Two icons of the British music invasion have been permanently etched into the fabric of London's history. English Heritage has unveiled blue plaques commemorating the lives of The Rolling Stones' founder, Brian Jones, and The Hollies' co-founder, Graham Nash, on their former Chelsea residences.
The prestigious plaques were officially revealed in a ceremony on Thursday, solidifying the legacy of these pivotal figures in 1960s rock and pop culture. The event marks a rare honour, celebrating two distinct musical legends from the same era on the same day.
Behind The Plaques: The Chelsea Connections
Brian Jones, the original leader and multi-instrumentalist of The Rolling Stones, lived at 1 Courtfield Road in a flat from 1963 to 1965. It was within these walls that the early Stones often gathered, and where Jones famously received a telling-off from his landlord for playing his guitar too loudly—a now-iconic anecdote from the band's scrappy beginnings.
Just a short walk away, at 52a Old Church Street, Graham Nash resided from 1964 to 1966. This Chelsea flat became a creative hub where Nash penned numerous early Hollies hits, including the timeless classic 'Bus Stop'.
Legends of a Musical Revolution
Anna Eavis, the Curatorial Director at English Heritage, emphasised the significance of the honour. "Both Graham Nash and Brian Jones, in their different ways, were part of the great cultural revolution of the 1960s", she stated. "Their music, from the pure pop of The Hollies to the blues-inspired rock of The Rolling Stones, helped to shape the era and continues to influence artists today."
While their paths diverged—Nash achieving further global success with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Jones meeting a tragic early death in 1969—this dual commemoration celebrates their shared origins as architects of a sound that defined a generation.
