 WITH its low ceilings and sweat dripping off the walls, it was acclaimed as the best club in the country. Hundreds would pack into the hot and humid venue night after night to see the best punk bands. And from these humble origins, a whole new Liverpool music scene grew, filling the charts for the first time since Merseybeat. More than 23 years after Eric's on Mathew Street closed, it is to be the subject of a new radio programme. Liverpool-born presenter and DJ Craig Charles yesterday revisited the club where he played with his first band. In Slap My Plaque, for digital radio station BBC 6, he is spending a week in Liverpool looking at some of the city's forgotten musical landmarks. Yesterday he was outside the former club with Eric's director Ken Testi. Now just a red door on Mathew Street, the venue was the home for Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes and The Mighty Wah! Mr Charles, 39, said: "I remember Eric's well. I played there when I was young. I was old enough to play but not old enough to drink. "We were called What For and we were absolutely terrible. "It was from the time when there were 14 local bands in the charts so everyone was coming to Liverpool to sign bands. "I mean A Flock of Seagulls got signed and we still didn't and they were just a group of hairdressers. "I played keyboards, but it was only a mono-synthesizer so you can only play one note at a time. "I also had a bright green afro, trilby and a green feather earring. I thought I looked great but it was just total student style." Eric's finally closed in March 1980 but it played host to bands such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division and The Clash. | 
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