Stoke Newington has a rich musical heritage. Marc Bolan of T. Rex fame grew up in Stoke Newington and formed his first band there. Punk icon Malcolm McLaren also spent part of his childhood in Stoke Newington. Many famous bands like The Jam, The Police, and XTC played shows at local venues like the Rochester Castle pub and The Vortex club. Venues like the Manor House Tavern hosted legendary blues and rock artists in the 1960s. Additionally, other notable musicians like Bad Manners, The Pretenders, and Amy Winehouse have ties to Stoke Newington.

1. STOKE N’ ROLL
By Craig McLean
Stoke Newington’s musical heritage
Stoke Newington History Talks #9 FEB 25TH 2019

2. Craig McLean

3. Marc Bolan (1947-77)
Born and raised in 25 Stoke
Newington Common
Attended nearby Northwold
Primary School, where he formed
his first skiffle band aged nine.
Attended William Wordsworth
Secondary School, which stood
outside from where we are (Now
Horizon School).

4. A young Mod Marc Bolan (still Mark
Feld at this point) in Stoke
Newington Common with friends

6. The greengrocery shop at 74 Fountayne Road was the premises where Marc
Bolan rehearsed with Susy and the Hoola Hoops, a group which included Helen
Shapiro and her Cousin Susan Singer. The shop is now an Off Licence.

7. Reggae
Photo by Alan Denney

8. Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010)
Raised by his maternal grandmother, Rose
Corre Isaacs at 76 Carysfort Road

10. The Pegasus, 109 Green Lanes
A music pub, which closed in 2004.
On the 18th June 1977 Johnny Rotten,
Chris Thomas (producer) and Bill Price
(studio boss) were attacked here outside
the Pegasus pub.
Owned by Chas & Dave in the mid 1980s
Renaming it Chas 'n' Dave’s.

11. The Rochester Castle
145 Stoke Newington
High St
Gary Numan
Bad Manners
The Jam
The Police
XTC
Dire Straits
Adam and the ants
Bill Bragg
Riff Raff
Played in the
Rochester Castle

12. Radio Birdman (1978)

13. The Vortex, 139-141 Stoke Newington Church Street
1984-2004

17. The Manor House Tavern
Green Lanes/Seven
Sisters Road
In the 1950's it was the Downbeat Club
with a resident band called Tubby Hayes
and the Downbeat Big Band, of which
Ronnie Scott had been a member.
It then became the Bluesville R & B Club
with many famous singers/groups playing
there

18. Rolling Stones
Cream
The Animals
The Jimi Henrix Experience
John Mayall's Bluesbrekers
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames,
Rod Stewart
The Yardbirds
Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men,
Fairport Convention
Fleetwood Mac
Jeff Beck
The Spencer Davis Group
Graham Bond Organisation
…and many more
Played in the Manor
House Tavern

20. Bad Manners
Fronted by Buster Bloodvessel (born
Douglas Trendle), the band was formed in
1976 while the members were together at
Woodberry Down Comprehensive School
in Stoke Newington

21. The Pretenders
Recorded in 1980 in Beverley Studios in
Lordship Road opposite the Red Lion pub.
The album cover photo of their of their
1980 single Talk of the Town was taken
outside 162-4 Stoke Newington High
Street.

23. Photo mashup by Amir Dotan

24. Professor GreenAsa Butterfield Labrinth

25. Amy Winehouse’s Back to
Black music video was
shot in Abney Park
Cemetery