Led Zepplin legend Jimmy Page headed to the world famous Abbey Road Studios to help a cable firm celebrate its 25th birthday.
VDC, in Brandon Road, Holloway, honoured a quarter of century of trading last week with a party at the Grade-II listed studio 2 – forever associated with The Beatles and where the biggest names in business have recorded for more than 80 years.
The company, which started from humble beginnings in a semi-derelict warehouse in 1987, is now a world leader in cabling, providing equipment for the likes of AC/DC, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzy Rascal, Kings Of Leon, New Order, Oasis, Take That and The Stone Roses, as well wiring up pretty much every major festival in the summer calender.
Niall Holden, founder of VDC, said: “To meet Jimmy Page was tremendous and I have Bob Dylan to thank for it. How many people can say that. Apparently, Jimmy was due to see Tom Chacon play a couple of nights ago but had decided to go and see Bob Dylan as he was in town too. Fortunately for us Chacon was one of the guest artists at our event and as Jimmy was still keen to hear him he came along.
“I can’t think of anyone more fitting to have met on this particular day – he was impressive and genuinely interested in me, the business, our guests and my family – and all the time he was wearing one of our VDC Trading guest badges. What a remarkable man.”
More than 130 guests turned up to the best known studio on the planet – the place where Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles, The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and The Bends by Radiohead were recorded.
Party-goers were entertained by guitarists Bob Wootton and Nick Tilley, US artist Tom Chacon and comedian musician Earl Okin, as well as being given a chance to visit the control room in the studio which saw so much musical history.
Mr Holden said: “It does feel like it’s taken 25 years to get my act together – but there’s plenty more to do. We’re certainly not running out of steam.”
The company has progressed into a multimillion pound concern which not only fits out studios – including BBC’s Maida Vale – but also The Olympic Games Opening and Closing ceremonies, a recabling of the Royal Albert hall and a refurbishment of Wimbledon Tennis Club’s audio systems.
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