The 2i's Coffee Bar
The 2i 's Coffee Bar [ tu ː aiz ] was a cafe in the basement building 59 Old Compton Street in London's Soho. It existed from 1956 to 1970 and is considered the " birthplace of British rock ' n' roll."
History
1953 Gina Lollobrigida opened the Moka Coffee Bar in the 29 Frith Street, the first cafe in London with original Italian Gaggia espresso machines, which triggered a veritable "boom" in the West End of. In this context, the 2i 's Coffee Bar opened in the adjacent Old Compton Street on April 22, 1956. The Music Café was the two Australian ex- wrestlers Ray " Rebel " Hunter and Paul " Dr. Death " Lincoln, who had taken the place of the brothers Freddie and Sammy Irani. The name 's 2i is intended to refer to the last name of the previous owner.
On a small stage in the basement of the café with live music was played. The fee for a four-piece band, a singer and three instrumentalists who was 18 shillings (now about 2 euros ) for an evening. Among the most famous solo artists and bands included Ritchie Blackmore (Junior Skiffle Group ), Rory Blackwell, Joe Brown, Paddy Chambers, Jay chance, Terry Dene, Vince Eager & The Vagabonds, Adam Faith & The Worried Men, Paul Gadd (later better known as Paul Raven, or as Gary Glitter ), Jet Harris, Wee Willie Harris, Eden Kane, Bill Kent, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, Dene Lincoln, Carlo Little, Hank B. Marvin, Mickie Most and Alex Wharton ( The Most Brothers ) Cliff Richard & The Drifters ( later The Shadows ), Russ Sainty, Big Jim Sullivan, Screaming Lord Sutch, Tony Sheridan, Tommy Steele, Vince Taylor and his Playboys, Wally Whyton & The Vipers Skiffle Group and Marty Wilde & The Wildcats.
" It was just a cellar in a basement of a Coffee Bar wherethey sold frothy coffee, but It was a breeding ground for rock'n'rollers. "
"It was only a cellar in the basement of a cafe where they sold frothy coffee, but it was the hotbed of rock ' n' Roller"
In July 1956 came Wally Whyton 's Vipers Skiffle Group with Tommy Hicks on the first band. Paul Lincoln invited the band one, any time to play in the 2i 's, if she had time. Tommy Hicks was discovered soon after by music manager John Kennedy and Larry Parnes, renamed " Tommy Steele " and as "Britain's answer to Elvis Presley " - a slogan under which even Cliff Richard and Billy Fury were marketed - the " first local rock 'n' roll star of Britain ' up. Quickly the café became a meeting place of skiffle and rock ' n' roll fans and for talent in emerging artists with impresario and music producer Don Arden, Jack Good, George Martin, Norrie Paramor, Walter J. Ridley or Allan Williams met.
In November 1956 Paul Lincoln in the 44 Gerrard Street opened a second local music, which he called The New 2i 's Club. Wally Whyton recalled: " The cafe was the crowds of people who wanted to see where it all happened, just do not stand up - it was only about 30 by 10 feet ( about 28 meters) tall - that's why Paul opened smarter, a 2i 's Club to the corner of Gerrard Street ... and then there began the next wave. "
From 1957 Lincoln diverse " 2i's rock 'n ' roll shows " began to organize in the countryside and work as an agent, and thus had little time for his cafe. Finally, he determined the judoka Tom Littlewood, a friend from wrestling days, the managing director of the old 2i 's. Littlewood also managed artists such as Vince Taylor and hosted some " 2i's roadshow " tours throughout the UK.
Mid-1960s, at the height of Beatlemania, the public interest in the 2i 's subsided. Moreover, the leading rock bands recorded now large halls, which is why many clubs closed or been converted into nightclubs. In 1970, also the 2i 's.
In September 2006, was attended by numerous rock veterans such as Cliff Richard and musicians of the Shadows and tornadoes, a Green Plaque of the City of Westminster unveiled at the site of the former cafes to remember the history of music lovers place where once British rock music began. The building is now home to a Med Kitchen restaurant, the cellars have been transformed into a lobby.
Miscellaneous
Prior to his career as a music producer worked Peter Grant, manager of the groups The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, temporarily as a bouncer in the 2i 's.
The German organizers Bruno Koschmider discovered in the 2i 's the Liverpool band Derry and the Seniors and engaged her for his Kaiser Keller in Hamburg. After a few months Koschmider wanted another Liverpool band, which was to play at the Indra Club, Grosse Freiheit. He sat down with the music manager Allan Williams in conjunction, of the appearance of the Beatles finally offered. Ironically, the Beatles (as well as the Rolling Stones) are never occurred in the 2i 's.