Chi Chi Club (2)

In 1966 a group of young people founded a club for reformed young people. In the first years meetings took place in the attic of a mill with an old radio. In 1972 the club had 450 members and moved to a new building. The club had obtained a liquor license. They held traditional political evenings, there was a club magazine, cabaret, film, and also regular performances by bands. In the early eighties (despite a professional) the number of members dropped to 150. Financially there were many setbacks by booking too expensive bands such as Herman Brood, [a58349], Lucifer (6), etc. Important was the transition from the Eastern Dutch punk bastion Babylon in Hengelo to Winterswijk of youth worker Guus Sarianamual. From 1985 a new course was taken in the direction of an open youth center as a stage for bands from the reggae, punk, metal and hardcore movement. Twelve international hardcore punk festivals were held annually, making the club known far beyond the borders. Because of that punk period in the eighties, the club was known as the "mecca for punks from far and wide". The club also served as a rehearsal space for bands and produced bands such as Winterswijx Chaos Front, Cry Of Terror and Disabuse (3). In 1989 the club closed, operations were moved to nearby Eucalypta. The Whitsun football tournament is still held in Winterswijk, which arose from a duel between the Chi-Chi-Club and the Skinny Binny Club.