The Who, 2005, With Steve White on Drums and Damon Minchella on Bass.

Live 8 in 2005 was a case in point. When he and Steve White backed The Who, playing a two-song 15-minute set to a Hyde Park crowd which had fallen asleep standing up, the air thrummed with electricity.

The Who, White and Minchella had rehearsed for an hour the day before. 'We played Who Are You? and Won't Get Fooled Again twice, and Pete [Townshend] said "That'll do, see you tomorrow".

'Just before we were going on, Steve [White] said "If we fuck this up, our careers are over". I was able to say through the nerves "This is actually quite silly". It's healthy to take everything with a pinch of salt. But the beer afterwards was the best I'd ever tasted.'

Damon Minchella: A Bass Player With His Finger On the Pulse (Jason Holmes)

Jason Holmes complete article.

Tomorrow: Damon and Steve with the Who, Live.

Bingley Music Live – Last scheduled performance for Wilko Johnson

After a series of post-retirement performances Wilko Johnson’s last scheduled performance will take place on Saturday 31^stAugust at Bingley Music Live. 

The former Dr Feelgood guitarist was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the start of the year. Fortunately he has remained healthy enough to undertake a series of recent performances.  

Wilko explains his reasons for returning to the stage; “What’s been pretty good is we did the Farewell Tour earlier in the year and then I retired, but I didn’t like that much! Then summer came along and the festivals started coming in and I thought, well, I’m not too ill and if I can’t make it then the show will still go on.”

Since the 1970s the singer, guitarist and songwriter has been credited for his enormous contribution to the British rhythm and blues scene and is widely hailed as one of the founding influences of the punk movement, firstly in Dr Feelgood and later as a member of Ian Dury and the Blockheads.

The national rock'n'roll hero explains the continuing thrill of playing British festivals; “This year’s been pretty unusual. It’s been marvellous, being out in the sun; as the sun has chosen to shine this year. It’s all about the friendly atmosphere. So I guess you could say my favourite thing is fun in the sun.”

Bingley can revel in Wilko’s awesome stage presence one final time, where he’ll be joined by the likes of Primal Scream, CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers, The Human League,The Cribs, The Fratellis, The Neville Staple Band,Tinchy Stryder and Katy B during the much loved Yorkshire festival taking place between Friday, 30 August and Sunday, 1 September.

Tickets are still available but please hurry if you want to catch Wilko.  A standard three-day weekend ticket is £45*, with advance day tickets for Friday costing £17.50* and advance day tickets for Saturday or Sunday priced at £30*.Tickets are available online  or call the ticket hotline 0871 220 0260.                                

Steve Cradock's new album: Travel Wild.

Limited Autographed Edition exclusive to Propermusic.com only, available only whilst stocks last.

A founding member of the iconic Britpop band Ocean Colour Scene and guitarist for Paul Weller since 1992, the Solihull native has long been regarded as one of Britain's most talented musicians and a part of the country's musical heritage. The affection and knowledge for his craft amassed over the years are truly tangible on the latest thoughtfully constructed 13-track album.

The record radiates relevant retro as a 21st century ode to Sixties psychedelia. From the get go, dreamy opener "Any Way The Wind Blows" immerses us in an exploration of sounds in the best of British musical tradition. Steve's skilled song writing and expert multi-instrumentalism are evident on tracks such as "Sheer Inertia" and "Travel Wild - Travel Free". This record is a true labour of love from a man who clearly knows how to write and use catchy hooks, hip vibes and lush melodies.

Pre order here.