Latest articles by Johnny Black
Van der Graaf Generator man leaves you to decide on the pronunciation of his 37th solo record’s title, Tears In Time
The Beatles landmark seventh studio album was released 60 years ago this month
Keith Moon celebrated his 21st birthday by taking one of his cars for a swim – or did he? Eyewitnesses explain what they saw – or think they saw
After an incredible six-album run, the wheels came off the Sabbath bandwagon with Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die!
Johnny Cash’s career was on the skids in the 1990s – and then he met Rick Rubin
Eat your heart out, Bob Geldof – Hear ’n Aid saw the hard-rock community muscling in on the charity single bandwagon. Cue a heavyweight cast, guitar battles and big hair contests
With Brian Jones falling apart on set, the Rock And Roll Circus went so badly that the planned film wasn’t released until 28 years later
By mid-1971 Eric Clapton was a recluse with a heroin habit, until friends including Pete Townshend and George Harrison intervened to save his life
In a small London studio, two Yardbirds, one member of The Who and a pair of passing session maestros united to record a spontaneous instrumental track. Things would never be the same again.
Now revered as a linchpin moment in the history of the blues, Howlin’ Wolf’s 1970 London Sessions were recorded with Eric Clapton and various Stones and Beatles. This is the story, told by those who were there
Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra's vision for San Francisco was both a great prank and barbed social commentary
Making it was by no means all love, peace and understanding, but 50 years on, Abbey Road is now considered by many to be the greatest of all the The Beatles’ albums
It was supposed to be just another Pink Floyd extravaganza. Nobody expected blackmail and a scandal that forced a city's mayor to resign
On May 9, 1974, Bruce Springsteen played the famous gig that saw him proclaimed as "rock'n'roll future". This is the story of what happened, by the people who were there
On December 31, 1973, the fledgling AC/DC saw in the New Year by playing their very first gig at a bar in Sydney
When Jimi Hendrix arrived in London he blew the minds of the British rock elite. Soon they would follow his lead and develop and explosive new form of electric blues
Prog rockers Jethro Tull pipped Metallica to win Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Recording award in 1989, and people are still talking about it
At the tag end of the 70s, Van Halen were poised to become one of the biggest-grossing acts on the planet... but the cracks were beginning to show
ZZ Top's Worldwide Texas Tour featured a plexiglass pyramid filled with rattlesnakes, trained buzzards, a fake wolf, and a night in Pittsburgh one doctor called "the most horrible thing I have seen since World War II"
Revolver is a feat of The Beatles' sonic experimentation and songwriting genius, and this is the story behind how the album was made
In 1978, Queen launched their Jazz album with a huge Halloween party at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans. People are still talking about it
How future Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris went from trainee draughtsman to superstar in waiting, as remembered by the people who knew him
Moscow at the height of East-West tensions was a grim, alien city. What better place for fading British rockers Uriah Heep to raise their profile?
