Ziggy, Oasis, And Dylan: A Rock ’n Roll Walk Through London's Soho District
/What links David Bowie, Oasis, and Bob Dylan? London’s Soho and the Strand: where famous album covers and videos by these musical icons were photographed and filmed.
It’s all within one square mile (plus a short stroll to the Strand beside the River Thames). A free walking tour of rock ‘n roll history awaits…
David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album cover
📍Location: 23 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BF
It may be a glossy side street full of restaurants now, but this was where Bowie’s short-lived yet massively popular alien alter ego was captured on camera in 1972 for the album of the same name.
The mysterious “K. West” sign above Bowie’s head is gone (although keep an electric eye out for it around the corner above another restaurant).
A commemorative plaque now marks the spot where Ziggy stepped out into the lamplight of Seventies London, a jumpsuit-clad visitor from another world. He took it all too far. But boy, could he play guitar.
Oasis’ ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ album cover
📍Location: 75a Berwick Street, London W1F 8TG
A flippantly produced front cover to one of Britpop’s biggest hits, this street scene of record shops and market stalls proves a simple shot can still be memorable, and make you feel like you’re slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball.
It’s still a busy road though, so to match the glory of the empty original by Michael Spencer Jones: roll with it, or rise early for a morning visit.
Bob Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ music video
📍Location: The King’s Chapel of the Savoy, Savoy Hill, London WC2R 0DA
What we now call a “music video” had an early forerunner in this promotional film clip for Dylan’s documentary of his 1965 tour of England.
An alleyway behind the Savoy Hotel where he was staying became the scene. The idea? A run-through of the song’s riffed-up Beat poetry, with Dylan holding up hand-scrawled cue cards to the camera of its weird, wordy lyrics.
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, but to find the spot where Dylan once stood, look left of The King’s Chapel of the Savoy. Then get born. Keep warm. Short pants. Romance.
Writer Kurt Duvel retraces the steps of Bowie, Dylan, and Oasis in a rock 'n roll walking tour through London’s Soho district for an afternoon of album art and lyrical landmarks that hits all the right notes.