ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP.COM

Welcome to new RTYD member Steve from Birmingham

2012-02-09T20:15:00.002Z

A ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP welcome to Steve, a drummer/percussionist from Birmingham.

Steve, who is 55, enjoys rock, blues and soul, and is looking to join a band. He plays acoustic drums and cajon, congas, bongos, maracas, guiro, claves and cabasa. He has mostly played in pubs and clubs; he has good kit, transport, and he is very reliable.

Introducing new RTYD member, Monica Salaste

2012-02-09T20:07:00.001Z

Welcome to Monica Salaste from Saddleworth, Greater Manchester. Monica likes classic rock and soul, and plays the drums and sings backing vocals. She has been off the scene since last summer but is currently looking for either an established band or dep work, to get back into it.

Monica also enjoys writing music, and is looking for a writing partner.

Introducing new RTYD member, 'Billy'

2012-02-09T19:59:00.000Z

A ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP welcome to Billy, a guitarist, based in London, who plays in a variety of blues and country styles but specialises in electric slide. He is currently looking to join a band, and is also looking for a writing partner.

Pimp my demo: Voxman demonstrates the Vox Valvetronix VTX150 Pro Neodymium

2012-02-08T20:50:00.002Z

RTYD member Richard Birch AKA Voxman demonstrates the Vox Valvetronix VTX150 Pro Neodymium amp plus VC12 floor-controller.

From Voxman's YouTube page: 'Thank you to my very good friends, Michael and the team at Chiswell Studios in St Albans who recorded and put the video together, this is the first time I've left the confines and restrictions of my little 'den' at home and gone into a proper studio to make a video.

I'm really pleased with how its came out and (fingers ...& toes... nervously crossed!) I really do hope you guys enjoy the vid!There's the odd bum note, & a couple of 'senior moments' in there (I said Orange drive when I meant Gold (doh!) and I double clicked on the VC12 to leave the modulation on when I said it was off!) But hey, it wouldn't be a proper 'Voxman' vid without these little foibles now would it! lolDo go & try out the VTX150 Pro for yourselves -- I've no vested interest here (I'm not a Vox employee and not on commission or anything!) but it honestly is a cracking amp that's loud as sin with balls and bottom end for days. The range of tones you can get from this puppy is just awesome. Hooked up with the VC12/VC12SV it has huge gigging flexibility - and especially with a 1x12" extension cab it'll blow most other amp rigs off the stage! I'd honestly love one of these for myself, not least because it's so incredibly light and compact. And I'm not kidding about the volume!

After we finished filming, Michael sat down at the drums, Martyn plugged a bass in, and we had a fun jam in the studio. I just about got the VTX150 Pro up to a little over half-way without blowing everyone's ear drums! What was really surprising was just how big and full the Pro sounded when cranked up - the sound from that 1x12" 150w Neodymium speaker just filled the entire room! Best, Rich (Voxman)'

Phil Martin's debut solo album 'Before We Go To Paradise'

2012-02-04T17:33:00.000Z

Phil Martin released his first solo album Before we go to Paradise on 31st January 2012. Hard copies of the album are available now from record shops and online at Amazon, Virgin and every other website that sells CDs, with iTunes and other MP3 downloads coming very soon.

Phil has played in a number of bands over the years, including the Shanakies who supported Blur on their Parklife tour, and The Men they Couldn’t Hang. As well as performing solo, he is currently playing with a handful of musicians and acts including, The Bitter Springs who have shared a bill with Vic Godard as the Subway Sect, Swill Odgers (of The Men They Couldn't Hang fame), Jowe Head and the Demi-Monde (Jowe Head of Swell Maps/Television Personalities fame), Valerie and her Week of Wonders, Kindred Spirit, The Talesmen and The Long Decline.

Phil learnt to play the violin as a young boy and also sang in a church choir. His mum gave him his first guitar lesson at thirteen and ten years later he finally played a proper electric guitar in public. As well as singing playing the guitar and violin, he can now also "get a sound out of various instruments including viola and stylophone". Not bad!

Phil's next solo gig is on 15th March at the Troubadour in Earls Court. For more news on Phil's live activity you can visit his website.

Here are links to reviews of Before we go to Paradise:

Fatea
Mudkiss Fanzine
Whisperin' and Hollerin'
Amazon

Gig News, and more: Steve White and the Protest Family

2012-02-04T11:59:00.000Z

Steve White and the Protest Family, which includes ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Lol Ross, play a Standard Music promoted gig at The Artisan in Chingford on Saturday 18th February. Support comes from the delightful Corporal Machine & The Bombers, and one other act to be confirmed.

The band, whose line-up now also includes the multi-talented Russ Chandler (his own album 'Last Night In Babylon' comes out on 12th Feb), have two more dates lined up in March, and one in April - so watch this space for details of those. They are also opening the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival in July.

They have been busy recording, too, so you should be hearing one of their most popular tunes as the Mayoral Election draws closer. And finally, their studio album /double EP 'Drums Ruin Everything' will be out soon. Watch this space for details of that, too.

The Zone's new EP, Which Path?

2012-02-04T11:01:00.004Z

In August last year Surrey/Hants/Staffs band, The Zone, which comprises RTYD members Dave Browett, John Cunnison, and Rob Hayter, recorded 5 new songs for an EP entitled 'Which Path?'. You can listen to it, and download it here. The band are planning a CD release very soon, so watch this space. They are also playing a battle of the bands competition at Brixton Jamm tomorrow afternoon (Sunday 5th Feb) at 4:30pm. Best of luck, boys!

2012-02-03T21:07:00.001Z

Kent Gig News: Sat 4 Feb: The Wickermen at The Ivy Leaf, Dartford: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

2012-02-03T20:12:00.001Z

Gloucestershire Gig News: Sat 4 Feb: The Lone Groover + Folk Grinder @ the Prince Albert Stroud: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 folk punk acoustic

2012-02-03T20:08:00.001Z

Surrey Gig News: Sat 4 Feb: Jezebel No More at The Mayford Arms, Woking http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

2012-02-03T20:06:00.001Z

London Gig News: Sat 4 Feb: The Outbursts at The Grosvenor, Stockwell: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 punk

2012-02-03T20:04:00.001Z

West Midlands Gig News: Sat 4 Feb: Milestone Road at Eddie's Rock Club, Gough Street, Birmingham: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5)

Introducing Tucson Arizona band Graveyard Darlings

2012-02-03T13:15:00.000Z

A big ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP-WELCOME! to Tucson Arizona originals band Graveyard Darlings.

The band comprises Danny Boy, Bimmy, Johnny Neptune and Bolen, and although they would rather that their music did the talking, they will say that it is about "friends...good times...drinks...good times...memories and good times - nuthin' too serious". And so it should be. You can listen to it here,

Introducing Chobham Surrey based musician Keith Chilvers

2012-02-03T11:18:00.000Z

A ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP welcome to Chobham, Surrey, based musician, Keith Chilvers.

Keith plays plays slide guitar, mandolin, flatpick guitar, and sings in a blues duo with Tony Barker who plays slide dobro, harmonica and sings.

Keith also plays in an old time quartet called the Surrey Old Time String Band, which is appellation style music, and features fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, double bass and vocals. He has a small home studio suitable for recording up to a trio, and a big interest in bluegrass music. He is also available for session work.

Worcestershire Gig News

2012-02-02T21:24:00.001Z

Worcestershire Gig News: Fri 3 Feb: Milestone Road versus The Baron Greenback at The Railway Hotel, Evesham http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

Introducing London act, Never The Bride

2012-02-02T16:55:00.002Z

A ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP welcome to London act Never The Bride that consists of two gifted songwriters Nikki Lamborn - "the best rock voice since Janis Joplin" and Catherine "Been" Feeney - an exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalist. Nikki and Catherine also run 'Wine, Women & Song', an up-close and intimate night of fine wine and beautiful music at The Ram Jam Club in Kingston.

You can hear Never The Bride's music at their website, and follow them on Twitter @NeverTheBrideUK

Jon Owen and the Known Unknowns at the Lunar Lounge, Leytonstone, Sat 18 February

2012-02-01T09:17:00.000Z

Rhythm Guitarist Wanted For 7 Day Tour: London/Surrey

2012-01-29T14:10:00.000Z

Video: 'Ready 4 U' by Weapon, featuring RTYD Member, Danny Hynes

2012-01-28T13:11:00.001Z

Inspired by what they regarded as a "hip-hop dominated British chart", last year Weapon released their first single in 30 years as a digital download. The band, who were originally part of the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) movement of the 1980s, features ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Danny Hynes and other original members: Jeff Summers, Gavin Cooper (Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone/Killers) and Ian Sweeting (The Risen, Stone Katz).

Judith Fisher at MetalTalk.net described the single, entitled Ready 4 U, as a "chunky slice of hard hitting, foot stomping rock, filled to the brim with chunky guitar riffs and melodies [and] driven along by pounding drums that is guaranteed to get fists pumping and heads shaking". And she knows here stuff.

The last WEAPON single, released in 1980, actually got namechecked in a book about Metallica, which is pretty cool. Here's the extract:

'Metallica opened its early live sets (and “Kill ‘Em All” album) with “Hit The Lights” a song that begins with a noisy two chord flourish meant to evoke the opening of a concert. However, in a further illustration of NWOBHM’s important role in Metallica’s musical direction, the opening chords – drum fills and all, seem to have been lifted directly from WEAPON’s “Set the Stage Alight” - the 1980 release from the influential fledgling NWOBHM band' (Metallica Biography Damage Incorporated Pub. 2006)

You can download Ready 4 U on iTunes here.

Welcome bassist Andy Webb from Plymouth in Devon

2012-01-26T21:23:00.000Z

Welcome to bass guitarist Andy Webb from Plymouth in Devon. That's his bass!

Andy is a hobbyist, but is looking for a songwriting partner, and either a heavy rock or a folk band. He has previously played in original heavy rock and metal bands, but now he particularly likes the idea of an AC/DC tribute band - and why not?! He even likes the idea of going on the road.

Andy has also been doing some home recording and would like to develop this interest.So if Andy sounds like someone you'd like to work with, get in touch with him through ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP.

Introducing new RTYD member Laird Ken Bates

2012-01-26T20:31:00.002Z

Welcome to new ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Laird Ken Bates from south London.

Laird plays saxophone and harmonica, and sings. He currently plays saxophone for The Wickermen who are playing the Ivy Leaf in Dartford, Kent, on Saturday 4th February. He is also available for session work.

Here's a link to Laird's own website and more about the Wickermen.

Introducing new RTYD member Thomas Ferranti of California band Those Beasleys

2012-01-26T13:49:00.000Z

Welcome to new ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Thomas Ferranti of Los Angeles California originals band, Those Beasleys.

Those Beasleys was active in the 90s and recorded three albums of original music that sadly never saw the light of day.Each of the three main members of the band were singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, as well as visual artists, and were all public-access tv producers when they met.

The Beasleys were:Rev. Spike Beasley (Thomas Ferranti)Tex Beasley (Gary Wray)Sky Beasley (Mike Meadows)and sometimesPancho Beasley (Dane Nelsen)Lovecraft Beasley (Andrew Schulsinger)

Welcome to Toby Nuttall of London band, The Beast

2012-01-25T22:04:00.000Z

A ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP welcome to Toby Nuttall, frontman with London blues-rock band, The Beast. I have known Toby for a while now, and seen The Beast a few times. They rock hard - like a cross between AC/DC and Led Zep. They've even played a RTYD showcase or two - remember those! Watch this space for details of their next show.

Introducing new RTYD member, professional drummer, Ali Clark

2012-01-25T21:45:00.001Z

Welcome to London-based professional drummer Ali Clark.

Ali is available for deps and sessions. He has worked in many bands, done pit work and taught both privately and as a workshop leader at a Performing Arts College. He says he's happy to play pubs if his diary's clear. He has his own kit, his own car and most of own teeth!

You can hear some of Ali's drumming and read more about him on his MySpace page here,

Welcome new RTYD member Mick from Ware in Hertfordshire

2012-01-25T20:35:00.000Z

Welcome to Mick from Ware in Hertfordshire who plays in party covers band StarStreet. Formed in 2004 by original 60s and 70s musicians, the band, which plays about 14 shows a year, is probably the only band in Hertfordshire from the good old days of sex, drugs and rock & roll - they've just given up the sex and drugs!

Thanks for joining, Mick!

Introducing new RTYD member Martin Butler

2012-01-23T14:13:00.000Z

Welcome to new RTYD member Martin Butler from Newbury in Berkshire. By day Martin is a security consultant, and by night he plays guitar with latin/soul/funk/jazz/R&Boriginals act, Say What Sounds

Introducing South Yorkshire band, Nowhere:Fast

2012-01-23T14:12:00.001Z

Welcome to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP, to Sheffield, South Yorkshire-based originals band, Nowhere:Fast, that plays catchy powerpop with rock, punk and post-punk influences.

The band started life back in 2008 as a four-piece, under the name of These Black & White Flames, but after an album and two EPs they parted ways with their founder member Rick Moore. But before long they drafted in Matt Kay on vocals and renamed the band NOWHERE:FAST and set about writing for their their debut EP 'The Feel Good Movie Of The Year’ which is available via their website - and very good it is. Since then, they have added Ryan Smith (from Sheffield band, Pirouettes) on bass.

So keep an eye on RTYD for details of gigs and music releases, and watch as they - like other very good bands before them - go nowhere, fast.

Nowhere: Fast is:
Matt Kay - Guitars & Vocals
Andy Taylor - Guitars & effects abuse
Ryan Smith - Bass
Paul 'Semii' Holden - Drums

Introducing new RTYD member Andy Lawrence

2012-01-22T08:58:00.000Z

Welcome to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP, bass player Andy Lawrence, from Teignmouth in Devon.

He and a guitarist are currently looking for a singer and drummer for a band they are putting together to play rock/blues/R&B cover songs from the 60s and 70s. They would like dedicated musicians who are prepared to work hard and practice regularly.

Introducing new RTYD member, Essex-based, David J Frost

2012-01-21T15:24:00.000Z

Welcome to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP to David J. Frost, Canvey Island-based singer and guitarist with covers duo Monkies Wedding, who play a mixture of ska and pop/rock. David also deps for for a seven piece function band playing bass and singing, but he is looking for more opportunities to play bass. So if you have any leads for him, or need a bass player yourself, please get in touch with David through RTYD.

Introducing new RTYD member, Graham Endeacott

2012-01-20T18:14:00.000Z

‎#RIP #RTYD Etta James

2012-01-20T17:26:00.000Z

Legendary blues singer Etta James has died aged 73 after suffering from leukaemia: http://bit.ly/vZDppo

London Gig News

2012-01-20T16:52:00.001Z

London Gig News: Tonight! Dead or Alive @ The Comedy, nr Leicester Square, presents: PHOENIX CHROI: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

New Gig, New Material, New Grapefruit: 14CG play the Dublin Castle, Camden, 14th March

2012-01-13T17:51:00.000Z

14 Carat Grapefruit have just announced they will be playing at The Dublin Castle in Camden on 14th March. Expect new material, and a new Grapefruit in the shape of yours truly. More about that soon.

Welcome! Groundhogs vocalist Joanna Deacon to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP

2012-01-13T14:20:00.003Z

Photograph: Laurence Harvey

ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP would like to welcome Groundhogs vocalistJoanna Deacon from the Groundhogs to the network. Joanna lives in Wellington inShropshire and sings with the band, which continues to perform its classic original music, along with early blues material that influenced them.

For those who aren’tfamiliar with The Groundhogs, Joannasupplied these words about singer and guitarist Tony McPhee who named the band back in the early 60s after the John Lee Hooker song, Groundhog's Blues; as well as few words from Julian Cope's Head Heritage website on the band:

'Tony McPhee may be the godfather of grunge - ask Nirvanaproducer Jack Endino; he may have been playing with blues legends (Hooker,Dupree, Wolf) in the British Blues boom - check out BBC4's 'Blues Britannia'and 'Blues in Britain' footage; he may havebeen voted 4th best British guitarist by Sounds magazine. He is certainly stillfeaturing in Classic Rock, Mojo, Uncut & Music Maker magazines - you will have to buy those to see; and yet heremains one of the business’s more enigmatic guitar legends, choosing to justget on and play rather than jump on the music biz bandwagon.'

And this, from Julian Cope:

‘In the very early 1970s, the Groundhogs were an ultra-hip,Utopian musical force playing their Top 10 album songs on Top of the Pops andrecording alongside Can, Hawkwind and Amon Düül 2 for Andrew Lauder’sgroundbreaking Liberty/United Artists record label. The Groundhogs’ albums werehoused in supercool gatefolds or triple-gatefolds or even 12” x 15” unfoldingcomic books which portrayed the individual group members as superheroes. The Groundhogsreferred to themselves as ‘Men of Destiny with secret thoughts of saving theworld’, and gave their albums titles such as Thank Christ for the Bomb, Splitand Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs!

...the Groundhogs music was something else entirely. It wasa frantic and unresolved post-blues played at breakneck speed with a hardnon-hippy idealism and drumming that sounded as though the god Thor was usingthe gasworks as tom-toms… Their frantic songs of alienation would piledrivealong only to disintegrate into whoops of feedback and sonic wah-distortion. Asa 15-year-old, I’d sit in the living-room of local axe-hero and watch him mimeecstatically to the guitar freakout in which T.S. makes his Stratocaster soundlike the flushing of an electric toilet!’

Dirk Thrust's second gig

2012-01-12T21:19:00.001Z

I enjoyed my first four months in Plymouth. I’d finally left home. I was at Art School. In those days they gave you free money for being a student. My first grant cheque catapulted me straight down to Wants, a second–hand shop, where, for £30 I became the proud owner of a Burns La Vista short-scale jazz guitar. I’d left Guildford with a Gibson Discoverer Tremolo 20 watt amp and speaker combo, not to mention my Marshall Fuzz Face and Vox Wah Wah pedal. My flat-mate, fellow student, Bez, played violin and piano. We would smoke and Jam on occasion. We shared an enthusiasm for Jimmy Clitheroe and the Velvet Underground. Our classmate Jeff from Manchester’s Urmston [just behind the Holland Pie factory] played bass.

I met a non-student guitar player called Malcolm. Our occasional jams occasionally synchronised. He introduced me to Tim, another aspiring guitarist, whose girlfriend was one of three mates with proximate birthdays. They’d clubbed together and hired a waterfront nightclub for a party. A live band was required and thus opportunity knocked.

We would be The Mutley Plain Planet Munchers. Mutley Plain was a street on the way out of Plymouth. It was a good name…in Plymouth. Word spread, friends of friends were keen. By the night of the gig we had: - drums, bass, three guitars, keyboards, violin and flute. Our lack of material was not considered a problem.
We were by and large an Art School Band. This was the fag end of 1972 and we were going to improvise.

One other significant factor was that at least fifty per cent of the band ingested a little opium a couple of hours before the performance. This was my one and only acquaintance with the drug. We all muttered about Thomas de Quincey, though I doubt any of us had got beyond the front cover of The Confessions of An Opium Eater.

‘Ronnie’s’ was an upstairs nightclub in Plymouth’s Barbican - a waterfront area where the fishing fleet moored. The place was heaving as we all set up, some of us meeting up there for the very first time. After an interminable delay we were introduced. And off we went.

There was a huge locomotive roar, within which could be detected drumbeats and cymbals, bass rumbles, a tweeting flute, arpeggiating keyboard, piercing psycho violin, guitar chords and discords and twiddly fuzzed wahs but strictly no vocals. The overall effect was probably more industrial than psychedelic, less wall of sound more housing estate of noise.

I have no idea how long we played for. Time stood still. We were far too out of it and too far into it. We were an eight-piece paradox. It can’t have been easy to listen to. It was impossible to dance to.

Eventually after what probably felt like a month for the audience. A long-haired blond John Lennon look-a-bit-alike singled me out as the ringleader. He came slowly, gently and inexorably up to my non-fretboard side, pushed his pointy nose into my right ear and yelled in that soft Plymouth accent the unforgettable words, ‘I THINK PEOPLE WOULD QUITE LIKE IT IF YOU STOPPED NOW.’ Easier said than done. Eight out-of-it aspiring rock stars on full volume fulfilling their fantasies. We were like a Runaway Train going downhill. It took forever. I stopped but nobody else did so I started again. Then I managed to get half of us to stop, but seeing the other half was still going. Sod it we started up again. This happened three or four times until eventually, all brake shoes burnt to a cinder, we ground to a halt like a shot up Lancaster running out of runway after a heavy night over Hamburg. Next time we would have a song.

(Originally posted 20.01.2010) © Dirk Thrust 2010

Friday 13th: The Stabilisers at The Stag in Hoxton

2012-01-12T20:41:00.002Z

London Gig News: Tomorrow Friday 13th: THE STABILISERS join JOHNNY THROTTLE + SNIDE at the Stag's Head, Orsman Rd, London N1 http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 Free Entry

Rory Protest leaves the Family

2012-01-10T20:29:00.004Z

News has just come over that multi-instrumentalist, Rory Protest, one of the founder members of Steve White and the Protest Family, has officially called it a day. The announcement came today (maybe it was yesterday?) via the video (below), which carried with it a simple statement from the band that read, 'He was far too young and good looking, anyway'.

Word is that the band will be continuing to folkily punk along with other musicians from the Extended Protest Family. The band also asked me to point out - 'cos they're very proud of themselves, and rightly so - that the video also features their biggest hit to date, 'Right To Strike', which got to about No.1,000 in the Amazon download chart. Very good, indeed!

Oh, and it's still bubbling under at No.543,440!

Introducing new RTYD member, Tasmanian musician, Rod Fritz

2012-01-09T22:39:00.002Z

Welcome to new ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member, musician Rod Fritz, who is based in Hobart, Tasmania.

His band 'Fritz' is having an impressive impact on the global music scene, with well over 200,000 listens on the internet and it is No.1 on the rock charts in Hobart on ReverbNation!

The 'boys' are back in town: Toby Burton talks to the Dipsticks

2012-01-09T21:19:00.001Z

If you're into your rock music, you'll know that whenever you browse a gig guide these days in the press, there's always at least one band, long gone and sometimes even forgotten, that has decided to reform, often for some anniversary or other. Recent reformations include Magazine, The Specials, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Ultravox, and of course Spandau Ballet. In most cases, I'm sure it has at least as much to do with money as it has to do with nostalgia and the band members missing the fun of playing and hanging out their old buddies, turned nemeses.

But you don't have to have been in a famous band to reform it. It will just have absolutely nothing to do with money, when you do. As London band The Dipsticks will tell you. Instead its about history, loyalty, and wait for it.. a desire to ‘rock 'til you drop’. When bass player Mark McKendrick contacted me back at the beginning of 2009 to tell me that he and (in his words) ‘lyricist extraordinaire’ Patrick Begley - had put their old band (established 1978) back together, I was all ears, and keen to include them on the bill of the next RTYD gig, which happened to be at the Dublin Castle. Their reunion went down a storm.

Tonight, I've invited McKendrick out for a drink to find out more about the vicissitudes of the Dipsticks history. The bonus is that Begley, singer, guitar player, pen pusher and ambulance driver, is making an apparently rare social appearance. I am delighted.

The Dipsticks came into being about 1978. Having met briefly in the early '70s in Plymouth where Begley was studying art, Begley and McKendrick came across each other once again in another twist of fate in the infamous squat community on Carol Street in Camden, North London. Segregated from the junkie end of the street and differentiating themselves by their need to make things happen, they ended up playing their part in organising a street party for which they of course needed live music. Begley and McKendrick stepped up to the plate and put a band together especially for the event, which went down like a junkie's house on fire. There followed a number of invitations to entertain elsewhere, and before they knew it the Dipsticks were an established band on the local scene.

It wasn't long before either before they had acquired a Saturday night residency at The Royal Exchange pub off Chalk Farm Road (now the karaoke bar The Fake Club) and fans were queuing around the corner to get in to enjoy 90 minutes of Dipsticks' originals and cover songs.

But the late-70s the live music scene was of course dominated by punk and new wave bands and despite their live success and some record company interest, the band, with ages through late teens to mid twenties, had trouble 'fitting in'. The result was that they called it a day. After an ill-fated reformation as a three piece in the '90s, the Dipsticks called it a day until last year when they once again got together as a three piece drafting in Angie Ierodiaconos on drums.

Begley, as it turns out spent a large part of his youth growing up near Godalming in Surrey, where I too misspent my youth. He reminisces about working on the door at the Gin Mill club at the Angel pub in Godalming around '67, "I saw Free play their second gig there" he says enthusiastically, "and I saw Fleetwood Mac there a few times. I even remember stopping Danny Kirwan from getting in on one of the nights Fleetwood Mac played. It was one of the first gigs he played with them, and he claimed to be 'with the band' but I didn't believe him ‘cos he just looked too young..".

McKendrick came down to London, on and off from about '72, mostly to work 'on the road'. He was also ‘carting’ for a number of bands associated with the erstwhile Island Artistes company and he went on to manage pub music venues, not long before the dawn of The Dipsticks. "I was very transient in my youth, man", he says, "I grew up in Manchester. My family was musical, and I used to sing in the choir, but when I heard the Beatles, man, that was it, I just went with it all". For a moment I am so envious of this memory and experience; of McKendrick having been witness to this cultural epiphany. Because, as we know, not only was McKendrick changed for ever, so was popular music, culture and fashion. What a thing to have lived through.

These 'boys' are in their mid to late fifties. They are essentially bluesmen, with a healthy injection of late-60s psychedelia. Now, I ain't got the blues like these guys; as well as being over ten years their junior, I am part of the post-Bowie/Roxy/Bolan generation. "Those bands just seemed so superficial to us. They were on Top of the Pops and they made singles. The bands we loved like Pink Floyd and Zeppelin, made albums. We were in our mid-20s when punk broke, man, we felt too old to be at those gigs. And besides, they didn't want us there, anyway" explains McKendrick.

"It's about the electric guitar, you see", pipes up Begley. "When you've been there at the time to hear what bands like the Shadows, The Chantays, the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix were doing with guitars that sticks with you. That passion, musicianship and virtuosity never stops guiding you and inspiring you"

Among a host of great gigs that Begley has been to over the years, he saw Led Zeppelin at the Royal Albert Hall in '69, Jimi Hendrix play twice, once at Woburn Abbey with the Experience, and also at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, where he also saw The Doors (lucky git!), and Emerson Lake & Palmer, the latter debuting the Moog synthesizer there. "We could believe our ears when we heard this thing" explains Begley" Our jaws just dropped open - I only wish I'd stayed awake for Captain Beefheart"

Far from merely their being ‘has-been’ fans, however, both Begley and McKendrick have their respective contemporary muses; Begley is a big fan of Sonny Landreth and James McMurtry; and McKendrick, who has been a long time soul fan, discovered the Allman Brothers Band through brother Duane’s collaborations with the likes of Wilson Pickett and Aretha. For a number of years now, he has made the annual pilgrimage to New York’s Beacon Theatre to catch the contemporary Allman Brothers in their regular March stand and this year put a forty year Jones to bed when Eric Clapton guested at the Brothers’ 40th Anniversary event.

It's a pleasure to talk to these two guys. They remind me what RTYD is all about. I also relate to their musical relationship. Their loyalty. I'm sure they have their differences, but they are not on display tonight. They are a band tonight, just as they have been as young men and will continue to be, as long as they physically can. I feel the same way about my life-long friend and bass player. Whatever happens, you always have this musical history together. You feel the same passion about music, the same pain. The same frustration and joy. You are brothers in music. What a shame not to keep that going.

It's just how? These days the live music scene is very different to the one Dipsticks played on back in the late 70s. A lot of the old pub venues have closed down, and Camden is sewn-up by promoters putting on band after band, night after night, playing thirty minute sets at most. A residency is a thing of the past. Two forty-five minutes sets, which I'm sure these guys would love to play, are almost unheard of.

But they will persevere, because they seem to have no choice. It defines them. Maybe they don't always agree with each other, but tonight they sit patiently listening to each other's versions of their own rock history. Their enthusiasm and passion is at odds with their ages. They are both still young men at heart. What a lovely evening. Once their pints are finished though, they are done, they've said their piece. They may not be able to drink like they used to, but you know they can make music just like they once did. Better.

Toby Burton
(Originally published 06.10.2009)

My first gig by Dirk Thrust

2012-01-08T21:55:00.002Z

My first electric guitar cost £4. It was home made. I bought it ina junk shop. I took it home and painted black and white swirly patterns allover its body. For eight quid I bought a knackered Watkins Dominator combo.After less than five minutes on full whack the Dominator made a noise like ademented donkey that you could only kill with feedback. Best feedback resultedfrom sticking the head of the guitar against the speaker, the guitar’s arseinto my groin and basically humping the amp to vary the pitch of the scream.Psychedelically enhanced, this felt fierce and mighty.

I wanted to be original, so I resolutely refused to learnanything. That’s how smart I was. I twiddled and diddled. I bought a MarshallFuzz Face and a Vox Wah Wah pedal. I fuzzed and wahed my twiddly diddlings.

After a year or so I met another guy called Dirk. We jammed. Hewould play A and E minor and I would twiddle and diddle.

Obviously the next step was a gig. I knew a chap called Ambrosewho was putting on a benefit at Guildford Youth Centre. I blagged a slot. Thiswas 1970. These were Acid Days. I may not have been able to play the guitar butI was more than able to talk. I knew a drummer called The Black Shadow. Helooked like King Charles the Second. He knew a white South African who claimedto play the bass. We called him The Immigrant. They were both up for it. Noneof us had any gear. No matter. We would borrow. I called us ‘Scorched Earth’.

I invited Stephen Stills to come and jam with us at the gig. I’dnever met him, but I knew where he lived. He’d bought the house that PeterSellers had sold to Ringo Starr. It was three miles from Guildford.

I wrote him a very trippy illustrated invitation, which not onlyexplained several of his own song lyrics to him, but also suggested he bringhis friend Eric Clapton to our gig. I delivered it by hand. This was 1970.Security hadn’t been invented yet. I walked into Stephen Stills’ kitchen andhanded the invite to a very beautiful young American woman. She assured meshe’d pass it on to Stephen. I told the promoter. We got a mention in ‘TheRaver’ column in Melody Maker.

At the last minute the other Dirk pulled out. His girlfriend wentinto labour. This was a serious setback. His A and E minor had been intrinsic.He did however lend me his claret coloured velvet doublet. It had puff sleevesand old-gold frog fasteners. He’d bought it in Amsterdam so it had to becool. It went perfectly with skin-tight white needle-cord wranglers tucked intoknee-length, ox-blood, Cuban-heeled Anello and Davide boots. Shoulder-lengthJohn Peel haircut complete with wispy teenage beard. No set, no rehearsal, butI looked great.

We arrived punctually, but Black Shadow and The Immigrant were notgetting on. They were snarling at each other like a pair of rottweilers withtoo-tight nut-sacks. It was a struggle to keep them apart whilst attempting toexplain to Ambrose, the promoter, my vision for the gig.

My plan was to be actually playing before anyone even arrived. Itwas going to be a hypersensitive organic psychedelic jam session. The vibe ofthe arriving audience would totally govern the music. In fact I told Ambrose itwas an experiment in Anti-Music. With hindsight this may have been a mistake.

Ambrose did not share my enthusiasm. If anything there was adefinite flicker of panic in his eyes. He told us he’d prefer to start off witha few records. I was a little bit disappointed. But he was adamant. So much formy cunning plan. First no rhythm guitar, and now, not only the bass and drumsat each others throats, but my artistic improvisational brainchild aborted bythe promoter’s short-sighted lack of faith.

‘Well be back later,’ I murmured through clenched teeth. I turnedon my Cuban heels and strode off, Black Shadow to the left of me Immigrant tothe right of me.

We went round to visit Christopher Robin. He was a vegetarianbutcher: a troubled soul with a heart of gold. He lived just a few streetsaway. He had a big bag of weed. It helped calm down The Black Shadow and TheImmigrant. It took the edge off. They stopped snarling at each other. After anhour or so we staggered back to the Youth Centre to see what was happening. We werewell wasted.

The Youth Centre was now half full. Between fifty and a hundredpeople sat around looking bored and mildly pissed off. Ambrose rushed up. Henow seemed even more panic-stricken than when we’d left.

‘Quick. You’re on. Now.’

Too stoned to argue, we stumbled onstage. I had a great deal oftrouble plugging in my fuzz box and wah-wah pedal. Some kindly hippie assistedme but I was still too out of it to stand up. It was a big stage. We weresurrounded by equipment belonging to the several other bands on the bill.Someone got me a stool. I sat down and we started.

I diddled and twiddled. The Black Shadow triple-flammed andparadiddled. The Immigrant pumped out some deep mumbling bass lines. I fuzzedand I wahed. It didn’t take long for me to get through my entire repertoire ofthree or four riffs by which time I managed to hoist myself upright and linemyself up with a microphone. We seemed to have somehow slipped into a twelvebar blues which was a surprise. I’d never played one before. Hell, I couldn’teven play a scale. I sang some kind of ‘Just a Country Boy’ lyrics.

I noticed a pretty girl smiling. ‘Hey, this is fantastic,’ Ithought. Then I spotted a bloke yawning. ‘Oh no it must be shit,’ I thought. Ithen turned my improvised lyrics into ‘hey lets all have a jam, everyone.’ Acouple of guys got up on stage at my invitation, but they were halted byrepresentatives of all the other bands. No Way was anyone going to play any oftheir gear, Jose. That was final, non-negotiable and totally immune to all my‘Aw c’mon, mans’.

None of these supposed hip musos seemed to understand the hippieethic. ‘I’ll bloody show them,’ I snarled to myself. I handed my guitar to thenearest of the two onstage volunteers, exited stage left and left them to it.

It would be two years before my next gig. It would also be twohundred miles from Guildford.

Dirk Thrust

ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP!! Happy Birthday David Bowie. He is 65 today.

2012-01-08T11:24:00.000Z

ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP!! Happy Birthday David Bowie. He is 65 today.

Introducing new RTYD member, photographer/videographer, Willie Nash

2012-01-07T18:13:00.003Z

New RTYD Member, Willie Nash, is a London-based photographer and videographer, and is available for music videos and band photos. He can accommodate most budgets. This is one of his portraits. He photographs bands, too; and you can check out more of his portrait work here - and some of his video work, here.

Introducing Coventry-based Songwriter/Guitarist Al Collins

2012-01-07T17:58:00.000Z

New RTYD member, Al Collins, grew up in the 1960s and started playing the guitar when he was 15 years old. He joined his first band at 16 and taught himself to play by watching other musicians. He then met the woman of his dreams, got married, had 5 children, and got a career - he now has 3 grandchildren, and is married to his second wife!

Over the years Al continued to play the guitar and to write songs for fun, but in the last 3 years he has been taking it all more seriously again - you know what it's like!

You can hear the results of this period of earnest music making on Alan's album Journey of a Lifetime here.

Welcome to new RTYD member, guitarist Monyo Baba, from Sszékelyudvarhely, Transylvania

2012-01-03T10:13:00.001Z

Welcome to new RTYD member, guitarist Monyo Baba, from Sszékelyudvarhely in Transylvania.

Monyo's band's name is Monyo Project. They have 9 albums, that they have recorded and promoted in Hungary and Romania.In February, he and his singer are heading to London for a few months, and they want to play music a few gigs. They’ll need a bass player and drummer to play with them, so get in touch if you are interested. Here’s a link to Monyo Project’s website, and a video (below).

Introducing new RTYD Member: Canadian guitarist, MrRocknRoll

2012-01-02T08:40:00.000Z

Welcome new ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member, Calgary-based, Canadian guitarist, MrRocknRoll. MrRocknRoll is looking to network with musicians in the Calgary area, and connect with others worldwide. He’s especially keen to find a writing partner.

By day he works in IT Support, and he’s been a casual guitar player for a long time, but in the last few years he has become more serious about playing and improving his skills. He made his stage debut on 1st May 2011 at the Kings Head Pub in Calgary, Alberta, playing lead guitar with the Dastardly Dudes. It’s never to late to start rock ‘n’ rolling!

When you do finally 'drops’ - which won’t be for a very long time I hope - he wants Megadeth’s A Tout Le Monde played at his funeral! He also has a fan page on Facebook, so check that out, too.

2012-01-01T09:49:00.001Z

A wave of leading artists will reach their 65th birthday this year, first among them David Bowie: http://ping.fm/QX5CO glam punk 60s

Introducing Woking band Phoenix Chroi

2011-12-30T08:47:00.000Z

Welcome new ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Woking, Surrey-based band, Phoenix Chroi.

Phoenix Chroi are an original/covers band looking for paid gigs. Forming from the ashes of covers band Jezebel No More, the band comprises experienced musicians and writers, who have their own in-house recording and production set-up.

Watch this space for details of gigs in 2012.

Introducing new RTYD member, Tim Jackson AKA the Funky Monki

2011-12-30T08:04:00.000Z

Welcome new ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Tim Jackson AKA the Funky Monki. Tim is based in Chelmsford in Essex and plays bass and sings backing vocals.

He is a professional musician who is available for session work, and is always looking for paid gigs. He can play in a multitude of styles, but his favourite is a hard groove. He has been a proud endorsee of Warwick basses for the last 12 years, as well as, an endorsee of Trace Elliot, Peavey and Rotosound. He has toured Europe and North America and has driven a 1979 New York police car from Chelsea to Monte Carlo and back in three days on the Cannonball Run!

When he finally drops, which obviously won't be for a very long time, he wants Sir Psycho Sexy by the Red Hot Chili Peppers played at his funeral. Good choice!

Introducing: Covers band FOR (Foundations of Rock)

2011-12-29T09:41:00.000Z

FOR (Foundations of Rock) are a four-piece rock covers band that pay homage to the 60s and 70s and all rock and pop classics. Formed in 2007 they now play all over England in both full rock band mode and at more intimate venues, as an acoustic/electric duo. Their songs are drawn from the repertoires of timeless artists including Alice Cooper, T.Rex, Pink Floyd, Gary Moore and The Rolling Stones.

Visit their website for details of their upcoming shows and listen to some of their music.

2011-12-28T09:20:00.001Z

RIP RTYD Jim 'Motorhead' Sherwood - member of Frank Zappa's original Mothers of Invention: http://bit.ly/vPtQ6o

Bedfordshire Venue: Bedford Esquires

2011-12-24T09:57:00.000Z

#Bedfordshire Venue: #Bedford Esquires on ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP: Please add your comments: http://bit.ly/sEAMTE

It's time to rock... it's 3:40!

2011-12-23T16:43:00.001Z

From the remnants of one of the great glam rock tribute bands, GLAM, comes 3:40 playing songs from the post-classic rock era by acts such as Nirvana, Green Day, Guns & Roses, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi.

3:40 features the vocal and musical talents of Trey Patterson (pictured above), the unrivaled guitar prowess of The Dude and the incredible percussion skills of Dr T. For an evening to lose your voice by, watch this space for gig details.

Steve White & The Protest Family performing 'Santa Is English'

2011-12-23T08:39:00.000Z

Steve White & The Protest Family performing 'Santa Is English' at the 'Punk 4 The Homeless' gig at 'The Bell', Walthamstow on Saturday 10th December 2011.

Video: I'm Father Christmas by Mark Handley

2011-12-20T09:17:00.005Z

Check out singer/songwriter and RTYD member Mark Handley's music video for his song I'm Father Christmas, filmed while Mark was busking in Peascod Street in Windsor, Berkshire earlier this month.

A message to you, from the Lone Groover!

2011-12-18T17:04:00.000Z

Dear friends,

The last gig of the year sees THE LONE GROOVER (that's me!) returning to my spiritual home, The Windmill, 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton SW2 on Thursday 22nd December.
It's gonna' be a blast so come and have an end of year shandy.......1) It's Xmas!2) It's the anniversary of Joe's death so expect a Strummer tribute or two.3) I'm taking along DJ's TOLLY & SUPERBREAKER for some moral and spiritual guidance in the form of vinyl 45's from the vaults (punk/ska/northern/indie).4) I'll be unveiling my latest weapon in my ongoing 'war on rubbish'....all will be revealed!......Oh! and it's FREE!!!On stage 9.15pm.Also appearing, Senor Al & the JJ's
Peace 'n' Luv 'n' Haight, TLG

www.reverbnation.com/thelonegroover
www.facebook.com/lonegrooves

"Not a soul cares what your class is, or what your race is, or what your income, or if you're a boy, or girl, or bent, or versatile, or what you are - so long as you dig the scene" - Colin Maccines

Video: She's Still Got It by Mark Handley

2011-12-18T10:02:00.007Z

Singer/songwriter and RTYD member Mark Handley's song She's still got it, from the album The boy who never grew up. ©Mark Handley 2012

Diced Cookin' covering Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower

2011-12-18T07:39:00.000Z

RTYD member Ron Greenwood posted this: Diced Cookin' covering Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower at Jazz After Dark on 24th November 2011. The Band has a Thursday residency at the legendary Soho venue.

Cockney Rejects - East End Babylon, KOKO, Camden, 26th April 2012

2011-12-17T17:55:00.001Z

I have been a fan of the Cockney Rejects since I was 14. I have my older cousin to thank for including them on a series of a dozen or so compilation cassettes he lovingly made for me from about 1980 of some of the best of his British punk collection, which included a fair amount of street punk and Oi!

Along with Sham 69, the Cockney Rejects were one of my favourite of that second wave of punk bands. I was too young to be allowed to travel to London to see them play live, and by the time I was old enough, I had moved on to listening to and going to see more contemporary early-to-mid-80s bands that were less punk and more electronic. But I have never lost my passion for punk rock, and still listen to the first two Rejects albums regularly - albeit not quite as loudly as I once did.

Thankfully, over the years I have got to see many of the bands that I missed the first time around; I saw the Damned for the second time last month playing their 35th anniversary show at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, and it blew me away just how good they were - just as Stiff Little Fingers, the Stranglers, and others have. I'm sure the Rejects will leave me feeling the same.

I remember driving around Godalming, where I grew up, with my cousin playing Police Car by the Rejects at full volume on his car stereo. I though it was so cool. I was a rubbish punk, though, I wasn't angry, scary or hard - I spiked up my hair, wore the drainpipes turned up, and the DMs, but I was far too sensitive to be a convincing street punk. But it didn't stop me loving the music, and if it wasn't for punk, maybe I would never have started writing songs and playing guitar.

Since setting up ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP I have got to meet a couple of my teen punk idols: TV Smith and Gaye Advert (I was even invited by Gaye to the private view of her art show Punk and Beyond, recently); Captain Sensible has tweeted about RTYD, and the Cockney Rejects are following me on Twitter. It might not seem like much to you, but it means a lot to me.

So say 'hello' if you're going to Koko in Camden on 26th April next year for the preview of East End Babylon, the punk-rocumentary based on singer Jeff 'Stinky' Turner’s biography 'Cockney Reject'. The film promises to tell the real story of the band, and give a true picture of the East End of London in the late 1970s; and what's more, it is followed by a performance by the Cockney Rejects themselves.

I can't wait.

Video: Vinyl Zoo - Plead for More

2011-12-17T12:18:00.003Z

Find more videos like this on ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP

Posted on RTYD by Surrey-based member Tom

ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Robin Clark's band Wayward Souls

2011-12-17T12:06:00.001Z

ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP member Robin Clark's band Wayward Souls performing an Allman Brothers classic 'Good Clean Fun' at the Duke of Edinburgh, Barming, Kent on 10 December 2011.

Video: The Krypts' Xmas Single: 'Having a Good Time (Drinking with Santa Claus)'

2011-12-12T13:26:00.004Z

Haven't you had it with Slade and Wizzard, Band Aid and East 17? If you have, this one's for you - an excellent brand new Christmas song by South London band, the Krypts, entitled 'Having a Good Time (Drinking with Santa Claus)'.

You will love it; Your children will love it; Your parents will love it, their parents will, too - if they are still alive. In fact, I'm pretty sure you don't need to be alive to enjoy it - it's just more difficult to dance to when you're dead. My whole family is already enjoying it. The in-laws love it, too, and they're yanks!

It is available to download on iTunes now, so please show your support for older musicians and live music made at a local level that deserves wider recognition, by buying it.

Merry Christmas, Toby

2011-12-10T15:11:00.001Z

Drummer (and multi-intrumentalist) Available: London/Surrey: Seeks band into blues/shuffle sixties soul/jazz or MOR: http://bit.ly/dOde2w

2011-12-10T15:09:00.001Z

Guitarist Available London/Essex/Kent: 54yo, more Harrison/Gilmour than Satriani/Vai: http://bit.ly/dOde2w

2011-12-09T21:32:00.001Z

Surrey Gig News: Tomorrow Sat 10: Aeroplane Blondes at Duke Of Wellington, East Horsley: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

2011-12-09T21:31:00.001Z

Kent Gig News: Tomorrow Sat 10 Dec: Wayward Souls at The Duke of Edinburgh, Heath Road, Barming, Maidstone: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

News of Steve White & The Protest Family's gig at Punk 4 The Homeless this Saturday in E17

2011-12-07T20:12:00.001Z

Saturday, 10th December: Steve White & The Protest Family + Müg + Lily Gaskell + Eagle Spits + Oceans Ink + DJs The Nasty Twins at Punk 4 The Homeless @ The Bell, 617 Forest Road, E17 4NE. 7pm. Free! Donations for Casa Alianza encouraged.

Punk 4 The Homeless comes to Walthamstow for Christmas. Punk and punk-inspired music, warmth, jollity, tidings of comfort and joy etc. We'll be on last, at 10pm or so, then it's a punk disco from the ever-so-lovely Nasty Twins. Please come.This will probably be the last gig at The Bell before they try yet another doomed revamp, turning it into a pub theme park (or whatever)

We've also got lots of gigs already lined up for early 2012, including a tour of Waltham Forest in February - and we're doing a festival in Dorset(!) in July.

But more about all that soon...

Lol (The Protest Family)

News from Louise Rutkowski: This Mortal Coil Box Set, MOJO article and Waves of Canvas release

2011-12-07T19:54:00.001Z

This Mortal Coil Box Set Release and MOJO Article

In case you missed the first box set of TMC, or you just want to add to your collection, a re-mastered box set has just been released. It has beautiful packaging design by Vaughn Oliver. There’s a feature article in the January edition of MOJO magazine.

To purchase or find out more click here

Release of “Angel” by Waves on Canvas, Psychonavigation Records, Dublin

I have collaborated with a wonderful musician and artist in Italy and this is the result! Stefano Guzzetti contacted me as a TMC fan and I loved his own music and website (see www.stefanoguzzetti.com), so we did an artistic exchange: I sang on this track and he made the video for “Mimi” – perfect! I hope to work more with Stefano in the future so watch this space! The release has 4AD connections, with the artwork being done by Vaughan Oliver and a remix by John Fryer. It wasn’t intentional, but just happened that way, which is nice. I hope you like it.

To purchase or find out more click here

New Album

This is progressing well and Irvin and me have been busy writing new material which we’re delighted with. I’ll be launching a Pledge Music campaign soon, so will keep you posted on that. This will be to raise the funds we need to put towards recording, manufacturing, and promotion. You can read more about Pledge at: www.pledgemusic.com. As ever, a big thank you to those of you who keep in touch and are endlessly patient on the emergence of this record!

Rock On, Louise

The wonderful Milk Roar, and others, at The Montague, Peckham, this Saturday

2011-12-07T19:47:00.001Z

Milk Roar, The Julias and Bentcousin play The Montague Arms in Peckham this Saturday 10th December. Pop down if you are free - it'll be a no-Xmas-hat zone!

2011-12-01T20:44:00.001Z

London-based OD101 is looking for musicians to join. Blues, rock, indie. Follow link to website and music: http://bit.ly/tHWd5Q

2011-12-01T20:38:00.001Z

West Midlands Gig News: Fri 2 Dec: Milestone Road at The Hop Pole, Market Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

2011-11-30T18:15:00.001Z

Arrgh - Banjo player, fiddler and accordionist wanted! - ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP Musicians & Bands http://bit.ly/stkmsc musicianswanted

2011-11-30T18:10:00.001Z

Welcome!! London-based OD101 to the RTYD Musicians & Bands Network: http://bit.ly/tHWd5Q

Surrey Gig News

2011-11-25T22:13:00.001Z

Surrey Gig News: Tomorrow Sat 26 Nov: Bourbon Street Revival Xmas Party at ISHA Club, Richmond Rd, Kingston: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

London Gig News

2011-11-25T19:20:00.001Z

London Gig News: This Sun 27 Nov: Bermondsey Joyriders play Sunset Strip, 30 Dean Street, W1D 3SA
Doors: 7.30pm http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 punk

Hertfordshire Gig News

2011-11-25T19:12:00.001Z

Hertfordshire Gig News: Tomorrow night, Sat 26 Nov: Aeroplane Blondes, at Blacksmith Arms, St Albans: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 freegig

Rolling Stone's Greatest Guitarists (Slight Return)

2011-11-23T20:25:00.001Z

Rolling Stone magazine must be short of ideas because they're wheeling this one out again in their next issue: their Top 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time as voted by esteemed guitarists, music insiders and Rolling Stone's editors . Here is the Top 10:

01. Jimi Hendrix
02. Eric Clapton
03. Jimmy Page
04. Keith Richards
05. Jeff Beck
06. B.B. King
07. Chuck Berry
08. Eddie Van Halen
09. Duane Allman
10. Pete Townshend

Nothing unusual you might think; but their last list of Greatest Guitarists did differ a little. This is the Top 10 taken from their last Top 100.

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Duane Allman
3. B.B. King
4 Eric Clapton
5 Robert Johnson
6 Chuck Berry
7 Stevie Ray Vaughan
8 Ry Cooder
9 Jimmy Page
10 Keith Richards

Whatever Eric, Jimmy, Keef, Jeff, Eddie and Pete have done recently, it has clearly increased their all-time greatness.

Anyway, earlier this year, members of ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP's Musicians and Bands Network shared their Top 10 guitarists of all time. You can check out their lists, and mine, here, and add your own if you wish.

2011-11-22T21:02:00.001Z

London Gig News: Wed 23 Nov: Steve White & The Protest Family +The Capris +The Anoraks @ The Standard, Walthamstow E1: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

Creak forced to cancel December gigs

2011-11-22T20:37:00.001Z

Sadly, London covers band Creak are having to cancel all their December gigs (2nd at Cross Keys, Hammersmith; 9th Hogarth Club, Chiswick; and 31st The Wharf, Teddington) so singer Paul Rodger can rest his vocal chords.

Surrey four-piece The Boo Hag Band, who have supported Creak on a number of occasions in the past, will be stepping into their shoes, which leaves one spare pair, being that Creak is a five piece.

How do they get away with it? A discussion on RTYD-Musicians & Bands Network

2011-11-20T20:36:00.001Z

RTYD Member Graham Hunt: 'I looked in a well known high street pawn brokers in Chatham yesterday. I just looked in and saw a '72 style Telecaster Thinline hanging up. It said on the ticket clearly Fullerton USA - £599. WHAT! I went in...' http://bit.ly/skTP0V

New RTYD Member: Kent, UK

2011-11-19T21:36:00.001Z

Welcome new RTYD musician, Martin, from Kent who is looking to play heavy metal drums or jazz/#blues/#rock guitar: http://bit.ly/tt7YuM

Bristol, UK, Gig News

2011-11-19T12:01:00.001Z

Bristol Gig News: Fri 25 Nov: Poundshop Life at The Spring Gardens Live, Hotwells: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 @poundshoplife

Surrey, UK, Gig News

2011-11-19T08:24:00.001Z

Surrey Gig News: Tonight! Sat 19 Nov: Aeroplane Blondes at Red Cross Inn, Reigate http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

Steve White & the Protest Family perform 'Golden Arches' (Phoenix FM Creative Sessions)

2011-11-19T07:40:00.002Z

Steve White & The Protest Family are also on the bill tonight with Robb Johnson & The Irregulars at the Birkbeck Tavern, 45 Langthorne Road, E11 4HL.It promises to be a night of entertainment with a little bit of politics... songwriter Robb Johnson takes his band The Irregulars for a rare night out in Leyton, ably supported by the semi-acoustic punky folky sounds of the almost legendary Steve White & The Protest Family. Pay what you like.

Welcome New RTYD Member: Maurice Richard Libby AKA Whiteboy Slim from Saskatchewan, Canada

2011-11-19T06:50:00.001Z

The true greats of blues music generated enormous excitement and awe in their audiences. They did so with flamboyant showmanship; with aloof, tough delivery; with elegance and charisma; with passionate virtuosity; with all sorts of styles, but always with original talent and awesome presence.Whiteboy Slim, (Maurice Richard Libby), carries the blues tradition. His raw, authoritative delivery is obviously born of his respect for the music. He bows to the sounds that have traditionally portrayed American troubles, laying them under today's influences to create genuinely modern music.Slim says it best himself: "I stay true to the spirit of the music, walking the tightrope between the spiritual and the profane. I play old tunes by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf - all the greats - and unusual stuff like some Fats Waller. I do a lot of original tunes as well: twelve bar blues with lyrics that speak to contemporary experience. I'm sure not going to try to write like a sharecropper from Mississippi."

(text from Whiteboy Slim's Website)

London Gig News: Steve White & the Protest Family

2011-11-18T20:46:00.001Z

London Gig News: Robb Johnson & Irregulars + Steve White & Protest Family: Sat 19: Birkbeck Tavern Langthorne Rd E11: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

New RTYD Member: Lancashire

2011-11-18T13:15:00.001Z

Welcome to Lancashire-based drummer, Dave Lang, who is looking to join a band on ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP: http://bit.ly/vcSCfr

New RTYD Member: Lancashire

2011-11-18T13:14:00.001Z

Meet Lancashire-based jazz drummer Peter Capstick, who is a new member ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP Musicians & Bands Network: http://bit.ly/uMB39c

London Gig News

2011-11-17T21:50:00.001Z

London Gig News: tomorrow night 18 Nov: SPIRIT OF PLAY at the Comedy, Leicester Square: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 @spiritofplay1

London Gig News: Walthamstow

2011-11-16T20:43:00.001Z

London Gig News: Wed 23 Nov: Steve White & The Protest Family + more, at The Standard, Walthamstow, E17: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

London Gig News: Stockwell

2011-11-16T20:40:00.001Z

London Gig News: Tomorrow Night! The Outbursts at The Grosvenor, Stockwell, London: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 punk

New RTYD Member: London Band RoXi and the Blue Cats

2011-11-16T20:36:00.001Z

Welcome! London band, RoXi and the Blue Cats, to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP Musicians & Bands Network: http://bit.ly/vDEbtL

New RTYD Member: Haywards Heath, West Sussex

2011-11-16T20:34:00.001Z

Welcome! Haywards Heath-based musician, Steve Alton to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP Musicians & Bands Network: http://bit.ly/sQ5p53

Male Frontman Wanted: Beds/Bucks/Herts

2011-11-16T07:53:00.001Z

Male Frontman Wanted: Beds/Bucks/Herts: For Classic Rock project, age 25-45, must have stage presence and great vocal range: http://bit.ly/dOde2w

Rival Sons at the Slade Rooms Wolverhampton

2011-11-12T11:45:00.002Z

RTYD Member Sally Payne loaded this video of Rival Sons playing at the Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton earlier this month.

2011-11-12T11:43:00.001Z

London Gig News: This Weds 16th Nov: The Lone Groover + others at the @theBoogaloo, Archway: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

2011-11-12T11:40:00.001Z

London Gig News: This Friday 18 Nov: SPIRIT OF PLAY at the Comedy, Leicester Square: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 @spiritofplay1 @TheTLS

2011-11-12T11:38:00.001Z

Surrey Gig News: Tonight! Jezebel No More at the Mayford Arms, Woking: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5

2011-11-12T11:36:00.001Z

London Gig News: This Thursday 17 Nov: The Outbursts + RSI at The Grosvenor, Sidney Road, Stockwell: http://bit.ly/nu1JS5 freegig punk

2011-11-10T17:45:00.001Z

Welcome to new RTYD member Hamburg-based musician Norbert Hinterberger: http://bit.ly/uxqaRT

Video: The Lone Groover playing for Camden Calling at The Enterprise, Chalk Farm, November 2011

2011-11-09T14:29:00.003Z

In case you missed it, Camden Calling released this video of the Lone Groover playing at one of their events earlier this month.