Music promoters grow closer to a 'Walk of Fame' for Camden Town

Pictured from left: Simon Pitkeathley of Camden Town Unlimited, Neil Chivers of LD Communications, Robert ­Rosenberg of Trinifold Management, film director Nick Mason, Pauline Carroll of NME, the Walk of Fame’s Lee Bennett and David Courtney who created the Walk of Fame

A PLAN to map out a musical “Walk of Fame” in Camden Town – complete with gold stars in the pavements – has been revived.
Music promoter Lee Bennett, who has been pushing for the trail to be installed for two years, said he hoped the project would be kicked off in February with a promotional video at the annual Brit Awards.
He spoke at a meeting of club owners and promoters last week, held in his music venue Jet Black in West Central Street in Bloomsbury.
The promo film is expected to see a host of musical stars sing the praises of Camden Town and its reputation as a centre for live music.
Mr Bennett said: “Where Hollywood is known for its Walk of Fame, Camden should be alongside that, specifically for music.”
Among those who have signed up to see their name set in golden paving slabs are the Red Hot Chili Peppers – who said they would play a gig “for the people of Camden” to mark the event – along with Jarvis Cocker, Primal Scream and Jazzy B.
The idea would be to draw tourists away from the congested Camden Town Tube to less-crowded spots in the area, such as Mornington Crescent, to see Koko, and Chalk Farm to take in the sights of the Roundhouse.
Parkway would also be included to recognise the contribution of the Dublin Castle.
Music bible NME’s events manager Pauline Carroll said “walking the ‘Walk of Fame’ from one venue to another would be good fun and good for business in the area”.
An annual street party to mark new Walk of Fame inductees would be something the NME would definitely want to be involved in, she added. “If you were going to choose anywhere at all [in the world] you’d choose Camden,” she said.

CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS