The Who were one of the last iconic bands to play The Gaumont State Theatre back in 1977.
The Art Deco gem opened as a 4,000-seat super cinema in 1937 and for the next 40 years hosted global music icons from Bowie to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
In latter years the grand building in Kilburn High Road has been a bingo hall and now a church, but for one night only, the strains of live music echoed again through its vast hall.
It was all part of the Kilburn Music Mile Festival, which runs this weekend in the area’s pubs.
The celebration of Kilburn’s five decades of music history got off to an incredible start with a night hosted by broadcaster Penny Smith, which saw the Brent-based Royal Philharmonic Orchestra aided by two vocalists perform a host of hits associated with the venue.
Kicking off with Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water and Bowie’s Life on Mars they went on to play a trio of Beatles’ tracks in homage to the two gigs played by the Fab Four in 1963 and 1964 – followed by (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by the Stones.
A medley of movie music celebrated the listed venue’s past as a cinema, while a jazz section segued from Duke Ellington’s Take The A Train, to Louis’ Armstrong’s It’s A Wonderful World, and Embraceable You in tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.
Local girl Dusty Springfield – born in Fordwych Road – was namechecked with a barnstorming performance of Son of a Preacher Man, while the night was rounded off by two Sinatra numbers – inevitably closing with a rousing My Way.
Belsize Park musician David Stark, whose Who tribute band the OO plays The Juniper pub as part of the festival said: “It was amazing to be back in the Gaumont State Theatre for one night only last night, a mere forty eight years after I saw The Who playing there in December 1977 which was also Keith Moon’s final public show.
“The art-deco listed building has been kept in excellent condition, the foyer alone being a wonder to behold. In my humble opinion it was an oversight to have nothing by The Who but it was a great night hosted by Penny Smith of GMTV all held in support of the ‘Kilburn State of Mind’ charity for mental health set up by concert organiser Alan Medley.
“And it all continues tonight and tomorrow with many other artists and bands playing the Kilburn Music Mile Festival.”
