The PRS for Music Heritage Award

About the PRS for Music Heritage plaque 

PRS for Music has launched a unique scheme to celebrate UK music venues which have played a pivotal role in launching the careers of some of the country’s best-loved and iconic music acts.

The PRS for Music Heritage Award scheme honours the performance birthplaces of legendary bands, artists and songwriters - as well as recognising the network of pubs, clubs and live music venues that have been integral in providing a training ground for the best of UK music talent.

The scheme launched by unveiling a commemorative plaque to Blur at the site of their first ever gig in the Goods Yard of the East Anglian Railway Museum, Colchester. The plaque unveiling took place on Monday 30 November. Hot on its heels was another Heritage Award celebration, this time to Dire Straits whose musical birthplace was outside a block of flats in Deptford, South-East London.

There are more UK-wide Heritage Awards in the planning which will be charted on a special interactive map - and this is where you come in.

If you, your friends or your family members were at the first gig of an act you think PRS for Music should recognise in this way, please email heritage@prsformusic.com Or if you have photos, memorabilia or merchandise from any of these ‘musical birthplaces’, PRS for Music would love to hear from you. If we make an award based on your suggestion, we promise to invite you to the celebration.

Jethro Tull to receive PRS for Music Heritage plaque

Legendary British Rock group Jethro Tull are to be honoured by the new PRS for Music Heritage Award.

A Musical Heritage Plaque will be erected at Holy Family Church, Blackpool where the original group (then known as The Blades), vocalist and flute work of Ian Anderson, bass guitarist Jeffrey Hammond and keyboardist (then drummer) John Evans performed their first ever gig in 1964.

Jethro Tull is the third band to be given the honour of receiving the permanent plaque.

Founding member Ian Anderson will be there to see the plaque unveiled in Blackpool on Thursday February 25.

PRS for Music Chairman, Ellis Rich said: “Jethro Tull are rock legends so it’s a real pleasure to be honouring them today with the PRS for Music Heritage Award. In a career that has stretched across four decades the band has shaped and inspired countless other musicians so it’s a fantastic achievement to celebrate.” 

Ian Anderson said: "I'm honoured and delighted that the birthplace of my musical career has been chosen to be marked in this way. Some forty-six years, sixty million album sales and three thousand gigs later, I look back to that night here at the church hall with fondness and thanks – it’s fantastic to return and meet up again with old friends today.” 

Anyone who was present at the first gig and is interested in attending the plaque unveiling ceremony or has photos of the performance should contact heritageplaque@prsformusic.com and will receive an official invite.

Dire Straits receive PRS for Music Heritage plaque

Legendary Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler went back on a nostalgic visit to where it all began in Deptford ... and admitted they had fiddled the electric meter to give the band free power!

It was 32 years ago that Knopfler, John Illsley and Knopfler's brother, David played their first gig outside the block of flats where they lived in Deptford, south-east London.

Yesterday Mark and John were united with their former neighbours for the unveiling of a PRS for Music Heritage Plaque by Ellis Rich, PRS Chairman. The special plaque has been mounted outside the ground floor of Farrer House, Church Street, Deptford, where the Brothers in Arms budding musicians first tuned up.

Mark recalled: ‘This was my bedroom and we ran the power out of the back window over the balcony to the set next to the road and waited for a crowd to gather.

‘John was the only one of us with a car back then and he would pile everything in and drive to the gig and the rest of us would catch the bus - they were great days and great memories.’

For more information please go to www.prsformusic.com/heritageaward