Rock Goes To College

1 9 7 8 – 1 9 8 1 (UK)
43 x 40 minute episodes

Producer Mike Appleton was tasked with producing “in concert” editions of Old Grey Whistle Test for BBC2, but he faced a significant obstacle: he had a budget but no venue to shoot them – and no money left to rent one.

Drawing on memories from his jazz‑loving days, Appleton recalled the Jazz Goes to College album by Dave Brubeck, and hit upon the idea of staging rock concerts in universities. The logic was that colleges would offer their halls, equipment, and student audience in exchange for a free performance. Thus was born Rock Goes to College.

The very first show was by The Boomtown Rats, recorded at Middlesex Polytechnic, Hendon.

After that came an eclectic roster: The Climax Blues Band at Birmingham Poly, AC/DC at Essex University, Colchester, The Cars at the University of Sussex, Rory Gallagher at Middlesex Poly, The Police at Hatfield Poly, The Motels at Bradford University, and Tom Petty at Oxford Poly.

However, not every gig went smoothly. In October 1978, The Stranglers were scheduled to play at the University of Surrey, in their adopted hometown of Guildford. After only a few songs, their singer, Hugh Cornwell, lashed out at the audience: “You lot are the most boring people I’ve ever seen in my fucking life,” “Have you all got your Crackerjack pencils? Stick them up your arses, then!”

After declaring, “we don’t like playing to an elitist audience,” the band stormed offstage, leaving compere Pete Drummond embarrassed and in visible discomfort. He attempted damage control, promising, “Next time we come, we’ll bring a professional band.”

The Stranglers later claimed frustration that local non‑students were barred from attending, alleging that the BBC had reneged on a prior agreement to widen access.

They also accused organisers of removing a number of outside fans the band had tried to sneak in.

With the Surrey gig abandoned, the BBC suddenly found itself with a hole in the schedule.

The solution? They rearranged the next event at Reading University to host a double bill. Rock Goes to College was salvaged: John Martyn was booked in for an early set (which was aired in place of The Stranglers ’ aborted show), and The Rich Kids performed later in the evening  –  effectively giving students two free concerts on the same night.

Host
Pete Drummond

Episodes

1978: The Boomtown Rats (Middlesex Polytechnic, Hendon) | Crawler (University of London Union) | Cado Belle (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow) | The Crusaders (Colchester Institute) | John Martyn (Reading University) | The Rich Kids (Reading University) | The Climax Blues Band (Birmingham Polytechnic) | AC/DC (Essex University, Colchester) | Lindisfarne (University of Essex, Colchester)
1979: Bethnal (University of London Union) | The Cars (University of Sussex) | The Rubinoos (Reading University) | Rory Gallagher (Middlesex Polytechnic, Hendon) | Ian Dury and the Blockheads (Queen’s University, Belfast) | Cheap Trick (Brighton Polytechnic) | Average White Band (University of Surrey) | The Police (Hatfield Polytechnic) | Herbie Hancock (Chelsea College) | Steve Hillage (University of Kent) | Bruford (Oxford Polytechnic) | George Thorogood & The Destroyers (Middlesex Polytechnic, Hendon)
1980: Lene Lovich (Liverpool University) | Joe Jackson (Hatfield Polytechnic) | The Specials (Colchester Institute) | Live Wire (Brighton Polytechnic) | Secret Affair (Bristol University) | Spyro Gyra (Leeds University) | Robin Trower (University of London Union) | Joe Ely (Middlesex Polytechnic, Hendon) | April Wine (Reading University) | Tom Petty (Oxford Polytechnic) | Steve Forbert (Lancaster University) | The Blues Band (Keele University)
1981: The Q-Tips (Hatfield Polytechnic) | UB40 (Keele University) | The Motels (Bradford University) | John Martyn (Chelsea College) | The Skids (Chelsea College)| The Roches (Loughborough University of Technology) | BA Robertson (Preston Polytechnic) | Gillan (Oxford Polytechnic) | John Martyn (Stirling University) | Siouxsie and the Banshees (University of Warwick) | After The Fire (City University, London)

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