Liverpool Music Legend

If you’ve been involved in the Liverpool music scene over the past 10 years you’ll know the name Tony Butler. An incredible man who started a lot of people’s career’s, including my own!

Butler owned the infamous music venue The Zanzibar Club in Liverpool. He spent his time putting on events and letting local, up and coming artists showcase their talent and help them start their careers in music.

A single rose left outside the Zanzibar Club after the news of Tony’s death

© Liverpool Echo

I stumbled upon the music venue when I was 13, I attended an event that my friends band was performing at, at this point I worked with two local artists but had never put on my own events. After speaking with Tony, we decided to go ahead with an event idea of mine.

The day of my 14th birthday I brought my artist to the venue for him to see a live event, he instantly fell in love with the venue and wanted to go ahead with the event we had planned. Tony gave me the chance to put on my own events regardless of my age. He believed in me and was the first person to help me in my career.

After going ahead with our event, we began promoting and getting more local artists to join the show, by the time the show came I was supported by Tony and anything we needed he would sort out. Without Tony it would’ve been a lot harder to start my career as I was under 18 and not a lot of people were taking me seriously at that age.

“Such a genuine, decent man, told you exactly how it was, gave so many of the artists I’ve worked with their first chance and actually gave myself the chance to start working in music and taught me to never give up on your dream no matter how hard it seems to achieve.” - Chloe Roscoe

Many of the artists Tony worked with left tributes online when they heard the news of his death.

“Really sad to hear the news of Tony Butler’s passing. The Zanzibar club gave us and many other bands our first run of gigs. He was always in it for the genuine love of music and helped us immensely as a band. RIP Tony. X” - The Coral

A memorial plaque has been put up on the wall outside the Zanzibar Club with Tony Butler’s name on, with many people leaving floral tributes on the steps on the iconic venue.

“Can't put into words how gutted we all are with the news of Tony Butlers passing.” - The Tea Street Band

The Zanzibar was sold after Tony’s death but the new owners promised to keep the iconic fixtures of the venue and not to rebrand it. Weekly it still holds music events and gives up and coming bands a platform to show their talent.