In pictures: The history of some of London's iconic music venues

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14 February 2016

Performing on stage in London is what musicians aspire to achieve as they launch their bids for international stardom.

Many huge international acts played their first UK gigs in capital and a host of venues acted as a stepping stone in launching the careers of other artists.

Over the years, London has been the home of many great music venues and while many are still in operation today, the fate of many others was not others was not as promising.

Legendary: Jimi Hendrix at The Marquee Club Marc Sharrat/Rex

Rex Features

The Marquee Club

London’s iconic The Marquee Club first opened its doors on April 19, 1958 at 165 Oxford Street and became one of the defining venues for jazz and rhythm and blues.

Just several years later, big names including the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and the Animals helped reinvent the venue as it was relocated to 90 Wardour Street.

It was following the move that the venue became one of the most important venues in the history of pop and rock music, with performances on the stage at The Marquee Club helping to thrust some of the biggest superstars of the 60s and 70s into the spotlight, including Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull.

Throughout the years, the club also had resident artists taking up headline sets on different days of the week, including Rod Stewart and the Soul Agents, The Who, AC/DC and Iron Maiden.

Stage door: Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland in 1979 Gabor Scott/Redferns/Getty Images

Gabor Scott/Redferns/Getty Images

Hammersmith Palais

Originally opening to host ballroom dancing in 1919, the Hammersmith Palais de Danse as it was first known, played host to a variety of different music styles until its closure in 2007.

From the Beatles, The Sex Pistols and Elvis Costello to The Police, U2 and Kylie Minogue, the venue was a centre point for rock and roll and pop music throughout its history.

The venue, which was simply later renamed Hammersmith Palais, was even name dropped in The Clash’s song “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" and the final performance at the venue, from The Fall, was released as a live album recording.

The original building was not demolished until early summer in 2012 and student flats were opened on the site in September 2013.

Festival: The Camden Roundhouse hosts the iTunes Live event Redferns/Getty Images

Redferns/Getty Images

The Roundhouse

Now one of the best-known venues in London for concerts, The Roundhouse began its life as a railway repair and maintenance shed before becoming cultural venue in 1960.

It was at The Roundhouse that some of the most memorable performances of the 60s took place, including from Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Sex Pistols, Fleetwood Mac and The Doors.

Frontman on The Doors Jim Morrison once said that performing at the Camden venue was “one of the best concerts I’ve ever done”.

The Roundhouse played a crucial role in the punk and post-punk movement in London during the 1970s, with The Clash, The Ramones, The Stranglers, Blondie and Adam and the Ants all performing on its stage.

Demolished: The Astoria was closed in 2009 to make way for Crossrail

Astoria

Originally a warehouse in the 1920s, the London Astoria became one of the most iconic establishments for rock music in London.

The venue was closed in 2009 to make way for the development of Crossrail, despite many protests from music lovers who had seen many of their idols perform at the Charing Cross Road music hall.

Among the notable headliners who filmed and recorded their performances at the venue were Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, Sum 41 and The Darkness.

The Astoria’s sister venue – The Mean Fiddler, which was also demolished for Crossrail – provided a platform for intimate gigs of legendary acts including Jonny Cash and Eric Clapton.

Derelict: The Windsor Castle pub closed in 2009

Windsor Castle

Now a designated heritage asset, the former Windsor Castle pub in Harrow Road was once renowned for early concerts from the Rolling Stones and the Who.

The pub played a crucial role in the early 1970s rock scene and became the place for up and coming bands to perform until the end of the 70s.

Madness, The Jam, U2 and Dr Feelgood were among the other acts which performed at the pub and later went on to achieve huge success in the music industry.

The venue closed in 2009 and currently remains derelict and the state of its future is unknown.

Iconic: Oasis performed their debut London show at The Water Rats in 1994

The Water Rats

Despite looking small from the outside, The Water Rats has played host to some of the biggest acts in music today, with many performing their very first gigs on its stage.

Bob Dylan played his first UK gig at the Grays Inn Road live music venue in December 1962 and The Pogues gave their first ever performance here in October 1982.

Among other notable performances are Oasis’s debut to the London music scene in January 1994 and Katy Perry, who appeared here before becoming one of pop music’s biggest international super stars.

Centre point: Fans queue outside the Electric Ballroom in Camden

Electric Ballroom

Located in the heart of Camden, the Electric Ballroom has played host to an array of musical talent in its 73 years.

During the 1970s, The Clash used the site as a rehearsal room for a week and Led Zeppelin was one of the huge names to put on a show at the venue.

The Electric Ballroom was re-launched as a rock venue in 1978 with the help of Frank Murray, Thin Lizzy’s former tour manager, and it has been a centre point for rock gigs ever since.

The Vaccines, Sir Paul McCartney, The Killers, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Smiths and Blur and just some of the huge acts who have graced the stage.

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