🎶 Camden = Music. Few places in the world can rival it. From legendary pubs and grassroots stages to world-famous venues, Camden has always been the beating heart of London’s music scene.
One of its brightest stars is KOKO — a venue with a history as rich as the acts that have performed there.
This week Camden Guide, Steve Thomas has written a brilliant blog charting its story, the artists who have played there, and this is just one venue, one story – and one reason why Camden Guides LOVE Camden.
KOKO
Located at the very beginning of Camden High Street, KOKO is one of the finest music venues not just in Camden, but arguably the country. A venue that in recent years has seen some of the world’s top musicians wanting to play at, to a much more intimate and less financially rewarding crowd than they would usually perform to.
The origins of KOKO go back to the end of the 19th Century, where due to the popularity in variety theatre there was a great rush to get many new theatres built, and built as quickly as possible. The Camden Theatre was constructed in one year and opened on Boxing Day 1900, by top actor of the day and local Camden resident Ellen Terry, just in time for the Panto season and a production of Cinderella.
Built by top theatre architect WGR Sprague, who designed about 40 theatres, of which 8 in Central London still survive, including the Aldwych and St Martin’s Theatres. The Camden Theatre was built with, which were at the time, state of the art features such as electric lighting and gas heating.
One of the most popular early performers was James Dubois, a top gymnast, who crowds would flock and queue to see, on account of his “Man Monkey” act. Dubois would arrive on stage in a cage “attired in a hairy covering”, dressed as a monkey, break out of the cage and perform amazing monkey like gymnastic displays whilst suspended from a rope, no doubt enthralling early 20th Century audiences.
Within a few years, before the outbreak of World War I, and with the growing popularity of movie films, the theatre closed and the venue became a cinema, before closing again during World War II.
Survival after the war, unlike its close neighbour the Bedford Theatre which closed in 1959, was in part due to the fact the BBC used it as a recording studio. Now known as the BBC Camden Theatre, the Goon Show was recorded here. A hugely successful surreal and satirical 1950’s radio comedy show staring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe, which influenced much British and American comedy in the following years. Counted amongst The Goon Show fans were The Beatles and a young then Prince Charles. Many of the episodes recorded here are still available to listen to on the BBC website. Indeed, a blue plaque commemorating the recording of the last Goon Show, which was a one-off reunion special, is on the building today.
Another surreal comedy group, Monty Python, recorded their first album here, in front of a rather unsuspecting live audience, made up of many schoolchildren who at times seemed not to “get” the humour of the Python’s. Indeed, a listen to the album you can hear much nervous and indeed absence of laughter. Despite this, like The Goons, Monty Python became hugely successful and influential and following their TV series, made several successful films.
When the BBC vacated in 1972 the building was very nearly demolished. However, was saved when it was given Grade II listed status.
Reopening in 1977, it became venue to the tail end of punk rock and new wave with artists such as The Jam, The Clash and the Boomtown Rats performing. Later New Romantic artists, such as Spandau Ballet, Adam and the Ants and Boy George also appeared.
Its next incarnation as The Camden Palace saw music icons such as Madonna, Oasis and Coldplay appear in front of a 1,500 capacity audience, at the height of their popularity, when they could easily sell out entire stadiums. Indeed, Prince said it was one of his favourite venues to perform in.
In 2004 it was renamed KOKO but suffered a serious fire in 2020.
It was restored externally in its original Italian Renaissance style with attractive columns and round arches, and internally in its Louis XIV style, giving the sense of wealth, luxury and opulence. Together with its balconies and glitter ball they today provide a truly magnificent venue.
Included in the refurbishment was The House of Koko, a private members club costing around £2,000 per year to join. This gives members exclusive access to 4 floors of bars, restaurants and other private spaces, including Ellen’s Jazz Club and The Goon Bar, named after some of the performers at the venue.
The fire once again threatened the future of the venue; however, after its multi-million-pound refurbishment, KOKO’s future was secured, at a time when concert venues around the country have been closing at an alarmingly rapid rate.