In the introduction to her 1986 book ‘Knebworth Rock Festivals’, my mother Chryssie says how “from Adelaide to Santa Barbara, Stockholm to Nairobi, wherever I travel I discover Knebworth fans. ‘Where do you come from?’ ‘Near Stevenage.’ ‘Never heard of it.’ ‘Well… Knebworth.’ ‘KNEBWORTH!’ ‘Deep Purple! ******* wet wasn’t it?’… ‘See you next year!’
To us, the people of this Parish, the word ‘Knebworth’ means very much more than rock concerts. But it is a fact that, since the 1970s, the name of our home has reached the far corners of the Earth because of the profile of these unique events. Knebworth Concerts are unique because of their size – Knebworth Park is still the largest single stage venue in the country – and because of a growing legacy of legendary moments of music history, such as the last ever shows of Led Zeppelin and Freddie Mercury, and the iconic weekends of Oasis in 1996 and Robbie Williams in 2003.
The man responsible for initiating the worldwide recognition of the name ‘Knebworth’ died in August. So this month I pay tribute to the vision, perseverance, downright stubbornness, but most of all love of music of Freddy Bannister, the father of Knebworth Concerts. Thank you, Freddy, for every one of the legendary Knebworth concerts of the 1970s – Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, etc. – and for that prescient letter to Knebworth House of 5th February 1974 that started it all: “I was struck by the obvious suitability of the area for a one day popular music concert…” To Freddy Bannister – Knebworth Park and millions of music fans worldwide salute you!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
@HenryCobboldKH
Freddy Bannister