Can't wait for the movie. I love ready your book snippets a fantastic look into the history of music. I worked for NEMS mid 70s and have aways had a keen interest in the history.
Hi Gered. Absolutely right - 1967 - not sure how that slipped through. Though in fact I did see him in 1966 - it was at there Scotch of St James when he came to London for just a week.
Hi Gered. Absolutely right. Not sure how that slipped through. It was definitely 1967, though I'd seen him in 1966 at the Scotch of St James when he was over for just a week.
My late architect brother David Dry co-designed the interiors of the Academy 1&2 cinemas in Oxford Street in the late '50s, he was then asked by Harold Pendleton to design the interior of what would become the first incarnation of the Marquee Club along with Angus McBean in the Oxford Street premises. This then granted David a lifetime of free entry to the Marquee Club and all the Jazz & Blues Festivals. He was more into Trad Jazz and not interested in R&B and Blues and so he handed over his membership to me when I was 12. My first proper outing was to the Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond athletic ground on August 8th & 9th 1964. I saw The Stones, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Graham Bond and Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames. I went to every festival from '64 to 1970 and many visits to the Marquee when it moved to Wardour Street. A life changing intro into music first hand!
Hi TIm - sorry to be slow with this reply. The story from Chris Barber was that when Harold P rented the premises below the Academy it was already decorated as we came to know it, and had the faux Marquee look, which is why they chose that name. They then imported all the decor to the Wardour Street club 6 years later including the carpets, which stayed on the floor for the next thirty years, hence the stickiness. If you have a couple of good stories about the original design and your brother’s input, it might be nice to have you talk on film about it. Do you fancy it? (My email, by the way, is simonnapierbell@gmail.com)
We published a book on the history of the Marquee last year, co-written by Nick Pendleton, son of the the club's founder Harold Pendleton. Ping me an email with your address and I'll send you a copy. I'm at info@paradiseroad.co.uk
Hi Andrew. No problem, I've got a copy. In fact quite some time back I asked Nick if he might be interested to get involved in a film but he seemed not too keen. My idea for the film is very much to follow the musical developments of rock. Obviously not all of them, there'd be just to many, but to focus on perhaps six musical trends over 30 years. It's a bit different from how the book is structured but it has a lot of good facts in it.
That might have been his first night in London, Chas took him down to the Scotch on his arrival from NYC! Do you remember that my studio was next door to the Scotch at #9 Mason’s Yard? Good times…..
If you were really 🤔 working …. We can forgive you for ‘bumping’ our dinner 🥘 date ! Lots of love , The king of Cadbury and Sheilah….. with an H ! REDEEM YOURSELF!! Xx
Wonderful stuff! I played the Marquee in Wardour Street, playing organ and vibes with Squidd, the first band I was in.
So glad you are doing this, it will be FAB!
Can't wait for the movie. I love ready your book snippets a fantastic look into the history of music. I worked for NEMS mid 70s and have aways had a keen interest in the history.
Thank you SNB.
That's fascinating Simon ... I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished films 👏
Hey Simon, I think you have made a mistake with the Jimi Hendrix dates - should be 1967?
Hi Gered. Absolutely right - 1967 - not sure how that slipped through. Though in fact I did see him in 1966 - it was at there Scotch of St James when he came to London for just a week.
Thanks for the stories …they’re fabulously interesting
Thanks Simon …fabulous stories
I’m 72 now and was in the audience in 1965 when the Stones played at Moore Park in Sydney …including Brian Jones
Hi Gered. Absolutely right. Not sure how that slipped through. It was definitely 1967, though I'd seen him in 1966 at the Scotch of St James when he was over for just a week.
Hi Simon.
My late architect brother David Dry co-designed the interiors of the Academy 1&2 cinemas in Oxford Street in the late '50s, he was then asked by Harold Pendleton to design the interior of what would become the first incarnation of the Marquee Club along with Angus McBean in the Oxford Street premises. This then granted David a lifetime of free entry to the Marquee Club and all the Jazz & Blues Festivals. He was more into Trad Jazz and not interested in R&B and Blues and so he handed over his membership to me when I was 12. My first proper outing was to the Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond athletic ground on August 8th & 9th 1964. I saw The Stones, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Graham Bond and Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames. I went to every festival from '64 to 1970 and many visits to the Marquee when it moved to Wardour Street. A life changing intro into music first hand!
Hi TIm - sorry to be slow with this reply. The story from Chris Barber was that when Harold P rented the premises below the Academy it was already decorated as we came to know it, and had the faux Marquee look, which is why they chose that name. They then imported all the decor to the Wardour Street club 6 years later including the carpets, which stayed on the floor for the next thirty years, hence the stickiness. If you have a couple of good stories about the original design and your brother’s input, it might be nice to have you talk on film about it. Do you fancy it? (My email, by the way, is simonnapierbell@gmail.com)
Always enjoy reading these stories… just wondering what the next book will be about … thank you Simon
aah! I guess if I knew that I'd be writing it. But I'm undecided.
Its a great story Simon. And I cannot think of anyone better to tell it!
🙏🏻
Simon
We published a book on the history of the Marquee last year, co-written by Nick Pendleton, son of the the club's founder Harold Pendleton. Ping me an email with your address and I'll send you a copy. I'm at info@paradiseroad.co.uk
Andrew Humphreys
Hi Andrew. No problem, I've got a copy. In fact quite some time back I asked Nick if he might be interested to get involved in a film but he seemed not too keen. My idea for the film is very much to follow the musical developments of rock. Obviously not all of them, there'd be just to many, but to focus on perhaps six musical trends over 30 years. It's a bit different from how the book is structured but it has a lot of good facts in it.
That might have been his first night in London, Chas took him down to the Scotch on his arrival from NYC! Do you remember that my studio was next door to the Scotch at #9 Mason’s Yard? Good times…..
Indeed - I remember it went well - I went there many a time
If you were really 🤔 working …. We can forgive you for ‘bumping’ our dinner 🥘 date ! Lots of love , The king of Cadbury and Sheilah….. with an H ! REDEEM YOURSELF!! Xx
Do you have copies of our Denmark Street and Raving Upon Thames books? They should be in your library too.
Sounds good. Love to have them. Can you send me Kindles or pdfs? I much prefer to read on a screen.
No problem, I can send pdfs. Ping me an email address to info@paradiseroad.co.uk
yeah sure I practically lived at the marquee in 70's
Brilliant. I'll be back to you how re we do it. 👍🏻