Top 5 London Rock 'n' Roll Hotspots
London is bursting with rock ‘n’ roll history and there are many landmarks across the city providing the backdrops to stories featuring some of the biggest names in music history.
1. Abbey Road Studios
Built in 1829, Abbey Road Studios hardly requires an introduction and was originally a 9 bedroom house. After its purchase by the Gramophone Company in 1928, it became a popular recording studio and welcomed The Beatles who recorded three albums there.
Their successful 1969 album Abbey Road placed the global spotlight on the studios and in 1970 they were renamed as Abbey Road Studios, after the legendary album. In 2010, Abbey Road Studios were designated as a Grade II listed building by the British government and the following December, the pedestrian crossing at Abbey Road was listed on the National Heritage List.
Today tourists line up to (almost risk their lives and) recreate the infamous Beatles crossing photo and in addition to being fully operational, working studios, Abbey Road Studios are now regarded as a cultural icon. With clientele including some of the industry’s most talented musicians (The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga and Kanye West to name but a few), it’s no surprise.
2. Marc Bolan Shrine
Marc Bolan, of glam-rock band T. Rex lost his life in 1977, aged 29 when the car in which he was travelling with then-girlfriend Gloria Jones crashed into a tree on Barnes Common. For a long time, all that marked the spot were the flowers and messages left by faithful fans. In 2007, however, a headstone was erected to commemorate the singer/songwriter.
3. Bob Marley Blue Plaque
One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bob Marley is commemorated with a blue plaque at 42 Oakley Street in Chelsea, where he lived in 1977.
After fleeing to London in 1976 after an attempt was made on his life whilst at home in Jamaica, Bob Marley and his band The Wailers recorded their iconic album Exodus. During their residence at 42 Oakley Street,. the later stages of the recording and production of the album were carried out and the album features some of their biggest hits including ‘One Love’ ‘Jamming’ and ‘Three Little Birds’.
4. 100 Club
No rock ‘n’ roll tour of London would be complete without stopping off at The 100 Club, a 350-capacity basement venue which has been hosting live music since 1942. Over the years it has welcomed everyone from The Sex Pistols, Siouxie & The Banshees and The Rolling Stones to Louis Armstrong, Metallica, Nas, Oasis and Blur and it continues to champion all genres of new music.
Seen as the birthplace of both British Jazz and Punk, in 2010 its future was secured after support from a number of artists including Paul McCartney and a business rates relief order from Westminster Council.
5. 34 Montagu Square
34 Montagu Square is the address of a London ground floor and basement flat once rented by Ringo Starr during the mid-1960s. It’s located just 1.3 miles from Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded several albums.
I’s respectable Georgian façade belies its true status as a rock ‘n’ roll landmark – when Ringo moved out, Jimi Hendrix moved in and wrote ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ there. If that’s not enough, John and Yoko shot the cover of their ‘Two Virgins’ album in the front room and Paul McCartney built a small recording studio in the basement. If walls could talk…