Kilburn National Ballroom

Many famous musicians including Killing Joke, New Order, Echo and The Bunnymen, Johnny Cash, David Bowie (with Tin Machine), The Smiths (the live album Rank was recorded here on the 23rd of October 1986), Cocteau Twins, The Pogues, Jesus and Mary Chain, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (on July 14th, 1988), the Sonic Youth (on March 23, 1989, with Mudhoney as support act), Pixies (on July 5th, 1989), Primal Scream, The Fall, Fugazi (September 19th, 1990), Blur and even Nirvana (on December 5th, 1991) played the legendary Kilburn National!

Speakeasy

Opened on 15 December 1966, the Speakeasy Club hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Pink Floyd (who first appeared on 19 September 1967), Love, King Crimson, Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention (October 1967), Yes, Jimi Hendrix (1966), The Beatles, David Bowie, Deep Purple (10 July 1969), and Bob Marley (May 1973, Catch a Fire Tour). Thin Lizzy made their England debut here.

Ziggy Stardust’s Album Cover

The cover photograph for the iconic David Bowie’s album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was shot here, at 23 Heddon Street, by Brian Ward (not by Mick Rock, as Wikipedia claims. F*ck Wikipedia!). It was taken in black and white and later coloured by artist Terry Pastor of Main Artery.

Trident Studios

Trident Studios was a British recording facility where, among many other artists (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, T Rex, Lour Reed, Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath, etc), David Bowie recorded his albums Hunky Dory and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, and his legendary single Space Oddity.

The Greyhound/Blue Orchid

Before there was the Blue Orchid (from 1986), it was The Greyhound – a live music venue in Croydon, where the likes of Deep Purple, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, The Ramones, David Bowie, Queen, Roxy Music and The Jam played.

The Three Tuns Pub

The Three Tuns Pub in South London, now a Zizzi’s, was home to a folk club – which later became the Beckenham Arts Lab – set up by David Bowie (and his girlfriend Mary Finnigan) at the very beginning of his solo career in May 1969.

Fairfield Halls

In 1976 guitarist Ray Burns and drummer Chris Millar were toilet cleaners at Fairfield Halls. They later became Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies of The Damned. Many stars played the venue in its heyday.

Marquee Club – Part #2

In March 1964 the Marquee Club moved to its most famous venue at 90 Wardour Street, possibly becoming the most important venue in the history of pop music.

Bill Wyman’s flat in Penge

During his early years, Rolling Stones’ bassist Bill Wyman lived in a flat above his family’s car dealership at 8 Kenilworth Court, just off Penge High Street

The Lewisham Odeon

The old Lewisham Odeon, which closed in 1981 and was demolished in 1991, hosted the likes of David Bowie, Status Quo, Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, The Beatles (twice in 1963, on the 29th of March and 8th of December), Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, The Clash, The Specials, Adam and The Ants, and The Who (who were actually the last, on the 8th of February 1981).