There's no need to recount the fame that many bands who came through the Foundry later went on to achieve, indeed when the doors closed on the night for the last time in the early hours of the 12th June 2009, many of those who had just departed the venue would not have seen the most famous of those who played, such was the length of time that has passed since most (but not all) performed.
Looking back, the eventual first time I attended was easily one of the best nights I witnessed. Headlining band The Bees, a indie stalwart appearing on several 'best of' albums for the genre, played to a packed room of over a thousand who left to tell the tale of an epic gig. Where else, for less than £5 entry could a better night of music be found? And this was its success, selling a cheap, enjoyable night of music to any who would come and listen.
The heart and soul of the night came from those running it, who's passion for the music was clear throughout. Penny and those who helped her, worked tirelessly to keep the night current within a genre that is renowned for its constant evolution, whilst also chasing down the bands that drew the crowds into the venue. The art of booking an up-and-coming act before they breakthrough is clearly not straightforward, but the success that the organisers of the night had in this area was unprecedented and should be commended. There were several artists who were drawn back time and time again, almost certainly because of the respect there was for the organisers and their honesty over what they were trying to achieve. Although names such as Steve Lamacq or MJ Hibbert may not be the biggest draws in the entertainment industry, they were those that the Fuzz customers kept coming back to see. These individuals in particular will probably be among those who miss the night the most.
Both main DJ's and their stand-ins when away also deserve a mention, as they were firm fixtures of the nights tasked with balancing firm fan favorites with more current and possibly less widely accepted songs. For myself, with my focus generally within the main room, songs such as 'Float On' by Modest Mouse, 'Suspicious Character' by The Blood Arm and various songs by The Strokes will be forever associated with the night as the place where I heard them first. Other bands such as The Libertines, The White Stripes and even Razorlight (the first album at least) are also synonymous with being in the Foundry on a Thursday night for myself at least. Quite how the night kept its finger on the pulse so well and often ahead of more widely heard media will forever remain a mystery to me as its recognition of genuinely good music was achieved without feeling the need to 'sell out' to such artists that are found on the shelves of supermarkets.
Returning to the live side of the night, memorable performances by bands such as The Subways, Los Campesinos!, ¡Forward, Russia! and The Features will be remembered by myself for years to come with these nights in particular providing a launch pad for my interest in the bands themselves. Sadly though it was arguably this side of the night that led ultimately to the night's demise, not to the discredit of those running the night. Particular periods where bands frequently dropped out of playing the night at the last minute, did harm to the reputation of the live aspect and was not helped by the drop in quality of some acts compared to their predecessors in previous years. That being said, this side of the night did re-find itself in more recent times with more established acts such as Art Brut, Brakes and Young Knives coming in to bring the crowds back to the Foundry.
In addition to its obvious draws, Fuzz also aimed to provide a night for those who like their music a little heavier through its second room (Bleach). The history of this room has not been uneventful either, but is better to be recounted by someone with a closer connection to it than myself. Fuzz also gave a chance for potential sound and light engineers to learn their trade through TSC. Whilst this opportunity will probably continue in other nights I expect the frequency of working closely with so many genuine artists to almost certainly decline, particularly given the current trend of artists moving to play at specialist or 'branded' venues.
Even with the presence of the quieter periods over the last few years it is not an understatement to say that there will be many who will miss the night. Understandably, tears were shed by some and I myself felt some emotion whilst realising I would not have the opportunity to experience new music in this environment again. But whilst these moments will stick with those who were there, it should be the performances and music that should be remembered, of which every individual will have their own unique experiences (even if it was how bad The Red Stripes were!). For the record, it should be stated that the final song performed by a band at the night was The Young Knives blistering through 'She's Attracted To' and the final record spun was The Smith's 'I Know It's Over'. With that, Fuzz was indeed over, however one thing for certain is that its spirit will 'Float On' in all of those who passed through its doors...
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Alright already we'll all float on.
Alright already we'll all float on.
Alright don't worry even if things end up a bit too heavy.
We'll all float on...alright.
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