Stones idol salutes re-birth of blues in Ealing

18th March 2012 By Helena Hickey

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Blues heaven: Charlie Watts and the Stones first met at the Ealing Club


A ROCK legend returned to Ealing yesterday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of an old haunt.

Charlie Watts, drummer from the Rolling Stones, was among those who gathered to watch the unveiling of a blue plaque marking 50 years since the first blues night at the Ealing Club, Ealing Broadway.

It was where the Stones first met and played in April 1962 and hosted many famous faces, including Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart.

The plaque was unveiled outside The Red Room, the night club which now occupies the site, by the widow of Alexi Korner, one of the Ealing Club’s founders.


An afternoon of live blues music then followed inside the club.

The £1,300 needed for the plaque was raised by the Ealing Club, a community group aiming to highlight the town’s rock and blues heritage.

Club secretary Alistair Young said all of their work had been worthwhile.

“The day was perfect, it couldn’t have gone any better. We had a brilliant crowd both inside and out,” he said.

The group now plans to hold gigs at the venue on the last Thursday of every month and hopes it will be a place where performers from the 60s, as well as new groups, will perform.

“Most of all, we want to see the young musicians of Ealing make use of this brilliant and historical venue,” said Mr Young. “As the London College of Music is based in Ealing, we hope their students will use this venue to keep music at the heart of our town.”

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