News

PRS For Music Honours Blur's First Gig Venue

• 25th Nov 2009

BRITISH band BLUR is to be the first group to be honoured and recognised by the new PRS for Music Heritage Award, it was announced today.

A special plaque is to be erected at the Goods Shed of the East Anglian Railway Museum – where the band, bassist, Alex James, singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon and drummer Dave Rowntree played their first gig in 1989.

PRS for Music has set up the Heritage Award to recognise the unusual 'performance birthplaces' of famous bands and artists and will accept nominations for other commemorative plaques from the public.

Blur said of the Railway Museum:“We played our first gig there in 1989 and so it was only fitting that we should return 20 years later to kick off this summer’s tour in the place where it all began We played our first gig

The plaque unveiling ceremony is due to take place at the Goods Shed of the East Anglian Railway Museum next Monday (November 30th) and anyone who attended Blur's first performance will be welcome.

The Chairman of the PRS, Ellis Rich said: “Celebrating this country's musical heritage is a great thing to do and these plaques will be springing up all over the country.

“The UK has given the world some fantastic songwriter and performed which enrich our lives and provide the music we love; I'm proud that their humble musical beginnings will be recognised and honoured for all to see.

“It is very fitting that a band like Blur, which started out in such an obscure way and became such musical phenomenon is the first to receive the PRS for Music Heritage award.”

Ian Reed from the East Anglian Railway Muesum said: “The museum believes that preserving our heritage is important, not just now but for the future and clearly this is as much about music as it is about railways.

“Heritage isn’t something that’s just started 150 years ago, our recent heritage is equally important and so we’re thrilled to support the PRS for Music scheme.”

Anyone who was present at the first gig and is interested in attending the plaque unveiling ceremony or has photos of the performance should contact mail and will receive an official invite.