We have an exciting and packed issue this month in the Beat…
Two of the most iconic bands of their era, Wet Wet Wet and Go West, have announced they will unite for the first time with a co-headlining UK tour and they make our February front cover. On the ‘Best Of Both Worlds’ tour, the legendary bands play shows performing their seminal songs from a combined treasure trove of hits: with 36 Top 40 UK singles between them!
Talking of 80’s icons, former Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley tells the Beat that his new tour will take a slightly different direction as he performs swing classics from the legend crooners as well as his own reworked Spandau hits. Ian Woolley gets the low down on his recent appearance on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show where he gets pranked by the comedian into performing on the BBC show. An interview you don’t want to miss.
5 Star
Keeping with the 80’s, Denise Pearson talks exclusively with Ian Woolley about her life and career. The former lead singer of 80’s sibling group 5 Star looks back on how the group developed into becoming the youngest-ever British act to have a No.1 album who impressed even Michael Jackson whom they met some years later. Denise went on to perform in the West End in the 2009 musical Thriller Live’ for which she had rave reviews.
Martin Hutchinson talks with keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman CBE about his upcoming ‘The Return Of The Caped Crusader’ UK tour.
Tommy Steele
Having celebrated his 87th birthday recently, we thought it time that we looked back at the amazing career of Sir Tommy Steele. Mike Stott looks back at Tommy’s long career on the stage, film and pop charts.
In our exclusive PJ Unveiled feature from the man himself, PJ Proby continues his side of things after getting banned after his infamous pants-splitting saga.
Pat Murphy takes a look at two iconic 60’s films, King Creole and Expresso Bongo, and explains why Irish audiences didn’t get to see them until three years after their release.
A few choice Rock ‘N’ Roll albums are dissected by John Firminger which includes Eddie Cochran, Dave Berry and Joe Cocker to name but a few.
In the first part of the Colin Blunstone Story, the Zombies man talks with Ian Woolley about getting back control of the band’s back catalogue after 50 years. He also reveals his respect and admiration for fellow band member Rod Argent and how he keeps that incredible voice of his in tip-top condition.
With the release of a new documentary on the Zombies, the group are still very much in demand.
Watch out for part 2 of this exclusive interview with the Beat in the March issue where Blunstone talks about his solo career and collaborating with Alan Parsons.
Reviews include Jeff Wayne’s 2024 War Of The Worlds Tour and all the new stuff on sale as well as The Good Gig Guide. We also have a special obituary with a statement from our writer Jane Quinn’s husband on the recent loss of our Beat columnist.