It spawned bands from The Beatles to Oasis but Britain’s grassroots live music scene is at risk of a slow death, a documentary claims.
A third of the country’s venues have closed in the past decade and 550 are under immediate threat.
The pandemic has made things even worse.
Sky Arts show The Live Revival lays bare the situation and gives a host of top stars a chance to revisit old haunts and demand action to save them.
Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher says the crisis is being ignored.
“There has been no sign of anybody saying anything about the f****** music business,” he says. “It’s all about f****** sport, or hanging out in parks... What about the f****** music?
“Music is of the upmost importance – people live and breathe it.”
Singer David Gray says Covid has exposed the “total lack of understanding on a governmental level of how the industry works.”
Skin from Skunk Anansie adds: “If we don’t support grassroots bands, we will slowly topple off the mantle of the best rock economy in the world.”
And Jeff Horton, owner of London’s legendary 100 Club, agrees, saying: “We gave the world The Beatles and the Stones... David Bowie, and Paul Weller.”
The documentary shines a light on venues such as Thekla, in Bristol, Rock City, in Nottingham, and King Tut’s in Glasgow.
Paul Weller is among the stars who get to play in the places where they started.
Phil Edgar-Jones, of Sky Arts and Entertainment, said many had “learned their craft” in such nightspots.
He added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from some of the greats... with incredible performances that shine a light on these important places.”
*The Live Revival, Sky Arts, May 20 and 27, and June 3, 9pm.
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