The Ealing Jazz Club and the genesis of the Rolling Stones
by 5ocietyx
The opening of the Ealing Blues Club by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies in March 1962, is generally regarded as the pivotal moment when British Blues developed its own identity. British musicians played the blues and were given an opportunity to see other British artists playing the music for the first time. Prior to this date the growing interest in the Blues had been fostered by Jazz musicians, such as Chris Barber who had brought some of the leading Black American artists to the U.K. for the first time.
By the end of 1962, the club had overseen the creation of the Rolling Stones who were brought together by Alexis Korner and played there over 20 times. Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and Pete Townshend played Ealing, as did many other members of future bands that would later take the rawer sound of ROCK to the world.
The Ealing Club and Blues Incorporated led directly to the early 1960’s British Rhythm and Blues Boom, which created the more intense sounds that were to influence so many. This included the Beatles, who had already opened the gates in the U.S. for the next wave of British bands. Groups such as the Rolling Stones, Cream, The Who,Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, John Mayall, The Pretty Things, Fleetwood Mac, The Animals and Free, to name but a few, all participated or were heavily influenced by the scene generated by the Ealing Club.
British Rhythm and Blues would soon spread to other London venues notably theCrawdaddy, Eel Pie Island, The Flamingo and the Marquee. Here in Ealing the foundations for this movement were already set in stone. Ealing resident Pete Townshend would develop feedback on his guitars at the first Who gigs at the Oldfield hotel (Greenford). He practiced his auto-destructive art on the Marshall speakers sourced locally in the first Marshall shop in Hanwell.
His inspiration for destruction of guitars and amplifiers came from art classes attended at Ealing art school, where subsequent students would also include Ronnie Wood, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury.
As a showman and musician Jimi Hendrix would be deeply influenced by the music of The Who and their contemporaries, even deciding to purchase his amplifiers from the Marshall shop in Hanwell.
Perhaps the following quote from the Keith Richards biography “Life” from 2010 says it all:
“Cyril Davies and Alexis Korner got a club going, the weekly spot at the Ealing Jazz Club, where Rhythm and Blues freaks could conglomerate. Without them there might have been nothing”
Source: http://www.ealing-club.com/ealingclubhistory/
The club is also noteworthy as the place where on 7 April 1962, Alexis Korner introduced Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to Brian Jones, and the nucleus of The Rolling Stones first came together.
Other regular musicians at the Saturday night sessions included Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Charlie Watts, Graham Bond, Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Paul Jones. Manfred Mann (originally the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers) also played there.The Who played there early on in their career, when they were known as The Detours. Eric Burdon (lead singer of The Animals) and Eric Clapton also frequented and sang on stage at the club.
Society X 
Silly photo ronnie wood never at ealing club
According to the official website he appeared many times there with The Birds
“Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie Wood appeared numerous times at the ealing club as a member of The Birds. As a student of Ealing Art College and a resident in Ealing he frequented the Marshall amplification shop in Hanwell to purchase guitars and amplifiers. His book recounts stories about The Who a band who were contemporaries of Ronnie Wood’s band, The Birds and very much part of the West London scene of 1965.”
http://www.ealing-club.com/tag/art-wood/
X
Sorry you maybe right but never heard of the birds. Still not in ealing with the stones
No problem, the gist of the post was that Ealing Jazz Club was where the members that would go on to form the Rolling Stones first met. It’s part of a larger investigation into west London’s connection with the early days of rock. X
Remember walking home from the club with this guy who lived in saint Mary’s road when he was going in his house he told me he was John mc of fleet wood mac ..many years ago
Hi Anonymous, thanks for sharing your story, one of many tales of rock gods gathering in the seemingly quiet suburban west London in the 60s and 70s. X
yes your right he lived next to the old fire station in st marys road south ealing
mcvies lived next to the old fire station in st marys road south ealing remember father was big Brentford fan. john entwhistle from the who also had a house was in popes lane south ealing the house is the only one with a big square bedroom window at the front he caused a bit of a stir with neighbours and still viseuable today
This is the thing, the local area attracted musicians such as Hendrix and others from far afield due to things like the legendary venues, music shops, record factories and studios but it’s surprising how many of them were actually born in the area or at least moved here at an early age such as Frederick Mercury. Ealing Art College seems to have been another magnet for some reason.
Then there were the sad stories of Peter Green living homeless in Teddington I think it was. X
today hanwell broadway has nothing to offer but a paddy bar few charity shops not much more . yet still a couple of guitar & amp shops./ many years ago this area ruled londons rock n roll world with shops like marshall amps. which started there this area was more popular than Denmark street in soho
yes, have probably been through hanwell broadway a number of times but have no recollection of the place. interesting that there are
a couple of shops maintaining the legacy albeit a shadow of former glory. X
peter townsend lived granvillie gnds ealing common next too tube station. john mcvie st marys square . john enthwistle popes lane .matt munroe in dallas rd ealing.