Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard, Ritchie Blackmore
1956
This café in Soho, opened on April 22, 1956, by two Australian wrestlers, Paul "Dr. Death" Lincoln and Ray "Rebel" Hunter, was the birthplace of British rock and roll. The name came from the Irani brothers, previous owners. The basement, with a stage just 45 centimeters wide and space for about twenty people, was where Tommy Steele was discovered in September 1956. Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Adam Faith, Joe Brown, Tony Sheridan, Johnny Kidd, and Ritchie Blackmore all played here before they were famous. A green plaque from Westminster City Council was unveiled at the address on September 18, 2006, 50 years after its opening. The space is now a restaurant, with no other markings besides the plaque.
59 Old Compton St, London W1D 6HW
London, United Kingdom