The Rum Runner nightclub was opened on Broad Street, Birmingham in the city centre in 1964. It was demolished in 1987 to make way for the Hyatt Hotel.
One of the first 'house' bands, playing the cover versions of the day, became Magnum featuring Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin. They left the club in 1975 to play their own material of melodic rock.
Paul and Michael Berrow, sons of the club's founder, relaunched the club in the late 1970s after visiting Studio 54 in New York. They borrowed some of 54's flashy look: mirror flex, pink neon flashes, moving lights and palm trees, as well as its eclectic power playlist. Roxy Music and David Bowie nights were accompanied by jazz funk nights with DJs Shaun Williams and Dave Till which were strongly influenced by New York's Chic power disco.
A real milestone in the history of the Rum Runner was when a newly formed group of musicians called Duran Duran brought in a demo tape. There was an instant mutual appeal between the Berrows and the band, and the Berrows offered Duran Duran a place to rehearse and play gigs. The band found themselves becoming heavily involved with the running of the club with Roger Taylor working as a glass collector, Andy Taylor polishing mirrors, painting and cooking burgers for cash, John Taylor working the door, and Nick Rhodes deejaying for £10 a night. Duran Duran became the resident band at the club, going on to play venues and arenas all over the world, including a 1983 charity concert at Villa Park. After this event they held a "homecoming" party at the Rum Runner.[1] In 2006 John Taylor and Nick Rhodes released a compilation album entitled Only After Dark, featuring their favorite songs from the Rum Runner playlist.[2]
After many months, Michael and Paul Berrow signed as Duran Duran's managers. The Berrows and the band then formed the Tritec Music company (named after the triangular-themed bar inside the club). The label used the Rum Runner office upstairs from the club as its official address. Michael mortgaged his house to make funds for their supporting act roll for Hazel O'Connor's UK tour.
In developing the club's musical identity the Berrows also gave free rehearsal space to bands like Dexys Midnight Runners and UB40, with The Beat filming a video for their song "Mirror In The Bathroom" taking full advantage of the many mirrors that walled the club.
As time went by they opened more and more different evenings; one of the residents was DJ Dick who later went on to form Rockers Hi-Fi and who now hosts the city's main Funk Acid Jazz night called Leftfoot, situated at The Medicine Bar.
Notable denizens of the club included De Harriss, Mulligan, and Marlon Recchi of Fashion, Martin Degville and other members of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, fashion designers Kahn & Bell, managers Nigel and Jimmy, bouncer Al Beard, and the socialite Liam.
Ironically, a branch of the 1980s-themed club chain Reflex - named after the Duran Duran hit of the same name - is now situated roughly opposite from the old site of the club (in the former building of The Crown pub).