Pete's plugging away

HAVING worked with music legends such as Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Rod Stewart, it's little wonder promoter Pete Feenstra is a firm advocate of the live music experience.

And having run the hugely successful nights at the Worcester Park Club for more than six years - helping turn it in to one of south London's leading live music venues - he's now moving on.

CHRIS PRAGNELL found out more . . .

Q. Are you a born and bred south Londoner?

A. No - I was actually born in Rotterdam, as my name gives away. I've lived all over England though, Nottingham, Birmingham - you name it.

Q. So, when did you move to south London and why?

A. I moved south in the late 70s for work. I got a job as a music librarian for Southwark borough council, working in Walworth Road.

I did that for about a year, got my qualification - I'm actually a chartered music librarian you know - although I think they call it something else now.

Q. What are your favourite south London hangouts?

A. I was living in Kennington Road, Lambeth, and I went to a lot of south London pubs. This was a time that shaped things to come.

I drank at the Half Moon, Herne Hill, where I used to see Stevie Smith and Steve Waller. They formed the R&B outfit Little Big Band.

The Father Red Cap was another: I used to see Mick Clarke there. He and Stevie Smith later formed the band Salt.

We also went down the Plough in Stockwell. That's where we saw Little Sister and Hershey and the 12 Bars.

One of my favourites was the Royal Albert, Deptford. Squeeze used to play there.

It was one of the first pubs in London to put on alternative comedy too.

Q. What's been the highlight of your career so far?

A. Those six-a-half-years at the Worcester Park Club (Park Terrace, Malden Road, Worcester Park). I would say I managed to attract every living person that I respect in music. Honestly, we were such a successful club - and the books reflected that.

Things are changing now. When great acts emerged, they used to do the university circuits. People got to see the great people live. Now the record firms release videos and don't take new talent out on the road.

Q. So what became of the Worcester Park Club?

A.It was one of the most successful ventures of its kind in south London. It was a purpose-built extension to the Worcester Park pub, run separately, but owned by the same brewery. It was demolished earlier this year by Scottish and Newcastle. I think they're going towards the restaurant market now.

Q. And now?

A. We're running live nights at Sutton United football ground, at Gander Green Lane, Sutton. We're starting up the Boom! Boom! Club at the ground, on Friday, August 9, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rolling Stones first professional gig in Surrey - it was the first time the classic line up got together.

As we speak, I'm running the Woodstock live music club in Morden.

I'm also doing the Rocking at the Cazbah on Thursdays in Central Road, Worcester Park. In the longer term also branching out into promoting European festivals. Mehtmann In Dusseldorf, and the Avignon Blues festival to name but two.

Q. How did you get in to live music promotion?

A. After two years working for Southwark I got a job at Hounslow council. I got heavily involved in their Leisure Services department. They had an outreach service - a library can't just sit there and have people come in, you've got to go out and get to the user. I was a booker.

Bob Brunning, the original Fleetwood Mac bass player had a book out, which I had contributed towards. He came to launch it, and I realised I was involved in music in that way.

Q. And then?

A. So I started doing a few gigs. The turning point came when we promoted Peter Singh, the rocking Sikh. It was a total sell out - we put on a second night, and eventually it led to the BBC doing a documentary on him. That's when it all kicked off really.

Q. Have you worked with any big names - do you have any anecdotes?

A. I've worked with Joe Cocker, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, The Kinks, Paul McCartney, Paul Young - a lot of big names. I remember when I was running the Shepherd's Bush Empire, Paul McCartney was there for the EMI sales convention. They had to clear the whole building of any traces of meat. If there'd been a sausage roll in that building, he wouldn't have come. Paul Young used to play at places like the Cricketers in Oval. He's an example of one of those who came through that circuit and made it internationally.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

A. To keep music live - at least in some parts of south London.