Chris Welch
Chris Welch joined Melody Maker in 1964 as reporter and features writer and became Features Editor in 1970. During the Sixties and Seventies he interviewed and wrote about every major artists and band including Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jones, Scott Walker, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Who, Cream, Genesis, Yes, ELP and Led Zeppelin. He stayed with the MM until 1979 and became assistant editor of Musicians Only. During the 1980s he was a reviews editor and feature writer for Kerrang! writing about Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Megadeth et al.
In the 2000s he wrote scripts and conducted interviews for filmed documentaries on Yes, the Moody Blues and Cream in the Classic Artists series and has frequently contributed to radio and TV programmes, most recently Radio 4’s Great Lives on Lonnie Donegan.
568 articles
List of articles in the library
The Rolling Stones: Pop Weirdies Set Out To Play It Grim
Profile by Chris Welch, The Bexleyheath & Welling Observer, January 1964
OF ALL the sensational groups to hit British pop music since the advent of the Mersey Sound and the rhythm 'n' blues revival, the weirdest, ...
The Animals: Flop? don't be soft...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 October 1964
Chas Chandler gives the facts to Chris Welch ...
The Shangri-Las: It's motor bikes next for the seagull girls
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 October 1964
SHANGRI-LAS hit town and talk to Chris Welch ...
The Moody Blues: Moody Blues: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 January 1965
LONDON'S MARQUEE Club shook with the excitement of New York's Apollo Theatre when the Moody Blues struck at a Monday night session. They have an ...
Cilla Black: "I was terrified at first but the fans are just the same"
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 March 1965
CILLA BLACK — calling from Australia — tells Chris Welch ...
The Byrds: Flamingo Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 August 1965
FANS GO COOL OVER TOO-COOL BYRDS ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 August 1965
CHRIS WELCH meets the pair who give a new look to the old showbiz man-and-wife singing duo ...
Chris Farlowe & the Thunderbirds, The Manor House, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 August 1965
CHRIS FARLOWE and the Thunderbirds blew up Bluesville at the Manor House, London, last Friday. Chris kept numbers short and punchy, and sang powerfully 'Mr. ...
Herman's Hermits: Herman Hits Out!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 September 1965
SOME OF the gun-fighting mentality of America seems to have brushed off on Herman during his wildly successful trip there. ...
TV Pop: When will the raving have to stop?
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 January 1966
The men (and woman) behind the cameras answer back ...
Band of Angels: Public school blues... that's a Band Of Angels' problem
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 March 1966
'I say, you chaps, who's for a wizard wheeze? Let's cut some groovy sounds and enjoy some of the loot these ghastly pop chaps seem ...
James Brown: Four days that shook the British pop world: The Brown Bomb!
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 March 1966
James Brown brought something that has been missing... ...
The Yardbirds: Birds' Brain — the man they call Sam
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 March 1966
"YOU'RE LOOKING for Paul Samwell-Smith? He's the shy chap with the Yardbirds isn't he?" Thus aptly described was the bass-playing brain behind the Yardbirds, by ...
Bonzo Dog Band: Musical Mayhem: Chris Welch on the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 April 1966
"WE'RE NOT doing a Temperance Seven — we're murdering the Temperance Seven!" insisted a defiant member of Britain's most incredible new rhythm ensemble — the ...
Dusty Springfield: I Just Look For A Song That Suits Me
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 April 1966
"YOU PUT a smell on me!" sang Dusty Springfield and Madeline Bell to an audience consisting of a monkey in a box. ...
The Rolling Stones, Spontaneous Music Ensemble: Oldham: Stones man digs into avant garde
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 April 1966
ROLLING STONES manager Andrew Oldham has moved into the jazz scene — the British avant garde jazz scene to boot! He plans to release an ...
The Lovin' Spoonful: Spoonful — The Most On The Coast...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 April 1966
TEAM O' genuine hillbillies flew into London last week and if the Lovin' Spoonful didn't actually tote 12-bore shot guns, they looked as if they'd ...
Georgie Fame with the Harry South Orchestra: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 April 1966
Fame and South — what a marvellous swinging mixture ...
Jimmy Witherspoon: Ramjam Club, Brixton, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 April 1966
JIMMY WITHERSPOON'S appearances at R & B clubs like Brixton's Ramjam might seem out of place. But he cuts across the music barriers with his ...
The Lovin' Spoonful: Knocking Down a Myth
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 April 1966
QUESTION Will Folk Rock be the next big influence on the pop world? ...
Cream: Sweet 'N Sour Rock 'N Roll
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 July 1966
A THUNDER of blues in a church hall complete with Brownies and caretakers was the bizarre setting for the first tentative creations of the Cream ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 August 1966
IT WAS AN historic evening at London's Marquee on Monday night when Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated made their first appearance there for nearly four years. ...
Graham Bond Organisation: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 August 1966
"GO JOHNNY GO!" is the cry echoing round the club circuit as new face Jon Hiseman blows up a storm on drums with the Graham ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 August 1966
ANY CONNOISSEUR of bad pop package shows would have been delighted by Radio England's "Swinging '66" opening at Lewisham Odeon on Friday, starring the Small ...
The Walker Brothers, Scott Walker: Scott Walker: A Lot Of Pressures And A Personal Problem
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 September 1966
SCOTT WALKER, for the first time, talks about the incident that ended in hospital ...
The Artwoods: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 September 1966
IT WAS AN exciting but nerve-racking night for the Artwoods, one of London's finest groups, when they made their Marquee Club debut last week. ...
Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood: Spencer Davis Group: Winwood 66
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 September 1966
Frustrated or happy? Both, reveals Chris Welch ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 October 1966
A GREAT SHOW and a puzzling audience reaction. That was the net result of the first night of the Georgie Fame package tour at Finsbury ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 October 1966
SEDATE Fairfield Hall, Croydon, blew up with a wild pop package show featuring the Move, Jimmy James, VIPS, the Herd and Spencer Davis on Friday ...
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Roland Kirk: Doesn't Fit Into The Avant Garde
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 November 1966
JAZZ snobs have been hit hard by the arrival of Roland Kirk the Magnificent. Roland's music lurches crazily, but creatively from the humorous to the ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 November 1966
Beach Boys get lads going! ...
The Four Tops: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 November 1966
TREMENDOUS TOPS SCORE AT SAVILLE ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 November 1966
ANY DOUBTS ABOUT the Cream's ability to perform as a group and not just three star soloists were dispelled by their sensational set at London's ...
The Who: A Quick One (Reaction)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 December 1966
The Who fulfilled and a mini-opera, yet! ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 December 1966
A MARATHON four-hour show in aid of Oxfam was held at London's Royal Albert Hall on Monday and featured an all-star cast. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 December 1966
GENO WASHINGTON'S triumph is not so much a musical one, as a victory over the minds of elderly mods, who have seized upon the Ram ...
The Attack: Hammersmith College, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 December 1966
HOLY SENSATION! It's Richard's Attack, a new group who had fans fighting with excitement at Hammersmith College on Friday last week. ...
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Blaises, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 December 1966
JIMI HENDRIX, a fantastic American guitarist, blew the minds of the star-packed crowd who went to see him at Blaises Club, London on Wednesday. ...
Spencer Davis Group: The Spencer Davis Group: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 December 1966
IT WAS A night of comedy and merry making when the Spencer Davis Group held their Christmas party at London's Marquee Club last week. ...
The Who: The Upper Cut, Forest Gate, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 December 1966
AN INCREDIBLE new club called the Upper Cut under the auspices of famous boxer Billy Walker opened at Forest Gate, London, with the grand clamour ...
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 January 1967
CHRIS WELCH ANALYSES THE WORK OF BAKER, BRUCE AND CLAPTON ...
Cream: Pop Think-In with Ginger Baker
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 January 1967
MODERN ART: I still paint occasionally, and I've got a big sculpture I've been working on for 18 months. It's got a steel frame with ...
The Move, Pink Floyd: Who's Psychedelic Now? MM Inquiry by Chris Welch and Nick Jones
Interview by Nick Jones, Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 January 1967
SPOTLIGHT ON THE PINK FLOYD AND THE MOVE ...
Donovan: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 January 1967
THAT THERE is still room for audacious youth in 1967 is a good sign. Donovan is an audacious youth, and in the vast monument to ...
The Monkees: Why All This Hoo-Ha About The Monkees?
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 January 1967
OH, THE bitchiness! Oh, the arguments! Oh, the rows! It's amazing how pop can still cause furore and uproar from one side of the Atlantic ...
Cat Stevens: A Rather Cool Cat
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 January 1967
CAT STEVENS won't purr if you poor him a saucer of milk. But if, as a reward for his sensational leap up the chart with ...
The Four Tops: Four Tops Plan a Motown Choir
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 February 1967
SWINGING London was practically rocked off its hinges the first time the famous Four Tops descended among us last year – the year of 'Reach ...
Jimi Hendrix, The Who: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 February 1967
Jimi Hendrix-Who battle at Saville ...
Cream, Edwin Starr: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 February 1967
GINGER BAKER played one of the finest solos in his career at London's Saville Theatre on Sunday night. ...
Spontaneous Music Ensemble: John Stevens: A Sadder But Wiser Avant Gardist
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 February 1967
JOHN STEVENS has come back a sadder but wiser man from the so-called "avant garde scene" in Copenhagen. Stevens, drummer-organiser of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, ...
Chuck Berry, Del Shannon: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 February 1967
FREAK OUTS forget — it's rock riots yet! Those smashing days of the fifties are back, and for evidence see the pile of broken seats ...
Chuck Berry: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 March 1967
NO RIOTS, but plenty of good music were provided at London's Saville Theatre on Sunday night when Chuck Berry made a return appearance. ...
Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, Traffic: Stevie Winwood: Why I Quit
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 March 1967
MM EXCLUSIVE: CHRIS WELCH probes the Great Break Up and finds the Spencer Davis-Stevie Winwood split inevitable ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 March 1967
A RIGHT phantasmagorical experience was created by the combined powers of the Small Faces and Roy Orbison at the opening of their tour at Finsbury ...
Alan Price: Klooks Kleek, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 March 1967
ALAN PRICE and his amazing dancing band blew up a storm at Klooks Kleek on Tuesday last week, and an all-star turn-out joined in for ...
Duane Eddy: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 March 1967
DUANE EDDY and a band of faithful followers generated 'Some Kinda Earthquake' at the Saville London on Sunday. Not quite the enormous earthquake that was ...
Jeff Beck: When The 'Big Break' Leads To Disaster...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 March 1967
CHRIS WELCH GOES BEHIND THE GLAMOUR AND GLITTER OF THE POP WORLD TO FIND TRAGEDY ...
Fats Domino, Gerry & the Pacemakers: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 April 1967
FATS HAS 'EM JIVING IN THE AISLES! ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 April 1967
A show which proves pop still has something up its sleeve ...
Jimi Hendrix: Who Says Jimi Hendrix Can't Sing? (He Does!)
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 April 1967
JIMI HENDRIX can't sing! "Oo sez so?" outraged Hendrix fans will demand, at this startling statement. But before MM readers who dig the sounds of ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 April 1967
THE AUDIENCE stole the show at London's Saville Theatre on Sunday, presenting their polished performance of Mass Idiocy — the new art form. ...
The Small Faces: The Many Faces of Steve Marriott
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 April 1967
POP STARS and the Establishment seem to be ever at loggerheads. Cliff Richard and Elvis Presley used to be accused of corrupting teenage morals. Quite ...
Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix: An Experience To Remember
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Music Maker, June 1967
POP NEVER loses its powers to produce surprises. Just as the community imagined themselves shock proof and immune to any new madness the Brethren of ...
Arthur Brown, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Soft Machine: Love, Beauty, the Fuzz and the UFO
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 June 1967
THE IN CLUBS: CHRIS WELCH takes in the London club scene — beginning with UFO ...
Procol Harum: Procol Probe: how the break-up came to pass
Report and Interview by Nick Jones, Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 July 1967
CHRIS WELCH AND NICK JONES FILL IN THE SPLIT BACKGROUND ...
Pink Floyd: The Great Pink Floyd Mystery
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 August 1967
AS THOUSANDS IN ballrooms and assorted hell-holes across the country are deafened and blinded nightly by the Pink Floyd, the well-known psychedelic group, thousands might ...
Desmond Dekker: On The Trail Of Desmond Dekker
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 August 1967
A FEW years ago Bluebeat, that simple jogging West Indian pop, was all the rage among the mods of Britain. ...
Ronnie Scott, Scott Walker: Scott Walker: Fiesta Club, Stockton
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 August 1967
SCOTT SHEDS HIS POP WINGS IN STOCKTON... ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 August 1967
STONES — CONSIDERABLY TOO MUCH ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 August 1967
I've got those Seventh National Jazz And Blues Festival blues ...
The Rolling Stones: Mick Decides To Play It Cool
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 August 1967
"STONES CASH IN on psychedelic craze! Read all about it!" This was the dramatic headline that swam into Mick Jagger's vision as he answered newspaper ...
Jimi Hendrix: Mitch Mitchell: 'We're Only Friendly Little Gnomes After All'
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 September 1967
MITCH MITCHELL TALKS ABOUT HIS IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA ...
The Beatles: Two Magical Mystery Tours
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 September 1967
'Ringo stood on my foot,' said one girl helpfully. 'But I don't know where they've gone!' ...
Jimi Hendrix: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 October 1967
THE OTHER (WRESTLING) SIDE OF JIMI HENDRIX ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 October 1967
IT WAS AN explosive opening night For the Traffic-Tomorrow-Fudge tour at London's Finsbury Park Astoria on Wednesday of last week. The Fudge came off the ...
Vanilla Fudge: Fudge Slow Down To Hang On To Success
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 October 1967
JIMI HENDRIX slowed down 'Hey Joe', previously always recorded as an all-out tear-up, and came up with a giant hit. Then Vanilla Fudge slowed down ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 October 1967
GREAT THUNDERING jackanapes! An all-round good show at the Saville: No goofs, no curtains falling down, great music, a nice audience and even, wonder of ...
Ten Years After: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 October 1967
TEN YEARS AFTER are currently drawing huge applause and crowds at London's Marquee Club on Friday nights, and it is not difficult to see why. ...
John Mayall: O, Come And Join All Ye The Blues Faithful Crusade
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 October 1967
ROLL UP! Get your Bluesbreakers masks here. Peter Green 2s 6d, Eric Clapton five bob... ...
Vanilla Fudge, The Who: The Who, Vanilla Fudge: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 October 1967
Who, minus freak outs and smash ups ...
Bonzo Dog Band, Cream: Cream, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band: Saville Theatre, London
Live Review by Nick Jones, Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 November 1967
IT WAS A night of great music and brilliant comedy, approaching genius in both departments, when the Cream and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band starred ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 November 1967
FANS WENT wild for both houses of the Who-Herd-Traffic-Tremeloes tour when it hit Walthamstow Granada on Saturday. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 November 1967
A STRANGELY mixed bag of performers at London's Saville Theatre on Sunday. There was Irish folk, psychedelia, a few lights, a bit of hip wiggling ...
Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll: Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll: Open (Marmalade)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 November 1967
ONE OF THE album events of the year featuring two of Britain's more talented artists, organist Brian Auger and singer Julie Driscoll. Everything about it ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 November 1967
HUBBLE, BUBBLE, toil and trouble, and wowee Jimi Hendrix! The Hendrix-Move tour thundered off on its trip round Britain with a deafening start at London's ...
Ten Years After: Ten Years After (Deram).
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 November 1967
A BRILLIANT debut album by the blues group that has been building up a huge name for itself at London's Marquee Club. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 November 1967
THE MOST remarkable show ever held at London's Saville Theatre on Sunday — the Bee Gees with awe inspiring 30-piece orchestra, combining advanced pop with ...
Eddie Floyd: Knocking On The Wrong Wood
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 December 1967
EDDIE FLOYD IN A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY ...
Bonzo Dog Band: Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band: Dedicated Idiocy
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 December 1967
THE BONZOS' POLICY PAYS OFF ...
Dave Mason, Traffic: Traffic: Dave Quits, But Traffic Keeps Moving
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 December 1967
DESPITE THE INTENDED departure of songwriter and sitarist Dave Mason, Traffic wheels are turning with renewed vigour. ...
The Who: Who Needs To Take Pop Seriously? Asks Pete Townshend
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 December 1967
PETE TOWNSHEND is as unpredictable as a badly made Roman candle. He fizzes and spurts, showers light and occasionally explodes. ...
Procol Harum "At An All-Time Low", says Organist Fisher
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 January 1968
"I THINK the group position is at an all-time low. People are saying: 'Okay, they've had two hits. Now what else can they do?' " ...
Traffic: Stevie's Back On The Beer Again
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 January 1968
ALL IS not lost! Stevie Winwood is drinking beer again! It is pleasing to report the Traffic boss was observed entering a London ale house ...
The Small Faces: Small Faces: Is All Still Well With The Faces?
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 January 1968
"MAC LEAVING? No — of course not!" groaned Stevie Marriott and Ronnie Lane in unison. ...
Love Affair: A Love Affair To Remember…
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 January 1968
IT'S EXCITING, it's fun, it's new – it's the Love Affair! ...
Dusty Springfield, Mickie Most, P.J. Proby, Spencer Davis Group: Right Then, Who's Backing Britain?
Comment by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 January 1968
IF BRITAIN is going to the dogs, it is obvious a large section of the (older) community are convinced that sinful pop stars are prime ...
Manfred Mann: Manfred Still Has That Chart Touch
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 January 1968
BOB DYLAN and Manfred Mann have never met. Yet there is a bond between them. Manfred gets hits with Dylan songs, and the songwriter approves ...
Jimmy McGriff: McGriff An Organ Player For All Ears
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 January 1968
WILD — THAT was the reaction to U.S. organ star Jimmy McGriff when he played his first-ever appearances in London this week. ...
Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich: The Case For Drums
Comment by Chris Welch, Music Maker, February 1968
CHRIS WELCH, who found worldwide fame as a drummer on the South London wedding circuit, defends the most maligned section of the pop and jazz ...
The Herd, Love Affair, The Tremeloes: The Tremeloes: War Of The Groups
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 February 1968
Pop, crackle, snap – there's friction in the air! ...
Manfred Mann: Mighty Mike Of The Manfreds
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 February 1968
MEETING MICHAEL D'ABO is to slip back through the years to a long since shattered age of grace and reason. ...
The Move: Disgusting, That's Our Stage Act
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 February 1968
"IS OUR stage act sexy? It's disgusting! There's no doubt about it, it's vulgar and obscene, and if I was a father I wouldn't let ...
The Move: Five Really Nice Guys
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 March 1968
Despite what you may think, the Move are really five nice guys – or so they say... ...
Fleetwood Mac: How to Upset the Blues Purists
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 March 1968
AMONG BRITAIN'S young blues fans Eric Clapton was once hailed as a god, then discarded by the ethnics when he left John Mayall's Bluesbreakers for ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 April 1968
When the Stones were rollin' – for £10 a gig ...
The Beach Boys: A Brave New World – Through Pop
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 April 1968
IT'S GOING to be a Brave New World through pop. That's the hope of men like George Harrison, Donovan and Mike Love, bearded, humourous hell-raiser ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 April 1968
WE HAVE seen group wars and feuds before, but nothing like the battle for fans between the Bee Gees and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick ...
The Herd: Move 'Em Out It's The Real Herd
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 April 1968
A POACHED egg is many things to many people. To advertising copy writers, it is a symbol of health and efficiency. To the savages of ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 April 1968
BOREDOM, HIGH JINKS AND CHAOS ...
The Move: Move's Ace Kefford: If I Hadn't Left
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 April 1968
ONE OF THE older clichés in pop, exercised whenever a star cracks up, is "it was too much, too soon." ...
Cream: Eric Clapton: Back To The Blues
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 May 1968
CHRIS WELCH picks his way through the chicken feathers in darkest Chelsea to chat up the guitar star of the Cream ...
The Who: Would You Let Your Daughter Marry A Venusion?
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 May 1968
TYPICAL WHO sound blasted in stereo from a battery of speakers – screaming guitar, vocals, bass and drums. But Roger Daltrey, John Entwhistle and Keith ...
Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll: Brian Auger: DANGER: All Our Groups are Going Abroad
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 May 1968
GREAT NEWS for all diggers of Britain's most power packed duo this week, as Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll finally crack the chart problem. ...
Scott Walker: I'm Going To Japan By Train
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 May 1968
IS SCOTT Walker a monster? This is his image among some of the pop fraternity. Is he a helpless innocent, buffeted by pitiless probings of ...
Tyrannosaurus Rex: Marc Bolan: The Man Behind Tyrannosaurus Rex
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 May 1968
AGE AND world wearyness are the enemies of pop. Marc Bolan has youth and enthusiasm. His are the qualities which must be the saviours of ...
The Animals, Eric Burdon, Zoot Money: Eric Burdon and Zoot Money
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 June 1968
ERIC BURDON belongs to a fast vanishing breed. He is the last of the outspoken men of Pop, and the Animals are the last of ...
The Rolling Stones: Will Charlie Watts Wake Up The World?
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 June 1968
BEACH BOYS, Beatles and Donovan chased round the world after the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in search of spiritual peace. ...
Marmalade: No Peel For Marmalade
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 June 1968
THEY DON'T like Peel in Marmalade. The well-known voice of hippery has frequently expressed opinions that the Scots lads once known as Dean Ford and ...
Manfred Mann: Manfred Michael Say's — 'It's Like Selling Fish And Chips'
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 July 1968
IS THE era of the pop idol dead? Are the days when Mick Jagger's face could launch a thousand screams over? ...
The Nice: 1968 The Year Of The Nice
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 July 1968
NICE ARE now one of Britain's top groups, ranking with Cream and Jimi Hendrix's Experience. And as Cream aren't working and are on the edge ...
Cream: Background to a Break-Up
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 July 1968
CREAM ARE breaking up. The world-famous trio that features Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce are to go separate ways in the autumn. Said ...
John Mayall: Mayall's Bare Wires = a progression in attitude
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 July 1968
JOHN MAYALL has taken a great leap forward with his Bare Wires suite which takes up one side of his latest Decca album. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 July 1968
Bonzo's brilliance steals the show ...
Arthur Brown: I Am The God Of Hell Fire
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 July 1968
"WHO ARE you then?" inquired the pretty young barmaid, as she served the fifth pint of foaming beer, to the customer with shoulder-length hair, clutching ...
Electric Flag: A Long Time Comin' (CBS)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 August 1968
'Killing Floor'; 'Groovin' Is Easy'; 'Over-Lovin' You'; 'She Should Have Just'; 'Wine'; 'Texas'; 'Sittin' In Circles'; 'You Don't Realise'; 'Another Country'; 'Easy Rider'. ...
The Small Faces: Steve Marriott: Putting A Brave Face On Things
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 August 1968
STEVIE MARRIOTT is not too horrified by the slow progress of 'Universal', the Small Faces' latest vital waxing. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 August 1968
"ALL THIS needs is for John Peel to appear with three loaves and five fishes and he could feed the ten thousand," said an observer ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 August 1968
'White Room', 'Sitting on Top of the World', 'Passing the Time', 'As You Said', 'Pressed Rat and Warthog', 'Politician', 'Those Were The Days', 'Born Under ...
Family: Music In A Doll's House (Reprise)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 August 1968
LOATHE TO put their music into any category, the men of Family make it difficult for anybody else to adequately describe what they are attempting. ...
The Moody Blues: Moody Blues: In Search Of The Lost Chord (Deram)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 August 1968
AFTER YEARS of singing 'Jump Back Baby, Jump Back', it all gets a bit difficult when stalwart veterans of the Beat Era have to start ...
The Four Tops, The Supremes: No Mo' Motown?
Comment by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 August 1968
CHRIS WELCH records the demise of a chart influence ...
Amen Corner's Shopping List: 14 steaks, 28 Cokes, 10 bottles of Squeezy and 14 of orange juice
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 August 1968
AFTER TWO glasses of orange juice, Mr Andrew Fairweather-Low, of the Amen Corner, was observed staggering, shuffling and reeling in a dingy London alleyway this ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 August 1968
Music triumphs, despite rain, accidents and the rockers ...
Cream, Ginger Baker: Ginger Baker: The Ginger Man
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 August 1968
PETER "GINGER" BAKER will be 29 soon, and after 13 years of beating drum kits into submission, he is at last able to relax and ...
Jefferson Airplane: The Isle of Wight Pop Festival
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 September 1968
A SMALL bronze medal should be struck and presented to all the survivors of the Isle of Wight Pop Festival. They are the brave men ...
Cream: Pop LP of the Month — Cream: Wheels of Fire (Polydor)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 September 1968
AN EXCITING AND REWARDING SET ...
The Rolling Stones: Oh, What? Own Up! Just Groove!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 September 1968
MICK JAGGER, vintage 1968. ...
The Who: Bus Ride Back To Pop 30 For Who
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 September 1968
THE STATES are where the Who now have their biggest hits, most fan fever, and excitement. Pete Townsend, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle ...
Buddy Rich: Master drummer suffering fools...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 October 1968
BUDDY RICH'S new album Mercy, Mercy is another musical explosion in the series Buddy has offered us since he formed his successful big band. ...
Frank Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention: Frank Zappa: Reviled, Revered Mother Superior
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 October 1968
FEAR OF THE abnormal isn't a trait confined to Americans, but they do seem to express their fears more vociferously than most. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 October 1968
The latest in an exciting series ...
Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds: The Yardbirds: Only Jimmy Left To Form The New Yardbirds
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 October 1968
WHATEVER HAPPENED to the Yardbirds? One of the great mysteries of our time, ranking with the Devil's footprints, the Marie Celeste and the Five Penny ...
Joe Cocker: Soul Sheffield Style
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 October 1968
WHICH pop star uses the Mario Lanzo method? You're wrong – it's not Tiny Tim, it's our old blues shouting, Beatle bellowing mate Joe Cocker! ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 October 1968
ALL HAIL Arthur Brown! How high the Who! In a curtain-raiser for their forthcoming tour, taking the form of an all-night rave at London's Lyceum, ...
The Mothers Of Invention, Frank Zappa: The Mothers of Invention: Royal Festival Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 November 1968
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE MOTHERS COULD BE BORING? ...
Tiny Tim: When Tiny Tim Started To Sing In A High Voice, Even Dear Father Said 'Cissy'
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 November 1968
Chris Welch comes face to face with Tiny Tim ...
The Who: Tackling The Most Serious Project Of Their Lives
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 November 1968
"THAT'S A nasty letter. What's all that about?" inquired a menacing, dramatically dressed Roger Daltrey, clutching a copy of the MM and noting a communication ...
The Nice: Whitla Hall, Belfast
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 November 1968
BELFAST'S annual music festival, organised by Michael Emmerson of Queens University, was opened by the Nice in a highly successful "pop" concert at the Whitla ...
Diana Ross, The Supremes: Diana Ross: A Talking Instead Of Just A Walking Doll
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 November 1968
DIANA ROSS is a living doll. But as an all-talking living doll, her new image came as quite a surprise to the pop scene last ...
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation: Doctor Dunbar's Prescription (Liberty LBL93177E)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 December 1968
SADLY BRITISH blues groups seem to have reached the end of their creative ability, and a short road it has proved to be. Recording quality ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 December 1968
A FANTASTIC and highly emotional send-off for the Cream almost gave the group second thoughts about breaking up after their brilliant final performance at London's ...
Billy Cobham, Horace Silver: Billy Cobham: The Pulse Behind the Horace Silver 5
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 December 1968
IT'S BEEN a very good year for drummers. ...
The Rolling Stones: How I Survived Beggar's Banquet
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 December 1968
THAT custard pies would one day be hurled by the Rolling Stones at the gentlemen of the press was fairly inevitable. ...
Eric Clapton, Jethro Tull, The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones: Rock and Roll Circus
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 December 1968
IT WAS a group fan's dream, when the giants of pop held a three hour jam session, while rehearsing for the Rolling Stones' Rock And ...
Bonzo Dog Band: Viv Stanshall, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, at the Pop Think-In
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 December 1968
FISH: I'm trying to become a pisceculturist. I'm less interested in fish than I am in turtles really. I like evil fish of archaelogical interest ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1969
Chris Welch ventures into deepest Bee Geeland ...
The Pretty Things: Pretty Things Kick Off Their Old Image
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1969
ONE OF Britain's oldest and most hallowed group relics are the Pretty Things, who must go down in the pageant of pop history as men ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1969
"FREAKING OUT with volume is over. Everybody seemed to think volume was the revolution of the music. That's okay theatrically, but not musically." ...
The Small Faces: Stevie Marriott is alive and well and living in Essex
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1969
"COR — WE haven't even been in the Raver for weeks!" exclaimed Stevie Marriott on the subject of their mystery disappearance from the affairs of ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1969
THIS IS the time of year when pop journalists start surveying the scene for groups or singles likely to make an impression in the coming ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 January 1969
CHRIS WELCH meets the new-look Jimi! ...
Sly & The Family Stone: 'Everyday People' (Direction)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 January 1969
IT WAS A pity their first British visit was such a mess up, for Sly and Co seem like a most unusual and interesting group, ...
Melanie, Tyrannosaurus Rex: Tyrannosaurus Rex/Melanie: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 January 1969
A HANDFUL of musical fairydust was thrown into the air at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on Monday, which baffled some and choked others. ...
Chicken Shack: O.K. Ken? (Blue Horizon 7-63209)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1969
SOLID GOOD humour abounds on Chicken Shack's O.K. Ken? (Blue Horizon 7-63209) of a British variety which makes it so more bearable and strangely authentic, compared to ...
Buddy Miles: The Buddy Miles Express: Expressway To Your Skull (Mercury 20137 SMCL)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1969
EXPRESSWAY TO Your Skull is dramatic, intense music from the ugly hero of the drums, who once powered Electric Flag. His band is more or ...
Jeff Beck: The Jeff Beck Group: Marquee Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1969
JEFF BECK'S band blew a solid set at London's Marquee Club last week to a packed house and proved why they have been so successful ...
Steve Miller: The Steve Miller Band: Sailor (Capitol ST 2984)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1969
THE LATEST trend among packagers of records is to make absolutely certain the least amount of information is available for the public to glean from ...
Jeff Beck: When Jeff Was Scared To Go On Stage
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 February 1969
JEFF BECK is a complicated person. He can appear lazy, sullen and difficult. He has an expressive face that appears to give away his every ...
Harmony Grass: Speakeasy, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 February 1969
HARMONY GRASS are a fine band — they always were as Tony Rivers and the Castaways. Although Tony has castaway the surfing image, they still ...
Tamla Motown: Munch, Munch, Munch
Comment by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 February 1969
Chris Welch discovers what it's like to eat his own words… ...
Jimi Hendrix: The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 March 1969
The legend comes to life: Chris Welch catches Hendrix in action ...
Ron Geesin: It can't be long before Ron Geesin takes over the world
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 March 1969
"A RAVING bloody loony" he may be, but there is no call for the Scots Jimi Hendrix of the banjo to be accused of being ...
Brian Auger: Fear Not For The Trinity!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 March 1969
QUESTION – What happened to Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and the Trinity? Answer – a lot! ...
Taj Mahal: The Natch'l Blues (Direction 8-63397)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 March 1969
AMERICAN MUSICIANS have always scored over their British musical cousins, in their ability to RELAX, and still show off their mastery of whatever medium they ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 March 1969
BIG BEN, like the Tymes, swings but doesn't say much. At least George Williams, lead singer with the group which is just ticking over in ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 March 1969
...IS A REASONABLY good programme by Free, a group often dismissed as "just another blues band." ...
Taj Mahal: At Last — A Welcome New Voice
Profile by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 March 1969
A NEW VOICE on the music scene and a very welcome one, belongs to Mr Taj Mahal a young blues singer and guitarist from Massachusetts. ...
The Nice: Will Nice Get Lost Among The Commuters?
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 March 1969
WILL BRITAIN'S heaviest group, the Nice, conquer America? After the Cream and Jimi Hendrix, the Nice must be our most spectacular band and well in ...
Led Zeppelin: Why Led Zeppelin Took Off in America and not Britain
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 March 1969
A REACTIONARY anti-love movement in Britain is the disturbing development noted by guitarist Jimmy Page on his return from a long spell in America with ...
Blind Faith: Eric, Or Little By Little
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 April 1969
IT'S SOUNDING good, the Eric Clapton, Stevie Winwood, Ginger Baker Band. Forget about Cream. This is a new group with a new sound. ...
Pink Floyd: Royal Festival Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 April 1969
PINK FLOYD'S Festival Hall concert on Monday was artistry in pop technology. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, May 1969
A DOUBLE ALBUM can often prove a boring disappointment these days, with the gimmick presentation becoming more important than the quality of the music. Pete ...
Dr. John: Dr John: Babylon (Atco 228 018)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 May 1969
Compulsive listening ...
Humble Pie: Exclusive! Marriott & Frampton present HUMBLE PIE
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 May 1969
When a new group is born naturally the Melody Maker is the first to know about it ...
Pink Floyd: Now It's Pink Floyd Plus The London Phil
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 May 1969
CHRIS WELCH FINDS OUT WHAT BRITAIN'S TOP 'OVERGROUND' GROUP ARE PLANNING ...
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation: Come what may, Aynsley's keeping the sound heavy
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 May 1969
AYNSLEY DUNBAR is a gifted, intelligent and powerful drummer. Yet in the past his albums have been disappointing and his style restricted. ...
The Who: The Renaissance of the Who
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 May 1969
PETE TOWNSHEND'S triumph! ...
Fairport Convention's Martin Lamble: Previous Occupation — Child
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 May 1969
THEY WERE playing 'Meet On The Ledge' at London clubs last week. It is a tune people most associate with Fairport Convention. ...
Marsha Hunt Says – I Do What I Dig
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 May 1969
MARSHA Hunt's trouble is she made one boob too many on TV recently. In fact two boobs too many. She caused a great outcry by ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 June 1969
Watching With Mothers: Chris Welch survives a week with Frank Zappa ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 June 1969
Following Blind Faith to the shores of a lake ...
The Rolling Stones: The Stones Roll Again
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 June 1969
How Mick's facing up to the brave new world of getting the show back on the road: MICK JAGGER talks to Chris Welch about the ...
The Faces, The Small Faces: The Small Faces: At Least Mac Still Has His Sense Of Humour
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 June 1969
CHRIS WELCH meets the remnants of the Small Faces ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 June 1969
SOME WEEKS ago, I went horse riding with Thunderclap Newman. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 July 1969
A ZEPPELIN attacked the City of Bath on Saturday, and gassed 120,000. Airship Commander Jimmy Page kept the most fearsome dirigible in progressive blues aloft ...
Pink Floyd: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 July 1969
A SILENT, attentive crowd, joss sticks waving, a huge gong booming, and the Pink Floyd looning. It was strange inside the Royal Albert Hall, London, ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 July 1969
ROLLING STONES: 'Honky Tonk Women'/'You Can't Always Get What You Want' (Decca). An important single for the Stones, but a disappointment for us . ...
David Bowie: 'Space Oddity' (Philips)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 July 1969
DAVID IS A talented young man who has written many fine songs and now concentrates on mime shows. ...
Alexis Korner, Family, King Crimson, The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones et al: Hyde Park, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 July 1969
CHRIS WELCH SAYS: 'Somehow the magic worked' ...
Thunderclap Newman: The Crazy World Of Thunderclap Newman
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 July 1969
WHO IS THIS strange, Pickwickian character, rumbling and bumbling gaily into the pop scene? ...
Blind Faith, Bread and Freedom – Now For The Sweet Music
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 August 1969
BLIND FAITH have not only gained a fine bass player in Rick Grech, who left Family to complete the super group, they also have an ...
Humble Pie: Ronnie Scott Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 August 1969
HUMBLE PIE were viewed with sceptical suspicion by the pop industry before their unveiling at a special press reception last week. However, with three encores ...
The Beatles: Abbey Road (Apple)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 September 1969
Natural Born Beatles ...
Graham Bond: Commissar Bond Is Back In Business
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 October 1969
"WE DON'T want any of that around here," threatened an elderly lady shaking a palsied fist from one of the ancient alleys of Cambridge, as ...
Tyrannosaurus Rex: ...But The Bopping Imp Keeps Bopping
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 October 1969
CHRIS WELCH UNCOVERS THE TYRANNOSAURUS SPLIT ...
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 October 1969
WHEN A TOP musician becomes an unpaid press and public relations man for a group, it can be fairly assumed that the group must have ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 October 1969
Led Zeppelin rock Lyceum ...
Led Zeppelin: Carnegie Hall, New York NY
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 October 1969
THERE IS a sustained excitement about a Led Zeppelin performance I do not recall in any other group — apart from the Who. ...
Humble Pie: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 November 1969
HUMBLE PIE presented a quietly attractive show at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, last week. There was no flash showmanship or star presentation. The atmosphere was ...
Lionel Hampton: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 November 1969
NOW WE know what has been missing from jazz for the last 14 years — Lionel Hampton! It was a good time and great jazz ...
Harry J All Stars, The Pioneers, Max Romeo and the Upsetters: Reggae — is it a new art form?
Comment by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 November 1969
A critical appraisal by Christopher J Welch ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 November 1969
FANS OF DAVID Bowie have for years been expecting him to make some proper impact on the music scene. If a reasonable position in the ...
The Rolling Stones: Jagger in America
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 November 1969
ALL'S WELL with the Stones and Mick Jagger is at peace with the world. They have returned to tour America after three years and says ...
P.P. Arnold, Delaney & Bonnie: Delaney & Bonnie, P.P. Arnold: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 December 1969
Back to rock 'n' soul with Delaney 'n' Bonnie ...
Yes: Swiss Rolling And Rocking With Yes
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 December 1969
CHRIS WELCH reporting, with a little Alp from his friends ...
The Action, Mighty Baby: Action Grow Into a Mighty Baby
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 December 1969
IS THIS the career for you? Twenty pounds a week, uncertain prospects and no luncheon vouchers. The life of a rock drummer is not necessarily ...
Bonzo Dog Band: Keynsham (Liberty)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 December 1969
BRAVO BONZOS! Never a band to take the easy course or rest on past successes, they continue to advance their unique musical properties with a ...
Yes: Time And A Word (Atlantic)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1970
IT'S NICE to have those great Yes arrangements like ‘Then’, ‘The Prophet’ and ‘Astral Traveller’ on record at last. One of the great playing bands, ...
Scott Walker Comes In From The Cold
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, January 1970
IN 1970 Scott Engel's career appeared to grind to a halt. He practically vanished from the scene. He seemed to be forgotten, discarded, after a ...
Ginger Baker's Airforce: Scramble Here Comes Ginger's Airforce
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 January 1970
"SCRAMBLE!" Ginger Baker, Marshall of the Airforce, rapped out his orders with the cool aplomb of a man in charge of a powerful attacking force, ...
Crosby Stills Nash & Young: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 January 1970
CROSBY, STILLS, Nash, Young and Old gave a lengthy and often enjoyable concert at London's Royal Albert Hall last week. The "Old" was the age ...
Jack Bruce: The Heavy Burdens Of Jack’s Shoulders
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 January 1970
HIGH COURT Judges have often been heard to observe that pop stars have "grave responsibilities." However, they are usually referring to suspected powers of influence ...
Syd Barrett: Confusion and Mr Barrett
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 January 1970
SYD BARRETT is a happy, creative if somewhat confused young man, who gave the Pink Floyd hits and headaches when still in the group of ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 February 1970
A MASS of gently struggling sons of Coventry and outlying parts politely tripped over each other in the seatless main hall at Lanchester Festival on ...
Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page: Jimmy Page: Paganini of the Seventies
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 February 1970
First of a great new series by Chris Welch ...
The Nice, Yes: Royal Festival Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 February 1970
IT WAS an emotional as well as a musical triumph when the Nice took London's Festival Hall by storm on Saturday. A feeling built up ...
Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page Part Two
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 February 1970
WHEN A band achieves the Led Zeppelin's kind of success in such a short time, there are bound to be whispered accusations in the corridors ...
The Faces: New Faces In The Old Band
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 February 1970
A SOUND not unlike a braying mountain goat echoed across the West End of London this week. The Faces — no longer Small — were ...
Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page Part Three
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 February 1970
CHRIS WELCH CONCLUDES THIS EXCLUSIVE SERIES ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 February 1970
Love is the message from Love ...
The Faces: First Step (Warner Bros)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 February 1970
BACK WITH a bang are the Faces with Ronnie Wood (guitar) and Rod Stewart (vocals) added to the old line-up of Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan ...
Tyrannosaurus Rex are in good elf!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 March 1970
TYRANNOSAURUS REX has taken rather a pasting recently. Trevor Brice of Vanity Fare in Blind Date said of their new album: "I think it's horrible. ...
Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (Reprise)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 March 1970
Hot Rats is hot stuff! ...
The Mothers of Invention: Burnt Weeny Sandwich (Reprise)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 March 1970
IT WAS ONE of the great tragedies of modern music when the Mothers broke up last year, but they leave behind memories of success and ...
Screaming Lord Sutch: Lord Sutch: Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends (Atlantic)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 April 1970
SUTCH IS LIFE... ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 April 1970
Beautiful Day a beautiful band ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 May 1970
HAS LIBERACE been out-freaked by the hippies? In a word — scarcely. Anti-establishment, anti-materialist acid rock audiences could conceivably view him with distaste — a ...
Ginger Baker's Airforce: Ginger Baker's Airforce (Polydor)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 May 1970
GINGER BAKER HAS led a long tough career. He has worked hard, stuck to his musical guns at all times. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 May 1970
AFTER SUCH a long gap in recording from this legendary West Coast band, among the first of the new wave American groups which emerged in ...
Led Zeppelin: Sounds Like Another Platinum!
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 June 1970
Chris Welch flies with Led Zeppelin as they cut their third LP... ...
Jimi Hendrix: Band Of Gypsys (Track)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 June 1970
ANY ALBUM from Jimi is such a rare event, one can only be pleased to see his name back on the new releases' rack. Here ...
Fairport Convention: Full House (Island)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 July 1970
AYE, GATHER round me bully boys – once there was a time when Fairport albums were as hard to obtain as a Grope O'Shanter at ...
Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Wild Man Fischer: Frank Zappa: Listen With Mothers
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 July 1970
FRANK ZAPPA has emerged as one of the most interesting, lucid, energetic, entertaining and creative figures in contemporary music. He has frequently complained of being ...
Matthews' Southern Comfort: Second Spring (UNI)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 July 1970
IAN MATTHEWS' band, slightly changed, steam into their second album, as refreshing and attractive as their first. ...
Steppenwolf: On Politics and Pop
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 July 1970
FOR YEARS popular rhythm artists have expressed often in fairly heated fashion, or occasionally with affected languor, political opinions. ...
Wild Man Fischer: An Evening With Wild Man Fischer (Reprise)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 July 1970
Frank Zappa's "It had to be done" experiment finally released after some 18 months. Many will already have heard import copies of this two album ...
Blodwyn Pig: Blodwyn: It's Blodwyn, Not Piggy Banks!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 August 1970
WHAT HAPPENED when the Pig got up and slowly walked away? A new group emerged simply called Blodwyn, with the added new power of guitarist ...
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory (Liberty)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 August 1970
The flaw in Creedence's brilliance ...
Hot Tuna: Hot Tuna (RCA Victor).
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 August 1970
FIRMLY IMPLANTED in my mind is the image of Hot Tuna as an amazingly good, all electric jam band. This follows their appearance at Bath ...
Mark-Almond: No Drums For Almond And Mark
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 August 1970
WHEN JOHN Mayall led the revolt against volume by dispensing with a drummer in his line-up, he also paved the way for what promises to ...
Report by Mark Plummer, Michael Watts, Chris Welch, Richard Williams, Melody Maker, 5 September 1970
MM's Richard Williams, Chris Welch, Michael Watts and Mark Plummer present a five-page report on an amazing weekend of music and other scenes... ...
Jeff Dexter: From Twist Demonstrator... To Dance Band Singer... To High Priest Of Hits...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 September 1970
Chris Welch tells the strange story of DJ Jeff Dexter ...
Chris Farlowe, Colosseum: Colosseum: Farlowe That!
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 September 1970
CHRIS FARLOWE and Colosseum – the mind boggles! One of the country's most powerful vocal talents has joined the most explosive force in groups to ...
Deep Purple: The Smashing-Up Bit Is Valid!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 September 1970
WHEN DEEP PURPLE smashed up their equipment on a TV show recently, here were howls of protest throughout the land. A flood of complaints hit ...
Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson Tulling It Like It Is
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 September 1970
"THEY SAY I don't stand on one leg as much as I used to." Ian Anderson stretched out on a sofa and gazed quizzically at ...
Obituary by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 September 1970
"JIMMY HENDRICKS," was the name scribbled on a notepad, when Chas Chandler rang the MM towards the end of 1966. "You must come and see ...
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 October 1970
Zeppelin III is pure magic! Track by track review of the new album from the World's Top Group (MM Pop Poll 1970) ...
Led Zeppelin: Page on Zeppelin III
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 October 1970
Jimmy Page gives a track by track background to Zeppelin's new album. ...
Colosseum: The Secret Of Their Success – Good Music
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 November 1970
COLOSSEUM are now rated as one of Britain's and Europe's most popular and creative bands. In two years of furious activity and hard work, the ...
Frank Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention: Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention: The Coliseum, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 December 1970
PROBABLY only Frank Zappa and his musicians could properly review their concerts at London's Coliseum on Sunday. So much happened in each two-hour segment, one ...
Alan Price, Georgie Fame: Royal Festival Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 December 1970
An evening of Pricey nostalgia ...
Emerson Lake & Palmer: ELP in the Alps
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 December 1970
Chris Welch reports on a trip to Switzerland with rock's most controversial trio... ...
Judee Sill: Judee Sill (Asylum)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1971
JUDEE SILL IS one of those breed of American girls who’ve taken to singing who one supposes were previously engaged in quietly knitting at home ...
Graham Bond: Holy Magick (Vertigo)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 January 1971
ACCORDING TO ancient Druidic and Celtic legend, King Arthur will return in this age of Aquarius to sustain us. And man, he's going to blow ...
Iron Butterfly, Yes: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 January 1971
WHAT AN incredible rave-up when Yes and Iron Butterfly took off at the Albert Hall, London, on Monday. Apart from an audience who seemed to ...
Iron Butterfly, Yes: Yes and Iron Butterfly: Allies of Rock
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 January 1971
Chris Welch with Yes and Iron Butterfly in Holland ...
Allman Brothers Band: Idlewild South (Atco)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 January 1971
A HAPPY and clean sound kicked off with the unison guitars of Duane Allman and Dicky Betts on 'Revival'. ...
Donny Hathaway: Everything Is Everything (Atco)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 January 1971
A USEFUL glossary of soul terms occurs during the title track, a warm, friendly if somewhat meaningless piece of philisophy. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 January 1971
MARC BOLAN became a star and T. Rex supergroup on Monday. Over 2,000 jammed London's Lyceum. And they cheered. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 February 1971
Yes, yes, yes ...
Led Zeppelin: Ireland Unites Under Zeppelin
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 March 1971
The world's top rock band hits the road — and MM's Chris Welch goes with them to file this exclusive report... ...
Deep Purple, Keef Hartley, Keith Moon: Various, Drum Bash: Bumpers Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 March 1971
DEAFENING fun! That was the all-star drum conversation held at London's Bumpers Club last week. ...
David Bowie: Why does David Bowie like dressing up in ladies' clothes?
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 April 1971
A straight answer to Chris Welch ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 April 1971
A MASTERFUL album. While it goes without saying this is their best yet, there is a quality in the performance and production here that sets ...
Genesis: In The Beginning There Was... Genesis
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 April 1971
GENESIS ARE going to cause outrage and chaos in the coming year. Already they are breaking through with a blend of showmanship and original music ...
Emerson Lake And Palmer, Humble Pie: ELP In America
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 May 1971
BLOOD streaming from his head, a middle-aged man, white, well-dressed, staggered into the headlights of the battered Yellow Cab. The Puerto Rican driver, grinned and ...
Funkadelic: The Speakeasy/The Roundhouse, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 May 1971
Fun with Funkadelic ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 May 1971
Chris Welch talks to a strangely unresponsive Buddy Miles. ...
Buddy Miles: Speakeasy, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 May 1971
BUDDY MILES at London's Speakeasy. All eyes, ears and cheers are on the sweating, grimacing figure stomping his sticks. ...
Jethro Tull: Rocking In The USA
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 October 1971
This week, Jethro Tull flew out to start their eleventh tour of America. Like other top British Rock acts, they are reaping the rich rewards ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 January 1972
"AH SO, Jim lad." The concept of a Japanese Robert Newton is hard to envisage. Yet UFO will assure you, "Long John Silver has hit ...
Lou Gare, Eddie Prévost: Lou Gare & Eddie Prévost: Little Theatre Club, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 March 1972
A STRANGE, dark well that is the stage of the Little Theatre Club, London, can draw the incautious visitor over the edge and tumbling down ...
Jethro Tull: Thick As A Brick (Chrysalis)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 March 1972
AS THE album is already brilliantly reviewed on the elaborately produced sleeve, there is hardly any point in adding our own comments. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 March 1972
SHE HAS JUST been discoursing on her past activities as lerpatologist when her attention was distracted. "That's the same man who was lying on the ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 May 1972
WISHBONE ASH are one of the nation's better bands. In the search for constant improvement, they have come up with a third album that many ...
The Rolling Stones: Stones Special
Interview by Michael Watts, Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 May 1972
MICK JAGGER talks to Michael Watts... and MICK TAYLOR talks to Chris Welch ...
David Bowie: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 August 1972
MUSIC FROM A Clockwork Orange heralded the spectacular performance staged by David Bowie at London's Rainbow Theatre on Sunday night. "At least it makes a ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 September 1972
FRANK ZAPPA is back in Britain for the first time since the attack which nearly ended his career. On the eve of last Saturday's Oval ...
Genesis: The Band Who Want To Be Booed
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 September 1972
A PARTICULAR quality of certain successful groups has been their ability to create moods, to take an audience a little further than the surface excitement ...
Ten Years After: Recorded Live
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1973
WHERE IN 1973 will you still hear a band blowing over a chord structure that sounds not unlike 'Cat Squirrel' and song lyrics that refer ...
Stevie Wonder: "Hah-the boy is getting MILITANT! You get back to 'Fingertips' now!"
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 February 1973
Talking Book is already tipped as one of 73's best albums. Here Chris Welch talks to its creator ...
King Crimson, Pete Sinfield: Pete Sinfield Has A Nose For Success
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 May 1973
PETE SINFIELD is a poet, and such men do not abound on the music scene. There is Pete Brown of course, and many a lyricist ...
Steve Winwood: 'I'm Gonna Do an Album a Week!'
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 May 1973
IT'S BEEN MANY a long year since Steve Winwood has made impact as an individual on the English rock scene. ...
Steve Winwood, Traffic: Stevie Winwood: 'I'm Gonna Do An Album A Week!'
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 May 1973
IT'S BEEN many a long year since Stevie Winwood has made impact as an individual on the English rock scene. ...
Mahavishnu Orchestra: Music Of The Gods
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 June 1973
Mahavishnu Orchestra: Free Trade Hall, Manchester ...
Ten Years After: Ten Year Itch
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 June 1973
WHEN DOES a band become a juke-box? And when does it cease to be a creative musical force? These are the questions that have been ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 June 1973
IT BEGAN TO OCCUR to me that this was very poor music indeed. ...
Mahavishnu Orchestra: John McLaughlin: Natural High…
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 June 1973
WITH A BAND playing music as tense and demanding as the Mahavishnu Orchestra's, one might be forgiven for expecting them to be (a) nerve wracked ...
Average White Band: Show Your Hand (MCA)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 July 1973
Well-above Average ...
Peter Frampton's Camel: A Galloping Success In The States
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 July 1973
PETER FRAMPTON made a flying visit to London last week. But the boss of Frampton's Camel couldn't stay long – too much excitement is happening ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 July 1973
IT GIVES ME NO pleasure to report upon this recording. In fact I cannot recall an album by a British rock band that has given ...
Genesis: What Genesis Did On Their 'Holidays'
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 July 1973
NOT MANY groups conduct their rehearsals squashed together in a Morris Mini. But if you are in the habit of strolling around the backwaters of ...
Judee Sill: Heart Food (Asylum)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 July 1973
JUDEE WRITES and sings beautiful songs, and they are well represented on this second album, which features among its many tracks, 'The Kiss', where her ...
Gryphon: The 13th Century Slade
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 August 1973
"EARLY ENGLISH music? Gah – give us Slade and T. Rex!" Thus one can imagine the reactions of lads and maidens today as they dance, ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 August 1973
"YES ARE LIKE an amoeba. Now an amoeba works on the principle of..do you know, I've no idea how it f***** works!" Jon Anderson grinned, ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 August 1973
WHEN APPRAISING an artist of the stature of Stevie Wonder, there seems nothing worse than to hark back to previous triumphs and make comparisons. ...
Electric Light Orchestra: The Electric Light Orchestra: In The Hall Of The Mountain Lynne
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 August 1973
"WHEN I LISTENED to Greig's 'In The Hall Of The Mountain King', I thought our version was much heavier." Jeff Lynn wasn't boasting. He was ...
The Rolling Stones: Goat’s Head Soup?
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 August 1973
"GOAT'S HEAD SOUP," said Mick Jagger pacing about the room. "I might change it. A lot of people don't like it. Too bad." A typically ...
The Faces, Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 August 1973
"GOOD LUCK Rod!" People like Rod Stewart. And he likes the people. As he stood forming a queue outside ye old Marquee Club (home of ...
Marc Bolan: Why Marc Won't Be Giving Up
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 September 1973
DESPITE the critical savaging that Marc Bolan regularly receives – he ain't gonna do a Jethro Tull and give up. Marc was accused of being ...
Mott The Hoople: The Ballad Of Mott
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 September 1973
IAN HUNTER is a great romantic, torn by doubts and secure only in the knowledge that the will to succeed usually bears fruit. ...
Beck, Bogert and Appice: Heavyweight Champions Of The World
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 September 1973
TAKE A LONG guitar lead. Sit as far far away from the studio as possible. And record some of the funkiest sounds ever laid down ...
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 September 1973
AND HELLO Elton John all set to smash a path to the top of the album chart with this superb new collecion of songs. He ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 September 1973
FLUSHED from their success in the MM Pop Poll, the all-star musicians of Yes held a remarkable summit conference this week. Gathered round the board ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 October 1973
GENESIS have lain dormant throughout the summer, at least as far as the public was concerned. Then came the sensational appearance at Reading Festival, when ...
Eric Clapton: King Of The Blues Guitar
Profile by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 October 1973
WHO IS THIS man Eric Clapton, of whom they speak so highly? Is he the world's greatest guitarist? Is he now a victim of rock ...
David Bowie: Bowie's Free For All
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 October 1973
Chris Welch describes the weird and wonderful scenes when Ziggy returned to London's Marquee Club ...
Billy Preston: Rainbow Theatre, London
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 November 1973
AFTER A shaky start, Billy Preston tore London's Rainbow Theatre apart on Thursday last week, with a little help from his friends. ...
Interview by Max Jones, Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 November 1973
Giorgio Gomelsky was a pioneer of British rock in the sixties. In the second part of an interview with MM he talks about managing Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll and his ...
Pink Floyd, Soft Machine: Pink Floyd/Soft Machine: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 November 1973
PINK FLOYD and Soft Machine stunned fans with two sensational shows at London's Rainbow Theatre on Sunday night. It was a splendid evening of rock-co-operation, ...
Elton John Steps Into Christmas
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 November 1973
ELTON JOHN is a happy man as 1973 draws to a close. He has established himself not merely as an elitist's delight and king of ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 November 1973
"I SUPPOSE I've sold-out, because I do cabaret. Isn't that what they say?" Alan Price said that recently in his dry, laconic way, understanding full ...
Miles Davis: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 November 1973
WATCHING MILES Davis and his band perform is a fascinating exercise that provides much food for thought. One goes willing to cast out old ideas ...
Paul McCartney, Wings: All Paul: Paul McCartney
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 December 1973
WHEN THE Prime Minister, Royalty or a Rear Admiral makes a tour of inspection of a naval establishment, there is a flurry of activity among ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 December 1973
NOTHING IS more satisfying for a successful artist than helping the less fortunate. Elton John has had his chance to set matters aright for at ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 December 1973
SOME POP stars like to rock. Some pop stars like to roll. But little Ronnie Lane has got the gypsy in his soul. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 December 1973
"IT'S NOT A concept," says Paul McCartney, but there is a thread to Wings' newie Band On The Run. The feeling expressed throughout is one ...
Yes: Tales From Topographic Oceans (Atlantic)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 December 1973
CHANTING VOICES lead us into 'The Revealing Science Of God', and the marathon Yes epic that has occupied so much of their time throughout the ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 December 1973
A DISTURBING night for a Yes fan at London's Rainbow, when the group unveiled their new work Tales From Topographic Oceans. For despite, the applause ...
Elton John: Belle Vue, Manchester
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 December 1973
FOR THE first time since Bill Haley's motion picture triumph Rock Around The Clock, played at the now-demolished Queen's Cinema, Catford, in 1956, the urge ...
Jimi Hendrix: Wild Man Of The Guitar
Retrospective by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 December 1973
AS A ROCK HERO Jimi was one of the best, one of the greatest. Lying on his back playing flaming guitar with his teeth. Fanitastic! ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 January 1974
PETER GABRIEL, man of a thouand faces, is now also a man of several voices. One at least swoops upwards into the stratosphere, gibbers madly, ...
Rick Wakeman: Sentimental Journey
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 January 1974
After two years' work, RICK WAKEMAN'S Journey to the Centre of the Earth will be premiered in London tomorrow (Friday). Rick talks to CHRIS WELCH ...
Genesis: Drury Lane Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 January 1974
GENESIS'S WEEK at London's Drury Lane Theatre, proved that rock and theatre can mix and have a validity outside of mere exhibitionism. The band arc ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 January 1974
MARC BOLAN is a star. Still. However much heavy water has passed under the bridge of rock and roll sighs, Mr B. commands respect. And ...
Rick Wakeman: Festival Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 January 1974
SHEER ENTERTAINMENT, that was Rick Wakeman's highly successful solo concert at London's Festival Hall on Friday last week. Rick, the keyboard whizz of Yes, brought ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 January 1974
MARC BOLAN returned to the British stage on Monday night and it was as if he had never been away. There were the fans, mostly ...
Billy Cobham, Mahavishnu Orchestra: Mahavishnu Orchestra: Cobham — it ended in total fiasco
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 February 1974
LONDON: Love, peace and perfection are difficult enough to attain in society, let alone in music. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 February 1974
"HYPE, BILGE, lies, rubbish!" These are the epithets often hurled when a band appears on Top Of The Pops weekly, and soars chartward with a ...
Humble Pie, Peter Frampton: Dee Anthony: Dee Works!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 February 1974
From doing impersonations of Al Jolson for 20 bucks a night to managing Humble Pie – that's the story of Dee Anthony. He talks to ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 February 1974
MUCH LOVED Maggie is back in action, and ringing changes in her career that will reverberate around rock. Miss Bell has been quiet in the ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 February 1974
HAPPY CHILDREN – maybe. Realistic and dedicated musicians – certainly. For beneath the jolly image of Osibisa, there beat sensitive hearts. ...
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 February 1974
AS YES PLAY one of the most prestigious concerts in their career, at Madison Square Garden, New York, this week both their British and American ...
Ducks Deluxe: Ducks Deluxe (RCA)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 March 1974
AT LAST the pub rock bands are getting onto record, after months of being scrutinised by A&R men, publicists and journalists. Was it all worth ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 March 1974
Bolan's teenage dream ...
Mick Ronson: Slaughter on 10th Avenue (RCA)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 March 1974
Ronson: drama and romance ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 March 1974
STEVE MARRIOTT – hair flying, jaw set at an aggressive angle, knees akimbo and arms flailing over his jutting guitar – is one of the ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 March 1974
IN A ROCK world where folk tend to babble nonsense at the drop of a hat, blither platitudes, and indulge in half-baked philosophising, it is ...
Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page: The Power And The Glory
Profile by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 March 1974
WHEN THEY showed Antonioni's classic film of the 'sixties, Blow Up, on TV last week, apart from evoking the real or imaginary spirit of "Swinging ...
Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic (Probe)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 March 1974
Steely Dan do it again ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 March 1974
"OH LORD please don't let me be misunderstood" was the classic line Eric Burdon sang with the Animals. It could almost have been written for ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 March 1974
FOCUS HAVE been through some changes in recent months, and happily for fans of this Dutch band with an international reputation for fine music – ...
Ella Fitzgerald: Ronnie Scott's, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 April 1974
'THERE'LL NEVER Be Another A You' sang the star and a ripple of appreciation warmed to her. By the end of her set, the ripple ...
Rick Wakeman: Journey To The Centre Of The Earth
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 April 1974
IN CLASSICAL music terms, this composition might be described as "lightweight" or of "little consequence." But as far as popular music is concerned, Rick's composition ...
Rick Wakeman, Yes: Rick Wakeman: British Groups Have Gone Over The Top
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 April 1974
The American tour was the last of the long ones ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 April 1974
IT HAD TO BE said. The gentleman with the black, slicked-back hair, Charlie Chaplin moustache and thoroughly English cricket pullover, in no manner resembled a ...
Eric Clapton at the China Garden
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 April 1974
A TURN UP for the books, and as it transpired, a turn up for the stomachs, when Eric Clapton announced his return to active service ...
Yes, 5,000 Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong!
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 April 1974
"I HEAR we're playing the next gig in My-Rand," said Rick Wakeman, leaning heavily on the bar in the George Cinque Hotel. ...
Frank Zappa: Apostrophe(') (Discreet)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 May 1974
Zappa's touch of genius ...
Graham Bond: Pioneer and catalyst
Obituary by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 May 1974
Chris Welch pays tribute to Graham Bond, who died last week ...
Steely Dan: Get Dan And Get With It!
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 May 1974
Steely Dan: Palace Theatre, Manchester ...
Steely Dan: Band Breakdown: Steely Dan
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 June 1974
STEELY DAN, in their short time together, have been hailed as one of the best bands to emerge from America in a long time. They ...
Ronnie Lane's Circus Comes To Town
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 June 1974
"CHAOS!" said Ronnie Lane, crinkling his expressive face into a smile against the sunshine raining on his caravan. "Courage," I thought, gazing at the Big ...
Steve Winwood, Traffic: Stevie Winwood: Sixties Soul Survivor
Profile by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 June 1974
"STEVE'S only 25 you know. When people criticise him and say he's not as good as he used to be in the old days, they ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 June 1974
IS IT AS GOOD as Yellow Brick Road? That will be the cry, where 'ere Elton John fans congregate and exchange notes. ...
Eric Clapton: Danish Blues Power: Eric Clapton
Review and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 June 1974
"WE WANT Buddy Holly!... I AM Buddy Holly!" ...
Rick Wakeman, Yes: Rick Wakeman: Quitting Was An Obvious Move
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 June 1974
A SQUEAL of tyres, a cloud of dust and Rick Wakeman and wife Ros, drew to a halt outside the "Valiant Trooper," an excellent boozer, ...
Rick Wakeman, Yes: Rick Wakeman: Why I Said No To Yes
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 29 June 1974
RICK WAKEMAN has a grand design afoot that could result in one of the most extraordinary, epic concerts in ye history of popular music. ...
The Heavy Metal Kids: Heavy Metal Kids: Kid's Stuff
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 July 1974
JUST HOW heavy are the Heavy Metal Kids? They peer at us from advertisements clad in top hats, patched jeans, braces, big boots and flat ...
Emerson Lake and Palmer: England's Robbing Us!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 July 1974
WHEN THE alarm bells ring at "Whyte Eagles," it's not a warning of imminent fire or pestilence, just a reminder to Carl Palmer to turn ...
Georgie Fame: Fanning the Flames
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 August 1974
TEN YEARS HAVE elapsed since Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames pioneered a brand of funky jazz in the sweating cellars of Soho and fought ...
Emerson Lake And Palmer: Greg Lake: Rock Will Go Back To Its Roots
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 August 1974
GREG LAKE'S London home is a rare and impressive sight. A light glows outside a town house in a quiet street that takes you back ...
The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones: Jagger – It's Time For A Change
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 August 1974
"SORRY I'm late." "It's all right Mick." "No – it's not all right." ...
Yes: I'm Not Jumping Into Wakeman's Boots…It Will Be Different
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 August 1974
"THE TEXTURES are so rich...and they work so fast..." Patrick Moraz slipped a sidelong glance across the top of an amphitheatre of keyboards, a mixture ...
Mabel Greer's Toyshop, The Syn, Yes: Yes: Quick Draw Chris
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 September 1974
CHRIS SQUIRE is like one of those old time marshals who casually patrol the toughest towns in the West. He's ten feet tall, slow movin', ...
Luther Grosvenor aka Ariel Bender: Ariel Bender: Hot Ariel
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 October 1974
Chris Welch meets ex-Mott guitarist Ariel Bender, now going solo ...
Genesis: The New Face Of Gabriel
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 October 1974
Don't lose hope, Genesis fans! Their tour may be cancelled, but there's a new album on the way. And the new-look Peter Gabriel has given ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 November 1974
"PEOPLE THINK I'm an ogre at times. Some girls hissed at me in the street...'You devil.' They think we're really nasty. But that's only on ...
Alvin Lee & Co: In Flight (Chrysalis)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 November 1974
CLAP YO' hands and stomp those feet, here's some funky music, you can't beat. ...
Greenslade: Greenslade Warming Up
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 November 1974
THERE'S DEVIL'S work afoot in the world of rock (and indeed roll). Wot wiv the price of petrol and motorway chips it's a wonder there ...
Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Charisma)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 November 1974
I WISH that rock musicians would learn the importance of self-editing. A few golden, miraculous notes, and some choice pithy words are worth all the ...
Baker-Gurvitz Army, Ginger Baker: Ginger Baker: Ginger Recruits An Army
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 November 1974
...and they're going into battle shortly with a new album and tour. Ginger Baker, ace drummer and member of the Lagos Polo Club, explains his ...
The Faces: Lewisham Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 November 1974
"NOW THIS is serious," said the dazzling figure of Rod Stewart, calling for order. "Me brother and sister are here and I'd like you to ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 November 1974
ROD ARGENT is a nice chap. Not one of your violent illiterates of rock prone to throwing pints of Guinness over the heads of passers-by, ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 November 1974
A MYSTERIOIUS lack of bubble seems to be affecting Master Marc Bolan's latest offering, the Zip Gun Boogie, as it is known to those who ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 December 1974
Tex Comer (bass guitar), Fran Byrne (drums). Bam King (rhythm guitar), Phil Harris (lead guitar), Paul Carrack (organ, piano). Producer John Anthony. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 December 1974
Chris Squire (bass guitar), Jon Anderson (vocals), Patrick Moraz (keyboards), Steve Howe (guitar), Alan White (drums), Produced by Yes and Eddie Offord. Recorded on Eddie ...
Eric Clapton: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 December 1974
Clapton duels with Wood ...
Elton John: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1975
MAYBE IT WAS the pre-Christmas spirit or the entire packet of chocolate I had just consumed, but a lump rase in my throat during the ...
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra: Up On The Roof
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 January 1975
MAYBE it's a sign of the times, as the Seventies increasingly take on the atmosphere of gloom and uncertainty that pervaded the late twenties and ...
Baker-Gurvitz Army: Baker-Gurvitz Army (Vertigo)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 January 1975
WHAT BETTER WAY to start a new year than with an album that truly evokes a sense of occasion and excitement. ...
Elton John: "It's Not All Down To Elton..."
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 January 1975
...he's just part of a band'. And that's the way Elton John's always wanted it, drummer Nigel Olsson tells CHRIS WELCH, in a rare behind-the-scenes ...
Leo Sayer: Imperial College, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 January 1975
Sayer passes concert test ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1975
A CURIOUS MARRIAGE of convenience. That is how the link between American lead guitarist Tommy Bolin and British speed rock band Deep Purple might appear ...
Doobie Brothers, Little Feat: Doobie Brothers/Little Feat: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1975
CURIOUSER and curiouser. There was no denying the deserving nature of the ovation that greeted Little Feat the boogie band that plays more music than ...
Chris Spedding: Spedding to a Goal
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 January 1975
LIFE CAN GO speeding by as any rock and roller will tell you. When you are as good a musician as Chris Spedding, there is ...
Leo Sayer: One Man Band No Longer
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 February 1975
WHEN LITTLE Leo Sayer does his Michael Crawford impersonation and becomes disaster prone Frank, protective instincts are aroused, and folk cluster around to prevent him ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 February 1975
"I'M SORRY, sir, you can't smoke in here." A matronly figure approached a table, where the MM was partaking of sugar-free fruit cake and unsweetened tea, and ...
Elton John: Baileys Club, Watford
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 March 1975
THEY DON'T strike medals for rock stars — do they? A pity, because E. John, singer and songwriter of this parish, deserved some kind of ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 March 1975
Recordings between 1969-1971 including material from Yes and Time And A Word. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 22 March 1975
ALVIN LEE is getting into self-sufficiency. Along with many fellow Britons, alarmed at the daily news, he is determined to make full use of the ...
Rick Wakeman: Next Stop – The Gods
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 April 1975
RICK WAKEMAN on ice! It takes a cool nerve to launch a rock extravaganza in an area normally the preserve of pantomimes and hockey, but ...
Leo Sayer: Leo Raises His Glasses
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 May 1975
LITTLE Leo Sayer leaned across and asked with his usual charm and courtesy: "Have you got any matches?" A surprising request from a non-smoker, but ...
Herbie Mann: Discotheque (Atlantic)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 May 1975
THE STANDARD of musicianship in New York is really quite frightening at times. This is an Atlantic studios session in which Herbie, the flute playing ...
Wings: Paul McCartney: Abbey Road Revisited
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 May 1975
WINGS flew over Soho this week. But these were of musical origin and did not belong to the rather grubby pigeons that haunt London's home ...
Wings: Venus And Mars (EMI PCTC 254)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 May 1975
Wings: shooting stars! ...
Led Zeppelin: John Bonham: Over The Hills And Far Away…
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 June 1975
GOSSIP IN THE village was running riot. John up at the farm was going to buy The Chequers. The American in the bar of another ...
Profile by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 June 1975
AMERICAN BANDS USUALLY fall into one of two categories. They are either denim-clad cowpokes, bearded, laidback to the point of collapse, drinking corn liquor from ...
Pacific Eardrum, Big Jim Sullivan: Big Jim Sullivan: Mister Guitar
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 July 1975
From Eddie Cochran to the Bay City Rollers, taking in Tom Jones, the Kinks, the Small Faces and hundreds of others. The career of BIG ...
Aerosmith: Toys In The Attic (CBS 80773)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 July 1975
AEROSMITH BRING hope from America. They're not a new Steely Dan, or even yet another variation on the Doobie Brothers. Yet they are most people's ...
Colosseum: Jon Hiseman: Why I've Re-formed Colosseum
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 July 1975
DRUMS HAVE BEEN rumbling down in darkest South London, underneath the railway arches. Drums and guitars competing with the rumble of trains overhead, and grim ...
Rory Gallagher: Rory Gets The Acoustic Bug
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 July 1975
RORY GALLAGHER made two startling discoveries during his week at the Montreux Festival. One was that Swiss beer has remarkably potent characteristics, despite its deceptively ...
The Chieftains: Montreux Music Festival, Switzerland
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 July 1975
THE CHIEFTAINS MADE much of contemporary rock music sound a shallow fraud, when they took the stage of the Montreux Music Festival in Switzerland last ...
Rod Stewart: Atlantic Crossing (Warner Bros.)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 August 1975
Producer: Tom Dowd. Musicians include Barry Beckett (keyboards), Steve Cropper (guitar), Duck Dunn (bass), Al Jackson and Nigel Olsson (drums), and Memphis Horns (brass). ...
The Faces, Rod Stewart: Rod Stewart: Sorely Taxed
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 August 1975
The Faces may split ...
Cannonball Adderley: Cannonball — Sax Supremo
Obituary by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 August 1975
Chris Welch remembers Julian Adderley, who died on Friday ...
Rick Wakeman: Liszten To Rick!
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 August 1975
Lisztomania is quite a movie, says Rick Wakeman. He plays Thor in the film, as well as producing the music, and he tells Chris Welch ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 August 1975
HOWEVER ERIC CLAPTON spent his couple of years in isolation from the world, he returned to active performing refreshed and revitalised. ...
Genesis, Peter Gabriel: Genesis to Revelation
Obituary by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 August 1975
AS PETER GABRIEL QUITS GENESIS, CHRIS WELCH RECALLS A GREAT BRITISH BAND ...
Genesis, Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel Quits Genesis
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 August 1975
THE MELODY MAKER last week front-paged the growing doubts about Gabriel's future in the band. Reports, denied by the management of Genesis, indicated that Gabriel ...
Jon Anderson, Yes: Yes: When We're Perfect, We'll Stop
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 September 1975
"IT'S BEEN a marvellous year for us, and hopefully it will get even better in 1976, but although we aim for perfection, I hope we ...
Genesis, Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel: Behind Peter Gabriel's Mask
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 December 1975
PETER GABRIEL'S departure from Genesis was one of the biggest shocks of 1975 for those who admired, nay loved, the combination of perverse talent they ...
Rufus: Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan (ABC)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 December 1975
NO DANGER of conveyor-belt soul setting in here, with the incredible Chaka Khan proving that blood and electricity are flowing through her sensual frame. ...
Geoff Bradford: Jeff Bradford: Bradford Boogies Again
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 December 1975
ROCK MUSIC has taken its toll both of lives and careers, the victims either unable or unwilling to cope with the demands and temptations of ...
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra: Pasadena Uber Alles!
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 December 1975
"ALL OVER Germany the people are freaking out...it's their cool English sense of humour...they have to beat off the groupies with sticks." ...
The Faces, Humble Pie, The Small Faces: The Small Faces
Retrospective by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 January 1976
WELL – WHAT do you make of it lads? There's Rodney, jetting round the world with his blonde bombshell, the very lovely Britt Ekland. ...
Retrospective by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 January 1976
'SWING IS HERE' was the title of a 1936 recording by Gene Krupa and his All-Stars featuring the molten trumpet of Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 January 1976
From Face to farmer, Ronnie Lane has never been yer typical star. Now he's thinking of quitting rock ...
The Osmonds: The Osmonds by Paul H. Dunn (W. H. Allen, £2.95)
Book Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 January 1976
Osmonds inside out ...
Mahavishnu Orchestra: Inner Worlds (CBS 69216)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 February 1976
THE NAKED BODY of John McLaughlin, surmounted by a beaming face, hints, on the album cover, of purity, devotion and honesty. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 March 1976
"I'M SURE YOU were all as surprised as I was to find that Rick wasn't here, when we arrived tonight..." Brian Lane, manager, smiled uneasily ...
Peter Frampton: Frampton Comes Alive
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 March 1976
THIS IS THE best set of live performances heard for some time, and it marks the evolution of Peter Frampton into a major rock figure, ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 March 1976
IT WOULD BE a shame if this album were overlooked because it is ascribed to the drummer in a famous band (Yes) and is one ...
Deep Purple: Empire Pool, Wembley
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 March 1976
THIS REVIEW SHOULD have been written in the white heat of anger after seeing Deep Purple play at the Empire Pool, Wembley, on Friday night. ...
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra: Pasadena Roof Orchestra — Live
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 March 1976
ONE OF MY happiest nights in years was spent in a dark, sweltering and cramped club in Hamburg towards the end of 1975. It was ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 March 1976
NICE TO SEE Osibisa back in the news and making some chart action after a difficult spell when it seemed they had lost their grip ...
Wings: Paul McCartney: Pressure Cooking
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 March 1976
Paul McCartney reveals a new national achievement – the first British cooking on record! – and discusses the proposed Beatles reunion with CHRIS WELCH ...
Wings: Wings At The Speed Of Sound (Capitol)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 March 1976
PAUL McCARTNEY HAS a brilliant knack of taking an ordinary, daily statement and imbuing it with intrigue. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 April 1976
IF YOU were haunted by the cry of the Snowgoose last year, and cheered by the success of Camel in the MM's Readers' Poll (they ...
Camel: Fairfield Hall, Croydon
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 April 1976
AS BILLY CONNOLLY would say, it was sheer magic, the night Camel broke through into that indefinable sunlit area where a group becomes a supergroup. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 April 1976
JON HISEMAN produced this album for Ian Carr, and between them they have certainly got the bite and attack of the current Nucleus without losing ...
Rick Wakeman: No Earthly Connection(A&M AMLK 64583)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 April 1976
RICK ORIGINALLY PLANNED an album dedicated to the gods of ancient myth, but shelved that when he became intrigued by the origins of man on ...
Bill Bruford, Genesis: Bill Bruford: 'It's all Ringo's fault!'
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 April 1976
THERE HAS been a lot of stunning lately. I was stunned when Peter Gabriel quit Genesis. And stunned once more when Bill Bruford joined Genesis. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 April 1976
WHEN CAMEL became the MM's Brightest Hope in last year's Poll, it caused organist Peter Bardens a wry smile because he had become "an overnight ...
Led Zeppelin: Presence (Swan Song)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 April 1976
THERE IS A MAN I know, a college lecturer, for whom there is only one rock band. ...
Jethro Tull: Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die! (Chrysalis)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 May 1976
ROMANTICISING THE WORKING LAD as a cult hero is a popular theme with rock musicians. They have oft flirted with, or observed at close hand, ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 May 1976
"THEY'VE gotta name for you people." Eric Bell settled back in a speeding Volkswagen as we wound through the West Cork countryside, and addressed the ...
Elton John: Here And There (DJM)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 15 May 1976
DO NOT FEAR a rip-off, for this is a worthy selection of live performances from two major concerts which will long serve as a reminder ...
Canned Heat: Live At Topanga Corral
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 June 1976
WHITE PLAGIARISTS almost killed the blues as a vital force in popular music. The perpetual rip-off of Elmore James' phrases, and the piquant cries of ...
Colosseum II: Strange New Flesh
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 June 1976
THERE COMES a moment during 'Dark Side Of The Moog', when the clamour of the strident arrangement fades away, and Jon Hiseman begins a simple, ...
Daryl Hall & John Oates: Hall and Oates: New Victoria Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 June 1976
IT WAS ONE of those historic, electrifying events that punctuate the cavalcade of rock, one of those nights that fans will long recall..."Do you remember ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 June 1976
A SPACESHIP, perhaps better described as an earth ship, forms the basis of a bizarre and fantastic story that is the central theme of Jon ...
Little Feat, The Outlaws, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, The Who: The Who: Who-ray!
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 June 1976
"Will the people on the lighting tower please get-off because it's very dangerous and we are afraid that tower might go" – Nicky Horne, Capital ...
Baker-Gurvitz Army: Baker Gurvitz Army: Hearts On Fire
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 June 1976
NOW REDUCED to four members as Peter Lemer, the keyboard player, has left, the Baker Gurvitz Army are more economically deployed, and where songs require ...
Rod Stewart: A Night On The Town
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 June 1976
IT'S A long way from Gasoline Alley. Young Rodney is up in the world, aye 'appen. He's going out with a classy lady, he's worth ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 12 June 1976
TELL US, O beefy cowboy with a stetson drawn over the eyes and a bottle of Jack Daniels old time malt liquor grasped between the ...
Back Street Crawler: Second Street
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 June 1976
A CAPTAIN Midnight character adorns the cover, but he's no way as snobby as a similarly named person who writes in the Sunday Times. ...
Genesis: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 June 1976
SO MUCH was happening on stage during the first sensational concert by Genesis at Odeon Hammersmith on Wednesday last week, that one needed stereoscopic earsight ...
Gary Wright, Peter Frampton, Yes: Yes, Peter Frampton, Gary Wright: JFK Stadium, Philadelphia
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 June 1976
PHILADELPHIA: As rocket shells burst overhead and mortars roared only feet away, a lone Englishman with a dapper moustache smiled with delight as he stood ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 July 1976
SO MANY bands have broken up in the past, or experienced ill-feeling within the ranks because some of the members have felt restricted, tied-down, perhaps, ...
Jon Anderson: Olias Of Sunhillow (Atlantic)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 July 1976
An unashamedly romantic solo album that combines grace, taste and power ...
Genesis, Phil Collins: The Trick of the Tale: Phil Collins Talks
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 July 1976
PHIL COLLINS IS A spry, restless man with seemingly limitless amounts of energy and intense drive. It is this drive that has made him one ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 July 1976
AMERICA HAS until now avoided a head-on confrontation with the big British production or stage bands. ...
Peter Frampton: How Frampton Came Alive
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 July 1976
WHAT WAS it about the Fifties that encouraged the birth of so much talent? Was it the result of H-bomb testing or increased sunspot activity ...
Rick Wakeman: Wakeman On The Attack With His Birotron
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 10 July 1976
RICK WAKEMAN is one of a very exclusive breed – the International Heroes of the Electric Keyboard. For Rick's meteoric career has been bound up ...
Genesis: Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 July 1976
HEAT, DUST, smoke, lasers and Genesis combined to turn the Glasgow Apollo into a replica of Dante's Inferno when the band descended on the city ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 July 1976
GENESIS ARE an enigma, an unknown quantity to the rock business and public at large, mainly because they are among the last of that old ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 August 1976
IT IS heartening in these disturbing times (as the poet Cedric observed in his massive volume, Away, Dull Cares), to find there are still men ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 August 1976
THERE IS an aura of faded grace and decaying dignity about Crystal Palace, set upon the heights of Norwood in South London. Perhaps it stems ...
Emerson Lake And Palmer: ELP: The Show That Never Ends?
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 August 1976
WHATEVER happened to ELP? One of Britain's most successful and popular bands has been surrounded by a wall of silence as impenetrable as the Kremlin ...
Jess Roden: The Jess Roden Band: Jess Keeps His Hat On
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 August 1976
"I JUST couldn't wait to get out of my stage uniform and into a pair of jeans...I may have wasted time, but I sing what ...
Manfred Mann: Mann Of The Moment…
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 September 1976
ARGUMENTATIVE and brittle, Manfred Mann has long been notorious as a man not likely to suffer fools gladly. He has terrorised managers, journalists, publicists and ...
The Bay City Rollers: Dedication (Bell)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 11 September 1976
Leslie McKeown, (lead vocals and background), Eric Faulkner (lead guitar, rhythm and acoustic guitars, vocals), Stuart Wood (bass and vocals), Derek Longmuir (drums, percussion, vocals), ...
Eddie & The Hot Rods: Eddie and the Hot Rods: "Punk? — We Just Do It"
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 September 1976
ENERGY, LIFE, YOUTH, ROCK 'N' ROLL! What are these strange ingredients that have suddenly injected themselves into the creaking old rock scene? "We're just DOIN' ...
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 September 1976
Rollers, Quo, Wakeman – just three targets for ace satirists Supercharge ...
Manfred Mann's Earth Band: The Roaring Silence
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 October 1976
THERE COMES a point in a band's career when the jig is up, and unless all the pieces fit the puzzle, success will scatter to ...
The Who: The Story Of The Who (Polydor)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 October 1976
Roger Daltrey (vocals), John Entwistle (bass, brass, vocals), Keith Moon (drums, percussion), Pete Townshend (guitars, keyboards, vocals). Various tracks produced by Kit Lambert Chris Stamp, Peter Kamerson, Glyn Johns and The Who, from 1966-75. ...
Eddie & The Hot Rods: Eddie and the Hot Rods
Profile by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 October 1976
THE STORY of the Hot Rods is one to warm the hearts of those who still believe in the essential simplicity and drive of rock ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 October 1976
HOWARD BUNKER looked down at his instrument panel and spoke softly into the radio. There was no point in looking through the plexiglass canopy, for ...
Aerosmith: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 October 1976
AFTER MANY years studying the phenomenon of the rock concert, I have made a discovery that might well be hailed as a scientific breakthrough in ...
Climax Blues Band: Climax Get It Right
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 23 October 1976
COLIN COOPER and PETER HAYCOCK: 'We're playing more of what people call funk today, but it's all rooted in the blues.' ...
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 October 1976
HOW DOES it feel to be a pop star?" The Italian journalist eagerly thrust his microphone at the glamorous vision stumbling out of his limo ...
Peter Frampton: Empire Pool, Wembley
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 October 1976
"PEDER! Cor what a man," came the strangled gasp from two young chaps in the foremost rows. "Ain't 'ee sexy!" ...
Climax Blues Band: Victoria Palace, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 6 November 1976
AFTER A succession or strangely dissatisfying gigs in the giant aircraft hangars of rock (ie Empire Pool, Wembley), how sweet it was to hear some ...
Climax Blues Band: Gold Plated
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 November 1976
IT IS AN extraordinary fact that even the most diligent rock researcher can develop a blind spot. They get quite paranoiac about it. ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 November 1976
A WARM HANDSHAKE, twinkling eyes and black hair grown thicker than he has allowed for some while – Jimmy Page arrived at his London office ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 20 November 1976
WHEN I sat upon my mother's knee during the years of austerity, being spoon-fed National Health bubble and squeak, and listening to the Light Programme, ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 November 1976
ROCK LYRICS aren't usually worth printing on the sleeve, but most bands display their adolescent poetry as if Homer played rhythm guitar, and Dostoyevsky was ...
Jess Roden Band: Drury Lane Theatre, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 December 1976
IT WAS no use. The smartly attired attendant (he may well have been the manager) just could not get the kids to sit down. ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 December 1976
YIHAAHS RANG in the ears when the cowpokes came to town on Saturday night. Huge beefy men burst out of their jeans and hammered away ...
Genesis: Wind And Wuthering (Charisma)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 December 1976
Phil Collins (voices, drums, percussion), Steve Hackett (electric guitars, nylon classical 12-string, Kalimba, auto-harp), Mike Rutherford (basses, electric and acoustic guitars, bass pedals), Tony Banks ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 December 1976
THE PUBLIC has a strange image of rock and roll musicians. Most imagine them to be public school educated, with a passionate dedication to the ...
The Damned: Damned Damned Damned (Stiff SEEZ 1)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 February 1977
Damned with faint praise ...
David Bowie, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Generation X, Marc Bolan: Bowie and Bolan Get It On
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, September 1977
"OH THAT'S REALLY Polaroid! You've gotta keep the ending!" David Bowie rocked with laughter and Marc Bolan wiped away the tears that had threatened to ...
Pete Townshend, Ronnie Lane: The Return of You Know Who: Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 September 1977
PETE TOWNSHEND is back — with a new album accompanied by his old mate Ronnie Lane, and with trenchant views on punk. ...
Slaughter and the Dogs: Slaughter & the Dogs: Stop spitting, punks
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 21 January 1978
SLAUGHTER AND the Dogs are not one of the great groups of our time, even by the light of punk rock. But they deserve better ...
Aerosmith, Kansas, Styx: American revolution: Aerosmith, Boston, Kansas and co.
Overview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 February 1978
LIKE A FOREST fire, the flames of the new wave roared across the British rock scene, leaving behind a charred and blackened landscape. A few ...
Ian Dury & the Blockheads: Dingwall's, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 4 March 1978
Down Dury Lane ...
Shirley Bassey: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 1 April 1978
SHE REALLY is something special... Our Shirl. In an age of mediocrity, the spectacle of an artist who can do his or her job with ...
Discography by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 September 1978
Chris Welch examines the legacy of Blue Note, the pioneering label currently being re-promoted ...
Obituary by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 September 1978
ON THE RADIO they were playing a tribute to Keith Moon. They put on 'My Generation' by the Who. We heard the line that now ...
Yes in New York: Swings And Roundabouts
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 September 1978
"EXCUSE me, but what are you writing?" I'm just making notes about the concert and I'm trying to listen to the piano player. ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 16 September 1978
"RELEASE, Release!" is one of the most significant chants on this happy musical event. It is the hook-line on the fastest, funkiest, piece of rock ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 September 1978
"BRAKES ARE locked. The steering is jammed!" Peter Robinson wrestled with the steering wheel as he drove like a Dalek around Bristol City centre last ...
Jethro Tull: Live – Bursting Out
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 September 1978
SECRETIVE lot, Jethro Tull. This "live" double set was NOT recorded at Harold Rumsey's Lighthouse, nor at the Manor, nor on Ronnie Lane's mobile, but ...
The Moody Blues, Patrick Moraz: Moody Blues: Yes To The Moodies
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 30 September 1978
"I THOUGHT I was God. Then I realised I was just the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band." Graeme Edge and Caligula had the ...
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 14 October 1978
On Monday night, Jethro Tull became the first rock group to appear live from America on British TV. CHRIS WELCH sat in the control booth ...
Eric Clapton: The Lost Weekend
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 December 1978
THE ERIC CLAPTON MOVIE – LOCATION: A darkened Glasgow street, swept by freezing wind. TIME: Friday night, just after the Burns Howf has closed. ...
Eric Clapton: Portrait Of The Artist As A Working Man
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 9 December 1978
IT HAS OFTEN been said that one of Eric Clapton's major problems over the years has been to find his own identity, a role in ...
Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones: Keith Richards (and Anita Pallenberg) (1979)
Interview by Chris Welch, Rock's Backpages audio, January 1979
Holding court at London's Ritz Hotel – and with frequent interjections from Pallenberg – the Rolling Stones guitarist talks about the band's most recent tour; why he's back in London; being in tax exile; punk and the Pistols; Keith Moon's death; working with Peter Tosh, and reggae and Jamaica in general; the etymology of the terms "Blood Claat"; his Canadian drug bust and being a junkie; writing with Mick Jagger and the Stones' Some Girls; how he and Mick became known as "the Glimmer Twins"; Edith Grove flatmate Jimmy Phelge; Bill Wyman; his various house fires, and... enter son Marlon! (Read the resulting Melody Maker piece "An Outlaw at the Ritz")...
File format: mp3; file size: 82mb, interview length: 1h 25' 24" sound quality: ***
Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones: An Outlaw At The Ritz: Keith Richards
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 13 January 1979
In which Keef holds up the price of Smirnoff shares, little Marlon holds up his Dad, Anita Pallenberg holds up the interview, and CHRIS WELCH ...
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 27 January 1979
ARE THE WHO haunted by ghosts? Is the spectral figure of Tommy now joined by the cackling spirit of Keith Moon? ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 February 1979
ONE OF THE MOST pleasant incidents I recall from last year was an afternoon spent in a summery open-air cafe in Notting Hill with Steve ...
Van Morrison: These Dreams of You (So Unreal, So Untrue)
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 February 1979
OUTSIDE THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL, a blizzard raged. Inside, snowflakes dripped and melted into the plush carpets. Waiters scurried while rich Americans and Arabs mulled ...
Ian Anderson, Jon Anderson: Shake A Leg, Jock: Ian Anderson, Jon Anderson and the Scottish Ballet
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 17 February 1979
VISIONS OF HIGHLANDERS in hobnail boots and tartan tutus shouting "Hey Jimmy!" were inspired by a rare invitation to drinks with the Scottish Ballet last ...
Jack Bruce: Jack's Sound of 1979
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 24 February 1979
IT SEEMED like the end of an era when we discovered, last week, that Jack Bruce and the Robert Stigwood Organisation have parted company. ...
Georgie Fame: Right Now! (Pye)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, March 1979
"WELL, WELL, well, hello there, it's been a long, long time." Doesn't that introduction to 'Funny How Time Slips Away' take you back? I address ...
Manfred Mann: Angel Station (Bronze)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, March 1979
MOST OF us potter through life without any clear aims or objectives. Somehow we imagine that having heaved the cat out of bed and wiped ...
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 March 1979
MEDALS FOR bravery should be struck for Billy Idol and his mates in Generation X. Would you, dear reader, like to stand on a stage, ...
UFO: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 March 1979
"UFO! UFO!" The chant blasts across the stalls, and security men blench at the prospect of a mass invasion. ...
Van Morrison: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 3 March 1979
VAN MORRISON has a special kind of communication with his followers that is reserved for only a favoured few. It's not an hysterical or violent ...
Bad Company: Jogging Back to Happiness
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 31 March 1979
Two years ago, Bad Company lost their collective bottle after a gruelling American tour. CHRIS WELCH hears how it took Paul Rodgers three months to ...
National Health: Of Queues And Cures (Charly)
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 5 May 1979
THE HEALTHY Ones have been through a whole ring-cycle of changes in recent times, with Dave Stewart out and Alan Gowen back in again. We ...
Report by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 May 1979
After last week's Rainbow triumph the Who continued their return in France at the weekend with an open-air concert and the premieres of their two ...
Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 May 1979
ONE OF Alfred Hitchcock's most memorable finales comes at the end of Strangers On A Train, when a huge carousel goes into overdrive and runs ...
The Moody Blues: It's A Wonderful Life
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 May 1979
The rich are not like you and me, said Fitzgerald. That's right, Hemingway replied: they have more money. Just in time for cocktails, CHRIS WELCH ...
The Who: Townshend: Still No Touring
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 26 May 1979
What next for the Who?Roger loved it, but Pete's not so sure...After their French concert last week, CHRIS WELCH eavesdropped on the Who's doubts and ...
The Small Faces, The Who: A Face in The Who: Kenny Jones
Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, December 1979
ZERO HOUR approaches. Soon the Who will be back on stage, and the whole world will be watching. Kenny Jones doesn't mind admitting that he's ...
Random Hold: Against The Masturbatory Disco Experience: Random Hold
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Musicians Only, 22 December 1979
IS THERE STILL room for experimentation with rock music, or is it doomed to be held tightly in the grip of dictates of fashion? ...
Profile by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1981
LONG BEFORE the myths and legends of Keith Moon as a rock celebrity began to grip the imagination of the public and sensation-hungry newspapers, his ...
The Rolling Stones: Rolling Stones — An Exclusive
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Record Mirror, 19 September 1981
Invited as a special guest to the farm in Massachusetts where legendary rock 'n' rollers the ROLLING STONES are rehearsing for their first US tour ...
The Kinks: Kinks Ray & Dave Talk To Chris Welch
Interview by Chris Welch, International Musician & Recording World, December 1981
HEARD THAT NEW BAND THE KINKS?That's how they like to think of themselves. And their fans feel much the same. They have only vague memories ...
Craig Douglas: The Boy Next Door
Retrospective by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1982
THE SUCCESS American rock'n'rollers in the United Kingdom naturally brought about a wave of British imitators, but the raw aggressive sound of these copyists did ...
Cream, Ginger Baker: Ginger Baker
Retrospective by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1982
PETER 'GINGER' BAKER had an enormous and profound effect on the course of rock drumming when his playing and personality first began to make an ...
Colosseum: Jon Hiseman/Colosseum
Retrospective by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1982
A SWIRLING barrage of ideas flecked with passion epitomizes the style of one of rock’s finest drummers — the highly-respected Jon Hiseman. Rock music has ...
Purely Percussive: The Irresistible Rise Of Rock Drumming
Overview by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1982
A GLITTERING ARRAY of drums surrounded by a forest of shining stands and cymbals has been the center-piece of the rock show since the early ...
Krokus, Magnum: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, 11 March 1982
LONG STICK GOES KERRANG! ...
Motorhead, Saxon: Hackney Stadium, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, 12 August 1982
"I DON'T know if it's possible, but there is a fellow over here who wants it turned up." Lemmy has a great sense of humour. ...
British Steel: How UK rock got ever harder, heavier and more metallic in the '70s
Retrospective by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1983
ROCK CRITICS HAD IT ALL PLANNED: music during the Seventies would become increasingly sophisticated. By dint of hard reviewing all folly would be removed, leaving ...
Def Leppard, Rock Goddess: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, 24 March 1983
A WILD and ferocious Def Leppard leapt at the throats of its audience and claimed another killing on the first major Lep safari in many ...
Ian Anderson: Time Laird: Ian Anderson
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, December 1983
"WHAT A GREAT view!" My eyes ranged appreciatively over the wooded valley with its cottages nestling near the village pub. ...
Carl Palmer, Emerson Lake And Palmer: Carl Palmer
Retrospective by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1984
CARL PALMER first came to international prominence with Emerson, Lake and Palmer at the start of the Seventies. His dynamic approach to drumming, which combined ...
Retrospective by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1984
NEIL PEART is one of rock’s show drummers, whose uncompromising personality matches his single-minded dedication to music. As one-third of Canada’s Rush, Neil made a ...
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, The History of Rock, 1984
IN 1970, STEVE HOWE replaced Peter Banks in Yes and sounded his arrival on record with a spiraling, glittering arpeggio on 'Yours Is No Disgrace', ...
The Firm, Jimmy Page: Jimmy Page On Stage '85
Interview by Chris Welch, Creem, April 1985
A GREEN PYRAMID of laser light forms around the figure in white. A violin bow is held aloft and then swishes wand-like across the guitar, ...
The Firm, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin: The Jimmy Page Interview, Pt. 2
Interview by Chris Welch, Creem, May 1985
(This is the concluding segment of an interview writer Chris Welch recently conducted with Jimmy Page in Frankfurt, Germany, following one of the guitarist's premiere ...
The Faces, Humble Pie, Steve Marriott, The Small Faces: The Small Faces' Steve Marriott (1985)
Interview by Chris Welch, Rock's Backpages audio, 29 May 1985
The smallest Face takes us back to the band's beginning: meeting Ronnie Lane and Kenney Jones and starting the Small Faces; the Man with the Van, Jimmy Winston; signing up with manager Don Arden; sacking Winston and Ian McLagan joining; the hits, and wild times on the road; leaving Decca and Don Arden and joing Immediate; leaving the band and forming Humble Pie with Peter Frampton; his uneasy relationship with psychedelics and his cocaine years.
File format: mp3; file size: 85.2mb, interview length: 1h 28' 44" sound quality: ****
Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Creem, March 1986
TWO YEARS AFTER the final agonizing bust-up of the Who Roger Daltrey can no longer stand premature rock burial. Daltrey never wanted the group to ...
The Rolling Stones: Bill Wyman: Dirty Work Behind The Scenes
Interview by Chris Welch, Creem, August 1986
"WE SPENT FIVE months in Paris making the Stones' new album, and it doesn't usually take that long. We messed around for weeks because Mick ...
Emerson, Lake & Powell: Emerson Lake & Powell: Victims of the Future
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, August 1986
"WE'RE GONNA WORK hard and make the new ELP a success, whatever the critics say about us!" Those are the fighting words of the P ...
The Enid, Twelth Night: The Enid, Twelfth Night: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, 13 November 1986
TRUST THE Enid to create one of the weirdest, most spectacular and at times chaotic concerts ever to startle the patrons of the Hammersmith Odeon. ...
Genesis: In Defense Of Genesis
Interview by Chris Welch, Creem, October 1987
"BECAUSE I'VE HAD solo success, people say I've suddenly got a stranglehold on the group, who want to make as much money as possible and ...
Megadeth: So Far, So Good... So Fast
Interview by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, 12 December 1987
Quaking journo CHRIS WELCH risks life and limb all in the cause of rock n' roll... no, not just merely interviewing MEGADETH, but driving DAVE ...
Supertramp: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Chris Welch, Kerrang!, 7 May 1988
THE SIGHT of serried rows of well-heeled fans rocking silently back and forth in their seats was one of the more eerie spectacles during two ...
Rory Gallagher: Flying Back To The Blues With Rory Gallagher
Profile and Interview by Chris Welch, Metal Hammer, 1990
AMONG THE GREAT British guitar giants, there are, men with powerful egos, possessed of erratic genius. Then there is Rory Gallagher. And here is a ...
Obituary by Chris Welch, The Independent, 16 June 1995
RORY GALLAGHER was the People's Guitarist. Unassuming, but tenacious, the Irish blues man devoted his life to touring and playing his beloved Fender Strat to ...
Ian Dury: Reasons to be Cheerful
Retrospective and Interview by Chris Welch, unpublished, Summer 1995
In the summer of 1995 Chris Welch visited Ian Dury at his Hampstead home on two afternoons to talk about the glory days of Kilburn ...
The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, Slade: Chas Chandler 1938-1996
Obituary by Chris Welch, The Independent, 17 July 1996
WHEN JIMI Hendrix set fire to his guitar, Chas Chandler was ready with the lighter fuel. When Slade were desperate for a new image, Chandler ...
Stone the Crows: Stone the Crows
Sleeve notes by Chris Welch, Repertoire Records, 1997
"STONE THE CROWS!" shouted legendary manager Peter Grant, when he first heard this splendid young Scottish band roaring into action. Although it was the Londoner's ...
The Beatles: Derek Taylor, 1932-1997
Obituary by Chris Welch, The Independent, 9 September 1997
DEREK TAYLOR, the Beatles' press officer, brought calm, authority and a sense of dignity to the chaos of the '60s. As spokesman for the band ...
Heinz, Joe Meek, The Tornados: Heinz Burt: The Last Interview
Sleeve notes by Chris Welch, Repertoire Records, 1999
In 1999 Chris Welch interviewed singer and Tornados bass guitarist Heinz Burt about his early career and final years as a rock'n'roll legend. In this ...
Gene Vincent, Led Zeppelin: The Enforcer: Peter Grant
Book Excerpt by Chris Welch, from 'The Man Who Led Zeppelin', Omnibus Books, 2001
An extract from Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin by Chris Welch, first published by Omnibus Press in 2001. (256pp, currently available in softback ...
The Beatles, George Harrison: George Harrison 1943-2001
Obituary by Chris Welch, The Guardian, 1 December 2001
George Harrison, singer, guitarist, composer and filmproducer: born Liverpool 25 February 1943; MBE 1965; married1966 Pattie Boyd (marriage dissolved 1977), 1978 OliviaArias (one son); died ...
Obituary by Chris Welch, The Independent, 22 March 2002
Roy Hollingworth, journalist, singer, guitarist and composer: born Derby 12 April 1949; married 1999 Anthea Yeomans; died Kingston upon Thames, Surrey 9 March 2002. ...
David Bowie: The Ken Pitt Interview
Interview by Chris Welch, unpublished, 2004
ONE AFTERNOON in 1967 I was interviewing The Nice at a flat in Earls Court when their guitarist David O'List produced a new album he ...
Syd Barrett: A Blind Date With Syd
Retrospective by Chris Welch, Uncut, September 2006
Former Melody Maker writer Chris Welch recalls a brief encounter with Barrett in 1967 ...
James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Engelbert Humperdinck, Robert Plant: Backstage in the '60s
Memoir by Chris Welch, Rock's Backpages, 25 July 2009
LIFE BACKSTAGE AT pop shows in the Swinging '60s was always a hoot. Looking back, it's fun to recall how casual and relaxed it all was ...
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