Maida Vale always seemed a bit mystical to me. I suppose it’s a bit of a Camelot-type place for people who love their music. It’s a name that has always popped up now and again, and it seems to have produced some lovely and outstanding sessions over the years.
It’s sad to see it go. I did hear through the grapevine that the BBC got a substantial sum for the building, but I suppose it’s a sign of the times and of things moving forward. It will be interesting to see what supersedes it, where it is, and what it is.
Maida Vale Studios is a place the BBC has used and owned for as long as I can remember, and that’s a long time.
Before it was made into a studio for recording live music, often with a small audience, it was an ice rink. After its conversion, it became home to a who’s who of the music industry, leaning towards pop and chart-type music. But indie, folk, jazz and world music have also had a big input into what has been played there, and the recordings are just superb.
Maida Vale holds a cherished place in the hearts of people who love music. The only word to use is legendary.