such and act will banish such activities in the furure...as i said...we have been here before and it doesnt work!!!!

nah i think this could be the work of a rival or very pissed off resident lol !!!!

 

[mclou]

gutted

absolutely gutted, it was DJ's lke Pete Daley and Mikey B who gave me my first shot on the mike at monroes. top memories

absolutely gutted

 

[sgt.lead]

The end of an era eh!!!! aye the best days for me have gotta be from 1990 to 1992......ill see if i can dig sum stuff up too.......should make a good thread that Sarg!!! N1

Can`t wait to start goin tru them all now,gonna nip round to dirty harry`s l8er and pick up the oldskool photies bag they are from 1990,91,92 era which was the best as far as I`m concerned ...

 

[Northern Star]

Can`t wait to start goin tru them all now,gonna nip round to dirty harry`s l8er and pick up the oldskool photies bag they are from 1990,91,92 era which was the best as far as I`m concerned ...

Right ill get on the job myself......not got much but got me membership card, keyring, flyers and that kinda stuff!!!!......

 

[oldskoolkidder]

sorry to hear the news pete.

hope things work out for ya.

 

[sgt.lead]

Right ill get on the job myself......not got much but got me membership card, keyring, flyers and that kinda stuff!!!!......

What a bugger....just thinkin about my membership card today lost it years ago movin house..........gutted got loads of pics tho of my mates stood on
stools on the dance floor off their tits lol

 

[Northern Star]

What a bugger....just thinkin about my membership card today lost it years ago movin house..........gutted got loads of pics tho of my mates stood on
stools on the dance floor off their tits lol

Im looking forward to this thread already!!!

 

[digthemusic]

Right ill get on the job myself......not got much but got me membership card, keyring, flyers and that kinda stuff!!!!......

Lol i remember when the black monroe`s member ship when all that trouble happend and you had to write your name and birthdate in a book.I was only seventeen then and our kid was eighteen.So i had to put down that i was eighteen.So that made me and our kid born within six months of each other.

A miricle conception.

Pitty about monroe`s burning down though it was a good club in the beginning.

 

[DIRTY HARRY]

devistation only just noticed this thread, This club had a big part of my life in the early nineties i know of people on here that will be sad to hear the news of the club in ruin sgt lead , skutch ,elpres,

this place was were it all started for me listening to micky doin probably my all time favorite mix james brown - sex machine - with - basshead's is there anybody out there dont know what it would sound like now but in the day it was top anybody wanna do a tribute of that mix and post it up would be good

ps very sorry to hear the news pete

 

[Micky]

Just wanted to pay my respects to the entire Monroes crew. Everyone who transformed it from a small town country club into the legendary house club that will always have a very special place in many peoples hearts.

First time I went their Marcus K and Greenbins completely blew me away with their technical skills.

John J, Welly, Dread for being so amazing they had people queing mid-afternoon.

Mark C, Digsy, Shak, Cockle, Haz, Gilly, Moogy and the rest of the crew for some of the best nights of my life. Nipper / Mike E / Moonboots @ Eastern Bloc and everyone @ Beat Street for supplying the anthems. Darren from 808 State for getting us our first night at Monroes.

Simon for giving us a chance and keeping the faith even when the chips were well and truly down and Ian (steamy windows) for staying with it all the way!

Everyone who kept the vibe alive right through to 2004 through all the ups and downs.

Most of all though everyone who, danced together (on everything), cheered/airhorned/whistled, joined hands, laughed/cried, made friends for life, queued in the freezing cold, wouldn't go home, came back when others moved elsewhere, made it your life... if you were there, it's all down to you....

Nothing could ever touch that atmostphere.


PS. Sorry Dirty Harry, can't find a tape with the JB/Bassheads mix on, anyone else got a copy?