From mods to metal at The Ruskin Arms
The Ruskin Arms opened in 1899 on High Street North, East Ham, and became one of Newham’s best-known pubs and music venues. In the 1960s it was run by Jimmy Winston, original keyboard player of the Small Faces, whose family owned the pub. The band rehearsed upstairs and played some of their earliest gigs there. Later, the pub was run by Joe Lucy, the former British lightweight boxing champion, who promoted rock concerts and added to its growing reputation for live music.
Metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
From the late 1970s, the Ruskin became closely associated with Iron Maiden, who played regular shows there before breaking through internationally. The venue became a landmark of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and was immortalised on the back cover of Iron Maiden’s 1986 album Somewhere in Time
Star Sound, NuSound & Community Legacy
In the 1980s, the pub was taken over by Jack Singh Sandhu, under whose ownership the Ruskin became both a celebrated heavy metal venue and a hub for Newham’s South Asian community. Punjabi bands played Sunday sessions, and in 1991 Taari Sian launched Star Sound Radio (later NuSound) from an upstairs room, bringing together local voices and music on air.
The Ruskin Arms closed in 2008, briefly reopened as a hotel in 2013, and finally closed in 2018.
Oral histories
Jack Singh Sandu
Play audio
Background
Jack Singh Sandhu, born 1965 in Newham, was owner of the Ruskin Arms in Manor Park, a heavy metal pub that hosted Iron Maiden and Status Quo.
Transcript
Greg Caballero
Play audio
Background
Greg Caballero, a Newham resident since 1972, is a guitarist and video engineer who recorded Iron Maiden at the Ruskin Arms in 1980.
Transcript
Sharon Caroo
Play audio
Background
Sharon Caroo, born 1968 in Newham, worked at the Ruskin Arms for over 30 years.
Transcript
Taari Sian
Play audio
Background
Taari Sian, born 1959 in Nairobi, is a musician and broadcaster who co- founded Nusound Radio in Newham after playing with the bhangra band Calendar.