The island was the site of the now legendary Eel Pie Island Hotel which was a genteel 19th Century building that hosted ballroom dancing during the 1920s and 30s. In 1956, trumpeter Brian Rutland along with a local band called the Grove Jazz band, started jazz sessions at the newly reopened hotel. Soon afterwards, Arthur Chisnall took over the running of the club and continued to promote various jazz bands. In the 1960s, rock and R&B bands appeared such as Long John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men (featuring Rod Stewart), Acker Bilk, Ken Colyer, Cyril Davies and his Rythmn & Blues All Stars, The Downliners Sect, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (featuring Eric Clapton), George Melly, The Rolling Stones, The Tridents (featuring Jeff Beck), The Who and The Yardbirds. In 1967, the police closed the hotel as the owner could not meet the £200.000 repair bill that was demanded to keep the venue alive. Reopened briefly in 1969 as Colonel Barefoot's Rock Garden, bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Hawkwind, Genesis, The Edgar Broughton Band, Stray, Mott The Hoople and Wishbone Ash performed here. That same year the hotel became home to the largest hippie commune in the UK until it burned down under mysterious circumstances in 1971.
Pen, Ink & Watercolour. Limited Edition 500.
Gylcee print on Hahnemulhe acid free archive watercolour paper. Single sided mount.
- Postcards come in packs of 10
