“There were many kings of the King’s Road at different periods of time but there was only one Emperor”
Lloyd Johnson
Very sad to note the passing of Billy Murphy, a thoroughly lovely bloke whose contribution to street fashion – particularly in Britain and specifically in and around the King’s Road – is sorely underrated.
I knew all about Billy’s significance in his field decades before I met him; as I wrote here, his shop The Emperor Of Wyoming was “an extremely important staging post not just in the story of British rock and roll fashion but also the development of the vintage scene in this country”.
The received histories of the Chelsea thoroughfare concentrate on 430 King’s Road and places such as Acme Attractions, but ignoring The Emperor Of Wyoming presents an incomplete picture of the retail landscape there in the early to mid-70s. Murphy’s shop was a major draw, and rightly championed by influential fashion editors of the period such as Janet Street-Porter and Pru Walters.
Put simply, Murphy’s particular area of excellence formed the missing link between the niche sales of Americana imported and explored by one of his close pals Trevor Myles at the nearby Paradise Garage in 1971 and the explosion of interest when another King’s Road outlet, Flip, started shipping substantial amounts into the UK towards the end of the decade.
And during my researches, when I turned up photography of his lovingly curated clothes in an issue of Club International, I made sure to dig out a pristine copy for Billy. Not that he struck me as the type of character to trade on his past; Billy’s unassuming nature was just one aspect of his delightful charm which will be missed by those who knew him well and the thousands like me who pleasured in just a passing acquaintance.
Thanks to Sean Moorman for his kind permission to feature the portrait of Billy. Visit Sean’s site here.
Ricardo Gibbs
December 21, 2014 at 5:16 pmI miss my mate Billy.
-Rick, Tooting
Sleepy John Wickenden
December 24, 2014 at 4:58 amWhat a big cheerful heart Billy had through good times and bad.
Even I’ve been abroad ten years and we hadn’t spoken (how i wish I had now) he’s one of those people who are an essential part of the backdrop of one’s life.
Gutted but lucky to have spent so many hours together.
Sleepy
martin
December 24, 2014 at 12:53 pmBilly was a legend ,unique ,warm and generous man who will be sorely missed. The Chelsea Arts club will a much different without him .RIP Billy
David McGinty
December 24, 2014 at 1:57 pmBilly was unique, I used to joke I was his apprentice, but there was no keeping up with him. Warm and loving, he was a wise man who let his inner child play, dancing anywhere he felt like, bringing on smiles from all. He emanated love and brought it out in people, generated a freedom of spirit I have never experienced from anyone else. He told me he had earned and lost millions a few times, laughing while he did, but the true gold in his life was his children, and he glowed with love and pride when he spoke of them. I can`t quite believe he has gone- greatly loved, sorely missed.
Jeffrey O'Kelly.
January 14, 2015 at 9:12 pmWe danced in the sunshine of Billy’s spirit. He was an incredible fellow who flew on the light-fantastic and gave us laughter, warmth and kindness. Always. No matter what. He was a poet from Cork who lived his life to the full and his humour and engaging charm will be missed by all who knew him. Billy would rise above any circumstance, a free spirit … almost Shaman- like in that calling. He would leave you with a smile within your memory. Farewell dear friend and God bless you Billy. You were unique.
Anton Plati
July 25, 2015 at 5:37 pmWhilst it is sad to loose anyone in this world who means something to you, I have looked at various websites re the Kings Road shop TEOW, there is never any mention, unjustly, of Michael McVeigh, Billy’s partner and originator of the shop. He was the one who conceptualised the original idea, found the premises in KR and Notting Hill Gate, sniffed out and procured a lot of the original lines carried in the shops. I will say however, though there parting was not the most amicable, the shops ethos and originality was not a one man show but a definitive partnership.
Billy, RIP, but Michael, without your original ideas, we would not have have these memories of such a niche and influential emporium in London..
A
Paul Gorman Author
July 25, 2015 at 5:53 pmI mentioned how he and Michael launched TEOW together in my Telegraph obit Anton (see link below). Maybe there are others? Certainly those that I talked to mentioned MM, which is why I made sure his input was recorded.
Unless you have information to the contrary their partnership was over within a few years; Billy Murphy went on for decades without MM and I am sure I am not alone in believing that he could not have done this without his own reserves of invention, wit and style.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11380062/Billy-Murphy-fashion-entrepreneur-obituary.html
Anton
August 13, 2015 at 1:22 amPaul, I have to say, you are a writer for a reason.
Your words are perfect.
MM was indeed the seed, that with Billy’s persona, grew into the creative outlet that was TEOW.
You are also correct in regards to the length of time their partnership lasted and how long Billy’s influence continued after their split.
Knowing MM well, even to this day, I don’t think HIS persona would have survived.
Just wanted to give credit where it was due but in retrospect, you kind of did that anyway I guess.
Thank you for your kind words, and in a way, I think MM was happy to get the mention he did. Made him feel like he played at least a small part, in something that had such an influence on many others which is still remembered years later.
Anton
Paul Gorman Author
August 13, 2015 at 8:07 amThank you Anton. Please pass on my regards to Michael.
Fraser mackay
August 18, 2016 at 9:13 pmMet Billy in 73. Had a western Jean store opening in Edinburgh and made contact with Billy to ask if he would sell me some washed out Levis. He obliged without hesitation. Class guy. Loved his shop. Hope he went with his boots on. Cheers Billy your still the emperor.