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DERELICT LONDON - LONDON'S LOST MUSIC VENUES
Sorry but this page is not ready yet. Will get working on it early in 2013.
Another section that isnt entirely about dereliction but of places whose "musical heritage" is largely unknown by people who pass by these buildings. The pictures are the buildings as they are now (unless otherwise stated) plus a few odd scans of pictures that I took of gigs at these venues though we didn't all carry cameras around like we do in this digital age.
Much of the inspiration for creating this part of the website was of seeing all my old haunts of the 80's & 90's turn into flats, etc. Also I wanted to explore the legendary punk venues of the 70's and see what is there now. Hence this page initially has a leaning to punk and beyond but I'm particularly interested in researching earlier times esp of The Small Faces & The Who. So another area of input for all you derelict London fans!!!
ps the pic in the header above was one that I took of Tenpole Tudor at Opera on the Green, Shepherds Bush 1989.
Another section that isnt entirely about dereliction but of places whose "musical heritage" is largely unknown by people who pass by these buildings. The pictures are the buildings as they are now (unless otherwise stated) plus a few odd scans of pictures that I took of gigs at these venues though we didn't all carry cameras around like we do in this digital age.
Much of the inspiration for creating this part of the website was of seeing all my old haunts of the 80's & 90's turn into flats, etc. Also I wanted to explore the legendary punk venues of the 70's and see what is there now. Hence this page initially has a leaning to punk and beyond but I'm particularly interested in researching earlier times esp of The Small Faces & The Who. So another area of input for all you derelict London fans!!!
ps the pic in the header above was one that I took of Tenpole Tudor at Opera on the Green, Shepherds Bush 1989.
CATFORD SE6 - SAVOY BALLROOM
This interesting looking building on Rushey Green was recently an Italian Furniture Shop on the ground floor and a Rileys snooker hall upstairs. A sign for the Agape Miracle Centre Church hangs from the building though they appear to have gone too.
The building was originally the Savoy Ballroom but during World War II it was taken over by the social services, providing food, drink and medicine to local schoolchildren. After the war it was known as the Savoy Rooms as a dancing and gaming club an then renamed The Witchdoctor and then Mr Smiths. The Rolling Stones (1964),Gene Vincent (1964), The Who (April 1966) & Desmond Dekker (1969) are just some of the bands who played there.
The owners of Mr Smiths, Dougie Flood (club owner) and Bill Benny (ex heavyweight wrestler, asked South London gangsters Eddie Richardson and Frankie Fraser to protect the club in exchange for gaming machines being placed there. In 1966, a fight broke out between Kray gang members and Richardson gang members in the early hours and Kray-associate Richard Hart was shot dead outside trying to escape. Mad Frankie Fraser allegedly got his nickname from his part in this fight.
The building was originally the Savoy Ballroom but during World War II it was taken over by the social services, providing food, drink and medicine to local schoolchildren. After the war it was known as the Savoy Rooms as a dancing and gaming club an then renamed The Witchdoctor and then Mr Smiths. The Rolling Stones (1964),Gene Vincent (1964), The Who (April 1966) & Desmond Dekker (1969) are just some of the bands who played there.
The owners of Mr Smiths, Dougie Flood (club owner) and Bill Benny (ex heavyweight wrestler, asked South London gangsters Eddie Richardson and Frankie Fraser to protect the club in exchange for gaming machines being placed there. In 1966, a fight broke out between Kray gang members and Richardson gang members in the early hours and Kray-associate Richard Hart was shot dead outside trying to escape. Mad Frankie Fraser allegedly got his nickname from his part in this fight.
HOLLOWAY ROAD N7 - JOE MEEK
This stencil streetart by Stewy is of onetime local resident Joe Meek who lived, recorded and died in a flat a little further down Holloway Road
The first major hit to be produced his Holloway Road flat was Johnny Remember Me,His best-remembered hit is the Tornados' "Telstar" (1962), which became the first record by a British group to reach No.1 in the US Hot 100. It also spent five weeks atop the UK singles chart, with Meek receiving an Ivor Novello Award for this production as the "Best-Selling A-Side" of 1962.
When his landlords, who lived downstairs, felt that the noise was too much, they would indicate so with a broom on the ceiling. Joe would signal his contempt by placing loudspeakers in the stairwell and turning up the volume.
His commercial success as a producer was short-lived and Meek gradually sank into debt and depression. On 3 February 1967, using a shotgun owned by musician Heinz Burt, Meek killed his landlady and then himself.
The first major hit to be produced his Holloway Road flat was Johnny Remember Me,His best-remembered hit is the Tornados' "Telstar" (1962), which became the first record by a British group to reach No.1 in the US Hot 100. It also spent five weeks atop the UK singles chart, with Meek receiving an Ivor Novello Award for this production as the "Best-Selling A-Side" of 1962.
When his landlords, who lived downstairs, felt that the noise was too much, they would indicate so with a broom on the ceiling. Joe would signal his contempt by placing loudspeakers in the stairwell and turning up the volume.
His commercial success as a producer was short-lived and Meek gradually sank into debt and depression. On 3 February 1967, using a shotgun owned by musician Heinz Burt, Meek killed his landlady and then himself.
