Month: August 2015

Updated 12 August 2016. The Bloody Nerve – the new biography I’ve written numerous official biographies in my time for many bands and artists, from Paul McCartney & Wings for Tony Barrow International, to Gary Moore’s first band Skid Row for CBS, and even Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. So it was interesting getting back into the swing… Continue reading The Bloody Nerve. The band that rose from the ashes

UK’s music venues down on their knees Just as I finished Dave Haslem’s entertaining new book, Life After Dark, A History of British Nightclubs and Music Venues, I read that the UK music venue and nightclub industry is on its knees. Almost half have closed in the last ten years, say the newspapers. Some 3,144 venues offered late… Continue reading Life after dark but how much longer?

Jimmy Page with The Tower House, left. Next door is Robbie Williams’ Woodland House Sunday was gorgeous in London, hitting 27c, so we took a stroll to Holland Park, on the way passing Jimmy Page’s 1875 gothic mansion, on the park’s edge. Now, we all know Jimmy’s interest in witchcraft, black magic and Satanism, and his house certainly fits the… Continue reading Jimmy Page and that old black magic

Updated 26 May 2016 The first ever electric guitar hit record also happened to be blues: Floyd’s Guitar Blues.  But before that, here’s Bennie Moten’s iconic band. Guitarist Eddie Durham is 2nd left, next to that great blues vocalist, Jimmy Rushing, left We’re talking 1939 here when the electric guitar was in its infancy. As it happens,… Continue reading Electric guitar blues. The first hit record.