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A special edition to mark the death of Eddie Cochran and the first authentic UK rock tour in January 1960. Brian looks at the impact on audiences and young British musicians.

Ahead of Radio 2's Sixties Season at the end of May, this week the second hour of Sounds of the Sixties marks the exact 50th anniversary of the death of Eddie Cochran. He died in a car crash at the end of a tour in the UK and Brian looks at that tour. Eddie joined it on 10th January 1960 and it ran through into April. But following the last performance in Bristol, Eddie was pronounced dead after a car accident outside Chippenham, Wiltshire. His girlfriend Sharon Sheeley and Gene Vincent survived the crash as did the taxi driver and tour manager.

But it's the tour itself we look at this morning. It was the very first authentic rock tour in the UK and one which changed the sound of British music and the style of stage presentation. Promoted by Larry Parnes it brought together Eddie and Gene and had a profound and lasting influence on young British musicians and audiences alike.

The first wave of rock 'n' roll had passed and popular music in the UK had subsided into a gentle and genteel beat. A union ban on American musicians had meant there had been few previous visitors, so here were two real American rockers travelling around the UK and shocking lethargic theatres into life. They performed on tv and radio while touring and included are rare live performances from Saturday Club and tv show Boy Meets Girls.

Friends and fellow musicians share memories of backstage excess, teddy boy riots, and Eddie's masterful musicianship. With contributions from Joe Brown, George Harrison, Vince Eager and interviews with backing band members "Big" Jim Sullivan and Brian "Licorice" Locking, Brian Matthew looks at the impact of the tour and remembers a key period in sixties musical history.

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Apr 2010 08:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Music and featured items

  • An Eddie Cochran special

    A special edition marking the death of Eddie Cochran.

    Duration: 01:00:44

  • The Beatles

    Can't Buy Me Love

    • The Beatles: 1962 1966.
    • APPLE.

  • Maxine Brown

    Yesterday's Kisses

    • Spotlight On.
    • Kent Records.

  • Small Faces

    Tin Soldier

    • Small Faces The Ultimate Collection.
    • SANCTUARY RECORDS.

  • Ronnie Dove

    Right Or Wrong

    • Golden Classics.
    • Collectables.

  • The Stone Poneys

    Different Drum

    • Complete Sixties.
    • EMI.

  • The Drifters

    Save The Last Dance For Me

    • The Definitive Drifters.
    • ATLANTIC/WSM.

  • Mal Ryder

    Cry Baby

    • N/A.
    • DECCA.

  • The Rolling Stones - The Last Time

  • Angel Pavement

    Green Mellow Hill

    • Maybe Tomorrow.
    • Wooden Hill.

  • Three In A Row

    • Pacemakers

      Walk Hand In Hand

      • The Best Of The Emi Years.
      • EMI.

  • Billy Fury

    Run To My Lovin' Arms

    • The Billy Fury Hit Parade.
    • LONDON.

  • Gene Pitney

    Yours Until Tomorrow

    • Gene Pitney - The Collection.
    • Castle.

  • Jeannie C. Riley

    Harper Valley P.T.A

    • Songbirds.
    • STARBLEND RECORD.

  • The Beau Brummels

    Bless You California

    • Bless You California.
    • Ace.

  • Out Take

    • The Hollies

      We're Through

      • In The Hollies Style.
      • Magic Records.

  • Dusty Springfield

    That's How Heartaches Are Made

    • At Her Very Best.
    • Universal.

  • Chris Barber's Jazzband

    O Sole Mio

    • It's Trad Jazz!.
    • EMI Gold.

  • Eddie Cochran

    C'mon Everybody

    • Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • HIT LABEL.

  • Marty Wilde

    A Teenager In Love

    • Rock N Roll Heartbeats.
    • TELSTAR.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Summertime Blues

    • Hits Of 1958.
    • MFP/EMI.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Cut Across Shorty

    • It's A Sixties Party.
    • COLUMBIA.

  • John Barry Seven Plus Four

    Hit and Miss

    • The Emi Years Vol 1.
    • EMI.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Somethin' Else

    • Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV.

  • Eddie Cochran

    20 Flight Rock

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Milk Cow Blues

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Sweet Little Sixteen

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Hallelujah, I Love Her So

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • MSPV Label.

  • Gene Vincent

    Say Mama

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Gene Vincent

    Summertime

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Hallelujah I Love Her So

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Gene Vincent

    Be Bop A Lula

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Eddie Cochran

    20 Flight Rock

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

  • Gene Vincent

    White Lightin

    • Eddie Cochran.
    • SHIFT-WORK.

  • Eddie Cochran

    My Babe

    • The Story.
    • White Label.

  • Eddie Cochran

    Three Steps To Heaven

    • The Ep Collection.
    • SEE FOR MILES.

  • The Who

    Summertime Blues

    • The Who Live At Leeds.
    • POLYDOR.

  • Sex Pistols

    Something Else

    • Jubilee.
    • VIRGIN.

  • Paul McCartney

    Twenty Flight Rock

  • Eddie Cochran

    Summertime Blues

    • Live Rock N Roll Rebels.
    • SPV Label.

Broadcast

  • Sat 17 Apr 2010 08:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2