When Ace Frehley of KISS got electrocuted on stage
In the 1970s, KISS emerged with one of the biggest and most spectacular rock’n’roll shows on the planet. It included extravagant stage designs, a larger-than-life […]
1970s
When Rick Wakeman pushed Salvador Dali off the stage
Before finding superstardom with progressive rock giants Yes, Rick Wakeman joined the folk-prog band Strawbs in 1970. It was an interesting time for Wakeman, who […]
When Deep Purple and It’s A Beautiful Day swapped song ideas
Deep Purple In Rock is one of the all-time classic albums of its genre. Released in 1970, it firmly put Deep Purple on the map […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Poor Man’s Moody Blues» by Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band, founded in Oldham in 1966. “I don’t think people realise how far back Barclay James Harvest […]
When a banjo-playing Vince Gill opened for KISS
It was 4 March 1976. KISS were due to play a show at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City. The show was sold […]
Snowblind: Ozzy Osbourne vs David Lee Roth
Back in November 1978, Van Halen was the opening band on Black Sabbath’s North American tour. By most accounts, David Lee Roth’s band put on […]
Pink Beatles (or: how close was Paul McCartney to joining Pink Floyd in the 1970s?)
First of all, let’s answer the question posed in the headline: not very close at all. The paths of Paul McCartney and Dave Gilmour have […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Before They Make Me Run» by The Rolling Stones
On 27 February 1977, Keith Richards was arrested at the Harbour Castle Hilton Hotel in Toronto. They Royal Canadian Mounted Police found such amounts of […]
Keith Moon: «THAT was noise. THIS is the ‘oo!»
Keith Moon was known for two things: his innovative and spectacular free-form drumming for The Who, the like of which the world has rarely seen […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Ride To Hell» by Horslips
Horslips are an Irish rock band with Celtic and folk influences. They were initially active as a touring and recording band from 1970-1980. After decades […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM: «Stormbringer» by Deep Purple (a.k.a. When funk drove Ritchie Blackmore out of the band)
Saying that Deep Purple has gone through many line-up changes is like saying that there are many stores in a mall. The various line-ups are […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner» by Warren Zevon
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner is a song steeped in classic adventure story elements – a literal ‘Boy’s Own’-adventure in rock music form. It is […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Love Hurts» by Nazareth
“Love Hurts” is a song written and composed by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant, who was a very prolific and successful songwriter for other artists […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Time For Me To Fly» by REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon released their seventh studio album with the memorable name You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish in April 1978. It […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Our House» by Crosby Stills Nash & Young
1968 was a time of immense change for Graham Nash. It was the year when he said goodbye to pretty much his entire life as […]