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Randy California, Spirit: Randy California

Retrospective by Johnny Black, MOJO, February 2004

Just turned 22, Spirit guitarist and figurehead Randy California stands on Chelsea Bridge, staring down into the grey waters of the River Thames. It's April 1973, ...

Eyewitness: The Twist

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, February 1997

THE TWIST WAS the most remarkable dance phenomenon in the history of the rock era. Here's the story of how it happened in the words ...

U2: Eyewitness: U2 Conquer London

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, July 2002

WHEN U2 visited the capital in the summer of 1980, their intention was to play a handful of low-key club shows. Three months, a Marquee ...

Pink Floyd, Move, The, Tomorrow, Soft Machine, Mick Farren, Arthur Brown: We Have Lift Off!

Retrospective by Johnny Black, MOJO, February 2004

In less than one year, London's UFO (pronounced "you-foe") club became the nocturnal haunt of the '60s counterculture, gathering place for the Beatles, Stones and ...

Blind Faith: Born Under A Bad Sign

Retrospective by Johnny Black, MOJO, July 1996

IN THE EVENING COOL OF JUNE 6, 1969, almost 7,000 people made their way to Hyde Park, where they slept under stars to be sure ...

Rolling Stones, The: The Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction'

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, April 2003

PERFORMERS Mick Jagger – vocals, guitar Keith Richards – guitar Brian Jones – guitar Charlie Watts - drums  Bill Wyman - bass Jack Nitzsche – piano, tambourine ...

The Supremes: Mary Wilson on The Supremes

Retrospective by Johnny Black, MOJO, April 1997

"ONE DAY IN mid-April we were all summoned to berry’s home on Outer Drive," remembers Mary Wilson of The Supremes. "As I drove there, I ...

Michael Jackson, Lisa Marie Presley: Eyewitness: Michael Jackson's Wedding

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, February 1998

After a 16-week romance, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley boarded a Sony Records jet and flew to the Domincan Republic to embark on a ...

Public Enemy: 'Fight The Power'

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Blender, September 2002

Vital statistics on Public Enemy's 'Fight The Power' ...

Sex Pistols, The, Stranglers, The, Clash, The, X-Ray Spex, Adam & The Ants, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Damned, The, Jam, The, Generation X: Punk Venues: London Calling

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, July 1995

Summer, 1976. Punk, live punk, is about to explode in the capital. Tap rooms, Poly bars and sweaty clubs will host its unwashed greats. Johnny Black looks ...

Pink Floyd: Vinyl Icon: Pink Floyd's The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Hi-Fi News & Record Review, September 2010

IT'S WRIT large in pop history that The Beatles spent the spring of 1967 recording their classic Sgt Pepper album in EMI's Abbey Road Studio ...

Gerry Rafferty: City To City Vinyl Icon

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Hi-Fi News & Record Review, March 2011

THE RECENT, tragic, death of Gerry Rafferty reminded thousands of fans just how vital his contribution to the 70s was, first as a member of ...

Band, The: Vinyl Icon: The Band's Music From Big Pink

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Hi-Fi News & Record Review, January 2014

IN 1965, BOB Dylan chose a hoary and somewhat grizzled rock'n'roll combo, the Hawks, as his backing group when he famously "went electric". ...

Elvis Presley: Eyewitness: The day I met Elvis

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Q, September 1997

He didn't get out much (of America, anyway), yet Elvis Presley touched millions of lives. Twenty years after his death, some of those who actually ...

Spade Cooley: Eye Witness: Spade Cooley Murders His Wife

Retrospective by Johnny Black, Country, January 2014

IN THE EARLY 1960s, ageing country music star Spade Cooley and his significantly younger wife Ella Mae were living on his remote ranch, Rosamund, in ...