Dedicated to the Music & Stars of 50s to 80s
Macca shines at Glastonbury
By Ian Woolley As the former Beatle turned 80, Paul McCartney can still electrify a new generation of fans... On Saturday, the festival's headlining act Macca delivered what many believed was one of his best performances when he took centre stage on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury - with a few surprise big names! Becoming the...
News Beat ➧
Primitives Announce New UK Tour Supporting Hugh Cornwell
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....
Back Beat ➧
The Wild Things Of Punk – The Troggs Story (part 1)
"I felt it a bit weird standing on stage at 75 singing I can't control myself"! By Ian Woolley So says the Troggs guitarist Chris Britton. Deemed by many to be the first 'Punk band of British pop', The Troggs and the unique blend of raw rock music has influenced the...
Review Beat ➧
Top music themed video games
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...
Obituaries ➧
Edelweiss Singer Left His Mark – RIP Vince Hill
The multi-million record-selling singer Vince Hill, best known for his No.2 hit Edelweiss has died it was announced over the weekend. To date, Vince has released 25 studio albums, recorded theme songs for 5 motion picture soundtracks and earned a national and...
Macca shines at Glastonbury
By Ian Woolley As the former Beatle turned 80, Paul McCartney can still electrify a new generation of fans... On Saturday, the festival's headlining act Macca delivered what many believed was one of his best performances when he took centre stage on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury - with a few surprise big names! Becoming the...
Print Issues ➧
Trending
News Beat ➧
Primitives Announce New UK Tour Supporting Hugh Cornwell
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....
Back Beat ➧
The Wild Things Of Punk – The Troggs Story (part 1)
"I felt it a bit weird standing on stage at 75 singing I can't control myself"! By Ian Woolley So says the Troggs guitarist Chris Britton. Deemed by many to be the first 'Punk band of British pop', The Troggs and the unique blend of raw rock music has influenced the...
Review Beat ➧
Top music themed video games
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...
Obituaries ➧
Edelweiss Singer Left His Mark – RIP Vince Hill
The multi-million record-selling singer Vince Hill, best known for his No.2 hit Edelweiss has died it was announced over the weekend. To date, Vince has released 25 studio albums, recorded theme songs for 5 motion picture soundtracks and earned a national and...
Back issues, subscriptions, pre-orders, etc.
News Beat
New Eddie Cochran plaque unveiled
By Ian Woolley 50 years on since that fateful night, the Eddie Cochran Memorial Project has erected a fitting tribute to Eddie... It was over 20 years ago when local Eddie Cochran fan Angela Powell first laid a memorial on the Chippenham roadside verge where the...
Share a Cuppa Tea with Jane and Jimmy Mack
By Jane Quinn Jimmy speaks of Stones, Nehru Jackets and Goatees, WWII, and more... Secret talents of an icon of our time, Jimmy Mack is an American broadcasting icon. He is also the most youthful 96-year-old I am likely ever to share a cuppa tea with. The...
Jimi Hendrix Tributes just keep coming
Ahead of the 50th anniversary, Jimi Hendrix Tributes just keep coming. The most interesting thing about looking back on artists from previous eras is often seeing which ones have withstood the test of time, or even which ones have become bigger than they ever were. A...
Hall of Fame for The Zombies
By Martin Hutchinson The Zombies have at last been inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame... The award, voted for by fans and peers, comes after the band has undergone a bit of a change following bassist Jim Rodford’s passing last January. "Jim was a...
Share a Cuppa Tea with Jane and Jim Messina
By Jane Quinn Jim chats about Walt Disney, Love, Bolero and his metal shop... Intelligent lyrics, lovely music... Jim Messina excels in both. James Melvin joined us on Planet Earth in 1947 in a land known as California before spending time in another land called...
Share a cuppa tea with Jane and Georgiana Steele-Waller
By Jane Quinn The top sixties model engages in enigmatic chat about being a hippie, rodeos, fear, and Beach Boys... The year was 1966. It was the year Lyndon Johnson was the USA’s President, Walt Disney died, England won the World Cup, I got my first kiss in an...
War of the Worlds – Jeff Wayne’s stage musical
By Martin Hutchinson Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds is on tour in the UK... No one would have predicted, or even believed, in 2015, after a sixth sell-out UK tour, when Jeff Wayne said that that was the final ‘War Of The Worlds’ tour, that he’d...
Festive shows for two merry Osmonds
By Martin Hutchinson The Osmonds are back... Well, two of the singing brothers are heading back to the UK with their band to recreate the joy of their Christmas shows – but with a difference. The group, famous for hits Love me For A Reason, Let Me In and of course,...
Share a Cuppa Tea with John Otway
By Jane Quinn John Otway speaks of the meaning of life, comics, bullies et al... If Bob Dylan was a gymnastic punk rocker, his name would be John Otway. Mr. Otway is a singer-songwriter, wordsmith, author, an awkward wit, Pete Townshend’s gifted protégé, and a...
Chas Hodges – My best friend
By Mike Berry Chas Hodges was probably the most ‘gifted’ musician I ever had the pleasure and good fortune to meet and work with! I met Charles Nicholas Hodges when he was 17 and I was 18. And not long after we started working together, I remember calling him a...
Share a cuppa with… Pete Best & Roag Best
By Jane Quinn The Best Brothers discuss things like Lester Pigott, Museums, and Smiles... Not many people can say they used to be a Beatle. Pete Best is one who actually was an original Beatle during the formative years, the Hamburg years, the black leather years, the...
The Pretty Things – The Last Tour
The Pretty Things have announced they are retiring from electric performances at the end of the year... All current and forthcoming dates throughout 2018 are being billed as part of a farewell tour. Their announcement read: "I am sorry to tell you that this year will...
Denise Nolan – Cruising back into the charts
By Ian Woolley With her 60th year in showbiz, the second eldest Nolan has just released her debut studio album... Usually known as the most reclusive of the legendary Nolan Sisters, it’s been over 43 years since Denise Nolan left the singing sister act to pursue a...
Turkessa talks about her Supreme mum Mary Wilson
By Ian Woolley On what would have been Supreme Mary Wilsons' 77th birthday next week, we chat with her daughter Turkessa... With the World looking on at events in Ukraine right now, Mary Wilson could never have foreseen how much her new single “Why Can’t We All Get...
Kim & Lee – The Blues-Pop duo from Cambridge
By Ian Woolley Kimberley is no stranger to success. He wrote Katrina & the Waves' biggest hit... Although this Cambridge blues-pop duo has been on the scene for a long time now, only recently have Kimberley Rew & Lee Cave-Berry been making waves with their own...
Share a cuppa with Jane and Manfred Mann
By Jane Quinn Manfred talks about general values, doubt, and Taylor Swift... If I hint that my guest today has the initials “MM”, who do you think it might be? Marilyn Monroe? No. Mike Myers? Wrong. Marcel Marceau? No. But if you said Manfred Mann, you would be...
Lived Through That: 90s Musicians Today
Mike Hipple's new book, “Lived Through That: 90s Musicians Today” (Girl Friday Books) is out and it's been getting some really great feedback and reviews! The music of the 1990s shaped more than one generation. It was the music Generation X came of age listening to...
Tony Hadley – My ‘access all areas’ look at my life
By Ian Woolley As Tony releases his latest single, "Because Of You" this Friday, it coincides nicely with his forthcoming 40th anniversary UK tour and book… Tony announced on social media, "Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve got some exciting news for you…I’m going to be...
Valentine’s Special – Marty’s Wildly in Love
By Ian Woolley "The most significant love story of my life, was my own because I met someone I knew I never wanted to be apart from......... and after all these years we are still together". So said 60's legend, Marty Wilde last month on his 65-year marriage to his...
Rolling Stones – Limited It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Red Vinyl
By Ian Woolley The Stones launch a limited edition ‘It's Only Rock 'n' Roll’ red vinyl... Tonight at 6 pm, The Rolling Stones will launch a limited edition ‘Stones Red’ vinyl of their chart-topping, critically acclaimed album ‘IT’S ONLY ROCK N ROLL’. Only 1,000 copies...
Back issues, subscriptions, pre-orders, etc.
Back Beat
Derek’s pick – Famous Musical Duos
By Derek Mead Here's a selection of famous musical duos we've witnessed down the years... There has always been doubt and sometimes cynicism about musical/vocal duets available to the listening public many of which have become famous only by repetitive playing and...
One gifted performer – Meet Jo Stafford
By Derek Mead One of the most popular vocalists of the postwar period, Jo Stafford was gifted... Many music lovers of a certain age living in a now unacceptable world of rock and roll, and many strange musical influences are more and more looking back over their years...
Early rock ‘n’ rollers in the country market
By Pat Murphy Given the origins of rock ‘n’ roll, you’d expect its early exponents would’ve got some traction in the country market. But that wasn’t generally the case... Elvis Presley was an exception. In fact, he cracked the country charts a good half-year before...
Share a cuppa tea with Jane and Ian Anderson
By Jane Quinn Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson discusses the Eagle, puppies, and being a cautious adventurer... A singer and composer, Ian Anderson is also a multi-instrumentalist, including acoustic and electric guitars, saxophone, percussion, keyboards, bagpipe, trumpet,...
No funeral, memorial service and no grave marker for Doris Day
Last month, JOHN FIRMINGER looked back at the life of the true legend Doris Day, who died in May. This month, DEREK MEAD recalls her life in music and films.
Elkie Brooks – Cornbury and loving Timi Yuro
AS EACH summer approaches, we are offered more and more music festivals to enjoy. Cornbury Music Festival, in Oxfordshire between July 5 and 7 is the perfect one for me. I was offered a choice of artists to talk to about the event and I opted for another chat with ELKIE BROOKS, celebrating 60 years as a professional singer very soon.
Connie Francis – Living the American Dream
CONNIE FRANCIS was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on December 12, 1938. She is described as the original Italian-American queen of pop; the most successful international female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s; the first female teenager to register a UK No.1 single, and the first female solo artist to top the UK album chart.
Behind the mic – Alan Thompson
JOURNALIST and broadcaster Alan Thompson has worked in BBC and independent radio in a senior capacity and was one of a handful of Brits who made their professional broadcasting début in the United States.
Derek’s pick – Famous Musical Duos
By Derek Mead Here's a selection of famous musical duos we've witnessed down the years... There has always been doubt and sometimes cynicism about musical/vocal duets available to the listening public many of which have become famous only by repetitive playing and...
One gifted performer – Meet Jo Stafford
By Derek Mead One of the most popular vocalists of the postwar period, Jo Stafford was gifted... Many music lovers of a certain age living in a now unacceptable world of rock and roll, and many strange musical influences are more and more looking back over their years...
Early rock ‘n’ rollers in the country market
By Pat Murphy Given the origins of rock ‘n’ roll, you’d expect its early exponents would’ve got some traction in the country market. But that wasn’t generally the case... Elvis Presley was an exception. In fact, he cracked the country charts a good half-year before...
Share a cuppa tea with Jane and Ian Anderson
By Jane Quinn Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson discusses the Eagle, puppies, and being a cautious adventurer... A singer and composer, Ian Anderson is also a multi-instrumentalist, including acoustic and electric guitars, saxophone, percussion, keyboards, bagpipe, trumpet,...
No funeral, memorial service and no grave marker for Doris Day
Last month, JOHN FIRMINGER looked back at the life of the true legend Doris Day, who died in May. This month, DEREK MEAD recalls her life in music and films.
Elkie Brooks – Cornbury and loving Timi Yuro
AS EACH summer approaches, we are offered more and more music festivals to enjoy. Cornbury Music Festival, in Oxfordshire between July 5 and 7 is the perfect one for me. I was offered a choice of artists to talk to about the event and I opted for another chat with ELKIE BROOKS, celebrating 60 years as a professional singer very soon.
Connie Francis – Living the American Dream
CONNIE FRANCIS was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on December 12, 1938. She is described as the original Italian-American queen of pop; the most successful international female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s; the first female teenager to register a UK No.1 single, and the first female solo artist to top the UK album chart.
Behind the mic – Alan Thompson
JOURNALIST and broadcaster Alan Thompson has worked in BBC and independent radio in a senior capacity and was one of a handful of Brits who made their professional broadcasting début in the United States.
Back issues, subscriptions, pre-orders, etc.
Review Beat
His Guitars and Music – Ritchie Valens
By David Parker Living a long time gives us the opportunity to look back on our lives and our ups-and-downs, best and worst moments... For many of us, the deaths of performers 60 years on, who gave us so much pleasure in our younger days, have left a lasting...
Abbey Road 50 years on
September 2019 brings the golden anniversary of The Beatles’ multi-platinum album Abbey Road – the last work they recorded before their seismic breakup... Released in September 1969, it was the end of both the Sixties and allegedly the biggest and greatest band of all...
Tributes to Success
Money for Nothing, stated to be the No.1 Dire Straits Tribute Band is an amazing example of the accurate re-creation of the sound of the original seventies band.
Suzi Quatro – Still In Control
The Lady of rock is still in control
Buddy’s Desecration – Sacrilege
By David Parker While the recently released Buddy Holly CD album has been a success in the UK pop charts, die-hard Holly fans found the album's concept hard to swallow... ' TRUE LOVE WAYS - BUDDY HOLLY & THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Some might say its success...
Faithful to the Bowie music – Not just another tribute band
By Martin Hutchinson Hard to believe, but it’s three years since David Bowie passed away, yet his legacy is still very much apparent today. There is a surfeit of Bowie tribute acts on the circuit, some of which are excellent, but they all have a certain ingredient...
Ben Bowman – Michael Jackson Lives On
Ben Bowman is said to be the UK’s ultimate Michael Jackson tribute star... From dancing along to the legendary pop videos as a child to playing to a crowd of weeping fans the day after Michael Jackson died, Ben Bowman has dedicated his life to be the UK’s ultimate...
Chas the soloist
By John Firminger Reviewing Chas Hodges' first solo album... Still remembering the much-admired Chas Hodges, to reiterate Mike Berry's comments in his tribute to his pal, Chas really was a musical genius. He certainly displayed that in many ways during his career. A...
His Guitars and Music – Ritchie Valens
By David Parker Living a long time gives us the opportunity to look back on our lives and our ups-and-downs, best and worst moments... For many of us, the deaths of performers 60 years on, who gave us so much pleasure in our younger days, have left a lasting...
Abbey Road 50 years on
September 2019 brings the golden anniversary of The Beatles’ multi-platinum album Abbey Road – the last work they recorded before their seismic breakup... Released in September 1969, it was the end of both the Sixties and allegedly the biggest and greatest band of all...
Tributes to Success
Money for Nothing, stated to be the No.1 Dire Straits Tribute Band is an amazing example of the accurate re-creation of the sound of the original seventies band.
Suzi Quatro – Still In Control
The Lady of rock is still in control
Buddy’s Desecration – Sacrilege
By David Parker While the recently released Buddy Holly CD album has been a success in the UK pop charts, die-hard Holly fans found the album's concept hard to swallow... ' TRUE LOVE WAYS - BUDDY HOLLY & THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Some might say its success...
Faithful to the Bowie music – Not just another tribute band
By Martin Hutchinson Hard to believe, but it’s three years since David Bowie passed away, yet his legacy is still very much apparent today. There is a surfeit of Bowie tribute acts on the circuit, some of which are excellent, but they all have a certain ingredient...
Ben Bowman – Michael Jackson Lives On
Ben Bowman is said to be the UK’s ultimate Michael Jackson tribute star... From dancing along to the legendary pop videos as a child to playing to a crowd of weeping fans the day after Michael Jackson died, Ben Bowman has dedicated his life to be the UK’s ultimate...
Chas the soloist
By John Firminger Reviewing Chas Hodges' first solo album... Still remembering the much-admired Chas Hodges, to reiterate Mike Berry's comments in his tribute to his pal, Chas really was a musical genius. He certainly displayed that in many ways during his career. A...
Back issues, subscriptions, pre-orders, etc.
Obituaries
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We cannot locate what you are looking for. We are sorry for any inconvenience. You may try the site menus. If you need further help please do not hesitate to get in touch.