Every band starts somewhere. Whether they are a contestant on a hit show like Britain’s Got Talent or if they did it touring in a beat-up van and had to play in a dingy club where five people are in the audience or an open-mic night where they get heckled off the stage. Sometimes… Continue reading 78: A Guitar Virtuoso, a Pop Boyband, and Unforgiving Fans
Category: Jimi Hendrix
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?
40: Arnold Layne, LSD, and Crazy Diamonds
When you think of the band Pink Floyd, most people think of Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall but before they were record-breaking superstars, they were a psychedelic rock band with a different eccentric guitarist and singer. He wasn’t a virtuoso on the guitar like Jimi Hendrix or, the most talented songwriter like… Continue reading 40: Arnold Layne, LSD, and Crazy Diamonds
38: Cops, Corruption, and Simolina Pilchard.
During one of our many lockdowns, the country was gripped by the series Line of Duty. The series was all about catching bent coppers. I mention this series because this week’s story is about a real-life aoften accused bent copper. During the 1960s Norman Pilcher leader of Scotland Yard’s drug squad wreaked havoc on the… Continue reading 38: Cops, Corruption, and Simolina Pilchard.
29: Wood, Black and Blue, and Finding A Replacement
In 1975 the Rolling Stones were the biggest band in the world. Millions of albums sold, selling out world tours and names constantly in the tabloids you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing of the band’s exploits. So, when at the end of 1974 Mick Taylor decided to quit the band the biggest job in music… Continue reading 29: Wood, Black and Blue, and Finding A Replacement
28: P.R, Planes, and Visas
In music, you need to stand out. It’s why as mentioned in the last article Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire. It’s why artists and bands dress up on stage and pyrotechnics are added because it’s more than just music to get people in the seats. There are offstage antics too. Snazzy press conferences… Continue reading 28: P.R, Planes, and Visas
27: Package Tours, Standing Out, and Fire
Pink Floyd’s The Wall tour, Arthur Brown’s fire helmet and Motley Crue’s Rollercoaster drum kit. Bands have been trying to get the edge over others in live performances throughout the whole music industry. As live performances are the best way for bands and artists to earn money, they want to put on a show to… Continue reading 27: Package Tours, Standing Out, and Fire
25: Blues, Drugs Dependency, and Free
It’s often in music that the light shines bright and quick. The life in the fast lane approach of the rock n’ roll lifestyle takes a lot of casualties. This is one of these stories. Paul Kossoff was one of the best blues guitarists of his era but ended up with a reliance on drugs… Continue reading 25: Blues, Drugs Dependency, and Free
3: A Guitar God, The 27 Club, and The Inability to Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
This week on the beat go on blog we are doing something a little different. Today marks the 50th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s death. What the Guitarist did for Rock music in his three years of fame has never been matched. Even for bands who have been touring for decades. His untimely demise has never… Continue reading 3: A Guitar God, The 27 Club, and The Inability to Let Sleeping Dogs Lie