IT helped launch the earlier music career of Billy Connolly and has played host to bands including The Smiths, Thin Lizzy and Belle and Sebastian.

New students are still lured into membership with the promise of seeing the set list from the fabled Nirvana gig on November 30, 1991, complete with Kurt Cobain’s footprint.

For others, the ‘QM’ is better remembered as the place posters were purchased for student flats and somewhere to while away time between lectures.

Glasgow Times:

Originally established in 1890 as the ‘Women’s Union’ at the University of Glasgow, the Queen Margaret Union has has been at the heart of music in Glasgow for 50 years in its current location in University Gardens.

This year, staff. students and bands who have played the historic venue are raising a pint glass as the institution celebrates its 50th birthday.

To help celebrate the milestone, students past and present, bands and music fans are being asked to share pictures, memories and stories of their favourite gigs.All the material will be collated to form an exhibition next year.

Mata Durkin, President of the union said:”The QMU has an amazing musical legacy that has seen some of the biggest bands playing its stage over the past 50 years.

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“We are keen to hear from anyone who attended a gig as a fan or as a musician and ask that they help us establish an online repository of memorabilia that can be enjoyed by everyone.

“Ticket stubs, pictures from gigs and memories of seeing any of the amazing artists we have hosted over the past 50 years will be welcomed.”

The first major music act to appear was The Move in April 1968.The band played to around 700 students who each paid 12 shillings (60 pence) entry with the venue allowing a bar to run until 10pm.

All types of musical genres have featured including psychedelia, progressive rock, folk, punk and heavy metal.

Some of the more notable acts who have appeared include The Smiths, Nirvana, Motorhead, The Who, Thin Lizzy, Sir Cliff Richard, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Garbage, Franz Ferdinand, Billy Connolly, Biffy Clyro, Coldplay, Wet Wet Wet, Orange Juice and Belle and Sebastian all packing out the 900 capacity venue.

Discos were introduced during the 1970s with DJs such as the Radio Clyde legend Tom Ferrie, former STV presenter Paul Coia and even John Peel doing sessions at the venue.

Music is still very much to the fore today with around 26 acts booked to play between October 2018 and March 2019.

Duglas T Stewart of the BMX Bandits said:”I have many great memories of shows at the QMU. I think the first show I saw there was Marc and the Mambas in 1983, that was a side project for Marc Almond of Soft Cell. I was big Soft Cell fan. He is such an electrifying performer and I thought it was the best thing I’d ever seen.

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“The next year I saw The Smiths there. It was the time of their first album and it was an exuberant and joyous affair.

“In the 1990s I have fond memories of going upstairs to say hi to Kurt after the Nirvana show. We talked a bit about music that we liked and I gave him a BMX Bandits T-shirt which he put on.”

Garry John Kane bass player with The Proclaimers, said:“I have been lucky to watch bands and actually play on that great stage at the QMU. My stand out gigs were The Redskins (1986) the Strypes (2016) and the Fall last year which was emotional for all Fall fans. The Atmosphere at the QMU is up there with the best of them. Great venue and happy 50th anniversary QMU.”

Andy Bollen, who supported Nirvana at the QMU and went on to write ‘On The Road with Nirvana – A Tour Diary said:“I have great affection for the QM.

“My first gig, on stage, was with Bathgate’s finest, Goodbye Mr McKenzie when I was around 19, my band supported them in 1986.

“My second gig was a surreal evening, when my pals required a drummer in an emergency. I helped out, and, in effect, actually auditioned on stage in a gig when Captain America supported Mudhoney and Hole.

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“I must’ve passed the audition, as three months later I was touring the UK with Nirvana on their Nevermind Tour.

“The band were at the peak of their powers, nervous, so much so, they were still soundchecking when the doors should’ve been opening. The Nevermind Tour was eventful, emotional and exciting each night but the Glasgow date at the QM was a bit special, Nirvana were tired yet somehow raised their game.”

Send images of ticket stubs, press cuttings and stories to www.qmunion.org.uk/qmu50