Rock Of Ages

Benjy says...

Hi ...... A pretty mixed response to the Roger Waters Special last week with some regulars feeling that the sulky one wrote better songs with Pink Floyd and that the solo stuff was 'too depressing'! I'm not sure if I would agree with that entirely as some of the solo tracks like "4.41am" (from Pros and Cons of Hitch hiking" and featuring some stinging Clapton guitar) and "What God wants" (from "Amused to death" with the mighty Jeff on geet) border on brilliant - and anyway our Rog has always written 'dark' and sometimes dismal songs with alienation, death, war, divorce and madness as the central themes (Hey you, Mother, etc). Roger Waters is in my opinion one of the great writers in 20th century rock music, both with the Floyd and as a solo artist and it's great to see him still doing it ..... unlike some so called 'bands' or 'supergroups' for that matter.....

I was watching sat tv last week and caught the rerun of "Rock Star" featuring Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke and Jason Newsted as they ploughed through a host of wannabees looking for a lead singer to front this new 'supergroup'. The first time I watched the show I found it amusing and somewhat addictive, clearly some of the entrants just didn't cut the ice but a couple would have made great singers in any self respecting rock band. Particularly the female singer with the multi-coloured hair and multiple piercings - boy did she have Joplinesque set of pipes and the attitude to go with it! And the little guy with the 'skunk' 2 tone hair and even more piercings, he also had the chops and attitude (he eventually won). The show was entertaining but I couldnt help but think that it was less about the music and more about a media profile for the aforementioned rockers.

Watching "Rockstar" a second time it all became too clear for me and left me feeling a little depressed. Is this what rock music has resorted to in order to attract and retain an audience, the dreaded reality tv show? And thinking about it .. what 'supergroup'? Tommy Lee was at best an ok drummer in Motley Crue whose heyday was in the early 90's and he's better known for his own 'member' and notoriety with one Pammy A; Gilby Clarke replaced Izzy Stradlin in the fast collapsing Guns 'n Roses and doesn't cut the mustard as a player against some of the other guitarists of the time anyway and Jason Newstedt? Well as Metallica's ex-bassist he does have some rock cred but he's no Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser or John Paul Jones. And the appearance of Dave Navarro as some kind of MC and rabble rouser? Well Dave is a great guitar player but he is a media whore of renown and will do anything to be on tv (didn't he marry Carmen Elektra and sign the register in blood or something ?) .... The episode that really got my goat was when the contestants got to choose a classic rock song and 'interpret' it in their own way ... it was like one of those weird nightmares that you have where blourokkies in a chorus line sing "Let there be rock" at 78prm - a complete shambles and so embarrassing - there should be a law against covering certain songs! ....... Before I get carried away, frothing at the mouth let me get on with the business of telling you what's coming up on this week's show ..... I'll be playing the Gary Moore interview that I recorded with the Irish guitarist last month, more prizes to give away as we celebrate the 4th year of Rock of Ages and the special this week is the long awaited and much requested Ozzy Osbourne ... so tune in!

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne (born John Michael Osbourne, December 3, 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the lead vocalist of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, a popular solo artist, and the star of the reality show, The Osbournes.As a solo artist, Osbourne has sold over 30 million albums in the US, and 75 million albums worldwide. Two albums, Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and No More Tears (1991), are certified quadruple platinum, for sales of over 4 million copies in the US. Ozzy spent most of his early life in Birmingham, England in abject poverty as part of a family of six children. He reportedly suffered from learning disabilities (believed to be dyslexia), making school life difficult and sought refuge in music, eventually becoming the singer of a local band, Rare Breed.Ozzy later discover a band with former class mate Tony Iommi and audition for lead singer but Iommi did not like Ozzy's voice after hearing it in school musicals, and was reluctant to let him join. However, as Ozzy was liked by the other two members, Iommi was finally persuaded to let him join.During this time psychedelic rock was enormously popular. To distinguish themselves from the norm, Iommi and his partners decided to play a heavy blues inspired style of music laced with gloomy lyrics. One day during rehearsals, the band noticed people queuing up outside a cinema where a horror film was being shown, and bassist Geezer Butler observed how curious it is that people like to be frightened. After reading an occult book that Osbourne had let fellow band mate Geezer Butler borrow, Butler had a dream of a dark figure at the end of his bed. After Butler told this story to Osbourne, he wrote the lyrics to "Black Sabbath", one of, if not their first, song in this darker vein that was the regular for songs later in their career. After learning Earth was already in use, the band changed their name to "Black Sabbath" as well.Despite a modest investment from US record label Warner Bros Records , Black Sabbath met with swift and enduring success. Built around Tony Iommi's guitar riffs, Geezer Butler's lyrics, and topped by Osbourne's eerie vocals, early records such as their self titled debut, Paranoid, and Master of Reality are now considered definitive heavy metal.Many of the group's early singles such as "War Pigs", "Paranoid", and "Iron Man", continue to draw significant radio airplay. Black Sabbath has sold over 70 million albums since its inception and Osbourne himself continues to perform its songs as a solo artist.

In 1979, Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath largely due to unreliability from drug abuse and was replaced by former Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio. Divorce from his first wife Thelma and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder added to the singer's problems finally sending him into a deep depression ,he became a veritable recluse and took to spending weeks alone locked in his hotel room.On an errand to collect an overdue fee, Black Sabbath manager Don Arden's daughter, Sharon Arden, discovered Osbourne brooding in his room and convinced him to restart his life. The two soon married and managed by Sharon, Osbourne was able to secure a modest recording deal with Jet Records, then a subsidiary of CBS.In the late 1970s, the band Necromandus rehearsed with Ozzy Osbourne and briefly became the first incarnation of his Blizzard of Ozz solo project. The first album was to be titled eponymously, but was later changed to Blizzard of Ozz featuring Ozzy Osbourne. After this, the band's name was simplified to The Ozzy Osbourne Band. Drummer Lee Kerslake (of Uriah Heep) and bassist/lyricist Bob Daisley (of Rainbow), however, still refer to that era as the "Blizzard of Ozz". Ozzy met with considerable success on his first solo effort, the debut collection selling well with heavy rock fans.A second album, Diary of a Madman, was considered by some to be an instant rock classic, and featured more of Bob Daisley's gifted songwriting and impressive guitar work by Randy Rhoads (who was ranked 85th greatest guitarist of all time by the Rolling Stone Magazine). Its release met with controversy, however. Although the songs were written and performed by the same four band members who created Blizzard of Ozz, the internal album art and credits were seemingly given to Osbourne's new touring band consisting of the singer and Rhoads, along with bassist Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot) and drummer Tommy Aldridge, formerly of Black Oak Arkansas. Also not shown was keyboardist Don Airey, who played on the first three Ozzy Osbourne albums but was not credited until the third album, Bark at the Moon.

In March 1982, while in Florida for the follow-up album Diary of a Madman tour, and a week away from playing Madison Square Garden in New York City, a light aircraft taken without its owner's consent carrying guitarist Randy Rhoads crashed while performing low passes over the band's tour bus. In a prank turned deadly, the left wing of the aircraft clipped the bus and crashed onto a tree and finally a nearby house, killing Rhoads as well as the pilot, Andrew Aycock, and the band's hairdresser, Rachel Youngblood. On autopsy, cocaine was found to be present in Aycock's urine.Learning of the death of his close friend and band mate, Osbourne once again fell into deep depression. The record company gave Osbourne a break from performing to mourn for his late band member, but Ozzy stopped work for only one week.Ex-Gillan guitarist Bernie Torme was the first guitarist to replace Randy once the tour resumed. Torme however, found the pressure of learning the band's songs so quickly and the idea of appearing before fans still mourning the loss of Rhoads unsettling. His tenure with the band would last less than one month.During an audition for guitarists in a hotel room, Ozzy discovered Brad Gillis who joined the band .The tour continued, culminating in the release of the 1982 live album, 'Speak of the Devil' recorded at the Ritz in New York City. A live tribute album was later released in which Osbourne spoke of his relationship with Rhoads.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Osbourne's career was an effort on two fronts: continuing to make music without Rhoads, and becoming sober. Guitarist Jake E. Lee, formerly of Ratt and Rough Cutt, was a more successful recruit than Torme or Gillis, recording 1983's Bark at the Moon (co-writing the album with Bob Daisley, and also featuring Tommy Aldridge, and Don Airey). 1986's The Ultimate Sin followed (with bassist Phil Soussan and drummer Randy Castillo), and touring behind both albums.Meanwhile, Osbourne was involved in a legal battle of his own. In late 1986, he was the target in the first of a series of US lawsuits brought against him, alleging that one of his songs, "Suicide Solution", drove two more American teenagers to commit suicide because of its "subliminal lyrics". The cases were decided in Osbourne's favour, essentially on the premise that Osbourne cannot be held accountable for a listener's actions. Also helping was the fact the song was clearly about alcohol abuse and suicide solution was a play on words. Soon after, Osbourne publicly acknowledged that he wrote "Suicide Solution" about his friend, AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott, who died from alcohol abuse, and that solution referred to both alcohol as a solution to problems and as a chemical solution. Bob Daisley, however, asserts that he wrote this song and that it was about his concerns over Osbourne's own ongoing battle with substance abuse.Lee and Osbourne parted ways in 1987, however, reportedly due to musical differences. Osbourne continued to struggle with his chemical dependencies, and commemorated the fifth anniversary of Rhoads' death with Tribute, the live recordings from 1981 that had gone unreleased for years. Osbourne found his most enduring replacement for Rhoads to date — a guitarist named Zakk Wylde, plucked from a New Jersey gas station. Wylde joined Osbourne for his 1988 effort, No Rest for the Wicked, in which Castillo remained on drums and Daisley once more returned to co-writing/bass duties. The subsequent tour saw Osbourne reunited with erstwhile Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler on bass, and a live EP (entitled Just Say Ozzy) featuring this lineup was released two years later. Geezer continued to tour with Ozzy for the subsequent four tours, and was a major stage presence throughout, playing as strongly as anyone since Rudy Sarzo. In 1989, Ozzy Osbourne performed as part of the Moscow Music Peace Festival.

While very successful as a heavy metal act through the 1980s, Osbourne sustained commercial success into the 1990s, starting with 1991's No More Tears, which enjoyed much radio and MTV exposure. It also initiated a practice of bringing in outside composers to help pen Osbourne's solo material, instead of relying solely upon his recording ensemble to write and arrange the music. The album was mixed by veteran rock producer Michael Wagener, who also mixed the Live and Loud album which followed in 1993. At this point Osbourne expressed his fatigue with the process of touring, and proclaimed his "retirement", which was to be short-lived. Osbourne's entire CD catalogue was remastered and reissued in 1995. Also that year, he released Ozzmosis and went on stage again, dubbing his concert performances "The Retirement Sucks Tour". A greatest hits package, The Ozzman Cometh was issued in 1997.Osbourne's biggest financial success of the 1990s was a venture named Ozzfest, created and managed by his wife/manager Sharon and assisted loosely by his son Jack. Ozzfest was a quick hit with metal fans, spurring up-and-coming groups like Incubus and Slipknot to broad exposure and commercial success. Some acts even had the pleasure to share the bill with a reformed Black Sabbath. Osbourne reunited with the original members of Sabbath in 1997 and has performed periodically with the band ever since.Since its start Ozzfest also helped Osbourne to become the first hard rock star to hit US$50 million in merchandise sales.Osbourne's first album of new studio material in seven years, 2001's Down to Earth, met with only moderate success, as did its live follow up, Live at Budokan.On December 8, 2003, Osbourne was rushed into emergency surgery at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, England when he was involved in an accident involving the use of his all-terrain vehicle on his estate in Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire. Osbourne broke his collar bone, eight ribs, and a neck vertebra. An operation was performed to lift the collarbone, which was believed to be resting on a major artery and interrupting blood flow to the arm. Sharon later revealed that Osbourne had stopped breathing following the crash and was resuscitated by Osbourne's then personal bodyguard, Sam Ruston.

While in the hospital, Osbourne achieved his first ever UK number one single, a duet of the Black Sabbath ballad, "Changes" with daughter Kelly. In doing so, he broke the record of the longest period between an artist's first UK chart appearance (with Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", number four in August 1970) and their first number one hit; a gap of 33 years.Since the accident, he has fully recovered and headlined the 2004 Ozzfest, where he again reunited with Black Sabbath. He has also turned his hand to writing a Broadway musical. The reputed topic is that of the Russian monk Grigory Rasputin, who held sway with Russia's last royal Romanov family. In 2005, he released a box set called Prince of Darkness. The first and second discs are collections of live performances, B-sides, demos and singles. The third disc contained duets and other odd tracks with other artists, including "Born to Be Wild" with Miss Piggy. The fourth disc is entirely new material where Ozzy covers his favourite songs by his biggest influences and favourite bands, including The Beatles, John Lennon, David Bowie and others.He and wife Sharon starred in yet another MTV show, this time a competition reality show entitled "Battle for Ozzfest". A number of yet unsigned bands send one member to compete in a challenge to win a spot on the 2005 Ozzfest and a possible recording contract.In 2004, Osbourne received an NME award for "godlike genius".In 2005, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame along with Black Sabbath where he decided to moon the crowd because of their poor reception while they were playing.In March 2006, he said that he hopes to release a new studio album soon with long time on-off guitarist, Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society. In October 2006 it was announced that Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, and Geezer Butler would be touring together again though not as Black Sabbath but rather under the moniker 'Heaven and Hell (the title of Dio's first Black Sabbath album). The response to the news on Ozzy's website was that Ozzy wished Tony and Ronnie well and that there was only one Sabbath.

The new Ozzy album, titled Black Rain, was released on May 22, 2007. There are 10 all-new songs on the album, including "Countdown's Begun", "Not Going Away", and "Lay Your World On Me", about Sharon Osbourne's recent cancer battles, and it is Osbourne's first new studio album in almost six years. "I thought I'd never write again without any stimulation ... But you know what? Instead of picking of the bottle I just got honest and said, 'I don't want life to go (to pieces)'", Osbourne stated in a Billboard interview.

Discography

Blizzard of Ozz 1980
Diary of a madman 1981
Speak of the devil 1982 (live)
Bark at the moon 1983
The Ultimate Sin 1986
Tribute 1987 (live)
No rest for the wicked 1988
Just say Ozzy 1990 (live)
No more tears 1991
Live 'n Loud 1993 (live)
Ozzmosis 1995
Down to earth 2001
Live at Budokan (2002)
Black Rain 2007

Rock of Ages presents "Footstomping Music"

For those of you who have bought our first CD compilation, thank you for supporting the show. I have had several calls and emails from disappointed listeners who have tried to get it at various stores around the country. The good news is that Footstomping Music is now available via the Rock of Ages website. Click on www.rock.co.za/rockofages for details.

click to buy this CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages Presents Footstomping Music

Grand Funk Railroad - Footstomping Music
Deep Purple - Burn
Uriah Heep - Look at yourself
Black Sabbath - Sweat Leaf
Thin Lizzy - Chinatown
Robin Trower - Too rolling stoned
Mountain - Never in my life
Wishbone Ash - Blowin' free
Foghat - I just wanna make love to you
Budgie - Baby, please don't go
Santana - Toussaint l'Overture
Alice Cooper - Muscle of love
Nazareth - Go down fighting
Blue Oyster Cult - The Red & the Black
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme back my bullets
Free - The Hunter
Taste - What's goin' on

Buy this 'Footstomping Music' CD direct from Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages Recommendations

Manic Street Preachers

A lot of the late 80's / early 90's British rock music kind off went over my head, with the exception of a handful of Oasis songs (Wonderwall, Rock and roll star, etc) and a one off album/band here and there, the overall sound of the Brit rock scene sounded self indulgent, jaded and a tad uninspired. However one of the bands that I did take to were Welsh outfit, The Manic Street Preachers. Their early albums like "The Holy Bible" and later, "Everything must go", were infused with punk energy, classic rock guitar riffs and simple but epic songs - sort of like The Clash meets Guns 'n Roses. Like a lot of bands they got a little lost after attaining some commercial success (gotta feed the machine ...) and the inevitable and pointless 'solo' albums followed, has-been status may have beckoned. However the 'Manics' have regrouped and gone back to being a great rock band again. "Send in the tigers" *** is chockful of memorable songs with "Your love is not enough" staking a strong claim to Single of the Year status and powerful tracks like Imperial bodybags and Rendition ripping the speakers apart. James Bradfield and Nicky Wire have crafted one of the best rock albums to come out of the UK in years.....

Gary Moore

It's no secret that, like many classic rock lovers, I have a soft spot for the blues in particular blues guitar players .... and none come more adored and respected than Gary Moore. From his early days with Irish hard rock trio Skid Row followed by a stint with jazz rock combo Colosseum 2 to the Black Rose era Thin Lizzy and his solo Celtic tinged guitar pyrotechnics the blues has always been at the root of what Gary Moore does. Starting out in 1990 with "Still got the blues" he has released a string of top notch albums featuring his blistering fretwork, thrilling blues lovers worldwide. However in a recent interview with ROA he voiced that he was moving away from the hard rock blues that he is known for to a more traditional feel, echoing players like the 3 Kings (BB, Albert and Freddie). Gary's new album "As close as you get" **** reflects that shift and whilst not foregoing rockblues boogie on songs like "If the devil made whisky" and "Thirty days" (covered in the 60's by Cliff Richard as 40 Days) entirely, it's the slower, smouldering blues of songs like "Eyesight to the blind" and "Sundown" that reconfirm Gary Moore as one of the great blues players of all time.

Ratings:
***** Volcanic....not to be missed.
**** Seismic....highly recommended...buy it!
*** Aftershock....solid effort.
** Damp squib really!
* Do I need to explain this?

Rock Of Ages News

Cult Born Again
The Cult are to title their new album 'Born Into This'. Produced by Youth, it's to be issued in late September by Roadrunner.

LORDI help us!
Lordi are getting partial funding from the Finnish government for upcoming horror movie 'Dark Floors'. In all , they'll be receiving $200,000 in official backing.

'Dc Drummer Escapes Jail
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has escaped jail in New Zealand, despite pleading guilty to a charge of common assault. He was arrested in March, after allegedly hitting his former partner. However, a judge agreed not to send him to jail because it would harm his career.

Spoonfeedas stabbing
Colin Browne, the bass guitarist of the popular South African band The SpoonFeedas, is in a critical condition in Umhlanga Hospital after being stabbed 10 times during a mugging on Sunday. Browne and his girlfriend had been walking through the secluded Hawaan Forest Park in Umhlanga about 4pm when an unknown man had emerged from nearby bushes. After walking past the couple, the man had produced a knife and stabbed Browne repeatedly in his abdomen. When Browne had tried to resist the assault, he had been stabbed several times in both arms. Browne was taken to Umhlanga Hospital, where he is believed to be in a critical condition.

More rock (and reggae)
on your radio...

Tune in to the many other great music shows on RADIO 2000 ..... Wake up every morning with Ray White and Nichole de Silva on the funky, vibey Big Breakfast Show (6-9am) - news, weather, 2010 updates, comedy, competitions and tons of cool tunes - no 'superstar DJ ego bull...' just fabulously entertaining radio ..... Women on the Move with Celeste and Carol (9-noon) features interesting issues, guest interviews and more of the music that you like to hear ..... From 12 to 3pm it's the Empress of Cool Radio - Michelle Constant and The Lucky Packet - a daily dose of unmissable radio, a virtual melting pot of entertainment, interviews, documentary stuff, news, cultural issues, addictive music and much more ... lots of fun, fun, fun .... Tuesday nights 8 to midnight get ready to crank it up with the mighty Barney Simon on the SA Rock Show - wall to wall music, news, demos, gear reviews and some straight talking from the rock radio legend ... Sundays it's skanking time on Bongolution between 1-3pm with da man Bongani who spins the finest in roots reggae. Later you can chill with host Eric Allan's Jazz Rendezvous between 5 and 8pm where he spins the cream of classic and smooth jazz as well as some interesting fusion music.....

Keep the rock real...

Benjy

Contact Rock of Ages

Email:
Website: www.rock.co.za/rockofages
Snail mail:
PO Box 53585, Kenilworth, 7745
Studio phones: 021-4342523 / 4342525

Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.

Latest Playlist

All the playlists are available in the
Playlist Archives.

Live Gigs

Boulevard Blues Band
10th June Berties Mooring Gordons Bay
13th June Berties Mooring Gordons Bay (Acoustic)
15th June Klein Libertas Theatre Stellenbosch
17th June Guzzlers Tableview
24th June Berties Mooring Gordons Bay
30th June Fogeys Railway House Muizenberg

Piet Botha & Jack Hammer
June 14th Piet Botha and Johnathan Martin @ Die Blou Hond Linden, Jhb

June 16th Jack Hammer @ The Knight and Dragon, Boksburg

June 23rd Piet Botha @ Steak and Ale in the "Johnny Cash Tribute Show"

June 29th Jack Hammer @ Cafe' Barcelona, Elarduspark, Pretoria

June 30th Jack Hammer @ The Knight and Dragon, Boksburg

The Dirty Skirts
8th June Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town

Flat Stanley
10th Levi's Vintage Sessions,Green Dolphin Cape Town
24th Madame Zingara's Theatre of Dreams Cape Town

Farryl Purkiss / Bob Evans Tour
5th July Mr Price Pro - New Pier Beach Durban
7th July UJ Theatre, Auckland Park,JHB
10th July Brooks Pavilion, PE
11th July The Deck, Gonubie, East London
12th July Cuervo's J Bay Festival, Jeffreys Bay
13th July BMW Pavilion, Cape Town
14th Independent Armchair Theatre, Cape Town
17th Tings 'n Times, Hatfield,Pretoria

Fuzigish
9th June Vaughan's Pool Club,Edenvale

Gently Scar'd
23 June - Tanz Cafe Bryanston, Joburg

The Hellphones
9th June Burn, Durban

Jim Neversink
8th June Back2 Basix, Westdene, Joburg 16th June Radium Beerhall, Orange Grove, JHB

Josie Field
15th June The Bohemian, Richmond JHB

Southern Gypsey Queen
12th - Kunskafee, Durbanville
13th - Dorpstraat teater, Stellenbosch
14th - Zulas. Cape Town City
15th - Berties Moorings, Gordons Bay
16th - Flaming Fox, Table View
20th - Kuns Cafe, Durbanville
12th - Die Boer, Durbanville, Cape Town

Violent Femmes (UK)
6, 10, 11 August - Venues tba

Concerts

Running with Scissors - gear stolen-Benefit gig 3PM
9th June Tempos, Randburg with RWS+ 10 BANDS

East Rand Blowout (Fuzigish, Hellphones, Holly & the Woods)
16th June Trotter's Pub, Impala Park, Boksburg

Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours' Tribute
Every Thursday - Saturday 15th June - 7th July BMW Pavilion, Cape Town Waterfront

You say it's your birthday...

June 8
Boz Scaggs - 1944
Chuck Negron - Three Dog NIght - 1942

June 9
Les Paul - 1915
Jon Lord - Deep Purple, Whitesnake - 1941
Mick Box - Uriah Heep - 1947
Trevor Bolder - Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash - 1950

June 11
Frank Beard - ZZ Top - 1949
Donnie Van Zant - .38 Special, Van Zant - 1952

June 12
Bun E. Carlos - Cheap Trick - 1951
Brad Delp - Boston - 1951

June 13
Dennis Locorriere - Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show - 1949

June 14
Rod Argent - Zombies, Argent - 1945
Barry Melton - Country Joe & the Fish, Dinosaurs - 1947
Alan White - Yes - 1949

Courtesy of
About ClassicRock

Birthday Archives

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Newsletters

Weekly Newsletter

To receive your weekly dose of Rock News, Playlists, Recommendations, Competitions and much, much more, please join our
Mailing List.

News Archives

Previous newsletters are available in the News Archives.

Playlist Archives

All the playlists are available in the Playlist Archives.

Stay tuned every Thursday 8-12pm for the best in classic rock on RADIO 2000.

Your Host

Benjy Mudie

Then	Now

Benjy Mudie is a self confessed 'rockaholic' with little chance of recovery... a music obsessive whose entire life has been spent in search of the lost chord... from discovering Jimi's "Are you experienced" at 13, he has constantly devoured music through lp's, singles, tapes, cds, dvds, books, magazines, film, concerts, radio, tv and the internet. His entire working life has also been music related: from running a record store and later joining WEA Records in the mid 70's through to his 21 year A&R/Marketing stint at Tusk Music where he signed some of the biggest names in South African rock and pop. The last 8 years have been spent nurturing new talent at his indie label Fresh Music and reissuing classic albums as part of it's ongoing Retro series.... To say that 'music is his first love' (to paraphrase John Miles's classic song) is somewhat understated.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------