Le Phonographique

Le Phonographique (often called the Phono) was a gothic nightclub located underneath the Merrion Centre in Leeds. Founded under the name the WigWam club, the venue's 1979 rebranding led to it becoming a location frequented by members of both the local post-punk and New Romantic scenes. Here, the two scenes collided and created the earliest phase of the goth subculture, becoming the first goth club in the world. Playing gothic rock and dark wave music, the club hosted DJs including Marc Almond and Anni Hogan, as well performances by bands including the Clash. The club experienced various owners during its runtime, having its name changed to Rio's between 1994 and 1995, and being known as Bar Phono from 1998 until its 2005 closure.