A CITY nightclub has celebrated its 21st birthday by launching its own Wall of Fame.

 

In October, the owner of the Garage in Sauchiehall Street asked Evening Times readers for memories of the bands who have played in the venue since it opened in 1994.

Donald Macleod admits he was staggered with the response he received from customers of all ages.

He has now had the names of 1600 bands and solo performers printed in black and silver and they cover an entire stair wall.

Mr Macleod plans to replicate the dramatic covering on the opposite wall and as new bands appear in the Garage, duplicate names will be taken down and the new ones will take their place.

Among those gracing the Wall of Fame are One Direction, Prince, The Pretenders, Coldplay, Ian Dury and Queen drummer Roger Taylor who appeared there a year after the death of singer Freddie Mercury.

The venue boss said: "We have put up every band that has ever performed here.

"We intended to have it on just one wall but quickly realised we needed more space so it is going to become the Stair of Fame."

The Garage has run up some remarkable statistics since it first opened its doors.

* It has operated seven days a week since it was launched

* It last had to close in 1997 because of a power cut - but only for a few hours

* It has operated 9940 days in a row

* Eight million customers have gone through the doors

* Bartenders have sold 35m units of vodka

* It was the first city venue to remain open during the storm of 2006 to help stranded revellers.

A party is being held on Friday to mark the nightclub's 21st birthday and customers are being asked to dress up in a Roald Dahl theme.

Mr Macleod said: "Why Roald Dahl. It gives me an excuse to get my top hat on."