I Went Down to the Chelsea Drugstore

Yes, it was a real place, and way stranger than Jagger described.
ko-fi.com/jago...
/ jagohazzard

[@brando6BL]

I stayed on a converted Thames sailing-barge down on Cheyne Walk, back in 1969. It lay right at the end of the boats, closest to Lots Road and directly next to where the garbage scows were loaded for their run downriver. Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful owned a house on the opposite side of Cheyne Walk at the time and the area was full of long-haired people. Up around the World's End the shops were mostly devoted to trendiness, like the hairdressing emporium named Sweeney Todd's - good haircut, better head massage from the girls who did the pre-cut hair-washing. Outrageous price as I recall too. I met up with Mick Taylor (the Stones' newest guitarist and replacement for Brian Jones) and drank a coffee with him and talked about blues music. By the end of the year it was all over. Brian Jones was dead, the Annabel had sunk at her moorings and the godawful Seventies had started. I left and went abroad.

[@chazzyb8660]

I grew up at the World's End end of the Fulham Road in the 1960s. The Chelsea Drug Store had a regular artists market outside it on Saturdays where my mum and other friends used to sell pictures and sculptures (in the 70s). One friend of hers used to paint the punks, in watercolour, a nice contrast - she swore they were lovely kids under the make-up and hair-dye, they probably were. In the war she had illustrated maps for the army. My dad bought a semi-pornographic sculpture of Britt Ekland, another artist's then girl-friend, allegedly. It was a fun time to be a kid. We had a brewery, or at least a beer distribution point at the bottom of Fernshaw Road. My favourite shop, for a short while was a stripped pine shop, next (?) to 'Granny Takes a Trip', which had a real live lion in it - yes really, there is a documentary on KZbin dedicated to it. A bit later there was the Fluck and Law teapot shop, and of course Seditionaires / SEX, the Malcom McLaren & Vivianne Westwood shops. Shops seemed to come and go with bewildering rapidity, but always interesting. If I go back now the only surviving shop on the Fulham Road I recognise is Farmers the hardware shop, presumably because everyone needs screws and buckets.

[@Nog311]

I remmeber the artists market....looking at the paintings when mum was in Safeway....next door.

[@KENTYtv]

Jago it couldn't have closed down in 1971 because I went in the Drugstore for a night out at the disco that was inside in summer 1973. I seem to remember It costing £5 to get in which would be about £50 of todays money. It was quite small and packed solid It took ages to get an expensive drink or go to the loo. It was the first bar I had ever seen equipped with beer taps that measured the pint (or half) and stopped pouring automatically. There was a "!GO GO" Dancer in one corner I seem to remember her being called Maureen, I remember hearing "Nutbush City Limits" and "Showdown" by ELO playing and that's about it. Showdown was released in 1973 which was the year I spent in "digs" working in London. Thank you for putting this up as there is not much about this place anywhere else.

[@DearestHershel]

One of my favourite things about the Kings Road actually dates back to the Second World War. There's a series of Guinness Partnership houses in the middle of the road that were severely bombed in the latter half of the Blitz, killing some of the residents, including a Mr Caple and his wife, who looked after the buildings and the grounds for the Trust. As such, when they were rebuilt, the Trust named one of the buildings Caple House out of respect, and it's still there today. If you're interested in the area more, I STRONGLY recommend reading Donald James Wheal's two books 'World's End' and 'White City' - memoirs of his childhood growing up in that part of London. 'World's End' is undoubtedly the best book I've ever read and I can't recommend it enough. Great vid, Jago!

[@neilbain8736]

This has brought back some old memories. A long dead friend's claim to fame and fortune was to run what I assume was an ironmonger's in Chelsea, and he regularly sold Mick Jagger ( and others ) paraffin. But he specifically remembered selling him paraffin. He made his fortune there and retired early to Scotland where he led a quiet and simple life, not needing to work but did so anyway for something to do. He never married, appearing to some as tight fisted and scruffy. This was bollocks- apart from the scruffy- as he was quite a brilliant graphic artist and did artwork for me gratis. He also paid tradesmen their worth. A decent bloke, sadly dead some 20 years or so now.

[@psammiad]

Why did Mick Jagger need so much paraffin?

[@neilbain8736]

@@psammiad Heating usually was the use.

[@michaeldaley5831]

It may have closed in 71,But it reopened a few months later,bar upstairs played loudly, great music of the time,zeppelin,Floyd ect,it was still called the drugstore.,went there every Friday sat from 76 until 80.

[@SaifullahRaes]

This definitely shows people's ages Jago! As a small child, I can remember the Biba store on Ken High Street, another fab way out groovy kind of place, totally wasted on a bored toddler who wanted to be anywhere other than shopping 🛍 😡lol...

[@Shaft51]

Tat brings back memories - though the saying goes " if you can remember the 60's you weren't really there"

[@brianartillery]

I was born in 1963. I have pretty good memories of my life from 1966 onwards. I'm beginning to wonder if whoever coined that phrase actually lived in the 1960's themselves, and was a bit jealous of those who did.

[@Shaft51]

Its disputed who said it - "Quote Investigator: Yes, many people think they remember who said this. The problem is they disagree: Paul Kantner, Robin Williams, Paul Krassner, Pete Townshend, Grace Slick, Timothy Leary, and many others have been credited with the saying. Of course, no one who was there really remembers. " They probably don't remember because of what they were under the influence of at the time!

[@mypointofview1111]

That has to be the stupidest thing anyone could say. It's like saying that decade never existed. I'd rephrase it to say those can't recall the 1960s were off their faces the whole time. The rest of us remember a great time in many respects, including the 3 day week and other chappy bits. The fashions were vibrant, as was decor & furniture. The music scene was amazing, so many artists made their names then, so many genres just exploded into existence. Jobs were plentiful, you could finish a job on Friday & get another job by Tuesday. By comparison to life now, it was paradise

[@pulaski1]

That was great, and an interesting change from the Tube and train videos.

[@HonestMan112]

I'm too addicted to these videos now. Look what you've done Jago!

[@cappuccinodriverno1]

Rare to see a Suzuki Cappuccino drive through at 0.44 . There were only 300 imported at the time. I had one once a real fun car. The roof came apart in 3 parts and just about fitted into the boot

[@nezbrun872]

Thanks. I've lived in Chelsea since 1992, and it's only recently I discovered the history of the McDonalds, thanks to another channel on KZbin. Even over the years since 1992, it's changed, although Maccy D's has always been there. Mary Quant's place seems to change very frequently, I've lost count of the number of ice cream parlours it's been. The Pheasantry is another place with plenty of history, it used to be a night spot in the 90s but it's now a Pizza Express. Like many high streets, the Kings Road struggles to keep its identity, with so many chains competing for retail space.

[@philrabe910]

No you can't always get what you want, droogies, but Mickey D's serves Milk. All day long into the night, under the fluorescent yellow arches... So there's that.

[@aliaslisabeth1031]

This is an interesting story. I had always thought the song was about Chelsea in New York. Back then and through the 1980s, Chelsea, NYC was seedy and dangerous. Sid Vicious was found with a dead Nancy Spungen in the Chelsea Hotel, for example. So I presumed that the Chelsea Drugstore was a euphemism to scoring drugs. Another Stones hit, "Miss You" is obviously about New York.

[@highpath4776]

I didn't really discover the Kings Road in The 60s, our shopping was determined by was there a bus, and was there a Marks and Spencer? I determined to visit in the mid 80s , I also had some friends working at the World's End Estate and another friend had ancestors from the thameside area a short walk away. However I always feel happiest in the SW6 area - though I cannot afford the property prices, my ancesters lived around the area at the end of the C19th. Anyway a walk from Sloane Square East following roughly the district in spirt is another interesting area, it always feels warmer, and sunnier than East London and a Happier place than North London and more vibrant than the far out west boroughs.

[@PeterPeadar]

You COULD get what you want, if, instead of McDonald's, the drug store converted to a Burger King. It's tag line from years gone bye: "Have it your way at Burger King."

[@roberthill6216]

What a cool looking building.

[@tonybennett9964]

I remember it from 68 to 70 and the waitresses in proper red minidresses

[@hannamccarthyh]

That was great, thank you! I remember it well, also one in Paris. God, it all looks so sad now. (What was that other centre of grooviness thereabouts...everyone lived there at some point, The Pheasantry? The Owlery? Damnit...brain freeze!) One of the highlights of watching the film of The Stones in The Park (1969) is observing all the heads and gods emerging from their boltholes around Chelsea, blinking in the daylight as they trudge/are chauffeured towards Marble Arch. Chelsea looks so quiet and almost bucolic; seemed like a hundred years ago, even then.

[@fenderac3049]

Yes I used to go to the Chelsea Drug Store when it opened in ‘68, strange place, you could buy a pint and then go peruse the record store whilst having a drink. I used to regularly go cloth shopping in the Kings Road, then go into the Drug Store for a pint afterwards. It was a good place to meet people, but after a while I stopped going there and rather go to a proper pub.

[@sloanelouch393]

It was a Pub as well. A Charrington house as I remember.

[@markmay4954]

You are correct and it also had a 24 licence to open as it was classed as a chemist. Whilst it was open most of the Chelsea team along with fans would go in there after games to drink the night away :-)

[@DoubleACbg]

When I first visited Kings Road back in 1993, I was thinking more about the punk rock scene and where Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood had their shops, but I did have ice cream at a Haagen-Dazs. I did notice shops selling cowboy boots, probably because line dancing to contemporary country music was catching on after it started up in North America, and I was like, “AAAGH!”.

[@chazzyb8660]

The cowboy boot shop had the perfect Kings Road name < R-Soles >. Used to make us giggle whenever it came on in the advertising slot at the cinema opposite the Old Town Hall. I am sure you are too polite to recall the name. It was certainly there before line dancing, late 60s, early 70s perhaps?

[@mcarp555]

This story reminds me a lot of the Apple boutique on Baker Street, with its psychedelic mural that the council had the Beatles paint over. It's now an estate agents, I think.

[@moogmike1]

Wow...Chelsea Drugstore....now that does take me back to 1973-1974, spent some great nights there, I recall the looped film clips from the 60s film 'Jason and the Argonauts'. It was a great place to meet girls. Happy memories...sadly missed.

[@angelagibbons6744]

Wow thanks for the memories the Kings Road was once a great road with lots of great shops. Now?? All gone.😥😥

[@highpath4776]

Thinking about it In the 1970s There Was The Emporium in Kingston Upon Thames where I bought Incense . It too sold most things Kaftan related (!), no records though- plenty of other stores there for those. I presume it was shopped at by Students from Kingston University (or whatever the constituents were called then), and the residents of the nearby Islands on the Thames.

[@chazzyb8660]

It was still Kingston School of Art, or Art School back then. By the time I got there in the 80s it had become Kingston Poly. Bring back the Polytechnics, "that's what I want".

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

It was still there in the 1980s, but it had nothing inside that appealed to me, so I didn't go in. So now it's a Mcdonalds huh? Ditto to my previous statement in that case.

[@phil-zz5hk]

in 1971 it wasnt closed down . i used to drink in there in 74 and 75 . i was based in chelsea barracks .

[@frankthespank]

Kinda sad it’s a McDonalds now.... What’s also sad is how this video only has 88 views!! Maybe it’s... what ya need, not what ya want. 😎

[@highpath4776]

Its gonna be a slow burn one.

[@richardrogers5756]

I remember this place, shops, record store, bars, just down the King's Road from another place I can recall, Orange Julius.

[@sloanelouch393]

Ah yes the Orange Julius ,The secret recipe was Ice Cream Powder !!!. For them that remember. Next Door to the "Great Gear Trading Company". Another sort of shopping stall place. Used to sell Water Beds. I accidentally burst one mucking about. Dead opposite the little Cinema where the Rocky Horror show Started.

[@misfit2022]

I was in the area a few weeks ago and walked past Joe the Juice without knowing the history. St Luke’s Gardens. Everyone was sunning themselves.

[@poowey]

Thank you.

[@mydogslikeboiledeggs7094]

Always wanted to know more about that line, but I hoped I could just wait and let history and rock n roll mingle until the legend was too immense to avoid. Thank you.

[@wertrocks123]

Yeah but if you try some time, you might just find, you get what you need

[@brijones]

i remember it well i was 17 in 1977 and we went to kings rd every Saturday

[@joshdean7194]

love a bit of the ol ultraviolence

[@johnnyrvf]

I used to go to the Chelsea Drugstore in the mid seventies.

[@vanillasplash6198]

I want one of them deliveries. Lol

[@user-pj8uj7wx3s]

Should be rebuilt as the pub it was originally - see the opening scene of 'The Servant' from 1963.

[@mrbojangles8133]

at UEFA they'll be thinking Chelsea, Drugs, investigate immediately

[@trevormillar2755]

Actually the Drugstore was never anything more than a nightclub; you are confusing it with the Great Gear Market (also since closed) about 100 yards further down (towards Worlds End)

[@pjgathergood6987]

I did indeed go down to the old Chelsea Drug Store just over a year ago on one of my history photo wanders - the King's Road and the local area became quite a regular visiting ground for quite a while before the delight of the pandemic swept in. When I saw that the old building had become a McDonalds my heart literally sank... Sums up so much about how the old counterculture has now been swallowed up by the lifeless, soulless mainstream (To use an inadequate metaphor, it's kinda like how the once anarchic 'Simpsons' are now owned by Disney of all things!)

[@springbok4015]

Shame that it’s just a McDonald’s now. Great video sir! I enjoy your videos.

[@jimcusack433]

Delighted I've found this most erudite guide. Apropos 'You Can't Always Get What You Want': ex-President Trump had this song played as he left the stage at all his rallies, the children's choir accompanying his waving and departure from the podium. It's not the type of song you would associate with his Hillbilly audience - The Village People's catchy 'YMCA' is their actual favourite (I Know). Strangely, the playlist during the warm-ups for his rallies included other songs from the Stones, Queen, and The Who mixed with MOR American country and rock. He chose 'You Can't Always Get..', of course, as a two-fingered salute to his lumpen followers knowing they would never catch the 'irony'. And to think it was probably written because Mick Jagger couldn't get Marmite for his toast. BTW Auberon Waugh was probably right when he preached that hamburger gases were poisoning Londoners and making them stupid as part of a globalist conspiracy spearheaded in Britain by the Church of England.

[@fevkin]

Something wrong here, when I met my boyfriend in 1973, he worked at the Chelsea Drugstore, two years after this bloke says it closed down.

[@ricardo84]

It was a Drummonds wine bar too for a while back in the early 90’s. Never knew the history though.

[@Nog311]

It didn't close in 1971....more like 1980.....I spent years walking past it in my youth....by 1982 it was pub....then MC D.

[@tonyboloni64]

You can't always get what you want. Unless it's McDonalds.

[@michaeldonahoo461]

You can't always get what you want, unless in this case, it's a Big Mac!

[@highpath4776]

I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea

[@1963TOMB]

If you do make sure you have Oliver's Army with you!

[@highpath4776]

@@1963TOMB Rather have Natasha

[@darganx]

@@highpath4776 I prefer Alison myself..

[@paulbennell3313]

Does it not move you?

[@hirundine44]

London in 1960's..? Was like London in 1950's mostly... counterculture..? Sure but not confined to Chelsea, no matter what the lyrics. Everything still closed at 5-6pm opened at nine. plenty of ordinary...

[@emilyadams3228]

It was in A Clockwork Orange, eh? Then instead of McDonald’s, it should’ve become an In-N-Out Burger.

[@JagoHazzard]

Heyooooo!

[@TheInselaffen]

...unless it's a Big Mac.

[@leelinden4963]

Ah, takes me back... Anyone else remember that sign board they used to put out on the Kings Road pavement that said "EARS PIERCED WHILE YOU WAIT" ? How's that for service! Better service than all those London shops that had a sign in the window saying "4 HOUR DRY CLEANING" and a morose b*gg*r behind the counter who told you, like he was doing you a favour, that your stuff would be done by Thursday week. (Probably).

[@DD-qq8sn]

But it says '4 hour dry cleaning' in the window. That's just the name of the shop, sir. (Vivian Stanshall?)

[@plaws0]

Sure, but if you try some time ...

[@johnnyboy3949]

I want a big mac and a milkshake. Looks like I can get what I want!

[@johnnyboy3949]

Although the milkshake machine will probably be broken.

[@TSZatoichi]

I wonder if any of the McDonald's employees know the history of the building.

[@talmadge1926]

The facade was NOT stainless steel. It was had a shiny bronze finish. My 2 best friends at the time ran the magazine/tobacconist stand at the main entrance. Never liked the place. It was a claustrophobic rabbit warren full of the most ridiculous upmarket overpriced rubbish. The residents of Royal Avenue were i think quite rightly annoyed by the jarring architecture but mostly by the thump thump music that blared from it all day.

[@aodhangilmartin9528]

Sad it's a MacDonalds. Even a Wetherspoons would be better.

[@sjguk267]

Can't get decent food at McDonald's either!

[@ant4812]

the original facade looked better.

[@EricB256]

So there you went, but what did you get? A burger and fries? ;-)

[@chrismason5905]

You could if you wanted a Big Mac & Fries.

[@grogalot2]

My girlfriend at the time worked here. Oh happy days

[@rogerfox2995]

"Unsavoury musician types"? How very dare you? But yes, Kings road has certainly lost it's buzz.

[@MrGreatplum]

Nothing says counter-culture more than a branch of McDonalds - progress eh?

[@robertmchugh4639]

"You can't always get what you want", and "Clockwork orange". Is that your idea of the '60s ?. Weird.

[@JagoHazzard]

I would have covered the whole decade, but no one’s going to watch a ten-year-long video.

[@robertmchugh4639]

@@JagoHazzard You've got a point. Sorry about what I wrote. I concede your point. Well, I got it out . Good day.