Following the news featured on 4BR last week that a 105 year old bandstand in Todmorden in West Yorkshire was facing potential demolition, it seems at least one other is being saved for the nation thanks not to a series of performances from iconic brass bands, but an appearance by a certain rock star...
It has been reported by a number of media outlets that the 1905 bandstand in Croydon Road Recreation Ground in Beckenham is being awarded Grade II listed status thanks in part to the fact that it once provided the stage for David Bowie to perform on.
Space Oddity
Bowie, who died in 2016, was living nearby at the time with his landlady Mary Finnigan and had just released his first hit single, 'Space Oddity'.
The 1969 Growth summer festival was held to raise money to create a venue for an Arts Lab project in a nearby public house.
Although the event didn't quite attract a Hyde Park rock festival sized audience (a couple of hundred by all accounts) it did inspire the artist to write 'Memory of a Free Festival ' for his second album, whilst an urban myth has suggested that he also wrote the lyrics to 'Life on Mars' on the bandstand steps.
The structure is now being renovated after many years of neglect with funds from the local council and an annual festival event known as 'Bowie's Beckenham Oddity Festival' which takes place this weekend with some of the original line-up of stars performing once again.
The Guardian
Quoted in 'The Guardian' newspaper this morning (16th August) Duncan Wilson, the Chief Executive of Historic England, stated: "It is a rare survival from a historic iron foundry in its own right, but its significance as a site that inspired David Bowie shows us how powerful our historic places can be and how important it is that we protect them so they will continue to inspire people for years to come."
Bowie, who died in 2016, was living nearby at the time with his landlady Mary Finnigan and had just released his first hit single, 'Space Oddity'4BR
Not quite unique...
However, in his book, 'Bandstands — Pavilions for music, entertainment and leisure', historian Paul Rabbitts points out that the Beckenham bandstand was not unique in hosting rock concerts.
The Who, Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac appeared at one time or another on Parliament Hill in London, Dire Straits made an appearance on Clapham Common bandstand and the likes of 10cc, The Pogues, Thin Lizzy and even The Bay City Rollers took to the stage at Harlow Town Park bandstand.
Perhaps if you can find a bit of history like that about your local bandstand then it may also be given Grade II listed status...
Find out more
The Guardian story can been seen at:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/16/david-bowies-festival-bandstand-gets-grade-ii-listing
