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: The Beatles
72: Big Bands, Small Planes, and The Missing Leader
During the Second World War, everybody did their part. Even the most famous of people. Alfred Hitchcock made pro-allied propaganda films, French actress Josephine Baker was a part of the French resistance, and James Doohan or Scotty from Star Trek stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in 1944. It wasn’t just the film… Continue reading 72: Big Bands, Small Planes, and The Missing Leader
68: Punk, Hotel Rooms, and Heroin
Some musicians become famous; some people become infamous. Some musicians have talent; some musicians have not so much. Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious probably is categorized in the latter of those but is recognised as one of the architects of the punk scene. That is until his girlfriend and manager Nancy Spungen is found… Continue reading 68: Punk, Hotel Rooms, and Heroin
67: Religion, Prime Time, and Fighting The Real Enemy
Religion and modern music have always had a rocky relationship. When the Rock and Roll era started it was classed as the devil’s music. Outrage was caused when John Lennon was quoted as saying that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus (although they probably were). In the late 1980s members of the Scandinavian Death Metal… Continue reading 67: Religion, Prime Time, and Fighting The Real Enemy
65: Sci-fi, PR Stunts, and Conspiracies
When a band splits up, the first thing that the fans want is for them to reunite. Countless times we hear rumours about the Gallagher brothers reforming Oasis. Over the last couple of months, Blink 182 reformed at Coachella as a last-minute replacement with their classic line-up of Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker.… Continue reading 65: Sci-fi, PR Stunts, and Conspiracies
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
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
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
43: Beatles, Bangladesh, and Benefit Concerts
There’s an adage ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ which is not just used in music but is used in just about everything. Whether it’s a job promotion or moving house knowing a friend with a connection is always helpful more than a hindrance. So, when a member of the world’s most famous band… Continue reading 43: Beatles, Bangladesh, and Benefit Concerts