Backstage Pass: the story of Redcar Jazz Club

In the 1960s when England was the coolest place on the planet, Redcar Jazz Club stood out on the North East coast as a cultural beacon. It may have started as a jazz club, but it wasn’t a jazz club long. From its early origins in 1958 featuring Trad jazz, by the time Carnaby Street became famous in the mid 60s the club’s title was already a misnomer.  Retaining its original name, the club was already promoting top R&B and blues artists like T-Bone Walker,  Freddie King, John Lee Hooker and Rod Stewart, under the wing of Britain’s leading bluesman, Long John Baldry.  Then when the audience’s tastes changed  to rock, the club booked The Who, King Crimson, Free, The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Cream, Joe Cocker, Deep Purple, Steve Winwood in Traffic, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Moody Blues, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and many others.

This large format 160 page hardback, BACKSTAGE PASS : REDCAR JAZZ CLUB celebrates the venue’s success. In an age when nobody had a camera phone, two photographers were there to record the 60s – Dennis Weller and Graham Lowe.  Here they collaborate to display over 200 photographs, many of them unseen, while author Chris Scott Wilson weaves  the club’s story into the compelling mix of images, garnished with contemporary adverts, memorabilia, detailed vignettes, recollections of audience members and memories of the artists who performed there.

“The authors and brilliant photographs have vividly captured a moment in time.” Ed Bicknell, former manager of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Ferry, Scott Walker, Gerry Rafferty.

“Christopher Wilson has written and collated a genuinely touching & refreshing stroll down memory lane with this fabulous book… It opens so many joy filled memories of evenings spent in the breath-taking company of the original Fleetwood Mac, The Who… Joe Cocker… many of whom I had the extraordinary pleasure of opening for when I was in local bands… a must have and a must read… Well done Christopher!!!” David Coverdale, WHITESNAKE

“This book not only helps transport you to more innocent days but puts my memory in touch with all the other bands and musicians that filled that stage with groove and excitement. A good read, catalogue and history book. great times by the sea.” Zoot Money, ZOOT MONEY’S BIG ROLL BAND

For more info & how to buy CLICK HERE