Djpekingman wrotescootay wroteI've heard the council own it. And if you read some blogs there are a few people mentioning how it's the taxpayers money that has funded the arena and they wont put money into another venue. Apparently the council have just spent half a million on mikes carpets?
If it's the council who won't spend then I wish something could be done. Some sort of fight. Sounds like futuresound have given up and are opening another venue. I would really like to fight this.
Also it's proximity to the train station is ace. The last train home for me is about 10 past 11. You try catching that after loads of beer up at say, the uni. When they announced the arena I doubted I would ever go there but stupidly thought they might delay the last train times. Most bands finish at 11. 10 to 15 mins from the Merrion centre to catch the train is a joke. Proper pissed off at this. The duchess gone, Queens hall gone, now the cockpit. This shouldn't be allowed to happen
Not been back to Leeds for a while, but reading the press and on here it seems to me that there are more live music venues in the town than there's ever been. And a more vibrant scene. Loss of the queens hall by the way, was actually a good thing. It was a bus garage FFS - music used to sound like some cunt banging a dustbin in an empty warehouse. Come to think of it, that's what it was sometimes.....
Yes the music scene is thriving and there are lots more venues in the town. Some of those won't last as venues. They are bars as well, food establishments too with an eye on live music.
Where's the next cockpit? It's not the shopkeepers and it's not the Belgrave. Music is hugely important to me and if it stands the test of time then nostalgia comes into it too.
The people of Liverpool won't ever forget losing the cavern and Erics. The cockpit is the closest we have to that. A dedicated music venue that's done a hell of a lot to help local bands and also bring big stuff from far and away with the must see up and comers always playing there.
Arenas are soulless such as was the Queens hall. But I saw my first ever band there, the jam, so that's where it all started for me. Can't remember the sound I was too busy jumping up and down and fighting for my life.
It's great having lots of venues but surely for fucks sake you've got to keep the important ones. And for 20 years the cockpit has been very important. I don't know the full story I just know it's such a loss that it's gone. Leeds' s loss
