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Chris Welch

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 1989 he became editor of Metal Hammer and Rock World magazine and also contributed as a freelance to The Independent, Daily Mail, Mojo, Rhythm and Record Collector. In 1995 he joined Repertoire Records as a researcher and editorial consultant. Chris has written 30 or more books including Hendrix: The Biography and Ginger Geezer: The Life Of Vivian Stanshall as well as books on Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, John Bonham, David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Steve Winwood, Tina Turner, Cream and the Who.

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.
 
 

566 articles

List of articles in the library

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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 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 ...

Sonny & Cher: It's Avant Garde Pop! Sonny And Cher — The Latest In The New Wave Of Far-Out American Poppers

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 ...

Alexis Korner, Blues Incorporated, Duffy Power, John Mayall: Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated: Marquee Club, London

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 ...

Neil Christian, Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, The Koobas, The Small Faces, Crispian St. Peters: The Small Faces, Wayne Fontana et al:"Swinging '66", Lewisham Odeon, London

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 ...

Chris Farlowe, Eric Burdon, Geno Washington, Georgie Fame, Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Georgie Fame, Geno Washington, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Eric Burdon, Chris Farlowe: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

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 ...

The Move, Spencer Davis Group, Wynder K. Frogg: Spencer Davis Group, the Move, Jimmy James, VIPS, the Herd, Wynder K. Frogg: Fairfield Hall, Croydon

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 ...

The Beach Boys, Lulu, Sounds Incorporated: The Beach Boys, Sounds Incorporated, Lulu: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

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 ...

Cream: Klooks Kleek, London

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! ...

Chris Farlowe, Paul Jones, Peter and Gordon, Pink Floyd, Alan Price, Jackie Trent: Pink Floyd, Paul Jones, Alan Price, Chris Farlowe, Peter and Gordon, Jackie Trent: Royal Albert Hall, London

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. ...

The Creation, Sounds Incorporated, Geno Washington: Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, The Creation, Sounds Incorporated: Saville Theatre, London

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 ...

Cream: Fresh Cream

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 ...

Jeff Beck, Paul and Barry Ryan, Roy Orbison, The Small Faces: The Small Faces, Roy Orbison, Paul & Barry Ryan, Jeff Beck: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

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! ...

Cat Stevens, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers: Engelbert Humperdinck, The Walker Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

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 ...

The Alan Bown Set, Bo Diddley, Ben E. King: Bo Diddley, Ben E. King, Alan Bown Set: Saville Theatre, London

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... ...

The Animals, Dead Sea Fruit, Jimi Hendrix, Manfred Mann, The Monkees, The Rolling Stones, The Smoke, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Traffic: New Singles from the Stones, Monkees, Jimi Hendrix et al

Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 19 August 1967

STONES — CONSIDERABLY TOO MUCH ...

Arthur Brown, Cream, Donovan, Manfred Mann, Marmalade, The Nice, P.P. Arnold, The Small Faces, Tomorrow, Yusef Lateef: Various Artists: Seventh National Jazz And Blues Festival, Windsor

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 ...

The Flowerpot Men, Tomorrow, Traffic, Vanilla Fudge: Traffic, Vanilla Fudge, Tomorrow, The Flowerpot Men: Finsbury Park Astoria, London

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 ...

Jimmy Cliff, Freddie King, Junior Walker & the All Stars: Junior Walker and The All-Stars, Jimmy Cliff, Freddie King: Saville Theatre, London

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 ...

The Herd, Marmalade, Traffic, The Tremeloes, The Who: The Who, Traffic, the Herd, the Tremeloes, Marmalade: Walthamstow Granada, London

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. ...

Granny's Intentions, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The Nice, Ten Years After: Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, the Nice, Granny's Intentions, Ten Years After: Saville Theatre, London

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 ...

Amen Corner, Eire Apparent, Jimi Hendrix, The Move, The Nice, Pink Floyd: Jimi Hendrix, The Move, Amen Corner, The Nice, Eire Apparent, Pink Floyd: Royal Albert Hall, London

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. ...

The Bee Gees, Bonzo Dog Band, The Flowerpot Men: The Bee Gees, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Flowerpot Men: Saville Theatre, London

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 ...

Ten Years Of The Marquee

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 ...

The Bee Gees, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: The Bee Gees; Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Royal Albert Hall, London

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 ...

Amen Corner, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, The Herd, The Kinks, Gene Pitney, Status Quo, The Tremeloes: Gene Pitney, Amen Corner, Status Quo: Lewisham Odeon/Kinks, Tremeloes, Herd: Walthamstow Granada

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: Bare Wires

Report and Interview 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. ...

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. ...

Bonzo Dog Band, The Byrds, Joe Cocker, The Move: The Byrds, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Move, Joe Cocker: Royal Albert Hall, London

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. ...

The Action, The Nice, The Pretty Things, Traffic: The Nice, Traffic, Pretty Things, the Action, Eyes: Hyde Park, London

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 ...

Cream: Wheels Of Fire

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 ...

Jeff Beck, Arthur Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marmalade, The Nice, Ten Years After: Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Jeff Beck, The Nice, Jerry Lee Lewis et al: Eighth National Jazz And Blues Festival, Kempton Park

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 ...

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. ...

Traffic: Traffic (Island)

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! ...

The Alan Bown Set, Arthur Brown, Jess Roden, The Who: The Who, Arthur Brown, Alan Bown: Lyceum, London

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 ...

Cream: Farewell To The Cream

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 ...

The Bee Gees: Face To Face With Barry Gibb On The Day His Rolls Broke Down, The Colour TV Fused And The Central Heating Was 3° Under

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 ...

Blind Faith, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, Steve Winwood: Steve Winwood says — Groups must play much much softer

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 ...

Yes to Yes

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 ...

Jimi Hendrix: If You Were Worried, The Jimi Hendrix Experience is Alive and Well and Will Not be Breaking Up

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 ...

The Tymes they are a—

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 ...

Free: Tons Of Sobs (Island)

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. ...

The Who: Tommy

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 ...

Frank Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention: Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention: The Truth Is, They're Not As Ugly As Their Pictures

Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 7 June 1969

Watching With Mothers: Chris Welch survives a week with Frank Zappa ...

Blind Faith, Donovan, The Edgar Broughton Band, Richie Havens, The Third Ear Band: Blind Faith, Richie Havens, Donovan, Edgar Broughton Band, The Third Ear Band: Hyde Park, London

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 ...

Thunderclap Newman: Galloping Across The Downs And A Brief Chat About Bix With Mister Thunderclap Newman

Report and Interview by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 28 June 1969

SOME WEEKS ago, I went horse riding with Thunderclap Newman. ...

John Mayall, Led Zeppelin, The Nice: Led Zeppelin, John Mayall, The Nice et al: Bath Festival, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

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, ...

Jeff Beck, Donovan, The Equals, Fairport Convention, Billy Fury, John Lennon, Love Affair, Hank Marvin, Yoko Ono, Plastic Ono Band, Billy Preston, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Ruffin, Tony Tribe, Vanilla Fudge, Yes, Tucker Zimmerman: The Rolling Stones, Plastic Ono Band et al: New Singles

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 ...

Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton: Delaney & Bonnie: Out Of The South Comes 'The Best Band In The World'

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 ...

Led Zeppelin: Lyceum, London

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 ...

David Bowie

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 ...

Atomic Rooster, Free, Mott The Hoople, Yes: Mott The Hoople, Atomic Rooster, Free, Yes: Lanchester Arts Festival, Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry

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 ...

Love: Speakeasy, London

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... ...

It's a Beautiful Day, Santana, Taj Mahal: Santana, It's A Beautiful Day, Taj Mahal: Royal Albert Hall, London

Live Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 25 April 1970

Beautiful Day a beautiful band ...

Liberace Goes Heavy

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. ...

Love: Out Here (Harvest)

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 ...

Chicago, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, The Doors, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Moody Blues, Pentangle, Procol Harum, John Sebastian, Taste, Ten Years After, Tiny Tim, The Who: The Isle of Wight Festival: Five Days That Rocked Britain

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 ...

Jimi Hendrix: The Story

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. ...

T. Rex: Lyceum, London

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. ...

Yes: The Yes Album (Atlantic)

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 ...

Humble Pie: Rock On (A&M)

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 ...

Buddy Miles: Miles Away

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 ...

UFO

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 ...

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. ...

Judee Sill: Lunch And Judee

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 ...

Wishbone Ash: Ash and Argus

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 ...

Frank Zappa: The Wazoo Keeper

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 ...

Jethro Tull: Crime of Passion

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 ...

Jethro Tull: A Passion Play

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, ...

Yes: Keep 'Em Yessing

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, ...

Stevie Wonder: Innervisions

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 ...

Yes: Yes Men On Top

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 ...

Genesis: Chapter and Verse

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. ...

Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds: Giorgio Gomelsky: The Man Who Sold The World

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 ...

Lulu: Honour Lulu

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 ...

Kiki Dee

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 ...

Ronnie Lane Changes Face

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. ...

Wings: Band On The Run

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 ...

Yes: Rainbow Theatre, London

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! ...

Genesis: Masked Idol

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 ...

Marc Bolan: Bolan's Back!

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 ...

T. Rex: City Hall, Newcastle

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. ...

Mud, Glorious Mud

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 ...

Maggie Bell: Ding Dong Bell!

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 ...

Osibisa Reborn

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. ...

Yes: Yes Please!

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 ...

T. Rex: Marc Bolan & T. Rex: Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow: A Creamed Cage In August (EMI)

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 ...

Humble Pie: Thunderbox

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 ...

Alan Price: Price Cuts

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 ...

Cockney Rebel: Harley Street

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 ...

Focus: Changing Focus

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 ...

Sparks: Bright Sparks

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 ...

Sparks: Kimono My House (Island)

Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 18 May 1974

Flying Sparks ...

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 ...

Elton John: Caribou

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 ...

Queen: A Seventies Bombshell

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 ...

Argent Delivery

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, ...

Marc Bolan

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 ...

Ace: Five Aside (Anchor)

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. ...

Yes: Relayer (Atlantic)

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 ...

Deep Purple's Tommy Bolin

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 ...

The Bay City Rollers: No Smoking, no Drinking — no Wonder the Bay City Rollers are... Pictures of Health!

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 ...

Yes: Yesterdays (Atlantic)

Review by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 8 March 1975

Recordings between 1969-1971 including material from Yes and Time And A Word. ...

Alvin Lee: Going Home No More

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 ...

Aerosmith: Fly With Aerosmith

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 ...

Eric Clapton: E.C. Was Here

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. ...

Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw: It Don't Mean a Thing if it ain't got that Swing!

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. ...

Ronnie Lane: Country Lanes

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. ...

Rick Wakeman

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, ...

Alan White: Ramshackled

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 ...

Osibisa: Welcome Home

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. ...

Camel: Moonmadness (Decca)

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. ...

Nucleus: Alleycat (Vertigo)

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. ...

Camel Over The Moon

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, ...

Noel Redding: I Dream Of Jimi

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 ...

Jon Anderson's Fairy Tales

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 ...

The Outlaws: Outlaw Country

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 ...

Brand X: Unorthodox Behaviour

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 ...

Aerosmith: Rocks (CBS)

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 ...

Genesis: Banks Notes

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 ...

Brand X: Marquee Club, London

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 ...

The Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Freddie King, Jess Roden: The Crystal Palace Garden Party: E.C. Was Here…But Coryell Was Better

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' ...

Supercharge: Charge!

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 ...

Aerosmith: Aero-dynamic

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.' ...

Peter Frampton

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. ...

Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin: 'It’s a Massive Compromise, Making Films': Jimmy Page on The Song Remains the Same

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 ...

Osibisa: Ojah Awake

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, ...

Noel Redding: Blowin'

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. ...

Bonnie Bramlett, Grinderswitch, The Marshall Tucker Band: Marshall Tucker Band, Grinderswitch, Bonnie Bramlett: Hammersmith Odeon, London

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 ...

Genesis: Wuthering Heights

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 ...

Art Blakey, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Lester Young: Blue Note Records: Young, gifted... and Blue

Discography by Chris Welch, Melody Maker, 2 September 1978

Chris Welch examines the legacy of Blue Note, the pioneering label currently being re-promoted ...

Keith Moon: The White Tornado

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. ...

Yes: Tormato

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 ...

Brand X: Bristol Hippodrome

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 ...

Jethro Tull: Tull-evision

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 ...

The Who Sell In

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? ...

Steve Hillage: Live Herald

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 ...

Generation X: Lyceum, London

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 ...

The Who: Vive Le 'Oo

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 ...

Rick Wakeman: Rhapsodies

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? ...

Keith Moon: An appreciation

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 ...

Rush: Neil Peart

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 ...

Steve Howe

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: ****

Roger Daltrey: Who Am I?

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 ...

Rory Gallagher 1948-1995

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 ...

Roy Hollingworth, 1949-2002

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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