Crawdaddy Club

Lore & Background

Giorgio Gomelsky, a Georgian émigré working as an assistant film editor by day and music promoter by night, started the Piccadilly Club in central London. When that closed in early 1963, he took over the back room of the Station Hotel in Richmond, which had been little used since its jazz sessions ended. The club was named after Bo Diddley's song 'Doing the Craw-Daddy', a regular part of The Rolling Stones' set.

The Rolling Stones played their first gig at the Crawdaddy in February 1963 after the Dave Hunt Rhythm & Blues Band were snowed in during the coldest winter since 1740. This performance was the first public appearance with Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts in the band. Within three weeks the Stones took over the residency, and by April they had two gigs a week at the Crawdaddy and a weekly slot at Eel Pie Island. The Beatles came to see them on 14 April 1963.

When the Stones went on tour, The Yardbirds, featuring Eric Clapton, took over the residency. Other artists who played at the club included Led Zeppelin, Long John Baldry, Elton John, and Rod Stewart. The club also ran events at The Star public house in Broad Green, Croydon, hosting American R&B artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson.

Reader's Guide

The Crawdaddy Club holds a significant place in music history as the venue where The Rolling Stones first performed with their classic early lineup, including Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. Its role as a launchpad for British R&B is underscored by the succession of house bands: The Rolling Stones followed by The Yardbirds. The club's influence extended beyond its walls, inspiring the name of the influential American music magazine Crawdaddy! The venue also hosted a wide array of notable acts, from Led Zeppelin to Elton John, cementing its reputation as a hub for emerging talent. Revived in March 2011 at the Richmond Athletic Ground, the club continues to operate as a charitable entity dedicated to preserving live music and promoting new acts, sponsoring awards at the UK Blues Awards in 2024 and 2025.

Did You Know?

• The club's name came from Bo Diddley's 1960 song 'Doing the Craw-Daddy', which The Rolling Stones regularly performed.
• The Rolling Stones' first gig at the Crawdaddy occurred because the Dave Hunt band were snowed in during the coldest winter since 1740.
• The Beatles visited the Crawdaddy on 14 April 1963 to see The Rolling Stones.
• The revived Crawdaddy Club sponsors the Emerging Act category at the 2025 UK Blues Awards.