Final night at The Talking Heads? (From Daily Echo)

Hundreds pack into Southampton's Talking Heads club for what could be music venue's last gig

2:40pm Monday 9th January 2012 in Entertainments By Bethan Phillips, Reporter

FOR nearly 20 years it has been a loud and live launch pad for countless musicians, bands and comedians.

But today one of Hampshire’s top live venues, the Talking Heads, has fallen silent for what could be the foreseeable future.

On Saturday night more than a dozen bands and hundreds of music fans packed the club in Portswood Road, Southampton, to play out its passing.

Now it is hoped someone will step in and save the legendary club from oblivion, with thousands joining an Internet campaign to keep the institution going.

Owner Mark Hughes said he had to cease trading over the weekend because of financial pressure which he blamed on the recession.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Mr Hughes said: “There’s no chance of saving it – not for me anyway. I can’t afford to put any more money into it.

“I’m gutted – I love the place and not just because I’m the owner, but I have been a customer there for years as well.”

The Talking Heads has been at the beating heart of Southampt o n ’ s m u s i c scene since 1992.

But Mr H u g h e s said he had no option but to follow the fate of countless independent venues that were going under each day across the country.

Well in excess of 300 packed the venue for what could be its last gig – an open mic night for acts that had played at the pub over the years.

Among the audience was regular Jodie Copeland, 34, from Totton.

He said: “Everyone who cares about live music was there, celeb r a t i n g what has been a g r e a t venue.

“It was packed to the rafters, I have never seen the likes of it before.

“It started off sombre but by 10pm everyone was saying it was the best night they had ever been to.”

After finding out about the possible closure of the pub Mr Copeland launched an Internet campaign group called Save Our Heads, attracting thousands of follows within hours.

Mr Copeland said: “When I heard that it was closing, I thought it might be too late to do anything, but I would set up the campaign to see what happened.”

Twitter rumours have also been circulating that Bestival organiser Rob da Bank and Isle of Wight Festival boss John Giddings could club together to buy Talking Heads but that remained unconfirmed last night.

The pub’s supporters have also discussed trying to run it as a community venture.“Unfortunately, I think sometimes we don’t realise until something’s gone how much it will be missed, said Mr Copeland.

Aidan Hampson, a 30-year-old bassist who has been playing there for more than ten years, said: “For me personally it will leave a big hole in the music scene.

“It is a place where bands start off but also you got bigger touring bands there.”