Harrogate band at famous BBC studios used by Nirvana and The Beatles

It’s been a long time since any Harrogate band performed in the BBC’s loftiest temples of rock music, possibly since prog-folkers Wally played Bob Harris’s Old Grey Whistle Test TV show in the 1970s.

Now another Harrogate band has hit those heights.

Having already been the stars of their own documentary film on the BBCiPlayer, the UK Foo Fighters recently headed to London to record a session at the BBC Maida Vale studios.

Almost anyone who is anyone in rock music has stepped into that famous studio over the last 50 years, from The Beatles to Nirvana.

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Lead singer Jay Apperley and his fellow Harrogate musicians have become the UK’s most successful tribute to the real Dave Grohl and co a little at time in the last decade since they formed in 2007, showing respect as well as talent.

But the man who still works at Stratstone motor dealers in Pannal and his Harrogate-based band could never have dreamed they would ever record their own sessions in the studio where the late, great John Peel was responsible for so many classic indie musical moments and where most recent mainstream stars have done their thing for BBC’s Live Lounge.

Jay said: “I asked brilliant producer Simon Askew at BBC Maida Vale studios a few years ago if there was a chance of the UK Foos recording there.

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“It was just a dream, really. Then he got in touch earlier this year saying he had a slot free this month and had thought of us.”

The UK Foos’s amazing day in the limelight took place on Monday, November 4.

Jay said: “The day went quickly. We got three Foos tracks down, including Everlong, but time was running out fast so we did an AC/DC track that the real Foos did when they recorded for BBC Live Lounge to finish the session off.

“It was an incredible experience. We had an absolute blast thanks to Simon. I can’t thank him enough.”

Fans can listen to the whole session on the UK Foo Fighters’ website.

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