Rocking In The 60s

A Memory of South Harrow.

On the left of the photo is Woolworths, above which were flats - including one where the rock star/ wannabe MP Screaming Lord Sutch lived for a while. Another Rocker lived in South Harrow - Johnny Kidd (and the Pirates). I used to live just off Corbins Lane. St Pauls Church built a church hall in a lane that went off Park Lane. This was a venue for local bands (called "The Void"), including a group of young men who played quite loud and called themselves "The High Numbers", people would say "The Who?" and so they changed their name. As they became more famous they moved to a more regular venue a few miles up the Road, The Station pub at Harrow and Wealdstone station. Back in South Harrow a pub nearby, the "Tithe Farm" also hosted live bands and I remember going to hear Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band there.

In Harrow on the Hill the Arts school ("Harrow Art" ) had dances with bands like "The Pretty Things" - the local Mods used to have dances upstairs at Burtons Tailor shop - with bands like Geno Washington.

Local Cinemas would have touring "Package Shows" - The Granada in Harrow being the main one - people like the Beatles, Roy Orbison, The Crystals, Gene Pitney etc. Often the same supporting bands would come so you got to know them well - Manfred Mann, The Kinks, The Hollies. At another cinema (The Gaumont?) I remember seeing Tom Jones on his first tour - he'd been called in to replace the American PJ Proby, who had offended people in the previous town by allowing his tight trousers to rip on stage!