I attended a screening this evening of ‘Surburban Steps to Rockland – The Story of the Ealing Club’ in the Macmillan Room at Portcullis House, Westminster, at the invitation of the ‘APPG on Music’ and Rupa Huq MP. The ninety minute film details the launch pad of the key British rhythm and blues venue, founded by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies in 1962.
The cellar room which held around 200 blues devotees when packed, witnessed the birth of several major rock artists, including the Rolling Stones, the Graham Bond Organisation and Manfred Mann. The film mostly consisted of interviews with musicians who played the venue’s tiny stages, including Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness.
It was good to meet Chas McDevitt, Terry Marshall, Alistair Young, UK Music’s Tom Kiehl and a number of movers and shakers from the 1960s Ealing scene. I hope the film receives the media exposure and investment it deserves.
