Category Archives: Rock
NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN-THE SOLO YEARS 1976-1988.
Narada Michael Walden-The Solo Years 1976-1988 The first many record buyers heard of Narada Michael Walden, was when he was announced as Billy Cobham’s replacement in the second lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974. By then, Narada Michael Walden was just twenty-two and the Mahavishnu Orchestra was one of the top fusion bands. However, …
SPOOKY TOOTH’S ISLAND RECORDS YEARS.
Spooky Tooth’s Island Record Years. All too often, some bands don’t get the credit they deserve, and that was the case with Spooky Tooth, who for a time, pioneered the use of twin keyboards. They lead the way and soon, other bands were following in their wake. By then, the Spooky Tooth story was over. Spooky Tooth were …
THE DAMNED-THE STIFF AND CHISWICK RECORDS’ YEARS.
The Damned-The Stiff and Chiswick Records’ Years. Not many bands are still going strong after forty-three years. Especially punk bands, which in many cases, were short-lived affairs, who released one or two singles, before calling it a day. However, there’s one punk band are still going strong after forty-three years, The Damned. The Damned were formed in London in 1976, when members …
ERIC ANDERSEN-STILL ONE OF MUSIC’S BEST KEPT SECRETS
Eric Andersen-Still One Of Music’s Best Kept Secrets. In 1975, thirty-two year old folk singer and songwriter Eric Andersen moved to Greenwich Village, New York, where it had all started for him in the early sixties. Back then, Eric Andersen was part of the folk scene, and as a twenty-one years in 1964, had auditioned for …
THE BLUE NILE-HATS
The Blue Nile-Hats. Label: Confetti Records. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe The Blue Nile. They’re the complete opposite of most bands. The Blue Nile have been described as publicity shy. That’ is an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and Paul Joseph Moore formed the Blue Nile, they’ve been …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE SEEDS
The Life and Times of The Seeds When The Seeds were formed in Los Angeles in early 1965 by Sky Saxon, Daryl Hooper, Jan Savage, Jeremy Levine and Rick Andridge nobody had any idea just how influential the nascent garage band would be. Over the next four years, The Seeds released five albums, enjoyed four …
THE CAREER OF MUSICAL INNOVATOR STEVE TIBBETTS
The Career Of Musical Innovator Steve Tibbetts. Although Minnesota born composer and guitarist Steve Tibbetts signed to ECM Records in 1981, the pioneer of sound-forming has only released nine albums for Manfred Eicher’s Munich-based label. They showcase the talents of musical innovator Steve Tibbetts. Steve Tibbetts was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1954, and growing up, was introduced to the …
THE THREE MAN ARMY STORY.
The Three Man Army Story. Adrian and Paul Gurvitz were both experienced musicians before they formed Three Man Army in 1971. Especially Adrian. He had been playing professionally since he was fifteen. The guitarist’s career began in 1964, when he headed out on tour with Billie Davis, Crispian St. Peters and Screaming Lord Sutch. After serving his musical apprenticeship, Adrian formed …
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE-WOODSTOCK SUNDAY AUGUST 17 1969-RECORD STORE DAY
Sly and The Family Stone –Woodstock Sunday August 17, 1969-Record Store Day. Label: We Are Vinyl. Between 1966 and 1976, psychedelic soul pioneers Sly and The Family Stone released eight studio albums and their first Greatest Hits album, which showcased their genre-melting music. It took as a starting point psychedelic soul and added funk and rock to this heady musical …
THE STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN STORY: TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY,
The Stevie Ray Vaughan Story: Triumph and Tragedy Just like countless other musicians, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s career is a story of triumph and tragedy. He spent eleven years struggling to make a breakthrough, and during that period, Stevie Ray Vaughan spent six years as a sideman, which was akin to a musical apprenticeship. Having served his apprenticeship, Stevie Ray …
CLEAR LIGHT-A CASE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
Clear Light-A Case Of What Might Have Been. Elektra records had come a long way by the sixties, and was home to everyone from folk singers Judy Collins and Josh White to Phil Ochs and Tim Buckley, right through to psychedelic pioneers Love and The Doors, to Detroit based rockers like MC5 and The Stooges and …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE DOORS
The Life and Times Of The Doors. By 1972, The Doors were history after the tragic death of their charismatic frontman Jim Morrison, who had died on the 3rd July 1971. The Lizard King became the latest entrant into the twenty-seven club, where he joined Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Alan Wilson and Jimi Hendrix. This meant that The Doors’ …
MARIANNE FAITHFUL’S DECCA YEARS.
Marianne Faithful’s Decca Years. By March 1964, it was apparent that pop music wasn’t just a passing fad. The Beatles were a global phenomenon, and the British Invasion of the American charts had just begun. Britain was a musical powerhouse, that the world envied. Despite this, many labels weren’t resting on their laurels. Record companies …
ALICE COOPER’S WARNER BROS YEARS 1969-1983.
Alice Cooper’s Warner Bros Years 1969-1983. It was in Detroit, Michigan, on February 4th 1948, Vincent Damon Furnier was born, and he would go on to become one of the biggest names in music, after changing his name to Alice Cooper in 1968. After that, Alice Cooper’s career has spanned five decades and twenty-six studio …
IAN GILLAN-FROM THE GILLAN BAND TO GILLAN.
Ian Gillan-From The Gillan Band To Gillan. From the late sixties, right through to the seventies, fusion was one of the most popular musical genres on both sides of the Atlantic. However, by the late seventies record buyers were tiring of the fusion of jazz and rock. So were some musicians. This included former Deep Purple …
WEATHER REPORT-THEIR COLUMBIA YEARS 1971-1975.
Weather Report-Their Columbia Records Years 1971-1975. By the late-sixties, jazz was no longer as popular as it had once been and the genre’s popularity had plummeted over the last few years. Many jazz clubs were closing, or being converted into venues that put on rock bands and album sales had fallen. Critics and cultural commentators were drawing comparisons with blues music in the late …
RICK WAKEMAN-1973-1977: HIS GLORY YEARS.
Rick Wakeman-1973-1977: His Glory Years. In January 1973, Rick Wakeman released his sophomore album The Six Wives Of Henry VIII, which was a groundbreaking album, one that would forever change prog rock. The Six Wives Of Henry VIII was the album that legitimised synths in prog rock. This was a game-changer. Following the success of …
RANDY MEISNER-THE EPIC YEARS
Randy Meisner-The Epic Years. Musical history was made in September 1971, when Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon and twenty-five year old Randy Meisner formed The Eagles and signed with David Geffen’s new label Asylum Records. Little did David Geffen realise that he had signed one of the biggest bands of the seventies, and The …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF BOO HEWERDINE.
The Life and Career Of Boo Hewerdine There aren’t many people who have spent the past four decades doing something they love. Nowadays, they’re in the minority, and are the lucky ones. Award winning singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine is one of the lucky ones, and has been fortunate enough to spend the last four decades fulfilling …
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