The brilliance of Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4

Perhaps the coolest show on the planet is BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, which premiered on BBC radio in 1942. Created by Roy Plomley, the format is about as simple as you can get. A guest ‘castaway’ is invited to choose the eight records they would take with them to a desert island.  In […]

Read more

Wild Horses couldn't drag them away….from 'Downton Abbey', that is

On the virtually impossible outside chance that The Rolling Stones sound a bit off during their current “50 and Counting” tour which began this past week at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, they have a good reason. According to Downton Abbey star, Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith), guitarist Ronnie Wood confessed the Stones’ love of […]

Read more

Scorsese's long and winding road nearing an end with Harrison doc

With a resume that includes The Last Waltz (The Band), No Direction Home (Bob Dylan), The Blues and Shine a Light (The Rolling Stones) it’s no wonder that George Harrison’s widow, Olivia, turned to Scorsese to make the definitive rock anthology about the late Beatle. No one does rock & roll like Scorsese.  He explained recently, post […]

Read more

The 70's + Music + BBC = Heaven

Whether it was Top of the Pops, The Old Grey Whistle Test, Later with Jools Holland, From the Basement or something called Guitar Heroes at the BBC, the channel was home to some unbelievable musical performances in the 70’s. The Whistle Test ran from 1971 to 1987 and was, quite simply, about nothing else but the […]

Read more

Rolling Stones invade Santa Monica

It may have been Santa Monica, October 29, 1964, but the scene was still decidedly British. Only eight months after The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, the British invasion was in full swing and continued its assault on America in what was considered the first concert film of the rock era. In what has […]

Read more

Pirate Radio – They rocked a generation…and a few MP's along the way

Richard Curtis, creator/writer of Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Blackadder, Mr. Bean and Vicar of Dibley, turns his attention to a band of renegade DJ’s who’s love affair with rock & roll changed the world forever in Pirate Radio. They defined a generation. They drove the British government crazy. Giveaway! Free […]

Read more

Dateline NYC (1964) – Britain invades U.S.

When I think of British television, I immediately think of classic comedy, drama, mystery and nature programming. But, you have to think of music also. Without question, the Brits have also had a history of creating some of the most influential music television for over 40 years with series like The Old Grey Whistle Test […]

Read more