They were four lads from a tough industrial British city. They formed a band, and went to Hamburg in Germany to The Star Club on the Reeperbahn for a residency. Up to seven sets a day. They lived together in… Read More ›
Black Sabbath
Fashion Special: How To Dress Like A Seventies Rock Star.
As we have seen recently, a lot of bad things happened in the seventies, and all too often people say “it’s just how it was then”. They try to excuse some appalling behaviour. “Don’t judge people by today’s standards” they… Read More ›
Every Record Tells A Story Photos of 2014
As the year draws to a close, it is nice to look back and reflect on the last twelve months. Did I really meet Johnny Rotten and was the one not wearing a tie? Was that really Metallica headlining Glastonbury,… Read More ›
Black Sabbath at Hyde Park: Review
London may have its faults: There are too many people, too many drugs, loud parties, late night revellers… It also has its faults. It’s expensive: The Connaught bar sells beer at £65. Per glass. Yes, that isn’t a typo. It… Read More ›
Ray Gillen and Badlands: When Rock Bands Split Up In Front Of An Audience
Twenty years ago today rock lost one of its finest singers: Ray Gillen. In his all too short career Gillen had the distinction of recording an album with Black Sabbath – only for his vocals to be wiped and replaced… Read More ›
Heavy Rockers: Misunderstood Originators Or Blatant Lazy Rip-off Cliché Merchants? Part 2
Whatever Happened To My Rock n Roll Part 5 I’m putting heavy rock on trial! Have Your Say! Twenty five years on from the peak of heavy rock’s commercial popularity in 1988, this series asks why heavy rockers no longer… Read More ›
Call The Fashion Police: Why Do Rockers All Dress So Badly?
I’m Putting Rock On Trial! Have Your Say! Twenty five years on from the peak of heavy rock‘s commercial popularity in 1988, this series asks why heavy rockers no longer dominate the charts and seeks to highlight the crimes that… Read More ›
Is Heavy Rock Guilty Of The Worst Lyrics Ever…? The Case For The Prosecution
I’m Putting Rock On Trial! Have Your Say! It is the 25th anniversary of Bon Jovi’s first UK number one album, “New Jersey” – a moment when heavy rock had confirmed its place in the mainstream, capping the momentum built… Read More ›
Black Sabbath: 13 Review and The Post-It Note-gate Controversy
With Black Sabbath’s album out tomorrow, it is time to dust off your black cloak, wizard’s hat and faded copy of Alistair Crowley‘s Big Book of Magic (Vol. 1: Card Tricks), throw them in the bin, and make some space… Read More ›
Things You Don’t See Anymore #4: The Flexi Disc
Many hundreds of years ago (well, in the 1960’s and ’70s) and in the days before the Internet, if you can imagine such a thing, record companies tried many ways to get music heard. They tried bribing DJs. This was… Read More ›
Rock On! Annual 1980. Definitely Not Sexist. Even If You’re A Bird.
One of my favourite Christmas presents this year was a book from 1979, confusingly titled the Rock On! Annual 1980 which looked back at 1978. Still following me? Good. Rock On! was a short-lived UK magazine launched in June 1978…. Read More ›
Remember The First Time You Heard…Black Sabbath?
Black Sabbath’s Seventh Star is not the most obvious starting point for a rock fan to be introduced to heavy metal’s most iconic band. Growing up in a religious household presented the odd challenge for a young heavy metal fan… Read More ›
Is This The Hard Rock Cafe’s Greatest Treasure?
The Hard Rock Cafe in London’s Piccadilly contains some most amazing treasures. As the silver-cross-wearing and black-nail-varnish sporting readers amongst you may know, Black Sabbath got back together in 2012 to perform a few shows. Regrettably, original Sabbath drummer Bill… Read More ›
First Gig – Dio and Denzil the Dragon at The Hammersmith Odeon: May 1986
I’m sure we all have memories of our first time…the butterflies in your stomach, the nervous feeling as you wondered what it would be like, would it go well, would it be fun? Would you be “safe”… First gigs are… Read More ›
Why Deep Purple have not been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…
To know why Deep Purple matter, you just have to listen to the blistering, gonzoid opening of Speed King. If you can, do it now. This was 1970 – when people still thought Roger Whittaker was edgy. Nearly 42 years… Read More ›
