Save Maida Vale

The BBC recently announced that its iconic Maida Vale Studios are to close and, whilst I can see value in Auntie building new state-of-the-art facilities (because, lets face it, a converted roller rink in a sleepy part of London seems out of place in this digital age) the building is of great cultural importance (thanks in no small part to its association with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and the many Peel Sessions recorded there) so shouldn't be demolished and replaced with another block of flats.

Having been lucky enough to visit Maida Vale Studios it strikes me as odd that so much interesting music could come from such a nondescript building, hidden away as it is on a quiet residential street. From outside there's not much to give the game away, a brass nameplate (as in the image above) and a flaky paint job. Once inside however the corridor walls are adorned with photos of artists past and present, in various states of performance, all hallowed visitors to NW6. There is brief time to ogle these images though as, crocodile fashion, punters are led past flight-cases and into one of the large studio rooms where sonic wonder awaits.

So then fellow music lover, how to save this quirky, odd,yet highly significant piece of British music history? Hope? Thoughts and prayers? Perhaps not, but one enterprising soul has created an online petition to implore the BBC to reverse their decision. Sign the petition and follow Maida Vale Studios on Twitter for updates. Whatever happens, when/if Maida Vale closes, I trust the BBC are going to throw it one hell of a goodbye party.