The original Moody Blues keyboard player Mike Pinder has died at the age of 82... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley As one of its founding members in 1961, along with Denny Laine, Ray Thomas, Clint Warwick, and Graeme Edge, the Moody Blues went on to carve a successful pop...
Month: April 2017
The Temptations are not touring the UK in 2024
The Temptations are not touring the UK in 2024 as claimed... The legendary soul sensations The Temptations wish to make it known that, despite announcements to the contrary, they will NOT be performing on any UK tour during 2024, neither in their own right nor...
At 85, Veteran Marty Wilde Tops Pop Chart
Officially the first artist to achieve chart success over eight decades, Marty Wilde scoops first no.1 on his 85th birthday... Pop icon Marty Wilde shot to No. 1 in the Heritage Chart as he turned 85 and said, “I’m No. 1 at 85—it’s the best birthday present ever!” In...
The Legacy of Rock Legends: Remembering the Icons of Rock Music
Introduction Since it manifested itself as an essential part of our culture, rock music has always been more than just a genre of music. It has shaped multiple generations, sparked revolutions, and provided a voice for change and political cause. Behind every iconic...
Special UB40 featuring Ali Campbell Concert In Crawley
UB40, featuring Ali Campbell, are heading to Crawley for a special open-air performance, and we have a pair of tickets to give away to one of our lucky readers... The legendary reggae performers will bring their unmistakable sound to Goffs Park on Friday, July 12th,...
In Our 2024 April Issue
We have an exciting and packed issue in our April issue of the Beat... Celebrating her amazing 60th year in the pop business, Suzi Quatro makes our front cover of the April issue. In an exclusive interview for the Beat, the American singer talks with Ian Woolley about...
R & B Singer Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry Has Died
The talented New Orleans musician and singer, who had several top-ten UK hits in the early 1960s, has died... OBITUARY By Ian Woolley Clarence Henry started playing piano and trombone at an early age while at school and played in several local groups. A Chess Records...
Celebrating 50 Years Of ABBA’s Eurovision Win
It was 50 years ago when a little-known Swedish group won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and became one of the biggest groups in the history of pop... By Ian Woolley It seems ABBA mania has been around forever, yet in fact, when the group broke up in late 1982, as...
Transporting Music Fans Back To The 60s
Now you can travel back in time and discover London in the Swinging Sixties—its trendy coffee bars, pubs, fashion boutiques, and venues where music legends cut their teeth... REVIEW by Ian Woolley Launched in 2010 by owner and founder Paul Endacott, his award-winning...
Rocking The World Her Way – Suzi Quatro
"I don't do regrets and I have never have. I think the mistakes you make are there for a reason and they are meant to teach you”... By Ian Woolley It's been an incredible 50 years for the leather-cladded singer and musician since she topped the charts with 'Devil Gate...
Tips For Record Lovers To Keep The Magic Alive
As any music lover knows, records are a fantastic way of listening to tunes from a bygone era. They have a real charm and sound to them that music from a streaming service just doesn’t provide. Yet if you’re looking for a way to keep the magic alive, it can be...
From Blitz To Glitz – New Jess Conrad Autobiography
Jess Conrad is a name that will be instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with 1960s pop culture. Emerging from the decade as one of Britain's most versatile stars, Jess has sung on hit records, starred in cult movies, headlined stage shows..and hasn't stopped ever...
New Book Tells The Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers Story
As the instigator of the British Soul Scene, Cliff Bennett and his band, the Rebel Rousers, now tell their story in a new biography released... By Ian Woolley Cliff told me that his band used to play at the Hell & Heaven Club, which was owned by two local...
Chris de Burgh Announces 50th Anniversary Tour For 2025
Legendary singer-songwriter Chris De Burgh is set to embark on a monumental UK tour next year, 5OLO—‘The 50th Anniversary Tour’, in celebration of his remarkable five-decade career... The seven-date tour opens in Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall on February 21, 2025,...
Former Cockney Rebel Steve Harley Has Died
Following a battle with cancer which forced Harley had to pull out of his recent UK tour, the former Cockney Rebel frontman has died at the age of 73... OBITUARY By Ian Woolley Harley had to pull out of his recent tour to undergo treatment after discovering he had...
Limited Marty Wilde Signed March Beat Issues
To celebrate Marty Wilde's appearance on our March cover of the Beat, we're giving away a dozen signed magazines to those who order this month's issue. As the pop icon celebrates his 85th birthday with a brand new EP and UK tour, we recently popped in to see Marty to...
In Our 2024 March Issue
This month, we have an exciting and packed issue in our retro-covered Beat... Sixties legend Marty Wilde makes our front cover as he celebrates his 85th birthday with a new UK tour and single. To celebrate Marty’s 85th Birthday, we are offering, for the first ten...
Hadley Swings The Classics On His New Tour
A recent leg operation didn't deter the 63-year-old former Spandau Ballet frontman from pulling out his latest UK tour which kicked off in Portmouth last night... REVIEW By Ian Woolley PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL TONY HADLEY BIG SWING TOUR Recently, I asked what his fans can...
An Incredible 65 Years In The Music Business – Marty Wilde
Original Pop Icon Marty Wilde Celebrates 85th Birthday With New Single, EP & Mammoth Live UK Tour. Exactly 65 years since he first topped the pop charts, Marty Wilde releases new music for his 85th Birthday, alongside a 20-Date Greatest Hits UK Tour... A national...
55 Years In The Pop Business – Chris Norman
"Me having a croaky voice or something was made up once in a magazine article or something way back when and it never happened...it just wasn't true". Smokie lead singer Chris Norman dispels the rumours that his distinctive voice was due to a freak throat infection......
Win A Pair Of Free Tickets To See The Red Hot Chilli Pipers
RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS and Red Hot Chilli Dancers announce May & June 2024 UK Tour Dates! Red Hot Chilli Pipers + The Red Hot Chilli Dancers - 20th Anniversary - World Tour 2023/2024 In 2023 and 2024 the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will embark on a world tour to...
‘Tich’ Of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Has Died
One of The Beat's local Wiltshire musical legends, Ian Amey better known as 'Tich' in the 60's chart-toppers Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich has died... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley The Wiltshire music scene in the 1950s was thriving, and many popular bands around...
Older And Wiser – Colin Blunstone
The Zombies' lead singer looks back at his solo career... By Ian Woolley Published in the February issue of the Beat, we talked with Colin Blunstone about his long friendship and respect with Rod Argent, conserving that amazing voice and the inevitable split of the...
In Our 2024 February Issue
We have an exciting and packed issue this month in the Beat... Two of the most iconic bands of their era, Wet Wet Wet and Go West, have announced they will unite for the first time with a co-headlining UK tour and they make our February front cover. On the 'Best Of...