Music

Music ...

is a passion

I was taught piano as a kid - and I hated the practice, but I will be forever grateful to my parents for pushing me to continue.  I played trombone in the school band and the town junior section - but that wasn't really my thing.
Then I finally discovered the guitar!  I went to an evening class taught by our French teacher and when that finished carried on teaching myself.  

I played in a couple of bands at school and then when at university I would play for a local 'dance combo' to add guitar or bass to their lineup.  They only played local events but even so it was lovely to be getting paid for playing music.

Then there was nothing as life, work and the kit car got in the way apart from in 1992 when I was a teacher and with some students we put together a band for the Year 5 Charity Concert. Since then the guitars and amps languished under beds and in cupboards but recently I've had them all serviced and  finally managed to pick them up again.  I only play for my own pleasure (and the neighbours' displeasure) but it is great to be learning and progressing with them again.  I've even accompanied a couple of singer friends when they performed at charity concerts.
Just wish I could sing.

Edith Kennewell

Edith was a distant aunt of my wife's.  She was an amazing woman - published author, published playwright,  published composer, she flew on the Heracles and in 1937 she was driving alone round the Highlands of Scotland.  She was born Edith Bowman in Ripon and could remember sitting in her room above what is now the butcher's in the market place and watching the soldiers marching back from the first World War.   I am delighted that I had the privilege to get to know her.  The word 'indomitable' was coined for her.



Edith Kennewell

I mention her here because  when we were sorting her things out after she died we found original manuscripts of her music (and plays)  - along with published sheet music of a couple of them and even a 78rpm record by Bertini and his Band playing one of her compositions - Wondrin' What's Become of You.

  • 78rpm disc
  • original music score
  • sheet music

    • Favourite Bands

    I have a very eclectic taste in music ranging from Cat Stevens through to Motörhead.  Top of all though are Dr Feelgood and Wilko Johnson - and guess what, as a result of this page  and the fact I have followed Feelgood and Wilko for almost 50 years I was interviewed for a music blog.  You can find it on 
    (it's in French, by the way)

    The 60s and 70s was a good time to be growing up but my tastes go back even further - to the 50s.  I love 50s Rock n Roll, love 60s and 70s stuff and some from the early 80s, from ballads to Glam Rock, from Blues to Heavy Metal, from Punk to Country.

    Of my favourites I've only managed to see  Dr Feelgood and Wilko (each lots of times) Ian Hunter and a current incarnation of 10CC, but I have been lucky enough to get to see AC/DC (with Bon Scott), Status Quo (original line up), Rainbow, Hello, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Motorhead, Jimmy Nail (yes, really), Christie Hennessy, Chris de Burgh, Brian Ferry, Glenn Tilbrook, The Stiffs Live Tour (Elvis Costello, Larry Wallace, Wreckless Eric, NIck Lowe, Larry Wallace and Ian Dury & The Blockheads) and George Thorogood.  I was also at the Munich Festival in 1980 that had Bob Marley, Little River Band and Fleetwood Mac. I know - that's not many compared to some folks but it suits me ...

    Dr Feelgood

    I saw Dr Feelgood on Geordie Scene in 1974 and was hooked - immediately.  My mind was blown.  The guitarist was like something I had never seen before!  The energy, everything.    Lee Brilleaux on vocals, Wilko Johnson on guitar, John B Sparks on Bass and the Big Figure on drums.

    I ordered the LP (Down by the Jetty) the next day - and I've never looked back.

    I've seen them loads of times - at one point going to a Feelgood gig was a bit of a cult thing - mostly blokes of about the same age, all ageing at the same sort of rate.  Then out came the film Oil City Confidential and suddenly the gigs changed - younger members in the audience, female members in the audience.  Feelgood were mainstream.


    The first time I saw them I was 16 and it was at Leeds University - the first gig I attended and what a way to start!


    Wilko left early on and was replaced by the late Gypie Mayo.  The final remaining member was vocalist Lee Brilleaux who continued with Kevin Morris, Phil Mitchell and (after a number of other guitarists) the awesome Steve Walwyn.


    Sadly Lee Brilleaux died of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a real loss.  This could have spelt the end of Dr Feelgood but after a while Pete Gage joined as vocalist and then later Robert Kane who fitted perfectly.  I still go to see Feelgood when I can - and even though no original members are in the band they are still awesome.  Fantastic music and the four gel together perfectly.


    If you haven't seen it -check out the film Oil City Confidential.  There's books about the band now, too as they rightly take their place as part of British Rock n Roll history


    Dr Feelgood web page

    Dr Feelgood on Wikipedia

    Dr Feelgood on Facebook

    Oil City Confidential Trailer on YouTube

    Wilko Johnson

    I was gutted when Wilko left Feelgood but it gave me another band to follow and I was delighted when he returned with his new band Solid Senders.  I saw them once at Leeds Poly when I was a student.  This gig sticks in the mind as the power went out part way through from everything except the bass.  Obviously we could still hear the drums.  The drummer and bassist didn't miss a beat, just kept going, jamming.  After a while when power was restored Wilko counted in and away they went.  Awesome musician ship.  Sadly only one album from that band -  I still play it.


    After that Wilko worked with a number of other bands, notably Ian Dury.  Eventually he came back with the Wilko Johnson Band featuring the impressive Dylan Howe on drums and the awesome Norman Watt-Roy on bass.  Happily, York was one of the cities he played frequently so I got to see him perform a lot.  Thanks to my good friend, Alison, I even got to be in the audience for Radio 4's 'Mastertapes with Wilko Johnson'  at the Maida Vale Studios. 


    Then he got a particularly nasty cancer diagnosis with a dire prognosis and he decided not to go through treatment.  Then someone got in touch with a radical new treatment and, guess what - it worked.  Wilko ended up touring and gigging again, and even better collaborated on an album of Wilko material with Roger Daltrey.  The resulting album was awesome.  Since then he's released another album of new material.  And then there was the book - Looking Back at Me.


    As with Feelgood, the Oil City Confidential (and then the Cancer issue) made Wilko mainstream.  As with Feelgood, it used to be more of a cult following.  Now the audiences are more diverse and younger.  I am delighted that more people have woken up to or been made aware of the talents of this awesome guitarist.


    Wilko's website

    Wilko on FaceBook

    Wilko on Wikipedia

    Norman Watt-Roy on FaceBook

    Norman on Wikipedia

    Dylan Howe's Website

    Dylan Howe on Wikipedia

    Mott the Hoople

    I always thought Mott the Hoople were very under-rated, too.  I first encountered them with All the Young Dudes, but it was All the Way from Memphis that really got me hooked.  Reading Ian Hunter's 'Diary of a Rock n Roll Star' just cemented it.  Brilliant book - a rock classic.


    Then as  I got more into them and found more of the earlier stuff- what a great band.   I even got to see Ian Hunter in York at one point - great session!


    I am delighted to see that they are now finally starting to get the recognition they deserve, even if it is retrospective.


    A couple of great books (Rock n Roll Sweepstakes) and a compilation CD set (Gold)  out recently to keep me entertained ...


    Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople website

    Mott the Hoople on Wikipedia

    Ian Hunter on FaceBook

    Ian Hunter website

    Ian Hunter on Wikipedia

    10cc

    What an amazingly talented band - Lol Creme, Eric Clark, Graham Gouldman and Kevin Godley!  I got into them very early with one of their first singles and followed as their music grew and developed.  Fantastic musicians and wonderful wordsmiths.  Their songs tell stories, they play with words, use irony and they parody different genres -  and they have produced some absolute classics.  What I didn't realise at the time was what an amazing track record Graham Gouldman already had as a songwriter with a number of 60s classics under his belt already


    Was very sorry when they split in two with Eric Clark and Graham Gouldman remaining as 10cc and Godley and Creme working as - Godley and Creme who went off to pursue their 'Consequences' concept.  Each duo continued to produce amazing work but I have to say that from that period my preference is for the Godley and Creme material.


    Graham Gouldman leads the current incarnation, playing all the old 10CC favourites - and I'm glad I got to see them.


    10CC on Wikipedia

    The current 10CC touring band website

    10CC on FaceBook

    Cat Stevens

    What can I say about Cat Stevens?  I just love all of his work - my favourite is probably Ruby Love.  Quite simple a wonderful singer-songwriter.


    He embraced Islam and became Yusuf.  He is still active musically and always advocating peace.  His music gets a lot of playtime on my CD player and phone!


    If you don't know him - have a listen.  Fantastic guitar work, great melodies and fascinating lyrics.


    Cat Stevens on Wikipedia

    Cat Stevens website

    Cat Stevens/Yusuf on FaceBook

    Roy Orbison

    When I was growing up Roy Orbison was a bit past his heyday and for my generation it wasn't 'cool' to like Roy Orbison - but I just loved his music, all of it.  I still can't get enough of it and frequently listen to it.  It's as fresh and vibrant as ever.


    Within the music world, of course, his star never faded and he was always admired by other professionals.  As time passed of course more people started to recognise his quality again and it came full circle.  What a loss when he died!


    I love his work with the Travelling Wilburys, too - Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Bob Dylan, the ultimate supergroup.


    And how about this - he's touring with Buddy Holly.  With a live band and backing singers, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison appear as holograms.  Have a look at the clips - my mind is officially blown.


    Roy Orbison on Wikipedia

    https://royorbison.com website

    Roy and Buddy - the website of the Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly Live Tour

    Roy Wood

    I first encountered Roy Wood when I watched Top of the Pops for the first time in 1970 and The Move came on to perform California Man.  I was hooked!


    Since then he's set up the Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard and been solo.  I've always thought he has been a totally, unassuming, under-rated musical genius.  I love his work.


    Roy Wood on Wikipedia


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