(Vocals, b. 1948) The former Michael Barratt worked the clubs for many years with his superb backing band The Sunsets, delivering old-fashioned rock’n’roll based on his convincing Elvis-isms. Success came late to the Welshman when he signed to Epic and delivered a seemingly endless stream of professionally reworked 1950s classics, including the No. 1s ‘This Ole House’ and ...
Brooklyn’s Steve Stevens (b. 1959) grew up as a fan of progressive rock and honed his chops by studying guitar at Manhattan’s LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts. He worked the Long Island and Manhattan club scenes with bands and eventually was hired for session work, including tracks for ex-Kiss drummer Peter Criss. But Stevens’ star really began to shine ...
(Guitar, vocals, b. 1944) Multi-talented Welshman Edmunds’ first exposure was as lead guitarist on Love Sculpture’s 1968 hit ‘Sabre Dance’, followed by the UK No. 1 and US Top 5 single ‘I Hear You Knocking’. After building Rockfield, a state-of-the-art studio, in south Wales his recording career took a backseat as he became an in-demand producer, ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–present) The older generation of British heavy metal was sounding tired when out of Yorkshire came Peter ‘Biff’ Byford (vocals), Paul Quinn and Graham Oliver (both guitar), Steve Dawson (bass) and Pete Gill (drums). They released six albums in four years, including 1980’s Wheels Of Steel – the title track of which gave them their first of ...
In the Renaissance, both four- and five-course (eight- or 10-stringed) guitars were played, both of them notably smaller than the modern instrument and with only a shallow waist. In the Baroque period, players seem to have switched over to an instrument with six courses (six or 12 strings), which remains the standard guitar configuration. The instrument at this ...
With the exception of Judas Priest, no metal band has been more influential than Iron Maiden. And it is no coincidence that Maiden first took flight when guitarist Adrian Smith joined the band one month into recording their second album, Killers, in 1981. Adrian Frederik ‘H’ Smith was born in Hackney, East London, in February 1957. ...
(Tenor and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, b. 1964) Starting out in reggae and funk bands in school, the British saxophonist became interested in jazz in the early 1980s and eventually gravitated towards the music of his biggest influences, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. He began playing with John Stevens’s Freebop band and by the mid-1980s had formed ...
Defying categorization with his blend of rock, blues, country and melodic pop styles, Eric Johnson is highly revered by guitarists of all genres for his skill and perfectionism on stage and in the studio, and for his uniquely rich, overdriven tone. Born in 1954, Johnson grew up in Austin, Texas. Encouraged by his parents ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–81) A London punk band consisting of Billy Idol (William Broad, vocals), Tony James (bass), Bob Andrews (guitar) and Mark Laff (drums), Generation X were viewed with suspicion by the punk cognoscenti for their pop leanings and failure to toe the party line. They scored a Top 20 hit with ‘King Rocker’ in 1979 but otherwise their ...
(Piano, vocals, b. 1935) After signing to Sun Records in 1957, Louisiana-born rock’n’roller Lewis, noted for his percussive piano style, opened his account with two million-selling US Top 3 hits, ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On’ and ‘Great Balls Of Fire’ (both 1957), but caused major media controversy during a 1958 UK tour when it was ...
If Jerry Lee Lewis had never existed, it seems unlikely that anyone would have had a sufficiently vivid imagination to have invented him. Through a 50-year career, this massively talented, yet infuriatingly self-destructive genius has scaled the heights and plumbed the depths, never for one moment compromising his music or his life. Most people mellow with age. ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1959–67) Londoner Frederick Heath was vocalist/leader of one of the first credible UK beat groups. Wearing a patch over a defective eye, he became Johnny Kidd, and his backing group (guitarist Alan Caddy, Brian Gregg on bass and drummer Clem Cattini) The Pirates. Ten UK hits between 1959 and 1964 included chart-topping ‘Shakin’ All Over’ ...
(Vocals, b. 1946) This LA-born former member of The Ikettes was Ike and Tina Turner’s backing vocalist. Remaining in London after a UK tour, she signed to Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate label, capitalizing on Britain’s love affair with American soul. She is best known for her 1967 hit, Cat Stevens’ ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’. She ...
If The Sex Pistols were the face of UK punk, The Clash were the soul. The band was formed in the summer of 1976 by guitarist Mick Jones (born Michael Geoffrey Jones, 26 June 1955) and bassist Paul Simonon (born 15 December 1955) after their proto-punk band, London SS, broke up. They Fought The Law They recruited ...
The 1950s was the decade when the straitjacket imposed by the recent world war was loosened a little – and rock took full advantage. The Sun studios in Memphis and Chess Records in Chicago were the places to be as the likes of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry turned the existing generation gap into a chasm. Though he ...
AUTHORITATIVE
An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
CURATED
Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.