there are a lot of musical artists that have a connection to London. Some or born there like David Bowie. Others like Freddy Mercury, the famous Queen frontman, lived in London for a long time.
Other artists on this page are The Pet Shop Boys, Coldplay and several others.
here’s an overview of musical artist with a connection to London.
David Bowie
David Bowie was born in Brixton, London. Here he spent his early years. Later he moved to Soho, the heart of the music scene in the 1970’s. Here started his rise to fame.
birthplace in London
40 Stansfield Road, Brixton
primary school
Stockwell primary school, SW9.
Decca studios
Broadhurst Gardens, NW6
here David Bowie recorded his first album called David Bowie
Trident studios
St Anne’s Court, W1F
here David Bowie recorded Space Odity and the Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Bowie mural in Brixton
just across Brixton tube station a mural of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust can be seen.
David Bowie walking tour
Join a David Bowie walking tour to discover the truth about the Brixton boy who became a global superstar and music icon. Visit the places from the life of the superstar.
click here for the David Bowie walking tour
freddy mercury
Freddy Mercury was born in Zanzibar. Due to war that broke out in 1965 he and his family where forced to fled to London. Between 1966 and 1969 he live in various flats while he studied for a diploma in graphic design at Ealing college. It was here when he met Brian May who introduced him to a band called Smile. Also in this band was Roger Taylor. In 1969 Smile was dead and Queen was born.
house where the family fled to from Zanzibar
22 Gladstone Avenue
Ealing college
St Mary’s Road, Ealing, London
here he met Brian May, the later guitar player from Queen
Imperial college
Prince Consort Rd, London SW7 2BB
many early Queen concerts where held here
Olympic studios
117-123 Church Rd, Barnes, London SW13 9HL, UK
in this studio a Night at the Opera was recorded
Freddies flat
100 Holland Road, W14
a flat that Freddy shared with Mary, his girlfriend
Freddies house in Kensington
Garden Lodge at Logan Place
here Freddy Mercury lived with Mary from 1980 until his dead in 1991.
Freddie Mercury and Queen walking tour
Learn how rock band “Queen” found fame and fortune on this walking tour. Listen as your guide tells you their history and shows you around several iconic locations from the band’s past.
click here for the Freddy Mercury and Queen walking tour
The Pet Shop Boys
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe met eachother in a hifi shop in London. Tennant had just bought a synthesizer and while talking to Lowe they discovered a mutual interest in music, they became friends. They began to create and record music and later on formed The Pet Shop Boys. The Pet Shop Boys are the most succesful in the British music history.
hifi shop
King’s Road Chelsea, London
here Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe met eachother. The hifi shop doesn’t exist anymore, Â it’s now the left hand half of Le Pain Quotidien cafe/bakery on the Kings Road. The seating area of the cafe
The Chelsea Potter, pub on King’s road
here Neil and Chris used to go for a drink
flat above Choy’s restaurant on King’s road
here Neil used to live in the 80’s
King’s Cross
King’s Cross tube station as seen in the 80’s video of the song
Coldplay
In 1996, Chris Martin met Jonny Buckland during induction week at University College London. Together they tried to start a band, meeting Will Champion and Guy Berryman in college. Ultimately Coldplay was formed, one of the most succesful bands of all time.
The Bakery Studio
2A Fleet Rd, London NW3
from the outside a faceless building, but on the inside Coldplay’s private studio
Dingwalls, Camden Town
East Yard, 11 Camden Lock Pl, London
located in Camden Market, here they played their first gig
other artists and groups
Adele
adele was born in Tottenham, North-London. When she was 10 she moved to Brixton. When she was 14 she accepted an offer to attend the Brit School for Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon, London. It was there where her musical career made a start.
Banarama
Banarama was formed when Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin, who where childhood friends, moved to London and met Slobhan Fahey. They met Paul Cook, who offered them a place to stay. At first they where mostly backing vocals for artists such as Iggy Pop and The Jam. Later on they began to record songs themselves. The name Banarama is derived from the Roxy Music song Pyjamarama.
Hot Chocolate
the world famous band Hot Chocolate formed in Brixton, London
Asia
Asia, a band which consisted of four members of different rock bands with a lot of success, formed in London in 1981. Their greatest hit was heat of the moment
The Police
the police formed in London in 1977.