Tributes to music venue founder
Tributes have been paid to the owner of one of Wales’ best known rock venues, who has died at the age of 66.
John Sicolo opened TJ’s in Newport nearly 40 years ago and was a favourite of the late DJ John Peel.
Oasis, Echo and The Bunnymen, Manic Street Preachers and Primal Scream were among bands who appeared there.
Music promoter Julian Blake paid tribute to Mr Sicolo, saying: "He was a legend who brought many bands to Newport."
In recent years the venue has struggled financially, and Mr Sicolo had been planning to auction memorabilia from the club to keep it open. A benefit concert was also in the pipeline.
Mr Blake added: "He put Newport on the global music map to the extent that Newport was said to be the new Seattle."
Mr Sicolo had been in hospital this week for a replacement knee operation.
‘Rest in peace’
One of the TJ’s staff told BBC Wales that Mr Sicolo had died at 0600 GMT on Sunday at the Royal Gwent hospital, Newport.
"The cause of death is not yet known," he said, adding, "Rest in pace, mate."
He said Mr Sicolo’s family would be releasing a statement on Monday.
Mr Sicolo was a former merchant navy seaman, where he served as a cook. He founded the club in 1971, first christening it El Sieco’s before renaming it TJ’s Disco.
Among Welsh bands who performed at the Clarence Place venue were Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and Catatonia.
Joe Strummer, who was an art student called Woody in Newport before finding fame with The Clash, played at the club a number of times in the years before his death in 2005.
Another late rock star with a link to TJ’s is Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, who is said to have watched his wife-to-be Courtney Love perform there with her band, Hole.
The late BBC DJ and presenter John Peel dubbed the venue "the legendary TJs" on his radio shows.
Tributes to Mr Sicolo have been made on social network sites, Twitter and Facebook by fans of TJ’s.
"RIP John Sicolo. You were a legend, I just hope TJ’s might live on," said Paul Lloyd, from Cwmbran, on Twitter.
"Sad to hear about the passing of John Sicolo. He was a true gentleman, and helped me in many ways. He will be greatly missed," wrote Ian Hewett, from Cardiff. </p
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