Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 May 25 - 12:33 PM

Clive Palmer that was, every time he left a band they made the big time. Last time I heard of him he was living in the West Country and trolling round charity shops and jumble sales, looking for silver cutlery to make keys for Northumbrian pipes. That's what I was told anyway.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 May 25 - 11:38 AM

Anybody got any special memories of Wizz Jones at Les Cousins. I know I saw him play there with Clive from the Incredible String Band.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Apr 25 - 11:44 AM

What a great place it was

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 23 Apr 25 - 07:58 AM

Available to about May 13th 2025
Soho '65: Les Cousins at 60
The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe - BBC Radio 2 - 16th Apr 2025

"This week, Mark gets transported back to the legendary club Les Cousins in the company of Diana Matheou and Jon Wilks.

Les Cousins (known fondly as "The Cousins") was on Soho's Greek Street. After some false starts, it opened 60 years ago today: 16th April 1965.

Diana and her husband, the late Andy Matheou, ran the club in the basement of his parents' restaurant.

Thanks to Andy's instincts as a booker, and the club's all-night events, it became central to the swinging London folk scene of the mid sixties.

Paul Simon considered it his 'home gig' in London. Jimi Hendrix played there, as did John Martyn, Nick Drake, Anne Briggs, Martin Carthy, Wizz Jones, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Sandy Denny, Jackson C. Frank, Al Stewart and Alexis Korner. Van Morrison appeared in the early hours and was paid just £3.

Diana and the singer and journalist Jon Wilks help Mark Radcliffe to capture the magic of the famous club."
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029r49
>skip to about 25min \ 28min

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Roderick A Warner
Date: 15 Dec 24 - 10:56 AM

Correction to my post above. First went there Autumn 1965. Not 1975. Typo! Still lived theoretically in London in 1975 but most of the time in between Paris and Dublin.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Dec 24 - 01:01 PM

Dear Bredda. I'm nearly 76 now. I became a teacher, then a gigging guitarist. My wife became disabled and I am still her carer I lived mainly in the midlands and then reired ro Dorset.

What about you? Did you live in London all that time? I tellyou, on good days - I pick up my guitar and still feel a vibe of that place.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Nov 24 - 05:49 PM

[Kenneth Leech] recommended that she get in touch with Judith Piepe, who lived in Dellow House just off Cable Street. Judith was a well-known figure, not just for her social work but also because she befriended leading folk singers. [Piepe] provided some of them with temporary accommodation in her spacious flat at 6 Dellow House. Here they might find themselves in the company of the famous folk singers for whom Piepe also provided beds when they were visiting London. It seems likely that it was staying in this mixed household that inspired the nineteen-year-old Al Stewart to write his song ‘Pretty Golden Hair'.

https://www.independent.com/2018/05/08/interview-al-stewart/
I was 19, and a social worker found me a flat in London. It just happened by coincidence that I found myself living in the next room to Paul Simon. I was there when he wrote some of those early songs … and he did indeed come out and play them to me … because if you’re a songwriter, as soon as you’ve written a new song you want someone to hear it. So I got to hear a lot of those songs from that period of time.

Having bought his fourth guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compere at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper, Ralph McTell, and Paul Simon, with whom he shared a flat in Dellow Street, Stepney, London.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wxjk0 BBC Radio 6 The First Time With...Release date:01 June 2016 Duration: 3 minutes
‘I stayed with a family out in Brentwood, Essex’ - Paul Simon’s England. The songwriter reflects on his memories of the folk scene in London.

"In 64/65, Paul Simon was living at Judith Piepe's council flat in Dellow Road, off Cable Street. He wrote 'The Big Bright Green Plesure Machine' in nearby all-night laundrette. Other house guests included Al Steward, Sandy Denny, occasionally Art Garfunkel..." from Pete Frame's book Rockin' Around Britain: Rock'n'roll Landmarks of the UK and Ireland

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Roderick A Warner
Date: 30 Nov 24 - 10:25 AM

The flat was probably Judith Piepe’s, Henryp? Haven for many waifs and strays including myself and my late wife just before we found a flat. Al was a great guitar player and songwriter who made some interesting albums down the years when he took his music out from the confines of ‘folk.’ Good to see he’s still rolling. On a nostalgic synchronous note I bought a copy of the Incredible String Band’s second album a while back and it brought back memories of hearing them down at Cousins just before they broke bigger. Incredible indeed. For me they summed up the potential of such a creative place to expand in many directions. I first went there in Autumn 1975 and we used to frequent sporadically for several years. Saw and heard a load of great musicians, a few spoofers and idiots but they were part of the acoustic fabric. All the usual names and other creatives like Mox and Steve Bromfield ‘s duo, slightly more obscure maybe but just as vital. I’ve lived a long life to arrive in the realms of the coffin-dodgers and seen and heard a lot of great music in that time, but those experiences back in the dim and distant still hold strong.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Nov 24 - 10:13 AM

Paul apparently complained that it had been released when he wasn't in the USA. Somebody, can't remember who, did a parody called The Sound of Finance.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Nov 24 - 06:30 AM

Al Stewart once shared a flat with Paul Simon. Their flat-sharing days ended soon after Simon received in the post a copy of a single he had recorded with Art Garfunkel, The Sound of Silence.
Al is currently on tour in the US with Livingston Taylor. He will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sept 5 2025 with a farewell tour of the United Kingdom.

Al Stewart: The Farewell Tour; Al Stewart with his band The Empty Pockets for one last tour of the UK. Tickets now on sale.

Wed, Oct 1, 2025 Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, England
Fri, Oct 3, 2025 Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley St, Manchester
Sun, Oct 5, 2025 The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead
Tue, Oct 7, 2025 Barbican, York, England
Wed, Oct 8, 2025 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England
Fri, Oct 10, 2025 Corn Exchange, Cambridge, England
Sat, Oct 11, 2025 G Live, Guildford, England
Sun, Oct 12, 2025 The Alexandra, Birmingham, England
Tue, Oct 14, 2025 Beacon, Bristol, England
Wed, Oct 15, 2025 The Palladium, London, England
Fri, Oct 17, 2025 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Scotland

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Nov 24 - 11:36 PM

it was a great place and there was some good music

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 29 Nov 24 - 08:04 PM

Is there anyone out there still reading thread?
Replying to big Al Whittle I am still in London. 78 and amazed I’m still tootling on with love and humour. And every day feeling lucky for all the good times in the past. We were so lucky. Wonderful music. Hope and love.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Mar 23 - 10:44 PM

you must have sold me a cup of coffee or two Bredda. are you still in London? What did you do after Cousins?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 15 Mar 23 - 09:56 PM

Still hanging on with wonderful memories. But still enjoying life. 77 ffs. We were sooo lucky. We lived in an era when music was so wonderful, everyone was full of Hope and we had so much freedom. Freedom of expression, freedom to create our lives with creativity and love and hope. For a better future. That hasn’t happened.   I’m so sorry for the kids of today. So much technology. So little hope friendship and love. Big al Whittle - John Mackenzie hope you’re well. Hope Moxy well.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 07:07 PM

https://www.ianaanderson.com/les-cousins/

~~~~

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 07:02 PM

Links to Soho Society ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soho_Society

https://www.thesohosociety.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/thesohosociety/

~~~

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=les+cousins+soho

~~~

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 12:52 PM

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-buried-remains-of-little-compton-street-london-england

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 30 Nov 22 - 02:24 PM

Re: Les Cousins

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/3rr5ksgmhe7jc/Les_Cousins_-_Soho

A few years ago some building works in Old Compton Street had huge hoardings covering the work. They were covered in images of the 60’s music scene featuring venues and artistes with descriptions of their influence. Sadly the local graffiti oiks didn’t take long to destroy them all.

Meanwhile a small pamphlet was issued free which is scanned at the above link.

BTW does anyone know where Little Compton Street is?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Roderick A. Warner
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 10:04 AM

Have replied to Laura re Ralph Levene… sad news that he has died…

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Laura
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 07:25 AM

I stumbled across this thread and mention of Ralph Levene. Might anyone who knew him from these days get in touch with me? It's a long story, but essentially, sadly he died earlier this month and I'm arranging a funeral for him and am looking for any anecdotes, photographs etc and for anyone who might like to come along and say goodbye to this amazing man... thank you!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Sep 21 - 01:32 PM

I saw Koerner there too. 9 string guitar I seem to remember.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Sep 21 - 08:05 AM

Ah I think it was there I saw a trio of USAian folkies, one of which was Spider John Koerner - stamped his feet a great deal I rememeber!!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Sep 21 - 07:04 AM

Lay Coozon!

but what do they know about anything. their roots music is Sacha Distel.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Sep 21 - 04:29 AM

How would you pronounce Les Cousins in French?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Sep 21 - 02:38 AM

I was there a few times around 1964-65, saw Davy Graham, John Renbourne, among others.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Graham
Date: 09 Sep 21 - 04:52 PM

God yes. I went loads of times between 1969 and 71 when I was an Engineering Student. I rode up from the West end on my moped and just forgot about the rest of the world. My memories of Stefan Grossman were incredible. We sat on the floor and listened for hours.
Halcyon days.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 05:16 AM

so john what years were you there i thinkl i was there about 1967 1968

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Dec 20 - 05:14 AM

Thread drift

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 Dec 20 - 04:15 PM

correct steve

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 01 Dec 20 - 02:49 PM

And all 3 have suffered martyrdom! (IMHO)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 01 Dec 20 - 02:46 PM

All of these people with JC initials, they might not get everything right but they sure as hell stand up for their principles!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Dec 20 - 02:30 AM

Sorry squire, although as minor deities, we do (as you suggest) enjoy unfettered powers - our godlike remit does not extend to what you ask.

Its asking the impossible. Ask Jim Carrol - its a bit like getting anyone to vote for Corbyn.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Nov 20 - 03:04 AM

congratulations al , if you are a god can you tell me the winner of the 150 at fakenham , thankyou

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Nov 20 - 11:36 PM

Yes Bredda, still here.

This scrap of cyberspace is a bit like Valhalla - twilight of the Gods.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Nov 20 - 03:49 AM

it will continue

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 26 Nov 20 - 07:32 PM

Anyone still out there? Moxy, all of you wonderful musicians who I loved you're sound so much.   It's been a year from hell.   For us all. I pray the music will continue.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 May 16 - 11:16 AM

Back to Mox - I'm sure that he performed with an R & B band (1964 British R & B) called the Taverners Guild, who always remained in my memory because the lead guitarist played a Harmony solid guitar which I think our rhythm guitarist bought from him, and used a Selmer Selectortone amp - the one 15" speaker variety, which although was only 20 watts or so was very loud indeed.

I had one of those which a friend of mine modified to be as loud as a Vox AC 30 when used with 2 Celestion Blue speakers (still in my attic).

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Tim Dennehy
Date: 09 May 16 - 12:57 PM

Hi I was a member of Les Cousins in the sixties and remember the all nighters it was so exciting saw all the big names in folk.I still have my membership card [prized possession].I live in Ireland and when I visit London,I always pay a visit to 49 Greek St.great memories.I am glad I was there.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 14 Aug 15 - 05:57 PM

This article was in the Soho Clarion in Sept. 2011

Les Cousins at 49 Greek Street, London, was one of the most important and influential venues of the 1960s. Diana Matheou remembers listening to Donovan and chatting with Cat Stevens.

Download for free from ...

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/3rr5ksgmhe7jc/Les_Cousins_-_Soho

Chris B.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 May 15 - 09:23 PM

i think i prefer it that we disappear into history.

i can connect with nobody on the subject - the idealism, the love of music, the bohemian style of the artists, the brilliance of individual musicians, the individuality of the of approach.....there was no one Cousins style.

its all gone. it never had much interest or recognition from the adult world. it was a young persons adventure...

and we are old now....

there is a thing in John Donne's Nocturnal on St Lucie's Eve. Somehow the old bereaved lover shows young lovers the graveyard, and of course what he's trying to say is incommunicable.

it was our youth, our ideals and now its gone. gone forever. it was the glamour of youth that made it special. and now we are old.

rhythm and blues nowadays is the pussy cat dolls. folk music is the transatlantic sessions - aly blain smirking away for fifteen minutes to a circle of fellow traddies. its all gone.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 16 May 15 - 05:57 PM

I was never there, but feel as I had for all the wonderful stories that I have heard through the years. When Bert Jansch had his tribute concert a couple years back the stage was decorated to look like Cousins. At least that's what I was told. Someone really should put a book together don't you think?

David E.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 16 May 15 - 09:17 AM

Still grieving over the loss of so many great Musicians over the last couple of years. I am so lucky to have so many good memories. There were some truly spellbinding evenings when you could listen to beautiful music played by great people.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 May 14 - 10:51 AM

What a fascinating thread!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Tim Dennehy
Date: 13 May 14 - 10:34 AM

I remember Les Cousins in the sixties,especially the Sat, night all nighters,they were great times.So many folk greats played at Les Cousins.I still have my membership card[prized possession]I have great memories of Les Cousins and all the best folk music,ever.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Sexton
Date: 29 Mar 14 - 04:50 PM

So finally I got to Cousins on a night that Bert Jansch was booked and what happens? Roy Harper takes him out and gets him so loaded he can't hardly stand up let alone play!
One night I was there when John Renbourn appeared with two blonde singers I assume one was Jaqui was the other Sandy?
Was the floor always wet?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Lorrie
Date: 29 Mar 14 - 12:50 AM

Can't believe all this! How wonderful. I practically lived in Cousins from 68 to 70.
Saw nearly everyone. Remember Sallyangie? The brother and sister, the brother being the then unknown tubular bells composer. Very young he was!
Have been to Paris to see Mox, just as good.
Duffy was my brother in law, very sad to see such talent go.
Saw Wizz jones and mike chapman in Cornwall.
Jonathon Coudrille is still living there and very active on the Art and Music scene.
Also met up with Ian Anderson and he was asking about Gypsy Annie, could not tell him anything, but here she is!
Must stop now and make myself a list of all I saw there.
Also Bunjies and Macabre.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 05:31 AM

So sad to not that Duffy Power has died. He sang and played at Les Cousins. Lovely lovely bloke with a bloody beautiful voice. Some people you connect with and you know they have good souls. Jimi Hendrix was another.   

Wonderful days full of music and a lot of fun.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,PiedPiper
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 08:04 PM

Hi Bredda,

Yeah, another legend gone, but his music remains.

Would you mind telling us more about your early days at Les Cousins? Who did you see play and who impressed you?

In case you are interested, this web site features 'lost' London music venues, including Les Cousins. No Ronnie Scotts though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/5430715598/in/photostream/

Best wishes,

PP

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 04 Jan 14 - 07:49 AM

Another great musician who was the soundtrack of my early teenage years has just died. Phil Everly. Such wonderful harmonies. I count myself so lucky with my musical life. I worked in Les Cousins from the age of 17 when Andy was starting up the club and listened to so many memorable sets from wonderful musicians. Then at 21 I moved on from there and went to Ronnie Scotts. How lucky was I!!

This thread has gone so quiet since Bert died. It seems fitting somehow.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jun 13 - 10:42 AM

I can remember sitting about 2 feet away from Arlo Guthrie at les coz while he sang Alices Restaurant and Roy Harper having a break and telling us it was our chance to go and get hosed down oh joy the combined smell of corduroy and roll top sweaters