HISTORICAL FACTS: 2 | History Defined

"It seemed like the Beatles were in the room”: Canadian record shop owner finds mint condition 15-track version of The Beatles first Decca demo tape

It’s pretty much the holy grail of any possible Beatles recording, and fans are falling over themselves for more

MusicRadar · Mar 27, 2025

"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal

Listen to The Beatles, with Pete Best on drums, play Money on a newly discovered 1962 audition tape

Louder · Mar 26, 2025

Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen to release new opera recording while awaiting birth of twins

Lise Davidsen, one of opera’s biggest names, is preparing to leave the stage for a few months to give birth and spend time with twins

The Independent UK · Mar 11, 2025

More Rock and Roll, From My "Commonplace Book"

Number 8 in a series of sense and nonsense from my files

Reason · Nov 12, 2024

“They didn’t understand how important image was – they started the thing about us being academic geeks. It really hurt us”: The Zombies on living large, inheriting the Beatles’ studio and staff, and being prisoners in a concert hall

Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent look back on finding fame in their teens and experiencing the highs and lows of the music industry over six decades

Louder · Oct 31, 2024

“They put me in a cell with a bank robber and a murderer. The bank robber seemed like a nice bloke. Said he had all my albums”: The wild life and crazy times of Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker was the unlikely Sheffield superstar loved by The Beatles – but drink, drugs and debauchery almost sent him over the edge

Louder · Oct 12, 2024

Reissued compilation shines light on Decca's heavier psychedelic era

The Psychedelic Scene will be released on vinyl for the very first time in October

Louder · Sep 9, 2024

“It might not be commercial, but it’s important that the art be preserved”: The attitude that built Decca’s offshoot Deram into one of the labels that pioneered prog

Pye Hastings, Davy O’List and others recall the company that aimed for an audience of “groovy people” and backed The Moody Blues, Caravan, The Move, Camel, Procol Harum and others

Louder · Aug 13, 2024

“A fine overview of the label’s underground credentials… unclassifiable obscurities abound”: History of Deram (and Decca) celebrated in Psych! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues box set

A sprawling 3CD / 2LP retrospective of Britain’s first “groovy” record label

Louder · Aug 13, 2024

“It never dawned on me that I could make a living playing music. For many years, it was just a hobby, a way I could express myself”: John Mayall changed blues music forever – and introduced the world to some of its greatest guitar players

“The Godfather of British Blues” left us in July at age 90. We look back at his many achievements, triumphs and essential releases

Guitar World · Aug 1, 2024