The Sixties - the era of Swinging London - saw it spawn rock legends like the
Stones, Kinks and the Who. The Seventies witnessed the outbreak of punk. The
Eighties saw a new generation of British bands conquer the world. And the
Nineties saw Britpop battles like Blur and Oasis battle it out for Britain’s
pop crown. Now British rock bands like Coldplay are again conquering the
world. So what better time to tread in the footsteps of rock’s legends in
our Soho walking tour?
1. London Palladium, Argyll St
In the 1960s the London Palladium, originally a famous music hall, played host
to Sunday Night at the Palladium, a TV programme showcasing the best of
British showbiz talent. In October, 1963, the Beatles topped the bill one
night. 15 million people watched - and Beatlemania was born.
2. Magistrates Court, Gt Marlborough St
Around the corner is the site of the one-time Marylebone Magistrates Court - a
compulsory West End haunt for any self-respecting bad-boy rocker. In the
1960s, Mick Jagger received a fine there for possessing cannabis. Not to be
outdone, Johnny Rotten also paid a courtesy call in 1977 - and was fined £40
for drug possession.
3. Carnaby St
Synonymous with the Swinging Sixties, this is where London’s new rock star
elite took to buying their frilly shirts and crushed velvet suits. The era
was immortalised in the classic Sixties Kinks song, Dedicated Follower of
Fashion.
4. Bag ‘O Nails, 8 Kingly St
Back in the 60s, the Bag ‘O Nails, a trendy hangout for the new rock gods. It
was here that John McVie (of Fleetwood Mac) proposed to Christine Perfect
(also of Fleetwood Mac). It was also where Paul McCartney first set eyes
upon upon his future wife Linda Eastman. ‘I saw this blonde and I fancied
her,’ he later recalled.
5. Heddon Street
The street where David Bowie posed with his guitar for the cover of the The
Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, the 1972 album that would finally made the
Brixton-born wannabe a star.
6. Berwick Street
In 1995, the high tide of Britpop, Oasis shot the cover of their
biggest-selling album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, in Soho’s Berwick
St, which is famous for its street market. Noel Gallagher later said he
thought the cover was ‘shit’ Still, it went on to sell 10 million copies,
making the band rich beyond their dreams.
7. The Marquee, Wardour St
The site of the legendary Marquee - a cramped, sweaty club that’s played host
to a who’s who’s of British rock. (Mezzo now stands on the site). The venue
started life in Oxford St before moving to Wardour St in 1964 - where Rod
Stewart and the Yardbirds took to the stage on the opening night. Resident
Sixties bands included The Who and Pink Floyd before they found fame - while
a young artist called David Bowie tried out new material for family and
friends on a Sunday afternoons. In 1976 it staged Britain’s first punk rock
festival where performers included Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was also
where the Pistols shot their promo film for God Save the Queen - the
anti-monarchist anthem they thoughtfully released during the Queen’s 1977
Silver Jubilee.
8. La Chasse, 100 Wardour St
Just down the road was La Chasse, a private drinking club where prog rock
kings Yes formed in 1968.
9. 2is Coffee Bar, Old Compton St
The site of the legendary Fifties milk bar, The 2is, this was the place to be
seen if you were a wannabe rock’n’roller. Among the early British ‘pop’
stars who got their big break after being spotted playing here were Tommy
Steele, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard.
10. Old Compton St / Dean Street
Thirty years ago a mouthy, wannabe pop star from Dublin embarked on a
short-lived career as a hot dog salesman on the corner of these two streets.
He later made his mark with the poppy new wave outfit the Boomtown Rats
before finding worldwide fame as the driving force behind Live Aid and Live
8. His name? Bob Geldof, of course.
11. Ronnie’s Scott’s, Frith St
The jazz club where the Who gave their first public performance of their
legendary rock opera Tommy in May 1969. A year later, in September 1970, it
was the scene of Jimi Hendrix’s final public performance. Two days later he
was found dead following a drugs overdose.
12. Angelucci’s, Frith St
Just over the road is Angelucci’s (23b) where Mark Knopfler stepped out in the
first line of the Dire Straits song Wild West End.
13. St Martin’s College of Art, Charing Cross Rd
St Martins College of Art, where Sex Pistols bass player Glen Matlock was a
student, played host to the Pistols debut first gig, on November 6, 1975.
The horrified social secretary pulled the plug after five numbers. It’s also
where Pulp star Jarvis Cocker dated a sculpture student who told him she’d
always wanted to “sleep with common people like you” - the inspiration for
the band’s 1995 hit ‘Common People’.
14. Denmark Street
Once London’s Tin Pan Alley, Denmark St used to be home to music biz
publishers, agents and hustlers. It was also the site of a recording studio,
Regent Sound Studios, where Elton John recorded numerous cover songs for
Woolworth's own label before finding fame.. It’s now famous for its guitar
shops, patronised by the likes of Paul McCartney and Noel Gallagher.
15. McCartney Publishing Ltd, Soho Square
Our final stop is Soho Square, home to Sir Paul McCartney’s company, MPL,
Music Publishing Ltd. The company had a £20m turnover last year which helps
explain why the ex-Beatles is the 50th richest man in the Britain, worth a
cool £800m. Nice money if you can get it...
