If there is a "Ground Zero" for British rock and blues, the historical consensus points to this basement opposite Ealing Broadway station. Opened in 1959 as a jazz venue, it became the focal point for the nascent British R&B scene in 1962 under Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies.
The specific location where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first encountered Brian Jones on March 17, 1962—the catalyst for the formation of The Rolling Stones. Charlie Watts began playing here with Blues Incorporated. The Who (as The Detours) used the club in 1964-65 to sharpen their "Maximum R&B" aesthetic. The venue was a laboratory: small, hot, and loud, forcing musicians to develop the stamina and volume that defined rock. Now operates as The Red Room nightclub.
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We're collecting stories from musicians who performed at The Ealing Club