The Birthplace of UK BLUES & ROCK?
THE ALBERMARLE CLUB Ealing’s Jazz Heritage and roots must owe much to the Albermarle Club that was run by promoter Don Short from the White Hart premises in Southall. The Club was a regular stopover for many Trad Jazz musicians including Chris Barber for whom we all think a knighthood for services to music is well overdue. Don Short was responsible for many Jazz nights at Ealing Town Hall that served the community for regular Live Events thoughout the 50′s and early 60′s. The Albermarle was the highpoint in Ealing for post war JAZZ musicians and fans alike.
ALEXIS KORNER – lived in Ealing Village – see EALING CLUB (also Keith Moon’s biography)
BEGGARS BANQUET – the record label which found fame with Gary Numan, started life as a second hand record shop in Bond Street, Ealing. Early artists included Ivor Biggun, The Lurkers, Johnny G, amongst others.
BLUES INCORPORATED – See Ealing Club
The BLUE TRIANGLE - Now a nursery, this hut behind the old ABC Cinema on the Uxbridge Road, Ealing Broadway played host to Chris Farlowe amongst others including Steampacket (Rod Stewart etc.)
The BRAND NEW HEAVIES – members went to EALING GRAMMAR SCHOOL
CYRIL DAVIES – see EALING CLUB
DAVID BOWIE – attended Ealing Art School
DR FEELGOOD Forever associated with Canvey Island, this highly influential band who drew heavily on the The British Rhythm and Blues tradition have a significant Ealing connection. Lee Brilleaux, lead singer arrived in Ealing aged 3 from South Africa. He was raised streets away from the busy Hanwell Broadway that housed the first ever Marshall Amplification shop. A street brimming with musicians contributing to the British Rhythm and Blues Boom. His schools would include Oaklands Primary and Junior Schools and Ealing Grammar School for boys. In 1965, the 13 year old Lee Brilleaux would relocate with his family to Canvey Island, Essex. In 1972, he would form Dr Feelgood with Wilko Johnson, John B. Sparks, Big Figure.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD - lived from age 10 in Kent Gardens, Ealing and attended St. Anne’s Convent, Northfields. Dusty also worked in Squires record shop on Ealing Broadway. She is the only British Female singer to enter to the Rock “n” Roll Hall of Fame.
The EALING BLUES FESTIVAL – Founded in 1987 by Ealing Musician Robert Hokum, takes place every Summer Walpole Park, Ealing. The Ealing Blues Festival has attracted audiences of over 10,000 making it one of the biggest single day, Blues Festivals in Britain.
The EALING CLUB - Opposite Ealing Broadway Station and now a nightclub called The Red Room. The venue for Alexis Korner & Cyril Davies’s legendary Ealing Blues Club nights, that began here in 1962. This is where Mick Jagger & Keith Richards met Brian Jones. Other musicians who played the venue included, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart, The Birds (feat. Ali McKenzie & Ron Wood) The Who, Nicky Hopkins, Graham Bond. This year we have confirmed John Mayall played the Club on his first few weeks in London. This tiny venue is considered by many to be “The Home of British Rhythm and Blues” and therefore….British Blues and Rock …
EALING FILM STUDIOS – The former day-job location of ‘That’s Life’ presenter and Hanwell resident Doc Cox whose alter-ego Ivor Biggun had a banned chart hit with ‘The Winkers Song (misprint)’ on the then Ealing based Beggars Banquet record label. Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay, Blur & Mel C. have all made videos here.
EALING JAZZ CLUB – see Ealing Club
EALING TOWN HALL – The site of many gigs including the Legendary Black American Blues artists, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Ealing Town Hall - Hosted gigs by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Acker Bilk & Kenny Ball.
The FEATHERS – Latterly known as The Townhouse and now closed down. This large pub almost opposite the Ealing Club and by Ealing Broadway station had a big basement bar where in 1967 The Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck performed. The Who and Metropolis Blues Quartet (The Yardbirds) also played here.
FREDDIE MERCURY – Queen frontman went to Ealing Tech.
GREENFORD GRANADA - Now Greenford Tesco’s, but back in the 1960′s a venue visited by the package tours of the day. Including in March 1965, The Rolling Stones, headlining a tour on the back of their chart EP ‘Got Live if You Want It’
The HAMBOROUGH TAVERN - A local pub rock gig which achieved national notoriety on July 4th 1981 when it was burnt down during the riots which also claimed the life of Blair Peach.
HANWELL COMMUNITY CENTRE - Charlie Chaplin’s old school and the gymnasium used in the filming of Billy Elliott. This was used as a rehearsal venue by The Who, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep & Led Zeppelin and hosted gigs by amongst others Procol Harum.
IVOR BIGGUN – Ealing resident for many years. Had a banned chart hit with ‘The Winkers Song (misprint)’ on the then Ealing based Beggars Banquet record label which sold over 180,000 copies and funded the recording career of Gary Numan.
JAMIROQUAI – Jay Kay comes from Ealing.
JOHN MCVIE – Bass Player with mega platinum Fleetwood Mac, comes from Ealing and went to Walpole Grammar School Northfields.
MARSHALL AMPLIFICATION – With premises at 76 & 93 Uxbridge Road, Hanwell, in 1962 Jim Marshall’s guitar amplifier gave birth to heavy rock. Customers included: Pete Townshend (The Who), Ronnie Wood (The Birds), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Jimi Hendrix etc. Mitch Mitchell worked in the shop……
MITCH MITCHELL - drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, came from Ealing.
The MAGIC NUMBERS – Indie rockers lived in Hanwell
MANFRED MANN – Their lead singer Paul Jones, jammed with Alexis Korner /Blues Incorporated and the leading lights of Rhythm and Blues. PJ then joined the Mann-Hugg Blues brothers whose popularity grew and band name changed to Manfred Mann. On out-growing the Ealing Club they penned some of the most successful Pop hits of the 60′s. They would later return to the Ealing Club to try and find their R and B roots once more. Their very expensive and innovative “Hammond” organ managed to get down the stairs for a homecoming gig.
MONTEREY MUSIC - Now Peter Cooks Guitar shop, these premises used to house an eight track studio where Malcolm Maclaren did his parts for The Great Rock’n'Roll Swindle. Other clients included the other Peter Cook (of Peter Cook & Dudley Moore fame).
The NORTHCOTE ARMS, SOUTHALL – Closed as a pub then became a hostel which burnt down. In the late 60′s and early 70′s was the venue for the Farx Blues Club, regular bands where the likes of Free, Stray, Groundhogs, Edgar Broughton. Led Zeppelin played there in 1969 before the release of Led Zeppelin 1.
The OLDFIELD TAVERN, GREENFORD – Now demolished, but where Keith Moon met The Who and the band played numerous early gigs. Genesis played here as well.
PETE TOWNSHEND – lived in Woodgrange Rd. W3, went to Ealing Tech. – see the Who
RICK WAKEMAN – keyboard player for David Bowie, Yes, Strawbs etc. attended Drayton Manor Grammar School.
RAY DAVIES – Kinks frontman went to Ealing Tech.
RICKY STEVENS - drummer (son of Ealing Jazz legend John Stevens) whose credits include George Clinton, Prince’s Paisley Park Studios, Culture Club & Joss Stone. Ealing resident who also attended Ealing Grammar School.
ROGER DEAN – (not the artist) first guitarist in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers was an Ealing Resident.
The ROLLING STONES – formed at the EALING CLUB. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones met and jammed together with members of Blues Incorporated. Eventually, they were asked to fill in for the sought after Blues Inc, at the Marquee in London (They were first named the “Rollin Stones” for this gig. (Their first official concert). The band then undertook, a weekly Thursday night residency between July 1962 to March 1963 at the Ealing Club.
Bill Wyman would join the band in December 1962. His book “Stone Alone” recounts how Bill, first felt “part of the band”. Having grown his hair, he was greeted with “cheers” by the rest of the band on their arrival at ABC teashop opposite Ealing Broadway station. The Rolling Stones were of course, on their way to a gig at the basement bar.
Charlie Watts had drummed with Blues Incorporated on a regular basis from the first “Rhythm and Blues night” on 17th March 1962. He backed, on some of the infamous jams that helped Mick Jagger overcome his “stage nerves“. Keith Richards cites Charlie’s first gig with the Rolling Stones, at the Ealing Club as: Tuesday 15th January.
The Ealing Club
Ronnie Wood joined the Stones way after the early formation. However, he played many gigs in Ealing with his band “The Birds” sometimes being joined for impromptu drumming sessions with the Who’s, Keith Moon. Ronnie’s elder brother, Art Wood was Blues Incorporated’s first vocalist and guided the band to the tiny club. Until then the “Moist Hoist” had hosted “Trad Jazz” bands and a bit of “Twist”.
RON WOOD – guitarist with the Birds, Jeff Beck Group, The Faces & The Rolling Stones went to Ealing Tech.
SOUTHALL COMMUNITY CENTRE – The Who, The Yardbirds & The Small Faces all played there
THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY/West London University - According to Spinner.com, this is the top ‘University of Rock’ (when it was Ealing Tech!). Famous students having been Freddie Mercury, Ray Davies, Ron Wood & Pete Townshend
The VIADUCT PUB, HANWELL – The Bee Gees rehearsed here. Cyril Davies played here as did the The Artwoods. Art Wood was first singer with Blues Incorporated and Ronnie Wood’s elder brother.
The WHITE HART, ACTON – Now, The Redback, a backpacker watering hole with covers and tribute bands. On July 27 1970, David Bowie played here at the Arts Lab run by Rick Wakeman.
THE WHO – According to the Who biography “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere”, Saturday 21st November 1964 was “the first documented Who gig at this legendary R & B venue below the ABC bakery, opposite Ealing Broadway Station”. However, the band may have played here before, as the High Numbers and the Detours. The Ealing Club was where, Pete Townshend and Ealing art college friends would see the very early Rolling Stones and Alexis Korner/Cyril Davies (Blues Incorporated).
>
This list is ongoing, it can be corrected and added to ….thankyou.
copyright: The Ealing Rock/Blues Club and all those who chipped in with ideas.