A big crowd gathered as a plaque marking the site of the 1960s rock music
scene, the Bluesette Club, was formally unveiled outside 22 Bridge Street
Councillor Simon Ling, chairman of Mole Valley District Council, unveiled
the plaque alongside Chris Stagg of Surrey Hills Radio, who masterminded the
event, and Andy Ellison, last surviving member of Marc Bolan's original
Leatherhead-based band, John's Children. Refreshments were served afterwards at
Leatherhead Theatre where Andy performed alongside guitarist Boz Borrer who
plays with the singer Morrissey.
Among the excited crowd of fans was Marina Dorey of north Leatherhead.
Aged only 50, she was a small child in the days of the Bluesette Club but said:
"My family used to dance in the TV show 'Ready, Steady Go' and my mum
always liked Marc Bolan and the others. I get my love of fashion from
her."
Also there to show Councillor Ling and
his wife exactly where the old stage and club entrance once stood was Mick
Hughes of the Sabres, the motor bike group which acted as bodyguards for the
rock musicians. He claimed to have spotted Jimi Hendrix there on one occasion.
In its day the Bluesette Club, formerly the Chuck Wagon but renamed in 1965,
hosted many stars including Desmond Dekker, Cat Stevens, Alan Price, Zoot
Money, Jethro Tull, and Dusty Springfield.
It was taken over by band manager Simon Napier-Bell who eventually
renamed it again as John's Children Club in honour of the band that kicked off
Marc Bolan's career in 1967.
The
band broke up the following year and Bolan became one half of the two-man band
Tyrannosaurus Rex, later T Rex. The club was later destroyed by a mysterious
fire. The site was used by an upholstery firm but the building was eventually demolished.
Chris Stagg arranged the plaque's installation as part of the Leatherhead
Heritage Trail.
For
more on the club, email chris@surreyhillsradio.co.uk
or post to Chris Stagg, c/o Surrey Hills Radio, 32 North Street