London’s rock ’n’ roll

Something stuck in me while listening to Sultans Of Swing (A Night In London 1996). The keys-to-guitar transition at 06:45 sounded sublime, like how I imagined London would feel. I was clearly pretty late to the party, but I strongly believe that great music comes to you, especially when you need it.

Those lyrics got me curious about the story behind the song. Mark Knopfler was living with his brother in a first-floor council flat in Deptford. He heard a little dixie jazz band playing in a nearly empty pub, which inspired him to write the song. I was stoked to find that the first place I was going to call home in London, my student accommodation just off Old Kent Rd, wouldn’t be far from there.

Months later, on a cold December evening, while walking along Shaftesbury Avenue, I saw a poster from 1967.

This was my entire playlist!

I had unknowingly passed by the iconic Saville Theatre many times, without really knowing its significance. It’s a strange, somewhat powerful feeling realising that people you’ve admired from afar were once right there, separated from you only by time.

The road, once so important to London’s Rock ’n’ roll scene, was just a way for us to reach Soho, and a particularly dark one.

I made this map to trace the history of this beautiful city, and so that I don’t fail to recognise a landmark when I pass by another dimly lit alley again.

Have a look →

If something on the map looks wrong, write to ad1t.mehta00<at>gmail<dot>com