One of the early NWOBHM phenomena’s and driving forces was Mr Neal Kay. He was a leading light of the movement and set up what because something of a true Mecca for the fans.
The Soundhouse, as it was called, was basically the headquarters for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal music. The Soundhouse began in the Prince of Wales pub in London in the mid 1970s. The popularity of it really took off when Kay was hired to be resident DJ.
Kay had a fantastic style of showmanship which he used to promote the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. If you wanted to hear the latest NWOBHM band you went to the Soundhouse, had a few beers and frantically played your air guitar.
Eventually Neal Kay’s promotional flair saw the Soundhouse experience and fame to spread and The “Heavy Metal Crusade” tour was formed. It featured bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon in many different venues.
The Soundhouse burned fast and bright at various host venues around London pretty much fizzling out at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote
Being from “ooop North” and a skint, out of work teenager in those times I never made the pilgrimage to a Soundhouse. Along with passing up a ticket to see the classic Black Sabbath line-up live (by “classic” I mean a-la Ozzy) back then not getting to the Soundhouse probably one of the great NWOBHM experiences not have have been, er, experienced.