Bob Marley’s London
It is now 35 years since the legendary Bob Marley succumbed to cancer on the 11th May 1981 aged just 36.
Bob Marley mural, Brockley
During his life Bob spent so much time in London that it effectively became his second home. One particular location associated with the reggae star is the former ‘Keskidee Centre‘ on Islington’s Gifford Street where he came to film the video for ‘Is this Love?‘ in 1978 (click below to view).
More of Bob Marley’s London connections can be found on my latest ‘Time Out‘ blog; please click here to read more.
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Cabbie’s Curios: A Monolith in St Katharine Docks
Based upon a story by Arthur C. Clarke and directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1968’s ‘2001 A Space Odyssey‘ is widely considered to be one of cinema’s greatest science-fiction films.
Epic, disturbing and frequently baffling, one of the film’s most memorable recurring images is that of the mysterious black monolith which reveals itself at various key points in the evolution of mankind.
The monolith’s four appearances
Initially, this looming icon was intended to be transparent and Stanley Kubrick commissioned a hefty 2-tonne prop from the aptly named Stanley Plastics. However, once on the set at Borehamwood Studios the notoriously picky director decided that the monolith looked far too sparkly and decided to change the design altogether. Basalt was selected as the new material, providing the monolith with its now infamous brooding aura.
Poster advertising ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’ on the London Underground, circa 1968
The rejected monolith was left to gather dust until 1977 when it was decided that it’d make the perfect basis for an artwork in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The slab- said to be the largest solid block of Acrylic in the world- was therefore handed to sculptor, Arthur Fleischmann who carved a gleaming crown into the material.
The monolith at St Katherine Docks; its home since 1977
The recycled prop has been on public display ever since at St Katherine Docks, Wapping quietly watching over London’s own transformation…
HAL 9000, the murderous super-computer from ‘2001’
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Time Out blog: 12 vintage shows shows set in London that will remind you of your childhood
My latest Time Out post features 12 vintage kids shows all of which were set in London… including Danger Mouse, Grange Hill, Mr Benn and The Wombles. Please click here to read more and if there are any more classic London-based programmes you can think of please let me know in the comments!
View from the Mirror 