LONDON’S ICONIC RED BUS STUDIOS BECOME FIRST BUILDING TO BE AWARDED HERITAGE FOUNDATION BLUE PLAQUE

13 April 2015 - Press release

London’s iconic Red Bus Studios – home to some of the UK's most famous recordings – has today been honoured with a commemorative Blue Plaque from The Heritage Foundation.  The studios have become the first building – as opposed to an individual - to receive the honour and were nominated for the award by Bee Gees’ singer, the late Robin Gibb, former president of the Foundation.

Famous names including So Macho singer Sinitta and I’m A Celebrity’s Vicki Michelle attended the unveiling ceremony today at Red Bus Studios in North London.

President of The Heritage Foundation, ‘Allo ‘Allo! and I’m A Celebrity star - Vicki Michelle MBE – who unveiled the Plaque said:

“I am thrilled to be involved in what is to become a part of Heritage Foundation history as we pay tribute to our first venue, Red Bus Studios, with a Blue Plaque.  With such iconic status in the music and recording industry, I can’t think of anywhere more befitting. It will be a particularly poignant occasion for us at The Foundation given that our late President, Robin Gibb CBE, had expressed his wish for a Plaque on the building and now, not least with his son RJ’s link to the studio’s.

“Artistes such as Bananarama, Duran Duran, Gloria Gaynor, Billy Ocean, Sinitta, Spandau Ballet, Tina Turner, the list goes on, can all be associated with Red Bus resulting in some inspired musical creations, now themselves a part of our music heritage.  And we mustn’t forget the studios that have also worked on some of our best loved television dramas including Downtown Abbey, Whitechapel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Three Musketeers. So I am delighted for all those connected with Red Bus that we at the Heritage Foundation are able to bring this event to fruition.”

Over the last 35 years, the boutique studio tucked away in Marylebone has continuously punched above its weight in producing, mixing and mastering hundreds of the world’s most-loved hits, from Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, Bananarama’s Cruel Summer, and Culture Club’s Do You Really Want To Hurt Me to Duran Duran’s Girls on Film, Imagination Just an Illusion and Spandau Ballet’s True and Gold. 

It has welcomed a number of celebrated acts through its North London doors including Alison Moyet, Bananarama, Boney M, Goldfrapp, Jocelyn Brown, George Michael, Lulu, Manic Street Preachers, N-Dubz, Soul ll Soul, Status Quo, Suede, Talk Talk, The Beach Boys, R J Gibb, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, and many more.  DJ Sasha recorded his Invol3er album at the studio, which went on to top the charts.

Commenting on receiving the Blue Plaque, Red Bus Studios Co-Founder and Owner - Eliot Cohen - said:

“Technology may have changed the face of music production down through the decades but the need for a talented engineer, quality equipment and a recording space that inspires creativity and nurtures musical talent in a home-away-from-home environment has remained as strong as ever.  And it’s this ambition that has underpinned our relationships with all of our artists and helps us to continue making musical history.

“At Red Bus Studios, we have been privileged to open our Marylebone doors to some of the UK’s most-loved acts and, almost forty years on, we are proud to count those names amongst the Red Bus family whilst supporting the next generation of new young artists.

“It is a real honour to be receiving a Blue Plaque from The Heritage Foundation and I am indebted to the late Robin Gibb, his family, The Heritage Foundation and everyone who has worked with the studio over the years for their continued love and support.  It may not be an easy business to be in but it’s fuelled by an old-school, dedicated passion for music – so here’s to the next 40 years!”

Pop star, Sinitta, who started her singing career at Red Bus Studios said:

“I am so proud that Red Bus Studios are being awarded with a Plaque.  I would like to send a huge congratulations to Eliot and everyone who has been part of Red Bus over the years.  Red Bus was a dynamic, innovative and exciting place to be.  I have the happiest memories of my early teenage years spent there as well as the friends I made and the professional experience I gained - we made great music and had fun doing it!”

Culture Club’s renowned Producer, Steve Levine, added:

“Red Bus studio was one of the leading studios in the Late 70s and early 80s.  Its contribution to the UK music industry and 80s culture via the iconic albums recorded there is finally being recognised with a Blue Plaque.  I enjoyed the many sessions I produced there thanks to the great gear and wonderful staff.  Some of my biggest records were made on their lovely MCI console - the room has a unique sound and can be heard on some of the world’s greatest albums.”

Tony Swain who produced albums for Bananarama, Imagination, Spandau Ballet, Diana Ross and many others, congratulated Red Bus on their achievement:

“Congratulations to Red Bus Studios for its much deserved Heritage award.  So many great records were made in this studio and it is where I started my career having my first hit 'Body Talk' by Imagination recorded and mixed there. I produced and wrote some of my biggest hits by Bananarama, Imagination and others not forgetting Spandau Ballet's No.1 hit 'True' and 'Gold' in Studio 1.  I saw the Studio being built and it was just brilliant to be involved in it huge success.”

English singer, producer and songwriter, Barry Blue, who has produced hits for Bananarama and written tracks for Brotherhood of Man, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Pixie Lott and others, recounted his memories of Red Bus:

“I have to thank Red Bus for transporting me to a creative world of all-night sessions and energy busting creativity - basically the best way I could have spent the Eighties!”

In recent years, its foley studio – which delivers audio post-production services for movies and television programmes – and its award-winning Hackenbacker team, have provided full sound effects for ITV and BBC prime time drama series Downton Abbey, The Three Musketeers and Whitechapel as well as the Academy-nominated 2011 film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 

More recently, Red Bus Studios hosted a charity day fronted by Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts in which the studio offered a full day of free studio time with a leading senior sound engineer to the children and young people’s charity Barnardos, in support of their recent Stop Human Trafficking campaign. Red Bus supported some of the UK’s most exciting and emerging up and coming young talent who were chosen to record on the day and were captivated by the results of the finalised tracks.

For more information, visit http://www.redbusstudios.com/