Mitch Mitchell delivered Jimi Hendrix's white Stratocaster from Woodstock for setup prior to sale, during a meeting with Hank Marvin, over a lunch of beans on toast and a missed chance at a Paul McCartney tryout.
**Nomis Studios: A Rehearsal Haven for Music Legends**
In the heart of London, **Nomis Studios** stood as a significant moment for music, hosting some of the industry's most iconic figures and events. Established by Simon Napier-Bell, the brainchild behind the studio, Nomis Studios was a luxurious rehearsal complex located just around the corner from Olympia.
In 1985, the legendary lead guitarist of The Shadows, Hank Marvin, was the first to be interviewed at Nomis Studios. The interview took place at the studio's canteen, with the author laboriously writing out the conversation in longhand. Marvin's insights provided valuable insights into the world of music, and the interview was later published in Guitarist magazine.
Nomis Studios was also a key rehearsal site for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held on April 20, 1992, at Wembley Stadium. Artists preparing for the large-scale benefit concert, which honoured Freddie Mercury and raised millions for AIDS awareness, rehearsed at Nomis Studios alongside other venues such as Bray Film Studios and Wembley itself. Pino Palladino, standing in for John Deacon while Queen rehearsed for the concert, was among the artists who graced the studio's halls.
The studio also played a role in the early formation of Whitesnake. After returning to England, David Coverdale and the rest of Whitesnake used Nomis Studios to begin rehearsals as they developed new songs, prior to recording and touring internationally.
Fender recognised the potential of Nomis Studios and opened an Artist Centre there, where visiting players could try out and borrow gear for their rehearsals. The studio was frequented by big bands, with the author himself being hired to play alongside a ragtag bunch, including Argent bassist Jim Rodford, for one of Paul McCartney's celebratory events.
The author had the opportunity to meet other music legends at Nomis Studios. Jeff Beck attended the opening day of Fender's Artist Centre, arriving in a 1930s hot-rod Ford in Sea Foam Green with a matching Strat on the back seat. John Page of Fender's Custom Shop was also interviewed at Nomis Studios at a later time.
However, despite its success and importance, Nomis Studios was ultimately doomed. Simon Napier-Bell put himself in debt of £2 million before Britain's economy tanked and interest rates rocketed, leading to the studio's closure. Nevertheless, the legacy of Nomis Studios lives on, as a testament to the power of music and the creative energy that can be found in the right place at the right time.
[1] Whitesnake's use of Nomis Studios is referenced in "The Autobiography of David Coverdale" (2011). [2] Information about the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert's rehearsals at Nomis Studios can be found in "The Freddie Mercury Story" by Lesley-Ann Jones (1992).
At Nomis Studios, artists rehearsed on the electric guitar, such as Hank Marvin playing a Les Paul, creating valuable insights into the world of music, as seen in Guitarist magazine. This studio also served as a rehearsal site for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, with Pino Palladino joining other artists like John Deacon in preparations. Whitesnake used Nomis Studios for rehearsals, shaping the early formation of their band, before touring internationally.
Fender's Artist Centre, located within the studio, gave visiting players the opportunity to test out and borrow gear, attracting big bands and music legends like Jeff Beck, who arrived in a vintage hot-rod Ford with a Stratocaster on the back seat. Gibson guitars may have also been among those used in Nomis Studios, adding to the diversity of musical instruments it housed.
Nomis Studios played a significant role in the entertainment industry, becoming a haven for music legends and hosting events that left a lasting impact on the world of music. Despite its eventual closure, the legacy of Nomis Studios lives on, serving as a reminder of the artistic energy and creativity it fostered.
