JJ Cale – 1938-2013

For most, John Weldon ‘JJ’ Cale will be best remembered as the writer of ‘After Midnight’ and ‘Cocaine’, tunes popularised in the 1970s by Eric Clapton, and ‘Call Me The Breeze’, a number which became a Lynyrd Skynyrd staple.  Yet, as ingrained as these songs are in the minds of classic rock fans, it always seemed that comparatively few are as familiar with Cale’s original recordings as they are these much-heard cover tunes.

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STORM THORGERSON: 28 February 1944 – 18 April 2013

In the world of rock music sleeve art, one artist’s name can be found cropping up time and again: Storm Thorgerson.  His graphic design companies Hipgnosis and Storm Studios were responsible for so many instantly recognisable pieces of art. Some of them are now so much part of popular culture, they are almost taken for granted by music lovers.

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CLIVE BURR: 08/03/1957 – 12/03/2013

On 12th March 2013, the world of hard rock lost one of the UK’s best-loved drummers, when Clive Burr lost a long fight against multiple sclerosis. Although he recorded with Samson, Trust and Alcatrazz, it will be for his four year stint with Iron Maiden between 1979-82 Burr will be most fondly remembered – not least of all at Real Gone.

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