Welcome to Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Home Page

This website is all about rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.

It is here to complement and extend Derek Shelmerdine‘s radio shows, personal appearances and book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

Derek Shelmerdine on…
YouTube… Mixcloud… Facebook… Twitter…

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled on
Facebook… Twitter…

UPCOMING EVENTS

RADIO Guest Appearances

Mop Tops & The King
Syndicated on over 100 radio stations world-wide. 

The Moptops & The King radio show is dedicated to the music of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Derek Shelmerdine makes a fortnightly guest appearance
with The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled.

John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band gave their debut concert performance in Canada, at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival.

THE NEXT SHOW – 7 to 13 February
The Beatles Unravelled #93: Plastic Ono Band’s concert debut…

 A Chat With… KPHR radio station

Sam MacBeath’s radio show –  A Chat With…
Author of the book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled, Derek Shelmerdine is a monthly guest, talking about all aspects of the music of the 1950s and 1960s.

This month’s show takes a look at The Beatles before they became the Fab Four when Ringo joined in 1962.

They started out as The Black Jacks in 1957, changing their name shortly afterwards to The Quarrymen. John’s art school friend, Stuart Sutcliff played bass guitar, before Paul switched from six strings to four in January 1961. Pete Best joined just before their first Hamburg residency in 1960, with the band finally calling themselves The Beatles. Two more years passed when, amongst other things, they failed their recording audition for Decca, met manager Brian Epstein and recorded their first UK hit single, Love Me Do. The second recording session for Love Me Do was with Ringo Starr. The Beatles, after five years of learning their trade, were finally the Fab Four, John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Watch out for Parts 2 and 3 of The Beatles Story.

Derek’s book, Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.
Not just the music but also the social factors influencing the music, such as the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights struggle.

Hear the show
24 December: The Beatles Before Ringo on KPHR Radio

LIVE FACEBOOK Guest Appearances

The Frank Carlyle Show

Derek Shelmerdine is a MONTHLY guest on Liverpool historian Frank Carlyle’s live Facebook show

– The Frank Carlyle Show
This month we are taking a look at the stories behind some classic album sleeves.

The story of the Who, how they came together and the legendary Keith Moon Years…

THE NEXT SHOW… The Who – Keith Moon Years – 13 January

For all of Derek Shelmerdine’s radio appearances

Derek Shelmerdine – PERSONAL APPEARANCES

31 July: Private Event
……….The Swinging Sixties

16 December: Private Event
……….Christmas #1s

Watch this space for more details of personal appearances. These events include after-dinner presentations about the music of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, its roots and influences.

HARROGATE FILM SOCIETY
Movie Introductions

Derek Shelmerdine is introducing the next movie in the Harrogate Film Society’s season of Movie Legends.

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week 
The Touring Years (12A)

A fascinating insight into the Beatles on the road, 1963 to 1966.
They found fame in the UK in October 1962, with their first hit Love Me Do.
By the beginning of 1964 they were the biggest band in the world.
Just eighteen months later, on 29 August 1966, the Beatles gave their last-ever concert performance, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Derek’s introduction puts the touring years into context, in the evolution of The Beatles story .

The screening takes place in Harrogate UK – 24 January
For details about the screening of The Beatles: Eight Days a Week…
Check out – Harrogate Film Society website.

HARROGATE RECORD FAIR – Book Signing

The quarterly Harrogate Record Fair will be in town again on 7 December. The Fair has a free entrance and runs from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Derek Shelmerdine will be there with albums and singles from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

PLUS Derek will also be signing copies of his book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

Come along to the Fair and chat to Derek about your favourite music from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s…

ABOUT THE BOOK

For more information about: 
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled – The Book
Author Derek Shemerdine

With it’s unique three-part format Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots, to mid-1970s punk. Not just the music but also the social influences, such as the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights struggle. 

Record Collector Review
Record Collector magazine reviewed the book and described it as, “comprehensive… invaluable”.

To Borrow the Book
Check out the Public Libraries around the UK where you can borrow a copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

Win the Book
There is a Monthly Competition to win a signed and dedicated copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

To BUY the Book
TO BUY a signed and dedicated copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled directly from the author on this website.

Book Signings
Author Derek Shelmerdine did regular book signings, sadly these have been much reduced for the past two years.
For past book signings
NEXT BOOK SIGNING… 21 October: Harrogate Record Fair

All about the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
in less than two minutes…

PODCASTS

All of the Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Shows and many of the radio guest appearances can be found in Podcasts.

The radio shows and guest radio appearances can also be found at YouTube and Mixcloud.

There are podcasts about all aspects of the music of 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and its roots. If it’s relevant to the story of rock’n’roll from it’s roots to the late 1970s – I’ll be talking about it!

ALL PODCASTS

ROCK’N’ROLL HISTORY – BLOGS

These blogs cover every aspect rock’n’roll from it’s roots to mid-1970s punk. Artists, bands, genres, venues, record labels, gigs, festivals, covers and originals, in fact, if it’s relevant to the music of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and its roots – I’ll be talking about it in my radio shows and here on the website…

These blogs include, Paul (McCartney) is Dead Myth,– How Led Zeppelin Came Together,– Buddy Holly Story, Psychedelic Sixties,– Liverpool Scene Before The Beatles,– From Gospel to Rock’n’Roll,– Stories Behind Classic Songs, Monterey International Pop Festival 1967,– Birth of Motown,… 

ALL BLOGS

1960s & 1970s BANDS AND ARTISTS ON TOUR NOW

This is not a ticket site. It’s there for you to check out which of your favourite artists and bands who started out in the 1960s and ’70s are on the road right now.

There are 183 artists/bands on the list and more are continually added. You’ll be surprised how many of your favourite bands are still performing.

There is a link to each artist/band’s website
for details of dates and venues

FRIDAY NIGHT PUB QUIZ

Check out your knowledge of the music of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and its roots.

The topics include The Beatles Before Ringo quiz – Jimi Hendrix quiz – Psychedelic ’60s quiz and so many more…

ALL QUIZES

Playlists

Available through Spotify

WORK IN PROGRESS…

INTERESTING WEBSITES

If you’re looking at rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk – check out these great links because they can provide great information about bands, artists, record labels and much more…

Check out the websites

CONTACT
I’d love to hear from you…

Copyright Note

Every attempt has been made to contact the copyright holder of material being used on this site but this has not always proved successful. Please let me know if you are the copyright holder for any material on this site because if you would like it removed, please get in touch and I’ll remove it.

If you would simply like me to add a credit to your work and a link to your own site because I’d be delighted to oblige. It’s only here in the first place because I admire it.

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Home Page