As long as I’ve been in London, the Roundhouse has been part of my life. It is as symptomatic of the city as the Post Office Tower, Buck House, the Millennium Wheel or the 100 Club. Not only is it architecturally idiosyncratic (it was declared a National Heritage site in 2010), not only is it one of the most important performance venues in London, but it also has a rich and genuinely storied history. It is a capital treasure, and certainly one of the few iconic buildings in Camden.
I first went in the early Seventies, although it was during punk that it came into its own, particularly with its Sunday night jamborees. The Ramones, the Clash, Buzzcocks, the Jam, and, unforgettably, Slaughter and the Dogs (they were chosen to support everyone back then, probably because they weren’t any good) — these were the bands I remember seeing, concerts that now seem part of a golden age.
Back in the Seventies, going to the Roundhouse was as habitual as going to the pub; we always went because you knew there was always going to be something or someone on you wanted to see. (It also staged theatre critic Kenneth Tynan’s scandalous nude revue Oh! Calcutta! in 1970, but they weren’t too keen on allowing in gawping nine-year-olds, so I never got to see that.)
In the Seventies I saw the Ramones, the Clash, Buzzcocks, the Jam and, unforgettably, Slaughter and the Dogs
I have such strong memories of the Roundhouse, although I’ve also got a more tangible reminder of the place. Many years ago, I wrote a biography of the Doors, and as part of my research I spent an inordinate amount of time at the London outpost of Warner Brothers, looking through their archive. They were the record company which distributed their albums and were more than happy for me to rifle through their drawers.
They were also more than happy for me to take anything I wanted, oblivious to the fact that in decades to come all rock and roll paraphernalia would start to be treated with as much reverence as religious icons. Which is how I ended up with the handwritten set-list of the Doors’ appearance at the Roundhouse in 1968, one of only a handful of concerts they ever played in London. I’ve still got it, and rather hope it might complement my pension pot when the time is right. Obviously, I was also hoping I might find an old pair of Jim Morrison’s leather trousers, although I think the pair he wore in London ended up being confiscated by the Met after they warned him not to wear them in a built-up area.
These days the Roundhouse is in rude health. After an extensive refurbishment, the venue reopened in 2006 as a modern arts and mixed-media performance space with strong community bias. The community aspect of the Roundhouse’s remit (workshops, education, tuition, curation, studio support, youth programming etc) has become best in class, and is a wonderful example of just how beneficial it can be to involve local residents. I became reacquainted with the place when an old friend of mine, Tony Elliott (who launched Time Out), decided to get involved; it was Tony as much as anyone who steered the Roundhouse back to glory.
Because they have such a gigantic outreach programme, the Roundhouse is always in need of funds, which is why they regularly organise Rise Up for the Roundhouse, which has become one of most celebrated charity events in the city. This year it takes place on Wednesday, March 20, chaired by Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp, and featuring performances from Simon Le Bon and Melanie C among many others. Each year, they work with 8,000 young people, providing them with life-changing opportunities in world-class facilities where they can develop skills, grow as individuals or turn their creativity into a career.
There are some extraordinary auction prizes on offer at this year’s event. You can hang out backstage at a Rolling Stones concert, take home a unique artwork by Sir Antony Gormley, or have dinner with Marina AbramoviÄ. Unfortunately, there is no chance of getting your hands on any of Jim Morrison’s leather trousers, but that’s probably just as well. Just imagine the dry-cleaning bills.
You can buy tickets for this year’s gala by emailing rsvp@roundhouse.org.uk or calling 01227 230803
