ROCK-IT, Artist Cat’s Radio Show

ROCK-IT, Artist Cat’s Radio Show

Apr 27

This is a page for programming updates for my radio shows, ROCK-IT  with the Artist Cat… classic, rare and new rock (with blues)! Tune in to “Triple H FM”  at this link here. Buy signed books…!  Love the 70s?  Take a trip down memory lane with on my books on 70s culture and rock music “The WONG WAY to MARRY” and “TRIPPIN’ the  WRIGHT WAY”.   Bookmark this page.  a third book is in the works – stay tuned!!!! To buy signed books contact the Cat direct on Facebook Sydney shoppers can also buy signed copies at these great outlets:  Red Eye Records, York Street, Sydney CBD; Mojo Music, York Street, Sydney CBD. ROCK-IT: ARTIST-CAT WEEKLY PROGRAM UPDATE LATEST NEWS The Cat will be returning to air in 2015 with a new co-host on the ROCK-IT show – 2HHH’s “Neil the Noob” (from Streetbeat fame!) Go to the ROCK IT  Facebook Page for latest weekly updates! Every THIRD Wednesday of the month is “Desert Island Album” week – check out the hot 100 here  Re-runs: We will repeat the three part special “HISTORY OF THE BLUES” with special guest presenters including Kevin Borich, Billy TK (Jnr) and Phil Jones. Kevin Borich at Triple H 100.1 (Hornsby studio) Recording ‘Blues Power” Link Hagley Park Christchurch NZ – 1974 NEW FEATURES The Musical LINK – including exclusive interviews with All Link members (and ex-cChapta  vocalists), featuring  Dick Whatson and Dave Kennedy. HISTORY OF THE EAGLES – Pts 1 & 2 Pt1 – On A Dark Desert Highway.  From the beginning to life in the fast lane… Pt2 – Checked Out, but you can never leave. Solo years, the Resumption (Hell Freezes Over), the ‘farewells’… ARCHIVES Date: 3 June 2012 Show:  The Cats Top 5 Revisited! The inaugural ROCK-IT show will repeat the Cats top 5 special songs as featured on “the Music Almanac” back in August 2011 with Rufus On Fire.  Catch music from Led Zep, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, Eagles and local bands Ticket and Space Farm, with an exclusive interview with ‘Link’ front-man Dave Kennedy… Date: 10 June 2012 Show:  Ticket to the Show – Ticket’s debut album AWAKE  from 1971 is one of the most heavily bootlegged underground albums of the era. Hendrix inspired acid blues to Buddy Miles and  Traffic style jazzy funk, this is a classic must have Desert Island Album.   Triple H 100.1 FM ...

Link – Only Time Could Let Us Know 1973

Link – Only Time Could Let Us Know 1973

Feb 27

Video of 70s rock band LINK and their August 1973 top 20 hit “Only Time Could Let Us Know”. Clip contains archival photos of the band from the era courtesy of photographer KEVIN HILL (see if you can spot his cameo appearance in the clip.) Songwriters: Dave Kennedy (guitar, lead vocals) & Dave Gillies (keyboards, vocals) PLUS Nev Claugton (Bass), Craig Nicholson (drums). MKII members – Dick Whatson (bass, vocals), Chris Fox (drums) MKIII members – Bryan Gerrard (bas, vocals), Ron Mahoney...

Ticket NZ Rock Band Reforms

Ticket NZ Rock Band Reforms

Nov 05


Live in the studio 1972

Live in the studio 1972

Archive: The New Zealand show – 5th November 2011 @ the “Powerstation” Auckland, with Dragon and Hello Sailor. Ticket ‘steals’ the show, with rave reviews from the NZ Herald: read the review here. TICKET New Zealand’s ultimate acid blues band dominated the underground music scene from 1971-73 down under.  With searing Hendrix inspired guitar from Eddie Hansen, soaring vocals from Trevor Tombleson and a driving rhythm section (Paul Woolwright – Bass & Rick Ball – Drums) they produced two highly sought after LPs, ‘Awake’ and ‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’ during the original line up.  These LPs are collectors items the world over and mint copies sell in excess of $300-400. Ticket MKI parted company in 1973.  Eddie Hansen, disillusioned and tired of the music industry struggles and rip-offs, had decided to call it quits.  Hansen eventually reformed Ticket temporarily during 74-75; the MkII line-up including ex-Space Farm bass player Billy Williams and drummer Glen Absolum. [For the record there was never a Steve Gunn in the band.] In MkIII Absolum was replaced with Danny Davidson.  But no album was released and the band eventually went their separate ways. Trevor Tombleson moved to  the UK (with Ticket MKIII members Williams and Davidson). The ex-pats auditioned for Keef Hartley’s former band ‘Dog Solider’. Tombleson was offered a place with the band but turned it down when it transpired his antipodean friends had been rejected. He then toured Europe with a number of bands during the mid 70s (including the Eagles and Chicago) but returned to Sydney when called back by (now) ‘Monsoon’ band members Williams and Ray Goodwin (Dragon-Guitarist & Song writer). At the end of the 70s he left the music industry for 30 years.  These days he resides in the Cook Islands. Ricky Ball and Paul Woolwright hooked up with ‘Hello Sailor’ and their various solo acts that followed (Dave McCartney & the Pink Flamingos, Graham Brazier’s Legionnaires and Harry Lyon). For 30 years they remained the top rhythm players in NZ, in constant demand. After the demise of Ticket, Eddie Hansen joined forces temporarily with Link’s Dave Kennedy (in Rock Squad) but that didn’t last and Kennedy moved to the UK.  Hansen took a break, but he couldn’t stay away and eventually formed “Living Force” with ex-Space Farm guitarist and good friend Harvey Mann, with drummer Glen Absolum and several others.  The band was together during 1978-79. Absolum...

Link – 1973 ‘Highway Driver’ b side to ‘Only Time Could Let Us Know’

Link – 1973 ‘Highway Driver’ b side to ‘Only Time Could Let Us Know’

Oct 30

LINK – HIGHWAY DRIVER, great southern rock from 1973.  Written by Glyn Tucker. This song was the b side to their hit single ‘Only Time Could Let Us Know’ and is an excellent rocker in its own right. It can be found on a compilation CD titled “Under the Southern Moonlight” Link MKI were: Dave Kennedy (Guitar/Vocals), Dave Gillies (Keyboards), Nev Claugton (Bass), Craig Nicholson (Drums). Rhythm section players changed several times over the few years the band were together.  Nev Claugton was replaced by (ex-Chapta) bassist Dick Whatson, who was later replaced by Bryan Gerrad.   Craig Nicholson’s replacement was Chris Fox, who was later replaced by Ron Mahony.  Link broke up at the end of 1975. Photography by KEVIN...

LINK – 1975. Rare unreleased song “Break the Ice”

LINK – 1975. Rare unreleased song “Break the Ice”

Sep 24

BREAK THE ICE – was to have been Link’s follow up single to the top 20 hit ‘Only Time Could Let Us Know’ – but it was never released and lost in archives for 35 years. This video clip was made possible with the help of rock photographer KEVIN HILL who captured stunning images of the band from that era.  Coupled with the rediscovered music and production credits provided by Dave Kennedy – the song is able to surface and be shared with the...

Dave Kennedy – LINK “Only Time Could Let Us Know” / “Highway Driver”

Dave Kennedy – LINK “Only Time Could Let Us Know” / “Highway Driver”

Aug 16

Dave Kennedy, singer / songwriter / musician headed the band LINK from 1973-1975 (after the demise of the Chapta, who had previously won the Loxenne Golden Disc Award for their song “Say A Prayer”).  They officially released one single, double-A sided: ‘Only Time Could Let Us Know’ / ‘Highway Driver’ with ‘The Day You Came Into My Life’.  The song reached the national top twenty in New Zealand  and won the 1973 RATA Award for Best Group Song of the year. A little known fact is that the band also recorded a song titled “Break the Ice” which only ever appeared on a compilation LP titled “New Zealand’s Top 12 Groups”.  The song is slightly heavier than “Only Time”, more reminiscent of the music Nazareth or Foghat were putting out at the time and never was released as a single [reportedly because the record company execs didn’t like it].                       The two principle songwriters in Link were Dave Kennedy and keyboardist Dave Gillies.  Due to gruelling work schedules rhythm section members changed frequently – the original line up below consisted of: Craig Nicholson (drums), Dave Kennedy (vocal / guitar), Nev Claughton (bass), Dave Gillies (keys).               After Link Dave moved to London (in the mid 70s) then to Sydney, Melbourne and finally Auckland in the 90s.  He was called back to his native Invercargill in 2003 and was awarded Southland’s vocalist of the year in 2005.  He still sings and is a talented musician – playing guitar, bass and drums. To contact Dave go to this site:...