Johnny Gold, founder and guiding spirit of Tramp, the nightclub that became a byword for champagne-fuelled hedonism obituary – Telegraph.co.uk

At Tramp anything went or almost anything. When Keith Moon climbed up on to a 17th-century chandelier and brought it crashing down, showering other members with chunks of plaster, he was banned but only for 48 hours and there were no objections when he rolled up in the street outside naked and strapped to the bonnet of a white Rolls-Royce.

In 1998 Gold sold the club to Kevin Doyle for 4million, but he continued to hold court for several more years, showing up at least three nights a week to greet the famous and not so famous, before moving to the Bahamas.

When Gold celebrated his 70th birthday in 2002, guests included Rod Stewart, Michael and Shakira Caine, Joan Collins (with her new husband, Percy), Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black, Roger Moore, George Best, Barbara Windsor, and Salman Rushdie with Marie Helvin.

But as the Krug flowed and the glitterball glittered, Gold lamented that London was not quite the swinging place it had been in the clubs heyday in the 1970s and 1980s: Im not sure why. Perhaps its because stars get so much more hassle. Theres so much pressure on them, so many kiss-and-tells. They find a girl and, the next thing they know, theyre reading in the papers what a lousy bonk they were.

But Gold never lost his enthusiasm: If youre a people person, like me, you need people. I like to look around the dance floor, see everyone going crazy, having a good time. I enjoy it.

Jesse John Gold was born on June 25 1932 at Stamford Hill, north London; his father, Sam, was a Jewish milliner who became a turf accountant. When John was seven the family moved to Brighton. He was educated at Brighton College but left at 16. After National Service with the 6th Royal Tank Regiment in Germany he returned home to work in his fathers betting shop.

My mother, who had strong ideas on what was right, was always on at me not to call myself a bookie, he recalled. If anyone ever called me that, she would correct them: Hes an off-course turf accountant, not a bookmaker.

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Johnny Gold, founder and guiding spirit of Tramp, the nightclub that became a byword for champagne-fuelled hedonism obituary - Telegraph.co.uk