Plaque And Blue

On April 17, 1964, Them made their first official appearance at the Maritime Hotel on College Square North, Belfast. The venue was an old seaman's mission, originally a police station. There was no alcohol, the stage was spartan, but this is where music with attitude was birthed in the city. Them's singer was Van Morrison, and along with his colleagues, he fostered a healthy disregard for the discipline of the showband regime. Therefore band members smoked on stage, backs were turned to the audience and the music was essentially fierce.

Witnesses talk about maracas and even shoes flying through the air as Them made their case for native rhythm and blues. Apparently there was only one lightbulb above the stage, but there was a dimmer facility, and so the light was allowed to rise and fall during their version of the Bobby Bland stomper, 'Turn On Your Love Light'. Van said that the band lived and died at this joint and I've not heard anyone who has contradicted this notion.

On April 17, 2010, a plaque was unveiled at the site of the Maritime. These days it's a brick wall belonging to RBAI, but at least there's now a sign to remember the space. Rab Braniff from the Belfast Blues Society created the essential energy to make this happen and the ceremony was attended by Billy Harrison, former Them guitarist. Load of other veterans were in attendance, and the celebrations rolled over to the Crown Bar where old friendships were shored up, glasses were raised and the blues were voiced once more.