The multi-million record-selling singer Vince Hill, best known for his No.2 hit Edelweiss has died it was announced over the weekend. To date, Vince has released 25 studio albums, recorded theme songs for 5 motion picture soundtracks and earned a national and...
Month: October 2015
Seven Decades Of Crooning – RIP Tony Bennett
Songs like 'The Good Life', '(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco' and 'Stranger In Paradise' gave US singer Tony Bennett worldwide fame over an astonishing seven decades... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, the US-born singer became one of...
Still Creating His Own Art – John Illsley
“I’ve never had six and half million hits on YouTube before – not many people do. So I’m quite pleased about that!” By Ian Woolley You could forgive John Illsley if he wanted to rest on his laurels. After all, being in one of the World’s biggest and most well-loved...
Still Flying The Tartan Flag For Bay City Roller Fans
As long as there is Woody, the Bay City Rollers tartan flag will forever fly at full mast... By Ian Woolley As the original guitarist of the Bay City Rollers, 66-year-old Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood is now the only original member of the pin-up 1970s boy band to tour....
Keeping The Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac Alive
Lauded as the World's Finest 'Fleetwood Mac' tribute band, Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac are currently doing an exhaustive 62-date tour of the UK finishing up on The Isle Of Man on 26th August... REVIEW by Ian Woolley Channeling the spirit of Fleetwood Mac at their very...
Inside Our 2023 July Issue
Inside our bumper-packed June issue of the Beat this month... Former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel this month makes our front cover as he talks about his upcoming tour and reveals a few interesting facts about his career. Our exclusive interview this month by Ian...
Radio Presenter Delves Into London’s History
Everyone remembers the music bible, the Guinness Book Of Hit Singles which was first published in 1978. One of it's contributors was former Radio One DJ and presenter Mike Read. Since that time Mike has published over 40 books. Now his second book (to be published in...
Tony Christie gets behind Dementia Charity
Following his own diagnosis of the condition, singer Tony Christie is hopeful there will be a cure for dementia one day... By Ian Woolley The 80-year-old singer is to help raise money with a cover of Andrew Gold's song featuring Sting and Chic's Nile Rodgers as part...
The Wild Things Of Punk – The Troggs Story (part 1)
"I felt it a bit weird standing on stage at 75 singing I can't control myself"! By Ian Woolley So says the Troggs guitarist Chris Britton. Deemed by many to be the first 'Punk band of British pop', The Troggs and the unique blend of raw rock music has influenced the...
Inside our 2023 June Issue
Inside our bumper-packed June issue of the Beat this month... Singer Steve Harley breaks off from his acoustic '50 Years A Rebel' tour to talk with Ian Woolley about his long career. Some revealing stuff from the former Cockney Rebel leader. Peter Gabriel is back...
John Wetton Book released this month
Musician, songwriter, singer, and all-round top bloke (as his friend Geoff Downes describes him), John Wetton lived a truly extraordinary life until his death five years ago... John Wetton An Extraordinary Life features stories and tributes from more than seventy...
50 Years A Rebel – Steve Harley
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel celebrated their 50th Anniversary last year and the celebratory shows were such a joy that Steve is once more on the acoustic road to mark ‘50 Years A Rebel’... By Ian Woolley The Times wrote, in a profile marking this half-century, that...
Game Chords: How Music Shapes the Gaming Narrative
In the digital world of video games, it's not just the high-definition graphics, compelling characters, and intricate plotlines that get our attention—it's also the music. From simple 8-bit ditties to sweeping orchestral arrangements, music gives life to the gaming...
60 Years Of Making Musical History – The Half Moon
It's easy not to pay attention as you pass this unassuming pub situated on the south bank of the River Thames in Putney. Yet its rich musical history dates back to 1963 when it started putting on the many new bands and artists that sprung up at that time... By Ian...
A Powerhouse Of Energy – RIP Tina Turner
After a long illness, it was announced that Tina Turner has died at the age of 83... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley Born Anna Mae Bullock in the small Tennessee town of Nutbush which she sang about in her 1973 hit with Ike 'Nutbush City Limits'. Tina met Ike Turner at a...
Opportunity Knocks For Paper Lace
Without a doubt, one of the most popular TV shows of the '60s and '70s was Opportunity Knocks. Presented by Hughie Green it started life on the radio... By Ian Woolley When it was first heard on the BBC in 1949, it showcased the talents of many people who would...
Beatles In Comics Comes To Mathew Street
In the few short years since it opened in 2019, the Liverpool Beatles Museum has swiftly become one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations... Created by former Beatle Pete Best and his brother Roag Aspinall Best*, the museum features hundreds of intimate...
Best Strategies For Maintaining Strong Business Relationships
Strong business relationships form the backbone of a successful company, paving the way for growth, new opportunities, and a loyal network of clients and partners. In today's competitive landscape, nurturing and strengthening these connections are more important than...
Just Happy To Be Back – Go West’s Peter Cox
With the release of his first solo album in 10 years, the Go West frontman is just happy to be back performing... By Ian Woolley His first album in 10 years, ‘Seaglass’ is the new album from Peter Cox, vocalist and frontman of Go West. Peter’s seventh album sees him...
Are Some Stately Home Concert Organisers Ageist?
With many planned bespoke outdoor events involving some of the biggest names in pop music, seems most fans of a certain age must now stand for hours or miss out completely on seeing their idols... By Ian Woolley In these troubled cash-strapped times, some of the...
And The Beat Of Ska Goes On – Dave Wakeling
Dave Wakeling always wanted to have the voice of an angel and that voice was Smokey Robinson. Fitting then that it would be a Smokey song that would propel his band the Beat into the ska revolution... By Ian Woolley For the past 35 years, the Beat's founder has...
Songwriting To Success – The Jeff Christie Story
As lead singer of the group Christie, things may have turned out differently had the group he offered his song to in the first place not rejected it... By Ian Woolley The pivotal moment in the Jeff Christie Story was in 1970, the year he offered "Yellow River" to the...
Inside Our 2023 May Issue
Look what's in our jam-packed May issue of the Beat this month... Former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock is back from his US tour and takes time out to talk with us about his career and the release of his new album "Consequences Coming" in 'Life After The Sex Pistols'. In our...
More Than Just A Backing Singer – RIP Linda Lewis
Blessed with a five-octave vocal range, Linda Lewis's career spanned four decades, including backing such pop greats as David Bowie and Rod Stewart... OBITUARY by Ian Woolley The eldest of six children, Essex-born Linda Ann Fredericks learned to play guitar and...