Hollywood's Walk of Fame, "twinned" with Camden High street?

[T_i_B]

What an utterly daft idea.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2104529,00.html

Astreet in north London may be about to be paved with gold, or at least gold stars. Leron Gubler, president of the trust that runs Hollywood's fabled Walk of Fame, has proposed that it become 'twinned' with Camden High Street, giving London its own Walk of Fame, but exclusively for musicians. Gubler, who oversees some 2,300 five-pointed brass and pink terrazzo stars, each paying homage to an entertainment celebrity, on 18 blocks of Los Angeles pavement, says 'it would be great to work with Camden - it's a natural fit'.

Chas Smash, of Madness, believes 'We should celebrate what we've got, and for that you need a symbol'. Local resident Jazzie B, frontman of dance act Soul II Soul, adds, 'Britain should honour its own, not wait for someone else to do it'.

Mayor Ken Livingstone's office has given the nod, as has the local council. Nick Mason, who is planning a documentary on the Walk of Fame's launch, became taken with the subject because of the range of music genres to which Camden has acted as midwife. 'Psychedelia, glam rock, punk, Britpop all came out of this place. It endures through everything.'

Another worry is that the walk will add to the creeping commercialisation of Camden. Hackles have been raised by a rumour that Starbucks could be a sponsor, though in fact so far only music channel MTV, NME and Dr Martens are attached. US commentators have been critical of the $25,000 (£12,680) fee that Hollywood's Walk of Fame charges new inductees and how this has led to them being sponsored by record companies and film studios, with unveilings coinciding with album releases and film launches.