THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN with special guest ARTHUR BROWN.

The eponymous ‘The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown,’ which included the smash hit single ‘Fire,’ was released in 1968. With Vincent Crane on keyboards, Drachen Theaker on drums and Nick Greenwood (billed as Sean Nicholas) on bass guitar, and with Brown’s extraordinary vocals, it was perhaps an album that could never be repeated and it remains an exhilarating slice of psychedelia at its prime and extremity.

Arthur Brown is a seminal figure in the realm of psychedelic rock. Emerging in the late 1960s, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown melded surreal stage antics with pioneering sounds, cementing their place in rock history. Brown's captivating persona, marked by his operatic voice and wild, face-painted performances (including wearing a flaming helmet during the rendering of 'Fire') became a hallmark of their shows, influencing future generations of theatrical rock artists. Their music remains a symbol of the experimental and boundary-pushing spirit of the psychedelic era, continuing to inspire with their enduring legacy and ongoing musical contributions.

Arthur Brown’s influence on shock, progressive rock and on electronic and heavy metal music also cannot be underestimated.

It was a fascinating interview with a fascinating man that included one of Arthur’s famous helmets being set alight on the CAT Club stage during the video screening of the legendary 1968 Top of the Pops performance of ‘Fire!’ The gathering culminated with a stunning live performance with Arthur singing ‘I Put A Spell On You’ along to the original backing track ripped from the featured album.

JASON BARNARD did an admirable job in the interviewer’s chair it must be said.

This event took place on 24th October 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

OH MERCY – BOB DYLAN with special guest Michael Gray.

In 1989 Bob Dylan appeared to be a busted flush, the God bothering had faded and the glory decades were long gone but with Daniel Lanois at the helm ‘Oh Mercy’ smashed any preconceptions of creative malaise and delivered his most vital work for years. For many ‘Oh Mercy' was a gateway drug to both Dylan and the genre of Americana. It is a genuine classic album that stands up to repeated listens.” (Rolling Stone).

MICHAEL GRAY was the man who in 1972 wrote the first critical study of Bob Dylan’s work – the first to take him seriously as an artist and to discuss his work alongside that of the literary majors – all this more than 40 years before Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Michael has remained at the forefront of Dylan Studies and his books are widely used in colleges and libraries on both sides of the Atlantic.

We were delighted to welcome the author of ‘Song & Dance Man,’ ‘The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia’ and ‘Outtakes On Bob Dylan’ for what proved to be a memorable evening – Dr. Michael Gray.

This event took place on 26th September 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

NEBRASKA – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN A CAT Club presentation in association with the E Street and Strange Brew Podcasts.

Recorded on four-track cassette in his New Jersey bedroom, 'Nebraska' has proved one of Springsteen’s most enduring works. A raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching not for salvation through music, but simply a reason to believe.

JASON BARNARD & JEFF MATTHEWS headed up our panel. Jason’s Strange Brew Music podcasts are in the top 1.5% in the world. Jeff is the host of the acclaimed E Street Cafe podcasts and veteran of around one hundred Springsteen live shows over 43 years.

It was a fascinating event with a special live performance of the title track by Liverpool legend and one of the finest singer/songwriters on the current music scene, Robert Vincent.

This event took place on 12th September 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

Happy Trails.