How Jim Simpson rocked Birmingham (and the world). For some reason, songs about Birmingham, Alabama, resonate more than those from the original Birmingham, England’s second city. Brum UK has just one song I can think of: ‘Birmingham Blues’, a rocking track by the city’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Yet, Birmingham, England, has the richer musical…

 Birmingham v London Here are the facts, without prejudice. In 1966, a love of black American blues prompted the groundbreaking white British band, Cream, to change the course of rock music. Made up of two London musicians, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, with Scotland’s Jack Bruce on bass, Cream were the hard-rock trio…

Sabbath’s Iconic Line-Up Reunites this July For the first time in 20 years, Black Sabbath’s original line-up will reunite for a monumental final performance on July 5, 2025, in Aston, Birmingham, England, where they were founded in 1968.   Widely regarded as a leading pioneer of heavy metal music, Black Sabbath has sold over 75…

The Album That Changed the World Below is a terrifically perceptive article just written by my old friend, blues guitarist and songwriter, John Phillpott, for World Music Central, your connection to traditional and contemporary world music. Link to the latest edition of World Music Central here: ARTICLES.   Nearly 60 years ago, in the spring of…

Introducing Pete Carroll: hiding his brilliance under a bushel for 37 years. I heard an exquisite new blues track the other day. It’s ‘Going Down (Sell My Soul)’, written and performed by Pete Carroll, a talented composer, vocalist, guitarist and music producer. Based near Lanark, south of Glasgow, Pete deserves greater recognition, especially internationally, for his fabulous…