{"id":30329,"date":"2017-09-26T09:40:40","date_gmt":"2017-09-26T08:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=30329"},"modified":"2017-10-23T13:18:21","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T12:18:21","slug":"birth-of-the-blues-new-film-shines-spotlight-on-the-ealing-club-hailed-as-the-cradle-of-british-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2017\/09\/birth-of-the-blues-new-film-shines-spotlight-on-the-ealing-club-hailed-as-the-cradle-of-british-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"BIRTH OF THE BLUES – New Film Shines Spotlight On The Ealing Club Hailed As The Cradle Of British Rock"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Promoter Fery Asgari (2nd left) with The Who at the Ealing Club in 1965. Picture: Fery Asgari and Ealing Club CIC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tucked away in a side street across the road from Ealing Broadway tube station lies a tiny, London night spot, widely credited as the birthplace of British rock.<\/h4>\n

Hot, sweaty and damp, The Ealing Club, became a focal point for a new generation of fans and musicians inspired by American Blues artists like Big Bill Broonzy<\/strong>, Sonny Terry<\/strong> and Muddy Waters<\/strong>.<\/h4>\n

The venue’s pivotal role in the development of The<\/strong> Who, The Rolling Stones\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Eric Clapton<\/strong> is brought vividly to life in a new feature-length documentary, which premieres at the\u00a0Doc’n Roll Film Festival\u00a0<\/strong>in November.<\/p>\n

Written and directed by Ealing-based Italian filmmaker\u00a0Giorgio Guernier<\/strong>, Suburban Steps To Rockland<\/strong><\/em>, features many of the star names who first cut their teeth as live performers at the club.<\/p>\n

Cream<\/strong>\u00a0bassist and singer\u00a0Jack Bruce<\/strong>\u00a0shares his memories in one of his last broadcast interviews before his death in 2014 and there’s a typically memorable contribution from his bandmate\u00a0Ginger Baker.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Burdon, <\/strong>frontman\u00a0<\/strong>of\u00a0The Animals,\u00a0<\/strong>features along with\u00a0The Ram Jam Band<\/strong>\u00a0R&B great\u00a0Geno\u00a0<\/strong>Washington <\/b>and\u00a0John Mayall<\/strong> of\u00a0Bluesbreakers <\/strong>fame.<\/p>\n

The Who’s\u00a0Pete Townshend<\/strong> also appears in the film, giving a lecture about the Ealing Club to a rapt audience at a local theatre.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a former musician, avid vinyl collector and filmmaker, the idea of making a movie about this legendary venue was a no-brainer. It was a story I just had to tell,\u201d Guernier says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe list of influential musicians who became associated with the club is absolutely breathtaking. Many of the first golden generation of British rock began their careers there, \u00a0or simply visited the venue, just to learn how to play the Blues.”<\/p>\n

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Part entertainment, part social history, the film explores a thrilling moment in the lives of young people who, having thrown off the shackles of the post-war years, were going out, experimenting and enjoying themselves in ways their parents would never have imagined.
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