This week’s blog article is a little ‘off piste’ in terms of the London Shoes doctrine, as it could be argued that the subject matter is not actually ‘historic’ – although tenuously, I think it is, as historically, it’s the first of its kind in London (& the UK for that matter). However, it does tick all the boxes in terms of fitting London Shoes ethos of being ‘lesser known’ and ‘unusual’.
So – with the above in mind – this week’s subject matter is all about the London – “GIBSON GARAGE”…..and for anyone who, like me’ is a music nut, particularly rock music – then you’ll luv this piece.
The ‘Gibson Garage’ is a London shop that literally displays and sells everything… ‘Gibson’ brand related.
For those not quite sure who Gibson are, then quite simply, they’re an American guitar manufacturing company set up in 1894 by Orville Gibson– selling acoustic guitars and mandolins from a shop in Kalamazoo-Michigan-USA.
His guitar products were soon in high demand and by 1902 he had opened the Gibson Mandolin/Guitar Manufacturing Company.
In 1950 the boss of the Gibson Company called upon renowned jazz/country/blues guitarist and guitar designer/builder ‘Lester Polsfuss’ to help the company to design/build a new style of guitar.
By 1951 Lester Polsfuss had come up with a prototype of a guitar design which would eventually go on to be probably the most immediately recognised guitar in the world – with its own unique design of a mahogany body – a mahogany neck – a rosewood fretboard – 2 x electric coil pick-ups… that guitar was the ‘Gibson Les Paul’.
Gibson’s Les Paul’ guitar model, has for many decades – probably been the most recognised guitar on this planet – and then there’s it’s iconic ‘Flying V’ model that epitomised the swinging sixties music scene – and there are also other Gibson styled guitars that are favoured by the great and the good in the music business.
The London Gibson Garage opened in February this year – and is located in Eastcastle Street–London W1 (the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street). It’s the first ever store Gibson have opened outside of the US. The only other Gibson outlet is their flagship store in Nashville-Tennessee in the US.
The intention of the Gibson Garage is to create the ultimate Gibson experience for anyone walking through its doors – and from my perspective, it most certainly achieves that.
The London ‘Gibson Garage’ has up to 300 Gibson guitars on display – as soon as you enter the shop there are 2 conveyor belts whirling around above you on the ceiling, that are crammed full of guitars.
Everywhere you look there are Gibson guitars on display – all different types of models – including limited editions and bespoke models made for specific artists.
A stairway leads down to the basement – and displayed on the walls of the stairwell are loads of, what are now considered, iconic photos of rock stars, mainly from the 1960’s – taken by legendary photographer Gered Mankowitz.
The basement area of the London ‘Gibson Garage’ is crammed full of Epiphone guitars plus associated guitar equipment.
Epiphone were a stringed instrument company that started life way back in the late 1800’s in what is now Turkey. Their founder emigrated to the US in 1903 and set up a company producing mandolins and banjos – and then guitars by the 1920’s. The company were taken over by Gibson in the late 1950’s – but the unique Epiphone design and style remained – and has done to this day.
As you would expect, London’s Gibson Garage also has an extensive range of merchandising – everything ranging from state of the art and scientifically constructed guitar foot pedal effects to guitar straps / leads / plectrums / strings etc etc / plus t-shirts / hoodies / baseball caps and even mugs.
Obviously, I just had to purchase a bit of merch – and ended up leaving with a Gibson branded mug and baseball cap, plus a bag of Gibson branded plectrums.
Through my teens I used to play guitar in a band, and in my early 20’s I used to perform a solo acoustic set every week in a few pubs on a sort of folk club circuit over in North West London.
Today – I have a couple of decent electric guitars – but they are made by ‘Fender’ the rival guitar manufacturer to Gibson – I have a Fender Telecaster and a Fender Stratocaster (again, like Gibson models – guitar models that are immediately recognised) plus a Martins acoustic. I only play for my own pleasure these days – and annoyingly, don’t devote as much time to playing as I would like to (poor excuse I know, but ‘life’ – gets in the way I’m afraid)
For anyone that has even the slightest interest in music / guitarists and guitars – then a visit to the ‘Gibson Garage’ is a must – the entire experience is like being in guitar heaven.
It’s only been open a short while but already it has attracted a lot of visitors and has even become quite a tourist attraction – quite rightly so in my opinion – long may it continue.
“THE STARMAN-PUB” – Heddon Street-W1
So – having thoroughly enjoyed a good couple of hours in the Gibson Garage, it was time for a little liquid refreshment – and my London Shoes headed off the short distance to Regent Street, to the specific location of Heddon Street.
Now – I have been extremely reluctant to visit this specific location in question – because I felt that its existence was pure exploitation and a dumbing down of moment in London’s music related history, that I personally feel quite passionate about.
However – I have to say, that having now visited the venue – it was not at all what I had expected.
The 16th June 1972 saw the release of the now legendary David Bowie album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars” – an album that was not only pivotal to Bowie’s career, but also British music as a whole, as it influenced a lot of what was to follow.
A few months before its release, on the 15th January of that year – a photographer called Brian Ward undertook a photoshoot of David Bowie, outside his Heddon Street photographic studio.
On the evening of the photoshoot poor old Bowie was bunged up with a dose of the flu – and also, it had started raining – and so Bowie didn’t really fancy wandering off too far from the warmth of Ward’s studio – and so he decided to just have a few photos taken, outside the entrance to K.West of furriers company at 23 Heddon Street.
The photo of Bowie with a Gibson Les Paul guitar slung over his shoulder, whilst resting his left leg up on a discarded cardboard box – is now looked upon as one of the most iconic album covers of that era.
Over the years many thousands of Bowie fans made a pilgrimage to the actual site of the album cover – me included. In fact, I still have a faded photo of a 22yr old bearded me, trying (badly) to replicate the famous album cover.
The furriers eventually moved out of Heddon Street in 1991 and their K. West sign was taken down – however – thousands of folk still continued to visit the sight throughout the passing years.
In 2012 the ‘Crown Estate’ who own Regent Street (including Heddon Street-where the album cover was shot) erected a plaque outside what was once no.23 Heddon Street – commemorating the fact that this was the exact spot where the legendary album cover photo was taken…..a very forward thinking action from such a high brow institution. More interesting than that, is the fact that it is quite probably, the only plaque that commemorates a fictional character!!!
Anway – 2022 saw the opening of ‘The Starman’ pub – at the end of Heddon Street.
Cashing in on its historic location, The Starman has a David Bowie theme about it, with a number of Bowie references throughout its interior.
However – what I thought was gonna be a mega Bowie overkill, cashing in on his association with the street – isn’t. In fact, if anything – the Bowie references are quite understated, and are actually respectfully done.
I have to say, I enjoyed my couple of ‘cheeky’ beers in The Starman and would most definitely return when I’m in the area again.
So – that’s the stories behind the unusually unique London ‘Gibson Garage’ and the significantly located ‘Starman’ pub – hope you enjoyed the read and that the accompanying photos helped bring the two places to life.
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Below is the full extensive gallery of photos taken to support this ‘Gibson Garage’ & ‘Starman’ pub blog
Tottenham Court Road tube station – the nearest tube stop to the London Gibson Garage
Eastcastle Street – the location of the London Gibson Garage
The London Gibson Garage outlet – Eastcastle Street – W1
The London Gibson Garage outlet – Eastcastle Street – W1
Me – outside the London-Gibson Garage – in Eastcastle Street-London W1
As you enter the Gibson Garage you’re immediately grreted by the sight of 2 conveyor belts whirling around above you on the ceiling, that are crammed full of Gibson guitars.
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
Me – inside the London Gibson Garage
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
Inside the London – Gibson Garage – with merchandise plus Gibson guitars suspended on a conveyor belt from the ceiling
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
Inside the London – Gibson Garage – with merchandise plus Gibson guitars suspended on a conveyor belt from the ceiling
London’s Gibson Garage also has an extensive range of merchandising – everything ranging from state of the art and scientifically constructed guitar foot pedal effects / guitar straps / leads / plectrums / strings etc etc – plus t-shirts / hoodies / baseball caps and even mugs.
Gibson branded ‘merch’ on display in the Gibson Garage
Me – with the bit of ‘merch’ I came away with from the London Gibson Garage – a Gibson mug and Gibson baseball cap
A stairway leads down to the basement – and displayed on the walls of the stairwell are loads of, what are now considered, iconic photos of rock stars, mainly from the 1960’s – taken by legendary photographer Gered Mankowitz
Loads of now classic Gered Mankowtiz ‘rock’ photos on display on the stairs at the Gibson Garage
Me – on the stairs leading down to the ‘Epiphone’ branded basement – at the Gibson Garage
A Gered Mankowitz classic photo of the Yardbirds (inc Jimmy Page) on display at the Gibson Garage
Some more of the classic Gered Mankowtiz ‘rock’ photos on display on the stairs at the Gibson Garage
A call time classic Gered Mankowitz photo of the Rolling Stones Keith Richards – on display at the Gibson Garage
Some more of the classic Gered Mankowtiz ‘rock’ photos on display on the stairs at the Gibson Garage
Me – at the top of the stairs leading down to the ‘Epiphone’ branded basement – at the Gibson Garage
In the basement area of the London ‘Gibson Garage’ there’s a stage plus a full range of ‘Epiphone’ guitars plus associated guitar equipment
Guitar cases on display in the basement of the Gibson Garage
Probably Gibson’s most recognised guitar the world over – the iconic ‘Gibson Les Paul’
Slash – the guitarist with Guns n Roses – on stage with his Gibson Les Paul
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page – on stage with his Gibson Les Paul guitar
One of my all time favourite guitarists – the late great ‘Peter Green’ (the original Fleetwood Mac) – playing his Gibson Les Paul
Another of my all time favourite guitarists – the great Mick Ronson – of David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars band – on stage with his Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson ‘Flying V’ – another iconic Gibson guitar model
The late great Jimi Hendrix – playing a Gibson ‘Flying V’ guitar
The late Marc Bolan of T.Rex n- with his Gibson ‘Flying V’ guitar
The Rolling Stones Keith Richards – on stage with his Gibson ‘Flying V’ guitar
The Gibson ‘SG’ – another iconic Gibson guitar model
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi – with his Gibson SG
AC/DC’s Angus Young – on stage with his Gibson SG guitar
U2 guitarist ‘The Edge’ – playing his Gibson SG guitar
The Gibson ‘Firebird’ – another iconic Gibson guitar
The late Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones – in the studio with his Gibson Firebird guitar
The legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richard – in the studio playing a Gibson Firebird
Me – inside the London Gibson Garage
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
A classic Gibson Les Paul model on display at the Gibson Garage
An assortment of Gibson acoustic guitars on display at the Gibson Garage
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
Views from inside the London – Gibson Garage
Me – inside the London Gibson Garage
Throughout my teens I played guitar in a band – and in my early 20’s I used to perform a solo acoustic set every week – in a few pubs, as part of a sort of folk club circuit.
Throughout my teens I played guitar in a band – and in my early 20’s I used to perform a solo acoustic set every week – in a few pubs, as part of a sort of folk club circuit.
Throughout my teens I played guitar in a band – and in my early 20’s I used to perform a solo acoustic set every week – in a few pubs, as part of a sort of folk club circuit.
Today – I own a couple of decent electric guitars – but they are both made by ‘Fender’ the rival company to Gibson in terms of the guitar market. I have a Fender Telecaster – and a Fender Stratocaster (both of which are well known brands the world over)- plus a rather tidy Martins acoustic guitar
Me – at home with my ‘Fender’ Telecaster (Tele) & Fender Stratocaster (Strat). These days I only play for my own pleasure – and disappointingly, don’t devote as much time to playing as I would want to.
Having thoroughly enjoyed a good couple of hours in the Gibson Garage, it was time for a little liquid refreshment – and so my London Shoes headed off the short distance to Regent Street, to the specific location of Heddon Street.
The 16th June 1972 saw the release of the now legendary David Bowie album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars” – the front cover of which – was photographed on a cold rainy January evening -in Heddon Street-London W1
Me – in Hedon Street in the late 1970’s – attempting to replicate the album cover of David Bowie’s 1972 released ‘The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars’
Me – at home today – with my original copy of Bowie’s 1972 released ‘The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ album – with its now legendary Heddon Street cover photo
The back cover of Bowie’s 1972 released ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album – sees Bowie posing in a phone box in Heddon Street
A sort of themed old phone box in Heddon Street these days – not the same one used for the Ziggy album back cover – but it still attracts many thousands of Bowie pilgrims every year.
This is a photo taken about 5yrs ago – of me trying (badly) to replicate the David Bowie pose on the back cover of his 1972 released ‘The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ album – in the phone box that was in Heddon Street at thqat time.
In 2012 the ‘Crown Estate’ who own Regent Street (including Heddon Street-where the album cover was shot) erected a plaque outside what was once no.23 Heddon Street – commemorating the fact that this was the exact spot where the legendary album cover photo was taken
The ‘Ziggy Stardust’ commemorative plaque – that is currently on display in Heddon Street these days
Me – alongside the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ commemorative plaque – on display in Heddon Street
The Heddon Street ‘lamp’ from the album cover – as it was in 1972
The Heddon Street lamp – as it is today (2024)
An attempt to recreated the 1972 ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album cover photo – some 52 years later (2024) – but in a much changed Heddon Street
2022 saw the opening of ‘The Starman’ pub – at the end of Heddon Street.
‘The Starman’ pub – in Heddon Street – London W1
Me – outside ‘The Starman’ pub – in Heddon Street – London W1
At the entrance of ‘The Starman’ pub – Heddon Street
Inside ‘The Starman’ pub – Heddon Street
Cashing in on its historic location, The Starman has a David Bowie theme about it, with a number of Bowie references throughout its interior.
Cashing in on its historic location, The Starman has a David Bowie theme about it, with a number of Bowie references throughout its interior.
Cashing in on its historic location, The Starman has a David Bowie theme about it, with a number of Bowie references throughout its interior.
Cashing in on its historic location, The Starman has a David Bowie theme about it, with a number of Bowie references throughout its interior – even the khazi’s
The largest and most important reference to David Bowie at The Starman pub in Heddon Street. A mural of the now legendary album cover of Bowie’s 1972 released ‘Ziggy Stardust’ album – that depicts Bowie in Heddon Street.
A ‘cheeky’ bottle of some South American beer – waiting to be consumed – in The Starman pub – Heddon street-London W1
Me – sinking a refreshing and much needed cheeky lager – in The Starman pub – Heddon street-London W1
Mr. London Shoes – having read this I feel like I have just been to guitar wonderland with you.
Your love for the subject you are writing about always shines through. Personally I love your enthusiasm for all kinds of music – what it has always meant to you – your knowledge in most aspects of it – and the fact you can actually play guitar !!
I was particularly interested in what you said about the commemorative plaque in Heddon Street probably being the only plaque dedicated to a fictional character, I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t pick up on that fact, they will know now though.👍
Enjoyed it as always.
Mazza
Excellent article and a genuine ‘London Shoes – Blogs’ article. Keep ‘em coming.
Great blog Geoff. I will have to visit this ‘Garage’ at some point 👍
Very good…
Fantastic post
Interesting, particularly as I own an old 70’s Gibson. Must pop in there sometime.
We will be visiting London week after next so we may try to stop by the guitar shop and The Starman! Thank you for the info!
Fabulous. xx
I used to work at Eastcastle Street branch in the late 70s, which was on the opposite corner to the present Gibson Garage building. In those days it was the HQ of Frank Usher fashions with their showroom on the ground floor and offices and catwalk for fashion shows on the first floor.
The pub was next door in Wells Street, I think it is now called the Adam and Eve but in the 70s it was called The Holyrood.
An incredible interesting piece of Rock history – thank you London Shoes
Loved the photos of the Rolling Stones my all time favourite group – who played here in Vancouver last night – my friend went and said it was amazing sold out so quick would of loved to have gone 🇨🇦🎸🕺
Its gonna be hard to find groups like the Stones, that really lived their music. Cheers and thank you – from Canada
Loved this deep dive into the London Gibson Garage! 🎸 The blend of music history and modern culture is fascinating. Heddon Street has never been cooler. Can’t wait to visit and see it for myself!
Thanks for the feedback Kai – glad you enjoyed the article