IMAGINE, for one second, that Coldplay, Justin Timberlake or the Arctic Monkeys announced they were stopping off in Bishop’s Stortford as part of their latest tour.
Improbable? Definitely. Impossible? Maybe - but 50-odd years ago, many of their rock ’n’ roll equivalents gigged at what is now the Rhodes Arts Complex and drew sell-out crowds of screaming young hipsters.
As unbelievable as it may sound, household names like Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Van Morrison, The Who, The Small Faces and John Lee Hooker all stormed the South Road venue during the Swinging Sixties.
In fact, as local music promoter Alan Goldsmith puts it: “People flocked hundreds of miles by train or bus to Rhodes back then – we built it up until it was the biggest venue in the South East. I know it sounds big-headed, but Bishop’s Stortford only really became famous in that time because of us. We put it firmly on the map as far as the music scene was concerned.”
But how did this oft-forgotten chapter in our quaint little market town’s history, which is being celebrated in a special show at Rhodes on November 26, come about? To see the full picture, we have to rewind to the decade that preceded it.
It’s easy to forget how huge a debt much of the music we listen to today owes to the rock ’n’ roll revolution of the 1950s.
In the days before teenagers had gangs of guitar-wielding guys and gals to idolise, the entertainment on offer wasn’t much cop – unless you really enjoyed
How Much Is That Doggie In The Window and other such novelty hits.
But all that changed when the likes of Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent and, of course, Elvis Presley started topping the charts in the US, and it wasn’t long before the craze crossed the Atlantic and took on a life of its own on these shores.
Amid this cultural upheaval, with home-grown stars like Billy Fury and Tommy Steele emerging from the woodwork, you could be forgiven for assuming sleepy Stortford missed out - but as Alan can attest, the town was all shook up by the birth of rock.
The 68-year-old, who lives in Little Bardfield, started managing his first band at 17 and went on to arrange a series of high-profile gigs at the Rhodes Centre – as it was then known – in the mid-60s.
Alan’s career began at the tail-end of the 1950s, when he took charge of a Stortford rock group called The Diamonds. The lads were so popular in the area that, at a time when few people had their own cars, they regularly had to hire a double-decker bus to take fans to their Sawbridgeworth gigs.
Inspired by The Diamonds’ success, Alan decided there was money to be made promoting concerts and started organising live music nights in 1959.
His first event at St Joseph’s Church Hall in Apton Road, starring Del Vincent And The Vendors and Jimmy Virgo And The Bluejacks, was a sell-out, but church bosses were none too keen on this new-fangled ‘rock’ malarkey and Alan was not invited to return.
Undeterred by this minor setback, he sought out alternative venues and was soon promoting at eight venues across the region.
When Rhodes opened in 1962, he spotted an opportunity right on his doorstep and seized the moment. Despite being up against traditional nightspot Long’s Ballroom off Water Lane, now American bar JR’s, he was soon pulling in the punters left, right and centre.
Among the many spectacles that greeted visitors were the original Fleetwood Mac, whose founder and virtuoso blues guitarist Peter Green was still a member at the time.
Although better known in their 70s pop-rock incarnation, the early Mac line-up were responsible for such chart-toppers as
Black Magic Woman – later covered by Santana – and
Man Of The World.
Prog-rockers Pink Floyd also played there while under the leadership of fragile genius Syd Barrett, who would later suffer a drug-induced mental breakdown and spend the rest of his life as a recluse.
And if that wasn’t enough, The Yardbirds performed at Rhodes with a young Eric Clapton and future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page part of the line-up - and Clapton returned to Rhodes a short while later with blues-rock trio Cream, best known for singles Sunshine Of Your Love and White Room.
Rhodes’ roll of honour is frankly staggering. Ben E King and The Drifters, The Animals (best known for smash hit House Of The Rising Sun), The Spencer Davis Group, Chris Farlowe, Robert Plant and countless other names leap out while flicking through its history.
But not everyone who played there at the time was famous. Alan also booked a fledgling group called Bluesology, whose bespectacled piano player was an unknown Reginald Dwight. A decade later, Reg would shoot to fame under his new stage name Elton John.
TALKIN’ Generations, which takes place at the Rhodes Arts Complex on November 26, is a celebration of the venue’s Swinging Sixties past.
The Bishop's Stortford building will be decorated with paraphenalia from the era - and visitors, who can don their best flares and mini-skirts, will be given a tour by actors in character.
Afterwards, there will be a spectacular show starring local musicians of all ages and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Among those taking part are pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Windhill and top Stortford bands The Strangerhood and Tzar.
The extravaganza also includes dramatic performances based on the extraordinary social, political and cultural changes that unfolded during the 60s.
It starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £10. For more information, ring (01279) 651746 or visit www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk.