R.I.P. Tony Barrow, press officer extraordinaire. I heard that one of my old bosses died this week. He was Tony Barrow, the Beatles press officer from 1962 to 1968, the man who famously coined the term ‘Fab Four’. Paul McCartney was quick to pay tribute, tweeting: “Tony Barrow was a lovely guy who helped…
You won’t believe who’s second. John Mayall is a true blues phenomenon – an extraordinarily dedicated carrier of the blues torch. He was one of the very first to introduce electric blues onto the English music scene. Indeed, Mayall’s legendary bands, including his famous Bluesbreakers, influenced blues musicians across the UK and Europe from 1963 onwards. Now nudging an impressive 83…
He says 1971. But what’s your golden year? I’ve often though 1971 was a bit of a high spot when it came to rock, but now it’s been confirmed: sort of. According to an English rock journalist with four decades in the music business under his belt, more influential albums were released in 1971 than…
In AC/DC era Australia, a Sydney band called the Ted Mulry Gang recorded a rocking version of a song first published in America in 1917. It’s had many manifestations through the last 100 years – one by Fats Domino around 1958 – but Ted Mulry’s 1976 version of “Darktown Strutters’ Ball” is rock & roll pop…
