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1. Guy Fairbank traces Chiswick’s rock and roll history for the Chiswick Book Festival
Chiswick Rocks: Local London Blue Badge Guide Guy Fairbank has been conducting his ‘Chiswick Rocks’ walk in the Chiswick Book Festival since 2022, billed as follows: “On this two-hour musical history tour, Guy Fairbank will take you past the studios where David Gilmour, the Rolling Stones and The Who recorded albums; show you where Lady Gaga once entertained a wedding party, the headquarters of Island Records, the home of a groovy raver and a flat once lived in by the writer of Rock-A-Doodle-Doo.”
In September 2026, he also led several Beatles walks to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Paperback Writer and Rain music videos being filmed in Chiswick House Gardens. Guy traced Chiswick’s rock and roll history in a guest blog for The Chiswick Calendar – see extracts below:
“Chiswick has a surprisingly rich musical heritage. Handily placed for Heathrow, away from the hustle and bustle of the West End and considerably more affordable, the borough has been home to recording studios, record labels, music venues and artists.
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“The Chiswick Empire, demolished in 1959, played host to the likes of Alma Cogan and Marty Wilde, and when Cliff Richard performed there, a riot broke out. (55 of the performers are celebrated, above, on Sir Peter Blake’s Chiswick Empire collage, created for the ‘Chiswick Timeline – A History in Arts and Maps’, the mural at Turnham Green tube station. See Chiswick’s Theatres, Cinemas, Playwrights and Performers.)
“Down the road, the Rolling Stones, supported by Marianne Faithfull, filled the Commodore Theatre, which was then a rival to the Hammersmith Odeon. The Stones’ presence in W4 has continued: they used Mark Knopfler’s British Grove Studios to record Blue & Lonesome and, only recently, Metropolis Studios for their latest, highly acclaimed album Foreign Tongues.
“Another band from the Sixties with roots in Chiswick is The Who. Bass player John Entwistle was a local boy while guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend was born in the former Chiswick Maternity Hospital (as was Phil Collins, Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan and Kim Wilde). Townshend once lived in Whitehall Gardens. Phil Collins formed his first band while attending Chiswick School. Kyle Simmons from Bastille is another old boy.
“Another songwriter who made their home in Chiswick was Linda Lewis. Self-taught, she was arguably Britain’s first female singer-songwriter. Her self-penned song Rock-A-Doodle-Doo reached the top 20 in 1975, while her version of It’s In His Kiss cracked the top ten. Two years ago, a blue plaque was unveiled in Arlington Mansions, where she lived in the 1970s. Look carefully in A Hard Day’s Night and you might spot her playing a screaming fan. Which brings us to the Beatles.
“On a sunny spring day in May 1966 the Fab Four arrived in Chiswick House to film arguably the first pop video. Before then promotion videos were simple studio performances, but this was different. Along came a film crew and director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Locations were chosen, 35mm colour film was loaded into the cameras and shooting for Paperback Writer and Rain began.”
Read the full illustrated article on The Chiswick Calendar.
2. Celebrating the Beatles in Chiswick: 1966-2026
– 50 Years Ago This Month, These Chiswick Residents Stepped Into Beatles History With ‘Paperback Writer’ – Huffington Post, May 2016
From Huffington Post: “50 years ago this month, these unassuming residents of Chiswick took a walk in their nearby park, and accidentally stepped into pop music history. It came about as they crossed the peaceful grounds of Palladian villa Chiswick House in West London – formerly home to the infamous Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (played by Keira Knightley on screen) – and came across a group of four young men, drinking cups of tea and rehearsing with instruments. Just another day in the park, it seemed, except these were the Beatles, and they were about to record their timeless video for ‘Paperback Writer’.” Read full article on HuffPo.
– Music Journalist Recalls Beatles In Chiswick House: Site became pilgrimage for other rock groups, says Mark Ellen – ChiswickW4.com
May 2016: “A local music writer has recalled how he took members of pop groups to Chiswick House to see where the Beatles filmed their pop videos nearly 50 years ago. Mark Ellen, famous music writer and editor, who interviewed two of the Beatles and fronted the Old Grey Whistle Test and Live Aid, said members of R.E.M. even took bits of the so-called Beatles tree in their luggage.” Read story on Chiswick W4.com. Ten years later, Mark was a guest at the Beatles celebration at Chiswick House below.
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3. Other rock musicians in Chiswick
– Phil Collins announces his retirement from Music Industry – ChiswickW4.com
– Bruce Dickinson on why he loves Chiswick – ChiswickW4.com
– Pete Townshend Unveils Studio at the University of West London – ChiswickW4.com
– Townshend leaving a legacy for the next generation and a catalyst for creativity – University of West London
– Kim Wilde in Chiswick
– Midge Ure’s former house up for sale – London Evening Standard
– Chiswick House where Band Aid song composed for sale *but it wasn’t that one! – ChiswickW4.com
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4. Studios in Chiswick
– Metropolitan Studios – One of the best recording studios in the world – The Chiswick Calendar
– British Grove Studios – “I have never had a bad day at British Grove,” says Mark Knopfler.
– See article on ChiswickW4.com
– Island Records – in the former Royal Chiswick Laundry building, behind 22 St Peter’s Square
– Blue Plaque for Island Records unveiled in St Peter’s Square
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Chiswick Timeline Writers Trail
Read more stories via the Writers Tales page.
The Chiswick Timeline of Writers & Books lists almost 500 writers who have written a book and lived in Chiswick W4, or written books about the area. See A Quick Guide.