Site where The Who guitarist made rock history gets official plaque

A plaque has been unveiled on the side of an affordable housing development in north London to mark the site where The Who guitarist Pete Townshend made rock history by first smashing a guitar.

It was at the Railway Hotel in Harrow - in September 1964 - that Townshend inadvertently broke the neck of his guitar during a gig - a pioneering act that went on to become a staple of The Who's stage performances.

The Railway Hotel was shut down several years ago and stood derelict before being brought back into use by A2Dominion. The housing provider built more than 40 affordable homes split across two blocks, named Daltrey House and Moon House after two other members of the band.

Now 45 years on, to create a permanent reminder of the guitar smashing feat, the plaque has been installed by Harrow Council and A2Dominion. It carries the words:

"This plaque marks the site of the former Railway Hotel, where The Who made rock history by smashing a guitar during the group's shows in 1964".

Danny Lynch, A2Dominion's Development Director (London), said: "This was an unusual project for us - it was the first time we've developed new homes on a site where rock history was made.

“While our new affordable homes have made excellent use of a site that had fallen into a state of disrepair, it also seems fitting to commemorate its colourful past, and we've been happy to support Harrow Council in the installation of this plaque."

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for adults and housing, said: "It is amazing to think that the equipment smashing we associate with the heyday of 1970s rock began in a pub in Harrow.

"It seemed to us only right that music fans on pilgrimages around London can see another landmark associated with a true great of rock music."

It was the presence of a low ceiling in a downstairs bar at the Railway Hotel that caused Townshend to accidentally break the neck of his guitar. In a fit of anger, Townshend then broke the instrument up onstage - his unscripted antics delighting fans who had never seen it before*. The musician then realised the potency of his gimmick and it became a staple of The Who's stage act in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Harrow guitarist Richard Hughes serenaded rush hour commuters arriving at Harrow and Wealdstone station with The Who classics as the plaque went on show.

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Contacts

Lizzie Yates
Press & PR Officer
A2Dominion Group
Tel: 020 8799 2209/07545 500 939

Notes to Editors

• *Townshend revealed the true story of the first smashed guitar at the Railway Tavern in a 1980 interview with Sound International magazine. He said: "I was banging my guitar around making noises and I banged it on this ceiling in this club and the neck broke off, because Rickenbackers are made out of cardboard. And everybody started to laugh and they went, 'Hah, that'll teach you to be flash.' So I thought what I was going to do, and I had no other recourse but to make it look like I had meant to do it. So I smashed this guitar and jumped all over the bits and then picked up the 12-string and carried on as though nothing had happened. And the next day the place was packed." (April 1980 Issue of Sound International) http://www.themarqueeclub.net/the-who.

• Rock facts about 1964: it was the year that Beatlemania truly erupted, the band releasing a succession of hits including I Want to Hold Your Hand and All My Loving- at one point occupying the top five chart positions in America. The Rolling Stones released their eponymously titled debut album, Bob Dylan issued The Times They Are a-Changin". In the UK, Manfred Mann began to popularise rythmn and blues while the Kinks presaged a more raucous pop sound with You Really Got Me.

• The A2Dominion Group is one of the country’s leading providers of high quality housing. Launched in 2008, the Group has over 33,000 homes in management and thousands more in the development pipeline. It offers a wide range of housing options, including homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as temporary, student, sheltered, supported and key worker accommodation. Visit www.a2dominion.co.uk for more information.