78: A Guitar Virtuoso, a Pop Boyband, and Unforgiving Fans

      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

55: Exposure, Provoking, and Sex

Iggy Pop has always been known as the ‘Godfather of Punk’. With his reputation, most would tend to agree, but he was originally going to be a drummer for his career before the Doors came to his hometown of Detroit. He saw lead singer Jim Morrison perform, only the way he does and ditched the… Continue reading 55: Exposure, Provoking, and Sex

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

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

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

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.

35: Rivalries, Award Shows, and The Tabloids

There have always been rivalries in music. The Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones, East Coast Rappers vs. West Coast rappers, and The Backstreet Boys vs. *NSYNC the list goes on throughout the ages since music notes started to play. Although rivalries aren’t anything new in music it’s rare to see them spill out at awards… Continue reading 35: Rivalries, Award Shows, and The Tabloids

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