Shock Value:

Outraged MP Sir Teddy Taylor has hit out at plans for a new nightclub which promises shocking live acts featuring notorious fetish stars. The MP for Southend East branded the proposed Bizarre Bar as “obscene nonsense” and called for bosses to think again.

The club, set to open on March 5 in Lucy Road, says it’s aim is to shake up the daytripper image of the town by shedding the seafront’s stereotypical reputation for kiss-me-quick hats, sticks of rock and fish ‘n’ chips.

But Sir Teddy says it will tarnish the Golden Mile’s image and that of the local nightclub industry.“I think these people have got the wrong assessment of the nightclub market in Southend, and I don’t think this kind of obscene nonsense will succeed. “This is not the sort of material which will attract people or raise Southend’s status in the UK, and I think it will be bad for the town and bad for business in general.”

The launch party promises extreme entertainment from the infamous Lucifire, star of cult UK fetish film “Preaching to the Perverted”, performing a bloody and brutal ceremony on stage. Clad in a futuristic metal bikini, Luci’s raunchy ritual involves taking an angle grinder to her chrome-clad crotch, setting parts of her body alight and plunging fake power tools *excuse me!!! They’re real! * into her chest.

Lucifire’s previous sordid shows have involved her faking a demonic birth whilst writhing on a bed of nails, bleeding ballerinas, and a hideous routine involving incompatible Siamese twins.

Club promoter Paul Ingle, of Storm Media, warned: “Luci is just the first in a long line of insane acts we’re going to force upon sleepy Southend. Weird, wacky and way out, each week will see the Bizarre Bar become more and more outrageous.” Future attractions include sword swallowers, vampiric comedians, insect eaters, horrific puppets and pyromaniacs. “Our aim is to shock and we’ve got the acts to do it,” Paul added.

Local club fans have also welcomed the proposals, claiming the Bizarre Bar will offer a local alternative to the London scene. “Southend needs something like this – on the cutting edge of the club scene,” said regular clubber Andrew Collins, of Leigh, adding: “And it’ll certainly be cheaper than travelling up to London!”

Matt Adams for the Southend Yellow Advertiser, 26th February 1999