Rock Atlas puts Rutland’s special places on the map
RUTLAND’s rock history has been charted in an anthology of little known music locations across the UK.
Author David Roberts has compiled Rock Atlas which looks at 650 places which hold a special place in the heart’s of some top musicians.
And despite its size Rutland had its own stories to tell.
David, a former managing editor of the Guinness music books, said: “Britain’s smallest county delivers an excellent smattering of Rock Atlas entries from music heavyweights The Who, The Glitter Band, Geno Washington and Kasabian.
“The 70s gave Rutland its most famous rock ‘n’ roll connection when Rutland Weekend Television and the best ever Beatles parody The Rutles, both the fictitious creations of Neil Innes and Eric Idle, hit our television screens.”
The book reveals that members of Kasabian often enjoy a visit to the county, taking in the sites at Normanton and enjoying a drink at The Railway Inn in Oakham.
Vocalist Tom Meighan has apparently described Normanton as the band’s “quiet, private place” where they recorded their debut album.
The Who are also found to have connections to the county, often visiting when their tour manager Bob Pridden lived at Fort Henry in Exton Park. In the mid-70s they were often seen rehearsing at Exton Village Hall and socialising at The Sun Inn in Cottesmore.
David, 57, of Church Langley, Essex, said: “In 1975 local music fan Vernon Stokes was star-struck on seeing Moon walk into the gents toilets at The Sun Inn. He remembered accidentally peeing down his own trouser leg, which led Moon to comment in an understanding kind of way, “Hey, that’s rock ‘n’ roll!”, leaving the boy from Oakham with a memory he’s never forgotten.”
Another Rutland entry comes from Geno Washington who first travelled to the UK as a member of the US Air Force. He went on to become a soul singer with The Ram Jam Band, named after the Ram Jam Inn at Stretton which the band frequently passed when travelling the length of the country.
Rock Atlas also covers stories from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Oasis, Michael Jackson and many more. It is published by Pop Publishing and is out now priced £19.99.
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