"Then when the flap went down the noise was just incredible", Tony recalls the surreal moment after being pranked on Michael McIntyre's Big Show... By Ian Woolley Off the back of that prime-time BBC show recently watched by millions of viewers, the tickets for his...
One of only three female performers at the 1969 Woodstock Festival, Melanie Safka went on to record over 28 studio albums in her long career and was reported working on a new album at the time of her death... OBITUARY By Ian Woolley Her three children released the...
It's taken 50 years to get the Zombies recorded back catalogue back into their own hands and lead singer Colin Blunstone couldn't be more happier... By Ian Woolley "It's very exciting and we were really fortunate with the company that handled our masters and I think...
Teenage love and tragedy were told through many of the Shangri-Las songs which propelled the two sets of sisters to the very top of the US charts in the 60s... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley The group came together when they met at school in the tough Queens district of New...
It can be a very tough climate for music right now. Those who look back to the 70s and consider music to be Top of the Pops, glam, Pan's People, and when everything was simpler can find the demands of creating music in the modern world incredibly tough. But for those...
Running a business in the current global climate is like an uphill battle, but many savvy entrepreneurs are making the best of the situation. Being adaptable, thinking ahead and understanding what your target audience needs is how business owners are going to find...
Having sold over 40 million records worldwide, the Manchester quintet Herman's Hermits who are still on the road touring with original drummer Barry Whitwam who makes this month's front cover. As 77 years of age, you could forgive Barry if he decided to hang up his...
On behalf of our Editor David and all the staff at the Beat, we wish all our loyal readers a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year... Thank you all for your support during the past year and we look forward to bringing you more exciting and interesting...
'You're only as good as your last gig' is a well-used phrase in music circles. After witnessing one of the few remaining 'glam' giants being put through his paces, it seems Dave Hill's Slade still has a lot to offer their loyal fans... ENGINE ROOMS (SOUTHAMPTON)...
One of the original guitarists with the Dakotas, Mike Maxfield has died and now one of his former band members is to release a new single in his memory... By Ian Woolley The original 1961 lineup with Maxfield was drummer Tony Bookbinder, guitarist Robin MacDonald,...
You may or may not instantly recognise his name, but you know him and you know his songs... Dennis Tufano was the original voice of The Buckinghams. the Chicago-based group that scored a string of five US Top Ten hits in the late-sixties including, the #1 “Kind of A...
Following a BBC interview in 2010 where Paul Weller sites his favourite band as The Zombies and covered one of their hits "Time Of The Season", Paul Weller is finally set to realise his dream and will join the iconic 60’s band on stage at The Barbican 7th June 2024....
Moody Blues and Wings singer, guitarist and songwriter Denny Laine has died after a short illness that kept him hospitalised after getting COVID-19 last year... OBITUARY By Ian Woolley The 78-year-old guitarist has been in and out of Naples hospital in Florida, most...
HUGH CORNWELL with very special guests The Primitives announce January 2024 - UK Tour! The recently announced tour begins in Bury St.Edmunds on the 17th of January 2024 and they'll be taking in Newcastle, Glasgow, Holmfirth, Brighton, London, Leamington Spa and Frome....
'Wonderin' Y' is an audio play that tells the story of Don's emotional journey to recovery following his horrendous car crash in 1973, which caused the death of his girlfriend Angela Morris, and left him with injury to his brain that resulted in severe and lasting...
What's inside our bumper-packed December issue of the Beat... With all those festive tunes played once again at this time of the year, one of the biggest hits was released some 60 years ago! Who can forget Noddy's rasping 'It's Christmaaaas!' coming over the airwaves....
“Christmas for me is all about memories of childhood and excitement when you went to bed early and I got up with my sister Carol at 4 am looking for presents. Now it’s all about my lovely grandkids and their excitement, it’s all about family”... By Ian Woolley So says...
As part of a large family, the lead singer of 80's pop group 5 Star knows only too well what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Now for the first time, she has released her first Christmas record... By Ian Woolley This year sees the 40th anniversary of 5...
After being hospitalized in a Dublin hospital for many months with a blood infection, it was announced today that the Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan had died... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley Hailed by many in the music world including Nick Cave as 'the greatest...
In the past few decades as the stats will prove, the BBC's stranglehold on their loyal radio listeners has dwindled. Through their revolving doors, new controllers have come in with newer ideas on how to reverse their diminishing listening figures. The result is the...
When it comes to enhancing the gaming ambiance, music plays a pivotal role. As players gather around the bingo tables, the right choice of music can transform the atmosphere, elevating the excitement and entertainment quotient. The question arises: What music genres...
With his creative juices flowing once again after five long years away from music, Derek Smalls, the bass force formerly of the fabled heavy metal band formerly known as Spinal Tap, is celebrating the start of the holiday season with a call to his former bandmates to...
For 60 years and counting, the core of one of the UK's most successful 60s pop groups are still enjoying what they do best and with a vast back catalogue of hits at their disposal, the trio of Jones, d'Abo and McGuinness still deliver... MAXIMUM RHYTHM 'N' BLUES TOUR...
Many of the skills that the top gamers use in their daily lives are the same as those that musicians use, so the crossover between the two was always going to yield some satisfying results. For gaming fans, the timing and coordination required to beat level bosses and...