A new artwork honouring Amy Winehouse has been unveiled outside an iconic Camden music venue.
The mural, which shows Winehouse sitting on a box of records, appeared on the front of Koko yesterday (September 13).
It came the day before what would have been the singer’s 41st birthday and is by anonymous street artist Bambi.
A quote reading - “Camden Town ain’t burning down” - features alongside the artwork.
Winehouse famously made the statement when receiving five Grammys in 2008 after a fire had broken out in Camden Lock the night before.
She declared - “this is for Camden” - after tying the then-record for most Grammys received by a woman in one night.
Koko described the work as a “deliberate homage to NW1 amidst a crisis” and said the words “resonate more profoundly than ever” after the venue saw a major fire in 2020.
Bambi, who has been dubbed “the female Banksy”, first gained attention for her ‘Amy Jade’ work in Camden, sprayed in tribute to the star following her death in 2011.
The artist, who has more than 640,000 followers on Instagram, said: “Amy Winehouse was an extraordinary woman who challenged mainstream pop and inspired so many people.
“She represented the true spirit of Camden. Her subversive style and rebellious nature were felt around the world.
“It’s only fitting that I pay tribute to her on her birthday, at Koko, a venue where she used to hang out and perform, that carries the same rebellious spirit.”
Koko has hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, Prince and The Clash since opening as a music venue in 1977, and has also been known as The Music Machine and Camden Palace.
Reporting by PA.
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