Location
Location: The Scotch of St James, London, UK
Timeline
Article February 1966 • Northern Songs take control of two American music companies
Interview February 1966 • The Beatles interview for The Beatles Monthly Book
Article Feb 03, 1966 • Paul McCartney meets Stevie Wonder
Single Feb 11, 1966 • "Woman / Wrong From The Start" by Peter and Gordon released in the UK
Article Feb 13, 1966 • The Beatles receive 10 Grammy Awards nominations
Related people
Related articles
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Paul McCartney attends a lecture by Luciano Berio
February 23 or 24, 1966
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The Beatles attend the world premiere of “Alfie”
Mar 24, 1966
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The Beatles attend Bob Dylan’s concert in London
May 27, 1966
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May 28, 1966
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The Beatles meet The Mamas & The Papas
Jun 12, 1966
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Paul and Jane watch “Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Jun 18, 1966
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October 1966
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Paul McCartney attends a Young Rascals show
Dec 01, 1966
On this day, Paul McCartney saw 15-year-old Stevie Wonder perform at the Scotch Of St James club in London. Pete Townshend was also there and told Q Magazine in 2002 that this was the best concert he had ever attended.
After the performance, Paul and Stevie chatted and were photographed, joined by Charlie Foxx (from the duo Inez and Charlie Foxx).
When on tour I have to write essays about the places I visit. In the essay I’ll be writing when I get back I’ll certainly include my meeting with Paul McCartney. I met him in the Scotch Of St James club. He’s a really swinging guy, the only Beatle I’ve met.
Stevie Wonder – NME, February 18, 1966
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder would end up working together in 1981, for the recording of the “Tug Of War” album in Montserrat.
About The Scotch Of St James club:
The hideaway where the music world met in the swinging sixties.
On 14th July 1965, The Scotch Of St James officially opened for business. Amongst those who attended the launch were three members of the Beatles, all but Charlie from the Rolling Stones, as well as members of The Who, The Kinks, The Animals and The Hollies. In fact just about every known face from the 1960’s music scene could have been spotted that night, making their way through Mason’s Yard, as yet unaware of the Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty they were to become, or the role that The Scotch Of St James would play in their lives.
It was at ‘The Scotch’ that an unkempt musician played for the first time ever under the stage name ‘Jimi Hendrix’. It was also where the head of Atlantic Records discovered the 20 year old, blonde guitarist, Eric Clapton, jamming in the boozy basement after a ‘Wicked Wilson Picket’ performance. It was where American artists, Sony and Cher, shot a short film for their new song ‘I Got You Babe’ and it was the very spot where Paul McCartney first met Stevie Wonder. Perhaps one of the most significant meetings that The Scotch Of St James inspired was the one between Yoko Ono and her husband-to- be, John Lennon when a late night led to an after-party at the Indica Gallery & Bookshop next door. It was also where Chas from The Animals used a Scotch Of St James napkin to draft up a contract between Track Records and Jimi Hendrix; an act which later inspired the decision to premier his entire ‘Are You Experienced’ album live on the Scotch stage. Tom Jones, Elton John and Rod Stewart were all loyal regulars and ‘The Who’ debuted their album ‘Tommy’ at the little late-night hideaway too. That opening night, as the upper echelons of Rock ‘n’ Roll trod the cobbled pavements of Mason’s Yard, nobody could have known that this small after-hours nightclub would become the very epicentre of the swinging sixties.
