When you think of rock musician’s misbehaviour, especially in the 1970s, who do you think of? Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, David Bowie? Yeah, those artists did have a big party lifestyle but there is one certain drummer who left them in the dust. The drummer was the first to trash a hotel room and launch… Continue reading 53: Pubs, Chauffeurs, and Guilt
Author: beatmarcheson.co.uk
52: Rolling Stones, Hells Angels, and Altamont
In 1969, the counterculture of the West was taking over America. The success of the Woodstock festival that summer was one of the biggest pop culture moments ever. Half a million audience members were in New York for three days of peace and love. By most accounts, the festival was a success and became the… Continue reading 52: Rolling Stones, Hells Angels, and Altamont
51: Car Crashes, Rumours, and Subliminal Clues
Have you heard that Justin Bieber is a lizard? Or that rap icon Jay-Z is a time-travelling wizard? No? What about the island that Notorious BIG and 2Pac are living on? Or even that legendary Stevie Wonder can see? No, those neither? According to the internet, this is all true. Some people claim to have… Continue reading 51: Car Crashes, Rumours, and Subliminal Clues
50: Planes, Swamps, and Touring
Touring is one of the most gruelling things in the music industry. You’re on the road for weeks or months at a time, in a different venue every day and sometimes you don’t know where you are. The bigger you get you could be in a different country every day. The hectic schedule, however, can… Continue reading 50: Planes, Swamps, and Touring
49: Meditation, Spiratualisation, and India
1967 is one of the biggest years in music. We saw the world’s first concept album, The Summer of Love, one of the world’s first pop festivals and, the world was introduced to Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. It’s safe to say a lot was going on. Even though The Beatles were old hat to… Continue reading 49: Meditation, Spiratualisation, and India
48: Festival, Fire, and Peace and Love?
Every Woodstock festival has been poorly organised. The original one in 1969 was lucky to be deemed a success. The rain was so severe that the PA system failed, and the stage started to sink. Every performance was delayed and at the last minute, the organisers made the festival free because there wasn’t enough staff… Continue reading 48: Festival, Fire, and Peace and Love?
47: Disco, Demolition, and Baseball
There is one sport I have never been into. I’ve tried to take an interest in it, but it’s never gripped my attention. Baseball. I can watch a five-day cricket test or a 24-hour motor race, but when a game of baseball is on the TV I can’t wait to turn the channel over. It… Continue reading 47: Disco, Demolition, and Baseball
46: Swimming Pools, Rolling Stones, and More Conspiracies
Although he’s mostly forgotten now, Brian Jones is arguably the most important member of the Rolling Stones. For a start, he named the band and was the one who managed them in their early days and got them early concerts. A talented multi-instrumentalist who was one of the first slide guitar players from the UK.… Continue reading 46: Swimming Pools, Rolling Stones, and More Conspiracies
45: Premieres, MTV, and Downfalls
In the mid-1980s MTV was the new go-to place for music. The television channel played nothing but music videos 24 hours a day with millions of households watching. It was a revolution in the way people consumed music. If an artist got their video in the rotation on the channel, then it was guaranteed… Continue reading 45: Premieres, MTV, and Downfalls
44: Reformation, Technology, and Disappearing
My first experience, like many of my generation, of Iron Butterfly is from the animated TV show The Simpsons. It was an episode that started with Bart, the troublemaking son in the family, changing the hymn for Sunday service to the song In the Garden of Eden or as it was released In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda (the original… Continue reading 44: Reformation, Technology, and Disappearing