The Ritz focused primarily on live performances, often of newer acts, but also featured dancing.
Performers included Guns N' Roses, Gene Loves Jezebel, the Saints, the Cult, Nik Kershaw, the Smithereens, Oingo Boingo, Julian Cope, Great White, Hoodoo Gurus, Pseudo Echo, White Lion, Iggy Pop, Eurogliders, Blancmange,[2] and Simon Townshend.
The club received national attention after an antagonistic performance by Public Image Limited on May 15, 1981.
[3] The band was more interested in creating performance art than giving a traditional concert; to this end, they appeared onstage deliberately obscured by a projection screen and played their records through the club's public address system while playing entirely different music onstage.
[3] Taunted by lead singer John Lydon (formerly of the Sex Pistols), the Ritz's unhappy patrons rioted, throwing bottles and garbage cans, and pulling on the video screen that covered the front of the stage.