White Stripes in Brockley

The White Stripes played at the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley last night, apparently a warm up gig for the 02 festival later in the week. Surely the most auspicious night there since S Club 7 made their video for Don't Stop Movin' at the Rivoli.

Actually, according to this article by Mel Wright it has also been used for videos and photo shoots by many others: 'In the 1980s, pop diva Tina Turner filmed the video for her hit Private Dancer at The Rivoli. The song was written by Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, from Deptford. Other pop luminaries of the time who filmed at The Rivoli include Elton John (They Call It The Blues) Tracey Ullman (Move Over Darling) and the Beautiful South (I Sail My Ship Alone). Paul McCartney also shot scenes from his film, Give My Regards To Broad Street, at the ballroom... Kevin Spacey shot parts of Beyond The Sea there and it was seen in the spy thriller Dark Horizons, starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. Robert Lindsay's sleuth thriller TV serial Jerricho transformed The Rivoli into a Soho ballroom and bar. The list of guests includes S Club 7, Oasis, Charlotte Church, Kylie Minogue, Vinnie Jones, Westlife and model Rachel Hunter.

The Rivoli started out as as the Crofton Park Picture Palace in July 1913... It became a ballroom in 1957 and like many had its heyday in the 60s and 70s, when it featured performances by acts such as Acker Bilk and Pans People'.

I remember also seeing an Arcade Fire photoshoot in NME done there, and came across this video by 12 Stone Toddler. I have had some of my finest nights there too, at the great Night of a Thousand Stars/Club Montepulciano - but that's another post.

(follow links in this post for some great footage of SE London's finest dance spot)