Main content
This programme is not currently available on 大象传媒 iPlayer

Rock n Roll Island: Where Legends Were Born

Award-winning documentary that celebrates the incredible musical history of Eel Pie Island - the epicentre of rhythm and blues in south west London in the 1960s.

Award-winning documentary that celebrates the incredible musical history of Eel Pie Island, a small island in the Thames in south west London which became the epicentre of rhythm and blues in the 1960s.

In its heyday, the likes of The Stones, The Yardbirds, The Who, David Bowie, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Long John Baldry and many others cut their teeth at the venue before becoming legends of the music industry.

Interviewed guests include Rod Stewart from The Faces, Top Topham from The Yardbirds, Mick Avory from The Kinks, Steve Hackett from Genesis, Dave Brock from Hawkwind, Andy Bown from Status Quo, Martin Turner from Wishbone Ash, Phil May from The Pretty Things, Don Craine and Keith Grant from The Downliners Sect, Geoff Cole from the Ken Colyer Band, Bob Dwyer from The Southern Stompers, Cleo Sylvestre from Honey B Mama, Blaine Harrison from The Mystery Jets, Paul Stewart from The Others, Sam Cutler, former tour manager with The Stones, as well as numerous fans known as Eelpilanders and island resident and inventor Trevor Baylis.

Combining these interviews with original black-and-white images and archive footage from the era, the documentary explores the unique experiences of the people who either played at the Eel Pie Island Hotel or went there to listen to music and dance on the famous bouncing dance floor.

Cheryl Robson, who created the project, says, 鈥榊ou can feel the incredible fondness for the Eel Pie experience when talking to those who actually went there. There was definitely something in the water in south west London, which affected all those who went, played, sang or danced. The energy was infectious.鈥�

Narrated by actor Nigel Planer, who was once a resident of Eel Pie Island.

59 minutes

Last on

Sat 28 Mar 2020 02:25
大象传媒 Four

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    The Rolling Stones

    Not Fade Away

  • 00:09

    Unknown Ensemble

    Smokestack Lightning

  • 00:10

    Bobby Vee

    Rubber Ball

  • 00:13

    Alexis Korner鈥檚 Blues Incorporated

    Big Road Blues

  • 00:16

    Alexis Korner鈥檚 Blues Incorporated

    Every Day I Have The Blues

  • 00:16

    Bo Diddley

    I'm A Man

  • 00:17

    Muddy Waters

    Can't Be Satisfied

  • 00:17

    John Lee Hooker

    Boom Boom

  • 00:20

    The Rolling Stones

    Little Red Rooster

  • 00:22

    The Rolling Stones

    Come On

  • 00:27

    Bluesology

    Come Back Baby

  • 00:28

    The Pretty Things

    Don't Bring Me Down

  • 00:30

    Georgie Fame, The Blue Flames

    Yeh Yeh

  • 00:34

    Cream

    Strange Brew聽

  • 00:34

    John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

    Steppin Out

  • 00:35

    Brian Auger

    Can Get A Witness

  • 00:38

    The Pretty Things

    Can't Stand The Pain

  • 00:39

    Muddy Waters

    Louisiana Blues

  • 00:40

    Deep Purple

    Black Night

  • 00:41

    Savoy Brown

    Shake 'Em On Down

  • 00:45

    Hawkwind

    Silver Machine

  • 00:50

    Genesis

    Stagnation

  • 00:57

    Mystery Jets

    Dreaming Of Another World

Credits

Narrator Nigel Planer
Interviewed Guest Rod Stewart
Interviewed Guest Top Topham
Interviewed Guest Mick Avory
Interviewed Guest Steve Hackett
Interviewed Guest David Brock
Interviewed Guest Andy Bown
Interviewed Guest Trevor Baylis
Producer Cheryl Robson
Director Cheryl Robson

Broadcasts

Featured in...

  • Pop Greats

    Celebrating some of the biggest names in music