Celebrating Rock's 60th Birthday, from the formation of the Rolling Stones and the heyday of the British Invasion to the spawning of the Reading Festival, this book explores the music history of the London clubs that were the engine rooms for British rock n roll. Many of the now legendary British rock bands honed their skills and developed their stage acts performing on the London club circuit at venues such as The Ealing Club, The Crawdaddy Club, The Marquee, The 100 Club, The Half Moon, the Ricky Tick, The Bull's Head and the infamous Eel Pie Island Hotel. We revisit the days when Eric Clapton was God and Rock ruled the world. Play it Loud!
Why is 2022 'Rock's Diamond Year'?
On March 17th 1962, Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies started the EALING BLUES CLUB. The first UK gig devoted to 'electric blues music'. Musicologists agree that this event was the catalyst that would define British Rock music. The Ealing Blues Club sparked a musical revolution that grew further at Twickenham's Eel Pie Island and Richmond's Crawdaddy Club, 3 venues that were vital in the careers of: The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds / Eric Clapton, The Who, Cream and many more.
Elsewhere in 1962 there were rumblings of a cultural shift with The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, The Animals, Marshall Amplification and many others setting the tone for what became the UK's most significant cultural export... Rock & Pop Music.
60 years on from 1962 and 'ROCK'S DIAMOND YEAR' will celebrate the UK's unique contribution to what has become a global music form. The initiative is led by The Ealing Club Community Interest Company' set up to champion West London music heritage while inspiring new music opportunity for the future.
Banks, Charlotte: - Charlotte studied PPE at Oxford and is currently training for an NCTJ with News Associates. She is a freelance music journalist who has written for Nightshift and Oxfordshire Music Scene, and is currently writing for South West Londoner.
Brookfield, Ralph: - Ralph Brookfield trained as a molecular physicist worked as a copy editor, software engineer, freelance writer, ran a software business, and was a director of technology in the digital television industry. Since 2012 he has pursued his muse as a tutor, writer, and amateur musician. He is a founder member of the Hanwell ukulele group in West London and organises music events regularly. In 2021 his book On The Trail of Americana Music was also published by Aurora Metro/Supernova.
Clack, Pete: - Pete grew up in Oxfordshire, playing in bands and visiting clubs. He worked on research in Physics and Chemistry at the University of Oxford. He has written for both motor club and youth magazines, and now writes for Blues In Britain, also The Dub, a roots reggae magazine. He lives on the edge of the Cotswolds with his wife Pauline, has two grown up children, and is still writing songs and performing in bands.
