R.I.P.
THE DAY GARRY SOBERS SCORED A CENTURY WITH A HANGOVER
I was 15 when I saw the great Garry Sobers play for the first and last time at Lord’s. It was memorable in many ways, not least for being a colossal innings defeat for England, greeted with a massive pitch invasion by West Indies fans. It was even more memorable for witnessing Sobers’ last ever century – completed in three parts, the biggest one with a raging hangover.
The legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins dipped his toe in the waters of rock’n’roll when he agreed to record with The Rolling Stones.
Dennis Locorriere was the singer of Dr Hook’s hit singles Sylvia’s Mother, Sexy Eyes and When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman. But he was not the one with the eye patch and cowboy hat.
David Allan Coe was an asshole; about that there can be little disagreement. A self-mythologising braggart, he was never slow to trade on his troubled past, even if much of it was in his imagination.
I have to confess I didn’t know the name Beverley Martyn until I read of her death at the age of 79. More fool me.
RIP Nedra Talley Ross – The Ronettes (1946-2026)
29th April 2026 · 1960s, 1964, 2020s, 2026, Music, R.I.P.The death of Nedra Talley Ross, the last living Ronette, brings an end to that golden era of Sixties girl groups. She was just 14 years old when she formed the group with her cousins Ronnie and Estelle back in 1957.
Traffic are one of those bands who somehow fell through the cracks of my musical journey. Consequently, Dave Mason was not a name that meant a great deal to me.
Gregg Foreman, who looked and sounded every inch the rock star, was the founder of The Delta 72 and musical director for Cat Power.
Andy Kershaw introduced me – us – to so much new music, making him second only to John Peel in terms of influence on my own formative tastes.