Eaux

1963 · 171122 — Richmond London: 1963. I'm a full-grown man/ I'm a man/ I'm a rollin' stone From the collection of Rolling Stones drummer and jazz aficionado Charlie Watts: an evocative memento signed by a trio of great blues musicians on the verso of a membership card for the legendary Crawdaddy Rhythm and Blues Club. Started in 1963 in the back room of a pub the Station Hotel in Richmond London by Georgian film-maker and music promoter Giorgio Gomelsky the club saw the first performance of the classic Rolling Stones line-up in February 1963 when the regular house band was stranded in the snow in the worst winter in over 200 years. Despite an unpromising start with Gomelsky forced to offer two for one admissions to customers in the hotel itself the word quickly spread and the club became something of a sensation. When the Stones became too big for the venue and departed on tour they were replaced by The Yardbirds featuring Eric Clapton the Crawdaddy remaining the headquarters of the burgeoning British Rhythm and Blues scene. The card is made out to a Michael Green of Ilford Essex whose membership number 1372 expiring in 1964 indicates that he evidently joined in the early days. The bluesmen were over as part of the American Blues Festival that had first toured Britain the previous year. Muddy Waters and Memphis Slim have signed in full Williams signing with three crosses with the subscribed sentiment in another hand perhaps Green's himself; "success from Big Joe hope will meet again soon". Tri-fold membership card printed in black 150 x 100 mm carrying the member's name and address membership number 1372 and expiry date 1964. Light soiling and minor creases otherwise in very good condition. unknown