I’m currently working on a book about influential North East rock musicians.

Currently titled “Northern Rock”, the book will also hopefully establish why there is no definitive cliche, no shorthand to easily describe the many important groups and musicians who grew up in Teesside and North Yorkshire, County Durham, Wearside and Tyneside over the past 70 years.

The idea for the book came from the chance discovery that various amazing rock groups (The Who, Tina Turner, T-Rex) had all played in my unassuming home town. This was, as you can imagine, a mind-blowing revelation.

For the book, I’m looking at people and groups such as:

  • The Shadows
  • The Animals
  • Lindisfarne
  • Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler
  • David Coverdale
  • Paul Rodgers
  • Chris Rea
  • Brian Johnson (Geordie, AC/DC)
  • Bryan Ferry
  • Sting

Whether I get to speak to or exchange emails with any of these people is out of my hands, I’m pleased to say (I think the worry of making contact would derail the book!) but things have been positive so far.

Work began on the book before Christmas and has now hit second gear as the interview subjects are approached and meetings arranged.

Exciting!

I’ll be blogging quite regularly about the book as work progresses, so please keep an eye out for these updates.

Incidentally, if you have any information that can assist my research (contact details, memories of any of the artists playing in North East venues), please get in touch!