Featuring exclusive clips from Jah Wobble, Stewart Lee, Caroline Catz & Richard Norris sharing their memories of the Scala Cinema.

You can see our upcoming live events here:

https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

You can watch the Scala documentary on BFI Player:

https://player.bfi.org.uk

Scala documentary makers Jane Giles & Ali Catterall join us to share the history of the cinema from its original Soho location & its 2nd home in Kings Cross in London.

The first cinema was built on the site of the Scala Theatre which featured extensively in The Beatles' feature film debut A Hard Days Night in 1964. This original Soho location opened as a cinema in 1976 originally known as The Other Cinema, becoming the Scala in the summer of 1978.

The cinema soon gained a reputation for its eclectic programming & diverse clientele. The Scala also put on gigs including Throbbing Gristle, Spandau Ballet,

The Slits, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column & New Order.

The Scala relocated to Kings Cross in 1981 but the new location had a musical history of its own having played host to gigs from Hawkwind, Soft Machine, Flamin’ Groovies, Mott the Hoople, Status Quo, Viv Stanshall, Lou Reed (the cover for Transformer was taken here) & Iggy & The Stooges (the Raw Power cover was also taken at the Scala at their only UK gig).

At the new location the Scala's legendary all nighters soon became infamous & were attend by the likes of Ian Curtis, Shane McGowan & more.

The Scala closed its doors in 1993 in the wake of the lease for the building reaching an end & a controversial screening of A Clockwork Orange.

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

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Clem Cattini tells us about the birth of British rock & roll - Clem has played on over 40 number 1 singles, including Shakin’ All Over by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates & of course Telstar with his band the Tornados, the first British band to top the charts in America.

We start in late 1959 when Clem leaves Larry Parnes represented backing band The Beat Boys & subsequently ends up as a member of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. In early 1960 they hit the top spot with the iconic 'Shakin' All Over'.

Despite this success the band played some less than salubrious gigs which we hear all about - as well as the origin of Johnny Kidd's famous eye patch & how he came to leave The Pirates.

Not long after Clem auditions for Joe Meek at his legendary studio at 304 Holloway Road, subsequently joining The Tornados - we hear all about the goings on at Joe's studio, his time with Billy Fury & how the Tornados later came to make the legendary Telstar - becoming the first British band to top the US charts in late 1962.

Clem also became friends with The Beatles as they crossed paths on the concert circuit of the early 1960s & tells us about his many encounters with the Fab Four.

We regularly run live in conversation appearances, you can see our upcoming events here:

https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of our chat with Prince biographer Matt Thorne picks up where we left off with the release of his debut album For You in 1977 on Warner Bros.

We find out about Prince's fast way of working in the studio along with his decision to produce, sing & play most of his records himself.

Prince put a full time band together following the release of his debut album & heads out on his first proper tour since singing to Warners.

His second album titled simply Prince follows in 1979 & spawns 3 hit singles (‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’, ‘I Feel for You’ and ‘Sexy Dancer’) - I Wanna Be Your Lover sells over a million copies in the US but remarkably fails to crack the top 10 in the chart.

A strange appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand follows & Prince's 'I Feel For You' becomes a huge hit for Chaka Khan.

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