WELCOME TO BLITZ MAGAZINE'S WEB SITE!
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING: HERMAN'S HERMITS cofounder and drummer BARRY WHITWAM (pictured above, second from right) has announced the first personnel change in the band in quite some time, following the retirement of long time vocalist Geoff Foot. Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell brings the band's intricate and rich recent history into focus in the Bits And Pieces column (Click on the Bits And Pieces link under the Previous Posts column at right). (Click on above image to enlarge).
WELCOME TO THE INTERET HOME
FOR BLITZ MAGAZINE
SINCE 1975 -
THE ROCK AND ROLL MAGAZINE
FOR THINKING PEOPLE
SINCE 1975 -
THE ROCK AND ROLL MAGAZINE
FOR THINKING PEOPLE
Welcome to the official web site for Blitz, The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People. Since 1975, Blitz has been the leading voice for the discerning music enthusiast. Blitz Magazine was also one of the first magazines of its kind to embrace the internet, having also been online since January 1996.
Here
you will find news and updates about all of the key artists essential
to the growth and development of rock and roll music and related genres,
including rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and easy
listening. For highlights from recent past editions of the Bits And Pieces and Shape Of Things To Come
columns, click on the archival postings on the right hand side of this
page. Be sure and check back frequently for regular updates.
Michael McDowell
Editor/Publisher
Blitz Magazine
Since 1975 - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People
E-Mail us at BlitzMcD@aol.com for a list of available back issues.
Be sure to follow Blitz on Twitter:
@BlitzMagazine
and
on Facebook at:
Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People
AUDREY'S MUSICAL JOURNEY:
Follow the fascinating and unfolding tale (through her favorite music) of the life and times of Blitz Magazine's late and beloved Photo Editor, Audrey McDowell, as told by her husband, Blitz Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell. A Facebook exclusive! "Like" us on Facebook at Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People, and watch for further installments.
IN THE BITS AND PIECES COLUMN:
He literally caused an unprecedented uproar in July 1966 with his Warner Brothers 45, They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha! Haaa! We salute JERRY SAMUELS, otherwise known as NAPOLEON XIV, who succumbed to a heart attack on 10 March.
We pay tribute to Ace Records flagship artist HUEY "PIANO" SMITH, who passed away in his Baton Rouge, Louisiana home at age 89.
In a free standing article under the Previous Posts column at right, we salute the extraordinary career of composer BURT BACHARACH, along with an exclusive, first hand account of Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People's hands on involvement in the creation of one of the landmark collections related to his formidable legacy.
Following the retirement of long time lead vocalist Geoff Foot, HERMAN'S HERMITS drummer and cofounder BARRY WHITWAM has announced the first personnel change in the beloved veteran band in quite some time.
Tragedy has struck the YARDBIRDS twice in 2023 with the back to back passings of founding lead guitarist ANTHONY TOPHAM and one of his vaunted successors, JEFF BECK. We salutte both of these giants and their remarkable contributions to the band.
He took the notion of radio as an art form to the next level. In a free standing article under the Previous Posts heading at right, we salute beloved Philadelphia radio giant JERRY BLAVAT, also known as "The Geator With The Heater" in a career retrospective that includes Blitz Magazine's rave review of his 2011 autobiography, You Only Rock Once.
The passing of BEEFEATERS, BYRDS and CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH cofounder DAVID CROSBY brings an end to one of the most storied careers in music history. Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell recalls the highlights, along with an unlikely personal encounrer with him.
The band's unique interpretations of classics by Creation, Paul Revere And The Raiders, the Platters and others helped place the Auckland, New Zealand quintet among the leading lights of first generation garage rock. We salute LARRY'S REBELS front man and cofounder, LARRY MORRIS.
IN THE REISSUES / ANTHOLOGIES SECTION OF
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME COLUMN:
The Legacy label continues to make available heretofore unreleased material from the vast archives of the JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE. The latest in the series comes with the deluxe LP and CD releases of Los Angeles Forum April 26, 1969.
In what is arguably the veteran reissue label's most ambitious project to date, Roger Maglio's Gear Fab Records has added to its acclaimed Psychedelic States series with a three CD box set, The Carolinas In The '60s, which takes a detailed look at some of first generation garage rock's deepest tracks.
IN THE NEW RELEASES SECTION OF
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME COLUMN:
The Akron, Ohio - based LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS have drawn from the best of all generations of garage rock to come up with an engaging mix of original material for Handclaps And Tambourines, their second release for the Burbank, California-based Big Stir label.
Long time Belmonts mastermind Warren Gradus has joined forces with erstwhile colleague Jerry Steinberg to take vocal group harmony to the next level as SONNY AND THE BOYS in their latest album, Hopelessly Romantic.
Drawing from equal parts Incredible String Band, Jean-Paul Sartre and Donovan Leitch, composer vocalist ROXANNE FONTANA has come up with quite a musical pastiche with Phantasmagorgy, her latest for the Sprezzatura label.
Veteran five tool player BRIAN GARI plies his trade for maximum effect on Jeanne, the debut Original Cast label CD by his wife, JEANNE GARI.