Fri

10

Jan

2020

HRH Prog - and 4th Labyrinth

Was privileged to attend the HRH Prog mini-festival at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 26th October - also to interview Marcel Kunkel front man of festival openers 4th Labyrinth, TWICE! Once on the day and then again by phone a couple of days later. Read the review of the festival here   https://www.velvetthunder.co.uk/hrh-prog-viii-london-sheffield-26-oct-2019/   and the interview feature here  https://www.velvetthunder.co.uk/marcel-kunkel-4th-labyrinth/

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Thu

28

Nov

2019

Jan Akkerman!

Really excited to have spoken to Dutch guitar virtuoso and ex-Focus axe-slinger Jan Akkerman! Read all about it!   https://www.velvetthunder.co.uk/jan-akkerman/

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Thu

28

Nov

2019

Austin Gold!

My first interview for Velvet Thunder on 25th September 2019 - really enjoyed speaking to David James Smith of Cambridge rockers Austin Gold! You can read the article here: https://www.velvetthunder.co.uk/david-james-smith-austin-gold/

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Thu

28

Nov

2019

David Coverdale - again!

So … one of the first posts on the new Velvet Thunder rock site is my David Coverdale article, first seen in the final issue of Rock Society. In slightly amended (and slightly improved) form, here it is … https://www.velvetthunder.co.uk/david-coverdale/

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Thu

28

Nov

2019

02/09/2019 - Velvet Thunder!!!

YES! Lee Vickers, former Reviews Editor of Rock Society, has founded a new rock website, dedicated to supporting rock music in all its forms - and I get to be in there right from the start! Welcome to Velvet Thunder!  www.VelvetThunder.co.uk

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Sun

26

May

2019

Final Issue of Rock Society

This week we strike a bitter-sweet note, as the last-ever issue of Rock Society, the two-monthly journal of the Classic Rock Society, rolls off the presses and drops on to our doormats. It's a personal record for me though, as I have no less than FOUR feature articles - a two-page interview with Dead Man's Whiskey front man Nico Rogers, another two-pager with ace guitar shredder Yngwie Malmsteen, a mammoth four-pager with Greg Hart, guitarist and founding father of retro-rockers Cats In Space, and a four-page front cover feature with Whitesnake main man David Coverdale, formerly of Deep Purple. There's plenty of other great stuff in there too, in a bumper all-out final extravaganza. Get yerself a copy while you can!

 

RIP Classic Rock Society, 1991-2019.   www.classicrocksociety.co.uk

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Tue

02

Apr

2019

David Coverdale!

Well it's a sad fact that I won't be getting any free CDs or going to free gigs any more. Not unless I take up with some other itinerant rock mag anyway. But still, I have been granted to go out on a high, with no less than FOUR feature articles in the final issue! Not only the aforementioned Dead Man's Whiskey, Yngwie Malmsteen and Cats in Space, but also - cue drum roll here - David Coverdale, renowned leader of Whitesnake and former front man of the legendary Deep Purple! Yep, that one will be a 4-pager. Oh, and there are still a few gigs to snaffle up while time allows. Expect to see them all in the final issue of ROCK SOCIETY!  www.ClassicRockSociety.co.uk

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Tue

02

Apr

2019

Sad Demise of the Classic Rock Society

Well lookee here. Just as everything seemed to be going so well, the venerable institution known as the Classic Rock Society has found it necessary to announce its retirement. This is the announcement that they broadcast on 6th March:

It is with great regret and heavy hearts that we have to announce that the Classic Rock Society will be closing its doors for the final time in the very near future.

 

There have been issues regarding personnel changes and the ever-worsening financial climate for a while, but although every effort has been taken to keep it running, after a lengthy discussion following the Awards Night on Saturday, we have come to the sad conclusion that recent issues, from postage costs through to magazine production and gig expenditure, have left the position impossible to continue. We could not mention anything about this on Saturday as it could have cast a shadow over a superb performance by ARENA, and the CRS has always, from Day One, been about the music first and foremost.

 

It is a very hard climate in the world of this sort of music, which we all love, as evidenced by the difficulties experienced by venues such as the Citadel as an example close to ‘home’. There is much increased competition for gigs compared to a decade or so ago – and while this is healthy and, somewhat ironically, could be seen as a part of what we have striven to achieve, nevertheless it has impacted us. This is only compounded by the limitations placed upon a group of volunteers who have had to do everything as an all-consuming ‘spare time’ project for a long time, with changes in life and family pressures.

 

Suffice it to say that this decision has not been taken lightly and it is only as a last resort that we have deemed it necessary to make this announcement. We would like to publicly thank everyone who has supported the CRS, be it as a volunteer, subscriber or simply gig-goer, and also of course a massive thanks to all of the great bands who have played for us and supported us in numerous ways and which we proudly call friends. Not to mention our Patrons throughout the years, to whom we are massively indebted for their support. Without all of you, we would not have been here as long as we have, that is for sure.

 

We sincerely hope that we have made at least a small difference over our time, and that this music we all love is stronger for our efforts. There will be a final issue of Rock Society magazine to tie up loose ends and mark a fitting sign-off, while all planned gigs will be honoured and undertaken where at all possible. Anyone with tickets for the upcoming Jump, Tiger Moth Tales, IO Earth, Hayley Griffiths and Mostly Autumn shows need not worry. We will be there to see you as usual!

 

We will contact all subscribers as soon as possible after the final issue has been delivered regarding a refund of your remaining subscription fee. If you pay by annual standing order, please cancel it immediately. If you currently pay by monthly standing order, please cancel this with your bank after the April payment.

 

Our sincerest thanks to you all for your support over the years.

 

Very best wishes,

 

THE CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY TEAM

 

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Sun

24

Feb

2019

Wow - what a nice review!

Got a really complimentary comment on the Status Quo book! Here: https://chalkhillblue.jimdo.com/2018/02/07/status-quo-song-by-song/

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Sun

24

Feb

2019

Malmsteen! Whiskey! Cats In Space!!

Issue 229 of Rock Society is out now, with my big 4-page article on Thunder, featuring an interview with front man Danny Bowes. Really enjoyed that! Also a 2-pager on Cornish surfer rock dudes Wille and the Bandits. (Yes, that is 'Wille', not 'Willie'). Next issue will be great - I've got interviews with the awesome '70s-retro rockers Cats In Space, new London metal band Dead Man's Whiskey and no lesser a guitarist than Swedish shredder Yngwie Malmsteen! See you then people!   www.ClassicRockSociety.co.uk

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Listen to Chalkhill Blue at Bandcamp.com!

 

If you would like to listen to the music of Chalkhill Blue for free, or purchase a download or CD, please click the link below.

 

Downloads can be purchased per track or whole album.

 

CDs include a full 8-page inlay booklet with notes on each track.

 

The Chalkhill Blue Album!

 

 

See also:

 

iTunes !

 

Facebook

 

Twitter

 

YouTube

 

CD Baby

 

Fandalism

 

Soundcloud

 

MySpace

 

CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY!

 

See the Chalkhill Blue CD at:

 

Rock Bottom Records, Whitstable 

 

or click on the above graphic to buy online.

 

Caroline Battenburg Art