In December of 2007 it would be easy to walk past 25 Swan Street and be unimpressed by the decrepit building but be curious about the sign on the wall. In the 1800s there was a pub on this site called the George and Dragon. The pub acquired the name "Band on the Wall" in the 1930s when the landlord had a stage installed high on the far wall of the pub for musicians to use.

When and how the pub developed a reputation for live music performances isn't known but it is suspected that it wasn't uncommon for music to be part of the scene in market pubs. For many years Smithfield Market was a thriving place and the pubs in the area were lively too. It was officially called "Band on the Wall" in the 1970s when it was bought with a view to making it into a jazz club. Jazz was the focus until the late 70s when Punk hit the Band on the Wall and it gave a venue for such bands as the Buzzcocks , Fast Cars, and The Fall.

It wasn't that Jazz was taken off the menu though and in the 1980s a logo was added to the sign that represents Dizzy Gillespie. It was in the 80s that the "Bands" reputation went world-wide and artists like Simply Red performed there.  In December of 2007 it would be easy to conclude that "Band on the Wall" is closed and consigned to history. In fact, it is closed but with £3.2 million awarded by the Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund it is being converted into a 21st century performance venue.