Rick Burton, who worked at the Rainbow between 1977 and 1982. Right: one of the ‘Lost Venues of London’ posters; and Mr Burton’s Rainbow pass

THE former stage manager at the old Rainbow Theatre – a venue which brought the likes of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Bob Marley to Finsbury Park – has reflected on its golden history.

Rick Burton said he would never forget seeing the private rehearsals by the some of music’s biggest names as they prepared to perform.

“Marvin Gaye was the biggest hero I ever met – he was a wonderful, wonderful man,” said Mr Burton, who worked at the venue between 1977 and 1982, when it sadly fell into liquidation.

“My favourite part of the Rainbow was rehearsals, when they would come in for a week and rehearse the tour.

“You could sit and talk to people. Kate Bush had her Tour of Life tour and she was in there for a week during the rehearsals. But Marvin Gaye came in and we got on very, very well.”

One of the ‘Lost Venues of London’ posters

Mr Burton was speaking as a new poster campaign was launched to celebrate “Lost Venues of London”. It is being run by Tour Design Limited, a company based off Essex Road which creates artwork for music concert tours, comedy, theatre and festival events.

Their project, called “45 Original”, has seen posters celebrating the Rainbow’s heyday go up in Finsbury Park, Stroud Green and Crouch Hill – and they are serving as a reminder that the capital cannot afford to lose any more famous venues to the coronavirus crisis.

The Rainbow building is now used as a church run by Bishop Alvaro.

Mr Burton’s Rainbow pass

“You could never put a show on there again, which is really sad,” said Mr Burton. “But the auditorium has been restored back to its original 1930s condition with floodlights.”

In 2011, he created the Rainbow History website with memorabilia from the theatre.

Mr Burton, who still works in the events industry, added: “The whole lockdown has killed my business completely. I haven’t done anything for a year.

“Our government don’t understand how socially important these venues are. They are just incredibly important, as important as churches.”

Bruce Fisher, creative director of 45 Original and Tour Design Limited, said: “It’s a joy to see our art up on the streets of Finsbury Park.

“The Rainbow Theatre is just one of too many music venues and ­cultural landmarks we have lost over the years.

“We aim to celebrate the history of these lost venues through art and bring attention to the hard struggle and fight our venues face to stay alive.”

Tour Design Limited are working with and supporting the Music Venue Trust in their Save Our Venues campaign.
For more information visit to https://45original.com/