News from the live music scene in the north east

For everything: riffsonline@gmail.com

There's only one thing worse than being talked about - and that's not being talked about

The Cottage Tavern in Cleadon requires a covers band for Sunday 27 July for a 7pm start. Contact Neil 07546 931493.

End of a Legendary Era: Rob Halford Officially Announces His Retirement from Music at Age 73

Rob Halford, the iconic frontman of Judas Priest, has officially announced his retirement from music. With a career spanning over seven decades, Halford has played a pivotal role in shaping the sound, spirit, and culture of metal music, inspiring countless bands and fans worldwide. His powerful voice, charismatic stage presence, and pioneering style helped define Priest’s signature sound, contributing timeless classics such as “Living After Midnight,” “Electric Eye,” and “The Hellion.” Throughout his career, Halford was renowned for his dynamic performances, leather-and-studs image and unwavering dedication to the genre, which earned him the moniker “Metal God.” His influence extended beyond music, as he became a symbol of rebellion, individuality, and resilience. Despite rumors of retirement over the years, Halford remained active, releasing solo albums and touring with Priest, always reaffirming his commitment to metal. His decision to retire now signifies a heartfelt farewell to a career that has left an indelible mark on music history.

The announcement was met with an outpouring of respect and nostalgia from fans, fellow musicians and industry insiders, all acknowledging his unparalleled contributions. In his statement, Halford expressed gratitude for the support over the decades and reflected on the transformative journey that took him from a young singer in Birmingham to a global metal icon. He emphasized the importance of passing the torch to new generations of musicians who will carry forward the spirit of heavy metal. While saying goodbye to touring and recording, Halford hinted at exploring new creative avenues and maintaining a presence in the music community in some capacity. His retirement marks the closing of a chapter but also celebrates a legacy that will continue to influence generations to come. Rob Halford’s departure from the stage signifies the end of a remarkable and influential career that transformed the sound and spirit of heavy metal, inspiring millions and shaping the genre’s evolution. As fans bid farewell to one of metal’s most enduring voices, they do so with gratitude for the music and memories that Halford has gifted the world, ensuring his legendary status remains secure for eternity.

Rock guitarist and songwriter, Mick Ralphs, best known as a founding member of the bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, has died.
He leaves behind millions of devoted fans and friends across the world.”
Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke each shared touching tributes. Rodgers wrote, "Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour. Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh but it won't be our last. There are many memories of Mick that will create laughter. Condolences to everyone who loved him especially his one true love, Susie. I will see you in heaven." While Kirke said, “He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply.”
He began his music career in the 1960s, initially playing with the blues-rock group The Buddies and later Doc Thomas Group, which evolved into Mott the Hoople. With Mott the Hoople, Ralphs contributed to several influential albums and penned notable tracks such as “Ready for Love,” which would later become a signature song for Bad Company.
In 1973, Ralphs left Mott the Hoople and co-founded Bad Company alongside singer Paul Rodgers, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell. Bad Company became the first band signed to Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. The band quickly rose to international fame with their debut self-titled album, which featured hits such as “Can’t Get Enough,” written by Ralphs, which proved to be their highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100. His bluesy, melodic guitar style became a defining element of the band’s sound.

Brian Wilson, cofounder of The Beach Boys and the creative force behind the group’s surf sound, orchestral arrangements and perfect harmonies, has died, his family announced on Wednesday.
He was 82.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family wrote in the statement shared on Instagram and his official website. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
Wilson’s life was marked just as much by struggles with substance abuse and mental illness as it was by repeated comebacks, remarkable talent and timeless songs that still echo across the country, decades after their release.
His story, by all accounts, is one of resilience. Despite a childhood scarred by his father’s abuse, becoming partially deaf, and the years of haunting voices in his head from schizoaffective disorder, the two-time Grammy Award winner went on to become the “reigning king of pop melody,” as the Denver Post once put it, often bringing to life songs that told a much different tale than his own reality.

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COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN (Always the Same)

‘Morning Nige,
This should have been a review of Elenbak at the Glendale. I turned up at the club and the stage was covered in prizes and trophies, I asked the stewardess if the band were still on, to be told they’d cancelled and it was an awards night. Whoopsie-do. Apparently, the club had put it on Facebook, but that’s no good for the likes of me who refuses to engage with FB. Bugger. It later transpired that there were several versions of who had cancelled the gig, I know who I believe, but moving on:
I rang around guys who I knew were intending coming to see Elenbak and managed to get us diverted to Hetton Big Club to watch The Deeks. By the time we eventually got to Hetton the best viewing tables had gone, but we settled in. During the course of the evening I discovered we weren’t alone in showing up in the Glendale expecting a band, to be greeted by the PA blaring monkey music.
It was hot in Hetton club, and to add to the warm greeting, the heating was on in the bogs! Farcical.
The Deeks put on their usual polished set, identical to the previous 4 or 5 shows.
The place was pretty full, boosted by dejected Rockers from Houghton.
The band line up for the next month is more of the usual shite with the exception of Lock’n’Load in about 5 or 6 weeks.
Ho-hum, it was a night out with mates so it wasn’t a total loss.
I’ll keep you posted,

The Silverback

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON GIGS AT THE GLENDALE
LOCKED AND LOADED

I went down to Houghton Glendale yesterday afternoon to watch Lock’n’Load with a couple of mates. For a Sunday afternoon it was a decent turn-out in the club, probably 2/3 capacity. Bearing in mind it was a beautiful sunny day outside, that’s good going these days. While the band were finishing their set-up and sound check I noticed there was a new guitarist in the line-up, sporting a very pretty cherry red Gibson ES335, not the usual weapon of choice on the club circuit, but nice to see.
Shortly before the band came on, we were joined by CJ, one-time frontman and chanter for Rock Solid who informed me he’s come to check out the new guitarist (by the name of John) who, he’d been informed, was quite tasty. After the usual banter it transpires that CJ has retired from gainful employment but still performing with Sceptre on a regular basis around the North East.
Lock’n’Load have had their fair share of reviews on Riffs, so I’ll not give them the full works, but apart from the new band member they’d added some new tunes to their set. They still kicked off with “Tie your mother down” but have added Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero” to the set as well as Bryan Adams “Can’t stop this thing we started”. They’ve also added another smoke machine as well, and more than once the drummer was hidden from sight by the clouds coming from them. We were sitting at the back of the room and there were layers of smoke drifting across the floor towards us. Hence the crap photos; the auto-focus won’t play when there’s smoke in the air.
Lock’n’Load continue to impress, singer Dave’s voice was superb all afternoon, something that CJ observed as well. High praise from an old pro like him. The band jelled well and John fitted in like he’d been playing with them for years.
Well worth turning out for, and if the Sunday afternoons are going to be a regular feature a welcome addition to the calendar of local Rock fans.

The Silverback

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Sunday 4th May noon till 10.30pm

Patterson Stage
CODA Led Zeppelin Tribute, Fu Fighters, The mOObs,The Sensational Alex Harvey Experience, Sleeze Sisters, Lock 'n' Load.

Middle Marquee
Hat Shaped Heads, The Odels, Tubesnake, ABBA Girls, Kitto's Suspect Device, The Blarney Boys.

Scooter Tent
C-Collective, The Breakfast Club, Ultimate Whitesnake, Manchester Anthems, Punk Pop Disaster, Strings for Ammo, Rebel Rockstars.
Tickets £25 crookfest.co.uk

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Yeah, I know this has got zilch to do with music, but how shameful that we are the generation that wiped out these beautiful animals.

Living in Shadows at The Globe Newcastle, Thursday 1st May
doors 7.30pm music 8pm
Tickets £10/£7 wegottickets.com/event/653762
Vocalist Zoë Gilby (Parliamentary Jazz Vocalist of the year 2019) along with multi instrumentalist Andy Champion have embarked upon a brand new project, Living In Shadows. Their distinctive sound follows in the tradition of great English alt. pop and progressive rock whilst also reflecting their background in jazz.
Zoë Gilby - vocals
Mark Williams - guitar
Ben Lawrence - keyboards
Andy Champion - bass
John Bradford - drums

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"Hi Nige, Still here, not a lot happening: I went out to Whitley Bay Playhouse last week to see a Dire Straits tribute called Money for Nothing. Nice venue (drinks prices were extortionate - £4.95 for a glass of diet Coke!) but the band were dreadful. played the right tunes and sang the correct words but that’s were the similarity ended. Mark Knopfler made his name with subtle, understated guitar work, the band were loud and raucous. However, the audience, by and large, seemed to like them. I can only assume they never get out to see decent bands.
Friday gone, my colleagues went to the Glendale to watch Born Villains and they were excellent, just my luck.
Sticky Fingers are coming back to the Glendale 19th September. Well pleased, that’s the only band we’re going to hear any Megadeth from on the circuit, plus Phil's guitar work is amazing. Copperhead are playing this Friday and I’m torn on whether or not to go, the club will be rammed. I struggle with crowds, so a combination of mediocrity and claustrophobia will doubtless sway my decision.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Hetton to see a duo called Ultrafonix; 2 guys with synths and backing tapes. The front man had a very good voice and wasn’t a bad guitarist, but standing on the amps and posing like he was in Guitar Hero wasn’t going to impress us, but they’d brought some friends of Dorothy with them and they were lapping it up. They opened up with Barry Ryan’s “Eloise” which would test the vocal chords of any chanter and the singer couldn’t get close to the notes. This coloured my opinion for the rest of the evening, I dare say if he’d tried the song after he’d got his voice warmed up he’d have managed the song, but opening with it was a bridge too far.
As usual nobody has a clue who’s playing in Hetton this coming Friday so we’ll have to play it by ear..."

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The daughter of NEW YORK DOLLS Legendary front man, David Johansen, has revealed his Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis:
“My name is Leah Hennessey, and I’m David Johansen’s daughter. As some, but not many of you know, David has been in intensive treatment for stage 4 cancer for most of the past decade.
"Five years ago at the beginning of the pandemic we discovered that David’s cancer had progressed and he had a brain tumor. There have been complications ever since. He’s never made his diagnosis public.
"To make matters worse, the day after Thanksgiving David fell down the stairs and broke his back in two places. 
After a week in the hospital and a successful surgery David is now bedridden and incapacitated."

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The Grindon and Broadway Bar is back up and running. Laura and staff have been working tirelessly and live gigs are now in full swing. Hopefully they will let Riffs have the full gigs and we will post them on our Listings page....
The Force are there on 12th April. In the meantime check out their Facebook page.

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BLUES NOMINATIONS FOR HARTLEPOOL STEELIES

It's always nice to find out that what you've been doing is not only appreciated, but also noticed by those 'in the know'. And let's face it, it doesn't happen that often. So how cock-a-hoop must Tommy from Hartlepool's South Durham Social feel when he found out his venue has been nominated in no less than two categories in the 2025 UK Blues Awards.
Blues Club/Venue of the Year and
Blues Based Festival of the Year
Riffs is actually not that surprised as, for the last four years (five including 2025), Tommy has arranged an annual Blues extravaganza entitled 'Hallelujah' featuring celebrated Blues men [and women], yes, and women, and bands, groups, call them what you will, many have travelled half way across the world to play at Hartlepool. And not just Hallelujah, if you want Blues - whether it be deep and dirty, soulful or 'woke up one morning', South Durham Social is your place to go. [Now, I hope you're not pushing this cos you design Tommy's adverts?]. Proud to do so - not as proud as Tommy though. What a tremendous achievement, fingers crossed he can go all the way.

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THE HAND OF FATE

Trevor Sewell, Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter, Joins The Stones Story.
Trevor is not just any musician; he brings with him a wealth of experience and accolades that promise to enhance the already dynamic sound of the band as, over the years, Trevor has carved out a niche for himself in the music world, earning recognition and numerous awards for his exceptional talent, his distinctive style and passion for music. Stones Story guitarist Jeff told Riffs: "In 1978 I almost joined Trev's band, the outrageously titled, Erogenous Zones! However, the hand of fate took us in different directions but a mere 47 years later here we are part of the same outfit!"
Jeff sees a revitalized energy in the band as they gear up for upcoming gigs and festivals. "Trev is a great all-round musician, a great bass player and a great fit with other members of the band. It's only rock and roll but we all still like it."
Jeff Grant, guitar
John Watchman, guitar
Ian Hamilton, drums
Trevor Sewell, bass
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15WipZJGAb/

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The Grindon Broadway has 'gone the journey'.
This was posted by Johna from The Deeks earlier today (Sun 26th)

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The Flying Scotsman in Forest Hall is now hosting live music only on the last Friday of each month.

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TALKIN' 'BOUT BLACK FRIDAY

Project Black undertake their first live gig at Trillians on 31st January just one week after the release of their debut single 'Set Me Free'. The band features singer Norman McGlen who is also vocalist with This Machine, who Riffs remembers very well for the piece that appeared on our News page where no less than Saxon's Biff (who, incidentally, turned 74 this month) commented on the quality of This Machine's 'Wheels of Steel' cover.
But no covers with Project Black, expect some crackin' self-penned numbers with (in Norman's words) influences of "goth, metal, punk, and a little rock n roll". He also follows up with "but our ideas aren't genre driven; it is a case of what develops, develops."
"With the guys in PB we create an environment for us all to express ourselves. This Machine is still very important to me as I still love what we do and play songs we want to do and not the same old, same old" explains Norman.
The band consists of: Norman McGlen (This Machine), Phil Scott (don't know), Chris Johnson (Fallen Mafia), Duncan Emmerson (Fallen Mafia), Adas Cowan (Fallen Mafia). You can catch them at Trillians (y'all know where it is), supporting The House We Built on Friday 31st January [which coincidentally is Riffs 28th birthday]. "Trillians will be a gig with a very friendly audience. Even so, I take nothing for granted and we are working hard to make sure we are as good to watch as much as listen to"
"We are happy to play support to any band and I was delighted we were able to support This House We Built, as if I wasn't playing I would have been down the front!"
Attitude is so underated yet so important, and I see Norman has that sewn up too: "Play like it's your last, and leave them with a smile on their face and humming a tune."
So expect some Rockin' - but don't expect Wheels of Steel (a superb live version with an explosive gritty guitar, of which is available . . . er somewhere, can't remember where I downloaded it from). [Now what ya talkin' 'bout?]. Talkin' 'bout my wheels of steel.
Wheels of steel . . .
Ooh, yeah . . .
Wheels of steel . . .
Ooh, yeah . . .
Wheels of steel . . .

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GEORGE MICHAEL V ABBA TRIBUTE
Sat 5th April at The Point Events Venue, Sunderland
Doors 7:00 PM Show: 8:00 PM
Two 60-minute sets with an interval, ending 10:30 PM-ish
Tickets £15.00 + fees HERE

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Steels Social Club in Sunderland is ceasing all live music as of February 1st. Thanks to Norm Force for the info - although he does point out that this is now on their Facebook page. Sad state of affairs as Steels has been going for decades and with a regular clientele this comes as a bit of a shock.

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The Stones Story, the only dedication to the music of The Rolling Stones in the Northeast, are playing the monthly Club A GoGo Dance Party at Marlborough Crescent Club in Newcastle on Sunday 26th Jan. The Rolling Stones played the original club in the 1960s. The event is run by Paul Donnelly who is the DJ playing all music from the late 50s to early 60s on proper vinyl and was instrumental in getting the A GoGo a plaque. The event is monthly and runs from 2pm to 6pm and the admission is £10 payable by contacting Paul on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/864534738512178.

Club a’Gogo was a Newcastle upon Tyne nightspot back in the 1960s. Created by entrepreneur Mike Jeffery (who later managed The Animals) the club was situated in Percy Street, not too far from the famous football ground, St James’ Park. A narrow doorway led you up a couple of flights of stairs (the club was above the Corporation Bus canteen) where there were two rooms. On the left was the Young Set and on the right, the supposedly more sophisticated Jazz Lounge. The establishment soon gravitated towards newly burgeoning rock, soul and R’n’B music.
A brilliant Newcastle outfit - The Animals - became the venue’s first house band before finding fame and fortune, and by the time the club finally closed its doors in 1968, it had played host to some of rock’s biggest new names: Pink Floyd, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, The Spencer Davis Group, Jeff Beck and, towards the end of the club’s life, a young band called Status Quo - among others.
Such was the intimacy of the club that the club goers were able to meet their idols close up, drink and to chat with them. The club was hot, sweaty and packed to the rafters most weekends. Newcastle Council installed a heritage plaque for the club and this was unveiled on the 8th September 2022.

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As in previous years Riffs will be open every day over these Christmas holidays. I would like to say, though, a massive big mensh to all the venues hosting Rock and live music nights so the bands have somewhere to show off their immeasurable talents. And, of course, a similar massive mensh to all the bands who give the punters in the region so much pleasure. You are ALL very much appreciated.

Have had a couple of emails asking why no Christmas images on Riffs this year. Well, not wishing to bring down the mood, but half hour on CNN or Euronews shows just how much war and hate there is in the world and, in all honesty, just can't get into the mood with so many images of everyone - including innocent children - suffering in front of our very eyes. Man's constant inhumanity to Man leaves me shocked. Terrible, ashamedly awful.

Oh, yeah, and a happy New Year.

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Friday January 10: FLEETING RUMOURS 7.30pm Tickets £22
Sunday January 12: An evening with THE ANIMALS plus
RHINO'S REVENGE [inc Status Quo members John Rhino Edwards and Leon Cave]. 7pm Tickets £24
The Exchange, North Shields Tickets: Tynesidefest.co.uk

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TYNESIDE AMERICANA BLUES FESTIVAL JANUARY 2025
(updated with running order and ticket details]
Friday 10 Saturday 11 Sunday 12
1856 Exchange North Shields [5 mins from North Shields Metro station]
Friday: 5 - 11pm
Medicine Head / Deborah Bonham Band / Gerry Jablonski Band / Fleeting Rumours / Robbie Reay & Cran / Theresa Watson Band / Phil Caffrey / Big River.
Tickets £32
Saturday: noon-11pm
John Verity (ex Argent) / Davey Pattison Band / Ian McNabb / Thomas Killner Band / Dr Feelguid / Slagbank / King Size Voodoo Traveller / Lounge Lizards / Blistered Molly / Ash Lynch acoustic solo / Terraplane Blues Band / Stan the Band.
Day tickets £39
Sunday: noon-10.45pm
Animals / Rhinos Revenge [John Edwards Rhono & Leon Cave of Status Quo] / Sensational Alex Harvey Experience / Fargo Railroad Co / Jed Thomas Band [tribute to Rory Gallagher] / Dirty Ruby / Ten Bob Blind / Pablo & the Bluestones / Ally Lee acoustic / Holly Rose Clegg.
Day tickets £39.
Weekender tickets - all three days - £89.
Tickets on Tynesidefest.co.uk
Tickets on day will be able to be purchased - depending on availability.
Tel 07436 875698.
Venue 5 min walk from North Shields Metro.
Metros running to Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland after performances every 15 mins. Main transport Station in North Shields buses to Seaton Delavel, Blyth.

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For anyone that has so generously given to help the brave fighters of Ukraine against the terrible Russian aggression, they will know that they get email updates on the situation. I give this snippet to show that every single penny you give helps in the sturggle. "This time, we brought 24 cars, 17 night vision cameras, 41 drone jammers, 120 FPVs and 52 ISR drones with a total cost of around €694,227".
Yes, it's 'brought' and not 'bought', cos the lads get their hands dirty and repair, build or make whatever they need and take them to wherever is needed - on many occasions directly to the front line.
To donate to Ukraine: www.help99.co

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After Midnight’s Christmas Party will be held at Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st December. Doors open at 7.30pm. Band on stage at 8.30pm. Tickets are £15 (subject to booking fee), available in advance from The Cluny - Tel: 0191 230 4474 Visit the venue’s website:- www.thecluny.com.
After Midnight have chosen Cluny 2 because it is one of the best and most intimate theatre spaces in the north east. The Cluny has deservedly acquired great reputation for championing live music. The Friday gig is virtually sold out but a second night has now been added on Saturday 21 December. Tickets are available.
After Midnight comprises:- Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar), Gregg Strettle (drums) and Dave Robson (bass) and Stevie Hutch (keyboards)
NB: This will NOT be an Eric Clapton tribute gig although one or two of Slowhand's songs will be covered, along with music by Free, Dire Straits, The Beatles, Steely Dan and many other rock classics. www.after-midnight.org.uk

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Jeff from the Stones Story has been in touch with Riffs to say that this Friday's (25th) gig at the Trimmers Arms will not now take place as the venue have double booked and it's Romeo's Pistol who is playing on that evening.

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WELL, NOVEMBER'S LOOKING UP

Not often I comment on a venue's monthly gigs [are you saying a lot don't warrant it?], but November's gigs for Blackhall Navy Club caught my attention for hosting some of the best Rock that the North-East has to offer [now don't overstep yourself Nige]. In just one month at this venue you can relish the sounds and formidable talent of . . .STICKY FINGERS, THE PAUL RODGERS STORY, ELENBAK, and finish the month with some fine laid-back Blues courtesy of THE SUGAR B's. There is a small door charge, but If there was ever a reason to plead with Tony for a month-long special reduced price ticket then this is it.

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'ERE'S ANOTHER ONE FOR YA

Glad [all over?], no just glad that I, at last, have something to add to this News page. Bands and venues don't seem to want to publicise what they're up to, so it was great to get a few lines concerning the recent gig at Blackhall Community Centre which took place last Friday (11th Oct) with headliners Ultimate Whitesnake and supported by the long-standing stalwards of the Rock scene here in the North-East, none other than Sticky Fingers.
Blackhall Community Centre has been the venue for some great live Heavy Rock and Metal bands [and long may it continue] and with the fans' support let's look forward to many more [well, think I just covered that].
Ultimate Whitesnake have been commended by our regular contributor, The Seaham Silverback, who rates them very highly indeed, and The Stickies have always been relied upon to play some Classic Rock loud and heavy. Anyway, here's some words on the gig - plus pics - from live music fan Graeme.

“A great night of Live Classic Rock witnessed by a bumper crowd, at Blackhall Community Centre last Friday. Local Legends “ Sticky Fingers “ opened the show with their Punchy Powerhouse versions of rock covers, then the crowd were treated to Ultimate Whitesnake who perfectly delivered all the hits and more by David Coverdale's rock outfit, the punters were treated to a fantastic night once again at this great venue“

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"Hey, hey, ya got me rockin' now"

Just a smattering of news concerning a local and highly skilled bunch of musos going by the name of THE STONES STORY. Turning down gigs cos your diary is bursting at the seams would be a wish of so many bands, so how chuffed are these lads(?!) that this is actually what they are having to do. Not only that, but you can see them strut their stuff for free (unless the gig is at a club, of course). And what a plethora of choice they have with tracks [you mean options; they have only one choice] from over several decades of classic Rock. As Jeff told Riffs: "Can't complain though, we'll carry on until arthritis or senility defeat us."

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PAUL RODGERS STORY PLAY TO "RAMMED PUB"

The 2024 Darlo Blues Festival was - again - a great success, with hundreds turning up to see a wide variety of bands, not only at main stages in the centre, but also at pubs in and around the town. One of the latest bands to be confirmed was the PAUL RODGERS STORY, who try and include as many songs as they can from Mr Rodgers' extremely wide and varied career. The band have made quite a name for themselves over the last few years but even they were knocked out at the reception they got at the Hummingbird in Darlington town centre on Sunday 15th of this month. Guitarist Kenny told Riffs exclusively: "The pub (which is pretty big) was so rammed full that people had to queue outside to try and get in. The door staff were turning people away because there was no room for any more. The atmosphere was amazing and the crowd were really up for a good time. What a gig !!!"
Now that's the sort of gig that every band dreams of.
[pic from Darlo Blues Festival 2023]

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Rock Musicians Who Died In Tragic Circumstances
The world of rock music is known for its electrifying performances, passionate lyrics, and legendary artists who have left an indelible mark on the genre. However, behind the glitz and glamour, there have been tragic stories of talented musicians whose lives were cut short, leaving fans and the music industry in mourning.

Eddie Cochran
An influential early rock ‘n’ roll star, Cochran tragically met his demise in a fatal car accident in the United Kingdom in 1960. At just 21 years old, he had already made a significant impact on the music scene with “Summertime Blues.” Interestingly, he had a premonition about his own death following the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson.

Duane Allman
The exceptionally talented guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane met a tragic end in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia in 1971. His death at the young age of 24 marked a devastating loss for the music world. Tragically, a year later, another band member, bassist Berry Oakley, also succumbed to a fatal motorcycle accident near the same location. Both men, only 24 years old, are now buried side by side in Macon.

Keith Moon
The legendary and chaotic drummer of The Who, Moon lived a tumultuous life filled with excess. In a tragic accident in 1970, Moon unintentionally ran over his friend and chauffeur, resulting in his death. His own life was tragically cut short at the age of 32 in 1978 due to an overdose of Heminevrin. Interestingly, he passed away in the same room where Cass Elliot had died four years earlier.

Keith Relf
he underrated yet talented frontman of the Yardbirds, Relf met a shocking end in 1976 when he electrocuted himself while playing an electric guitar in his basement. Despite the band’s success, Relf’s remarkable talents often went overlooked. His untimely death at the age of 33 left a void in the music industry.

Richard Manuel
Renowned for his soulful voice as a member of The Band, Manuel battled with addiction and depression. Following the group’s breakup in 1986, Manuel tragically took his own life at the age of 42. His former bandmates and close friend Eric Clapton honored his memory in their music, paying tribute to his profound impact.

Jimi Hendrix
A groundbreaking guitarist of unmatched influence in rock history, Hendrix tragically passed away at the premature age of 27 in 1970. His accidental death due to a mixture of barbiturates and red wine deprived future generations of his unparalleled talent. Hendrix’s sudden and untimely demise reverberated throughout the music world, leaving a lasting impact.

Janis Joplin
Celebrated for her emotive and powerful voice, Joplin met a tragic end in 1970 at the age of 27 due to a heroin overdose, just weeks after the passing of Jimi Hendrix. Despite her untimely death, Joplin’s contributions to blues and rock music remain iconic and treasured by fans worldwide.

John Lennon
A pivotal figure as a founding member of the Beatles, Lennon was tragically assassinated by Mark David Chapman in 1980 at the age of 40. Lennon’s legacy extended beyond his musical talents, as he was also a vocal advocate for social and political causes. His untimely death was a profound loss to the music community and beyond.

Bon Scott
The charismatic frontman of AC/DC renowned for his captivating stage presence and distinctive voice, Scott met a tragic end at the age of 33 in 1980 due to acute alcohol poisoning. Scott’s sudden and premature death marked the end of an era for the Australian rock band, leaving fans mourning the loss of his vibrant energy and talent.

Jim Morrison
The enigmatic frontman of the Doors known for his poetic lyrics and wild stage presence, Morrison left an enduring impact on rock music. In 1971, at the young age of 27, Morrison was discovered dead in a bathtub in Paris under mysterious circumstances. The exact cause of his death remains shrouded in speculation, with theories ranging from a drug overdose to heart failure. Jim Morrison’s legacy continues to captivate music enthusiasts worldwide.

Randy Rhoads
The US-born guitarist with Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz died at the age of just 25 in a bizarre plane crash on March 19, 1982. On the way to a festival in Orlando, Florida, the band’s tour bus stopped in Leesburg for repairs to a faulty air-conditioning system.
Seeing an airstrip nearby, tour bus driver and ex-commercial pilot Andrew Aycock took a small plane without permission, and with Rhoads and make-up artist Rachel Youngblood on board, ‘buzzed’ the tour bus. One of the plane’s wings clipped the top of the bus and it ploughed into a garage. Everyone on board was killed instantly.

Keith Relf
The vocalist with British blues rockers The Yardbirds was famous for co-writing Shapes Of Thing and for singing an early version of what would become the Led Zeppelin classic Dazed And Confused. Relf died in 1976 at the age of 33 when he was electrocuted in the basement of his home in London while playing an electric guitar that wasn’t properly earthed.
The fact that Relf was in poor health generally – he suffered from emphysema and asthma throughout his life – most likely contributed to his being unable to survive the shock.

Terry Kath
A founding member of American rock band Chicago, guitarist Kath died in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 31. His preponderance for drug taking was well known. But it was another love – of guns – that got him in the end. On January 23, 1978 Kath was partying at the home of Chicago roadie Don Johnson.
Kath took an unloaded .38 revolver, out it to his head and pulled the trigger. He then moved onto a semiautomatic 9mm pistol, and believing the magazine to be empty, started the same routine. Alas, Kath had missed a single round that was in the chamber, and died instantly when the gun went off.

Steve Peregrin Took
The English multi-instrumentalist found fame alongside Marc Bolan in Tyrannosaurus Rex, but had a well-documented history of drug abuse and was known for the ‘hilarious’ trick of spiking unsuspecting victims’ drinks with hallucinogens.
‘The Phantom Spiker’ was sacked from Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1969. By 1980 and aged 31, Took was living in Notting Hill with Valerie Billiet. The pair injected morphine, but it wasn’t this insanely dangerous practice that killed him. In fact, he asphyxiated after inhaling the cherry in a cocktail he was drinking at the time. Doh!.

Claude Francois
The celebrated French singer who wrote Comme D’Habitude (the original version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way) was a huge star in his home country, selling a staggering 70 million albums during his career. His died at his Paris apartment on 11 March, 1978 at the age of just 39.
Francois was taking a shower when he noticed that a light fixture in the bathroom wasn’t flush on the wall. He decided to try to straighten it and as he did so – with his hands all wet – the vocalist was fatally electrocuted

Dennis Wilson
Beach Boy Dennis was a super-talented musician, but an erratic human being. When he died on December 28, 1983, the 39 year old was homeless in California and plagued by addiction. Wilson got himself into a violent fight at a bar and went to hospital to get fixed up.
Hours later he discharged himself and started boozing on a friend’s yacht in Marina del Rey. He decided it would be a good idea to dive into the water to try to retrieve various bits and pieces he’d thrown overboard from his own yacht three years previously – and drowned in the attempt.

Jeff Porcaro
The drummer with AOR monsters Toto died at the age of 38 on August 5, 1992. The story goes that he’d been spraying insecticide in the yard of his home, suffered an allergic reaction, and died that evening in hospital. The LA County Coroner’s Office, however, stated that the cause of death was a heart attack induced by cocaine abuse.
Surviving band members and family vigorously denied this, saying that while Porcaro did use cocaine, in no way was he a heavy abuser. Guitarist Steve Lukather pointed out that Porcaro had a congenital heart condition and that two uncles died of heart disease when they were 40.

Michael Hutchence
The Australian sex symbol and lead singer of INXS committed suicide on November 27, 1997 at the age of 37. The inquest into Hutchence’s death at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sydney concluded that he killed himself while depressed and under the influence of alcohol and “other drugs”.
Why was he depressed? Because Hutchence was caught in the middle of a messy separation between his girlfriend Paula Yates and Bob Geldof. He was found in a kneeling position facing the door, hanged by his own snakeskin belt. Yates later claimed Hutchence hadn’t wanted to kill himself, and had died accidentally in a solitary sex game.

Randy California
The Spirit guitarist was one of the faces of the late ‘60s hippy movement in the US. But despite the well-known substance abuse of the era, California died in 1997 at the age of 45 in a tragic accident.
While swimming in the Pacific Ocean on January 2 at Molokai, Hawaii, near to his mum’s house, the musician and his 12-year-old son Quinn got into difficulty when a rip current took hold. California managed to save his son by pushing him to the shore, but couldn’t save himself and drowned.

Jeff Buckley
The son of ‘60s solo artist Tim Buckley, the Californian guitarist, singer and songwriter died at the age of just 30 on May 29, 1997. Already feted for his soulful writing and extraordinary, sweeping voice, Buckley made the fatal decision to go swimming wearing clothes and boots in Wolf River Harbor, a water channel in the Mississippi river near Memphis, Tennessee.
Roadie Keith Foti was on the banks when he noticed that the singer had disappeared. His body was finally found on June 4 by two locals. The autopsy established that there was no sign of either drugs or alcohol in Buckley’s system.

Dimebag Darrell
The guitarist with Texas thrash metallers Pantera died in the most unusual circumstances on December 8, 2004. Pantera had disbanded in 2003 and Darrell Abbott was performing live with his new act, Damageplan, at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio.
Not long after the band had started their set a 25-year-old former marine, Nathan Gale, shot Abbott with a 9mm Beretta pistol. The guitarist took three bullets to the head and died instantly. Gale went on to kill four people in total and wound seven others before police officers shot him dead.

Mike Edwards
English cellist Mike Edwards has probably suffered the most bizarre death of any rock musician. The ELO man, who was with the band from 1972 to 1975, had moved to Devon to work on a number of projects, and to teach the cello and violin. He died on September 3, 2010 at the age of 62 on the A381 between Harbertonford and Halwell, near to his home in Totnes.
Edwards was driving a van when a cylindrical hay bale weighing 1300 pounds rolled down a hillside and collided with the vehicle. A subsequent court case ruled that two defendants were not guilty of health and safety violations.

Samong Traisattha
Thai black metal outfit Surrender of Divinity’s bassist and vocalist Samong Traisattha was stabbed to death in his own home on January 8, 2014. He was 36 years old. According to the musician’s wife, a fan called Prakam Harnphanbusakorn had come round for a drink and to talk about getting some T-shirts printed.
She found her husband dead in the living room. A Facebook user then posted a photo of the body on the social networking site and wrote a confession saying they had killed the musician because he played black metal, but wasn’t a true Satanist.

Sandy Denny
The hugely respected Fairport Convention folk singer who lit up Led Zep’s Battle of Evermore wasn’t in the best of health by the time she hit 30. Known for her drinking and cocaine abuse, Denny’s behaviour had become erratic when she went on holiday with her parents and baby Georgia in March of 1978.
She fell down a staircase and hit her head on concrete. The doctor treating her prescribed a painkiller called distalgesic, which was dangerous when mixed with alcohol. On April 17 Sandy collapsed at the home of her friend Miranda Ward and died four days later in a Wimbledon hospital at the age of just 31.

Stiv Bators
The American vocalist of both The Dead Boys and Lords of the New Church had almost died on stage once, when a stunt designed to look like he was hanging himself went wrong. Bators was pronounced clinically dead for a number of minutes, but miraculously survived.
After such a lucky escape, Bators’ actually death at the age of 40 seems almost banal. He was run over by a taxi in Paris, and was sent to hospital. Bators waited for hours, but eventually left without seeing a doctor. He died in his sleep on June 4, 1990 as a result of the concussion.

Kirsty MacColl
The English singer songwriter’s unforgettable duet with Pogues singer Shane MacGowan on Fairytale Of New York had turned her into a household name. Sadly, she died at the age of 41 when a speedboat hit her. On December 18, 2000 MacColl was on holiday in Cozumel, Mexico with her sons and partner.
Despite being in a designated diving zone with restricted entry, a speedboat entered the area. MacColl saw that it was heading directly for her eldest son, Jamie, and managed to push him out of the way. But she was struck by the boat herself and died instantly.

Euronymous
Oystein Aarseth, also known as Euronymous, was a Norwegian black metal guitarist in the band Mayhem. Having got himself into a silly feud with another Norwegian black metal acolyte, Varg Vikernes, also known as Count Grisnackh, things degenerated to the point where on the night of August 10, 1993, Vikernes drove to Aarseth’s apartment in Toyengata, and knifed him outside the front door.
His body was found with 23 stab wounds – two to the head, five to the neck and 16 to the back. He was 25. Vikernes was arrested nine days later and was eventually sentenced to 21 years in prison.

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This year's Free Convention in aid of The Newcastle hospital Trust has just been announced. It is on the 15th November and, as in previous years, all profits go to the trust which has benefited by over £15,000 by YOUR generosity.
The three bands that are featured this year are:-
The Heartbreaker Collective - a very special young band who many say are the best Free trubute they've seen and remind many fans of the energy that Free had.
The Stealer - now a 4 piece with an incredible guitar player and will be featuring Bad Company numbers in their set
Absolute Free - a great closing band who always pull out the stops and often involved other bands for a great jam finale.
Tickets priced £20 can be purchased by card through www.ents24.com
or PayPal via email to freeconvention@aol.com (same email for any queries).
https://facebook.com/events/s/the-annual-free-convention-202/1829898247481312/

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CLASSIC CLAPTON unplugged
Seaton Delaval Arts Centre - Saturday 28 September

Mike Hall and Adam Howells from CLASSIC CLAPTON will perform an acoustic gig at Seaton Delaval Arts Centre on Saturday 28 September. They will be on stage at 7.30pm and will perform 2 x 60 minute sets. Doors open 7pm. Tickets priced £14.50 (Concessions £14) are available from the box office - 0191 237 5460 or visit www.seatondelavalartscentre.com.
Mike and Adam both live locally. However, this will be their first ever performance at the Arts Centre. It will also be the only Classic Clapton show in the North East this year. You are advised to book early.
The band was formed in 1985 in Newcastle long before the term tribute band was invented. Since then, they have performed throughout the UK including concerts at The Royal Festival Hall, London and at Glastonbury Festival in 2002. They have toured throughout Europe. In 2009 & 2016 they did several concerts in India including performing in front of 3500 people in Mumbai. In 2017 they also appeared in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The full band performed its final CLASSIC CLAPTON tribute concert at Sage Gateshead in December 2023. However, Mike intends to continue with unplugged shows from now on.
For this unplugged gig, Mike & Adam will both sing & play acoustic guitar. Their show is based around Slowhand's multi-million selling album ''Eric Clapton / unplugged'' - Eric's best-selling album ever, winning numerous Grammies. CLASSIC CLAPTON unplugged will include many of the best tracks, including Tears in Heaven, Before You Accuse Me, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, Running on Faith, Alberta, Old Love and of course Layla. The show will also feature new acoustic versions of other Clapton Classics such as Wonderful Tonight, Lay Down Sally, Promises, Change the World and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
The whole of Clapton's illustrious career will be covered including Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, The Yardbirds, Derek & The Dominos and the solo years.
TWO HOURS OF CLASSIC CLAPTON UNPLUGGED
Eric Clapton will reach the milestone age of 80 next March. His recent tours unfortunately have visited only a limited number of large UK arenas. It is unlikely that Eric would ever undertake an Unplugged Tour. If fans want to hear all of his hits played live & unplugged in more intimate surroundings, they should attend a CLASSIC CLAPTON Unplugged concert.
NB: There is no licensed bar at the venue so please bring your own bottle.
http://www.classic-clapton.com
Ticket link:-
https://seatondelavalartscentre.com/whats-on/classic-clapton-unplugged/
Facebook:-
https://www.facebook.com/events/360549840286591?ref=newsfeed

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John Mayall, Legendary Pioneer of British Blues, Dead at 90

John Mayall was often called the "father of British blues" and was credited with playing an important role in the revival of the genre in the late 1960s.
"Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world's greatest road warriors," the post said.
Mayall is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s.

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THERE'S A BRAND NEW ROSE IN TOWN

Looking for a live music venue in Durham that not only hosts live bands and solo artistes but also offers home cooked hot and cold food, has a large Beer Garden with free parking and next to local bus routes?
Well, you're in luck, The Coach and Horses in Birtley can boast all of this - and more!
Now under 'New Leadership', their first gig is tonight (Saturday 20th July) with BRASSNECK. Band is on around 8.30-ish and their "extensive and delicious" home cooked food is served up to 8pm. The venue full address is The Coach & Horses, Leyburn Hold, Birtley, DH3 1QF. Any bands interested in playing please contact by email only: coachgigs2024@gmail.com.
Probably go without saying [say it, say it] but all their gigs will be on Riffs Gig Listings page.

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BAND (still) WANTED FOR WEDDING NIGHT

Adaptable band capable of playing a wide range, that would be ideal for filling the dancefloor at a wedding for the evening of 7th September. Please contact: Carl Robinson 07792212567 carlrobinson_87@yahoo.co.uk

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Despite little to no coverage on the major News channels, COVID 19 is very much alive and well.
Apparently it has now evolved into many varied strains and can attack under the guise of something quite innocuous.
I speak from experience as this past week has been a rollercoaster; first day it was just a sore throat, second day a heavy cold, third day flu - and then the virus really took hold and I had a hard time realising where I was.
Avoiding it, with the scant regard to hygiene that people give, seems nigh impossible.
So - be aware.
[Yeah, whatever, but did you get the listings up?]

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Ticket prices have been confirmed and over a third have gone already. As you can imagine The Rose has only so much room so tickets are strictly limited. They are £24.99 from the bar, and from eventbrite.com with a fee.
Please feel free to give a donation of your own to the Maggie Centre, it is such a worthy cause and they will be most grateful.

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BAND WANTED FOR WEDDING NIGHT

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GONE . . . BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Always sad when a band calls it a day, but when that band has had rave reviews and is good live, doesn't renege on agreements, always turns up when arranged and plays their best every gig - then ya gotta ask . . . "Why?"
And so it is that the much-praised Sneaky Blinders have called it a day. No doubt they will have their reasons, but they will be missed. The local music scene is in desperate need of quality musicianship now more than ever.

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Had a couple of emails regarding the DARTS gig at The Rose Inn end of August. Surprised I need to repeat this, but this is NOT a tribute act. It is the ORIGINAL band, the same members who played on Top Of The Pops, same guys who toured, same guys who got rave reviews in not only the 70s but into the 80s. How Michael managed to secure this band for his pub will forever remain a local mystery, but, even if there is a door charge, I wouldn't rely on there being any room. Ticket prices haven't even been released yet but there has been a flurry of enquiries...

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Jeff Beck Broup 1968 KK Downing, California 1977

KISS Maiden, Oakland, California 1982

Slade Manowar

Priest UFO 1974

SLF 1977 Idol and Lydon 1976

Pistols 1976 Bad Manners 1981

Dead Boys Talking Heads 1976

Stranglers UFO 1976

Van Halen 1973 UK Subs 1976

Eater Bad Co with Page 1974

New York Dolls East Village

Anvil Quo 1969

Ginger Baker Lynyrd Skynyrd 1974

Iggy at 78 Jobson/Jones/Cook/Lynott/Idol

Deep Purple 1968 GBH pre-1st gig

Hollywood Vampries 1967 Mott the Hoople 1971

Sparks and Roy Wood 1974

Johnny and Edgar Winter Quo

Lizzy 1976 Anthrax and Maiden 1990

Bonham and Powell Purple 1974

Pistols 1977 Taste 1960s

Thelma (1st wife), Ozzy 1971 Faces

Quo Curtis 1980

Priest Schenker

Tony Iommi Paul Raymond

Kiss 1976 AC/DC

Mountain Girlschool

Humble Pie 1972 The Damned 1976

Uriah Heep 1982

Broken Bones Quo

WASP Blondie CBGBs 1977

Faces Plant, Page

Stranglers 1978 Quo

Damned CBGBs 1977 Halford, Tipton

Humble Pie 1971 Madness 1976

Defects, Damned Sabbath, Germany 1969

Dio 1983 Kiss 1975

New York Dolls 1977 Quiet Riot

Maiden 1976 Pistols, Clash, Buzzcocks gig

Lemmy and 'friend' Pistols 1976

AC/DC with Cheap Trick Sabbath

Paul Raymond Billy Idol

Destruction then and now Saxon then and now

Di'Anno, Burr The Damned 1976

Unicorn 1976, pre-Maiden Iggy and Stooges

Clash with Pursey, Jones 1978 Bon, Angus

Bowie, Visconti, Ronson 1979 Rush 1969

Sabbath 1978 Walsh, Moon

Debbie, Lemmy Undertones

Earth, pre-Sabbath Page with Black Crowes

Brian Robertson, Thin Lizzy Cooper, Manzarek, Pop

Yardbirds 1965

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In Memoriam:
Remembering the rock musicians we lost in 2024
Raising a toast to those musicians, producers, songwriters and artists who passed away.

December 2024
Johnnie Walker, broadcaster
Walker was originally a DJ on the pirate Radio Caroline between 1966 and 1968; the following year he joined the fledgling Radio 1, where he remained until 1975. He rejoined the station in 1987 for The Stereo Sequence, before becoming part of the first line-up of the BBC's GLR, also broadcasting on Capital Gold and LBC over the years. He announced his retirement on 27th October 2024, after suffering from the lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He died on 31st December, aged 79.
Richard Perry
The New York-born record producer worked with artists such as Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Carly Simon and Harry Nilsson. He died on 24th December 2024, aged 82.
Slim Dunlap
Robert Bruce "Slim" Dunlap, who was best known as the final guitarist for American rock group The Replacements, died on Wednesday 18th December aged 73. The musician passed 12 years after suffering a stroke, which left him bedridden and unable to play guitar.

November 2024
Colin Petersen
The Australian drummer, who died on 18th November aged 78, was a friend of the Gibb brothers, who recruited him for their band when they all moved to England in the mid 1960s. Together with Barry, Maurice and Robin, plus guitarist Vince Melouney, the quintet became the Bee Gees. Petersen played on the first six Bee Gees albums, which spawned hits To Love Somebody, New York Mining Disaster 1941, Massachusetts, I've Gotta Get A Message To You and I Started A Joke, before parting company with the band in 1969.
Dennis Bryon
The Welsh drummer was a member of Amen Corner, who hit Number 1 in 1969 with (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice. He went on to work with the Bee Gees, providing the unstoppable beat behind the disco classics Night Fever, Jive Talkin', Tragedy and You Should Be Dancing. A tape loop of Bryon performing was used for Stayin' Alive and jokingly credited to "Bernard Lupe". He died on 14th November, aged 75.
Peter Sinfield
Co-founder and lyricist of prog heavyweights King Crimson, Sinfield enjoyed a career as a songwriter in later decades, penning the lyrics to hits such as Greg Lake's I Believe In Father Christmas, The Land Of Make Believe by Bucks Fizz, Rain Or Shine by Five Star and Think Twice by Celine Dion. He died on 14th November 2024, aged 80.
Vic Flick
The Surrey-born guitarist was a member of the John Barry Seven in the late 1950s and performed the memorable riff to the James Bond Theme in 1962. He can also be heard on It's Not Unusual and What's New Pussycat by Tom Jones, Petula Clark's Downtown, I Only Want To Be With You by Dusty Springfield and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore by The Walker Brothers. He died on 14th November aged 87.
Shel Talmy
The Chicago-born record producer was responsible for classic tracks such as The Who's My Generation, The Kinks' You Really Got Me and The Easybeats' Friday On My Mind. He died on 13th November 2024, aged 87.

October 2024
Paul Di'Anno
The Essex-born singer was the original vocalist with Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981, when he was replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He appeared on Maiden's first two albums - which included the singles Running Free, Sanctuary and Twilight Zone - before forging a solo career with bands like Di'Anno's Battlezone and Killers. He died on 21st October 2024 after several years of health problems. He was 66.
Phil Lesh
One of the founding members of The Grateful Dead died on 25th October 2024, aged 84.
Inger Lorre
The lead singer of LA alternative rock band Nymphs died from cancer on 16th October aged 61.

September 2024
Dave Allison
One of the original members of cult Canadian metal band Anvil until his departure in 1989, Dave "Squirrely" Allison died on 30th September 2024 aged 68.
J.D. Souther
Detroit-born John David Souther wrote some of Eagles' hits (despite turning down an offer to join the band in 1972), including Heartache Tonight, Best Of My Love, Victim Of Love and New Kid In Town". Alongside solo hits such as You're Only Lonely, he also worked with Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor (on the single Her Town Too), and had a successful acting career, appearing regularly in the TV series Thirtysomething. He died on 17th September 2024, aged 78.
Kenny Hyslop
The Scottish musician worked with Midge Ure in Slik at the beginning of his career and briefly replaced Brian McGee in Simple Minds in 1981, playing on their single Promised You A Miracle. He died on 15th September 2024 from prostate cancer, at the age of 73.
Zoot Money
Bournemouth-born George Bruno Money was the mastermind behind the British R&B act The Big Roll Band, which quicky became a big favourite with the Mod fraternity. The band morphed into the psychedelic outfit Dantalian's Chariot, but the Big Roll Band continued to perform into the 21st Century. Money died on 8th September 2024, aged 82.
Johnny Thunder
Florida-born Leroy Hamilton had a considerable hit in 1963 with the song Loop De Loop. He died on 6th September 2024, aged 93.
Herbie Flowers
Everyone knows that Flowers played bass on both Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side and Clive Dunn's Grandad (as well as writing the latter), but as an in-demand session musician, he also appeared on such classics as David Essex's Rock On, Bowie's Space Oddity and Rebel Rebel, Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection and Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of War Of The Worlds album, among many, many others. Flowers was also a member of the pop group Blue Mink and the instrumental prog outfit Sky. He died on 5th September 2024, aged 86.

August 2024
Greg Kihn
The leader of The Greg Kihn Band, novelist and radio host died on 13th August from complications from Alzheimer's disease. His biggest US hits were The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) and Jeopardy.

July 2024
John Mayall
The Macclesfield-born guitarist's band the Bluesbreakers was an incredible breeding ground for talent in the 1960s, counting Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor as members. Named as the Godfather of British Blues, Mayall continued to perform until 2022; he died on 22nd July 2024, aged 90.
Jerry Miller
One of the founding members of San Fransisco acid rock band Moby Grape, guitarist Miller died on 20th July 2024, aged 81.
Joe Egan
Alongside the late Gerry Rafferty, Egan was one of the key members of Scottish folk rock band Stealers Wheel, co-writing the Top 10 hit Stuck In The Middle With You.
Mick Underwood
The acclaimed drummer played in the bands The Outlaws (with Ritchie Blackmore), The Herd (with Peter Frampton), Episode Six (with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover) and other heavy rock projects. He died on 28th July 2024, aged 78.
Tom Fowler
One of Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention, the Salt Lake-born bassist died on 2nd July 2024, aged 73.

June 2024
Kinky Friedman
The Chicago-born musician, writer and sometime politician died on 27th June 2024 from Parkinson's disease aged 79.
James Chance
One of the key figures in the New York "No Wave" genre of the late 1970s and early 80s died on 18th June, aged 71.

May 2024
Dennis Thompson
The drummer with the MC5 died on 9th May 2024 - he appeared on their 2022 album Heavy Lifting, and was the last surviving member of the influential Detroit rock band's classic line-up.
John Barbata
The New Jersey-born drummer performed with The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane (and its later incarnation, Jefferson Starship), Linda Ronstadt, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Byrds and many more over a 60-year career. He died on 8th May 2024, aged 79.
Steve Albini
Albini was a member of bands such as Big Black and Shellac, while enjoying a successful career as a producer/engineer, recording the likes of Nirvana, Pixies and PJ Harvey. He died of a heart attack on 7th May 2024, aged 61.
Richard Tandy
After performing harpsichord on The Move's Blackberry Way, Tandy was enlisted in frontman Roy Wood's next project: the Electric Light Orchestra. He joined the band in 1971 for their second album and became ELO's full-time keyboardist, co-arranging strings with songwriter Jeff Lynne and Louis Clark for the group's biggest hits, including the Out Of The Blue and Discovery albums. He died on 1st May 2024 aged 76.

April 2024
Duane Eddy
The iconic American guitarist - whose trademark sound appeared on the hits Peter Gunn, Because They're Young and Rebel Rouser - died on 30th April, aged 86.
Mike Pinder
A founding member of The Moody Blues, Pinder played keyboards with the British band and his expertise on the early "sampler" the Mellotron stood the group in good stead as they transformed from R&B to progressive rock in the late 1960s with tracks like Nights In White Satin and Question. Pinder left the Moodies after shortly after their reunion in 1978, forging a solo career in the 90s after a decade working in California for computer company Atari. He died on 24th April 2024, aged 82.
Larry Page
The former singer turned record producer died on 18th April 2024, aged 87. He managed The Kinks and The Troggs, producing the latter's hit Wild Thing in 1966.
Clarence "Frogman" Henry
The American R&B singer died on 7th April, aged 87. He had hits with (I Don't Know Why) But I Do, You Always Hurt The One You Love and Ain't Got No Home, which was covered by The Band in 1973.

March 2024
Gerry Conway
The Norfolk-born drummer and percussionist worked with Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. He died on 29th March 2024 from complications from motor neurone disease, aged 76.
Chris Cross
A founding member of Ultravox, co-writing their biggest hit Vienna, bassist Cross left the band in 1986 to follow a career as a psychotherapist, but was to rejoin the group for a short revival in 2009. He died on 25th March, aged 71.
Steve Harley
The Deptford-born singer-songwriter had a series of hits with Cockney Rebel, including Judy Teen, Mr Soft and the 1975 UK Number 1, Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me). Harley (real name Stephen Nice) later had a solo career which saw him duet with Sarah Brightman on the title song for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom Of The Opera. He died from cancer on 17th March, aged 73.
T.M. Stevens
Bassist Thomas Michael Stevens worked with Steve Vai, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner and Billy Joel and was a member of the Pretenders for their Get Close album in 1986. He died on 10th March 2024 aged 72.
Karl Wallinger
The Welsh-born singer-songwriter was initially a member of Mike Scott's band The Waterboys, before working on his own material under the name World Party, with albums Private Revolution and Goodbye Jumbo. His song She's The One was later coveted by Robbie Williams. Wallinger died on 10th March 2024, aged 66.
Jim Beard
The touring keyboardist for Steely Dan died on 2nd March 2024 at the age of 63.
Eric Carmen
The Ohio-born musician rose to fame as vocalist with the power pop outfit The Raspberries in the early 1970s. When the group ended in 1975, Carmen went solo, having huge hits with All By Myself in 1976 and Hungry Eyes in 1987, which appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dirty Dancing. He died in March 2024, aged 74.

February 2024
Johnny Gentle
The former John Askew was a British rock 'n' roll star who employed the Silver Beetles aka The Beatles on his 1960 tour of Scotland. He died on 29th February, aged 87.
John Duff Lowe
Lowe was pianist with The Quarry Men, the school band that featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison and would evolve into The Beatles. He appeared on the tracks That'll Be The Day and In Spite Of All The Danger that were captured on a shellac demo disc and is officially the first Beatles record, which Lowe held onto and later sold to McCartney. He died on 22nd February 2024, aged 81.
Bobby Tench
A former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Hummingbird and the Streetwalkers, Tench died on 19th February, aged 79.
Ian Amey
Better known to the world as Tich, guitarist in the 60s band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, died on 14th February 2024, aged 79. Amey appeared on hits Hold Tight and Bend It!
Jimmy Van Eaton
The American drummer played with Jerry Lee Lewis on his early Sun Records sessions, including Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On. He died on 9th February, aged 86.
Damo Suzuki
The Japanese vocalist with the legendary German rock group Can died on 9th February 2024, aged 74.
Mojo Nixon
The quirky psychobilly musician was best known for his 1987 single Elvis Is Everywhere, which he followed up with Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child and Don Henley Must Die. He died on 7th February 2024, aged 66.
Melanie
Melanie Safka, best known for her 1971 hit Brand New Key, died on 3rd February 2024, aged 76.
Wayne Kramer
The founder of the Detroit-based psychedelic rockers The MC5 died on 2nd February aged 75.

January 2024
Brian Griffin, photographer
The Birmingham-born photographer died on 29th January 2024, aged 75. Griffin was best known for shooting the covers for Porcupine by Echo & The Bunnymen and Depeche Mode's A Broken Frame. He also shot memorable images of Siouxsie Sioux, Kate Bush and The Specials.
Barry Jenkins
The Leicester-born drummer, who played with The Nashville Teens and replaced John Steel in The Animals in 1966, died on 27th January, aged 69.
Tony Clarkin
The Birmingham-born guitarist from the Brit rock band Magnum died on 7th January, aged 77 - five days before the release of the band's album Here Comes The Rain. His bandmate Bob Catley announced that the band wouldn't carry on without Clarkin.
Del Palmer
The London-born songwriter played bass in Kate Bush's band and became one of her long-term collaborators, engineering albums such as Hounds Of Love and The Sensual World. Between the 1970s and 90s, Palmer was in a relationship with Bush and he appears on the cover of her album The Dreaming. He died on 5th January 2024, aged 71.
James Kottak
The American drummer was best-known for his work with Scorpions and Kingdom Come. He died on 9th January, aged 61.

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Sabbath 1969 WASP Electric Circus tour

Blue Oyster Cult 1978 Penetration

Pistols, Texas 1978 Sabbath 1970s

Twisted Sister Priest then and now

Vintage KISS KISS Florida 1976

Joan Jett Girlschool, Angelwitch, Tank

Zeppelin soundcheck Sweden 1969 The Who 1968

Rammstein then and now Plant and daughter 1979

Stones 1965

Limelight 1989

Quo, Berlin 1969 Halen and Roth 1978

Priest The Swankers

Vicious White Kids 1978 Motown Sect (feat. Lemmy) 1965

The Damned, Roxy 1977 Isle of Wight poster 1970

UK Subs then and now Bolan 1962

Ozzy 2025 Rory 1980

Thunders and Johansen Zeppelin 1971

Badfinger and George Harrison The Damned then and now

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In Memoriam:
Remembering the rock musicians we lost in 2023
Raising a toast to those musicians, producers, songwriters and artists who passed away.
Jeff Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023)
Ground-breaking British guitarist who revolutionised the instrument during a 60-year career that saw him play in Screaming Lord Sutch And The Savages, The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice, as well as releasing 12 solo albums that spanned blues, hard rock and jazz fusion.
Frank Wyatt (Died January 10, 2023)
Keyboard player, saxophonist and flautist with US progressive rockers Happy The Man, appearing their albums Happy The Man (1977) and Crafty Hands (1978).
Yukihiro Takahashi (June 6, 1952 – January 11, 2023)
The lead vocalist, drummer and a co-founder of Yellow Magic Orchestra, who also guested on albums by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Bill Nelson and more.
Robbie Bachman (February 18, 1953 – January 12, 2023)
The drummer and co-founder of Canadian hard rockers Bachman-Turner Overdrive, who he played with from 1973 to 1977.
Van Conner (March 17, 1967 – January 17, 2023)
The founding bassist and songwriter with proto-grunge band the Screaming Trees, who went on to success with the albums Sweet Oblivion (1992) and Dust (1996).
David Crosby (August 14, 1941 - January 18, 2023)
Singer and guitarist who helped popularise folk rock with The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash/Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and his own solo albums.
Alex Napier (Died January 19, 2023)
Original drummer with Uriah Heep, who played with the band for four years, appearing on their 1970 debut album …Very ’Eavy… Very ’Umble.
Anthony ‘Top’ Topham (July 3, 1947 – January 23, 2023)
Original guitarist with The Yardbirds, who he co-founded at the age of 15. Left the band after five months, and went on to play with Peter Green and Christine McVie.
Dean Daughtry (September 8, 1946 – January 26, 2023)
Co-founding pianist with the Atlanta Rhythm Section who played with the southern rockers for nearly 50 years.
Floyd Sneed (November 22, 1942 – January 27, 2023)
Longtime drummer with Three Dog Night, who enjoyed 21 US Top 40 hits in the late 60s and 70s.
Barrett Strong (February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023)
Songwriter behind Money (That’s What I Want), I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone and more. His songs were recorded by The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye and Led Zeppelin among others.
Tom Verlaine (December 13, 1949 – January 28, 2023)
Guitarist and singer with New York punk band Television, whose landmark debut album, Marquee Moon, was an influence on everyone from Red Hot Chili Peppers to The Strokes.
Phil Spalding (November 19, 1957 – February 5, 2023)
Bassist with 80s prog supergroup GTR, playing alongside Steve Hackett and Steve Howe. Also played bass for The Who, Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker, Elton John and more.
Bruce Barthol (November 11, 1947 – February 20, 2023)
Original bassist for psychedelic folk-rockers Country Joe And The Fish, who appeared on the Bay Area band’s first three albums.
Steve Mackey (November 10, 1966 – March 2, 2023)
Bassist with Pulp, who rose during the Britpop era. Joined the band in 1989, playing on every studio album from 1992’s Separations onwards.
Michael Rhodes (September 16, 1953 – March 4, 2023)
Acclaimed bassist, who appeared on albums by Steve Winwood, Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart and countless more.
Gary Rossington (December 4, 1951 - March 5, 2023)
Founding guitarist and longest-serving member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who played with the band from their inception in 1964, surviving the 1977 plane crash which killed singer Ronnie Van Zant and five other people.
Jim Durkin (February 7, 1965 – March 8, 2023)
Longtime guitarist with California thrashers Dark Angel, playing with them from 1981 until their split in 1992, and re-joining them in 2002 and again in 2013.
Joshua Madsen (Died March 9, 2023)
Former drummer with cult Danish thrashers Artillery, playing on four albums between 2013 and his death in a vehicle accident in 2013.
Jim Gordon (July 14, 1945 – March 13, 2023)
Drummer with Derek And The Dominos, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker and elite session collective The Wrecking Crew. Jailed in 1983 for the murder of his mother following a psychotic episode linked to undiagnosed schizophrenia.
Mick Slattery (Died March 17, 2023)
Original Hawkwind guitarist, who co-founded the space rock linchpins as Hawkwind Zoo with Dave Brock in 1969 before departing shortly afterwards. Went on to play with ex-Hawkwind colleague Nik Turner’s Space Ritual.
Tom Leadon (September 16, 1952 – March 22, 2023)
Guitarist with Tom Petty’s pre-fame country rock band Mudcrutch in the 1970s and again when they reconvened in 2007. Also played bass for Linda Ronstadt and Silver, while his brother, Bernie, was guitarist with the Eagles.
Wayne Swinny (Died March 22, 2023)
Guitarist with Memphis rockers Saliva, who notched up a run of US Top 40 albums in the early 2000s. Died at the age of 59 following a brain haemorrhage.
Keith Reid (October 19, 1946 – March 23, 2023)
English-born lyricist most famous for his with work with Procol Harum, notably their enigmatic 1967 hit A White Shade Of Pale.
Ray Shulman (December 8, 1949 – March 30, 2023)
Co-founding bassist and composer with progressive rockers Gentle Giant. Appeared on all of their albums from 1970’s self-titled debut to 1980’s Civilian, while his later production credits include the Sugarcubes.
Seymour Stein (April 18, 1942 – April 2, 2023)
Music industry mogul who co-founded Sire Records. His early US signings included Barclay James Harvest, The Deviants and Focus, but was most famous for launching Ramones, Talking Heads and Madonna, among countless others.
Guy Bailey (October 15, 1960 – April 6, 2023)
Co-founding guitarist with UK rockers the Quireboys, who played with them from 1984 to 1993. He had recently reunited with former singer Spike, writing a new set of songs the latter says will be released under the Quireboys name.
John Regan (October 28, 1951 – April 7, 2023)
New York-born bassist most notable for playing with ex-Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley in his band Frehley’s Comet. He also appeared on albums by Peter Frampton, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, David Lee Roth and more.
Ian Bairnson (August 3, 1953 - April 7, 2023)
Former guitarist with the Pilot and the Alan Parsons Project, with whom he played between 1975 and 1990. The Shetland-born Bairnson also played the solo on Kate Bush’s debut single Wuthering Heights.
Johnny Fean (November 17, 1951 – April 28, 2023)
Guitarist with veteran Irish rockers Horslips, playing on all of the Dublin groups best-known albums.
Gordon Lightfoot (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023)
Canadian singer-songwriter most famous for If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown and The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald.
Frank Kozik (January 9, 1962 – May 6, 2023)
Underground artist whose work appeared on record sleeves and posters for the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. He also ran influential independent label Man’s Ruin until 2001.
Francis Monkman (9 June 1949 – 12 May 2023)
Keyboard player and guitarist with Curved Air, Sky, Matching Mole and short-lived Brian Eno/Phil Manzanera collaboration 801. His solo career took in original songs as well as soundtrack and library music.
Algy Ward (July 11, 1959 – May 17, 2023)
Former bassist with punk bands The Saints and The Damned, who went on to front cult NWOBHM outfit Tank, cited by Metallica as an influence.
Pete Brown (25 December 1940 – 19 May 2023)
Poet and lyricist noted for his collaborations with Cream and Jack Bruce. Also fronted Pete Brown And His Battered Ornaments, which featured guitarist Chris Spedding and sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith.
Andy Rourke (January 17, 1964 – May 19, 2023)
Former bassist with The Smiths, playing on the four studio albums they released between 1984 and 1987.
Tina Turner (November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023)
Legendary R&B singer who notched up a string of hits with then-husband Ike Turner in the 60s and early 70s, including River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits, before launching a hugely successful solo comeback in the 1980s.
Cynthia Weil (October 18, 1940 – June 1, 2023)
US songwriter who, with her husband Barry Mann, wrote countless iconic hits, including We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, covered by The Animals.
Tony McPhee (March 23, 1944 – June 6, 2023)
Guitarist, singer and leader of influential British blues rockers The Groundhogs, fronting the band from their inception in 1963 through to their initial split in 1976, and again from the mid-80s until his retirement in 2015 following a series of strokes.
Blackie Onassis (August 27, 1965 – June 13, 2023)
Former drummer with US alt-rock band Urge Overkill between 1991 and their hiatus in 1997, appearing on their hit cover of Neil Diamond’s Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon.
Teresa Taylor (November 10, 1962 – June 18, 2023)
Drummer with cult Texas alt-rockers Butthole Surfers, playing with them between 1983 and 1989 under the name Teresa Nervosa and again from 2008 to 2009.
George Tickner (September 8, 1946 – July 5, 2023)
Co-founder and rhythm guitarist with Journey, appearing on the hard rock band’s first three albums.
Randy Meisner (March 8, 1946 – July 26, 2023)
Founder and bassist with country rock pioneers Poco and, later, the Eagles. Appeared on the latter band’s first five albums, singing on the 1975 hit Take It To The Limit.
Sinéad O’Connor (December 8, 1966 – July 26, 2023)
Irish singer who rose to international fame with her 1990 cover of the Prince song Nothing Compares 2 U and parent album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.
John Gosling (February 6, 1948 – August 4, 2023)
Former keyboard player with The Kinks, who joined in 1970 and left seven years later, playing on the albums Lola Versus Powerman and Muswell Hillbillies.
Jamie Reid (January 16, 1947 – August 8, 2023)
Artist and designer famed for his provocative work with the Sex Pistols, designing the sleeves for iconic singles God Save The Queen and Anarchy In The UK, and their album Never Mind The Bollocks.
Robbie Robertson (July 5, 1943 – August 9, 2023)
Guitarist and co-founder of The Band, who, under their previous name of The Hawks, had worked with Bob Dylan at the start of his ‘electric period’. He later went on to collaborate with filmmaker Martin Scorsese, including on 2023’s Killers Of The Flower Moon.
Chris Overland (October 24, 1956 – August 22, 2023)
Co-founder and guitarist with British melodic rock mainstays FM. He played on their first two albums before leaving, later becoming a professional guitar tutor.
Bernie Marsden (7 May 1951 – 24 August 2023)
Guitarist with Wild Turkey, Cozy Powell’s Hammer, Babe Ruth and, most famously, Whitesnake, with whom he played with between 1978 and 1982, contributing to albums including Ready An’ Willing and Live… In The Heart Of The City.
Jimmy Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023)
Popular American country rock singer responsible for enduring 1977 hit Margaritaville. He sold more than 23 million albums in the US, and authored several books, including Tales From Margaritaville and Where Is Joe Merchant?.
Gary Wright (April 26, 1943 – September 4, 2023)
US-born singer and keyboard player with British blues rockers Spooky Tooth, who went on to score a solo hit with the 1976 single Dream Weaver.
Steve Harwell (January 9, 1967 – September 4, 2023)
Singer with Grammy-nominated US ska-punk band Smash Mouth, of All Star fame, from their inception in 1994 until his retirement in 2021 due to health issues.
Tom Davies (December 14, 1975 - September 5, 2023)
Long-serving bassist with US stoner rock lynchpins Nebula.
Bruce Guthro (August 31, 1961 – September 5, 2023)
Canadian-born singer with influential Celtic rockers Runrig, who joined the band in 1998 and played with them until their dissolution in 2018.
Kent Stax (July 4, 1962 – September 20, 2023)
Drummer with early 80s Washington DC hardcore crew Scream, who was replaced by Dave Grohl when he left in 1986 due to personal reasons. Rejoined the band for their 2009 reunion.
Ron Howden (January 5, 1945 – September 29, 2023)
Founder and drummer with cult UK prog band Nektar, playing with them from 1972 until their split in 1978 and again in the reunited line-up between 2002 and 2016.
Steve Riley (January 22, 1956 – October 24, 2023)
Former drummer with Keel, WASP and LA Guns, playing with the latter for two spells in the late 80s and late 2000s. He most recently led his own version of the band, Riley’s LA Guns.
Scott Kempner (February 6, 1954 – November 29, 2023)
Guitarist and songwriter with 70s punks The Dictators and garage rockers The Del-Lords.
Pete Solley (October 19, 1948 – November 16, 2023)
London-born keyboard player who founded prog rock band Paladin, before going on to play with The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Procol Harum and Whitesnake.
Charlie Dominici (June 16, 1951 – November 2023)
Former singer with Dream Theater, who appeared on the prog metal band’s 1989 debut album When Dream And Day Unite before leaving shortly afterwards.
Mars Williams (May 29, 1955 – November 20, 2023)
Illinois-born sax player with The Psychedelic Furs, who played with them for six years from 1983. He was also a member of The Waitresses.
Brian Godding (August 19, 1945 – November 26, 2023)
Guitarist with cult 60s band Blossom Toes and early pioneer of the twin-guitar sound later popularised by the likes of Wishbone Ash.
Geordie Walker (18 December 1958 – 26 November 2023)
Influential guitarist with post-punk band Killing Joke and, later, Murder Inc. and The Damage Manual.
Shane MacGowan (25 December 1957 – 30 November 2023)
Singer and lyricist with The Pogues, who he fronted from their inception in 1982 until his departure in 1991 and again during sporadic reunions from 2001. Also fronted his own band, Shane MacGowan And The Popes.
Myles Goodwin (June 23, 1948 – December 3, 2023)
Singer and guitarist with multi-platinum Canadian rockers April Wine, with whom he released 16 albums, as well as two solo albums.
Denny Laine (October 29, 1944 – December 5, 2023)
Co-founder, guitarist and sometime vocalist with The Moody Blues and later Wings, singing on the former’s 1965 hit Go Now and playing between 1971 and 1981, co-writing their Number One hit Mull Of Kintyre.
Bob Johnson (18 March 1944 – 15 December 2023)
Longtime bassist with folk rockers Steeleye Span, whose time in the band took in two tenures, from 1972 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 2001.
Colin Burgess (16 November 1946 – c. 15 December 2023)
Original drummer with AC/DC, playing with the Australian rock icons between November 1973 and February 1974. Was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall Of Fame with his other band, The Master’s Apprentice.
Jim Ladd (January 17, 1948 – December 17, 2023)
Influential US radio DJ and author. Appeared on Roger Waters’ 1987 album Radio Kaos and inspired Tom Petty’s 2002 album The Last DJ.

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Rush the Police 1977

The Runaways, CBGBs 1976 Bruce

Asstd Rock Stars AC/DC 1976

Maiden 1975 The Jam, Rainbow 1977

Scorpions cringey pic Zep 1969

Priest 70s Ace of KISS

Indiana 1975 James and Vanian 1976

Strummer and Pursey 1978 Pistols Winterland 1978

Ramones 1979 X-Ray Spex 1977

Iggy Pop Ozzy - Houston Coliseum 1971

Swell Maps The Maniacs 1977

Jam Rainbow 1977 Rick Parfitt's guitar

Magazine 1977 Ramones 1977

Priest 1978 KISS Love Gun Tour

Gen x DeeDee London 1980

Zep Cramps' Posion Ivy

Clash 1977 Girlschool then and now

The Rezillos 1978 Steve Marriott

Maiden 1982 Sweet

Gen X 1977 Ramones Apollo 1980

JJ, Stranglers

UFO 1974 PISTOLS 1977

Ian Curtis (Joy Division) 1980 Van Halen 1978

Jones and Wyman

1974

Quo, Lincoln Festival 1972

Downing and Tipton

Priest and Motorhead

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ON THIS DAY - February 8th
2023 - Burt Bacharach
American composer, songwriter, record producer, pianist, and singer Burt Bacharach died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 94. With Hal David he wrote many classic songs including, 'Close To You', '24 Hours From Tulsa', 'Make It Easy On Yourself', 'Magic Moments', 'I Say A Little Prayer'. He won two Oscars for the film score to Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, and for the song 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head'. Bacharach's songs have been recorded by more than 1,000 different artists and as of 2014, he had written 73 US and 52 UK Top 40 hits.

2013 - Axl Rose
LA Superior Court Judge Charles Palmer threw out a claim by Axl Rose of fraud and misrepresentation against Guitar Hero III. Rose claimed that his deal with the company to license the song 'Welcome to the Jungle' for use in the game included a promise from Activision that no images of Slash would be used in the game. Later, both Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani’s band No Doubt sued the company over their own portrayals in Band Hero, a Guitar Hero series spin-off.

2013 - Digital Music
A report on the rise of digital music showed that one in five consumers (19.6%) bought all their music as downloads. The report said that 27.7% of UK music fans purchased downloads from stores such as iTunes or Amazon; or streamed songs on services like Spotify or YouTube and that the streaming market was now worth £49m to record labels.

2005 - Keith Knudson
American rock drummer, vocalist, and songwriter Keith Knudson from with The Doobie Brothers died of pneumonia aged 56. The Doobie Brothers scored the 1979 US No.1 single 'What A Fool Believes' and 1993 UK No.7 single 'Long Train Runnin.' He founded the band Southern Pacific with fellow Doobie Brother John McFee.

2002 - Bob Wooler
Bob Wooler died aged 76. He was the resident DJ and booker at The Cavern Club in Liverpool during the early 1960s. Wooler introduced The Beatles to their manager, Brian Epstein.

1994 - Oasis
Oasis were forced to cancel their first foreign tour after they were deported from Holland. The band were involved in a drunken brawl on a cross-channel ferry resulting in members of the band being arrested and locked in the brig on the ferry.

1990 - Del Shannon
Suffering from depression American singer songwriter Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds. He scored the 1961 UK and US No.1 single 'Runaway', plus nine US and 12 other UK Top 40 singles. In 1963, he became the first American to record a cover version of a song by the Beatles: his version of ‘From Me to You’ charted in the US before The Beatles' version. Shannon had been working with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne and was rumoured to be replacing Roy Orbison who had recently died, in the Traveling Wilburys supergroup.

1986 - Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going', as featured in the film 'The Jewel Of The Nile.' The video was banned in the UK because it featured non-musician union members. Boyzone took the song to No.1 in 1999.

1983 - Kim Wilde
Winners at the second annual Brit Awards held in London included Paul McCartney who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Kim Wilde won Best British Female Solo Artist, Dire Straits won British Group, British Breakthrough Act went to Yazoo, International Act was Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Best Selling Single Dexy's Midnight Runners "Come On Eileen" and the Life Achievement Award went to Pete Townshend .
1981 - R.E.M.
R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included 'Gardening At Night', 'Radio Free Europe' and '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville.'

1980 - David Bowie
The divorce became final between David Bowie and his wife Angie. He won custody of their son Zowie, (now known as Joe), Angie received a £30,000 ($51,000) settlement.

1977 - Television
Marquee Moon the debut album by American rock band Television was released. The album was met with widespread acclaim and was hailed by critics as an original musical development in rock music. Marquee Moon also proved to be a foundational record of alternative rock, as Television's innovative post-punk instrumentation for the album strongly influenced the new wave and indie rock movements of the 1980s and rock guitar playing in general.

1973 - Max Yasgur
Max Yasgur died of a heart attack aged 53. He was the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.

1968 - The Band Of Joy
The Band Of Joy, featuring John Bonham and Robert Plant, made their first London appearance, supporting Edwin Starr at the The Marquee Club in London. The Marquee was witness to the London scene of the late 60s, represented at the club by bands such as the Move, The Syn, Pink Floyd (who played the club many times), Neat Change, The In Crowd, Soft Machine and Arthur Brown.

1964 - The Beatles
On their first full day in New York, The Beatles (minus George who had a sore throat), went for a photo-opportunity walk around Central Park. Over 400 girl fans followed The Beatles and extra police were called in to control them. Later in the day The Ronettes interviewed The Beatles for radio.

1964 - The Kingsmen
With 'Louie Louie' by The Kingsmen under FBI investigation for containing obscene lyrics, the song's publishers offered $1,000 to anyone who could definitively distinguish the dirty words.

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When our age group finally hits the nursing home . . .

If every day is a gift, today was socks.

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ON THIS DAY - January 20th
2022 - Meat Loaf
American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor Meat Loaf (Marvin Lee Aday) died aged 74. His record-breaking 1978 album Bat Out Of Hell spent 457 weeks on the UK album chart. His Bat Out of Hell trilogy of albums (consisting of Bat Out of Hell, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose) has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, (his first album stayed on the charts for over nine years). In 1984, Meat Loaf legally changed his first name from Marvin to Michael because he was "haunted" by a Levi Strauss & Co. commercial which contained the line, “Poor fat Marvin can't wear Levi's.”

2021 - UK musicians
Some of the UK's biggest music stars sent an open letter to the British government demanding action to ensure visa-free touring in the European Union. Sir Elton John, Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Sting and Radiohead were among 110 artists who signed the letter. It said they had been "shamefully failed" by the government over post-Brexit travel rules for UK musicians.

2017 - Paul McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney was suing Sony over control of The Beatles' back catalogue. McCartney had gone to a US court, seeking to regain the publishing rights to 267 of the band's classic songs. He had been trying to get them back since the 1980s, when Michael Jackson famously out-bid him for the rights. Jackson's debt-ridden estate sold the songs to Sony in 2016.

2002 - George Harrison
George Harrison had the posthumous UK No.1 single with the re-release of the 1971 former No.1 'My Sweet Lord'. Harrison's single replaced Aaliyah's 'More Than A Woman', the only time in chart history that one deceased artist had taken over from another at No.1.

2001 - Kirsty MacColl
A memorial service was held for Kirsty MacColl who was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico in December 2000. Bono from U2 and Billy Bragg were among friends and fans that packed St Martin-in-the-fields church in London.

2000 - The Beatles
Tourism chiefs in Liverpool were banned from putting up motorway signs saying 'Liverpool, the Birthplace Of The Beatles' because the Highways Agency thought the signs would distract motorists.

2000 - Ray Jones
English bassist Ray Jones from The Dakotas died. They had the 1964 UK No.1 & US No.7 single 'Little Children' as Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas. In addition to backing Kramer, the group itself is best known for their instrumental single ‘The Cruel Sea’, that reached No.18 in the UK charts in July 1963. The track was re-titled ‘The Cruel Surf’ in the US, and was subsequently covered by The Ventures.

1999 - Bill Albaugh
Bill Albaugh drummer from the Sixties psychedelic group The Lemon Pipers died aged 53. The Lemon Pipers scored the 1967 US No.1 single 'Green Tambourine'. The song has been credited as being the first bubblegum pop chart-topper and it was also the first US No.1 hit for the Buddah label.

1988 - The Beatles
The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney did not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.

1982 - Ozzy Osbourne
During an Ozzy Osbourne concert in Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the audience threw a bat onto the stage. Stunned by the light, the bat lay motionless, and thinking it was a rubber fake, the singer picked it up and attempted to bite its head off. As he did this, the bat started to flap its wings and Ozzy soon realized it wasn't fake but in fact a living thing. After the show Ozzy was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for rabies shots.

1972 - Pink Floyd
On the first date of a UK tour at The Dome, Brighton, England, Pink Floyd attempted to premiere their new album The Dark Side Of The Moon but due to technical problems this was abandoned after a performance of the track 'Money'.

1969 - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin appeared at the Wheaton Youth Center, Wheaton, during their first North American tour. Some reports suggest that only 55 fans attended this show, (if so, this would make it the smallest audience they ever played to). This show was on a Monday and the night of Richard Nixon's inauguration. Zeppelin were paid $250 to appear.

1969 - Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen had two of his poems published in the Ocean County College Literary Yearbook Seascapes. Springsteen was in his second semester at the Toms River, New Jersey College.

1968 - John Fred
One Hit Wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses)', it made No.3 in the UK. The song was inspired by The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky'.

1967 - Monkees
The Monkees TV show was shown for the first time in the UK. The series followed the adventures of four young men (the Monkees) trying to make a name for themselves as rock 'n roll singers. They went on to sell more than 75 million records worldwide and had international hits, including 'Last Train to Clarksville', 'Pleasant Valley Sunday', 'Daydream Believer', and 'I'm a Believer'.

1965 - Alan Freed
American disc jockey Alan Freed died from uraemia and cirrhosis brought on by alcoholism at the age of 42. Freed called himself the "father of rock and roll", and appeared in the movies such as Rock Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Rock. His career was destroyed by the payola scandal that hit the broadcasting industry in the early 1960s.

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ON THIS DAY - January 6th
2020 - Martin Griffin
Martin Griffin former drummer of Hawkwind and spin-off project Hawklords, died following a short illness age 69. Between 1978 and 1982 Griffin drummed on albums such as Sonic Attack, Church of Hawkwind and Choose your Masques. During the seventies he ran Roche recording studios in Cornwall, recording many upcoming artists including Elvis Costello, ABC and Secret Affair.

2017 - FM Radio
Norway announced that it would become the first country in the world to gradually stop using the FM radio network. The move, which aimed to ditch the analogue platform in favour of a digital one called Digital Audio Broadcasting, would bring a clearer sound to the nation's five million people.

2007 - Pete Kleinow
US country-rock steel guitar player 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow, died aged 72. He was one of the original members of the Flying Burrito Brothers with the Byrds' Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons. Also worked with John Lennon and Joni Mitchell.

2006 - Alex St. Claire
Guitarist, trumpeter and drummer Alex St. Claire died. Member of The Omens, The Solid Senders and an original member of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band and Frank Zappa.

2006 - Elvis Presley
A collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia bought by a council worker who embezzled nearly £600,000 was set to be sold to compensate the local authority. Julie Wall, 46, from Rippon Drive in Sleaford, was jailed for three years for the offence last October. The collection - which included rare recordings and foreign pressings of Elvis songs, was to be auctioned off by a High Court receiver to provide compensation.

2006 - Lou Rawls
American soul, jazz, singer Lou Rawls died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The 72-year-old, Grammy-winning artist had been battling lung cancer. Rawls who released more than 60 albums, sold more than 40 million records, had the 1976 US No.2 and UK No.10 single 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine'.

2001 - David Gilmour
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour won the right to his dot com name. Dave took legal action in his battle to reclaim davidgilmour.com from Andrew Herman who had registered the URL and was selling Pink Floyd merchandise through the site.

1997 - George Harrison
Two bronze busts worth £50,000 were stolen from a garden at George Harrison's estate in Henley-on- Thames, Oxfordshire. Thieves had climbed a 10- foot-wall and cut the figures of two monks from their stone plinths.

1993 - David Bowie
It was reported that David Bowie had lost over £2.5 million in unpaid royalties to an Italian Mafia-linked bootleg fraud.

1990 - Phil Collins
Phil Collins started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with '...But Seriously', his fourth solo studio album.

1987 - Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton started what became an annual event by playing six shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

1980 - Georgeanna Tillman
Georgeanna Tillman singer with Motown girl group The Marvelettes died from lupus and sickle cell anemia aged 35. The Marvelettes scored the 1961 US No.1 single 'Please Mr Postman'. In 1963 Tillman was diagnosed with lupus, she also had been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia during childhood.

1979 - Village People
The Village People scored their only UK No.1 single with Y.M.C.A. At its peak the single was selling over 150,000 copies a day. In the gay culture from which the group sprang, the song was understood as celebrating the YMCA's reputation as a popular cruising and hookup spot.

1977 - Sex Pistols
EMI Records dropped The Sex Pistols giving the band £40,000 to release them from their contract.

1975 - Led Zeppelin
The mayor of Boston cancelled a Led Zeppelin concert after over 2,000 fans rioted trying to buy tickets. The fans caused an estimated $50,000 to $75,000 damage at Boston Garden. The gig during the bands North American tour was rescheduled for Feb 4th.

1975 - Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd started sessions start at Abbey Road Studios London for their next album Wish You Were Here. Their ninth studio album was released on 12 September 1975 and features 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' a tribute to Syd Barrett whose mental breakdown had forced him to leave the group seven years earlier.

1973 - Carly Simon
Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain', (with Mick Jagger on backing vocals), started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart. The distinctive bass guitar intro is played by Klaus Voormann who designed the cover of The Beatles 1966 album Revolver. In 2015, after keeping quiet for more than 40 years, Carly Simon admitted that 'You're So Vain' was about Warren Beatty, but only one verse of it. Simon said the other verses were about two other men.

1968 - The Beatles
The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour started an eight week run at No.1 on the US album chart, the group's 11th US chart topper.

1967 - The Who
The Who played their first gig of this year when they appeared at Morecambe, Central Pier in England. The band played over 200 gigs in this year, including their first ever US tour.

1964 - Marty Wilde
The first night of a 14 date UK tour 'Group Scene 1964', featuring The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes, Marty Wilde, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Dave Berry and The Cruisers, played at the Granada Theatre, Harrow on The Hill, Middlesex.

1962 - Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 album with 'Blue Hawaii'; it spent a total of 18 weeks at the top of the charts.

1958 - Flying V
Gibson guitars launched it' 'Flying V' electric guitar. Guitarists who played a Flying V include, Albert Collins, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top.

1956 - Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley performed in the gym at Randolph High School, Mississippi; this was the last time he ever appeared in a small auditorium.

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ON THIS DAY - January 3rd
2024 - The Beatles
The Beatles had the biggest-selling vinyl single of 2023 in the UK with their record-breaking ‘last’ song, 'Now and Then'. With over 33,000 copies sold since its release, they broke several records including the longest time between an artist’s first and last No.1 and the UK’s fastest-selling vinyl single of the century. The ballad that John Lennon wrote and recorded around 1977 as a home demo was completed by his surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, using overdubs and guitar tracks by George Harrison from the abandoned 1995 Anthology sessions.

2021 - Gerry Marsden
Musician Gerry Marsden died age 78 after being diagnosed with a blood infection in his heart. With Gerry And The Pacemakers he had the 1963 UK No.1 single 'How Do You Do It' and the 1965 US No.6 single, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey'. In common with The Beatles they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin. Their cover of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was released in 1963, peaking at No.1. After becoming a chart hit the song gained popularity on the Anfield terraces, and the song quickly became the football anthem of Liverpool F.C., which adopted 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as its official motto on its coat of arms.

2020 - Bo Winberg
Swedish singer and guitarist Bo Winberg died. He was a member of The Spotnicks, who together with the Shadows and the Ventures are counted as one of the most famous instrumental bands during the 1960s. The Spotnicks were famous for wearing 'space suit' costumes on stage, and for their innovative electronic guitar sound.

2020 - Rod Stewart
Sir Rod Stewart was charged by police following an alleged altercation at a hotel in Florida on New Year’s Eve. A police document released in the US accused Stewart of punching a security guard after he and his companions, including his son Sean, attempted to get into a private party in a children’s area at the Breakers Palm Beach Hotel.

2017 - Vinyl Sales
Vinyl sales topped three million last year, the highest UK total in 25 years. More than 3.2 million records were sold in 2016, a rise of 53% on the previous year, according to the BPI, which represents the music industry. David Bowie's Blackstar was the most popular album on vinyl, selling more than double the number of copies of 2015's biggest-seller, Adele's 25.

2014 - Phil Everly
Phil Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, died of complications from lung disease aged 74, in California. In their heyday between 1957 and 1962, the Everly Brothers had 19 Top 40 hits, including 'Bye Bye Love', 'Wake Up Little Susie' and 'All I Have to Do Is Dream' and influenced acts such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The Everly Brothers had 35 Billboard Top-100 singles, 26 in the top 40. They hold the record for the most Top-100 singles by any duo. In the UK, they had 30 chart singles, 29 in the top 40, 13 top 10, and 4 at No. 1 between 1957 and 1984.

2012 - Bob Weston
British musician Bob Weston died age 64. He had a brief role as guitarist and songwriter with Fleetwood Mac in the early 1970s. He also recorded and performed with a number of other musicians, including Graham Bond, Long John Baldry, Murray Head, Sandy Denny and Danny Kirwan.

2002 - Noel Gallagher
Liam and Noel Gallagher topped a poll of celebrities you would least like to live next to, getting 40% of the vote. Readers of Your Home magazine voted the brothers from Oasis as 'Neighbours From Hell'.

1981 - David Bowie
David Bowie made his final appearance as the Elephant Man at The Booth Theatre, Broadway in New York City.

1976 - Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan's song, 'Hurricane', peaked at No.33 on the Billboard singles chart, helping to cause enough publicity to eventually get former boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter released from jail. The song promoted Carter's innocence and a movie about Carter's life, starring Denzel Washington, was released in 2000.

1972 - Pink Floyd
Two weeks of rehearsals for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon tour began at the Bermondsey in London (the venue was owned by The Rolling Stones).

1970 - George Harrison
Working on the Get Back sessions at Studio Two of EMI Studios, London, three Beatles (Paul, George, and Ringo) record 16 takes of the George Harrison song 'I Me Mine'. John Lennon was away in Denmark at the time. A decade later it became the title of George Harrison's auto-biography.

1969 - Jimi Hendrix
Appearing live on The Lulu show on UK TV, The Jimi Hendrix Experience were booked to perform two songs, 'Voodoo Child', (which was performed in full), then Hendrix stopped performing his new single 'Hey Joe' after a verse and chorus and instead launched into a version of the Cream song 'Sunshine Of Your Love' as a tribute to the band who had split a few days earlier. Hendrix then proceeded to continuing jamming, running over their allocated time slot on the live show, preventing the show's host Lulu from closing the show properly.

1967 - Carl Wilson
Having received a US army draft notice, Beach Boy Carl Wilson refused to be sworn in, saying he was a conscientious objector.

1967 - Bee Gees
The Bee Gees set sail from Australia, where they had been living for the past nine years, and head to England, the land of their birth, where they arrived five weeks later. A few weeks after arriving in England, the family received a phone call from Robert Stigwood, the partner of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Stigwood had heard tapes of the Gibbs and requested a meeting.

1964 - The Beatles
The Beatles were seen for the second time on US TV when a clip from the BBC's 'The Mersey Sound' showing the group playing 'She Loves You' was shown on The Jack Paar Show. The first US airing showing The Beatles was on Nov 18, 1963, on the NBC news program "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" (albeit pre-recorded) of The Beatles in concert.

1963 - Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his sixth UK No.1 'The Next Time / Bachelor Boy.' Both songs were taken from the film Summer Holiday.

1957 - Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Singing The Blues.' (Tommy Steele and Marty Robbins had also released versions and Steele would replace this version at No.1). Also a US No.1.

1955 - Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley appeared in Boonesville, Virginia. The 20 year-old singer was still a regional star, but by the end of 1956 he had become a national sensation, recording two albums, (which included 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'), appeared on national television 11 times, played over 100 concerts and signed a seven year contract with Paramount Pictures.