Tag: Music

Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake’s John Sykes Co-Founds Streetfighter

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John James Sykes, a virtuoso guitarist whose contributions shaped the rock music scene, passed away in December 2024 at the age of 65. A prominent figure in the 1970s and 1980s rock scene, he performed with iconic bands such as Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, and later carved out a successful solo career. Born on 29th July 1959 in Reading, Berkshire, Sykes spent part of his early childhood in Ibiza, Spain, where his father and uncle ran a popular discothèque. The family eventually returned to Reading, where at 14, Sykes was introduced to the guitar by his uncle, who showed him… Read more »

Photo Exclusive: Joe McElderry’s First Live Performance in Blackpool

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On 14 November 2010, Blackpool BID put on the Christmas Lights Switch-On event in the town centre with Joe McElderry doing the honours. The video clip and photos featured in this post were taken at the event and are shown here for the first time as an exclusive on Blackpool Timeline. For more up-to-date information about Blackpool BID, please visit the website. BACK TO THE PRESENT Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are delighted to announce that South Shields-born X Factor winner, Joe McElderry, will return this year to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, where he is set… Read more »

King of Comedy DAN LENO at Pavilion Theatre and the Grand

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Dan Leno (1860-1904) was the greatest of all the music hall stars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He appeared at theatres and music halls across the United Kingdom filling their auditoriums with his particular brand of comic madness and pathos. Every year he was contracted to perform at the annual pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London’s West End; as well as annual residencies at the famous Pavilion Music Hall, Piccadilly Circus. He became the highest paid artist of his generation. His influence on other comic performers that followed him is well documented; the likes… Read more »

Patrick Keiller, A Great Filmmaker Born in Blackpool

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Patrick Keiller is a filmmaker, writer, and lecturer, born in 1950 in Blackpool. He studied architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, before furthering his education at the Royal College of Art’s Department of Environmental Media as a postgraduate student in 1979. Over the years, he has combined academia with filmmaking, having taught architecture at the University of East London and fine art at Middlesex University. Keiller’s early films include Stonebridge Park (1981), Norwood (1983), The End (1986), Valtos (1987), and The Clouds (1989). These works are characterised by their use of subjective camera techniques and voice-over… Read more »

Aiden Grimshaw Gets into X-Factor

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Aiden Samuel Grimshaw (born 4 December 1991 in Blackpool) is an English singer, songwriter and actor who was formerly known by the stage name Butterjack. He studied at the Michael Hall Theatre School in North Shore, Blackpool. He played Tom Holmes in an episode of CBBC show Half Moon Investigations. He successfully made it to the live shows in the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010 and was the eighth contestant eliminated. After his elimination, Grimshaw was signed by RCA Records. On 3 June 2012, he released his debut single “Is This Love”, which debuted at number 35… Read more »

Marie Lloyd Performs at the Empire Theatre

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Marie Lloyd, one of the most celebrated music hall stars of her era, was renowned for her cheeky and charismatic stage presence. She captivated audiences with her playful, double-entendre-laden performances and an ability to infuse even the simplest lyrics with charm and innuendo. Her influence on British entertainment was profound, and her enduring popularity made her a headline act across the country. Her first visit to Blackpool came in May 1896, when she was booked at the Empire Theatre—an engagement described at the time as being arranged “at enormous expense.” The Empire, however, struggled financially and later reopened as the… Read more »

Victoria Monks Appears at the Empire Theatre

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Victoria Annie Monks, born in Blackpool on 1 November 1882, was a prominent music hall singer in the early 20th century. During the Edwardian era and the First World War, she gained recognition for performing and recording popular songs such as Take Me Back to London Town and Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home? The daughter of optician Andrew Thomas Monks, she was educated in both England and Belgium. Her early performances were recorded in the Blackpool Gazette & Herald on 13 August 1897, where she was billed as “Little Victoria” at the Empire, Blackpool. She made her London debut… Read more »

Diana Ross Performs at Lytham Festival

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Diana Ross performed at the Lytham Festival on June 28, 2022, as part of her Thank You Tour, marking a highly anticipated return to the stage. As the headliner for the first night of the festival, Ross captivated thousands of fans with her signature charisma, powerhouse vocals, and an electrifying setlist featuring both classic hits and newer material. The Lytham Festival, an annual music event held on the picturesque banks of the Ribble Estuary, provided a stunning coastal backdrop for the legendary singer’s performance. The Thank You Tour was named after her 2021 studio album, Thank You, which was her first… Read more »

Danny Howard Wins BBC Radio 1 Role as Superstar DJ

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Danny Howard, born on 14 July 1987 in Blackpool, is a British DJ, dance music producer, and the current host of Radio 1’s Dance Party. He studied sport and exercise science at Edge Hill University, where he also began developing his career as a DJ. During his time at university, he held a residency at The Syndicate, one of the UK’s largest nightclubs, based in Blackpool. Following his studies, he spent three months DJing for Ministry of Sound in Egypt, gaining further experience in the industry. Howard’s breakthrough came in August 2011, when he won the BBC Radio 1 Superstar… Read more »

Gary Miller – Born to Teach, Play Football and Sing

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Gary Miller, born Neville Williams on 3 May 1924 in Blackpool, was a popular singer and actor during the 1950s and 1960s. His passion for show business emerged early, often distracting him from his schoolwork and even influencing his wartime service in the Royal Navy, where he combined active duty with performing in concert parties. After the war, a grant allowed him to pursue a university degree in languages, but he left to focus on singing full-time. Over the years, he worked as a schoolteacher, interpreter, yachtsman, footballer, and cricket coach for Blackpool. He also owned a 20-acre property near… Read more »