To mark 40 years since the release of Led Zeppelin's debut album in April 1969, the Easter Sunday Star Blues last night celebrated the British Blues Boom of the Sixties through the best known tracks. Many bands like the Stones and the Animals got their start and it was right to pay tribute and recall some personal memories of the time. Eric Clapton's pre-eminence and influence was demonstrated with tracks from the Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and the seminal sides with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (when he played guitar as if his very life depended on it).
My own favourite performances of this genre came from Peter Green and I was able to include a handful last night (his graceful beautiful tone is still capable of moistening my eye). Though I didn't have time to include the stint Green did with Mayall I was able to showcase the teenage talent of Mick Taylor who followed Green into Mayall's band before replacing Brian Jones in the Stones. Surely it can only be a matter of time before John is accorded his due as Lord Mayall of Macclesfield, if nothing else for his unerring ear for guitar talent (Clapton, Green, Taylor...)
Other guitar heroes included Mick Green (no relation) and Jeff Beck before telling the story of how the Zeppelin band and debut came about. If one album changed music forever this was it - though I suspect the blues purists would have a purple fit at the very thought. The piano blues spot went to a Blue Horizon session by the band Jellybread that featured Seventies hit-maker Pete Wingfield on piano. In a show that could have been twice as long it was fitting to include tracks by Jo-Ann Kelly, Steve Rye and Duster Bennett all three taken from us at early ages and each one a blues master, universally much missed.
All being well I will bring the story up to date with a "Part 2" on August Bank Holiday Sunday, for now the playlist is on my web-site www.garyblue.co.uk and God Willing I'll be back with more Star blues on FM and online at www.star107.co.uk at ten next Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
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