Centro Iberico, London, in the 1970s was a Spanish anarchist support centre, which after moving into a squatted school building in Notting Hill, London became a self-managed social centre, a live venue and a studio.

Origins

Centro Iberico was initially established at Chalk Farm early in the 1970s by Spanish Civil War veterans, principal among them Miguel García García, twenty years a prisoner of Franco.[1] Garcia and his comrades were active in the prisoner-aid group, the Anarchist Black Cross. Later, when also known as the Anarchy or Alternative ‘A’ Centre, it met in a parish hall in Holborn, before moving in 1982 to the school building, 421 Harrow Road, Notting Hill.[2][3]   [4] Its original political activity would have wound down following the restoration of parliamentary government in Spain, and Garcia's death in 1981.

Bands

The centre in Notting Hill put on anarcho-punk gigs by the Mob, Conflict, Poison Girls and the Subhumans.[5] Throbbing Gristle played and recorded at the centre.[6] Future Madonna producer William Orbit began his recording career and Guerilla Records whilst living there.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ García, Miguel (1972). Franco's Prisoner. Hart-Davis. ISBN 978-0-246-64070-3.
  2. ^ "Notting Hill History Timeline - 16 - Notting Hill Babylon (Early 1980s)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  3. ^ Meltzer, Albert (1996). I couldn't paint golden angels: Sixty years of commonplace life and anarchist agitation. AK Press. ISBN 9781873176931. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  4. ^ Chatterton, P; Hodkinson, S (2006). "Autonomy in the city". City. 10 (3): 305–315. doi:10.1080/13604810600982222. S2CID 143032260.
  5. ^ "Counter Culture Portobello Psychogeographical History - Tom Vague". Archived from the original on 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  6. ^ "Centro Iberico, London, England, 21 January 1979". Brainwashed. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  7. ^ Staff. "Shine on: William Orbit". Cold War Nightlife. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.

51°31′33″N 0°12′18″W / 51.5259°N 0.2051°W / 51.5259; -0.2051

Categories