AN ICONIC Welsh music studio is set to go down in history books as part of a project by a group of young people from Monmouth Comprehensive. Rockfield studio, the first residential studio in the world, heard the recording of the arguably the most infamous opening lyrics in the history of music – “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?”
A-list bands such as Queen, Simple Minds, Manic Street Preachers, Oasis, Coldplay and Kasabian have all been to Monmouth and experienced recording their music at the Rockfield Studio, making international music history whilst recording chart-toppers in rural Wales.
The piano which played an integral part in the recording of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is still in use in the studio today. The studio also contributed to filming the Super Furry Animals firing guns outside Rockfield for use in their track The Undefeated.
In a project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, a crowd of Monmouth Comprehensive sixth formers are aiming to capture the many varied musical memories the studio has amassed during more than 50 years in the business.
The 13 A-Level students will be contacting musicians who relate to Rockfield’s colourful history and noting down their memories and stories of their time recording in Wales. Their findings will be collected and displayed in a book which will be named ‘From Stables to Studios: The Story of Rockfield, Monmouth and Music.’
Richard Bellamy, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “The students involved in the project will receive training to help them undertake interviews, as well as create and market the exhibition, so they’ll be developing various life skills that will be valuable in later life.”
As part of their Welsh Baccalaureate qualification, students will be volunteering both after school and on weekends talking to local residents and collecting their memories of bumping into famous faces in the village.
Mr Bellamy continued: “The Rockfield studio history is fascinating in itself, but this project will go further by exploring its relationship with the local area and how that has impacted on its development.”
Joanne Davies, who is helping coordinate the exhibition, said: “Although Rockfield is known as one of the most influential recording studios in the UK, and indeed the world, surprisingly little is currently exhibited locally about this Monmouth gem.”
“Although it’s early days, we’re already overwhelmed by some of the funny and intriguing titbits that we’re unearthing including local residents who remember selling shoes to big name rock stars or playing pool with band members in the local pubs. It’s these kinds of stories that we want to dig up and share with others,” Ms. Davies continued.
The Rockfield visitor book has many of its own stories to tell, before even interviewing any of the famous bands. Liam Gallagher of Oasis was taken by the “charming Welsh location”, saying: “Thanks to Rockfield studios for the pleasant surroundings in this wonderful rural atmosphere!” Ian Brown of the Stone Roses had a more neutral experience in the studio, saying: “Put the heating on more often and I might one day come back.”
However, Rockfield’s “rural atmosphere” wasn’t always everyone’s cup of tea as Eddie Duffy from Simple Minds said: “It’s been a pleasure. Can’t wait to come back as long as you kill that cockerel, or at least set his watch to the right time!”
The jacuzzis in every room of the studios certainly seemed to please the stars, with Gruff Rhys from the Super Furry Animals humorously saying: “We’d heard about Rockfield Studios and we wanted to record there because they had jacuzzis and you got three meals a day – all the wrong reasons for going to a studio. So we went there for 3 weeks and had jacuzzis every day and ate loads of food and we were usually too full to be arsed to record anything.”
Ms. Davies concluded: “I would like to encourage anyone with any anecdotes or memories about Rockfield to come forward and let us know how much it rocked you!”
‘From Stables to Studios: The Story of Rockfield, Monmouth and Music’ is due for launch in April this year.
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