Published: 20 September, 2012
by CLARE HEALY

THEY have played gigs all over the world and sold millions of records internationally but legendary dance act Faithless still consider Camden Town the “centre of music”.

Now, the group’s love of NW1 has been permanently recognised with a plaque at the Jazz Café in Parkway, marking the venue where they held their first gig in 1996.

At the unveiling on Wednesday (19th), lead singer Maxi Jazz spoke of the importance of Camden in establishing his career, having played at venues across the area “dozens of times”.

The Heritage Award tribute was organised by PRS for Music, a not-for-profit organisation which represents the rights of 90,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK.

Mark Lawrence, one of its directors, said: “The band were talented risk-takers who pushed boundaries and touched a generation.”

Commenting on the changing music scene, he lamented last week’s closure of the Record and Tape Exchange shop in Camden High Street.

“I spent so many afternoons [at the Record and Tape Exchange],” he said. “I remember there was a time of my life when buying records was easily the single most important thing I did by a considerable distance.”

He added: “You formed a relationship with the staff in there and they got to know what you like”.

Customers could exchange records, or in Maxi’s case swap “junk for funk”.

The British electronic act, who have sold more than 15 million records worldwide, are best known for their era-defining club anthem Insomnia.