The Whiteboard Project Does St. George’s Day
Once again, the time of year is upon us for the English to celebrate St. Georges Day. Although, arguably, the Irish make a bigger deal of St. Patrick’s Day than the English do with St. George’s, today gives us a chance to celebrate all things most English. So boasting a rich music heritage, we’ve compiled a playlist of ten of the best English bands to have graced the airwaves.
Black Sabbath –Paranoid
The Birmingham pioneers of heavy metal have recently returned with an epic new single titled God Is Dead, taken from their forthcoming 13LP, and although frontman Ozzy Osbourne may be more commonly known for his off stage antics, having allowed the world an intrinsic view of his everyday life with MTV’s ‘The Osbournes’ reality show. It’s also true that no other front men can work an audience in the same way as Mr Osbourne. With an incredible cult following, while classic tracks such as Paranoid and Iron Man, propel Black Sabbath to the placing as one of the most promising metal bands to have walked the Earth.
Madness – Our House
The ultimate band to get the party started: having featured prominently in the celebrations of last year’s London Olympics and The Queen’s Jubilee, formulating one hit after another, with a back catalogue of singles that are known by just about everybody. From the ska-mania of One Step Beyond, right through to pop classics such as Our House and House Of Fun.
Oasis – Roll With It
Nowadays, all that we hear of Oasis is the feud between Liam Gallagher and the rest of the world, most notably including his brother and chief Oasis songwriter – Noel. But setting the battling egos aside, Oasis are one of the biggest UK bands to have surfaced since the rise of their ultimate idols, and main influence, The Beatles. Having released Roll With It on the same day as Blur’s Country House, a chart showdown was inevitable, and although victory belonged to Blur, the on-going feud has been set aside, with an acoustic rendition of Blur’s Tender for the Teenage Cancer Trust, featuring Blur’s Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon, as well as Oasis’ Noel Gallagher.
Blur – Country House
Definitive pioneers of the 1990s’ Britpop movement, Blur have gone on to become a household name, as one of Britain’s best loved bands. Reuniting in 2012 for an intimate warm-up tour, preparing for one of the most talked about gigs of the summer: the Olympic closing ceremony at London’s Hyde Park. Releasing Country House back in 1995, claiming victory in a chart-war against Oasis’ Roll With It, in a commercialised battle of the bands competition.
Led Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven
One of the UK’s most respected rock bands, Led Zeppelin manage to encapsulate the American rock ‘n’ roll infused rhythm & blues sounds of the ‘60s, with a resonance of the hard rock music that was yet to follow. With blues-rock numbers such as Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog, through to their iconic masterpiece – Stairway To Heaven, purveying eight-minutes of guitar led rock perfection. Initiating gently with a spidery guitar line, before climatically building into one of the best-recognised guitar solos of all time.
The Smiths – Panic
Frontman Steven Patrick Morrissey has been in the news rather frequently after the past few months, having been instructed to retire from music by his doctor. Another newsworthy item was the rumour of a reformation of The Smiths for this summer’s Glastonbury Festival, a rumour that never did follow through – nevertheless. But whether you love or loathe the alternative heroes, there’s no denying that they’ve gone on to become one of the nation’s most influential bands.
The Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant
They recently released Pretty Vacant as a limited seven-inch single for this year’s Record Store Day, following last year’s controversial re-release of God Save The Queen. Taken from their only studio album – Never Mind The Bollocks… Here’s The Sex Pistols, one of the most successful British albums to have ever been released, placing The Sex Pistols at the top of the pile, for the most outrageously phenomenal punk bands that England has to offer.
David Bowie - Heroes
The world seems to have been bitten by the Bowie-mania bug, since the dawning of 2013. With the release of The Next Day, the singer’s first album in ten years, the 40th anniversary of Alladin Sane and a mammoth exhibition at the V&A museum: David Bowie fans have a lot to be celebrating.
The Rolling Stones – Start Me Up
Now preparing to headline this year’s Glastonbury Festival, as well as a huge Hyde Park show, in the summer, The Rolling Stones are celebrating 50 years since their formation. And with Mick Jagger’s bluesy vocal tones and sun-drenched instrumentation on tracks such as Start Me Up, Street Fighting Man, and Get Off Of My Cloud, to name a mere few, the fact that The Rolling Stones have gone on to become one of the world’s biggest bands comes as no surprise.
The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand
The Beatles are, undoubtedly, the biggest band to have ever come out of Liverpool, and the UK for that matter. Having gone on to record an exceptional back catalogue, before splitting in 1970, now finding traces their influence in the music of just about every act that has followed. From the rock‘n’ roll roots of their earlier material to the psychedelia of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band andThe Magical Mystery Tour, right through to the early rock of their final efforts, The Beatles are – genuinely –the most prosperous band that the country has offeredr.
Words & Thoughts of Jonathan Hatchman
