Brits Beyond The Beatles & Stones – Page 6

Jimmy Page: Pre-Zepped

January 13, 2016January 9, 2015 by Dana Spiardi

“I want to do biological research [to find a cure for] cancer, if it isn’t discovered by then.” So said future Led Zeppelin guitar great Jimmy Page to a TV program host who asked him his future plans, following the lad’s performance on a BBC talent show in 1957. So, should we be disappointed that the 13-year-old didn’t follow through with that lofty goal? Uh, no. Page is considered one of the world’s greatest musicians, primarily known for his 12 years with the hard-rocking, eardrum-shattering Zeppelin. But long before joining up with Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham in 1968, he was considered a hot commodity — not only as a key member of seminal electric blues band The Yardbirds, but also as a highly sought-after session guitarist. His work can be heard on recordings by some of the most popular artists of the 1960s. Here’s a look at some of them.

Good Twins, Bad Twins: A Look at Rock’s Infamous Duos

January 15, 2026December 10, 2014 by Dana Spiardi

What do Nerk Twins, Glimmer Twins, and Toxic Twins have in common? They’re all pseudonyms for musical duos who, through some mystic alignment (or collision) of planets, came to front legendary rock bands. Today I’ll take a look at the origin of these monikers and offer up a few of my own

A L’il Bit o’ Lol – a 10cc Dose, That Is

October 4, 2015September 19, 2014 by Dana Spiardi

I didn’t learn much about algebra in 9th grade, but I sure acquired a lot of knowledge during class time about a group called 10cc. And I have my friend Tony V. to thank — for passing me a steady stream of notes containing “essential information” about that particular foursome, as well as loads of other British bands that never really broke big in America. (Of course, I was lost in ‘math hell’ forever after that class.) Anyway, today I’m wishing a happy 67th birthday to 10cc guitarist and keyboardist Laurence “Lol” Creme. He and his bandmates Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart and Kevin Godley were all mega-talented musicians, songwriters and lead vocalists who crafted beautifully layered songs that were often reminiscent of The Beatles.

My Queen-Size Crush on Freddie Mercury

January 15, 2026September 5, 2014 by Dana Spiardi

When I was 16 years old, Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury was the man I most wanted to meet. I didn’t want to sleep with him, mind you. I wanted to BE him. Or at least go shopping with him. Seriously, he was one of the people who inspired me to get out of my tiny Pennsyltucky hometown. I figured that if I studied hard enough, I could go to college, get a good job, and afford to move to London and hobnob with him and my other Brit rock idols. As it turned out, I went to college, got a job, moved to Monroeville, and got to hobnob with Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Harold Denton in the backroom of Tivoli’s Restaurant in Penn Hills. But that’s another story.

Brian May – The Asteroidal Axeman

October 4, 2015July 19, 2014 by Dana Spiardi

Lots of rockers and actors have had asteroids named in their honor, but Brian May is no doubt the only true scientist of the bunch. The brainy guitarist/astrophysicist best known for his work with Queen turns 67 today. I could always recognize his distinctive style. He used his custom-built “Red Special” guitar to produce sounds that mimicked all kinds of instruments, such as trombones and piccolos. In 2012, readers of Guitar World magazine voted him the 2nd greatest guitarist of all time, and Rolling Stone pegged him at #26 in their list of Top 100 guitarists.