Soul II Soul frontman Jazzie B today urged young Londoners to follow his example and use the recession to kick - start their careers.

He spoke after the group, which transformed British club music in the Eighties and Nineties, was honoured with a heritage plaque at the sit of their first full live gig in Brixton 1991. Jazzie B - real name Trevor Romeo said band members were ''Overwhelmed" by the award. He told how the group formed as the UK was gripped by recession: " Thats what kids need to do today; we went from Hackney to New York and around the world. "We are going through adverse times. The whole concept of art is about being elevated and creative and during these times it is a great time to come up with a spirited idea, whether music or something else. Then it is not simply about economics"

Soul II Soul, whose members have also included producer Nellee Hooper and singer Caron Wheeler, started life as a sound system playing house and street parties but hit the big time in 1989, when singles Keep On Movin' and number one Back To Life defined the club scene.

There laid back sound became hugely influential and their first two albums topped the charts. They have sold more than 6.8 million albums worldwide.Group members Wheeler, Aitch and Q joined Jazzie on the 21st as the heritage award plaque was installed on the front of Electric Brixton - which was the Fridge nightclub when Soul 11 Soul first played. It was awarded by PRS for Music, which protects the copyright of song writers and musicians.