Merchant seaman John Sicolo began the TJs club in 1971. Originally it was a burger bar and when it expanded into the neighbouring premises in 1973 it became El Sieco’s. During this period it opened its door to music and folk acts. In 1985 following a financial boost it became known as TJs. Local promoters began to use it for live bands following the closure of Stow Hill Labour Club. (The Labour Club was one of the city’s main venues attracting acts such as The Cure, Adam Ant and The Sex Pistols).
It became legendary for its musical offer and its unique atmosphere. Legendary DJ John Peel dubbed it the ‘legendary TJs’ , FHM magazine selected it as one of the UK’s 50 big nights out.
300 or more of the gigs staged there were under the Cheap Sweaty Fun banner. This was a promotion run by Rockaway Records’ Simon Phillips.
In 1991 Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain is reputed to have proposed to Courtney Love at the venue. She was playing a gig there.
In 2010 Sicolo died aged 66 and his family had no option but to sell the club and the flats upstairs
Nathan Jennings made a film to commemorate the club “The social and cultural impact of the music scene in Newport in the last 25 years, with a particular focus on TJs and how “raw, loud music” changed the lives of thousands.”
It’s roll call of bands include Oasis, Ash and the Manic Street Preachers, the Stone Roses as well as more homegrown talent the Manic Street Preachers, Darling Buds and the Newport rap collective Goldie Lookin’ Chain. Catatonia filmed the video for single “Mulder and Scully” at TJ’s. Many new bands owed their first break to TJs and many well known bands would break their tours just to stop by. He welcomed them warmly and fed them too. His legacy to Newport was a thriving music scene, the new ‘Seattle’, we can only look back on now with awe and nostalgia.
