Denizens of North Kennington, are you aware that the video for a certain iconic* pop song was filmed on your very doorstep? Yep, the fascinating video for ‘Come on Eileen’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners was filmed in front of the unassuming corner shop below, at the corner Brook Drive and Hayles Street in 1982. The video also has larger shots of a rather grim looking SE11. The rubble across the street would later give rise to the homes built in the mid 80’s. If you’re of an impatient disposition, the SE11 funness kicks off about 1:15 into the video.
*if you are over 45
If you want to ‘steal the look’ just borrow some old dungarees and don’t wash for a week. Feel free to post pics of your look in the comments section.
Come on, Eileen. Walcot Stores, close by, featured in one of the Krays’ biopics. And the houses along Kennington Road could be glimpsed in The Iron Lady, about Margaret Thatcher.
Did you know Pete Saunders was the pianist of Dexys Midnight Runners. He sometimes plays at the Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington.