So what’s new in our 2023 New Year issue of the ‘Beat’ I hear you ask…
John Verity
First up, former Argent and Pheonix guitarist and singer John Verity makes our front cover. The former bluesman talks candidly in his exclusive interview with Ian Woolley about his long and successful career, how he learned guitar the hard way, working with Joplin and Hendrix, the Kinks connection, and a hint at an autobiography!
Ron Tennant follows the Yellow Brick Road about the career of Elton John in his two-page special. The Belgian also looks at Linda Thompson who in 1972 became his girlfriend for a few years. Love’s labours lost in the screen version is the title of this fascinating yet intimate part of the King’s life few may know about.
Sam Brown (credit Steph Dray)
Singer Sam Brown opens up about losing her voice some years ago and with a new album imminent, you can bet she’ll have a few stories to tell us about how she came to cope with her new singing style.
Lovin’ Spoonful’s Steve Boone
Remember Lovin’ Spoonful?
Well, our Jane Quinn chats to former member Steve Boone over a cuppa and talks about grandfathers, pirates, and good dreams amongst other things.
Pat Murphy looks back at the 1963 Irish charts. Featuring Gerry & the Pacemakers, the Beatles, and Ned Miller amongst others and John Firminger looks at some of his favourite gigs down the years.
Armand Serra’s musical obsession has taken over his life…literally.
In ‘Pursuing The Holy Grail Of Guitars‘, he describes his long twenty-year quest to get hold of the coveted white Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix brought over to England.
In his forty-plus years of collecting the instruments of pop’s finest musicians, he has hinted that a future exhibition may be on the cards.
Whether it will happen we’ll have to wait and see but one thing is for sure, he’s still out there looking for the next one on his hit list. This a fascinating article you won’t want to miss.
The undisputed Queen of Rock ‘n’Roll Tina Turner is an in-depth look at the career and life of the former partner of Ike.
Obituaries include Anita Pointer (Pointer Sisters), Steve West (Paul Revere & the Raiders) plus a special two-page article from John Firminger on the late Rockabilly legend Charlie Gracie.
Reviews include the recent glam rockers Sweet’s outing in Somerset, The Cher Show, Brian Eno plus all the usual upcoming gigs and news of the stars you love. Plus enter our free competition and bag a brand-new CD from one of our interviewees!