Rock’n’roll, reggae and grime – North West London in music

So sang The Dubliners, and the craic in North West London has always been pretty lively. It’s no surprise that, with its intoxicating mixture of urban grit and arty culture, the area has produced some notable music over the years.

In the 1960s, English bands, inspired by the blues, soul, and rock and roll coming from the United States began making their own music, with North West London contributing to the mix. The Kinks, one of the most significant bands of the so called ‘British Explosion’ were formed in Muswell Hill by brothers Dave and Ray Davies, who had attended the local secondary modern school with another key figure,  Rod Stewart. Although the band’s most famous song, Waterloo Sunset, honours the centre of town, the title of their album ‘Muswell Hillbillies’ pays tribute to their North London roots. Rod Stewart, meanwhile, encapsulated the youth of many North Londoners in his song ‘Farewell’

Not long after the Kinks formed, and Rod Stewart played his first gig in a Crouch End Church hall, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker formed their band Cream at Baker’s flat in Neasden. Early Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones lived in Kilburn for a while when he first arrived in London, while their drummer Charlie Watts hailed from Wembley, as did fellow great rock and roll drummer, The Who’s Keith Moon. 

When reggae became a global sensation in the 1970s, North West London was integral again. Already successful in Jamaica, Bob Marley and the Wailers came to London in the 1970s and moved into a flat in Neasden. It was there that they met Chris Blackwell, impresario of Island Records (which had its London offices in Kilburn) and signed the record deal that made them internationally famous. 

Camden Town has always been a hub for bands, with the Roundhouse hosting international talent and local bands earning their chops at the Dublin Castle and several other pub venues. The early 80s saw Camden Band Madness rule the airwaves, and then Finchley-born George Michael ride the wave of 80s pop up the charts. 

In the 90s, Britpop brought London back into the limelight, with Camden the epicentre of the scene. Then came the girl bands – the Spice Girls, whose baby spice Emma Bunton hails from Finchley, and All Saints, who all lived in North West London. Of the many, all girl pop acts that followed in their footsteps, Kingsbury- formed Sugababes are one of the most successful. 

The early 00s belonged to North London native Amy Winehouse, whose stamping ground of Camden was also home to The Libertines and Razorlight, and host to every other guitar band of the moment. 

Grime, one of the most important musical genres to come out of the 21st century, was initially associated with East London, but grime crew SLK put the North West on the map with ‘Hype Hype’, and BMD then cemented the importance of the area with ‘North Weezy’.

The neighbourhood is still producing creative talent at an impressive rate, and Brent Cross Town will be the first development in the UK to have music and sound built into its design and operations. Working with Dr Julia Jones, aka Dr. Rock,  a neuroscientist who has studied the effect of sound and music on wellness, the Brent Cross Town team has built sound into every aspect of their designs. 

Key locations will be mapped out for positive sound creation opportunities, while others will use sound to mitigate existing negative noise. Quality audio and associated digital and sustainable power networks will be built into public areas and spaces will be created specifically for performance and collaborative sound production activities. Natural sounds such as birdsong, subtle insect noise and the sound of water will also be protected and amplified by specific planting and landscaping areas.

The importance placed on sound and music by the Brent Cross Team seems likely to ensure that the next generation of residents will grow up happier, healthier and armed with an enhanced awareness of sound and music, and maybe go on to create some of the great musical hits of the 21st century.