My first 5 Rock ‘n’ roll myths.

My first 5 Rock ‘n’ roll myths.

by | Sep 21, 2020 | blogs, stories | 0 comments

Let’s start with July 9th 1955. Rock ‘n’ roll’s Ground Zero.  “The first time I really ever felt a tingle up my spine was when I saw Bill Haley and the Comets on the telly. ” Paul McCartney. Things are rarely as they first seem...
Book Pink Floyd – £250 ($334) a pop.

Book Pink Floyd – £250 ($334) a pop.

by | Sep 2, 2020 | blogs, stories | 0 comments

How would you like to hire Pink Floyd for just £250 (US$334.47) a night? Back in 1969, in the UK, such a thing was possible. As you can see from this vintage price-list, Joe Cocker, the Moody Blues and Jethro Tull cost you £350 ($468) nightly; and Ten Years After,...
AC/DC’s unsung older Young brothers.

AC/DC’s unsung older Young brothers.

by | Aug 9, 2020 | blogs, stories | 5 comments

I’ve always had a soft spot for hard rock band AC/DC since seeing one of their early gigs in Melbourne, Australia, in 1974. An unknown AC/DC were supporting a well-known Lou Reed, who we’d paid handsomely to see, but found uninspired and disappointing. AC/DC weren’t...
My tribute to Jeff Beck.

My tribute to Jeff Beck.

by | Apr 24, 2020 | blogs, stories | 0 comments

The blues guitarists’ guitarist. If you read my last post about the Thames Delta guitar heroes, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, you’ll know which one of the three isn’t a mainstream mega-star. Of course, it’s Jeff Beck. While Jeff hasn’t sold...
CRUISIN’ FOR A BLUESIN’

CRUISIN’ FOR A BLUESIN’

by | Feb 19, 2020 | blogs, stories | 0 comments

Blues and rock on the high seas (written before coronavirus ruined cruising for everyone) You know you’re getting on a bit when you start writing about ocean cruises. Not that I’m expecting to hit the high seas any time soon. Unfortunately, my wife has the twin fears...
Has Carlos Wilde gone punk?

Has Carlos Wilde gone punk?

by | Oct 7, 2019 | blogs, stories | 103 comments

You’d be amazed just how many rock stars were teachers, as Carlos Wilde still is, and has been for years now. Queen’s Brian May taught math(s) and science; Mark Knopfler taught English, as did fellow Geordie, Sting.  Carlos Wilde. Still rocking, still...
PAINTING THE BLUES.

PAINTING THE BLUES.

by | Jul 12, 2019 | blogs, stories | 0 comments

Top blues-inspired artwork, from a top blues-inspired artist. Check out talented blues painter, Jean-Claude Legros, left, at Blues Attic Paintings, France. Jean-Claude reminds me of the French detective, Julien Baptiste, from the UK TV series of the same name, a...
Rock ‘n’ roll, from 1925.

Rock ‘n’ roll, from 1925.

by | May 22, 2019 | blogs, stories | 0 comments

I’ve just come across an amazing discovery. Researching my new book, ‘150 Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll’, I’ve found what I think just might be the very first prototype rock ‘n’ roll record. If you ignore the first nine...