Sunday, July 06, 2008

Come on Eileen

The video for the famous 1982 Dexy's Midnight Runners track, Come on Eileen, was filmed in Kennington. After the initial Johnnie Ray section, most of the video features the band singing and playing in the streets just to the west of the Elephant and Castle, particularly in Brook Drive, SE11 (the road sign is visible in the film). The pub in the background in some shots - the Two Eagles - was later replaced with flats.



The corner where they stand by a shop is at the junction of Brook Drive and Hayles Street.
A semi-derelict house on Holyoak Road also features.





I love Dexys, and had the pleasure of shaking Kevin Rowland by the hand when he was DJing at How Does it Feel? in Brixton last year.

7 comments:

  1. That's brilliant! I always assumed it was some grotty sink estate in the West Midlands - little did I know it was a grotty sink estate in London!

    Is that St Pauls in the background at the 1:00 mark?

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    1. I lived on this street when it was filmed. Its right by the imperial war museum

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  2. I suppose it could be, the camera sweeps down with the London skyline on the horizon - as it's facing north west I would be surprized if St Pauls is in the panorama as it's further east. This is just round the corner from the Imperial War Museum - could it be that?

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    1. It is by the museum. They also filmed death wish 4 here too. Just oppsite this shop.

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  3. Looks a little too far in the distance to be the museum - it's practically next door on here:

    Location on Live Maps

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  4. Yes you're right, looking at the map Blackfriars Bridge is more or less directly north of here, so St Pauls could well be in this shot.

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  5. 'kinell, I recognised it straight away! I ride past that shop almost every day! Nice to add another landmark to my daily commute!

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