The
Beat Magazine - covering mainly 50s, 60s, and 70s rock &
roll, R&B, blues and some country music and jazz.
Here
Digger talks to David Parker at Kingsley House Publishers
who produce the magazine.
Digger: Please tell us about
your background David.
David:
I became a freelance journalist in 1976 after spending many
months recovering and recuperating from a near fatal road
accident in 1974 when I hit a 10-tonne lorry at an estimated
74mph and sheared its front axle. I had just returned from
Brazil the day before where I was on assignment for a
national weekly news magazine.
Digger: What have been The Beat magazine's biggest stories,
achievements and coups to-date?
David:
We have had many scoops in the 60s arena, including
forecasting a reunion of Cliff and The Shadows and Sandie Shaw
performing again in 2010 at Goodwood, after many years in
the dark.
Digger: Why is Retro and Nostalgia in all its forms, including
music, so enduringly popular?
David:
Our music in the 50s and 60s was original and amateurish at
first before the electronic age of PAs, mixing desks and
electric guitars.
Digger: Do you find that youngsters have an interest in, and a
knowledge of, the fifties and sixties music and artists that
The Beat magazine covers?
David:
Not many can name or
recognise the original artists' names or photos, sadly, but
there is a gathering bandwagon of youngsters attending live
shows by originals.
Digger:
What are the most enjoyable aspects of what you do
David?
David:
Creativity and helping to
keep the music live by promoting the artists, tours and
shows.
Digger:
How would you compare the music scene today with that of the
past?
David:
One word, mostly rubbish
with a shining star emerging occasionally for a short time -
nothing enduring.
Digger:
If you could create a dream edition of The Beat magazine,
what would it contain?
David:
I would like to have
interviewed Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Elvis, of course, and
Gene Vincent. Better still, I would have liked to report a
meeting of all of them in one room all at one time.
Digger:
Where do you see the future for The Beat magazine?
David:
The Beat is under threat
as the musicians and artists inevitably face their fate, as
do the devoted fans. Although many attempts are made to keep
the music live, it can't happen without the originals as we
have experienced from those who died young. Obviously, I am
old as well facing the only certainty of life ...
Modern youth have their gadgets and toys and everything is
easy. We grew up in a period of austerity after a second
world war. We used our brains and our hands and our
ingenuity, commonsense and disciplines. Ordinary young fans
were not flower people joining in the sex, drugs and Rock'n'Roll
which seemed to be come part of many rock stars lives.
Nowadays, when I talk to the stars of the sixties, they are
mainly cuddly grand-dads and grandmas who enjoy the present
and an exciting influential past. Not many people can say
that!
The Beat's
own CD compilation of 22 hits from the 60s called 'Going
Back'. It is on special offer at £5.95 including post and
pack.
Track list:
1 Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick
& Tich - Hold Tight (2. 49)
2 Billie Davis & Jet Harris
ft Alan Lovell - Back In Our Rock’n’Roll
Days
3 Dakotas ft Mike Maxfield -
Trains and Boats and Planes (2.41)
4 Baron Knights - California
Girls [2 .33)
5 Dave Berry - Never Be Anyone
Else But You (3. 10)
6 Jess Conrad - Johnny B Goode
(5 .29)
7 Keith Potger (The Seekers) -
Good Friends (2. 59)
8 Peter Sarstedt - Europa
(3.41)
9 Dave Berry and Brian Poole -
To Love Somebody (3.29)
10 John Walker (Walker
Brothers)-I’m Not Gonna Be The One
11 Dakotas ft Mike Maxfield -
I’m Gonna Be Strong )
12 Mike Berry - Country Roads
(3. 07)
13 John Walker (Walker
Brothers) - Never Too Far From That Dream
14 Jess Conrad - Halfway To
Paradise (4.17)
15 Mike Berry - Freight Train
(3.31)
16 Peter Sarstedt - Where Do
You Go To My Lovely (5. 03)
17 Eddie Mooney - Waterloo
Sunset
18 Rip Chords - Hey Little
Cobra (2.11)
19 Peter Williams - Can’t
Help Falling In Love (2. 59)
20 John Leyton - Bye Bye Love
(2.15)
21 Barren Knights - Full Circle
(3.23)
22 Dave Berry - Going Back
(3.41)
|
The
Beat Magazine
