Live review: Saving Grace with Robert Plant & Suzi Dian, White Rock Theatre, Hastings 23/3/24
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
3d ago
Like many regional theatres in the UK, the events programme for the White Rock In Hastings has been the typical mix of touring tribute shows, musicals and panto with the odd stand-out musical gem thrown. Recently, the theatre saw a change in operator with Trafalgar Theatres (who run many similar venues across the UK), giving way to the Guildhall Trust. The latter are a charity that operate the Portsmouth Guildhall and they came in promising “exciting times ahead” and a “broader programme of entertainment” for the White Rock. Certainly, having Robert Plant on stage sets high bar and is hopefull ..read more
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Farewell Frank Torpey – the last surviving original member of The Sweet
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
3d ago
Frank Torpey, the last surviving original member of The Sweet, has sadly passed away. His family have posted the following message on Facebook. “Frank passed away in his home surrounded by family at 1AM on Saturday 23rd March 2024. He will be missed and remembered by all his friends and family, rest well xx” Frank, along with Brian Connolly, Steve Priest and Mick Tucker, was one of the founder members of The Sweet. Torpey, Connolly and Tucker had previously been part of the Middlesex-based band, Wainright’s Gentlemen. Torpey and Tucker were unceremoniously sacked and an infuriated Connolly dec ..read more
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Intelligent Music Project announce new album – Simon Phillips, John Payne and Joseph Williams back on board
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
3d ago
Intelligent Music Project, the Bulgarian-based supergroup comprising world-famous rock musicians, is set to launch their much-awaited eighth album, Miracles Beyond, on May 15th.  The band recently released their first single from the album, offering a fascinating preview of the musical journey that awaits. While the album boasts the presence of globally celebrated rock stars, it’s noteworthy that the lead vocalist for the single ‘Shine for You’ is none other than Slavin Slavchev. Serving as the band’s primary vocalist in live performances, Slavchev, also an X-Factor winner ..read more
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Notes from the 2024 Lust For Life tour: reflections and reviews round-up
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
2w ago
Having worked on the PR for the first Lust For Life Tour last year (featuring Clem Burke on drums, Glen Matlock on bass; Katie Puckrik on vocals, Kevin Armstrong on guitar, Luis Correia on second guitar, and Florence Sabeva on keyboards), it was a real privilege, not to mention a huge load of fun, to be asked to do the same again for this year’s tour. Photo: Darren Johnson Talking to Kevin Armstrong a few months after the 2023 tour he explained how the project originally came about: “Tom Wilcox has these amazing concepts of bands that he’d like to see put together. And some of them work and so ..read more
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March 2014-March 2024: Celebrating ten years of Darren’s Music Blog
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
3w ago
“You should start writing a blog,” my brother Sam mentioned to me while we were sitting at a festival one afternoon in the Summer of 2013 discussing the various bands we’d each seen recently. Darren and Sam (right) at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention I told him the thought had vaguely crossed my mind but it was something I could give more thought to the following Spring once my lengthy stint as a local councillor was coming to an end. My evenings would then be freed up, giving me time to start seeing more gigs and, crucially, sharing my thoughts online about what I’d just seen. I’d always writte ..read more
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Live review: Joanne Shaw Taylor at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill 26/2/24
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
1M ago
“I’m a blues guitarist but not necessarily a blues artist,” Joanne Shaw Taylor confides in the De La Warr audience at one point in the set, explaining her desire not to be boxed in too much by the constraints of genre labels. And that pretty much sums up her whole approach on stage tonight. From the pounding rhythm and blues of show-opener ‘In The Mood’ to the heart-wrenching classic blues of the Albert King cover ‘Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me’, to the polished pop-rock of recent single ‘Wild Love’ to the elongated ‘60s-style freak-out of ‘Watch Em Burn’ to the funky licks of ‘Diamond ..read more
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‘Sociology’: Waveney Wilcox lines up world-class musicians for release of debut single at age 71
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
1M ago
‘Sociology’ by Waveney Wilcox: digital release 1 March 2024 At the age of 71, Suffolk-born singer Waveney Wilcox has recruited an all-star line-up of stellar musicians for the release of his debut solo single, ‘Sociology’ on 1st March this year. Waveney Wilcox: “I wrote this song in the late ‘70s whilst playing in the band Plazma from Halstead, Essex. All these years later, living in the Black Forest in Germany, it has been exciting to remake/remodel it for my first single release.” ‘Sociology’ was inspired by a long conversation with a man Waveney shared a night in a police cell with back in ..read more
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Lust For Live: Lust For Life band (Glen Matlock, Clem Burke, Katie Puckrik) release live album from 2023 tour
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
1M ago
In February and March 2023 an all-star line-up convened to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of the release of Iggy Pop’s classic Lust For Life album. Legendary Blondie drummer, Clem Burke, was joined by former Sex Pistol and punk pioneer, Glen Matlock on bass; broadcaster and Pet Shop Boys dancer, Katie Puckrik on vocals; Iggy Pop and David Bowie collaborator, Kevin Armstrong on guitar; Luis Correia, who’s toured internationally with Earl Slick on second guitar together with classical pianist, composer, and touring member of Heaven 17, Florence Sabeva on keyboards. Lust For Live, recorde ..read more
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Live review: British Lion at Blackbox, Hastings 23/1/24
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
2M ago
Well it’s not every day you get to the chance to see Steve Harris from Iron Maiden performing in a small upstairs venue above a bar on a wet Tuesday night in Hastings. But it seemed like an extremely promising choice for my first gig of 2024. Strictly speaking, it was actually my first ticketed gig of the year because I did see the impressive Lost Asylum in the Carlisle (Hastings’ main rock pub) a few nights back. Blackbox is a great small venue but it can sometimes take quite a while to fill up. Not tonight though, as the place is completely packed-out as I walk in and the support act has alr ..read more
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Interview with Fairport Convention’s Simon Nicol
Darren's music blog » Rock Music
by Darren Johnson
2M ago
Ahead of Fairport Convention’s 2024 Winter Tour, starting in February, I catch up with Simon Nicol. We discuss Dave Mattacks’ return to the Fairport fold, the forthcoming tour, this Summer’s Cropredy and why he won’t be retiring any time soon. So you’re obviously looking forward to the Winter Tour then which starts early next month. What can fans expect this time? Well, for those who didn’t catch DM (Dave Mattacks) with us last year, you’re in for a different kind of musical experience than the last twenty-five years with Gerry. That’s one thing. But the other thing that’s happened with DM, it ..read more
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