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Mick Ronson

I’ve been meaning to pay homage to Mick Ronson long before Bowie’s death was announced. Bowie worked with some of the greatest guitarists but Ronson stands as his #1 axeman but also #1 arranger — that’s saying something. Of course the term “x is one of the best ys” is so easily bandied about. But MR really…

Frampton is still alive and well

. . . and hanging around in Nashville. It was 40 years ago (crikey!) that the early stirrings of Frampton Comes Alive! began it’s juggernaut domination of the charts. Thoroughly underrated (tarnished by the teen idol label) people seem to overlook that along with Jimmy Page, PF at 14 was possibly the youngest working serious musician…

Maggot Brain

George Clinton famously told Hazel to play “like your momma had just died,” and the resulting evocation of melancholy and sorrow doesn’t merely rival Jimi Hendrix’s work, but arguably bests a lot of it.  Accompanied by another softer guitar figure providing gentle rhythm for the piece, the end result is simply fantastic, an emotional apocalypse…

Brian May on Rory Gallagher

Brian May nails it — the man and the musician. Both men of taste and decency. (A postscript: May mentions Donal, Rory’s brother who talks here about Rory: We went down to see Muddy and his band playing in a New York club called Ungano’s. The gig was very badly attended by the public, but it…

Television: new album

Despite rumours of some credence we’ve been waiting some eight years for the new Television album — don’t rush into it lads! To feed my addiction I was one of those who sent off for a cassette import of The Blow-Up (1982) if only to hear “Little Johnny Jewel”. We waited 14 years for album three (1992), not withstanding…

Rory Gallagher remembered

On the 20th anniversary of the passing of one of electric blue’s giants, Bob Hewitt looks back on the Irish musician’s life and talks to Gallagher’s brother Dónal. Head on down to New Orleans, Prettiest place you ever seen, Get on down to the river bend, That’s where the music never ends. Open your ears,…

Link Wray

The unmistakeable early master of the power chord born on this date. This year also marks 10 years since he died. See the sheer delight and appreciation that Jimmy Page displays: guitarjimmy pagelink wraymusicpower chordsrock ‘n roll